Rockport Middle/High School

Welcome Back, RMHS Students & Families,

The first week was short, but mighty as we welcomed everyone and shared the exciting work that has been done since students and staff left in June. Opening days continue to be my favorite time of the year as they bring us hope and excitement for the coming year and the goals and habits we can set for ourselves. Our goal as a school system is to help our students and families navigate the challenges ahead and to feel inspired to be better tomorrow than we are today.

The seniors have come together on several occasions already to kick off their final series of 'lasts'. Most notably, we cruised into senior year with a sunset cruise last week and gathered before school at the annual senior breakfast at Brackett's Oceanview Restaurant in honor of the 'last first day of school'. As we opened the doors for another school year, I was filled with gratitude and excitement watching the growth from 6th - 12th grade. It continues to be an honor to work with such an amazing community and a school full of the best students and staff in the world (in my humble and unbiased opinion 😉).

Opening days can feel exciting, but also exhausting! I hope you can take the time to step away over the long weekend to relax and prepare for the upcoming week ahead.😊

-Ms. Rose

Amy Rose, Principal

Friday, August 29th - No School

Monday, September 1st - No School (Holiday)

Tuesday, September 2nd:

• Grades 6-12 Summer Reading Groups during Extended WIN block (9:25-10:15 am) - Groups will be posted on class boards

Friday, September 5th - End of Add/Drop for Scheduling (9-12)

Saturday, September 13th: DECA Car Wash (Advance Auto Parts)

Monday, September 15th: Picture Day

Tuesday, September 16th : Senior Post-Secondary Planning

Thursday, September 18th: RMHS Open House

Tuesday, September 23rd: Half Day for Students

Friday, October 3rd: APush Field Trip Sturbridge

Monday, October 13th & Tuesday, October 14th: No school for students

Monday, October 27th: Retake Picture Day

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.

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.

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.

Middle school schedules are available in Aspen and students received hard copies last week. If you have questions about your child's schedule, please email Ms. King, Assistant Principal (aking@rpk12.org) and Ms. Stapleton, 6-8 Counselor (cstapleton@rpk12.org).

High School schedules are available in Aspen. Guidance counselors will hold add/drop periods through Friday, September 5th if you and/or your child would like to make a change to their existing schedule.

Please note that counselors will work diligently to respond to all scheduling requests. Due to the volume of requests, this may take some time. Rest assured, we are committed to getting through all requests by the end of the add/drop period.

Seniors - Class of 2026:

• Post Secondary Planning night will be held in the RHMS Cafeteria on Tuesday, September 16, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Bring your college questions for the counselors!

• College admission representatives will be visiting RHS Guidance starting on September 18th. 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: University of Vermont, Dean College, Salem State University, Merrimack College, and Boston University!

Juniors & Sophomores, Classes of 2027 & 2028:

• The PSAT/NMSQT for Juniors and Sophomores will be offered this year during the school day on October 22nd. We strongly encourage all JUNIORS to register!! You will find the registration form and payment information in your first-day packets. All registrations must be turned into guidance by September 19th in order to participate.

• To learn more about PSAT: satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparing/practice-tests

ALL Students:

• College and Career Fair: Tuesday, September 30th, from 6-7:30 pm at Ipswich High School, Lower Gymnasium, 134 High Street, Ipswich. All are welcome!

• 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.

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:

Rockport Middle/High School requires students to participate in our summer reading program. Please be sure your child does this in order to be prepared for the opening days of school. The 2025-2026 summer reading list is available on our website under the “Resources” tab, “MS Summer Reading” or “HS Summer Reading”. If you have trouble accessing the list online, please contact Ms. Lucido in the main office by calling 978-546-1234.

Middle/High school students will be expected to participate in a faculty-led discussion about their book on Tuesday, September 2nd at 9:25 am.📚🙌

A reminder to students and families to hand in your first day packets to the Main Office as soon as possible. If you have questions about the packet or need assistance with its content, please see Ms. Lucido & Ms. Elwell in the front office.

Student and Family District Handbook

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly and to cut down on the paperwork that families need to complete at the beginning of the school year, Rockport Public Schools has revised our school handbooks into one updated online Student and Family District Handbook. This new version is published on our website and allows for easy access to an organized list of procedures, practices, and important information.

Please read and review the handbook using this link: Rockport Public Schools Student and Family District Handbook.

Parents and guardians will need to acknowledge that they have read the handbook through this form: Acknowledgment of Receipt of RPS Student and Family Handbook. This form is also available on the Handbook page of our website. Please complete ONE FORM FOR EACH child you have attending Rockport Schools. For 6th through 12th grade students, you will also be prompted to have your child sign this acknowledgement form.

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.

Our annual open house is scheduled to be held on Thursday, September 18th at 6 pm. Please save the date on your calendars. The evening will commence in the John Lane Auditorium after which parents will follow an abbreviated school schedule, enabling you to meet each of your child’s teachers and learn of curricular expectations at RMHS.

• 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.

Post-Secondary Planning Night (Grade 12 Students & Families) - Tuesday, September 16th @ 6pm (Auditorium)