Upcoming performances include:

• May 2:  Rutland Loyalty Day Parade
• May 5:  Vermont All State Parade (hosted by RHS!)
• May 12:  RHS Evening of the Arts
• May 31:  Rutland Memorial Day Ceremony
• June 10:  RHS Graduation

Please plan accordingly as these are mandatory events that have been on the schedule for quite some time.

The RHS Jazz Ensemble’s next performance is on Thursday, April 1 (no joke!) as part of the first annual Rutland Public Schools Jazz Night.  The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. and will take place in the Rutland High School Theater.

This event features jazz groups from Rutland Intermediate and Middle Schools as well as Rutland High School and is part of our celebration of “Jazz Appreciation Month.”

Two days later, on Wednesday, the races moved south to Prospect Nordic Center in Woodford for the classic races. In the girls race, Mary Kate Cirelli completed her sweep of Division I individual titles by winning the classical race in addition to her previous first place freestyle finish. Grace Wright was not far behind in fourth place, while Melissa Gfeller 41st, Alix Cohen 63rd, Katie Reuther 69th, Magen Bissell 74th, Zoey Blittersdorf 83rd, and Caroline Corsones 84th rounded out the finishers for the girls. On the boys side, Wes Henderson was the top finisher on the day in 33rd with Drew Laird, 39th, Ed Ingerman 56th, Sam Fogg 60th, and Zack Krasner 65th. It was a successful culmination of a season of hard work and the foundation for potentially greater success next season.

The Department based its determination solely on NECAP scores from 2007 and 2008. For RHS, those scores were slightly below the state average, with little growth from 2007 to 2008.

However, RHS NECAP results from the October, 2009 administration improved significantly. Rutland High climbed above the state scaled score averages in all three tested areas: Reading, Math, and Writing. (To view Rutland High’s three year progress in comparison to the state, click 09 10 RHS NECAP Results.)

While Rutland High School demonstrated significant gains this year, this comes from the culmination of many years of school improvement. RHS is working diligently to improve its model, the goal being to serve all of our students well. Many of those changes went into full implementation this year. The High School improved upon a system of interventions that help support students when they struggle academically. Teams of teachers work together within departments and at grade level to develop a common and planful approach to curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The school is continuing to use data to make informed decisions on plans for future improvements. Our transformation team represents the faculty as we develop better systems of collaborating on curriculum and developing stronger support systems for our students.

We are pleased with the recent progress we made, and we expect that to continue in coming years. We understand that growth does not happen immediately, and that multiple measures of progress offer a more informed perspective of an institution.

Please feel free to contact our Principal, Bill Olsen, if you have any further questions.

The Rutland High School Alpine Ski Team capped off an impressive season on March 4, 2010 by winning the Girls’ State Championships. This win was extremely exciting due to the fact that the boys’ team won their state championship the preceding Monday at Sugarbush Mountain. This is the first time since 2001 the boys have won the state championship. On the other hand, this states win for the girls was their fourth straight.

Both teams displayed amazing teamwork and character throughout the season. Each team member made a traditionally individual sport a complete team event. Throughout the season, each team member cheered and inspired their fellow teammates to do their very best.

Our graduating seniors will be missed next year: Leo Cohen (captain), Dan Wigmore (captain), Angie Lucian (captain), Nell Reis, Sara Guth, Tyler Flinn, Sam Boles, Amanda Thomas, Tyler Unwin, Cassie Harnett, and Thomas Bradder all had an impressive senior year ski season.

The Boys’ States Team consisted of: Dan Wigmore, Tyler Flinn, Brendan Bucksbaum, Thomas Bradder, Reese Rotella, and Ed Carey.

The Girls’ States Team consisted of: Caitlin Bliss, Sara Guth, Sam Boles, Amanda Thomas, Cassie Harnett, and Caitlin Bucksbaum.

Rutland High School music students will be performing in three separate “Music In Our Schools Month” concerts.

CHORUS: Wednesday, March 10 – Keefe Gymnasium – 7:00 p.m.

BAND: Thursday, March 11 – Keefe Gymnasium – 7:00 p.m.

STRINGS: Tuesday, March 16 – Rutland Intermediate School Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.

The RHS Symphonic Band’s March 11 performance will include the world premiere of “Four Vermont Prints” by composer Dr. Gene Milford.

