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Reitz Memorial High School
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Letter from the Principal:
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Most people I have talked to these past few weeks have agreed that it was a short and fast summer. I am fascinated by the topic of “temporality” and how we perceive time. It has certainly changed since I have gotten older. It always seems to go faster. But one thing that has not changed is the excitement of a new school year. This past week has been especially busy as we prepare for almost 700 students to return to school and nearly infinite opportunities for learning inside and outside of the classrooms.
Our diocesan theme this year is “Called to Serve.” Our staff surely dove into that theme during our retreat last Wednesday. We gathered for a morning blessing and then teams headed off to various places in the community to offer a variety of services. These included the Dream Center, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and the Evansville Rescue Mission, to name a few. We gathered again for lunch and then Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, pastor at St. Benedict and newly appointed representative of the Bishop to the Board of Trustees, shared Scripture, stories and wisdom about Catholic schools with us. The day ended with Mass, and we were blessed to have Fr. Zach Etienne, pastor at Good Shepherd and new chaplain for Reitz Memorial, as our celebrant. How blessed we are in our calling to serve our students and families!
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My best reading this summer has been Thomas Friedman’s Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations. Friedman’s descriptions of technological and climate change boggled my mind, but fed my passion to learn. I read it very slowly because the information was so overwhelming. I persevered, however, because I wanted to get to the optimistic part. That just happened this past weekend and was very timely.
Despite all of the frightening potential for evil in our highly technological world, we have been given all the gifts needed to meet any challenge if we can only embrace what Friedman calls “sustainable values.” These are the values that come from our Judeo-Christian faith. These include honesty, integrity and mutual respect. Friedman says that our optimism for the future lies in developing strong families and strong communities. I couldn’t help but be energized by the thought that Reitz Memorial High School is the ideal environment in which to thrive. It is a place where all of us can learn and grow – ready to change the world. How blessed I am to be here!!!
-Marie Williams
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 8 (BLUE DAY)
First Day of School!
Students report to Homeroom - 7:35 AM
HR: 12:45 - 1:15 PM
Girls Varsity Golf - Evansville North - 3:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 (WHITE DAY)
HR: Class Meeting - Seniors
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10 (BLUE DAY)
HR: Class Meeting - Juniors
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 (WHITE DAY)
Regular Uniform Dress Code
HR: Class Meeting - Sophomores
Fall Sport Impact Testing - 3 PM
Varsity Football Scrimmage with Castle - Harrison - 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
Girls Varsity Golf - Washington Invitational - 1 PM
7th Grade Football - Southridge Scrimmage - Hargrave Field - 10 AM
8th Grade Football - Southridge Scrimmage - Hargrave Field - 11 AM
Varsity Cross Country - Valley Cross Kickoff - Terre Haute South HS - 8 AM
Varsity Soccer - Jamboree vs. North/Mater Dei - EVSC Fields - 5 PM
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August 15 - All School Mass - Auditorium - 10:25 AM
August 16 - School Pictures
August 16 - Morning Mass - Chapel - 7 AM
August 16 - School Pictures
August 16 - Football Team Dinner
August 21 - Solar Eclipse Schedule
August 24 - Morning Mass - Chapel - 7 AM
August 26 - RMDM Panera Giveback Night - Burkhardt Location - 4-8 PM
August 31 - Morning Mass - Chapel - 7 AM
September 4 - Labor Day - No School
September 5 - Meet the Teacher
September 5 - Tomorrow's Work Force
September 6 - Faculty Professional Development - 2 Hour Delay
September 7 - All School Mass - Auditorium - 10:25 AM
September 20 - PTO Meeting - Media Center - 6:30 PM
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Dress Code for 2017-2018 School Year:
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PANTS: The uniform pants are khaki in color. They are pleated or plain front. Parents need to purchase pants from Lands End or a Dockers brand. Be wary of others that may be marked "uniform approved." Pants must have belt loops and cannot have jeans-like stitching or patch pockets. Pants may not have split seams or frayed legs. Pants must be loose fitting, fit properly, and be worn at the natural waistline with a dress belt.
