RMHS Weekly Newsletter

This Wednesday, 4/16, during flex RMHS students and staff will participate in the second ALiCE and emergency procedure review drill of the school year. Schools are required to carry our two such drills per school year and the RMHS administration works in close collaboration with RPD to ensure all within the walls of the school are aware of the steps to take in the even of an emergency. Thank you for your support in this work as always.

• 4/16 - Second ALiCE and emergency drill of the school (Flex)

• 4/21 - 4/25: April Break (4/21 - Patriots Day)

• 5/2 Winchester hospital career panel: Careers in healthcare

• 5/5 - 5/16: AP Exams

• 5/7: School Council Meeting (4:15 pm)

• 5/9: Early Release for students

• 5/14: PTO Quarterly Meeting (7 pm)

• 5/19-5/22: Senior Final Exams

• 5/20-5/21: Math MCAS (late start for grades 9, 11, 12) - late start for grades 9, 11, 12

• 5/21: Job Shadowing (May) - MCAS day, they find their own site, Jr. Class Only

• 5/21: Senior Awards Night (7 pm)

• 5/22: Q4 closes for Seniors

• 5/22 - Senior Promenade and Prom

• 5/23: Second Act Play made possible by the Reading Coalition

• 5/26: Memorial Day - No School

• 5/27: Senior Movie Night (7 pm)

• 5/28: Senior report cards published & Senior Sunrise Breakfast

• 5/29: Senior Class Day

• 5/30: Graduation (6pm) @ RMHS Turf 1 or Fieldhouse if inclement weather

• 6/2: Move Up Day (will need Rocket Ambassadors - non-seniors)

• 6/2: Future Freshman Night II (6 pm - RMHS)

• 6/3: Underclass Awards Ceremony (7 pm - PAC)

• 6/4-6/5: STE MCAS (delayed opening for grades 10-11)

• 6/16: Last Day of the School Year (final exam schedule will be published in next week's newsletter)

On Friday, April 4th, fifteen RMHS students enrolled in the Retail Banking course competed in the Massachusetts School Bank Association (MSBA) Annual Conference and Competition at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Approximately 250 students from 20 regional high schools competed in three banking areas: Product Development, Marketing, and a Banking Bowl. RMHS students earned 1st place in both the Product Development and Banking Bowl competitions! In addition, senior Justin Raimo was awarded a scholarship from the MSBA. Thank you to Reading Cooperative Bank’s Assistant Vice President and RMHS Branch Manager, Judy Langill, for working tirelessly with our students to prepare them for this event. Thank you, too, to RMHS Business Department Teachers, Mr. D’Amore and Mr. McCarthy, for chaperoning this event.

Here are the senior interns, in all their glory on the final day of Internship Bootcamp before officially beginning internships on April 10th. Not pictured but working extremely hard behind the scenes: Ms. Manos and Mr. Skeffington. Thank you to them both and Ms. Buckley for working tirelessly to ensure that every interested and eligible senior was able to complete an internship this year where they will learn important work-based learning and soft skills before moving on to their next phase of young adulthood. Nearly 170 seniors participated in the internship program this year!

On May 19th, there will be an Internship Showcase from 11-1 in the field house where staff and underclass students will have the opportunity to what our senior learned at their internship sites. This is the culminating event to the internship program, RMHS also thanks all the local businesses and schools in RPS for continuing to support this important opportunity for our seniors.

Our Rocket Leaders in Action senior, Megan Calhoun, helped to organize our Stuff a Cruiser Food pantry drive which was held on Saturday, March 29th at Market Basket. This is a unique concept brought to the RLA club back in 2023 (Thanks to Officer Lewis) when we had a Stuff a Cruiser campaign to get stuffed animals for the RPD to give out during calls to help comfort young people impacted by emergency responder calls. It was a huge success!

Megan has been an advocate for the Reading Food Pantry for a long time and volunteers there weekly. The collaboration with RPD officers and the RLA has really set a great program in motion that RLA hopes to continue in the future. This food drive was the third one and within two hours, RLA / RPD had filled 5 RPD vehicles along with two cars with food donations. The generosity of our community was overwhelming. RLA is also grateful to Market Basket of Reading for providing the opportunity for us to host the food drive at their location.

Some pictures were taken which include RPD officers, including new SRO Davis along with volunteers from the Rocket Leaders in Action club, Megan Calhoun, Maya Muscarello, Justin Raimo, Gabby Huizenga, and Declan Grant. Advisors not shown: Jess Cruz from the Reading Coalition and Michelle Hopkinson – RMHS.

