RHS Newsletter

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!!

Our first day of school, August 25, will be here in no time. We are excited to partner with your family to help your student have a smooth and positive transition to the start of the school year.

We have several new teachers to welcome!

Ms. Lindsay Cooper will be teaching English 11 and AP Seminar.

Ms. Madison Pankratz will be teaching English 11 and AP Seminar.

Dr. Lindsay Burton will be teaching AP Seminar and AP Literature.

Mr. Mathew Radcliffe will be teaching Chemistry and Agriculture.

Ms. Jocelyn Wiltrakis will be teaching Biology and Chemistry.

Also of note, RHS is excited to introduce our new Assistant Principals! We welcome Chelsea Cates and Darcy Seelye to our administrative team! Chelsea and Darcy have a wealth of experience as accomplished classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and administratively. Our team is excited to work with you and your student this year. 

12th Grade: Eric Cavalli

11th Grade: Darcy Seelye

10th Grade: Chelsea Cates 

Please reach out to us (using e-mail, phone call or stopping in) if you have questions, comments, concerns or just need to chat. Our first goal is to help your family have a successful transition to high school. We are here to serve you!

All the best!

Ricky Clark, Principal

rclark1@rockfordschools.org

RHS Orientation

RHS orientation dates are August 18th and 19th, from 8:00am - 12:00pm, and are open to any student/grade level on both dates. It will be a first come first served structure.

STUDENTS - PLEASE ENTER THROUGH THE AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE.

Students should plan to be in the building for approximately 30-45 minutes to do the following:

1. No schedules will be printed ahead of time for students. Students can utilize their Student Access accounts or the Skyward App to view their schedule.

2. Students will get their picture taken (seniors too) for their school ID. Emails/mailings from Lifetouch regarding picture ordering packages will go out later this summer.

3. Students will pick up their ID card.

4. Check out school-issued Chromebook if needed. Students may bring their own device as well.

5. Authenticate your own device (for those bringing one) to the RPS network.

6. Counselors will be available to assist with Trimester 1 course issues.

7. Students that drive to school will need to purchase a parking permit and may do so at orientation. Cost is $20.00. Review the PARKING GUIDELINES before doing so. 

8. Optional - Drop off medications in the Health Office. To make this as smooth as possible, please consider printing this LINKED FORM and filling it out in advance. High School students will be able to possess and self-administer over the counter medications with parent/guardian approval. Information about this is in the linked form above. Also, please reference this FLYER for more information and forms pertaining to the Health Office.

9. Optional - Students may put money on their lunch account.

10. Optional - Find classrooms for Trimester 1 courses.

11. Seniors interested in Co-Op: Please see Mrs. Dominiak in the Co-Op Office, in the Lower Media Center, during orientation

RHS attendance Information

RHS partners with the KISD Attendance Office to monitor and track student attendance.  We are responsible to follow the attendance process outlined by the KISD. 

Because of the importance of being in class to engage with instruction and classwork, our goal is that every student attends school on a consistent basis. We have the philosophy that a missed school day is missed instruction regardless if it is excused or not and may impact student achievement.  RHS has created communications to inform parents and students of their attendance if we believe the student is trending towards chronic absenteeism.  When needed, RHS will partner with families and students to create an attendance improvement plan.  

Below is information from the KISD Attendance Office that will help us be on the same page regarding student attendance:

1. What is truancy vs. chronic absenteeism?

• Truancy; ten unexcused absences in a school year. This definition focuses on absences not sanctioned by a parent/guardian, generally a student “skipping school,” and most often may result in charges for the juvenile if other interventions prove unsuccessful.
• Chronic absenteeism; attendance is 90 percent or less of scheduled days to date.  This definition includes all counted absences even if sanctioned by a parent/guardian.  A student is considered chronically absent when absent, for any reason, for ten percent or more of scheduled school days, measured at any point in the school year, or for lost time equivalent to ten percent or more of scheduled school days. This category of absenteeism, if all interventions are unsuccessful, may often result in charges for the parent/guardian or the juvenile, depending on age and history.

Our office processes truancy and chronic absenteeism referrals in the same way, with one key exception: if court involvement is required, it will only come into play at the third referral. At that point, if the absenteeism pattern persists and the necessary interventions have not been successful, court action may be considered as part of the response.

2. What is the difference between counted and uncounted absences vs. excused and unexcused absences?

Uncounted absences refer to situations where a student cannot attend school due to extenuating circumstances. These absences are not included in the calculation of chronic absenteeism and are categorized as follows:

• Snow days and other non-scheduled school closings.
• Medical absences not intended for routine illness, even if under a provider’s care, but rather for very serious medical events, such as hospitalizations, these are absences ordered and documented, with hand signature, by a licensed health care doctor, with specific dates school must be missed for medical necessity.  (This also includes significant life trauma, such as an immediate family member death, as confirmed and approved by appropriate school staff.)  Blanket or “under the care of” excuses are not accepted as “medically absent” without an IEP or 504 plan specifically addressing the medical issue and approval of appropriate school staff.  Routine illnesses are, just like for adults at work, counted absences. * See Chronic or Long-Term Medical Policy (IEP’s & 504’s)
• Court dates required court appearances for student with court documentation, and related detention.
• Suspensions and expulsions.
• Funerals
• Preplanned absences that would not negatively affect the student’s learning and educational performance as determined by the student’s teacher(s) and building administrator in consultation, and attendance is acceptable prior to the planned absences, may be uncounted at the school’s discretion.  Generally, this would include assigned and required learning activities completed before and/or during the absence. It often may also include a report and/or presentation to the class, with a grading rubric established at the planning stage. This should follow your school board policies.

The terms "excused" and "unexcused" are primarily used to indicate whether the school has knowledge of the reason for the absence (e.g., a parent calls in the absence). While knowing the reason for an absence is crucial for student safety, these absences still count toward the attendance standard.

 3. What is Continuing Pattern?

A continuing pattern refers to any student who was referred to the Kent ISD attendance office in the last third of the school year, between March 1st and the end of that school year. If the absenteeism pattern re-emerges in the first third of the following school year (through December 1st), the case can be referred again, and the process picks up where it left off in the spring.

For this to happen, the required interventions must have been completed, and the school must have consistently attempted and documented interventions. Essentially, this is a continuation of the process from spring to fall, rather than starting over.