RHS Rams Corner News

September was National Deaf Awareness Month!

I hope you had a chance to enjoy the deaf and hard-of-hearing exhibit at the first floor rotunda and see the “Why I sign” video segments on the morning announcements. Here at Rockville High School, we are committed to fostering understanding and support to ensure that all students receive the recognition and resources they deserve.

October is Hispanic Heritage Month!

“Your individuality is important, but so is belonging. Recognize the parts of your culture that have shaped your past, and the parts you want to carry with you into the future."

(Sol Peralta)

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) is a time to reflect on the importance of the Hispanic and Latinx culture and contributions. It is also a time to observe and grow together while supporting our Hispanic friends and colleagues. Check out the photo exhibit of the Latiné RHS staff next to the College and Career center. Next make your way to the media center to the Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit of artifacts and literature. Showcase your Latinidad during Rockville High School’s Spirit Week (10/7-10/11). Then join us for our annual celebration, "Noche Latina", on October 16th, where you can enjoy delicious Latin food, music and entertainment. We hope you take some time to enjoy some of the festivities and events hosted by the Latinx Student Union Club. Let's connect with one another this month and throughout the school year to celebrate our rich and diverse backgrounds.

For more information about the Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, please contact Latinx Student Union Club sponsors at Dulce_M_Carrillo@mcpsmd.org and Luisa_F_Chaney@mcpsmd.org.

Please review AP/IB course exam information below:

• Students enrolled in an AP or IB course for the school year 2024–2025 are expected to participate in the corresponding AP or IB exam;
• Students registering late, canceling the exam, not completing the IB Internal Assessment, or not present to take the AP or IB exams will be responsible for the AP fee of $40 or the IB fee of $123;
• Students who elect to take an AP exam and are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course will be responsible for paying for the AP exam;
• Students are not permitted to participate in an IB exam unless enrolled in the corresponding IB course according to the standards and practices of IB; and
• Schools cannot charge an administrative fee for AP or IB exams.

The Fall season is well underway.

Purchase single game tickets and season passes through GoFan:

https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24827

Winter Sports registration will begin in October. More details to follow.

Stay up-to-date on all the action on the RHS athletics website and Twitter/Instagram accounts.

Fall playoff information will be posted on www.mpssaa.org

**NEW** - "BELL TO BELL, NO CELL"

Rockville High School is committed to supporting student learning in a positive learning environment. As a reminder, during classroom/instructional time, cell phones, earpods, headphones, and other personal mobile devices must be put away in a backpack or bag.

Students may use their devices before and after school, during lunch, and during class transitions only. Again, personal mobile devices may NOT be used during classes. Parents may contact their children during the designated time periods, or contact the main office if they need to speak with their child urgently.

WHY Bell to Bell, No Cell?

• To Improve Focus and Attention: Without the distraction of cell phones, students are more likely to stay engaged with the lesson. This can lead to better understanding and retention of the material, as students can concentrate fully on the content being taught without interruptions from notifications or the temptation to check social media.

• To Enhance Classroom Interaction: With phones out of sight, students are more likely to participate in class discussions, collaborate with peers, and engage in hands-on activities. This fosters a more interactive and dynamic learning environment, where students can benefit from real-time feedback and peer-to-peer learning.

• To Improve Academic Performance: Reducing the opportunity for distractions and cheating can contribute to more accurate assessments of students' abilities. As a result, teachers can better gauge student understanding and provide targeted support, which can lead to improved academic performance and a more honest evaluation of students' progress.

Thank you for partnering with the school staff to reinforce the importance of engaging actively in learning during classes and of using personal mobile devices during designated times only.

Cell Phone Pouches will be enforced beginning MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH!!!

Our RHS students have adjusted very well to our "Bell to Bell, No Cell" Policy. Our goals continues to be to foster digital responsibility in our students, preparing them for success in college, careers, and their communities. In support of this goal, we will begin "Cell Phone Pouch" implementation on Monday, October 7th. Our "Bell to Bell, No Cell" policy has helped to minimize distractions and enhance our student's learning environment.

To help enforce the policy, as outlined below, we will use locked pouches for students to securely store their cell phones and personal electronic devices (PMDs) for the remainder of the day. Students will maintain possession of their PMD's when in locked pouches. They will be able to unlock them at the end of the school day.

Here’s how the policy will be enforced, with specific consequences for repeated infractions per period:

We appreciate your support and partnership in helping us promote responsible digital behavior. By working together, we can create a more focused and productive learning environment for all students.

Represent your Junior Class with this stylish t-shirt http://rhsclassof2026.square.site/. Proceeds will benefit the Junior Class.

