The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released school Accountability Data this week. The RMHS accountability rating was very strong, and a special nod to the math department that made amazing gains over last school year. Click on picture for more detailed information.

RMHS was also awarded a $75,000 Innovation Career Pathway Implementation Grant last week to support the growth of the existing Advanced Manufacturing (Engineering) and Information (Digital Media and Computer Science) Pathways! This funding coupled with the $25,000 Planning Grant, which was awarded in early September to support new ICPs in Clean Energy and Public Health and Social Assistance for the 2024-25 school year, will help to support the expansion of choices and real-world learning opportunities for our students.

Currently RMHS has almost 80-students in the Advanced Manufacturing and Information Pathways. These students will benefit from these grants directly. The grant funding will be used to pay for all Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement costs, as well as field trips and other enrichment activities. Overall, the ICP Program has brought $125,000 of grant funding to the high school to date!

RMHS is also still awaiting notification about the Skills Capital grant funding of over $400,000 which will support purchasing of new equipment in the arts and science departments!

• 2023-24 School Year Calendar (format 1)

• 9/24-9/25 - Yom Kippur

• 9/26 - ICP Kick Off during flex

• 9/29 - Early Release (1:04)

• 10/4 - Freshman Parent Night (6:30 pm)

• 10/5 - ALiCE drill (during flex)

• 10/6 - ICP Fieldtrip - Manufacturing Day at Millipore (50)

• 10/6 - Unity Day

• 10/12 - Activities Fair (T) fieldhouse during flex

• 10/17 - UML Field trip for Engineering ICP (25)

• 10/18 - PSATs - delayed opening for 9, 12 and 10/11 not taking PSAT

• 10/27 - Early Dismissal (1:04)

• 11/6 (7 pm) - NHS Induction

• 11/7 - No school for students / Full Day In-Service for Teachers
  

School Website w/ School Calendars: https://rmhs.reading.k12.ma.us/en-US#0

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to the new school year! On behalf of the teachers of the English Department, I write this note to share some thoughts on a new tool that entered our world quite memorably during last school year. This tool certainly has the potential to revolutionize written communication. What’s less certain, though, is the degree to which it will compromise the development of adolescent writing. You’ve probably figured out that I am referring to the artificial intelligence (AI) writing generator known as ChatGPT.

Many happy users have found that ChatGPT streamlines writing tasks from quarterly reports, to form letters, to memos. As teachers, we can imagine some educational uses of ChatGPT, and we will surely be thinking about how this powerful tool could be used to enhance student learning. However, the students in front of us are developing writers who are still learning the qualities of effective written communication. We need to know that when we are providing feedback to students, we are providing feedback on work that they produced, not work generated through the use of AI.

We want you to know that we expect that student essays and narratives will be the authentic work of our students. We appreciate your help in communicating to your students that they need to turn in original work and in reinforcing that unauthorized use of ChatGPT--or the next AI app to be developed--runs counter to the school’s policies for academic integrity. Ultimately, this will ensure that students are getting the feedback they need to become the confident, incisive writers we want them to be by the time they leave RMHS. Thank you!

Mike McSweeney

English Department Head

The RMHS library media center now open after school Monday -Thursday from (3-4 pm) for students to complete work in a quiet and supervised location.

RMHS is excited to host Unity Day in the fall this year in conjunction with Homecoming week, which should prove to have something fun for every student! Students are reminded to complete their Unity Day survey to pick the activities you would like to participate in on Oct. 6.

Calling all artists to paint the student-created design on the entry wall to the school store. If interested, please contact jessica.theriault@reading.k12.ma.us.

Interested in a group - consider Girl Rising!

Creative Arts (non-profit school for the arts in Reading) is hosting its first annual Pumpkin-Fest festival and fundraiser that will support the school, be a fun family event, and amplify the importance of the arts in our community. The event is 10/28 from 5-7 pm.

Google Doc with our full Newsletter Submission

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

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, Oct 5th, 9AM

Team Chair Meet and Greet at Central Office

• Come join us to meet your team chair and student service leadership in person. This is a great opportunity to foster a good relationship outside of the virtual world and the demands of IEP meetings.

• Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!

• Location: Central Office at RMHS. Entrance next to RISE pre-school

• Registration requested

Tuesday, Oct 17th, 6PM

SEPAC Fall Business Meeting and Elections (virtual)

• Who can/should attend?

• Anyone affiliated with RPS is a SEPAC general council member and thus welcome and encouraged to participate.

• Who can/should vote?

• Any parent of a child with a disability and any child 14+ with a disability are considered voting members.

• Our kids benefit from active general council member engagement. Please make efforts to participate in real time, but we will record portions of the meeting to post on our website later.

• At this6 meeting: elect board members, hear plans for the school year, provide your feedback, learn ways to participate, receive updates from Student Services, and learn about a successful communication strategy from a general council member.

• Opportunity for parents-only conversation following conclusion of the meeting.

• Link to join: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/83527291225

• SEEKING a general council member to be a note-taker for this meeting. Email sepacreading@gmail.com if you can do this.

Tara Herlihy (Coolidge teacher) will continue to be head coach, and you can feel free to reach out to her with any and all questions. Her email is: tara.herlihy@reading.k12.ma.us

Students need no previous experience with basketball or Unified Sports. This program is open to all that are interested in having fun, making friends and getting a little exercise. The environment will be laid back and full of encouragement.

Please have students register using this link by Thurs 9/21

https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/259/reports/949990

Volunteers Needed: The PTO needs your help! Please reach out to PTO board members or email RMHSpto@gmail.com if interested in volunteering for any of the following

Restaurant Night chair: plan restaurant nights over the course of school year

Spirit Wear sale: More information coming soon for Spirit Wear sale!

PTO Meeting: Join us at the first meeting on Monday October 2nd, 2023 at 7pm in the RMHS library or via zoom