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

 Click here for PRINTABLE GRAPH PAPER

10.1  Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

           Section 10.1 Notes

           10.1 Practice B  (Due 3/04/10)

           10.1 Practice C  (Due 3/05/10)

10.2  Multiplying Polynomials

           Section 10.2 Notes

           10.2 Practice B  (Due 3/08/10)

10.3  Special Products of Polynomials

           Section 10.3 Notes

           10.3 Practice B

10.4  Solving Polynomial Equations in Factored Form

           Section 10.4 Notes

           10.4 Practice B

10.5  Factoring Quadratic Trinomials (when a is 1)

           Section 10.5 Notes

           10.5 Practice B

10.6  Factoring Quadratic Trinomials (when a is not 1)

           Section 10.6 Notes

           10.6 Practice B

10.7  Factoring Special Products

           Section 10.7 Notes

           10.7 Practice B

10.8  Factoring Using the Distributive Property

           Section 10.8 Notes

           10.8 Practice B

Home Page  /  Homework Page  /  Resources Page

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

It’s in Mr. Clay’s Intro to Computer Science that some really progressive things are taking place. Atypical of most high school courses, students in his class are required to play games. But that isn’t all. First, they have to make them.

Using basic coding software called Dr. Scheme students work in groups to design their own video game. These games all operate around a similar move-left-move-right control scheme with a dodge, catch or destroy-the-falling-object-type goal. But graphically each game is distinctive. The students embed image files within the game that serve as weapons, explosions, protagonists and enemies alike.

Students have an online textbook to use as a guide and reference throughout the course. Mr. Clay educates his students in basic programming and the use of Dr. Scheme, then hands the reigns off to them. “I remain an overseer, a resource for them when they need it,” he says, “but the work, the product, the games themselves, all credit goes to these guys.”

Mr. Clay couldn’t be more proud of his students’ work, putting one game on display in the cafeteria during 8th grade open house alongside some very complicated robotics. “I teach a class on that as well,” he says, “and a Y.E.S. plan.”

Mr. Clay himself has been teaching computer course for many years, in countries including Switzerland, Ecuador and Romania. He has enthusiastically tracked the development of computing technology over the years.

“Things have changed a lot since I started teaching in 1986,” he chuckles. “Of course they have. The things that these kids are doing they couldn’t have done back then.” That’s what makes Mr. Clay the perfect teacher for this course: experience, an appreciation for the technology, and context.

Mr. Clay sees how important it is that students utilize the technology they have before them. RHS provides the opportunity for students to use all of this hardware and software for enrichment and experience that they will be hard pressed to gain elsewhere.

Story contributed by Sam Lucci, 11th grade student at RHS

The Physical Education department at Rutland High recently purchased some thirty heart-rate monitors to use in their wide array of personal fitness courses. These high quality monitors were purchased with a $9000 federal grant the department received earlier this year. Ours was one of three lucky schools in the state to receive the grant.

These monitors consist of a chest strap and a visual display watch and are very simple to use. When worn, an active user need only glance at his wrist to see exactly what his current heart rate is. These monitors synchronize with a computer via USB to save all data for future review and perform a variety of other functions that are useful to Physical Educators.

Students will be able to analyze the data they collect to learn more about the way they exercise. Through observation of his or her own heart rate each student will be able to manipulate his or her workout in order to stay within their target heart range, which is the optimal beats per minute one should maintain during exercise.

Mr. Geisler, one of the P.E. instructors behind the purchase, thinks that the monitors will usher the program into the new era of technology in the gym.

“The nice thing about the monitors,” he says, “is that it takes the guesswork out of it…takes the effort out of giving the kids a fair grade.”

Using a Palm Pilot, Mr. Geisler can now keep track of every student’s activity over the course of a class period or semester, allowing him to identify consistency, longevity, and improvement in each student’s performance and more accurately assess what each student should receive come grade time.

Mr. Geisler says he is pleased with the monitors. He says the department is grateful for the grant, without which the purchase would not have been possible. “As we begin to use these more, I think it will become clear just how useful they are.”

Story contributed by Sam Lucci, 11th grade student at RHS

FACULTY

ART
Fred Lower
Darren Spafford
Kylie Wolgamott (Click here for the Art Club site)

DRAMA
Cathy Archer
Ron Lurvey

MUSIC
Brent Barnett – Bands (Click here for the RHS Band site)
Dan Graves – Choral
Jennifer Hart – “Unpredictables”
Peter Miller – Orchestras, Fine Arts Supervisor