RMHS Weekly Update

Each week a senior is nominated for a High Five by a staff member for demonstrating the RMHS core values and being an all-around positive contributor to the school! Students are presented with their High Five each week by one of the school administrators, and we make every effort to do so in the class of the nominating teacher. It is a surprise! Nominated seniors are then interviewed by Mr. McCarthy, business teacher, who prepares the High Five to share out with the school community!

Congratulations to the Students of the Month who were chosen by staff for exemplifying Responsibility, one of the RMHS Core Values!

The RMHS Adams Scholars were recently notified that they earned this honor for their performance on MCAS testing while in high school. For a complete list of Adams Scholars please check the following Link. RMHS Adams Scholarship Awardees were notified this school year through a personal letter sent to their home address. Congratulations to all!

For additional information regarding the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship please use the following LINK. In short, Adams Scholars achieve this honor through the following:

• Score in the Advanced category on one of three high school state assessment tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, or STE (Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics or Technology/Engineering)
• Score in the Proficient or Advanced category on the remaining two high school state assessment tests
• Have a combined MCAS score on these assessments that ranks in the top 25% in their school district.

Recipients of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship are eligible for an award of a merit-based credit toward tuition. Individual student awards at State Universities and Community Colleges shall be no more than the resident undergraduate tuition rate at the participating institutions. Individual student awards at the University of Massachusetts shall be valued at $1,714 at Amherst, $1,714 at Boston, $1,417 at Dartmouth, and $1,454 at Lowell.

Click here to see the current and recent value of the Adams Scholarship.

This tuition credit cannot be combined with any other tuition credits.

This Saturday, RMHS Varsity Field Hockey won the Division 2 Championship game in overtime at WPI! This is a major accomplishment for the team, coaches, families of the athletes and school. Congratulations to all those that make up this amazing group!

Hopefully you had a chance to see the amazing cast in action over the past two weekends in Something Rotten. Students were brilliant and bold! It was truly amazing. Thank you to Ms. Cunha and Dr. Mosher and all of the parents and supporting staff members that also made it possible. Congratulations on a job well done!

Students from Mrs. Cambra and Mrs. Howie's EpiD class headed into Boston for a student-led walking tour of Smallpox in Colonial Boston. Each student researched, created, and presented a talk at a specific site and explained how the site connects to the Smallpox Epidemic of 1721.

Last week, students joined Coach Michelle Hopkinson for the 29th Annual Sportsmanship Summit at Gillette. The day included student and adult workshop sessions, award presentations and a keynote presentation. MIAA afforded schools up to 10-spots for students and RMHS took full advantage. Students that attended are part of the RLA Club and / or Team Captains at RMHS! Thank you to Coach Hopkinson and Mr. Zaya for making this happen!

2023-24 School Year Calendar (format 1)

• 11/22 - Early Release 11:15am (pep rally - schedule to the right and on school website)

• 11/23 - 11/4 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
• 11/28 - Final Senior Portraits at RMHS (FINAL SITTING)
• 11/28 - Student Advisory Committee meeting (RMHS library conference room - flex)
• 11/28 - Wellness Committee (RMHS library classroom - flex) - Students Welcome
• 11/30 - Student Advisory Committee meeting (6 pm) - prior to School Committee meeting
• 12/1 - Flu Shots / COVID Vaccine Clinic (See additional info below)

https://rmhs.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US#0 (Check Here for All Schedules)

Stay up to date with the daily happenings at RMHS! You can find our daily announcements located on the RMHS Website under Morning Announcements.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving to all! It is our hope at RMHS that you are able to spend time with loved ones over the next week eating great food and enjoying catching up. As the holidays approach also know that it can be a difficult time for those that may have lost a family member or ar3e far from home. Look out for one another and remember that being kind costs nothing.

RMHS wishes to extend a HUGE thank you to the PTO for an amazing lunch for the entire staff on Friday during conferences. Thank you for all of your support of our faculty and staff! The food was delicious and very much appreciated.

Parents / Caregivers a thanks to you as well for the high level of participation in conferences. Our teachers are always happy to connect with you during the school year, but it is always nice to have a focused time to discuss your child's progress as the first term closes. In total 1121 conferences were held on Friday and some staff that could not be present also set up additional conferences outside of Friday as well! That is amazing!

Report cards for term 1 are now in Student Portals. There is a document saved as the term 1 report card, and the live grades are also present and visible. The live grades are a better means to look at grades in the event that a grade is updated for any reason after the close of the term. If you have difficulty locating the report card or grades please email Mr. Strout at charles.strout@reading.k12.ma.us.

DECA is holding its first holiday ornament fundraiser! Order a custom holiday ornament for your RMHS student inscribed with their year of graduation! The ornament makes a great stocking stuffer or gift that they will treasure for years to come! The ornaments are round, clear acrylic, 3 inches in diameter, with the Reading Rockets logo and name. The ornament comes with a red satin ribbon for hanging in the spot of your choice!

