
ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL WEEKLY UPDATE
March 8, 2024
The Principal's Corner
The Seal of Biliteracy is for any student who demonstrates proficiency in English and any other language, whether they speak the non-English language at home or learn it at school or in the community.
The State Seal of Biliteracy aims to:
(a) Encourage students to study and master languages;
(b) Certify attainment of biliteracy skills;
(c) Recognize the value of language diversity;
(d) Provide employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills;
(e) Provide universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for the attainment of high-level skills in languages;
(f) Prepare students with skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society; and
(g) Strengthen intergroup communication and honor a community's multiple cultures and languages.
To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must:
(a) Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English by satisfying one of the following:
Earn a score of meeting or exceeding expectations on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS
orEarn a score of partially meeting expectations on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS and complete an Educational Proficiency Plan
(b) Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in a foreign language through one of the following:
Attaining a minimum score equivalent to Intermediate-High on a state-approved assessment
orFor languages that do not have readily available assessments, completing a portfolio demonstrates Intermediate-High proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening.
We wish all of our students good luck!
The Week Ahead
Monday, March 11th- DAY 6
Tuesday, March 12th- DAY 7
Senate Leadership Council Meeting 7:30 AM (Library)
Seal of Biliteracy Testing 8:10-11:10 AM (Library)
Wednesday, March 13th- DAY 1
Thursday, March 14th- DAY 2
Period 1:A Block 8:10-9:00 AM (50 Minutes)
Period 2: B Block 9:04- 9:49 AM (45 Minutes)
Period 3:C Block 9:53-10:38 AM (45 Minutes)
Dog Block: 10:42-11:28 AM (46 Minutes)
Period 4 (Lunch Block): D Block 11:28-12:58 PM (56 Minutes)
1st Lunch 11:28 AM-11:58 AM
2nd Lunch 11:58 AM-12:28 PM
3rd Lunch 12:28-12:58 PM
Period 5: E Block 1:02-1:49 PM (47 Minutes)
Period 6: L Block 1:53-2:40 PM (47 Minutes)
Friday, March 15th- DAY 3
Dates to Remember
March
3/12 Senate Leadership Council Meeting 7:30 AM- 8:00 AM (Library)
3/12 Seal of Biliteracy Testing 8:10 AM-11:10 AM (Library Media Center)
3/12 Hoops Hysteria 4-6 PM
3/14 Dog Block 10:42 AM- 11:28 AM
3/19 Site Council Meeting 7:30 AM-8:00 AM (Library)
3/19 Student MCAS Training for Grade 10 9:20 AM
3/21 Early Release for Staff Professional Development @ 11:25 AM
3/21-3/23 Musical 7:00 PM (Auditorium)
3/23 Saturday School 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
3/26 MCAS Testing Grade 10 ELA Session 1 & SAT School Day
(Late Start for Grade 9, 11, and 12 students)
3/26 SAT School Day Testing
3/27 MCAS Testing Grade 10 ELA Session 2 (Late Start for Grade 9, 11, and 12 students)
3/29 No School Good Friday
April
4/4 Early Release for Staff Professional Development @ 11:25 AM
4/4 Term 3 Closes
4/9 Senate Leadership Council Meeting 7:30 AM-8:00 AM (Library)
4/10 Massasoit On The Spot Admissions
4/11 Dog Block 10:42 AM - 11:28 AM
4/11 Massasoit On The Spot Admissions
4/11 Talent/Variety Show 7:00 PM (Auditorium)
4/11 Term 3 Grades Available in the afternoon
4/13 Saturday School 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
4/15-4/19 No School April Vacation
Guidance Update
Course Selection Process
The RHS Guidance Department is looking forward to working with students to begin the course selection process for the 2024-2025 school year.
All materials students need are/will be in their Guidance Google Classroom.
Here are course selection presentations for each grade; students should review the information for their grade carefully:
The Program of Studies contains important information about RHS and the courses offered. Students and families should review this document. Here is a timeline of the course selection process for the 2024-2025 school year:
March 1st: The RHS 2024-2025 Program of Studies is available for students and families.
March 14th: Guidance counselors will work with students to choose their electives in Aspen and submit their elective course selection sheets in google classrooms.
March 19th - April 2nd: Guidance counselors will meet with students individually to review and discuss their recommendations and courses selection for the 2024-2025 school year.
Over the next several weeks, teachers will be having discussions with students about recommendations for academic courses. Teachers will enter their academic recommendations into Aspen.
