Rapid City High School

Greetings RCHS Families!

This week, on Wednesday (September 2nd) and Thursday (September 3rd), we have scheduled all students, with their guardian, to come to the school to for a MANDATORY PICTURE AND LAPTOP CHECKOUT APPOINTMENT to take care of these very important items:

- Check out laptops (guardian signature needed)
- Have their picture taken
- Sign off on important documents and waivers
- Receive their schedule
- Receive information on important items for the upcoming school year

All RCHS families should have received a letter recently stating the day and time of your appointment. We will be moving families through the school 10 at a time for 20 minutes each to maintain social distancing, so it is very important that you make your appointment time! All families will be asked to enter through the historic theater doors.

Please call the school at (605) 394-4048 if you did not receive a letter with an appointment time, or if you have any other questions.

We look forward to seeing you this upcoming Wednesday or Thursday (September 2nd or 3rd)!

RCHS Families,

Rapid City Area Schools is asking all families to log into Skyward Family Access and tell your school by August 19th whether you will choose in-person learning or distance learning. To do so, you will need to fill out the Distance Learning Form, which can be found on the home page of Skyward Family Access.

IMPORTANT: You either need to opt in to distance learning or opt out, but a form must be filled out for each student.

Again, this form needs to be completed by August 19th.

Feel free to call the RCHS main office at 394-4048 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. with questions. You may also ask questions in the comments below.

PLEASE SHARE!!

RCHS Class of 2020 Students and Families,

We are excited to invite you to the filming of your Virtual Graduation. We are asking seniors to come to the Rapid City High School on May 13th so that we can record them walking across the stage and receiving their diploma covers (actual diplomas will be mailed at the conclusion of the school year).

In order to do this in a safe manner, we have scheduled you a specific time to come to the school that should have been emailed to you on Friday, May 8.

No more than ten students will be allowed in the building at a time and social distancing protocols will be used. Upon arrival, all students will be screened by a school nurse for symptoms and exposure to COVID-19. No one with symptoms or other risk factors will be allowed to enter the building. Further, only the student will be allowed to enter the building – no family or friends will be permitted.

Guardians of seniors should have received an email with information about their student's time slot on Wednesday the 13th. Please check your email if you have not already.

Seniors, please plan to wear your caps and gowns. If you have not picked yours up yet, you can pick it up at the school that day, or one will be provided for you if we have extras on hand. Students should also wear their tassels and honor cords if you have one. No one is to decorate or alter their caps and gowns, with the exception of the traditional Native American beading of the cap.

Seniors will also be asked to complete the Senior Exit Feedback Survey on May 13th.

Students who do not walk across the stage on May 13th will still be recognized with their picture during the virtual graduation.

Gray Media will be producing a VIRTUAL GRADUATION that will be streamed online at Blackhillsfox.com and aired on KEVN Television on June 7th at 2 p.m.

Finally, RCHS is still planning to do an in-person graduation on July 24th at 7 p.m.; however, that could be cancelled should the need for small groups and social distancing persist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to RCHS Teacher Sean Binder at (605) 381-3880.

Dear Rapid City High School Senior Families,

We are excited to share that Gray Media will be producing a VIRTUAL GRADUATION that will be streamed online at Blackhillsfox.com and aired on KEVN Television on June 7th at 2 p.m. In an effort to recognize each senior and all of their accomplishments, we will be asking seniors to come to the Rapid City High School Theatre on May 13th so that we can record them walking across the stage and receiving their diploma covers (actual diplomas will be mailed at the conclusion of the school year) to be used in the virtual graduation.

In order to do this in a safe manner, we will be sending out a schedule that gives a specific time for your senior to come to the school. No more than ten students will be allowed in the building at a time and social distancing protocols will be used. Upon arrival all students will be screened by a school nurse for symptoms and exposure to COVID-19. No one with symptoms or other risk factors will be allowed to enter the building. Further, only the student will be allowed to enter the building – no family or friends will be permitted.

This is optional. Students who do not walk across the stage on May 13th will still be recognized with their picture during the virtual graduation.

Seniors, please plan to wear your caps and gowns. If you have not picked yours up yet, you can pick it up at the school that day, or one will be provided for you if we have extras on hand. Students should also wear their tassels and honor cords if you have one. No one is to decorate or alter their caps and gowns, with the exception of the traditional Native American beading of the cap. Rapid City High School will communicate with you in the next 48 hours about when you need to arrive on May 13th and where exactly you will need to go.

