ROCKLAND HIGH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

A group of Rockland High School French students left on Thursday morning to travel to Quebec for the annual Carnaval. Students and staff are experiencing the culture - including dog sledding! - and having fun on the trip so far. We wish them safe travels home!

GRADUATION DATE FINALIZED

Please be aware that the school committee has approved the graduation date for 2025. Graduation will be held on Friday, May 30 at 6:30 PM. Rain date will be Saturday, May 31.

2/11 - Senate Leadership Council meeting, 7:30 AM

2/12 - Crisis Team meeting, 9:20 AM

2/12 - New Teacher Induction meeting, 2:50 PM

2/13 - Dog Block, 10:42 - 11:28 AM

2/17 - 2/21 - February Vacation

2/25 - Site Council meeting, 7:30 AM

3/4 - Term 3 progress reports posted

3/6 -Early release PD day, 11:25 AM dismissal

3/20 - Early release PD day, 11:25 AM dismissal

National Honor Society students worked on Valentines Day cards to be distributed to members of the community at the Rockland Senior Center.

SEMSBA

Thirteen Rockland High School students auditioned for the annual Southeastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association (SEMSBA) festival, and all were accepted. The festival will be held at Sharon High School on March 14-15, 2025.

The SEMSBA festival brings together talented student musicians from across Southeastern Massachusetts. Participants will engage in two days of rehearsals and clinics, culminating in a public concert. This event offers students the opportunity to collaborate with peers from other schools and work under the guidance of esteemed conductors.

Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and dedication.

BSU Honor Band Festival

On February 13th, Rockland High School band students will represent the school at the Bridgewater State University Honor Band Festival. The event brings together students from Southeastern Massachusetts for a full day of rehearsals and clinics with guest conductors.

Students will work with peers from other schools to prepare for an evening performance. The concert will take place at 7:15 PM at the Rondileau Campus Center Auditorium and is open to the public.

Congratulations to all who were selected!

Polar Plunge:

This week, student council brought back the mobile polar plunge! Between online fundraising and cash donations, we were able to raise $1,338 for Special Olympics Massachusetts. Thank you to the students who braved the weather and took the plunge on Thursday!

Candy Grams:

Candy Grams will be sold during all 3 lunches up until Wednesday, February 12th. For $1 you can send a Valentine's Day Lollipop to your friends. All candy grams will be delivered to your A block class on Friday, February 14th.

See the information below about an exciting STEM opportunity for students.

JUNIORS

Rep Visits in SCOIR is open to Juniors. College admissions rep visits to RHS will be posted in SCOIR (scheduled visit: Pace University will visit RHS on February 28th). This is a great opportunity to learn more about a school and connect with an admissions representative who may be reading your college application! Students can easily sign up through their SCOIR account; learn how to register for visits here.

NEACAC Annual Essay Contest - open for Juniors and Seniors - $1,000 and $2,000 scholarships will be awarded. Details can be found here.

We also wanted to let you know about two upcoming National College Fairs in Boston and

Providence (sponsored by NACAC - the National Association for College Admissions Counselors).

Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

415 Summer St

Boston, MA 02210

Dates/Times: Thursday, March 27th from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon & 6:00 - 8:30 pm AND

Friday, March 28th from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Use this link to register for a Boston Fair; you can also find a list of participating schools on the site. The list may be updated; check the website closer to the event for an updated list with each school's booth #/location.

Rhode Island Convention Center

1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI 02903

Providence, Rhode Island

Dates/Times: Thursday, April 8th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Use this link to register for the Providence Fair; you can also find a list of participating schools on the site. The list may be updated; check the website closer to the event for an updated list with each school’s booth #/location.

GPAs

Students' GPAs (Grade Point Averages) have been recalculated to include Term 2 grades. Here are directions for viewing GPAs (both weighted and unweighted):

How Students Can View their GPAs in Aspen

How Parents/Guardians Can View GPAs in Aspen

Unfortunately, we are seeing a lot of illness in our student population at the moment. Please call (781-871-8411) or email (fdavis@rocklandschools.org) me to let me know your child’s symptoms.

Norovirus is a highly contagious intestinal virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Illness usually lasts two to three days and happens after contact with infected surfaces or people. Norovirus can live on surfaces for days or weeks. Hand sanitizer will not kill norovirus. Handwashing with soap and water is essential.

Flu is also a virus that causes fever (temp over 100), muscle aches, headache, cough, runny nose, sore throat and fatigue. It is not too late to get a flu vaccination this year. It may not prevent an infection, but can reduce the severity of symptoms.

RSV is a respiratory infection causing low grade fever, dry cough, congested or runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and headache. RSV can be serious in young children, elderly and those who are immune compromised.

Covid symptoms include fever and chills, headache, loss of taste or smell, muscle soreness and aches, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath, and sore throat.We have covid tests available at school and are happy to send them home with your students if you wish.

Rockland Public Schools follow Massachusetts guidelines for staying home to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.

Keep your student home if they have any of the following:

Fever: A fever of 100 F or higher. Children may return to school when fever-free for 24 hours (WITHOUT use of fever reducing medications).

Vomiting/diarrhea: Any unexplained vomiting episode. May return 24 hours after the last episode. Diarrhea which is three or more unexplained episodes of watery or loose stools in 24 hours. May return 24 hours after the last episode.

Cough: Serious, sustained coughing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.

What to do if someone in your home is sick with vomiting and/or diarrhea:

• Isolate them and have as little contact as possible.

• Wear gloves to clean up after them and then wash your hands.

• Take trash outside to avoid contact.

• Wash your hands with soap and water after contact. Hand sanitizer will not kill norovirus.

• Continuous small sips of sports drinks to help prevent dehydration.

• Reintroduce a mild diet when able. Think BRAT - bananas, rice, applesauce, toast

• Wash laundry in hot water and dry at highest heat setting

• Seek medical attention if they become dehydrated or dizzy

Typically, treatment is to manage the symptoms with fever and pain reducing medication, cough suppressant or decongestant, ensure hydration, and rest. Contact your primary care physician for guidance.

The best ways to protect yourself are:

• Clean high touch areas (doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, bathroom fixtures) with sanitizing wipes or bleach solution.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water - before eating, after getting home from an outing, etc. Hand sanitizer will not kill norovirus.

• Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.

Updated stories are available in The Veritas.

School Website

Aspen Student & Family Portal

Arbiter Live- Athletic Schedules

Breakfast & Lunch Menus

Please see the attached flyers for information about Rockland Public Schools kindergarten registration and free youth workshops over February vacation. Next week is the final week of school before break. We have Dog Block on Thursday, February 13. Sign-up information has been shared so please pick an activity of interest!

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Schipper