Rochelle Township High School

Preparing students for their tomorrow

Monday, March 12 2018

Message from Supt. Harper

Dear Students, Parents, & RTHS Community,

There is a national social media movement underway for students and staff to protest the most recent school violence and push for increased gun control.  There are a few events scheduled over the next couple of months, including March 14 and April 20. Organizers are asking students and teachers to walk out of the classroom for an extended period of time.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and families of recent school shootings; however, we believe a student walk out creates both a substantial disruption to the learning environment and creates a safety and security risk for students. RTHS will stay safe and focused on learning by remaining in school. We will not participate in the national walk out protests. Students and teachers who participate in such a walk out will receive appropriate consequences for the situation.

At the same time, the RTHS administration wants students to know their voices are heard and should feel empowered to help create meaningful change. The RTHS administration has provided students with the opportunity to plan an entire week of activities as part of the “Week of Us” initiative led by students. Please take a few minutes to see this WTVO Channel 17 news story from last Friday afternoon.

RTHS has dedicated an entire week to honoring lives lost due to violence and to bettering our own school climate.

As always, our goal is to provide a welcoming learning environment while keeping our students and staff safe and secure. We are proud of the ongoing efforts to keep a safe learning environment and we appreciate everyone's partnership in making this a reality.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact the school at 815-562-4161.

Sincerely,

Jason Harper, RTHS Superintendent

Lauren Ponto & Morgan Haas are all in and Abelardo Gonzalez said he appreciated the post it note

March 12-16: The Week of Us

Looking directly into the camera on the WTVO producer’s cue March 9, senior Sarena Abdallah said, “Recent events in our nation have caused us (at RTHS) to begin an important discussion about how to respond to violence in schools. Problems like these rarely have only one solution and we students sometimes have a hard time knowing what to do with our voices.”

Classmate Teddi Hacaga said, “When conflict and negativity hover and crowd us, we tend to break apart especially when we have differences.”

They continued, “As students we have a voice. We are all entitled to our opinions, but bringing our diverse views and beliefs together makes us stronger. Despite the recurring hardships in the world, the country, and in our community, coming together as a whole makes a difference. The difference starts here.

“In response to recent events (students addressing violence in schools), between March 12 and 16, RTHS will celebrate the Hub community through activities we call the ‘Week Of Us’; a to honor the 17 lives taken in Florida and a time our school community comes together to demonstrate we can accomplish more together than we can apart. Each day we will ask you to partake in a community-building activity.”

Monday:          Power Of A Post-It Note or Thank you letters  to anyone

Tuesday:         Unity Bracelets & a Chain of Change

Wednesday:         Wear Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School color (red). Talk to, make friends

with or smile at 17 people representing the number of lives taken at MSDHS

Thursday:        Hand-in-Hand prints at Lunch; encourage positive social media messages  

#TheWeekOfUs

Friday:           One Hub, One Family -  wear school colors; perform random acts of kindness

Successful weekends

Senior Jessica Garrison attended the Kiwanis Key Club District Convention in Springfield and placed second in the oratory contest taking about the impact Key Club has had on her life and what that means to her.  Aubrey Headon and Rockford Jr Chariots won 3rd place in the IHSA State wheelchair basketball tournament. She was congratulated by pal MacKenzie Huber.

Conference Champs; Rocha Best in Show!

At the Conference Art Show Saturday, RTHS we tied with DeKalb High School for first place!   Mario Rocha earned a first place in Drawing (color) and was named Best in Show. Four second place ribbons were awarded to: Ben Pflipsen in Photography (altered), Judy Fulgencio in Photography (unaltered), Kayla Carpenter in Computer Generated Art,  and Lisette Milan in Drawing (neutral). A pair of 3rd place ribbons were awarded to: Ashlynn Lawrence in Ceramics (wheel thrown) and Frantzcesca Vardman in Painitng (watercolor and tempera).

Art Teacher Beck Mock said, “Seven of our 12 pieces placed.  It was great day and the kids had a lot of fun.”  Check out the award-winning work on display in the Art Hall.

On sale this week

• There are hundreds of fiction titles in the LMC's 25₵ used book sale, which continues through Friday.

Today

• National Honor Society Induction 7 pm
• Girls soccer will meet @ the outside locker room today

Junior Cecellia Stover said the post it notes are nice reminders

In the Hub Cafe

• Grilled cheeseburger w pickle chips, corn on the cob, applesauce
• Daily Special $3.50: Crunchy popcorn chicken; combo meal $5.60

G-Force this week

• G-Force in Session Monday through Thursday

Tuesday

• Distribution of Unity Bracelets & creation of a Chain of Change
• Speech Team:  Tatler picture 7:50 am in counseling center; wear your team sweatshirt.
• Dual Credit registration (summer courses) 7:30 am Counseling Center
• English I & 2 in school field trip to a Shakespeare play Per 2-4
• RTHS hosts feeder school speech tournament at 3:30

Wednesday

• Wear Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School color (red). Talk to, make friends
• with or smile at 17 people representing the number of lives taken at MSDHS
• Interact Give a  Gallon Wednesday
• Boys in Sycamore Indoor Track meet

Thursday

• Hand-in-Hand prints; post positive social media messages  #TheWeekOfUs

•  SAT Khan Academy Prep in Room B104 on Thursday this week

Friday

• One Hub, One Family -  wear school colors; perform random acts of kindness
• Student Council meets at 7:30 am in B202
• RTHS Education Foundation Scholarship deadlines

Saturday

• NIB-12 Boys indoor track meet Sterling 9 am
• Baseball at Harlem 10 am; frosh baseball here at 10 am