Happy Friday, RMHS Students and Families,

Believe it or not, we are headed into the final week of Q3. Wow, how time has flown by this year! I am incredibly grateful and inspired by the amazing work of our students, staff and families so far this year. As the principal 6-12, it is an incredible gift to watch the growth of our students from when they enter our school in 6th grade to when they graduate. To watch it come full circle and to see and hear the testimonials of so many of our 2025 graduates motivates all of us to push through hard things and develop the relationships required for supportive, and inclusive experiences to guide and influence us.

As we bid the first series of 'good-byes' to several seniors this week as they venture off to their Q4 internship experiences, I want to take this moment to personally thank and applaud them for all they have done to make RHS so special. Their unique talents, brilliance, excitement and passions have touched us all and made a unique mark on our school. I am beyond proud and so very excited to see what they become as they head into their next adventure. These coming weeks bring a series of celebrations and culminating experiences so please keep your eyes open and check your emails to stay on top of everything if you are not in the building.

The middle school ended the week with a Pep Rally in the GYM as they wrapped up their month of Spirit! The RMS Theater cast and crew are in the midst of their Spring performances with an outstanding opening night this past Thursday. You have two more opportunities to catch the show tonight, Friday, March 28th and Saturday, March 29th. See details below. Don't miss it!

A reminder to students in grades 6-8 that you have ELA MCAS this coming week. The students will have the opportunity to practice the online platform on Monday through a structured practice test before engaging in the exams on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please be in school and on time to participate in these state-required experiences. See below for more dates and details.

Here's to a great week ahead! 😎

-Ms. Rose

Tuesday, April 1st: HS Assembly

Tuesday, April 1st - Wednesday, April 2nd: ELA MCAS Grades 6-8

Tuesday, April 1st: RMS Band, Chorus, Orchestra Concert @ 6:30 (RMHS)

Thursday, April 3rd: RHS Band, Chorus, Orchestra Concert @ 6:30 (RMHS)

Friday, April 4th: Q3 Ends

Monday, April 7th: Q4 Starts

Monday, April 7th: MS Assembly

Tuesday, April 8th: HS Assembly

Tuesday, April 8th: RMS Jazz & Small Ensemble Concert @ 6:30 (Shalin Liu)

Wednesday, April 9th: RHS Jazz & Small Ensemble Concert @ 6:30 (Shalin Liu)

Friday, April 11th: Report Cards

Tuesday April 15th: RMHS Assembly

Wednesday, April 16th: NHS Induction @ 7:00 (Shalin Liu)

Friday, April 18th: 1/2 day

Monday, April 21st - Friday, April 25th: Spring Vacation

Monday, April 28th: Wecome Back

Monday, April 28th - Tuesday, April 29th: RMS Math MCAS

Wednesday, April 30th: Middle School DramaFest

Saturday, May 3rd: DramaFest

Tuesday, May 6th: HS Assembly

Thursday, May 8th: MS Assembly

Tuesday, May 13th: HS Assembly

Friday, May 16th: 1/2 day for Students

Friday, May 16th: Prom

Saturday, May 17th: Vocal Pops @ Legion Bandstand @ 6:30

Grades 6-8 MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st & Wednesday, April 2nd

Grades 6-8 Math MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th & Wednesday, April 30th

Grade 10 Math MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th & Wednesday, May 21st

Grade 8 STE MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13th & Wednesday, May 14th

Grade 9 Physics MCAS is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th & Thursday, June 5th

Grade 8 Civics MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27th & Wednesday, May 28th

A few reminders as you prepare for these important dates in your educational career:

• MCAS is computer-based once again this year. Teachers have been having you practice during class. Please be sure you are taking advantage of this practice and asking questions if you have concerns about the platform.

• Please make sure to be in school and on time on testing days - Showing up is half the battle!

• Do your best work possible and come in with a positive attitude.

• Listen/read carefully to all test-taking directions and ask questions if any directions are unclear.

• Breathe, take your time and do the best you can. You have the skills you need to be successful on this exam so come in with a clear and open mind! I have full faith you will all do well

It is essential that you come to school prepared and ready to take the exam. If you have any questions about the MCAS subject matter, please contact your subject-specific teacher. If you have questions about attendance or other procedural aspects of the exam, please contact Ms. King.

