Rockport High School
Viking News - The Week of 2/26/2024
Planning for the RHS Course Selection process for the 2024-2025 school is well underway! We are excited to be offering a number of new STEM and Business offerings next year; along with new community partnerships and pathways for our students to prepare for life after high school. More information will be forthcoming. Please save the dates for more information to come!
- Tuesday, February 27th: Ms. Rose and teachers will review the new course offerings and process for students during the school day to discuss the 2024-2025 Program of Studies, and the timeline for the RHS Course Selection Process.
Thursday, February 29, 2024: RHS Course Selection Night @ 7pm in the AUD for families in grades 8-11. The evening is comprised of formal and informal presentations by the academic coordinators and counselors who will outline their subject-specific offerings and pathways. Administration and counseling staff will provide information about our ongoing partnerships with Virtual High School, Educere; as well as Dual Enrollment and other community-based expansion offerings.
The updated 2024-2025 Program of Studies; along with related materials will be posted on the RHS website and emailed directly to students and families in preparation for the upcoming Course Selection Week.
Monday, March 4th - Thursday, March 7th: RHS Course Selection Week - Teachers will have conversations with students and make academic recommendations in Aspen.
March 8th - March 15th: Students have time to review recommendations with their families, continue conversations with their teachers, and make requests for elective classes in Aspen.
March 15th - March 29th: Counselors will review all recommendations in Aspen to assure that a comprehensive schedule of courses has been requested for the purposes of building a master schedule.
May 2024: RHS schedules will be released to students and families. At that time, students will have an opportunity to make any level or elective changes with their Guidance Counselor.
Reception: February 29th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
National Art Honors Society Induction Ceremony 5:30pm
Location: Rockport Art Association, 12 Main St, Rockport, MA
Days & Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Attached Artwork: Distortion, Grace Englis, Honors Portfolio, Grade 12
RHS Semi-Formal - Saturday, March 16th @ The Elks in Gloucester
Tickets will be on sale during lunches, before/after school and during U blocks over the coming weeks. Tickets are $45 each. Please see a class of 2026 officer to buy your tickets. If you plan to bring someone from outside of the district, you must pick up a permission form at the ticket table or in the main office and have it approved PRIOR to purchasing your tickets.
RHS Semi-Formal - Information for Attendees
Dates, Times & Logistics:
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024
Location: The Gloucester Elks
Transportation: Students must take the bus that is arranged through RHS. Students should arrive at RHS no later than 6:00pm.
The semi-formal ends at 10:00pm, with an expected return to school by approximately 10:30 pm.
Additional Expectations (to be discussed at the mandatory meeting prior to the event):
All students must be in school and on time on Friday, March 15th in order to attend the semi-formal. If you have any issue with this, please see Ms. King in advance to discuss your specific situation.
In accordance with the Rockport High School Student/Parent Handbook, the RHS administration will administer a brief breathalyzer test to all students and will search any bags as a condition of admission to the event in order to help us foster a safe environment for students and guests.
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
We are pleased to inform you of Rockport’s participation in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2023-2024 School Year. The Seal of Biliteracy is offered to any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak or sign the language other than English at home or learned it at school or in the community.
The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:
Encourage students to study and master languages;
Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;
Recognize the value of language diversity;
Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;
Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high-level skills in languages;
Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and
Strengthen intergroup communication and honor the multiple cultures and languages in a community.
In order to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, students must:
Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by earning a score of 472 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS,
Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a world language by attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on an assessment approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and
Satisfy all other graduation requirements.
The Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction is available to students who:
Earn a score of 501 or higher on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS
Demonstrate a proficiency level of Advanced Low or higher on a Department-approved assessment, and
Satisfy all other graduation requirements.
We will be administering the ELA MCAS on March 26-27, 2024. A Google form gauging interest in earning the Seal of Biliteracy will be sent out to eligible students in early February. We will be administering the AAPPL (The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages) in late March/early April to interested students. The cost for the assessment is $20. Financial assistance is available for those that qualify.
We look forward to honoring the language expertise and diversity in our district through this initiative. If you have any further questions, please contact Lilliam Duffy at lduffy@rpk12.org or Martha Cox-Stavros at mcoxstavros@rpk12.org.
We also credential with the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy is an international credential that conveys proficiency with language skills in two or more languages for our candidates who meet the requirements of qualifying assessments. This credential offers a competitive advantage for bilingual individuals by helping them earn scholarships, higher pay, advanced placement, increased study abroad opportunities and so much more. The Global Seal is and will be FREE for all.
To learn more about the Global Seal of Biliteracy visit their website at www.theglobalseal.com.
Please click the link below if you are interested in earning the Seal of Biliteracy.
Class of 2024
The processing of completed FAFSA forms for students applying for college financial aid continues to be delayed. On January 30, 2024, the Department of Education announced that they will begin transmitting batches of FAFSA data to colleges and universities in the first half of March 2024, instead of late January 2024 as previously planned. Students will also be able to make corrections to their FAFSA form starting in the first half of March. Students should watch for email updates from their potential colleges and universities. Many institutions are reaching out to students to ask directly for tax information in order to provide families with approximate financial aid awards.
Guidance will kick-off the RHS Local Scholarship Program with a workshop on Thursday, February 15th at 11:30 a.m. during U-Block. Location to be determined.
Class of 2025
College & Career: RHS Junior Post Secondary Planning night will be held on February 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Class of 2026
Mark your calendars! Tuesday, April 2nd for PSAT 10 Test Administration. Details will be forthcoming.
All Students!
Save the date of Thursday, March 7th at 5:30 pm for the Greater Cape Ann College & Career Fair at the Gloucester High School Field House. The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-Essex, Ipswich, and Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High Schools have invited over 80 college representatives and 50 local businesses. Event is for all high school students and their families.