BLOUSES/SHIRTS: Blouses/shirts must be white or light blue oxford-style with a button down collar. They are to have long or short sleeves (three quarter sleeves are not permitted) and button all the way down the front. The male uniform includes a tie with oxford-style shirts.
During the 1st Quarter and the 4th Quarter, a school uniform monogrammed polo shirt may be substituted for the uniform blouse/shirt. The shirt must be white, royal or navy blue in color. It must be embroidered with the Reitz Memorial High School logo (the new logo and previous "fish" logo are both acceptable.)
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FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
In an effort to communicate more effectively, the Counseling Office is now using Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to like our page and follow us in order to not miss important information throughout the year! Look for Reitz Memorial Counseling on Facebook and rmhs_counseling on Twitter.
COLLEGE VISIT INFORMATION
Do you want to know when college reps are visiting Reitz Memorial? Are you interested in learning about
upcoming college Open Houses? Please check the RMHS website to keep updated on events occurring during the upcoming week. This is a great way to help encourage your students to attend these events.
ATTENTION MEMORIAL ATHLETES
If there is any chance your student’s future may include participation in a sport at a Division I or II college/university, registration with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
Eligibility Center is required. Students can register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org. It is important that parents and/or students confirm with their counselor that they are a student athlete so that core courses can be monitored. It is recommended that students register with the Eligibility Center (NCAA) by the completion of Junior year. In fact, Seniors discover that a prospective coach’s first question is often Are you registered with the Eligibility Center?
CLASS OF 2018: COLLEGE APPLICATION INFORMATION
Mrs. Bennett, College and Career Counselor, will meet with the senior class on August 18th. Students will receive information on transcript requests, application procedures, Common Application, and more.
TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
Transcripts are sent electronically for current students and alumni. Over 7,000 academic institutions and the NCAA use this service. To register and/or request a transcript, click on the following link:
www.parchment.com
.
THE COMMON APPLICATION
Nearly 700 colleges and universities share a common application to their undergraduate programs. For these colleges, students can complete one Common Application and send it to any of the participating colleges. Students must still check a school’s web site for additional information or material that must be supplied. To get started, go to:
www.commonapp.org
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COLLEGE GO! WEEK
During the week of September 25th, some Indiana colleges waive the application fee as long as you apply during that week. Make it a goal for your student to apply to at least one school during this week!
CLASS RANK
Reitz Memorial High School does not report class rank to colleges and universities. The practice is increasing around the country since, for many competitive schools like Reitz Memorial, reporting rank may hurt a student’s chances of being accepted to a college or university. All counselor recommendation forms, including the Common Application, have an option for schools to state that they do not report rank. We will still rank students internally for purposes of scholarship nominations, etc.
SENATOR TODD YOUNG’S ACADEMY DAY
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
6:00-7:30 pm
Ivy Tech Community College, 3501 N. First Ave., Evansville 47710
All students interested in attending a US service academy are encouraged to attend. Representatives from each service academy will be available to answer questions.
Click on the “College Readiness” tab and then “Test Prep”. This course will be available in two parts, and the cost is $99.00 for each part. Courses begin on 8/16, 9/13, 10/18, and 11/8.
University of Southern Indiana
-
SAT Tutorials
Verbal on Oct. 21 and Math on Oct. 28 -- 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Call 812-464-1989 to register. It is recommended that students register early as space is limited.
If you would prefer a more intense preparation opportunity, please check out
Best Test Coaching (Joel Claycomb)
at besttestcoaching.com
.
Joel can be reached at
joelclaycomb@gmail.com
or 812-453-9684.
