RMSST Seniors Precious Babajide and Prakash Gupta were recently announced as National Merit Semifinalists. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced last week the names of the top 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Read the full press release at 2025 Merit SF Press Release (Web).indd (nationalmerit.org)

I’m thrilled to announce that 37 of our outstanding students have been recognized by the College Board’s National Recognition Program this year! In August 2024, College Board awarded the top 10% of students from across the country with academic honors through the annual National Recognition Programs, available to students on BigFuture.org. The programs celebrate underrepresented students who excel academically on College Board assessments, including PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and AP Exams. The awards aren’t only a chance for school communities to celebrate. Many colleges intentionally recruit awardees through College Board’s Student Search Service.

2024 National Recognition Program Awardees:

Caitlin Alexander, Emmanuel Allen, Elissa Anderson, Jonah Baker, Caleb Barnwell, Nikayla Brewington, Christopher Broaddus Jr, Sammie Burkhalter, Kina Burris, Salvador Cervantes, Gabrielle Christie, Dani Donald, Aiden French, Joel Gayle, Alexa Gomez- Ventura, Mila Gutsulyak, Sydney Hammett, Kenya Howard, Olivia Howard-Bashir, My-Vi Huynh, Anaya Jackson, Demilade Ladipo, Joel Lindo, Parizehra Momin, Juan Moran, Maya Odell, Ryan Rakestraw, Amira Robinson, Kayla Smith, Trenton Smith, Penny Smith, Aiyana Tran-Williams, Kameron Tyler, Samaya Williams, Aaliyah Willis, Alicia Wright, Muna Yassin

We are pleased to announce that 17 sophomores from Rockdale Magnet have been selected to be part of a group of only 50 student leaders from across the county to participate in the Rockdale Youth Leadership Program for the 2024-25 school year. Please congratulate the students below and wish them the best as they start this year-long leadership development experience.

** Also, RYL was advertised in Magnet News. In the spirit of celebrating reading and staying aware of the great opportunities available to students, any student who emails me a one sentence highlight from a class this week will be entered into a raffle for a prize pack from the Economic Development Council that includes a clear tote bag, charger, and more! **

We encourage all of our Magnet families, students, and staff to get involved with this year's Monster Dash 5K held Friday, October 18th from 5-7:30pm at Reid Stadium.

Adult Volunteer Sign Up Form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uF7Sv_w9XE6tq60HPyOscrIpQMWFq7hIvsvzke_UeCRUNEswVzNXM1ZSRjhSVk8wT0hHMEE4TlQ4SiQlQCNjPTEu

Student Volunteer Sign Up Form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uF7Sv_w9XE6tq60HPyOscrIpQMWFq7hIvsvzke_UeCRUQUtONzQ5VFhGSks1WEFIVzhKNEdFMk0zVyQlQCNjPTEu

Race Registration Website: Magnet Monster Dash 5k Tickets in Conyers, GA, United States (ticketleap.com)

Prizes & Incentives: Something for everyone participating as a volunteer, recruiter, and/or runner!

1. Student Council is giving away large squishes as prizes to the first 20 individual students who sign up.

2. Ambassadors is giving away a popsicle and ice cream party to the club/team who recruits the most runners to sign up. Stay tuned for weekly updates on the leaderboard for this. There is a registration question set up to facilitate each runner giving credit to multiple club/teams as may be appropriate, so encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and community members to sign up today!

3.Monster Dash Cups go to school with fastest male and female runners.

4.Prizes will be given after the race for the top 3 runners in each age division.

Next week we will be celebrating Historically Black Colleges and Universities! Our week of events are on the attached flyer.

Monday -Scavenger Hunt in the RCHS Band App _Prizes awarded

Tuesday -Seniors can apply for colleges through the Black Common App for FREE and members of the D9 will be visiting throughout the week in the cafe to assist all of our 17.5 yr old students register to vote. There are QR codes throughout the building as well.

Wednesday- Rock your HBCU gear! RCHS HBCU panel during A1 and BSSU hosts HBCU Panel at Magnet at 12:40pm Flex.

Thursday- Seniors will visit Clark Atlanta University (must have previously signed up for Field Trip)

Friday- We are asking all students and staff to wear/rock an HBCU T-Shirt or the colors of a favorite HBCU!

RMSST & LatinX are preparing to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Join us for a FREE Movie Night to watch "Book of Life" with friends on Friday, September 20th and stay tuned for an awesome spirit week starting October 7th.

September marks Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time where the nation comes together to recognize the harrowing realities of suicide and spread awareness about this highly stigmatized topic. The U.S. surgeon general calls mental health the “defining health crisis of our time.” In 2023, more than 500,000 people died by suicide - that is more than any year on record. According to the American Psychological Association, "more than 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide". All month long our amazing counseling duo Ms. Harris and Ms. Lindsey will work to educate our students about the signs and effects of suicide, discuss suicide prevention measures and provide resources for those who are in need.

Please visit Suicide (for Teens) | Nemours KidsHealth for more information.

Did you know that regular attendance is crucial for your academic success and overall well-being? Being present in class helps you stay on top of your studies, participate in exciting activities, and build strong relationships with your teachers and classmates.

This month, let’s make a commitment to show up, stay engaged, and support each other in maintaining excellent attendance. Remember, every day counts!

Below is a guide for every student taking PSAT snd SAT exams in October.

PSAT 8/9 Student Guide

Fall 2024 PSAT 8/9 Student Guide (collegeboard.org)

PSAT 10 Student Guide

PSAT 10 Student Guide (collegeboard.org)

PSAT NMSQT Student Guide

PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide (collegeboard.org)

SAT School Day Student Guide

Fall 2024 SAT School Day Student Guide (collegeboard.org)

As part of our college and career readiness efforts at RMSST, we strive to set all students up for success. That’s why we’re offering the PSATTM 8/9—the first test in the SAT® Suite of Assessments—to our 9th grade students. Results from this assessment help us establish a baseline for each student as they start their high school journey. The results help us focus classroom instruction and support your child’s growth.

