RHS Parent Group Minutes, October 6, 2008

Called to order 7:05, 20 in attendance

Welcome & introductions by Pegi Shea of new PG “coordination team”: Cindy Madden, Mary and John Scibelli, Linda Romejko, Alana Reynolds, Karen Hill.

Principal updates by Brian Levesque:

  1. HEATING: Mentions possible 2 hour morning delay in coming days due to heating issues (chimney struck by lightning over the summer, which means no exhaust system for boilers.) The superintendent will decide around 6am, and alert TV & radio stations. Emails sent to RHS PG list. By state law, the school needs to be at a temp of 68, and the heat must be working as of Oct. 15. Materials were ordered immediately and repair to begin ASAP. This work is completely covered by school district insurance and will not affect bonding or budgets.

  2. CONSTRUCTION: is almost over. Library will hopefully open in one week.    Almost all of the books are unpacked and placed on shelves. Gym looks wonderful but have lost a substantial amount of seats. It now has 512 seating capacity, including 16 handicapped seats. 

  3. SECURITY - 150 cameras in and out of the school  - all working. They have already been used to document the truth of an altercation. Locking system will be in place in the next week.  Main entrance will have a buzzer to get into the school.  Vo-Ag kids will have a key card to get in and out of the school.  Also – seniors who have privileges will also have a key card.

  4. FRESHMAN ACADEMY – failure data has improved in the past year from around 50% to 30% of students who fail at least one class one marking period freshman year. Also, academies credited with a 50% cut in the number of students needing to repeat 9th grade. Added freshman mentoring went over very successful.  A lot of “mentoring” will be going on in the study halls, hopefully breaking down barriers, in turn helping them in their academic studies.

  5. No freshman data stats are available as of yet on entire school year of 07-08. Brian will get them to PG as soon as possible.

  6.   Parent asked: Is there an extended program for retained students?  Brian said [guidance] is looking into different existing programs, e.g  Choice Program. It makes sense to try a different program if Academies program failed for those particular students.

  7. Parent asked: Re: study hall used needed for homework. Parent wants option for freshman honor student to opt out of “Link Crew” mentor activities so student can do homework . Brian explained that the student has to plan for their study hall knowing when the link crew will be attending. The link crew activity is only 20-25 min a week.  Brian mentions the activities are not all academic; freshman also learn about the school and social aspects.

  8. Parent asked via email:      Are admission fees to sporting events going to Vernon Parks & Recreation department. Brian stated that all of the money goes to the high school (mostly to purchase new uniforms and equipment), except for state play-off games.  

  9. Parent asked via email:  How can students purchase clothing with school colors for events? Brian said, the school store sells clothes, and clubs and student councils often have fundraisers with such items.   

  10. Parent asked: Can Senior “bleacher photo slogan” (taken during spirit week, and displayed at the back of the yearbook every year) be reconsidered and revised. “Party Hard, rock n’ roll, we’re the class that takes control. The boys are hot, the girls are fine. We’re the class of 2009.” Attendees discussed portrayal of RHS students as substance abusers. Suggestions for change: “Live it up” and “Play Hard.” (Please see appendix.) Brian did not see a problem with the slogan. Supposedly there was a “vote” but only some people knew of it. The picture is not being taken until the week of 10/20; the slogan will be decided then. 

  11. UPDATE: The senior class has decided not to have a slogan on picture day.

  12. Parent asked: to clarify school calendar, graduation is the last day of school.  Brian said that the date may change, that by law the date cannot be set before April 1st,  due to possible snow dates, other changes.

Miscellaneous Updates:

Project Graduation – (chair, Beth Waggoner, tonywaggs@comcast.net ). Is a substance-free all night party graduation night at a local site, which has been Court House One for many years. Extensive planning is needed, and meetings are 2nd Thursdays of the month. Committee is actively looking for a new site for this party and welcomes all suggestions.

Fundraisers set: Applebees Pancake breakfast, $5.00 of which we keep $4.00,  on Sat, Nov. 22nd 8-10 am (Sat a.m.)  Up to 200 meals can be served. Tickets can be bought at the door, and in advance.

Fundraiser by Sue Stokes who makes shortbread, peanut brittle (assorted) and gift boxes with different items to be delivered by Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Dec. 6 Bus trip to New York – cost is at $40.00/person. 

Possible hypnotist in March

For more information, contact Beth Waggoner, and read updates in RHS TelegRAM newsletter sent home monthly. 

Food Service – (Monica Pacheco, Food service Director for the Vernon School District.) Funding sources for cafeteria food are a separate entity from the Board of Education. Everything made in the cafeterias is supported by all food service budgets. Renovations of the RHS cafeteria went well – it’s bright and cheery.  Prices have gone up on cost of meals due to gasoline prices. New menu ideas are welcomed, but sometimes take a few months to catch on with the students. The Food service must comply with extremely strict standards and audits to maintain its  “Healthy Food certification.”

 

Next Meeting: Dec. 8, in Faculty Lounge, 7pm. *

Tentative Agenda:

  1. -       Reports by student Link Crew members and student council members

  2. -       CAPT results discussion,

  3. -       Report Card discussion

  4. -       Student Support Services, e.g. tutoring, counseling, etc.

Note: all RHS PG meetings will now be held in Faculty Lounge (7pm as usual). Food & beverages are no longer allowed in the library.

 

APPENDIX

RHS CLASS OF SENIOR BLEACHER PHOTO SLOGAN

The end page of every yearbook is a photo of the graduating class taken during “spirit week” on the football bleachers. To express identity, some groups choose slogans to spell out with letters on T-shirts; others wear athletic uniforms or other group t-shirts.

This year, there has been both student and parental resistance to a slogan for this year that the senior class supposedly voted on. But not everyone knew about the vote. The resistance is toward the imperative “party hard,” especially in light of anti-drug and alcohol efforts in town, taxpayer resistance to budget increases, and the public availability of the yearbook in the public library. 

 

2009 “VOTED”: “Party Hard, Rock n’ Roll, we’re the class that takes control.

The boys are hot, the girls are fine. We’re the class of 2009.”

 

COMPROMISE: (NOT SELECTED):  “Live it up, Rock n’ Roll, we’re the class that takes control. The boys are hot, the girls are fine. We’re the class of 2009.”

UPDATE: The senior class has not decided to have a slogan on picture day.

 

 

For comparison, here are the most recent examples of bleacher slogans:

2008 Foreground: “Who are the girls all the boys wanna date? The lovely ladies of 2008!”

2007  Several illegible in background.  Foreground:  “We are so fine we look like heaven, because we are the chicks of 2007.”

2006  “Lost Boys” & illegible ones in background. Foreground: “Hey there, Rockville High, We are the hottest chicks because we ‘ll always rock.” 

2005 Several illegible ones in background. In foreground:  “Hey there, Rockville High, we’re crazy cool and so alive, We are the girls of 2005.