Rockport Middle/High School

Happy Friday, RMHS Students & Families,

I can't believe we are headed into the final week of the first quarter! The year is flying by with so much more to look forward to over the coming weeks and months ahead. As students prepare to close out the first quarter, please be aware that grades close on Friday (October 31st) and report cards will be distributed the following Friday (November 7th). Please communicate with teachers if you have any questions or concerns about your child's grades or progress.

This coming week, we are excited to host a school safety presentation sponsored by the Sandy Hook Foundation called 'See Something, Say Something'. Students in grades 6-12 will have an adjusted schedule on Tuesday for the presentation. See times and details below.

Don't forget that this Friday is Halloween! RMHS Student Councils have organized a dress up day and costume contest for students and staff. Please feel free to join in the fun and wear your costumes to school on Friday. A reminder that costumes should be school appropriate (no weapons, face covers, etc).

Here's to a great week ahead!😎

-Ms. Rose

Amy Rose, Principal

Students in grades 6-12 kicked off the year-long mentorship program this past week as part of Tuesday Assembly. The groups will meet routinely to build connection, and inspire a stronger school culture where we can begin to embrace our differences, and cultivate the feeling of belonging together. Kudos to our students for embracing the discomfort and taking on this new adventure with positivity and excitment!

9th grade world history students researched inventions that were critical to the Age of Exploration, Scientific Revolution, and the Renaissance and created a museum in the high school. These are some of their displays.

Congrats to the Girls' and Boys' Soccer teams as they wrap up their regular season this weekend and look to a run in the state tournament over the coming weeks. Go Vikings!

Ms. Swanson’s AP Biology class participating in Organelle Speed Dating accompanied by a crackling fire and jazz music. The students had a blast!

Monday, October 27th: Picture Retake Day

Tuesday, October 28th: Extended Assemblies for 'See Something, Say Something' School Safety Training

• Grades 6-8: 9-9:45
• Grades 9-12: 9:55 - 10:40

Friday, October 31st - Halloween Dress Up Day! (School appropriate costumes, please 😊). RMHS Student Council will host a costume contest during E block in the Auditorium.

Saturday, November 1st & Sunday, November 2nd: RHS Drama Llamas Present the Fall Musical, Working! (See details below)

Friday, November 7th: RMS Dance 🕺💃

Friday, November 7th: Report Cards available

Tuesday, November 11th: No School (Veteran's Day)

Wednesday, November 12th: Career Day 8 - 10:45

Wednesday, November 12th: Sports Awards

Thursday, November 13th: Healthy Relationships in the World of Social Media - MS Student Presentation (9:15 am - 10:15am). Family presentation will be held that night at Brackett's Oceanview Restaurant (see flyer below for more details).

Wednesday, November 26th: 1/2 Day before the Thanksgiving Holiday

Tuesday, December 2nd: 1/2 Day for Students

Tuesday, December 23rd: 1/2 Day before the Holiday Vacation

Monday, January 5th: Welcome Back after the Vacation!

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.

Students with more than three unexcused tardies in a quarter will be required to make up the time on learning after school. Mr. Parisi sent a notice to impacted students and families this past week and students will be expected to make up the time beginning on Wednesday, October 15th. Students are also ineligible to participate in after-school activities if they are chronically tardy. We appreciate the family support in making on-time attendance a priority.

In partnership with BLOOM, the Rockport Public Schools is proud to sponsor a workshop on Thursday, November 13th. Save the date on your calendar and stay tuned for more information to come.

Rockport High School DECA program is organizing Career Day this year for RHS high school students. The date is November 12 from 8-10:30AM. Takes place at the high school

If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out the registration form using the link below. Questions? Email slarsen@rpk12.org

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOr3Ee1wyeHodMCXNKFXXF5fL-qbIknBmsBQHcOW4tKOQcbw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111598024687589058164

Get More Involved In Music!

In addition to music classes during the school day, there are lots of avenues to take lessons, hear concerts, and participate in ensembles outside of school.

· Gloucester Music Works is a brand new brick and mortar music school started by the Brace Cove Foundation on Maplewood Ave in Gloucester. They offer free lessons and instrument use to those in financial need. Their opening session of lessons starting in November is free to all! For future sessions, if you don’t qualify for assistance through them, reach out to music teacher Nathan Cohen at ncohen@rpk12.org and he may be able to help you get access to scholarship lessons there. See their info flier and map for more info or reach out directly at lessons@glostamusic.org, call them at 351-217-6599, or visit their website.