Support the RMHS girls softball at Chick-fil-A in Woburn!

Join town officials and project leaders as they come together to host a joint forum on the projects coming before the community this Spring: The Killam School Building Project and the Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) project. The forum will be held virtually on Zoom on Wednesday April 16 at 7pm at this link. It will cover the Killam School and ReCAL projects and the anticipated financial impact for residents. There was also an in-person forum held on April 2, and the recording can be seen here. See additional information about both projects on the town website.

RMHS is working in collaboration with the Reading Coalition to offer a play by 2nd Act Theater Troupe. The play is titled “I’ll Be There for You”.

I'll Be There For You follows a group of young people as they create an original play inspired by their daily lives, using the stage as a way to better understand themselves and the world around them. They pull themes from their own lived experience, such as the ways alcohol and other drugs can reshape the landscape of a young person's life. Ultimately, they discover what it means to write one’s own ending.

This presentation will take place on May 23rd, we will run the play two times:

9th and 10th graders: (1:06-2:04 pm - flex)

11th graders: (2:07-3:05 pm - last period)

This is being brought to students following the recent SBIRT screening that takes place annually through the RMHS nurses' office with grade 10 students. The cumulative data from screening indicated an uptick in substance use, specifically alcohol. In addition to the presentation to students, RMHS is partnering with the Reading Coalition to bring information sessions and presentations to parents. This will take place at the beginning of next school year.

Friends of Reading METCO invites you to join us for cocktails/mocktails and apps in Roxbury on Sunday 5/4/25. Our socials are always a lot of fun and a great way to connect with other parents outside of school 😊.This is an adults-only event, further details and a registration link will be shared closer to the event. Please e-mail ilka@ilkawalkley.com with any questions.

K&G Fashion Superstore in Reading is hosting a fundraiser. You must mention RMHS at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase and then 10% of the sale will be donation to the PTO. The Fundraiser extends through June, so make sure to mention RMHS for Sophomore Semi, Junior & Senior Proms, as well as any other formal events!

With the Massachusetts Child and Family Tax Credit, families may be eligible for $440 for each child under age 13, dependents who are age 65+ or have a disability, or a spouse who needs care. Families do not need to have earned income in 2024 or have a Social Security number to qualify. There is no income cap or limit to the number of dependents. This does not impact public benefits. FindYourFunds has outreach materials available in 11 languages to encourage families to file taxes this year. Learn more and find free tax help at findyourfunds.org/dese.

The Rocket Ambassador application is now open to current sophomores & juniors due Tuesday, April 15th! Rocket Ambassadors facilitate orientation, mentor incoming freshmen, and help create a more welcoming and inclusive RMHS! Students received more detailed information and the application via email from Ms. Keefe.

SAT, ACT and tutoring resource that is local. This is not sponsored by the school, but it is a resource that some students have used and found effective. Check out their website for more information: https://shineinmath.com/.

Avant STAMP 4S is a general language proficiency assessment of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking skills. It is designed for second-language learners aged 13 and older in school grades seven and above including middle and high schools, college and university students, and adults.

Avant STAMP uses authentic texts and audio in situations the learner may encounter in the real world.

• 5/21 - Senior Award Night @ PAC (7:00 pm)
• 5/22 - Senior Promenade @ RMHS and Senior Prom @ Cruiseport Gloucester
• 5/27 - Elementary School Visits; Graduation Rehearsal & Movie Night/Event 7pm-10pm
• 5/28 - Senior Sunrise/Breakfast; Last Day of Classes for Seniors; Cap & Gown and Yearbook Distribution; Turn in Materials (books, laptops, uniforms, etc.)
• 5/29 - Class Day: Senior Slideshow; Graduation Rehearsal; Yearbook Signing; Senior BBQ
• 5/30 - Graduation @ Stadium Turf (seating is first come first serve in the stadium, if moved inside due to weather seniors are asked to have 6 guests or less).

Just a friendly reminder that the RMLD High School Art Contest is underway. It's a great way to use creativity to secure needed community service hours as well as a chance for a gift card for qualified school or art supplies! Full details and requirements can also be found at www.rmld.com/HS-Art-Contest.

62 Oakland Road

Reading, MA 01867

781-944-8200

https://www.rmhs.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US

Principal Jessica B. Callanan

ext. 19801

jessica.callanan@reading.k12.ma.us

All past newsletters for 2024-25 are located on the website, as is the 2024-25 RMHS Student Handbook.