Finally, RCHS is still planning to do an in-person graduation on July 24th at 7 p.m.; however, that could be cancelled should the need for small groups and social distancing persist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Community Relations Manager Katy Urban at (605)394-4091.

Dear Students and Parents,

I want to encourage you that earning full credit for this spring semester is still entirely possible in these final six weeks, as teachers have reduced the workload of their courses down to the very essentials.

With that in mind, here are some quick and helpful tips to prevent against feeling overwhelmed:

1.) Doing one thing at a time - not multitasking - can be very beneficial and reduce stress. It's okay to work on math one day and English the next, etc.
2.) Doing schoolwork for 1 or 2 shifts of about 1-2 hours a day at home may be more realistic.
3.) Talk to teachers on the phone or via Zoom if possible – it will make you feel more connected and help clarify the assignments you need to do.
4.) Make a manageable daily schedule that makes time for breaks and stick to it.

Remember, we still have laptops and paperwork available in the main office. Contact your advisor to make an appointment for pickup. There is not always someone at the school to answer the phone, but you can call Mr. Heilman at (605) 939-6529 or Ms. Roberts 939-6477 at any time to get in contact with anyone at the school.

Once again, in this challenging situation, I want to encourage all of you to keep moving forward, and to give your very best effort. The staff of RCHS is here to help you! This final six weeks is the home stretch, and this school year can still end positively for you with regard to finishing your courses! We can't wait to see you all again!

Sincerely,

Mr. Heilman
RCHS Principal

RCHS Students and Parents,

Now that we know our school building will be closed until May 1st, I want to encourage all of you to keep working, as school is still in session! Teachers have been reaching out and trying to establish new routines to help learning continue.

During these next few weeks, students are expected to continue completing work and progressing in their learning, putting in a full school day of work if possible. Though some hands-on assignments may be modified, the same learning expectations are in place now as when our building was open. Students who have a full schedule of classes should be working on schoolwork about six hours a day. 5-10 assignments completed per day is a good guide. You can even finish your classes early!

All RCHS courses are available online through Canvas. There is also a free Canvas app you can download to your smartphones. For those of you without access to computers, smartphones, or the internet, the school district is working on providing that for you, hopefully within a week or so. In the meantime, some work on paper can be picked up from the school building during the day. Call Mrs. Roberts at the school or at 939-6477 from 8-4 to make an appointment.

I want to encourage you not to lose heart nor lose focus in this strange time. School will resume at some point, and things will go back to normal! In the meantime, it is critical that you not fall behind while the building is closed. Your teachers are reaching out, and they will do whatever they can to help you.

Again, school is still in session! Classes that students pass during this time will still earn credit. Classes failed during this time will still receive a failing grade.

Please let us know how we can help you! The RCHS staff is here to help in any way we can.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heilman, RCHS Principal

Link to Canvas: rcas.instructure.com

RCHS Students,

Mrs. Roberts is in the office at school this week if you want to pick up work! Her hours this week are Monday 8-4, Tuesday 8-4, Wednesday 8-4, Thursday 8-9 and 1-4.

You can call the school at 394-4048 or 939-6477 to arrange a time to pick up work.

Do you have questions about what support is available for you and your family during this time? You're in the right place!

We have created this form for Rapid City Area Schools District families to ask questions and receive feedback within 24 hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00AM-4:00PM (excluding weekends). Our RCAS School Social Workers will respond with community resources and information regarding the educational, social, and emotional needs of your student(s).

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNETsh_U_3Y6ZbvXh-rQMwjD1duAflIy9DM-OYIZhDpoWxVA/viewform

Important message from our Superintendent...

For families struggling in the COVID-19 crisis: Here is a resource guide for families about COVID-19, mental health resources, food, shelter, internet, utilities, and more, specific to the Black Hills area. Please share far and wide!

RCAS COVID-19 School Resource Guide Intro Page RCAS COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE Contents RCAS has created a resource guide that will be updated weekly and as needed,COVID-19/Health Mental Health Food Utilities Miscellaneous Please check your email, the RCAS page, and this Resource Guide frequently for updates on available r...

RCHS learners: If you have not already, please download the Canvas app and connect it with Rapid City Area Schools. It is very user friendly and will allow you to continue with your courses anywhere that you have data or wifi. We will be using Canvas and school email as our main communication sources.