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SUNDAY LETTER October 23, 2016
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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
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We've Got Rigor and Soul
For the past few years, when people ask me about RHP, I begin with "We are forward-looking, academically rigorous . . . with a soul." I have been quietly using this expression, "Soul," for more than two decades, ever since I first visited campus myself, as a candidate for Head of School. Returning to Boston (a city we thought we'd never leave) after my two-day interview, I told Mary, "This school has something I like: a tangible feel of energy and 'can do,' . . . 'soul.'"
One of our alumni asked me this week, "Soul? What does that actually mean, Mr. McCormack?" (She still insists on calling me by my father's name even though she's in her mid-thirties, a mother, and a successful professional herself!) And before I was able to answer, she jumped in with, "I know what it means: S is for Support, O is for Openness, U is for Understanding, and L is for Love. Those four words describe my time at RHP perfectly."
Wow . . . even better than my answer was going to be!
My answer? The "Soul" part of "Rigor and Soul?" We are extremely successful at preparing our students for success and fulfilment in college and beyond without stealing their teenage lives from them. Our block schedule reduces fragmentation and stress in the day (aren't our lives frenetic and fragmented enough?), encouraging depth rather than thinness of curriculum. The schedule demands, say, three or four meaningful homework assignments per night rather than six or seven "busywork" worksheets. Additionally, our trimester curriculum allows our students to get real two-week-long rests during the school year. They need it. You need it. Family time is important. Soul!
Small classes that encourage strong relationships between adults and children; teachers who reach out and advise clubs and activities that play into student interests; parents who give so much of their time and energy in support of our programs. Soul!
Everyone feels our soul as soon as they walk onto campus. We combine a businesslike approach to education--"We are all working and studying hard here and we know what we need to do to get the job done"-with an informal, friendly, family-oriented approach to our relationships. Aren't we all likely to do better in a place where we feel comfortable each day? Last year's seniors made comments in their exit interviews such as:
- One great strength would be the close relationships you can build with teachers and students.
- I love the community feel that is prevalent right when you set foot on campus. All the teachers and faculty care about your success.
- I tell people that this school has changed my life, because it has. The support I've gotten here has been more than I could've asked for. I think the greatest strength is how I have created such great relationships with my teachers.
- You would never get the experience you get here at public school. All the teachers genuinely care and want you to do well.
- I think the greatest strength of RHP is the accepting nature of everyone at the school.
Rigor? Definitely!
Soul? Without question!
Peter McCormack
Head of School
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 Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thursday & Friday, October 27-28
No Classes / Offices Open
SCHEDULING PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Our Parent Teacher conference online scheduling system, Pick-A-Time, is now ready for you to set up appointments. Please follow
these instructions on how to log on and schedule your conference. You will have access to set up appointments through Pick-A-Time now through noon on October 26th. Also, please note that conferences are for parents/guardians only. Available conference times are listed below.
Thursday, October 27: 11:00 a.m - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 28: 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Things to think about when scheduling appointments:
- All conferences are held in the MPR and there is no need to schedule travel time in between conferences. You may schedule back-to-back conferences.
- The gong is sounded every ten minutes - at your appointed time - you enter the MPR, find your teacher and sit down, when the gong sounds - your time with that teacher is up and you move to the next teacher.
- On the "Pick-A-Time" site - you may schedule back-to-back-to-back
**Returning parents, if you see a message that says "Sorry, there are no available appointments at this time" please delete your student by clicking on the red "X" and then
re-add your student.
Please call Yesela Tadeo at (310) 791-1101 ext. 197 if you have any questions.
Fall Play - Almost, Maine
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 4-6
MPR
Tickets are $10.00 in advanced and $15.00 at the door.
Click here to purchase tickets. If you would like to help volunteer, sign up
here.
Amy Stewart-Johnston, Educator of the Year Award
Wednesday, November 9 | 6:15 p.m.
Palos Verdes Country Club
 Veterans' Day
No Classes / Offices Closed
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Girls' Varsity Volleyball vs New Roads
Tuesday, October 25 | 4:00 p.m.
Oak St. Gym
1780 Oak St.
Torrance, CA 90501
 Coed Cross Country vs New Roads
Tuesday, October 25| 4:30 p.m.
2551 Motor Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Boys' Varsity Football
Friday, October 28| 3:15 p.m.
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Senior Speech: Malana Manquen
Throughout high school, Rolling Hills Prep has made sure that the environment surrounding us all is supportive, creative, and most of all enjoyable. High school was enjoyable. Clubs helped me realize my strong leadership skills, cheer and soccer took me out of my comfort zone, outdoor ed helps bring grades together as a unit, and the small class sizes and most helpful teachers I have ever come across help you reach an academic level that you never thought you could achieve.
Click here to read more.
Senior Speech: Liana Maggid
The unavoidable fact is that everyone will cope or develop differently, in whatever way they know how. A part of life is dealing with what is thrown at you, and the best advice I can give is to find your own way to deal with these things, one that you know will work or at least help you.
Click here to read more.
A big Thank you to all the Annual Fund donors who have made a difference by donating thus far. Because of your generosity, we are able to provide the best opportunities and learning environment for our students. Your contributions are vital in supporting academic excellence and the unique programs we offer to our students.
To bring your class to 100% participation or make a payment on an existing pledge, you can donate to the Annual Fund by logging in to MyBackpack
here and navigate to the donate and pledge links listed under the heading "Donations." The deadline for payment on new or existing pledges is July 31, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact Justin Coleman at
jcoleman@rollinghillsprep.org
Equal Justice Initiative 50/50 Draw - Extended!