Students will need their login information for Aspen to choose electives. If they don’t know it, they should contact their Guidance Counselor prior to March 14th.
Here are the things students should be doing to prepare for the recommendation/course selection process.
Here are details on how parents can see teacher recommendations for their student(s).
If you/your student are considering taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course, please read this helpful introduction to the Advanced Placement Program.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are looking forward to working with students to get ready for the next school year.
For a Portuguese version of this email, please click here. (Para uma tradução em português deste documento, clique aqui).
FASFA Update
If you haven’t started or submitted your FAFSA yet, there are resources to help!
In person FAFSA event: Bridgewater State University is hosting their 2nd FAFSA Completion event this Thursday, March 7th.
Details can be found here.
Virtual FAFSA Help events - sessions are available on March 11th & April 8th from 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Financial aid professionals from colleges and organizations across Massachusetts are ready and available to answer questions and walk you and your family through the application process.
In addition, you can give a call to MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) weekdays
at (800) 449-6332 (9:00 am – 5:00pm) or email fafsaday@gmail.com. Be sure to register for an event here.
uAspire is hosting the following workshops for seniors and families:
uAspire will present student webinars on the steps needed once their FAFSA is complete. We will also have another student webinar for students to learn more about their Financial Aid Offers. Please share with students and families to register at our links below.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 4-5pm -ET
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 5-6pm -ET
MEFA is hosting the following webinar events:
What to expect when you receive your financial aid offer and guidance on paying the bill - dates in March and April.
Veritas New Articles
This week in The Veritas, read about Mamma Mia, Spring Sports, the new Fashion and Design elective, and watch a video with students playing RHS Teacher Trivia.
Save the Date! Mamma Mia!
Grooversity
This week, juniors and seniors watched a performance from Grooversity on Thursday. Grooversity provided students with an entertaining and fun performance from Brazilian percussionist Marcus Santos who shared Brazilian culture with our students. The event was sponsored by the Rockland Education Foundation.
Poetry Out Loud
Congratulations to Nicole Cedrone for becoming a finalist for MA Poetry Out Loud! She’ll compete in Boston this weekend for the championship!
Yearbook Information
Purchasing a Book- Deadline April 1st
Instructions to purchase a yearbook can be found Here.
Cost is $53.79
Yearbooks include 2 free custom pages that will only print in your book. Instructions on how to design custom pages can be found here.
Custom pages are due March 18th.
Purchasing & Designing Congratulatory Ads- Deadline April 1st
Family members are able to purchase congratulatory ads for their seniors. Instructions to purchase and design congratulatory ads can be found here. Or see the attached flyer.
Athletic Updates
Congratulations to our varsity girls basketball team for making it to the sweet 16 in the MIAA tournament. On Wednesday, the team lost to the number 1 seed, Cathedral.
Congratulations to the South Shore League Winter Sports All-Stars!
Spring Sports Registration Information
Spring Sports Registration is now open. The following sports/levels are offered as listed below:
Baseball: 8-12 (8th grade JV only) Varsity Coach: Mike Doyle MDoyle@rocklandschools.org
Softball: 8-12 Varsity Coach: Nick Liquori: NLiquori@rocklandschools.org
Boys and Girls Track and Field: 8-12 Varsity Coaches: Mark Killinger:
MKillinger@rocklandschools.org and Randy Grimmett RGrimmett@rocklandschools.org
Boys Lacrosse: 8-12 (8th grade JV only) Varsity Coach: Dave Taylor: DTaylor@rockland-ma.gov
Girls Lacrosse: 8-12 (8th grade JV only) Varsity Coach: Sue Gormley: SGormley@rocklandschools.org
Boys Tennis: 9-12 Varsity Coach: Rich Macallister: RMacallister@rocklandschools.org
Girls Tennis: 9-12 Varsity Coach: Ariana Launie: ALaunie@rocklandschools.org
REMINDER: The annual user fee is $250 per student. Because we pay through a third party source (invoice cloud) Arbiter will allow you to bypass the section and successfully register via Arbiter Registration if you have already paid during the fall or winter.
It is important to register ASAP so coaches can contact students with important team information and practice schedules. Rockland HS will be using Arbiter Registration (Formerly FamilyID) to register student-athletes. Please click here to register your child for a spring sport.
Quick Links
Rockland High School
Principal
Email: jharrison@rocklandschools.org
Website: https://www.rocklandschools.org/o/rockland-high
Location: 52 Mackinlay Way, Rockland, MA, USA
Phone: 781-871-0541
Twitter: @RocklandHS