Volume 16 | December 13, 2020
Upper School News
Dear Upper School Families,

It has been a very busy week with students reviewing in their classes and planning out their studying. This coming week, the Upper School focus turns squarely to final exams. All information on final exams is below.

**Please note-all final exams will happen virtually.


A reminder about the schedule for the coming weeks:


Monday, Dec. 14 - Griffin Day Schedule, all classes meet
Tuesday - Friday, Dec. 15-18 - Final exams, see details below.
Dec. 19 - Jan. 2 - No School (Winter Break)
Monday Jan. 4 - First day of January Short Term. Reach out to Mr. Horine or your project director with any scheduling questions ASAP.
Monday, January 25 - Regular classes resume in the Upper School




FINALS WEEK SCHEDULE

TUESDAY DEC. 15
 
8:30-10:30 A BLOCK FINALS

12:15-2:15 F BLOCK FINALS
 
 
WEDNESDAY DEC. 16
 
8:30-10:30 C BLOCK FINALS
 
12:15-2:15 G BLOCK FINALS
 
 
THURSDAY DEC. 17
 
8:30-10:30 D BLOCK FINALS
 
12:15-2:15 B BLOCK FINALS
 
 
FRIDAY DEC. 18
 
8:30-10:30 E BLOCK FINALS

**11:30am deadline to deliver canned goods to Roycemore. Details below.


One very important reminder about scheduling that has been mentioned in this newsletter: except in the case of illness verified by a doctor, students will not be given the option to take a final exam either early or late due to absence, and a student who does not take the final as scheduled may receive a zero for that exam. We appreciate your help in making sure students are present for finals. Additionally, if a student has any connectivity issues, they must be confirmed by a parent or guardian.

During finals week, Upper School students’ only obligation is to be present for finals. If a student does not have a final, they are free. 

I know finals can be a source of stress for all students. I encourage everyone to check in with teachers and advisors regularly to help with that stress. Remember, finals are not designed to trick students – they are just another way for every student to demonstrate the same knowledge they have shown all semester in class. If you are feeling stressed, please reach out and let your teachers know – we are here to help.

Good luck in these final weeks of 2020!
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Canned Food Drive
Dear Roycemore Students and Families,

This is the time of year where we would join together in the MPR to celebrate Wassail. While we are saddened that we cannot celebrate in person, we would like to spread holiday cheer despite our current circumstances. The Upper School Student Government has come up with a creative way in which we can give back to our community at large through a Canned Food Drive that will be taking place Monday, December 14, 2020, through Friday, December 18, 2020. 

All donations that are received will be delivered to A Just Harvest on Friday. A Just Harvest is in need of specific canned items like vegetables, broth, soup, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. These groceries can be found at any local grocery store. We would greatly appreciate your donations Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Friday from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM. EC and LS families can place their donations in the labeled boxes located at their pickup/dropoff entrances. MS and US families can place their donations in the labeled boxes on the black shelving located in the Alcove area at the Main Entrance. Please direct any questions you might have to Stefanie Rivera, Upper School Division Head, and Student Government Faculty Sponsor srivera@roycemoreschool.org. Thank you so much for your support!

Thank you,
The Upper School Student Government


Letters to Retirement Homes
We hope you will consider supporting our elders during this critical effort to fight loneliness. We’d love it if you’d write a handwritten letter talking a little about what you are doing in school, wishing happy holidays, drawing a nice picture, or saying 'we are thinking of you'. Letters should be scanned and emailed to: smcguire@roycmoerschool.org.


Griffin Greats-Join us!
An Interview Series with Alumni Experts...tune in to meet and chat with incredible Griffins from all over!

Sydney Barber is all set to become the first Black woman to serve as the brigade commander at the US Naval Academy, and is taking time to talk with our community about her Roycemore experience and her dreams for the future.

A Midshipman 1st Class Barber will assume the leadership position for the spring semester. She is the sixteenth woman to ascend to the position since women were admitted to the Naval Academy in 1976. Barber is the first Black woman to lead her peers at the academy in the institution’s 175-year-old history.  

Tune in Saturday, December 19th at 5 pm:


Winter Mini Courses!
After the successful launch of new online Summer Camp courses earlier this year, Roycemore School has decided to keep the fun going with weekend/evening mini courses starting in January. Families wondering how to keep kids engaged during the winter months will be happy to learn that four virtual options will be available this winter for students in 4th through 12th grades. These courses will help students hone their creative and critical thinking skills, while also providing an additional academic challenge. Interested? Mini Courses have been posted on Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIN

Patch


Yearbook Ads!
We want YOU! Please use this form to purchase Ads in our Yearbook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pbUzANWAvsnUFg30S5IOw9j2i7JkQ7NNGDysY4XhQjY/edit?usp=sharing


Spanish Help is Available!
Need some help in Spanish? We have a special tutor who is here to help us this Monday!
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Reminders
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Yoga with Ms. Avery
Ms. Avery is proud to be able to offer a virtual Yoga class through the Phoenix Yoga Project. You might be aware that Roycemore Alum, Scott Kinsloe founded the Phoenix Yoga Project as a way to provide free yoga classes to people throughout the Chicagoland area. While many PYP in-person classes have been suspended, Scott has pivoted to begin offering virtual classes via Zoom. Every Saturday, you can join the hour-long Saturday yoga class at 10 am CST. If you are interested please register here: https://www.phoenixyogaproject.org/. We look forward to "seeing" you on your mat!

Yearbook Pictures-We Want Your Pics!
From Zoom calls with friends to virtual learning and community outreach. There are plenty of stories to tell in the historic 2021 yearbook. Help us tell your child’s. Send the yearbook staff at Roycemore School your best photos for consideration in the book! 

To submit your photos to the yearbook staff:
  • Download the Yearbook Snap mobile app from the App Store or Google Play, and enter our access code: griffin
  • Go to yearbookforever.com, enter Roycemore School, click on Community Upload/Yearbook Snap and enter our access code: griffin

Questions? Please contact Sara McGuire or Stefanie Rivera, your Yearbook Co-Sponsors. 

Spirit Wear
Need some Roycemore gear? Feel free to visit our Spirit Wear Catalogue!

Literary Magazine
Our Lit. Mag. is up and running! Students-please send any and all submissions to litmag@roycemoreschool.org. Stories, photos, artwork, etc...all submissions are welcome!

Attendance
If you know your student will be absent on an upcoming day due to a medical appointment, college visit or other needed reason, please be sure to email: attendance@roycemoreschool.org. Students who will miss school should also take a form to their teachers for signatures and to get information on any classes they will miss. Forms are available in the Upper School office.

Calendar
To view all events please visit our calendar at the following link: roycemoreschool.org/calendar.