SAT DATES:
Register at www.sat.collegeboard.org
- August 26, 2017 (Register by July 28, 2017)
- October 7, 2017 (Register by September 8, 2017)
- November 4, 2017 (Register by October 5, 2017)
- December 2, 2017 (Register by November 2, 2017)
- March 10, 2018 (Register by February 9, 2018)
- May 5, 2018 (Register by April 6, 2018)
- June 2, 2018 (Register by May 3, 2018)
ACT DATES:
Register at www.actstudent.org
- September 9, 2017 (Register by August 4, 2017)*
- October 28, 2017 (Register by September 22, 2017)*
- December 9, 2017 (Register by November 3, 2017)*
- February 10, 2018 (Register by January 12, 2018)
- April 14, 2018 (Register by March 9, 2018)*
- June 9, 2018 (Register by May 4, 2018)*
- July 14, 2018 (Register by June 15, 2018)*
* Test offered at Reitz Memorial
Important facts:
-Reitz Memorial’s school code is 150980. This number needs to be included in your student’s registration to ensure that RMHS receives their scores.
-Sign up as early as possible. Certain dates fill up quickly.
-It is recommended that students take both the ACT and SAT, as students tend to perform better on one versus the other.
-The writing section on both the SAT and ACT is now optional; however, we recommend all students take this section.
-The NCAA does not accept test scores from the student’s transcript. They must come directly from ACT/SAT headquarters. The student should indicate the NCAA code (9999) when registering.
-Check your student’s reported ACT/SAT test scores through Sycamore to verify that the scores are correct.
-It is possible to obtain a fee waiver for the ACT and SAT to cover the cost of taking the test. Contact Mrs. Bennett to see if your family meets the financial criteria set by the College Board and/or ACT. Criteria include a student being eligible for Free and Reduced Lunches, Textbook Assistance, and the Twenty-first Century Scholar Program. There is an income guideline posted on the ACT and SAT websites.
PSAT:
All Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 11th. Please make sure your student is at school to take this free practice exam for the SAT as there are no make-up exams given. Your student must be at school and in class on time because once the test starts no one will be allowed to enter a testing room. Taking this test will give you and your student an idea of how they will score on the SAT, determine if they must take the Accuplacer test in November, and is a qualifier for Juniors for National Merit Scholarships—so it is very important that your student take this test seriously! Students will need to provide their own #2 pencils (not mechanical) and their own calculator. A scientific or graphing calculator that they are familiar with is recommended. Also, make sure they eat a nutritious breakfast that morning and get plenty of sleep the night before. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Cullum at
dorrindacullum@evdio.org
or
(812) 476-4973 Ext. 2231
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Welcome to the start of another great school year at RMHS! The PTO is looking forward to supporting the students and staff to make their year successful. The PTO sponsors several events during the school year including Catholic Schools Week, After Prom, After Baccalaureate and Senior Weekend.
In order to make all of these things happen, we need your support and assistance. No amount of volunteerism is too small! You may send in your PTO membership form to the school office and mark your calendar for the first PTO meeting of the year: September 20 at 6:30 pm in the Media Center.
Special thanks to Lori Tenbarge and Karen Lively for chairing Senior Weekend at the end of July. Thank you to all parents and staff involved in making that weekend a success for the Class of 2018!
Dana Blanke, PTO President
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We are looking for friendly faces to to help man the desk in the main hallway during school days (7AM-11AM.) Duties for volunteers will include answering the door and directing guests as they enter the building. Please contact the Attendance Office for more information at (812)476-4973, or fill out the form below if interested in helping in this volunteer opportunity.
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Youth First Introduces The Truth Is Campaign:
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What most think (and do) may surprise you!!
Most youth do not engage in substance abuse, but most may think their peers do. Similarly, parents may think most teens drink alcohol, but they may not think it is an issue they need to address with their own child.
The Truth Is social norms marketing strategy corrects misperceptions like these and, in the process, changes attitudes and behaviors for the better.
The Truth Is campaign is a research-based strategy which recognizes that many young people want to conform to peer norms or feel the social pressure to do so. A growing number of studies document that both high school and college students' personal drinking behavior is strongly influenced by their incorrect perception of peer drinking norms (Berkowitz, 2003.) Students typically think that the norms for both the frequency and the quantity of drinking among their peers are higher than they actually are. In addition students generally believed that their peers are more permissive in their personal attitudes about substance use than is in fact the case (Perkin and Berkowitz, 1986.)
