Our reason for this delayed start is to facilitate the collaborative work of our departments and teacher teams.

 On Wednesdays, if your student needs to arrive early, the school will be open as usual beginning at 7:30. We will have supervised common areas for students to do homework or for those who need to arrive early due to transportation needs.  However, no student is required to arrive on Wednesday morning until the start of their first period class just after 8:45.

 Again, this delayed start takes place only on Wednesdays. It begins on September 8, and students will not be required to be in the building until their first period class starts just after 8:45.

 Please feel free to call our main office if you have any questions. That number is 773 – 1955.

The school schedule for Wednesdays only:

                7:45 – 8:45           Teacher Team Meetings

                8:50 – 9:54          A – Block

                9:59 – 11:03        B – Block

                11:08 – 12:12      C – Block

                12:17 – 1:46        D – Block

                1:51 – 3:05          E – Block

On June 4, more than 30 students from Rutland Public Schools traveled to the University of Vermont in Burlington to compete in the Vermont Special Olympics 2010 Summer Games. From the opening ceremonies, the Rutland delegation seemed poised to dominate the day – even the recitation of the Athlete’s Oath was led by RHS senior Derek Jackson.

The students are part of Rutland Public Schools’ Unified Sports Program – a registered program of Special Olympics International, which pairs students with intellectual disabilities (athletes) with students without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training competition. With a motto of “On the field we’re teammates, off the field we’re friends,” the goal of Unified Sports is to bring people together and in doing so, shatter stereotypes about intellectual disability.

The event of the day was bocce. As part of the requirement to qualify for the Vermont Games, athletes and partners had been training twice a day for eight weeks. Those practices varied in both location and surface. Rutland’s Italian-American Club on Grove Street had generously donated time on their three slate courts. Occasionally, rain kept the teams indoors, where they practiced strategy and control on the decidedly slower carpeted classroom surface.

However, when they arrived at UVM, they learned that they would be playing on grass courts. Undeterred, the athletes took some practice rounds on one of the open courts where they got acquainted with the new surface. The practice paid off; the Rutland teams walked with a gold and a bronze medal as well as a fourth-place ribbon.

While awards are always a big thrill, Rutland High Unified Sports coach Carolyn Ravenna noted that simply being there is reward enough.

“Getting a ribbon or a medal doesn’t matter,” she said, “They’re so happy just to get up there and perform.”

Indeed, athlete Nick Woodward echoed Ravenna’s sentiment, saying, “Getting a chance to perform is the best part.”

That’s not to say there isn’t a healthy amount of competition. “It can be surprisingly competitive,” said Ravenna, who added that good sportsmanship always triumphs. Teams often cheer for each other and commend opponents for especially good shots.

Off the field, Ravenna is a school-to-work transition specialist in RHS’ special education department, where she works with students, helping them to develop independent living skills and explore career opportunities – preparing them for life in the real world.

Ravenna has been coaching Unified Sports for more than 10 years. She was quick to acknowledge the coaching support she gets from dedicated paraeduactors like Sherry Greeno and Cherie Smith. She also gave noted the hard work put in by intermediate and middle school coach Keith Page, who coached 26 of the students who competed in this year’s Summer Games.

In the classroom, she sees Unified Sports as being an integral part of her students’ growth and development.

“It builds confidence, and gives them a sense of accomplishment and worth.”

Competing at the state level also builds a greater sense of community. Athletes are able to meet other like themselves from around the state.

“They go away united,” said Ravenna.

Back at school, that unity is very real. Special education students are very much part of the community, and Unified Sports has done a great deal to foster that fact. Non-disabled students are aware of the program and often observe or participate in practices.

Next year, Unified Sports will be part of the high school’s athletic department. Both athletes and partners will be able to receive physical education credit for participating. As always, the cost for competition in the Vermont Special Olympics is part of the RPS athletic budget; no cost is passed on to the students. In addition to bocce, next year’s program will offer bowling, soccer and possibly basketball.

True to the program’s motto, athletes and partners are friends on and off the field. In the hallways, medals and ribbons are proudly worn by both. Ravenna has found that participation in Unified Sports often leads to further involvement for non-disabled students.

“It’s contagious,” she said, adding that some students even go on to pursue careers in special education. More importantly, however, Ravenna acknowledged the friendships that are forged through the program.

“It breaks down barriers, and that’s the real goal.”

Jim Sabataso is a writer, blogger and editor for the Rutland County Express. Contact Jim at express@rutlandherald.com.

Click here for access to Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This access will allow parents and/or students to access their schedule, grades, attendance, NECAP and SAT assessment data.