Ornaments are $5 each and all orders must be received by December 8. Payment can be made in cash or check (payable to the Town of Reading). Pickup and delivery dates will be announced beginning the week of December 11. Please complete the attached order form to get yours today. In addition, orders will be taken during lunch block the week of November 27.

FORM LINK

Our next vaccine clinic is at Coolidge from 2-5 pm on Friday Dec 1st. Flu and COVID vaccines will be available for students and families. Here is the link to register for an appointment.

Our District Wellness Committee will be meeting Tuesday 11/28 at 10 am in the RMHS library computer room. We are looking for student and parent input. Please provide information here if you are interested in participating in the meeting, or have any questions or feedback for the Wellness Committee.

Postural screenings for grade 9 students will be taking place in PE classes beginning 12/4. Please email nicole.pelley@reading.k12.ma.us if you would like to opt out of this screening for your child. See here for more information.

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council works for the understanding of, respect for, and support of, all children with special needs in the community (including ALL children on IEPs or 504 plans and children who may require specialized support). Watch this brief introductory video to learn more!

Visit the SEPAC WEBPAGE

Sign up for our mailing list

Follow SEPAC on Facebook or Instagram

See our 2023-2024 Calendar of Events

SEPACs giving was a great success. A huge thank you to Maria Morgan for organizing and hosting this wonderful series of events. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving next week.

Upcoming events:

The Learning Center review process has been completed and Student Services will be presenting the findings at the school committee meeting on November 30th. This will be followed-up with a virtual presentation (The Learning Center Review Results) hosted by Reading SEPAC on Thursday 12/7 @ 7 pm to give parents an opportunity to learn more about the learning center, the review results, and to ask questions directly to Student Services. Zoom link: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/85297238312

SEPAC REF Tree:

Reading SEPAC is proud to once again participate in the Reading Education Foundation (REF) Festival of Trees which supports our schools. Every year our members have graciously helped us to reach this goal and we hope this year will be no different as it would not be possible without your help!

A big thank you to Alyssa Scaparotti for volunteering to create a tree for the REF Festival on behalf of Reading SEPAC. This year's theme will be Ice Cream Wonderland.

This is a wonderful opportunity to not only support two Reading volunteer groups, Reading SEPAC and REF, but also to help Reading SEPAC spread awareness of our mission to continue to make Reading a better place for children with disabilities and to support families.

Here's some ways to help and to get involved:

Donate items or help decorate the tree

We would gratefully accept contributions of decorations/gifts for the SEPAC tree.

Here's two lists, if you wish to contribute, please know that we would welcome anything that goes with the theme, no matter where it's from.

Sign Up Genius

Amazon Wishlist

Items purchased off the Amazon wishlist have the option to be shipped directly to Allysa.

If you are able to help, we are beyond grateful. Please reach out if you'd like to help in any way not mentioned. Thank you!

Hi seniors and families, we are extending the original November 23rd deadline to accommodate all of our students. We will be holding a FINAL IN SCHOOL senior portrait session on Tuesday November 28th. This is the last chance to have your portrait taken.

• Please schedule an appointment via Prestige-LifeTouch: https://prestigeportraits.com/. Base package sessions are FREE.

• If you would prefer to have your portrait done outside of school hours, you can also schedule an in-studio appointment via the website. The studio is in Woburn.

• In order to be included in the Yearbook you must have a portrait taken by Prestige-LifeTouch. Student ID photos can also be used upon request.

• If you need any assistance with scheduling, please reach out.

An appointment will be assigned to you if you do not schedule one by Monday 11/20. Thank you! Ms. Glazier Yearbook Advisor

SENIORS who have already had their portrait completed need to select their photo by November 22nd. Log-in to Prestige-LifeTouch to do so: https://shop.prestigeportraits.com/shop/home.html

PTO IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• PTO DUES (different from Class Dues) - $50 per family (not per student) is the suggested donation but any donations are welcome. Please send your annual dues via PayPal or check made out to “RMHS PTO.” Pay via PayPal using the online link https://bit.ly/2MnjShb (we suggest donating $55 to cover fees) or send a check to “Attn. RMHS PTO - RMHS Main Office, 62 Oakland Road.”
  
  

In recent years, your PTO dues and funds raised have provided funding for items including agendas, funding after school library hours, books/resources for RMHS library, enrichment programs and speakers, staff appreciation, Homecoming and Unity Day activities. Thank you for your support!

• Harrows Gift Card fundraiser: Order $25 Harrows gift cards for only $20! Please see order form for details!

This is an annual event that the Reading Education Foundation puts on and the proceeds come back to educators in the form of grants and other funding directly to schools. If you would like to get involved or put together a tree scan the QR code below.

On 12/2 the METCO Program and Reading Education Foundation will host the second annual event holiday brunch. Use the link above in red to register to attend. Click on photo below to regster.

Principal (Interim) Jessica B. Callanan

jessica.callanan@reading.k12.ma.us
781-944-8200 ext. 19801

62 Oakland Road

Reading, MA 01867

RMHS Website (Including Updated 2023-24 Student Handbook)