As a reminder, to attend a College visit when colleges come to RHS, students must register in advance on Naviance. A pass will be sent to class for students who register. Students are responsible for all missed work.

For the full October 2024 College and Career Newsletter, please read the newsletter here: College and Career Center

Participate in the College Fair Spirit Week:

Attend the upcoming SAT/ACT Prep by C2 Education (registration is required):

Parents! Attend the first parent brunch of the year. Lisa Schaefer, financial adviser, will be with us to talk about financial planning:

Sophomores, don’t miss applying to be a part of ACES. Ms. Brittany will be sending out information about applying soon!

The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost importance. Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites. In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options.

Online Pathway to Graduation: If your student is interested in taking an online course for Original Credit, Retake, or a Higher Grade, please visit the MCPS website and contact the counselor of record to help register. Each course will have two weekly required synchronous sessions. There will still be support sessions that students can attend as they wish. If students fail to attend those synchronous sessions, they may be unable to earn credit in the course. Students will still be able to move into new classes mid-session without penalty.

Prior-year FARMS eligibilities will expire at the end of the day on Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Families can apply for FARMS. For faster processing, apply online at MySchoolApps.com.

On their September 28th Westminster competition, the Rockville High School Marching Band placed first. In addition to their overall placement of first, they also placed first in the following captions, Ensemble Music, Percussion, and Color Guard. Congratulations again to the marching band for the amazing start to their season!

Please welcome Ms. Ann Marie Del Valle (Pronounced: "Del vy yay") to our Main Office Team! She is coming to Rockville High School from Fairfax County Public Schools with a vast background in school system operations where she served for 19 years. She was originally from Buffalo, New York and has been in the DMV for 27 years.

MCAP Spring Score reports will be distributed to students on Wednesday, October 23rd, during the 1st period wellness block. This includes the following students: All current 9th grade students who took the ELA/Math/Social Studies 8 MCAP and any student grades 9-12 who took the ELA10/Algebra 1 MCAP. A parent/guardian cover letter and guide will be included in the score report distribution.

On Tuesday, September 10th, RHS hosted the first ever Sports Photography Workshop for MCPS student journalists sponsored by Victor O’Neill Studios. 50 students from RHS, RMHS, WHS, PHS, and SHS came to Rockville to learn from professional photographers about taking and editing photos. Our wonderful basketball team and field hockey team served as models for the sessions. Thank you to Mr. Crichton and Coach Trail for organizing teams as models. Students can enter their best photos for a chance to win a Monopod Stabilizer plus a $100 Amazon gift card. Thanks to Victor O’Neill Studios for providing the prize and planning the workshop.

Join the Latinx Student Union and Rockville High School in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15th - October 15th. We kick off our cultural spirit week on October 7th through October 11th. Check the morning announcements for daily thames. Don’t miss our annual tradition of Noche Latina on October 16th, to enjoy delicious food, music and entertainment. For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month Activities, email the Latinx Student Union Club Sponsors at Dulce_M_Carrillo@mcpsmd.org and Luisa_F_Chaney@mcpsmd.org.

If you would like to donate drinks and snacks for the event, please sign up using this link.

Coming Soon!

Save the Date for Rockville High School’s Open House scheduled for Monday, November 11th. Details soon to follow.

On Thursday, October 10th, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office will be presenting at Rockville High School to all 9th grade students on the topic of synthetic opioids. During the presentation, attorneys and affected families will share information about how opioids, specifically illegally made fentanyl, are devastating our communities. Students and staff will learn about why fentanyl is so dangerous, as well as drug prevention, harm reduction, and treatment. For more information on the opioid health crisis, Click HERE.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offers a wide range of high school application programs for students entering Grades 9–12. These programs have a centralized admissions process, which begins with a common online application. The admission process opens in early October 2024.

Grade 8 students and families, as the new school year kicks off and you begin to think about the transition to high school next year, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is excited to share information about the wide array of opportunities that are available at the high school level. These opportunities include rigorous college and career readiness programs in your local high school, as well as regional and countywide programs that help students gain an early edge in preparing for their future. MCPS is committed to expanding these opportunities to ensure access for all students and has launched many new programs in recent years. Learn more about these opportunities on the MCPS website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/.

MCPS offers high-engaging opportunities for Grade 8 students to apply to (eligibility varies) include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), early college, humanities, International Baccalaureate, leadership, and others. Click here for a complete list by home high school.

MCPS students have a vast array of opportunities at their local high school and regional/countywide programs. The Regional/Countywide High School Application Open Houses are a great way to learn more about the program offerings. Visit each school’s website to learn more.

