RBHS November BRIDGE Communication

Mission: Rock Bridge High School is a community in which ALL students and staff inspire each other to become lifelong learners.

Rock Bridge HS Families,

On Friday, November 21st our second IPR of this semester was available to families. When we return from the Thanksgiving Holiday, we will only have 3 weeks remaining in semester 1. Please spend some time talking as a family about your student's current progress report and help support them in setting up realistic action plans to achieve the academic goals they set for themselves when this school year began. If you, or your student, need academic support please see the October BRIDGE linked at the end of this BRIDGE for information.

Below you will find information about the following.

Annual Performance Report and School Climate Video
November Attendance Update
RBHS Instructional Values
Boone County's "I Voted" Sticker Contest Winner
RBHS Senior Counseling Newsletter
RBHS Winter Concert Series
RBHS Theatre Presents Our Town
Fall Sports Recap
October RBHS BRIDGE Communication
December Calendar

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!

Sincerely,

Jacob Sirna

Each year Rock Bridge High School receives a comprehensive review of our school performance based on two primary factors: performance and continuous improvement. This comprehensive review is known as our Annual Performance Report, APR. This report is received annually and provides data from the previous school years performance. The performance section of the report contains our overall student achievement in English, Math, Science and Social Studies, based on the Missouri Assessment Program, or End of Course Exams (EOCs), Test. These exams occur in Government, English 10, Biology, Algebra 1 and some Algebra 2.

Yearly our staff, students and families complete a Climate Survey in October. The video linked below has that data included as well as our 2024-25 APR.

RBHS APR and School Climate Video

Last year, we had approximately 82.8% of students in attendance 90% of the time. This year we want to raise this number by 3% points moving our overall percentage of students who attend 90% or greater to over 85%.

A student would need to miss 25 days of school in single year to have attendance lower than 85%. We are confident that we can achieve our goal!

As you can see from the image below, we are 3 percentage points higher this year than we were at the same time last school year. Thank you for your support in our efforts!

In the August BRIDGE Communication, I shared our newly identified, RBHS Instructional Values. I plan to highlight each of these individually in the coming BRIDGE Communications. This month I'm sharing a little insight into our "Collaboration" instructional value.

Collaboration: Lessons are designed that require students working together for a common purpose that includes content specific discourse and/or community building.

There are two main purposes for the utilization of collaboration in classrooms. First, when we hear our students talking about the content, we know they are cognitively engaged. When our students are engaged in discourse related to content it helps them achieve a greater level of understanding. Talking with peers also helps them be more comfortable asking the questions that peak their curiosity, and this is best for deeper processing and learning. Second, we know that being able to work and communicate effectively with others are key life skills. While these skills do not show up on a state test or in our APR, we want to send our students into the world prepared to navigate all the interactions necessary for their eventual employment.

Please consider spending some time soon talking with your student about the Collaboration happening in their classrooms.

Congratulations to Rock Bridge Junior, Grace Radkowiec! Her artwork was selected in this year's Boone County "I Voted" Sticker Contest!

On Monday, December 8th, and Tuesday, December 9th, counselors will present the Fund Lesson with important financial aid and scholarship information in Senior English classes. If you do not have an in-seat Senior English class at Rock Bridge this semester, please email your counselor to find a presentation to attend during your AUT or other free block. A copy of the presentation will also be on the counseling Seniors website after Dec. 9th.

For more information on upcoming financial aid events and other Senior reminders, please read the Senior Counseling Newsletter linked below:

RBHS SENIOR COUNSELING NEWSLETTER

Table of Contents:

Counseling Fund Lesson - NEW
Financial Aid Presentation for Senior Parents - NEW
SCHOLARSHIPS
FAFSA Frenzy
Counseling Office Hours Reminder - NEW

Please plan to support our Rock Bridge High School Performing Arts by attending one, or more, of our Winter Concerts! Our Winter Concerts are a great way to set the mood for the season while supporting RBHS Students!

Our Winter Choir Concert is December 16 at 7:00 pm.
Our Winter Band Concert is December 17 at 6:00 pm.
Our Winter Orchestra Concert is December 18 at 7:00 pm.

All concerts are in our RBHS Performing Arts Center.

We hope you were able to watch On Golden Pond in November and invite you to join RBHS Theatre as they present Our Town December 11, 12, and 13 at 7:00 pm in the Performing Arts Center. There is also a showing on December 13 at 2:00 pm. You can purchase tickets using the link below.