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ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL

RHS COMMUNITY WEEKLY UPDATE #28 March 17, 2017

IN THIS EDITION: In this week’s edition, you will find information on the following:

● MCAS Early Release Reminders 3/21, 3/22 & 3/23 ● Parent Teacher Conferences 4/25 ● Credits to Advance to Next Grade Level & Summer School ● Helpful information on Understanding Your Student Financial Aid Award Letter ● Positivity Week ● Site Council Meeting Minutes from 2/16 ● SGC earns Gold ● Broadway Night Highlights ● Shakespeare Festival 3/24 & 3/25 ● Unified Basketball v. Abington 3/13 ● Cheerleading wins another State Championship! ● Hockey Falls to ORR in Division 3 South Finals ● Save the Date for the Arts Festival ● Next Week’s Lunch Menu ● The Week Ahead

MCAS TESTING EARLY RELEASE REMINDERS: On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 21st-23rd, all grade 10 Rockland High School students will take the English Language Arts portion of the MCAS Exam in the morning. For students taking the exam, a free breakfast will be served starting at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. Buses will run at the usual times. Students not taking the exam (primarily grades 9, 11, and 12) must report to their first class of the day by 10:38 a.m. You can help your son or daughter prepare for this state-wide assessment by reinforcing the importance of: · Giving your best effort on each test question · Being on time · Getting a good night’s sleep and eating breakfast A special schedule will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next week. Please see below: Tuesday, March 21 7:30 Free Breakfast in the Café all test takers 8:00-10:34 MCAS Exam Period Grades 9, 11, and 12 arrive, report directly to Block A

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10:38-11:21 Block A 11:25-12:55 Block D 1st lunch 11:25-11:55 2nd lunch 11:55-12:25 3rd lunch 12:25-12:55 12:58 - 1:45 Block B 1:49 - 2:35 Block C Wednesday, March 22 7:30 Free Breakfast in the Café 8:00-10:34 MCAS Exam Period Grades 9, 11, and 12 arrive, report directly to Block A 10:38-11:21 Block A 11:25-12:55 Block E 1st lunch 11:25-11:55 2nd lunch 11:55-12:25 3rd lunch 12:25-12:55 12:58 - 1:45 Block F 1:49 - 2:35 Block G Thursday, March 23 7:30 Free Breakfast in the Café 8:00-10:34 MCAS Exam Period Grades 9, 11, and 12 arrive, report directly to Block B 10:38-11:21 Block B 11:25-12:55 Block D 1st lunch 11:25-11:55 2nd lunch 11:55-12:25 3rd lunch 12:25-12:55 12:58 - 1:45 Block C 1:49 - 2:35 Block E PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES ON APRIL 25TH! With term 3 closing on April 6th and grades becoming available in the afternoon on April 13th, it is almost time for our spring Parent Teacher Conferences. On Tuesday, April 25th, Rockland High School will have Parent Teacher Conferences from 1-2:30pm and 6:30-8pm. Please print off your child’s schedule and visit your child’s classrooms during these time windows. There are no set appointments during these time windows so please drop by and see your child’s teachers as you would like. CREDITS TO ADVANCE TO NEXT GRADE LEVEL & SUMMER SCHOOL: As we approach the end of the third term, I wanted to remind students and families of the school’s requirements for grade-level promotion and summer school. This is also a great time to review your child’s term 3 progress report on X2 Aspen and grades from the first two and a half

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terms of the school year. It is important for students to continue working with their teachers in the hopes that each student completes the school year to his or her best ability. Here are a few reminders as we approach the final few months of the school year. Credits to Advance to next Grade-level: Below is helpful information on the number of credits each student must earn in order to advance to the next grade level. Full year courses are worth 1 credit and semester courses are worth .5 credit.

● A student must earn a minimum of 5 credits in order to be a Sophomore. ● A student must earn a minimum of 10 credits in order to be a Junior. ● A student must earn a minimum of 15 credits in order to be a Senior.

Summer School As An Option: Students who do not earn the credits to move to the next grade level will be retained. Students have the ability to take up to two academic courses in Summer School. Students must have a minimum of a 50% final average in the failed course to attend summer school. Summer school courses cost $200.00 each ($175.00 each for students on free/reduced lunch). The expectation is that payment be made in full before courses begin. Communication Surrounding Failed Courses: Term 3 grades will be available on April 13th at approximately 3pm. Final grades will be available at the conclusion of term 4 and final exams. If your child does fail an academic course for the year, guidance counselors will contact you as final grades become available. If your child is in danger of failing a course or courses, please encourage him/her to work hard for the remainder of the school year. Please feel free to contact your child's guidance counselor with any questions surrounding grade-level advancement or summer school. Any questions regarding work in specific classes can be best answered by your child’s teacher. HELPFUL INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCIAL AID LETTER: Please see the information below from the Attorney General’s Office that will help students and families understand the financial aid letter a student receives when accepted to college. http://www.mass.gov/ago/consumer-resources/consumer-information/schools-and-education/understanding-your-student-aid-award-letter.html POSITIVITY WEEK: This week, RHS celebrated positivity week. Take a look by reading about the week with this article below published in The Veritas . https://rhsveritas.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/rhs-positivity-week/

http://www.mass.gov/ago/consumer-resources/consumer-information/schools-and-education/understanding-your-student-aid-award-letter.htmlhttp://www.mass.gov/ago/consumer-resources/consumer-information/schools-and-education/understanding-your-student-aid-award-letter.htmlhttps://rhsveritas.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/rhs-positivity-week/