The admission process opens in early October and Grade 8 students will apply to the programs using the high school common application. This information along with the Programs-At-A-Glance, Eligibility, Frequently Asked Questions and October open house dates are all available on this website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/.

For more information, email DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org

Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late!

Please visit: vosphoto.com/underclass

use your student ID when prompted for the online code.

For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com

PSAT School Day will be Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The PSAT and SAT assessments are used to measure students' College and Career Readiness, as well as qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The PSAT will remain free to all Grade 10 students [first-time Grade 9 School Year 2022–2023]. The PSAT will be taken digitally (not with paper/pencil format).

Every Grade 10 student must participate, except for non-diploma-bound students and students in English Language Development (ELD) Levels 1 and 2. Grade 11 students are encouraged to participate in PSAT Day to obtain SAT practice and participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program, but must pay $17.00 to participate in this test administration. Here is the Rockville High School 2024 PSAT Registration Form.

For more information on the PSAT, including test format and free online test prep, please visit the College Board PSAT/NMSQT website.

We have additional activities for students who are not directly involved in taking the PSAT Test. Please see below:

• Selected 12th grade students will have the opportunity to earn student service learning (SSL) hours, receive support with college essay writing and common college applications, and to receive IB high level math support and research support in IB.

• Selected 11th grade students who have chosen to participate in the PSAT/NMSQ assessment will take the assessment.

• 9th grade students will hear from guest speakers in the auditorium and receive college and career readiness assistance.

*Students who are not identified in one of the groups mentioned above will participate in study hall activities until 11:30 a.m. Students, who are not participating in one of the above-mentioned activities and do not need MCPS bus transportation, with parent permission, can report to school no later than 11:30 a.m. to attend periods 6, 7, & 8.

Here is the PSAT School Day Schedule for Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

Information!

INFORMATION!

RHS will administer the Seal of Biliteracy test to eligible seniors on October 16 (PSAT day), and juniors on October, 24th. Information about registration and cost will be shared soon.

For more general information about the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy, please click here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/office/seal-of-biliteracy

To help prepare students for college and career, as well as to help maintain safety and security in the school building, all RHS students will be REQUIRED to have their SCHOOL ID's VISIBLE when on school property. Students will receive their id, a lanyard, and an id case on picture day. Student ID's will be EXPECTED to be visible, beginning Tuesday, September 3rd.

The student IDs will also be used by students for check-in/check-out processes during the school day, such as for initial arrival to school and late arrivals throughout the school day.

Students are expected to comply with staff requests to show their student IDs, and staff will be required to wear their staff IDs visibly displayed during the school day.

I wanted to let the community know about the opportunity to host an intern in your business. An internship is a directed, practical learning experience, outside of the normal classroom setting, in which students sharpen skills, gain experience through structured and monitored work-based learning experiences. Students apply academic concepts, mastery instructional objectives in a professional setting, and develop a direct primary approach to identify organizational operation of local professional companies. We are looking for businesses in the community to partner with us and our internship program. We are particularly interested in the fields of electrician, fine arts, psychology, engineering, the medical field, law firm, criminology/police officer, mechanic, vet office, restaurant business, and the list goes on and on. If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact Julie_a_james@mcpsmd.org. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Tue, October 1
College Fair

Thu, October 3
Non-Instructional Day—No school for students and teachers

Tue, October 8
IB Meeting

Wed, October 9
Boosters Meeting

Tue, October 15
PTSA Meeting

Wed, October 16
PSAT School Day
Noche Latina

Fri, October 18
Professional day for all staff; no school for students

Tue, October 22
Music Dept. Open Mic

Wed, October 23
ASL Bingo

Mon, November 4
Grading and Planning for the end of term; no school for students

Tue, November 5
General Election Day—Schools and offices closed

Wed, November 13
Boosters Meeting

Wed, November 27
Systemwide Closure—Schools and offices closed

Thu, November 28
Thanksgiving—Schools and offices closed

Fri, November 29
Thanksgiving—Schools and offices closed

Wed, December 11
Boosters Meeting

Mon, December 23
Winter Break—No school for students and teachers

Tue, December 24
Winter Break—No school for students and teachers
Holidays—Schools and offices closed

You can access and complete this training via your parent portal account. If you need assistance with your parent portal account, please contact Ms. Darlyn Pineda, Counseling Secretary.

For more on the MCPS volunteer policies and regulations, please click here.

Please continue to support our efforts by encouraging your child to be in school by 7:45 a.m. and to adhere to expectations of our "Bell to Bell No Cell" Policy. We look forward to working with you and your families to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Main Office number: 240.740.6600

Let's keep GREATNESS GOING!!!

Next Newsletter: November 2024