To receive your access to this site, please download and print the Parent Portal Access Form.  Please fill out the form and bring it to Rutland High School during regular school hours.

Please refer to the following document for Parent Portal policies: Parent Portal Acceptable Use Policy

Petitions  for Freshman Class Officers are now available in the main office.  Petitions and speeches must be placed in Ms. Tetzlaff’s mailbox by Today, Tuesday, September 7^th.

Are you interested in exploring a career in medicine?  Would you like information about an exciting 10 day opportunity for next summer?  Please see Mrs. Bannister in the Health Office.

How to Apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

If you’ve made a difference through volunteering over the past year, you could win $6,000 and a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C., next May – by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more importantly, you could win recognition that might inspire other young people to follow your example. 

If you want directions to apply, please see Ms. Reynolds in the Main Office for Mr. Olson in Guidance.

All state-level honorees will be announced in February. The top high school applicant in each state and the District of Columbia, called State Honorees, will receive an unrestricted award of $1,000, and engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent to Washington, D.C., next April 30-May 3. From two to ten runners-up in each state, called Distinguished Finalists, will get bronze medallions. Other state-level winners will receive Certificates of Excellence. Finally, ten of the State Honorees will be named America’s top ten youth volunteers of the year at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 2, 2011. These National Honorees will be awarded an additional $5,000, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants for the charities of their choice. In addition, all Local Honorees who devoted a minimum number of hours to their volunteer activities will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

GUIDANCE:

CCV is once again offering their Introduction to College Studies class, free of charge, to high school juniors and seniors.  Classes begin the week of September 13^th and there is still plenty of space in all four sections.  Please either call CCV, 786-0010, or see your guidance counselor if you’re interested.

For Seniors and your Parents, please mark your calendars for the Senior Information Night sponsored by the Guidance Dept.  Thursday, September 30 at 6pm in the RHS Theatre.  The Counselors will discuss your senior year timeline, college application process and post graduation plans.  This is a very informative evening, please plan on attending.

College Representative Visits are now being scheduled.  Juniors specifically, please stop by the Guidance Office and sign up and receive a pass to attend.

            Monday, Sept. 13 @ 10:30  Stonehill College

            Monday, Sept. 13 @ 1:45   Hartwick College

            Tuesday, Sept. 14 @ Noon Hobart & William Smith Colleges Tuesday,

                                                  @ 1pm  RPI            

                                                  @ 1:30 Albany College of Pharmacy

FINE ARTS:

Encore Theatre, Rutland High School’s Drama club will have its first meeting on Sept. 7 at 7pm in the theatre. This is a mandatory meeting for students who plan to participate in Encore this year. Parents need to attend. The first part of auditions will follow the meeting at 7:30. Our fall production is Night of the Living Dead.

CLUBS:
Are you interested in politics? Do you want to work on a statewide campaign? Do you want to help beat back the tide of MORONISM that is rushing in a tidal wave over our country? If so, please see Ms. Gartner in Red 28 for more details. 

All Key Club officers should plan to meet in Mrs. McGurl’s office on Wednesday, Sept. 8^th at 2:00 if you are free during e-block.  If you are not free e-block, please plan to meet immediately after school.   This is very important so if you cannot attend, please see Mrs. McGurl or Mrs. Heir before the meeting.

Are you opinionated? Do you like to get the real story out of people? Or perhaps you need to make your transcript more interesting. If so, come to the first meeting of the school newspaper. The Red and White meeting will be next Monday, September 13 at 3:15 in Red 16. See Mrs. Piotrowski for details.

ATHLETICS - HOME GAMES

Varsity and JV Field Hockey will host Queensbury.  Varsity at 4:00pm and JV at 5:15pm.

The Cross Country Team will host a meet today at Giorgetti at 4:30pm.

JV Football will host Middlebury at 6:00pm.

AWAY GAMES

Boys and Girls JV White Soccer will play at Essex.  Both games are at 4:30pm.  Bus leaves at 2:00pm  Dismissal at 1:45pm

Varsity and JV Girls’ Soccer will play at South Burlington today.  Both games are at 4:30pm.  Bus leaves at 1:30pm  Dismissal at 1:15pm

ABOUT ALGEBRA 1 COLLEGE PREP…  

Algebra 1 College Prep is a year-long course that meets every day.  The importance of Algebra 1 College Prep in the high-school curriculum cannot be understated.  For most students, Algebra 1 College Prep is the foundation for all subsequent math courses and many science courses taken both here at RHS and at college.  

NEED EXTRA HELP?  