Senior Week dates will be held as follows:

Friday, May 16th: RHS Junior/Senior Class Prom

Tuesday, May 20th: Senior Showcase @ Rockport Shalin Liu Performance Center

Tuesday, May 20th: Mandatory Internship Showcase at 9:20 am (Final Project/Presentation)

Friday, May 23rd: Final Day of Formal Classes/Internships for Seniors (Final Deadline to submit any work and community service)

Tuesday, May 27th: Spring Athletic Awards Night @ 6pm

Wednesday, May 28th: Senior Banquet (Elks in Gloucester @ 6:00pm)

Friday, May 30th: RHS Graduation Ceremony @ 5pm (More details to come)

The Week of Monday, May 26th is Senior Week! 🎉🎓

Graduation Rehearsals are scheduled for:

• Monday, May 26th: Holiday

• Tuesday, May 27th: 8 am - 10:30 am

• Wednesday, May 28th: 8 am - 10:30 am (Caps and Gowns Distributed, only if Obligations fulfilled. RPS Parade of the Graduates at 10:15 am).

• Friday, May 30th: 8 am - 9:30 am

• Friday, May 30th: Graduation @ 5:00 pm

Please note that all seniors must meet their academic, community service, and financial obligations by Friday, May 23rd, in order to participate in the RHS Graduation Ceremony scheduled for May 30th, 2025. All seniors are required to attend all graduation rehearsals the week of Senior Week if they plan to participate in the ceremony.

🎳When: April 6th, 2025

⌚Time: 4:00 - 6:00

💰Cost: $20

Reasons for Attending:

A Fun Night Out! Bowl with friends, enjoy great vibes, and compete for fun prizes!

Support a Great Cause! Half of your ticket goes directly to the 2025 Prom

Win Prizes! Buy raffle tickets for a chance to take home awesome prizes.

Team Up & Compete! Join as a team or sign up individually—we’ll match you with a gr

Mrs. Favazza, middle school computer science and engineering teacher, is competing to become the 2025 "America's Favorite Teacher." The grand prize includes cool stuff like a trip to Hawaii, money, and a feature in Reader's Digest, but also (drumroll please...) an assembly for their school with Bill Nye!!! Anyone with a facebook account can vote for free once each day through the elimination phase, and she'll move on to the finals if she's in first place in her group as of April 3rd. She is currently in 1st place. Please vote, share, and vote again! https://americasfavteacher.org/2025/alexandria-favazza

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 above to help navigate the team available to support you.

Seniors - Class of 2025:

• Scholarships - The Outside Scholarships and Separate Scholarships (pages 16-30 of the scholarship booklet) are coming due shortly. Most have due dates of March 31, 2025 or April 1, 2025, with a few others with later dates.

• Seniors who have applied to college, please update your Naviance accounts with your admission decisions and don’t forget to let us know your attending college! On the “Colleges I am applying to” page, click the pencil icon next to each college you need to update, add the decision (admit, deny, waitlist, etc.), and “save” the information.

Juniors - Class of 2026:

Our last Career Readiness FLEX class will be held next week. Come prepared with your charged Chromebook or laptop for a working session. Your self-exploration and career interest finder surveys and your Uniqueness/Brag Sheet Google Form are due.

All High School Students:

• Save the date for local college and career fairs! The Greater Essex County College & Career Fair will be held Thursday, April 3rd from 6:00-7:30PM at Newburyport High School. Click for the flyer. The NEACAC College Fair will be held at Merrimack College on Sunday, May 4th from 6:00-8:00pm. Click for the flyer.

• Community Service Opportunities

All students need 50 hours of community service to graduate. Please visit the new Community Service page on the website for suggested opportunities and community service forms. Opportunities are also posted on the bulletin board outside of Guidance. Stop into Guidance with any questions!

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:

1. Upcoming events:

*April 3rd Family Arts & Crafts Night

*May 17th Vikings Donuts at Brothers Brew

2. Thank you to our RPS families for your continuous donations throughout our school year! Always email with any questions ptorockport@gmail.com!

Thanks!

Rockport PTO

SEPAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) Meeting - April 3, 2025 at 6:30pm in the RES library

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.

SAVE THE DATE -

“Save the date for the 4th annual Northeast Region Assistive Technology Fair! This free event on April 30 is your chance to learn about a range of assistive technology products from 30 vendors and to see how assistive technology enables people to live productive, meaningful, and dignified lives.

The event will take place at Liberty Tree Mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are thrilled to partner with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services on this great event.

Visit the event site to register: https://ow.ly/yszw50UKpCF “