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SITE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY:

ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Site Council Meeting 5 Date: February 16, 2017 7:15AM

Location: Superintendent's Conference Room Site Council Attendance: Mr. Jad Bendarkawi, Ms. Sam Hoyo,Mr. Richard Phelps, Ms. Amanda Lanigan, Mr. Francisco Oliviera Minutes:

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The meeting began with the approval of the minutes from January 19, 2017. Approval was unanimous. Mr. Harrison reviewed with the group the outstanding Bocce Tournament held at the high school in January. Mr. Harrison also mentioned the success of the winter sports season and the Poetry Out Loud Competition. The students voiced that they were happy with the course select process. Mr. Harrison informed the Site Council about the upcoming Mini Golf Tournament sponsored by One Rockland on February 20th. He then asked the Site Council to start thinking about any Handbook Changes for the 2017-2018 school year. He shared that the Attendance Policy was the primary change last year. He shared data with the Site Council. Feedback was provided that the policy appears to be working but concerns remain over the students who are chronically absent. Questions were raised about the need to see what other schools are doing to address chronic absenteeism since suspending kids from school who are absent and fail to show up for Saturday School is counterproductive. Mr. Harrison explained that the Site Council will need to review the school’s learning expectations as part of the school’s upcoming NEASC accreditation in a few years. He asked the Site Council to reflect on the present learning expectations. He will be going over this with his staff over the next few months. Mr. Harrison asked the Council to meet on March 16th. The meeting was adjourned. SGC EARNS GOLD COUNCIL OF EXCELLENCE FOR 7TH TIME: Congratulations to the RHS Student Government Council and their advisors for earning the Gold Council of Excellence for the seventh time.

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BROADWAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS: Congratulations to all of the students who did a great job performing in Broadway last night. Thank you to Mr. Arruda for organizing this successful event. Below is a list of the students who performed.

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SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL NEXT WEEKEND: Please check out the Shakespeare Festival next weekend. Information is below:

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UNIFIED BASKETBALL RECAP: Congratulations to the Rockland Bulldogs on their win in the Unified Basketball game. Rockland HS defeated Abington High School 59-46 on Monday 3/13. Both teams put forth a great effort! Great job by Brianna Conley, Michael Bodley, Nick Cara, Nicole Raymond, Josh Keating, Jake Swanson, Justin Pendleton, Emily Hunt-Grandmont, and Alex Anzivino. Thank you to everyone who participated and came out to support the kids.

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Picture courtesy of @RHSVeritas

CHEERLEADING WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Congratulations to our state champion cheerleaders for winning the winter state championship on Sunday, 3/12 in Wachusett.

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HOCKEY FALLS TO ORR IN DIVISION 3 SOUTH FINALS: The Rockland Boys Varsity Hockey team lost in the Division 3 South Finals on Sunday, March 12th 3-1. Congratulations to all of the players and Coach Flaherty (and his staff) on a great season! And a special to thank you to our parents and fans for supporting the team through this exciting and historic run.

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SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ARTS FESTIVAL:

NEXT WEEK’S LUNCH MENU: Click here to view next week’s lunch menu. THE WEEK AHEAD:

Monday, March 20

3:00pm RHS English and History Homework Club- Room 207

3:00pm RHS Math Homework Club- Room 132

Tuesday, March 21

RHS Grade 10 ELA MCAS Sessions A and B Composition 3:00pm RHS English and History Homework Club- Room 207

Wednesday, March 22

RHS Grade 10 ELA MCAS Sessions 1 and 2 Reading Comprehension 3:00pm RHS English and History Homework Club- Room 207

3:00pm RHS Math Homework Club- Room 132

3:00pm RHS Science Homework Club-Room 234

http://rocklandschools.nutrislice.com/menu/high-school/lunch/2017/3/20/

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Thursday, March 23

RHS Grade 10 ELA MCAS Session 3 Reading Comprehension

3:00pm RHS English and History Homework Club- Room 207

Friday, March 24

RHS Senior SEMSBA Concert

3:00pm RHS Science Homework Club-Room 234

7pm RHS Shakespeare Festival

Saturday, March 25

RHS Senior SEMSBA Concert

7pm RHS Shakespeare Festival

Please check out our school-wide calendar by clicking here .

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=rhscalendar%40rocklandschools.org&ctz=America/New_York