Navigating Transition to College for Students w/ Learning Differences - November 8th at 6:30pm

Salem State On-the-Spot-Admissions - December 5th

Alumni Day - January 4th during flex block

Junior Post-High School Planning Night - January 11th, at 6:30 pm

Gap Year Fair - January 17th at 6pm in the PAC and on RMHS Main Street

Future Freshmen Night for 8th grade parents and students - January 23rd at 6:30pm, in PAC

SAT's at RMHS - March 9th

College Fair - March 13th at 6:30pm in RMHS Field House

AP Exams - May 6th - 17th during school day

Senior Awards Night - TBD

Underclassmen Awards - TBD

Future Freshmen Night II - TBD

The Director of Learning Strategies and Student Success at Northeastern University, Jennifer Newton, is coming to RMHS this week on Wednesday, November 8th at 6:30pm in the Media Center. She will share helpful information to parents and students who are beginning to think about the transition to college. Topics discussed will include seeking appropriate support, navigating disability services, differences between high school and college, necessary documentation, etc. The evening is open to parents, caregivers, and students. Although not a requirement to attend, we kindly ask you to rsvp to help us plan for the number of handouts and seating arrangements.

Students currently enrolled in an AP course need to register for the exams by November 10th to avoid the $40 late fee from college board. This is a two step process and students have been informed by their teachers. All AP students and parents should have received this letter this past Friday. If you did not receive it yet, below is a link to the letter. The cost of the exams is $103 per exam. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch have a fee of $15 per exam. Any student or parent that needs additional time beyond Nov 15th to pay for the exam can make a request with the guidance office and we can work out a schedule that suits your needs. Instructions for registering and payment can be found in the letter below.

Salem State University is coming to RMHS Tuesday, December 5th to meet with seniors for on-the-spot admissions! An admission counselor will be meeting with students to review applications and provide an admissions decision. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to hear from a college early and we are encouraging all those interested in Salem State to participate. In order to participate, you must fill out this form. If you have already filled out your CommonApp, you are welcome to apply to Salem State that method, but ask you submit it by Tuesday, November 7th. If you are submitting your application after the 7th and would like to participate in on-the-spot, you need to apply by Tuesday, November 21st using Salem State's Application. There is no essay required on their application and it is free! If you need help applying or have any questions, please reach out to your school counselor. After you sign up, a counselor will provide you with your timeslot for meeting with the admissions counselor and will send you a SmartPass. We expect you arrive at Guidance a few minutes before your time and be dressed appropriately.

October and November are crazy months in the counseling office due to the early application college deadlines. All transcripts and counselor letters of recommendation have been sent to colleges for any student who applied with a November 1st deadline. This is a friendly reminder, first term grades will be available to counselors on November 13th and we will start sending these out to colleges at that point. Our goal is to have all first quarter grades to the colleges within a week of us receiving them.

The counselors just finished our third week of freshmen guidance seminars. We enjoy getting to know our students in a group setting. Last week, we discussed what is and is not in our control that led into a discussion about grades, the purpose of transcripts, how GPA's work, they did a reflection on term 1 and making adjustments for term 2. Parents, now that term 1 has finished, this is a good time to talk with your child about how things went and what they would like to improve for term 2. Don't be surprised if the workload for term 2 and the expectations increase a little now that the students are feeling more comfortable in the building and the teachers have a better understanding of their students.

We are expecting the PSAT scores will be released to students in the next few weeks to the student email they provided on test day. For majority of students, this is their personal email. Once our office hears the scores have been released, I will send out a notification to parents letting you know they are available.

Our office just received the Abigail Adams Scholarship letters for seniors who scored in the top 25% of RMHS students who took the MCAS. Students who receive this scholarship get credit towards their college tuition for up to eight semesters at one of the Massachusetts State Colleges or Universities. We are currently stuffing envelopes and the letters will be mailed home later this week. The students who are eligible to apply for the Koplik Scholarship due to their MCAS scores will also be notified soon. We are waiting for the final word from the state that the applications are ready and we can send them to families. Hopefully that letter will be coming soon.

RPS students are eligible to receive financial assistance for various school related activities (prom, athletic fees, etc), College Board standardized tests, and college applications. We would like to continue supporting families in need but we need your help. We are encouraging any family who thinks they would qualify for free and reduced lunch to review the documents and fill out both the application and the share form. Click here for the financial assistance forms. If you have any questions, please reach out to food services director or your school counselor.

Website: https://www.reading.k12.ma.us/memorial/departments/guidance/
Location: 62 Oakland Road Reading, Ma 01867
Phone: 781-944-8200