Taking the PSAT 8/9 can also help your child to:

▪ Understand their strengths, and what skills they need to work on.

▪ Find out what AP® courses they’re ready to take.

▪ Explore personalized career insights aligned to their score.

The PSAT 8/9 is administered in a digital format that provides an overall easier testing experience for students. Watch this video to see what students can expect with the digital PSAT 8/9.

Your child will take the PSAT 8/9 on Tuesday, October 22nd using their school-issued laptop and scores will be released later this Fall.

If you or your child have questions about the PSAT 8/9, please reach out to your child’s counselor—we can help!

• Mr. Dufresne is hosting SAT prep sessions! If you need to brush up on your Geometry, Algebra, or Trignomoetry check out the dates on the attached flyer.

It’s time for the annual NCSSS Virtual College Fair! Connect with top Colleges & STEM schools in the country at the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) Virtual College Fair from 5-7 p.m. EDT on Thursday, October 10. Participation in the Virtual College Fair is open to all students from NCSSS Institutional and Associate schools as a member benefit.

Learn more- College Fair – NCSSS

Register- https://forms.gle/X5U1nNyLGWugfZvSA

The 4.5 week Progress Reports have been posted by all teachers. Student grades are updated in Infinite Campus and can be monitored by parents via Parent Portal. Please review your student's progress and discuss their plan for success regularly.

How To Check for Grades & Progress Reports:

• CLICK HERE for directions on how to check for grades, Progress Reports, and Report Cards.

Below is the Before and After School weekly schedule for Magnet tutorials, office hours, clubs, and teams. It is designed as an overview to help you get involved and find support at Magnet.

More information about clubs and teams available at Magnet can be viewed at this link to the 2024 Club and Team Showcase

Extended Tutorial is planned on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week this semester. Students can stay after school for ANY teacher's office hours, clubs, and/or teams and then report to the extended tutorial. Students must be picked up by 6pm on extended tutorial days. This allows families a later window for transportation while allowing students access to extracurriculars and office hours.

The teachers listed below will be hosting this week's extended tutorial.

Keep in mind that even if the teacher/subject you need is not listed, any of the adults can help you make a tutor.com appointment or give you general direction on making the most of your study time.

September:

• 10th & 11th grade Family-Student Meeting - Thursday, September 12 (6-7:30pm)
• 9th grade & Peer Mentors only Flex - Friday, September 13 (12:15-1pm)
• Wellness Wednesday- Wednesday, September 18th (12:40-1pm)
• Ambassadors Working Retreat- Friday, September 20 (11:16am-3:05pm)
• 9th grade & Peer Mentors only Flex - Monday, September 23 (12:15-1pm)
• Homecoming Week- Starts September 23
• Pre-ACT for 10th Graders - Wednesday, September 25
• Homecoming Dance- Saturday, September 28

Click here to pay 2024 Magnet Fund Dues!

Magnet Fund dues are $220 per student. For families who have multiple students, additional students are $120. Dues are requested to be paid at Open House or by August 9th. A late fee will apply to accounts that are not paid by September 30th.

Rockdale Magnet Fund Inc. is the 501c3 non-profit academic booster club that supports all students at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology.

Learn more about the benefits from Magnet Dues by watching this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DFYGJLB1I8

Please use this Who to Contact file to help you get to the right person quickly.

Is there a teacher or staff member you want to thank or compliment for a great start to the school year? Please use this form to share a shout-out message about the good things you see happening at Magnet. We will share the positive shout-out messages at future staff meetings.

Students & parents are invited to text the code below to 81010 to join the Remind for your grade level announcements.

Class of 2025 @rmsst2025

Class of 2026 @magnet26

Class of 2027 @magnet27

Class of 2028 @magnet28

Publix Partners makes supporting students and faculty as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Join Club Publix and log in to your account at publix.com.

2. In your Club Publix profile, go to Settings, select Choose Publix Partner at the bottom of the page, and select your school.

3. Enter your phone number at checkout or pay with the Publix app, and we’ll donate a portion of your purchase to your school.

So far, Publix has donated $1,200 to our school! Publix Partners has contributed over $41.2 million to more than 5,296 schools across the Southeast. See how much our school has earned and learn more at publix.com/partners.

Terms, conditions & restrictions apply

As you shop at Office Depot for back to school or throughout the year, please provide our School ID code 70206723 and our school receives 5% of your order back at no cost to you! Save the image below on your smart phone to have easy access when you shop. Online orders can be added to! Learn more at https://www.officedepot.com/l/school-supplies/give-back

Do you have feedback about RMSST? Please share your ideas, suggestions, or concerns below. Items submitted will be reviewed at our monthly Building Leadership Team meetings.

If you have a specific questions or concern directly related to your student or that is time sensitive, please refer to our "Who to Contact" by category at https://magnet.rockdaleschools.org/about/news_and_announcements/news/f_a_q_s or email our director Mrs. Baskett directly at abaskett@rockdale.k12.ga.us.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uF7Sv_w9XE6tq60HPyOscrIpQMWFq7hIvsvzke_UeCRURUlPWjRWWDFXS1o2T0hKVDNJNkFBWE0zNyQlQCNjPTEu

Magnet Families- Please use next school year's calendar as you plan. It is key that students are at school every day that they are well. Research shows that attendance in class is a key predictor for success.

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The mission of RMSST, a specialized research-focused learning community, is to foster and produce students who think ethically, critically, and independently while excelling in competitive academic environments and demonstrating high standards and expectations.