The Social Norms approach works to correct negative misperceptions by collecting actual data that measures beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. The data is then incorporated into a marketing strategy using media materials and messages to correct commonly-held beliefs like "everybody does it." By continuing to market the positive messages and true norms, the misperception that "everybody does it" is slowly altered until the group realizes "not everyone does it."
Youth First and Reitz Memorial are working together to implement and promote The Truth Is. You and your student will soon start seeing advertising through many different strategies and promotions. The statistics presented through this campaign are based on surveys that all Reitz Memorial students completed. As collaborating partners, we are excited to bring this campaign to the Reitz Memorial community.
If you have any questions or would like to play an active role in this initiative, please contact Tyler Patchin, Youth First Social Worker at tpatchin@youthfirstinc.org or Youth First at 812-421-8336.
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Reitz Memorial Dance Marathon:
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Reitz Memorial’s Dance Marathon program raises money through fundraisers and activity events planned throughout the year to benefit patients of Riley Children’s Hospital; these activities can range from giveback nights at Azzip Pizza to the annual volleyball tournament. Students can join the RMDM committee to help out, but so can parents! Your help can be as simple as making a donation, chaperone an event, be a sponsor either through your business or family, or by sharing your own Riley story. Last year, the third year of our program, we raised over $36,000. This money all goes to support the good work being done at Riley Children’s Hospital.
The student-led organization is served by two Presidents, Sophia Mazzocco and Emma Mattingly, and a board of executives. Students can join the committee at our call out meeting this month. To stay involved and updated on events, please follow up on the following social media sites:
Social Medias:
Twitter: @RMDMFTK
Instagram: @RMDM_2015
Snapchat: rmdm_ftk
Facebook: Reitz Memorial Riley Dance Marathon (@RMDMFTK)
Join us at our first event, a give back night at Panera, on August 26!
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Solar Eclipse -August 21:
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We will be taking the students of Reitz Memorial High School outside from 12:00 to 1:15 to view the solar eclipse. We have eclipse glasses for every student. There will be displays covering various eclipse topics. We will also be taking temperature and wind data as well as taking pictures of the sky periodically to compare “blueness”. This is the first time in almost a century that the United States has experienced a coast to coast eclipse.
We would welcome donations of bottled water. If you would like to join us, you are more than welcome. You might want to bring your own glasses. Come experience this incredible phenomenon with us or ask your student what she/he learned.
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2017-2018 Reitz Memorial High School yearbooks are now on sale for $55! Order a personalized book by September 1 and get four free icons ($16 value).
Don't miss this opportunity to purchase a one-of-a-kind book. Place your order today at www.jostensyearbooks.com. Problems placing your order? Call 1-877-767-5217 for help!
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Congratulations Jed Mijares!
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Congratulations to 2017 graduate, Jed Mijares, who is one of five winners of the Signet Essay Contest. This honor provides Jed with a scholarship as well as a Signet Classics Library collection (over 250 books) awarded to his school. Reitz Memorial students will enjoy these books for years to come!
We are so proud of Jed's accomplishment and grateful to be recipients of his success. Best wishes as you head to the University of Kentucky.
Check out his award winning essay:
http://www.penguin.com/signet-essay-contest-2017-4/
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Fall Festival Amateur Hour Tryouts:
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Amateur Hour tryouts for the 2017 West Side Nut Club Fall Festival will be
Wednesday August 23rd and Thursday August 24th
. Tryouts will be held at Mater Dei High School in the auditorium and will start at
5:30PM
each night.
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Tropical Decoration for the Christmas Dance:
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The 2017 Christmas dance will have a tropical/Hawaiian theme. If you find after all of your summer parties and luaus that you have tropical decorations that you no longer want, please consider donating them to the Class of 2020. Christmas light are also needed.
Items can be dropped off to Rm 231 once classes begin in August. Thank you.
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Learn More About the PTO at Reitz Memorial:
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