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Welcome to Upper School!

 

August 9, 2010

 
Dear Parents and Students,
 
I hope that you have all had a wonderful summer and are starting to gear up for the school year (don’t neglect that summer reading until the last days! J)  We are starting the year with 288 students – 19 of whom are new to the 9th grade, 3 are new to the 10th grade and 1 in the 11th grade.  I am so looking forward to welcoming you all, old and new, back to RPCS!
 
In our ongoing effort to be environmentally conscious, I am sending you this August mailing electronically.  You will be able to click on the links as you read my letter or return to them to read the information. Also, make sure that you log onto SchoolBASE for forms that need your electronic signature.
 
We also have a few new faculty members joining us this year.  Virginia Bluth will be teaching honors chemistry and AP chemistry.  Mrs. Bluth is a graduate of University of Chicago and holds master’s degrees from both The Pennsylvania State University and Michigan Technological University.  She has most recently been teaching at MMI Preparatory School and The Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton Campus.  Richard Cozzens will be teaching the four levels of Arabic.  A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Music, he has been teaching Arabic at the University of Rhode Island and has been involved in the design and application of a high school Arabic curriculum.  Grace Chang will be teaching Chinese in both the Upper and Middle School.  Most recently Mrs. Chang has been teaching at Hereford High School.  She has also been an adjunct faculty at CCBC and has been an instructor at the Columbia Chinese Language School.  Many of you whose daughters have been in our Lower School will recognize the name Lisa Kopf.  Lisa is excited to take on the challenge and excitement of the Upper School and will be teaching studio art. Mandy Bissell, a 1990 RPCS alumna, will teach Aerie Treska’s four English sections while she is on maternity leave first semester.  Ms. Bissell received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her M.A. from Princeton University as well as a M.A.T. from Towson University.  She has most recently been teaching middle school English at Immaculate Conception School. Leslie Goetsch has resigned to pursue another opportunity.  Her first semester classes will be taught by various members of the English department; her second semester courses will be taught by Ms. Bissell. 
 
Your daughter received her schedule in June.  Hopefully, we have already discussed any questions and/or concerns you or she may have about her schedule.  She will be receiving the final copy of her schedule either at Orientation for new students on Tuesday, August 31st or at Advisory on Wednesday, September 1st with all updated information.  As always, please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions about her schedule or course of study.
 
Please make sure that you return your health forms to Mrs. Hamilton, the School Nurse.  NO student will be able to participate in any school activity (including all activities that occur before the first day of school) until those complete forms are received.  Please remember that you must log onto SchoolBASE to complete the forms.  Please contact Mrs. Hamilton at hamiltond@rpcs.org with any questions.
 
As you know, RPCS has an SAT Preparatory curriculum which is taught to all students in grades 9-11 by Capital Educators.  This class meets once a cycle and I can absolutely attest to the correlation that exists between performance in the course and performance on the SAT.  Please encourage your daughter to take the course seriously and study her vocabulary so she is prepared for the quizzes.  She is also required to take two practice PSAT or SAT tests here at school in order to pass the course (and note that a failing grade in this class will eliminate a student from Honor Roll).  Saturday, September 25th is the first testing for juniors and Saturday, October 9th is the first for 9’s and 10’s.  You might also want to note on your 2011 calendar that the winter test dates are February 5th and February 12th (the 10th and 11th grades will take a practice ACT at this time.)  Finally, the last practice test date is April 16th for any students who have not already completed two practice tests and/or those who want additional test practice.
 
Parents’ Night is from 7-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7th.  Please come and meet your daughter’s teachers and learn about her curriculum for the year.  For those of you whose daughters take classes off campus, you can meet those teachers from 6-6:30 p.m.  at the parents’ nights of those schools (Gilman’s night is Monday, September 13th and Bryn Mawr’s night is the same as ours).  This will enable you to meet all of your daughter’s teachers and also allow you to see where your daughter is in class.
 
New-Uniforms.jpgOne day last spring in Morning Meeting, I asked the girls if they would be interested in increasing some uniform options, in particular a red sweatshirt and/or a red fleece pullover.  Both choices were met with a resounding “YES!”  Then, I showed them some possible kilt options, and, much to my surprise, they again roared in the affirmative.  The task then was to choose a tartan that would integrate RED and still work with the rest of the uniform.  You can see the tartan we have chosen in the uniform and, if you wish, place your order for a kilt for November delivery.  The one caveat is that I told the girls that shirt tails WILL be tucked in!!!
 
Please check the attached links for very important information: Orientation for all the 9th grade and new 10th & 11th grade students; a letter to the Class of 2011; Make sure that you log onto SchoolBASE for forms that need your electronic signature. Senior Open Campus permission (requires signature); Acceptable Use Policy (requires signature); and the Quid Nunc (yearbook) flyer (requires signature if you do not wish for your daughter to receive a yearbook).  There are also links to the Schools Attuned Parent Workshops, the Alumnae Association Gift Wrap fund raiser, and the Golf Classic.  Finally, you will also see the calendar for the first days of this year.  I hope that you will like this new format of the August mailing – please do let me know. 
 
See you all soon!
 Joan-Signature.gif

Joan F. Smith

Head of Upper School

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 Letter to Seniors - Class of 2011
click to read

Welcome Class of 2014
click to read about orientation​​

 

 
Log onto SchoolBase to fill out the following forms. The forms will be located under Student Information and some will need to be signed electronically. If you would like to print see below.
  • Quid Nunc Cancellation Form
  • US Network Acceptable Use Policy.pdf
  • Book Store Information and Credit Limit.pdf

 

 
 
UPPER SCHOOL FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL CALENDAR

Tuesday, Aug. 31
9-12:00 noon 9th Graders & New Student Orientation
11:00 –12:00 Senior Class Meeting - Apgar
12:00 –1:00 Big/Little Sister Lunch
Wednesday, Sept. 1                             
8:30 - 9:30 Senior Class Meeting - Faissler
9:30 – 10:15 US Advisories
10:15-3:15 US Mini Schedule
(no “bumps” or 5th period)
10:15 - 10:35 Day 1, Period 1
10:50 - 11:10 Day 1, Period 2
11:25 - 11:45 Day 1, Period 3
12:00 - 12:20 Day 1, Period 4
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH
1:10 - 1:30 Day 2, Period 1
1:45 - 2:05 Day 2, Period 2
2:20 - 2:40 Day 2, Period 3
2:55 - 3:15 Day 2, Period 4
3:20 – 3:40 ADVISORY
6:30 - 8:30 Senior Dinner at Mrs. Brune's
Thursday, Sept. 2 
Day 1 Classes
8:00 - 3:45 ASSEMBLY Schedule
10:30 All School Opening Convocation (Gym)
Friday, Sept. 3
Day 2 Classes
10:50 - 11:20 Morning Meeting - Sinex Theater