 The tenth grade is raising money for the Equal Justice Initiative. For the entire week we will be selling tickets for a 50/50 drawing that will happen at the Football Game Friday, October 28th.
Tickets are $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00. The winner will get half the pot. You do not have to be at the game to win.
To purchase tickets, see any one of the tenth grade advisors (Lisa Bonnici, Claire Cassidy, Kaini Gu, Rebecca Kandel-Scott, Julian Taurozzi). Select students will also be selling tickets at break time.
Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, The Equal Justice Initiative is a nonprofit organization committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. You can find out more information on them through their website
http://eji.org
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 Trimester 1 Programming Class
RHP & Ren is excited to be continuing our partnership with UCode, a South Bay organization dedicated to helping students learn coding, HTML, and web design. This well-received program, begun last year, will be offered again to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders during Y Blocks beginning November 3rd. Students MUST sign up in advance with Mr. Rogers in order to secure a spot. The deadline for enrollment for trimester 1 is Wednesday, October 26th.
Did You Receive Your Student Handbook and Directory?
If you haven't yet received your copy of the Student Handbook and Directory, please stop by the front office, or send your child to pick one up for you. They will also be available during the Parent Teacher conferences on October 27th and 28th. You can also
click here for a pdf version. If you have any questions, please contact Communications Manager Alisabeth McQueen at
amqueen@rollinghillsprep.org.
From the College Counseling Office
The second rotation of standardized test prep classes begins this week. Students enrolled in this rotation have received reminder emails. We strongly recommend students take advantage of this great resource for SAT and ACT test preparation. The classes will take place on the following days:
WEEK ONE
o Tuesday, October 25th - X Block (1:15 to 2:30 PM)
o Wednesday, October 26th - 7:00 AM
WEEK TWO
o Wednesday, November 2nd - 7:00 AM
o Thursday, November 3rd - Y Block (1:15 to 2:30 PM)
WEEK THREE
o Wednesday, November 9th - 7:00 AM
o Thursday, November 10th - Y Block (1:15 to 2:30 PM)
WEEK FOUR
o Wednesday, November 16th - 7:00 AM
o Thursday, November 17th - Y Block (1:15 to 2:30 PM)
WEEK FIVE
o Tuesday, November 29th - X Block (1:15 to 2:30 PM)
o Wednesday, November 30th - 7:00 AM
Also,
Rolling Hills Prep and Renaissance schools are organizing a Boston to New York college tour! We are very excited to be able to offer this exciting travel opportunity to our students. This trip is an excellent opportunity for students to see a wide range of colleges and universities in a short amount of time and help them discover what kind of school will be the right fit.
Colleges and universities we will be visiting will include at least eight of the following: Boston University, Northeastern University, Boston College, Emerson College, Tufts University, MIT, Harvard, Brown University, Providence College, University of Connecticut, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Sarah Lawrence University, Pace University. We will also be sightseeing in Boston and New York. The College Tour is open to ALL UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS.
The total cost is $2,805 per student, and will be held from June 12- June 17, 2017. Round-trip airfare, ground transportation, hotels, breakfast and dinner, daily activities, gratuities, and overnight security are included in the price.
Please join me for an informational/enrollment meeting on Monday, October 24th at 6pm in the MPR. I will be going over the itinerary, what is included, how to enroll and important deadlines. Please RSVP by sending an email to bdyment@rollinghillsprep.org.
The enrollment deadline is November 23rd
Advertise in the 2016-2017 Yearbook
Support the 2016-2017 Yearbook by placing an ad for your child or your business! Fill out
this form and submit it along with your materials by November 18. Ads will be designed based on the images and text you provide in accordance with the design of the yearbook and will be sent to you for approval. Please contact Rebecca Kandel-Scott with any questions at
rkandel-scott@rollinghillsprep.org.
A
ttention Students!
Next Tuesday, October 25, Media Club will be filming a video about Huskies and their Grandparents. The video will be shown on Grandparent's Day! If you would like to be involved, please come to Ms. Kandel-Scott's Room, which is Room 14B, either at Lunch or X Block, and come with a few things you love and appreciate about your Grandparent's. It will only take a few minutes, and will be a lot of fun! Thank you!
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Art Students Prepare for CPK Night on November 15th
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Congratulations to Izzy Levin (far right) who was recognized this week as one of the San Pedro Rotary Club's students of the month.
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Amy Lee has raised $1000 for AIF Foundation's Helmets for Kids with the help of Cakes for Causes, Travel Club, and individual donors.
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Students showed their school spirit this week by dressing up according to the themes chosen by the Student Council.
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The first Coffee House of the year was a huge hit! We are so lucky to have such a talented student body.
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Students, faculty and staff dressed in purple on Thursday, October 20th to show their support of anti-bullying efforts of LGBTQ youth.
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The girls' varsity volleyball team played two games this past week, again CAMS and Hawthorne Math and Science. The varsity swept both teams, bringing them that much closer to clinching second in the Coastal League. Kai Nickerson and Maia Taylor both had 12 kills, and Leah Taylor with 11 kills, against HMS on Thursday. Additionally, Kai Nickerson and Maia Taylor tied with 15 kills, and Leah Taylor had 13 kills on Tuesday against CAMS. The coaches and team are looking forward to celebrating the seniors and their last game of the regular season on Tuesday at 4pm against New Roads at Oak St. gym.
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