· Alexandra Grace Music Studio offers private instrumental and vocal lessons, group classes, and songwriting and recording workshops. They also offer internships. Located on Railroad Ave in Rockport, you can contact them at alexandra@alexandragracemusic.com, 978 879-7179, see their info flier or visit their website.

· Independent Instructors are available as well, either in home studios or after school at RPS. Speak to one of the music teachers at RPS for help finding an appropriate teacher.

· Lesson Scholarships in the amount of $500 each will be available to a limited number of students through RPS. Info will be going home via music ensemble email lists and the smore later this fall/winter. The scholarships are available to all students regardless of participation in ensembles. If you are interested in learning more about scholarship applications, email ncohen@rpk12.org or keep an eye on the smore.

· Ensemble Opportunities are available outside of RPS. Cape Ann Youth Chorus, which is open to students 8-18 years old, is directed by Thom Smoker and Kristina Martin and rehearses Monday afternoons at the Shalin Liu Center. Rockport Legion Band rehearses Thursday evenings and is directed by Logan LaRue. Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras meet Mondays and have multiple ensembles available to wind and string players at different ability levels.

· Live Music and Educational Opportunities abound through organizations like Rockport Music and Cape Ann Guitar Society. In addition to the world-class music that Rockport Music brings into RPS classrooms, students under 18 years old can receive free tickets to almost every concert at the Shalin Liu Center. Call the box office at 978 546 7391 and ask for free tickets!

Everyone is welcome!! No signing up, come when you need to, and leave when you are done !!

Morning hours: 6:30-7:25 Monday- Friday

Afternoon hours: 2:10-3:00 Monday - Thursday

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me, Michelle, at melwell@rpk12.org

The Viking Vibes are read each morning as part of the morning announcements. They include information about upcoming clubs, athletic or events that may be of interest throughout the year.

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 team of people and systems.

Seniors:

• Northshore Community College will be conducting an On the Spot Admission Session for seniors on November 4 in Guidance. Applicants will need their social security number when applying. Community college is now FREE!

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

Juniors & Seniors:

• College admission representatives continue to visit RHS Guidance. The number of students attending so far has been amazing. All Seniors and Juniors are welcome! Please get permission from your teachers before attending and sign up in Naviance to secure your participation. Coming soon: Mass Maritime Academy, University of New Hampshire, Assumption University, and Framingham State University!!

All Students - Dual Enrollment:

• Guidance is reaching out to remind students who are interested in taking one free Dual Enrollment course with Salem State University this spring, the deadline to apply is Monday, December 1, 2025. Applications are available in Guidance or use the link to the program details, course availability, and application: The Dual Enrollment website has been updated with information for Spring 2025. Please take the time to carefully review the new application process under "How to Apply". https://www.salemstate.edu/dualenrollment

All Students - Community Service & Student Advocacy in Action:

• Community Service is a graduation requirement. All students are encouraged to check their Class Board or Aspen account to see how many community service hours they have earned. Please check the school website or bulletin board outside of Guidance for opportunities.

• Aubrey Sholds-Neal, YOG ‘27, has been volunteering her time on an accessibility initiative to make her community safer and more inclusive. She was inspired after experiencing safety challenges at the intersection of High and Main Streets, where accessible pedestrian signals were lacking, posing a risk to people with visual impairments. After years of advocacy and collaboration with local officials, the town has approved installing an accessible pedestrian signal and is considering more across the area. Let's hope her efforts will inspire other students to engage in meaningful community action.

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:

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.

• In order to strengthen the home/school partnership at RMHS, we will be providing a number of resources for families to keep you informed of important information and events. Resources include:

  • The Principal’s page on the RMHS website.

  • The “RMHS Viking News” emailed to all students and families beginning the first week of school.

  • Your child’s Aspen account and Google Classroom pages for the most up-to-date information within individual classes.

  • Routine email communication for parents to guide and inform important upcoming events, school-related expectations, and/or happenings.

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.

RHS Senior/Junior Prom - May 15th at 5pm @ The Floriana (Hellenic Center)

RHS Senior Showcase - May 19th at 6:30pm @ SLPC

RHS Senior Banquet - May 27th at 6pm @ The Elks