Happy Friday, RMHS Students!

Today marks the official close of the first semester. I was so impressed with the high school students this past week as they prepared for and successfully completed mid-term exams. The time, energy, and effort they demonstrated were impressive and we are proud of their collective accomplishments as they wrap up another semester of high school. Meantime, in the middle school, the cast and crew of Mean Girls graced us with a "Sneak Peak" performance at Wednesday's Assembly block, to be followed by their opening night this past Thursday evening. There are three more opportunities to come out in support of the amazing group! Trust me, you don't want to miss this fantastic show! 🎤💃

Mean Girls Upcoming Performances in the John Lane Auditorium:

Friday, January 24th @ 7pm

Saturday, January 25th @ 7pm

Sunday, January 26th @ 2pm

This coming week is jam packed with events and opportunities to support our students and families. This Monday, students from the junior and senior class will be participating in the first annual Job Shadow Day where they will have the opportunity to work alongside a professional in their field of interest. Tuesday, the RHS Guidance Department is hosting the Junior Post-Secondary Planning Night, and Thursday, RPS is excited to present a Zoom speaker to talk with our families as they support their children in making healthy decisions around drugs, vaping, and alcohol. Please be sure to read the dates and details below for your planning purposes.

This coming Tuesday, HS students will meet by class during Assembly block to prepare for the upcoming Spirit Week in February. Locations will be as follows:

Class of 2025 (Seniors): Health Room

Class of 2026 (Juniors): AUD

Class of 2027 (Sophs): GYM

Class of 2028 (FR): CAF

Grades formally close in Aspen today (Friday, January 24th). Please note that teachers have until Friday, January 31st to submit final grades in Aspen. Report cards will be distributed to students and available in Aspen by the end of the day on Friday, January 31st. If you have any questions about the grades, please contact the subject-specific teacher directly.

Here's to a great week ahead....😎

-Ms. Rose

Monday, January 27th: Q3 Starts

Monday, January 27th: Job Shadow day for Juniors & Seniors

Tuesday, January 28th: RHS Class of 2026 Post Secondary Planning Night @ 6:00 pm (CAFE)

Wednesday, January 30th: Principal/Family Partnership Zoom @ 6:00pm (See details below)

Friday, January 31st: Reports Cards are available

Friday, January 31st: MS Spelling Bee @ 7:45 am in the AUD

Friday, January 31st: MS Winter Formal Dance 6pm - 8pm (RMHS CAFE)

Friday, Februaty 7th: MS Assembly

Tuesday, February 11th: RMHS Extended Assembly for a PTO Sponsored Guest Speaker

Friday, February 14th: 1/2 Day

Monday February 17th - Friday, February 21st: Winter Break

Monday, February 24th: Welcome Back

Monday, February 24th: MS Assembly

Tuesday, February 25th: HS Assembly

Wednesday, February 26th - Sunday, March 9th: Art show

Thursday, February 27th - Friday, February 28th: DECA State Competition

Thursday, March 6th - RHS Course Selection NIghts (Grades 8-11) @ 7 pm

Take a Day to Meet and Observe a Professional in a Field of Interest!

• Job Shadow Day will be Monday, January 27th, 2025

• All Students in 11th and 12th grade will explore career or community service

interests

• Students are encouraged to find their own placements; Assistance is available

• Job Shadow Day Proposal is due December 13th, 2024

Questions? See RMHS Capstone Program Coordinator Mr. Vendt evendt@rpk12.org

We are so excited to begin the RHS course selection process for students in grades 8-11 over the next month.

Please save the dates for more information to come:

• Monday, March 3rd- Thursday, March 6th: RHS Course Selection Week - Teachers will have conversations with students and make academic recommendations in Aspen.

• Tuesday, March 4th: Ms. Rose will review the course offerings and process for students during the school day to discuss the 2025-2026 Program of Studies, and the timeline for the RHS Course Selection Process.

• Thursday, March 6, 2025, @ 7 pm in the John Lane Auditorium : RHS Course Selection Night - The evening is comprised of formal and informal presentations by the academic coordinators and counselors who will outline their subject-specific offerings and pathways. Administration and counseling staff will provide information about our ongoing partnerships with Project Lead the Way, Virtual High School, Educere; as well as Dual Enrollment and other community-based expansion offerings.

• March 7th- March 14th: Students have time to review recommendations with their families, continue conversations with their teachers, and make requests for elective classes in Aspen.

• March 14th - March 24th: Counselors will review all recommendations in Aspen to assure that a comprehensive schedule of courses has been requested for the purposes of building a master schedule.

• Early June 2025: RHS schedules will be released to students and families. At that time, students will have an opportunity to make any level or elective changes with their Guidance Counselor.

Dates: February 26th - March 9, 2024

Reception: March 6th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
National Art Honors Society Induction Ceremony 5:30pm

Location: Rockport Art Association, 12 Main St, Rockport, MA

Days & Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm

We understand that the transition to a middle/high school this coming year comes with a shift in contact information. To simplify the process for families, we have streamlined all communications to run through the RMHS Main Office. Please use the main number for routine inquiries: 978-546-1234. For a more detailed chart of counselors, and other support personnel, please use the chart below to help navigate our new team of people and systems.

Save the Date! NACAC Boston National College Fair March 27 and 28, 2025

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) invites students, parents, and counselors to explore the college search process at the NACAC National College Fair in Boston held on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and Friday, March 28, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The fair will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Complete information about the fair, including free student registration, can be found at https://www.nacacattend.org/25Boston.

Community Service is a graduation requirement!

Community service hours are updated weekly in Aspen and posted on Class Information Boards. All students need to earn 50 hours. Please visit the new Community Service page on the website for suggested opportunities and community service forms. Check out the bulletin board outside of Guidance for opportunities or stop by Guidance to speak with Ms. Vavruska or Ms. Price with any questions.

Juniors - Class of 2026:

• Post-Secondary Planning Night for Juniors & Families will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 6:00-7:30 pm in the RMHS cafeteria. Guidance hosts this free informational workshop to help students and their families navigate the process of career and college planning. The event will focus on providing valuable resources, general guidance, and insights to prepare students for higher education and post-high school opportunities.

Seniors - Class of 2025:

• Seniors who have applied to colleges: Please continue to check your personal emails for guidance about the next steps, creating a portal, and/or missing documents.

• Guidance has received a few scholarships that fall outside of our local scholarship program. Seniors are welcome to check out the binder in Guidance.

Please see the chart below for a breakdown of counseling assignments at the high school level. The alphabet breakdown is based upon student last name:

RHS Jr/Sr. Prom - Friday, May 16th, 2025 @ Spinellis

Senior Showcase: Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 @ Rockport Music Shalin Liu

Senior Banquet - Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ The Elks at Bass Rocks

Being in school and on time are extremely important to your child's success. When students attend school regularly and arrive on time, they stay engaged in their learning, build strong relationships, and develop solid study habits. Please help us by making sure your child gets to school on time each day. The cafeteria and library are open at 7:00 am and free breakfast is available in the cafeteria for all students. The main hallways and classrooms open at 7:25 am.

The school campus is closed to the public when school is in session and after 10:00pm nightly. This includes the use of the tennis courts, track, playgrounds, athletic fields and all other parts of the campus. This does not include families and community members attending school events in our schools or on our school grounds. We appreciate the community's understanding and support as we continue to prioritize the safety of RPS students and staff.

Breakfast is an important way to start a productive day. We encourage all students to arrive early enough to get breakfast before school begins if possible. For those students not able to get to school early on any given day, we will provide a set time in the morning to be sure breakfast is accessible to all. Breakfast and lunch continue to be free for students this year.