It is perfectly normal and reasonable to require additional help from time to time in courses at the level of Algebra 1 College Prep.  I fully expect to see each student for extra help at various times throughout the school year.  I typically arrive at school by 7:15 each morning.  Please feel free to drop by White 17 early on any given school day.  I am also available most days after school (Tuesdays are usually the exception.), and my planning blocks are B and C all year long.  I would be happy to meet with you at any mutually agreeable time with little advance notice.  

***  CLICK RIGHT HERE FOR SOME REALLY IMPORTANT MATH ADVICE!  ***  

Home Page  /  Homework Page  /  Resources Page  

(802) 770-1112  /  gwilliams@rutlandhs.k12.vt.us  

Our textbook, titled Algebra 1, is written by Larson, Boswell, Kanold, and Stiff, and it is published by McDougal Littell.  Over the course of the school year we will explore nearly all twelve chapters of this book.

At the end of each chapter you will find a Chapter Summary, a Chapter Review complete with exercises and examples from each section, and a Chapter Test that you can (and probably should) take for practice prior to our actual classroom test.

The publisher, McDougal Littell, offers many additional Algebra 1 resources for students and parents on their website. Just click here or on the textbook above.

MATH TUTORIAL

For help with your algebra homework, please feel free to stop by the Math Tutorial, which is offered during each block of the school day and staffed by teachers from our RHS Math Department.  I, myself, can often be found in Math Tutorial during C-Block.   Click here to find a Tutorial near you!

Home Page  /  Homework Page  /  Resources Page

(802) 770-1112  /  gwilliams@rutlandhs.k12.vt.us

 Click here for the ONLINE EXTRA-CREDIT ASSIGNMENT OF THE WEEK!

 Click here for PRINTABLE GRAPH PAPER.

1.1  Variables in Algebra

           Section 1.1 Notes

           1.1 Practice B  Exercises 1-12, 16-18 (Due 8/31/10)

           1.1 Practice C  Exercises 13, 14, and 15 (Due 8/31/10)

1.2  Exponents and Powers

           Section 1.2 Notes

           1.2 Practice B  Exercises 1-29 (Due 9/01/10)

           1.2 Practice C

               Textbook pp. 6-7, Exercises 19-39, odd numbers only  (Due 9/02/10)

               Textbook p. 12, Exercises 17-45, odd numbers only (Due 9/02/10)

1.3  Order of Operations

           Section 1.3 Notes

           1.3 Practice B  Exercises 1-25, odd numbers only (Due 9/03/10)

           1.3 Practice C  Exercises 1-17, odd numbers only (Due 9/03/10)

1.4  Equations and Inequalities

           Section 1.4 Notes

           1.4 Practice B  Exercises 1-12 and 22-35 (Due 9/08/10)

           1.4 Practice C

1.5  A Problem-Solving Plan Using Models

           Section 1.5 Notes

           1.5 Practice B  Exercises 1-24 (Due 9/09/10)

           1.5 Practice C  Exercises 1-20 (Due 9/09/10)

1.6  Tables and Graphs

           Section 1.6 Notes

           1.6 Practice B

           1.6 Practice C

1.7  An Introduction to Functions

           Section 1.7 Notes

           1.7 Practice B

           1.7 Practice C

 Home Page  /  Homework Page  /  Resources Page

(802) 770-1112  /  gwilliams@rutlandhs.k12.vt.us

Mon., Sept. 13 @ 10:45 Hartwick College

Tues., Sept. 14 @ Noon Hobart & William Smith Colleges

Wed., Sept. 15 @ 8:00 am Trinity College

Wed., Sept. 15 @ 11:30 St. Anselm College

Wed., Sept. 15 @ 1:00 Providence College

Students are asked to stop by the Guidance Office to sign up and receive a pass

to attend the College Representative Visit.

The Vermont Principals’ Association announced the 2010 recipients for recognition of excellence in school leadership. Below is the press release from the VPA. Andrea will be recognized at the annual VPA Leadership Conference in August.

Andrea McQuade, Assistant Principal from Rutland High School: NASSP/VIRCO Assistant Principal of the Year

Andrea has been an Associate Principal for 10 years. Ironically, beginning this fall, she will be moving from administration to return to her roots working as a special educator. Therefore, this award is given for outstanding leadership as an Assistant Principal for the last ten years. (Paraphrasing from her nomination) During her tenure at Rutland High School, she has been a constant force of rock-solid stability in the ever-changing and demanding world of special education. She helped to create a highly effective special ed. team that is both uniform and consistent in its approach to the many serious demands they have faced. In her quietly effective way, she lead her team well, managed her staff with precision, and brought together teachers and paraprofessionals on behalf of the young people she served. Indeed a measuring stick to her effectiveness is the lack of issues they now face. We can all learn from this highly effective leader and Assistant principal role model.