Rockport High School
Viking News - The Week of 1/08/2024

Happy Friday, RHS Students!
We hope you had a wonderful holiday vacation and a very Happy New Year! It was a great first week of 2024 at RHS as we prepare for the final full week of the first semester next week before the mid-term exams start on January 16th. Just a reminder to be working with your teachers to close out any grades by next Friday before the exam week begins. If you have any questions about your current progress, please reach out to your teachers in person or via email.
Here's to a great week ahead! 😎
-Ms. Rose & Ms. King
Here's a look at the Week Ahead ......
Please be sure to work with your teachers as we wrap up the semester and prepare for mid-term exams the week of January 16th. 😊📚
Looking Ahead....
1/15 - No School (Holiday)
1/16-1/19- RHS Exam Week (See details below)
1/30 - 1/2 day for students
2/12 - Class of 2025 Post Secondary Planning Night @ 6pm
2/16 - 1/2 day
2/19-2/23 - Winter Break
2/26 - Welcome Back
3/4-3/8 - RHS Course Selection Week for the 2024-2025 school year
3/5 - 1/2 day for students
3/7 - RHS Course Selection Night @ 6:00 pm
3/16 - Semi Formal @ 7pm
5/31 - Junior/Senior Prom
6/5 - Senior Banquet
6/7 - RHS Graduation Ceremony @ 5 pm
RHS Mid-Terms Information
RHS Mid-Term Exam Information - January 16th-January 19th, 2024
For your long-term planning, please note that RHS holds mid-year exams the week of January 16th. It is important for students and families to plan accordingly for the shortened exam days. Students are only expected to come in for their scheduled exams and are free to leave after they complete their obligations. Buses run per usual to accommodate the middle school schedule. If your high school student wishes to take the normally scheduled bus, they may use the library to read or to prepare for upcoming exams. Please click on the link below for a copy of the 2024 Mid-Year Exam Schedule:
RHS 2024 Mid-Term Exam Schedule
*In the event of an official district snow day, the exam schedule will be pushed forward; meaning, the exams scheduled for that day/s will take place the day we return to school and any remaining exams will take place on subsequent days.
Nurse's News
COVID-19 symptoms:
Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff should monitor themselves for each day BEFORE coming to school.
Students and staff should NOT come into the school building and should contact their school nurse if they are experiencing the following:
• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in
combination with other symptoms
If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, please notify your school nurse for further guidance
School nurses are here to help and answer questions or any concerns that you may have!
Respect and as much confidentiality as possible will be maintained at all times. Some information, such as positive COVID-19 test results, may need to be shared with the Rockport Board of Health.
* PLEASE reach out to your school nurse if:
- Your child has symptoms
- Your child or household members/close contacts have tested positive for COVID-19.
- You have any questions or need more guidance .
General Guidelines:
Generally speaking, any child with a fever of 100.0 and above or an illness with fever that produces chills, muscle aches, sore throat, or sweating should remain at home until 24 hours after the fever has resolved without using fever reducing medicine (ex: Tylenol/Acetaminophen, Motrin/Ibuprofen, Aleve/Naproxen) . Please do not send any medication into school with your child.
Strep-throat, Conjunctivitis or impetigo (a rash with pustules) requires 24 hours of medication as prescribed by the physician before a student returns to school.
A child with a rash or skin condition that is undiagnosed by a physician should remain at home until all lesions are healed, or the child is seen and cleared by their physician.
Parents whose children have had any of the above conditions should contact the school nurse so that we may ease the transition back to school after an illness and implement communicable disease control in the school or classroom if necessary.
Your child may attend school with a cold however, if your child has copious amounts of nasal drainage or persistent coughing that interferes with the ability to participate in class they should stay home. Children with persistent cold symptoms should see their primary care physician.
The School Nurses do not have cold medicine in the school. If your child requires cold medicine before school, chances are that it will wear off by lunchtime. If you feel that your child will need another dose of over the counter medicine while at school, please call the school nurse, plan to bring the medicine in, and fill out the Medication Authorization form. Children with cold-like symptoms should not attend school, please refer to the above COVID-19 guidelines for more details.
If a mid-day dose of antibiotics is required, no-problem! Call the school nurse and we can accommodate your child's needs. You can print the Medication Authorization Form from the web-page. A responsible adult (age 18 or older) must bring medicine to school.
Your child may attend school if he/she needs short-term inhalers or nebulizers for acute Reactive Airway Disease/Asthma or Cold. Please fill out the Student Asthma Action Plan Form and have your child's physician sign it. More pediatricians are prescribing inhalers for persistent cold symptoms. Ask your pediatrician for an extra inhaler for school or call the school nurse to make arrangements. While you are at the Pediatrician, ask your pediatrician for a spacer (Aerochamber), it makes it easier for your child to inhale the medication and it will be more effective.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school a healthy place to learn.
Thank you,
Jeanne E. Pratt RN BSN NCSN (she/her)
RMS/RHS nurse
tc-(978)-546-1236
fax-(978)-546-3805
Community Service Opportunities
Need community service? Have a green thumb and Love flowers?We have the perfect community service opportunity. Reach out to Mrs. Luster for details and contact information if interested
PTO News
Class of 2024 News
The 2024 Rocks and Pebbles Yearbook is on-sale now. It should be pre-purchased on-line at: https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/about-yearbooks
Fundraisers
Upcoming fundraiser - February calendar raffle. We are in the process of getting donations to fill the calendar. If you are able to donate we would appreciate it. Tickets will go on-sale January 8th. Tickets will be $5 for 1 ticket or 5 tickets for $20. Prizes will be drawn daily. All seniors will be expected to sell tickets.
Upcoming events - mark your calendars
Junior Senior Prom May 31
Senior Banquet June 5 (Location TBD)
Graduation June 7th
Contact advisors: Amanda King (aking@rpk12.org) or AnnMarie Luster (aluster@rpk12.org) with questions.
TownGreen Youth Climate Leadership Program
Semester 2 Half Day Schedule
Food Services will be serving breakfast on half days untill 8 o'clock.
Counseling Connections
Classes of 2024 & 2025
Northshore Community College will be conducting an informational session for juniors and seniors on February 1, 2024 at 10:30 am in Guidance. Students will learn about the MassTransfer Program and A2B Pathways. An On-the-Spot Application Workshop for seniors will follow. If interested, please sign up in Guidance. Preregistration with Guidance is required.
All Students
Interested in media and television production? If so, attend the free workshop: Introduction to TV Production with 1623 Studios on January 9th or 10th from 3:30 to 5 pm at 11 Pleasant Street, Gloucester. Free for all Cape Ann High School Students! To learn more, contact: Matthew Morris at M3.matt.morris@gmail.com, www.mthreecreative.com, 978-641-6434 or scan the QR Code (Flier in Guidance) to reserve your spot!
Seniors, Class of 2024
For one day it will be FREE to apply to all of the Massachusetts State Universities! On Thursday, January 12th, 2024 use the fee waiver code REACHFREE to apply. This opportunity is for Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Massachusetts College of Art, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Salem State University, Westfield State University, and Worcester State University. The UMASS campuses are not part of this program.
Freshmen, Class of 2027
School Counselors held workshops with freshmen this week. Students viewed their transcripts and learned about understanding the 60-year document, the new grading scale, GPA, creating a four-year plan, and an overview of the course selection process. Freshmen also created accounts in Naviance, our web-based resource that is used to support self-discovery, career exploration, academic planning, and preparation for college and career. Each student has their own unique Naviance account and personal profile to utilize over the next four years.