RBHS BRIDGE Communication
Rock Bridge High School Newsletter: November 21, 2023
Mission
Rock Bridge High School is a community in which ALL students and staff inspire each other to become lifelong learners.
Rock Bridge Families,
Happy Thanksgiving! We've had a busy fall and are looking forward to a few days off to celebrate all we are grateful for and get some much needed rest. Students and Staff alike should use this break to recharge and prepare for the final academic push of Semester 1. When we return from the break there will be 18 days (9 A-days and 9 B-days) remaining. We've been asking students to assess their current academic reality, compare it to the goals they set for themselves at the beginning of the year, and create actionable plans to finish the semester with the best learning outcomes possible. Please take some time to speak with your student(s) about their plans to finish this semester in the best possible position they are able.
On November 2nd families were able to access our second progress report (IPR). There is a good chance that grades have shifted a bit since then, so make sure you are viewing the most up-to-date grades when looking in Infinite Campus.
Below you will find information about the following.
- November Attendance Goal Update
- Guidelines for Illness and School Attendance
- Rock Bridge 2023 Thanksgiving Assembly Images and AVID Tips for Academic Success
- Help Eliminate Electronic Distractions
- Tutoring Opportunities at RBHS
- A Strong Start for Rock Bridge Speech and Debate
- Fall Athletics Wrap-up
- RBHS Theatre's Production of Play On
- Remaining 2023 Performing Arts Schedule
- Rock Bridge PTSA Updates
- October BRIDGE Communication
- December Calendar
We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
Sincerely,
Jacob
November Attendance Goal Update
RBHS Attendance Goal
Remember that the state of Missouri maintains a goal for all schools that 90% of students have 90% attendance or better each year. Last year, 82% of our students made the 90% goal. This year we have a goal that 87% of our students are present at school 90% of the time. Our collective percentage of students who have achieved 90% attendance as of November 17th is 85.4% compared to 84.9% the previous year at the same time. In the chart directly below, you can see the attendance data broken down by grade level comparing last year and this year at the same time. As you can see we are a little bit under our goal of 87%. Please know that our goal is still very much within reach for the year.
When you calculate the number of days a student can miss and still achieve the state's goal of 90% attendance, we feel this is achievable for most our students/families. A student could be absent 16 days in a school year and still achieve 90% attendance.
Achieving this goal will require a partnership between RBHS and our families. We hope that we can count on you to help us achieve our 2023-2024 Attendance Goal. Please discuss this openly with your family and help us stress the importance of attending school every day one is able. We know that being present during instruction is one of the most important keys to academic success.
Guidelines for Illness and School Attendance
As we get deeper into cold and flu season, here is a reminder of CPS illness guidelines:
Students will be sent home and/or should remain at home if they exhibit any of the following:
- A temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater
- Vomiting with associated signs of illness
- Diarrhea
- Unusual or unexplained rash
- Persistent cough
- Ongoing symptoms of discomfort or immobility from an injury
- A concerning health condition that may require further medical evaluation
Students may return to school when:
· Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
· Vomiting and/or diarrhea free for 24 hours
· Other conditions (rash, injury or health concern) subside
· With a provider’s note
Remember, students who are ill or injured should visit the nurses’ office when checking out. If you have any questions- please reach out to Nurse Tammy or Nurse Danielle. The direct line is 573-214-3117 or by email tadkins@cpsk12.org; dlamm@cpsk12.org
Rock Bridge 2023 Thanksgiving Assembly
AVID Tips for Academic Success
Now that our last round of IPRs are behind us and we are headed towards Winter Break, it’s really important to make sure that you are doing everything you can to pass your classes and achieve your goal grades this semester. For those of you freshmen, remember, your grades do count!
Make sure that you have submitted all missing work to your teachers! If you need to retake or reattempt an assignment, please make sure that you are communicating with your teachers ahead of time!
At Rock Bridge we have the tutor room for help! Don’t forget to take advantage of this room, as your peer tutors and teacher tutors are there to make sure that you can succeed this semester! But of course, don’t forget, reach out to your classmates… we’re in this together, let’s help each other keep track of due dates and class materials!
And finally, make sure that you are preparing for your semester finals as best you can! Take the necessary notes now, use your highlighters and make sure you know those key concepts for each subject! Set manageable study goals to stay on top of your homework, make flash cards to review materials, grab a study buddy and help each other for accountability.
Help Eliminate Electronic Distractions
You should have recently received an email from Columbia Public Schools related to the frequent use of cell phones by students and the disruption to learning that this can cause. The email was titled Assistance with Cell Phones and is linked here.
Cell phones are a reality of our day to day life, and while we appreciate the convenience these devices provide us, they are very distracting to in-person direct learning. Please join us in our "One Thing" campaign, where we are working to remind our Rock Bridge Community that putting the phone away is the best method to fully engage during in-person learning. We know this to be true for more than just school, so we are asking that you join us in these conversations with your students at home about giving one's full attention to the current moment. Join us in our "Do One Thing At A Time" campaign. We appreciate your partnership in this effort!
AUT/Advisory/Study Hall and RBHS Tutoring Center
Please remind your student regularly that they should be utilizing their AUT, Advisory, and/or Study Hall time to complete school work, refresh their understanding of content, or get assistance with work that is challenging. Below you will find information about two different academic assistance opportunities we offer at RBHS.
Rock Bridge provides our Tutoring Center for all students during each of the 8 blocks. Our Tutoring Center is staffed by Math, Science, and Studies certified teachers and students with interest (and competency) in each of these contents.
9th graders are able to access this assistance during their Advisory class period. They can also use their time in Advisory to seek assistance from their 9th grade peers, Advisory Mentor, and their Advisory Teacher.
10th, 11th, and 12th graders are able to access the Tutoring Center during any portion of their AUT.
A Strong Start for Rock Bridge Speech and Debate
Rock Bridge 2023 Fall Athletics Wrap-up
RBHS Boys XC
Luke Sievers
Andrew Hauser
Matthew Kim
RBHS Soccer
RBHS Football
Trey Clervi
100 Breaststroke State Champion and school record
Keaton Hall
2nd Place Finish at State Dive Championship
Trey Clervi
Ryan Coughenour
Clervi, Coughenour, Bechtold, & Barnes
Hayden Barnes
Hayden Barnes
Barnes, Schultz, Clervi, & Coughenour
RBHS Cheer
RBHS Performing Arts Fall/Winter Season
RBHS Theatre's Production of Play On
2023 Remaining Performing Arts Events
December 5 at 7 pm is our Holiday Orchestra Concert in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
December 14, 15, & 16 at 7 pm is our Advanced Acting Class Play in the PAC. There is also a December 16 matinee performance at 2:00 pm.
December 18 at 6:00 pm is our holiday Band Concert in the PAC.
December 19 at 7:00 pm is our Holiday Choral Concert in the PAC.
Rock Bridge PTSA Updates
At the November PSTA meeting, we shared the slides linked below to help families better understand our RBHS current reality related to data that the state of Missouri uses for our APR score (report card for schools).
Thank you, Rock Bridge PTSA for all the support you have demonstrated this school year. The Thanksgiving dinner, catered by the CACC, was AMAZING! Thank you also for the new "Bear Hunt" practice to celebrate some deserving RBHS Staff! The October "Bear Hunt" recipient was Mrs. Jill Hamilton, RBHS Media Center Clerk.
December Calendar
- November 22 to 24 - No School Thanksgiving Recess
- December 20 - Last Day of Semester 1
- December 21 to January 2 - No School Winter Recess
- January 3 - First Day of Semester 2