RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - December 11, 2020
INTRO TO ENGINEERING COMPETITION
Freshman Connor McHugh 1st Place, Period 3
Instructor Don Elbreg’s Intro to Engineering students drew a scale drawing of a truck with a camper, then designed and rendered their drawings. The drawings were displayed, numbered and voted on by their classmates. The top three winners in each class received a different chocolate bar with 1st place winning a giant chocolate bar, 2nd a bit smaller bar and 3rd regular size. Congratulations to our Intro to Engineering students on a job well done!
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Sophomore Kaley Sprouse 1st Place, Period 4
Freshman Katie Smith 2nd Place, Period 3
Freshman Noah Petralia 2nd Place, 4th Period
Freshman Anna Povinelli 3rd Place, Period 3
Freshman Jon Parrett 3rd Place, Period 4
SERVICE PROJECT SUCCESS
The week of Thanksgiving, as excitement of the upcoming state football game was building, students, faculty and staff brought in bags and bags of coats, pants and jackets to be donated to the Beggars for the Poor. While the students were learning remotely, the on-site faculty and staff sorted and bagged the items by category. The items filled 80 trash bags that will help countless homeless men this coming winter.
Jeff Traylor, Director of Campus Ministry, said, “When we had to make the sudden change from in class donations to a drive up and drop off, we never could have imagined the response from our community. Almost 5,000 clothing items were donated at a time when they are most needed. The Roncalli Community continues to serve those in need. St. John XXIII is proud today!”
SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGES
Final Exam Week
After an extensive discussion involving our administrative leadership team and the chairpersons of our twelve academic departments, a decision has been made not to have comprehensive semester exams for the first semester of this school year. Instead of four half days of exams on December 15-18, we instead will have a full week of classes that week (7:45 AM - 2:30 PM). A student’s first semester grade will be computed by averaging their first and second quarter grades. A decision regarding comprehensive semester exams for the second semester will be made at a later date.
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The schedule to be used for those wishing to give any type of unit/chapter assessment during the final week of the first semester will be as follows:
Thursday, December 17 (Theology, English, Industrial Technology, Communications, Fine Arts, Science)
Friday, December 18 (Mathematics, Social Studies, Health & Physical Education, Business Technology, World Languages)
A department may offer their unit test on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of that week if they commit to having teacher directed instruction for the remainder of the week.
Start Second Semester
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Finishing a semester in a synchronous model is not ideal, but it is aided greatly by the fact that the teachers and students know each other since they have been together for the semester. Starting a new semester in a synchronous model is very challenging because nearly a third of our classes start brand new at the semester, so in many of these cases, the students and teachers have not met. This will require additional preparation work for our teachers. So that our teachers can be as prepared as possible to meet their new students in January and provide them with a sound synchronous learning experience, we are going to push back the start of the second semester by one day. The second semester will now begin on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
Per the health order issued by the Marion County Public Health Department we will remain in our synchronous learning model from January 5 through January 15. We remain optimistic that we will be able to return to in-person instruction on January 18. This day (Monday, January 18, 2021) is Martin Luther King Day and is listed on our school calendar as a make-up day. It would be our intent to have school on this day for two purposes: (1) Make up the missed day of school on January 4 and (2) Use this day to provide a school wide celebration of Martin Luther King Day.
RODENBERG 4A STATE COACH OF THE YEAR
Roncalli head football coach John Rodenberg has been named the state’s Class 4A Coach of the Year by the Indiana Football Coaches Association (IFCA). Rodenberg led Roncalli to a 13-1 record and the Class 4A state title, which Roncalli clinched with a 49-7 win over Hobart in the state final.
Rodenberg just concluded his first season at Roncalli, but his 27th as a varsity head coach. In leading Roncalli to a state title this season, Rodenberg joined a small group of high school football coaches nationwide to win state titles in three different states. Prior to coming to Indiana, he won two Ohio state championships while at Cincinnati Moeller High School (2012, 2013) and a Kentucky state championship at Covington Catholic High School (2006). Rodenberg is the ninth head coach in Roncalli’s 52 seasons of football and the only one in that group to win a state championship in his first year with the program. With the state win this season, Roncalli earned its 10th state football championship, becoming just the fourth school in Indiana with at least 10 state football titles.
Congratulations to Coach Rodenberg!
SCHOOL UNIFORM/FACE MASKS UPDATE
In August we opened the school year with a number of unknown variables one of which was how long everyone in the school building would be required to wear a face mask. Given that it is most likely the mask requirement will be with us through the end of the school year we are making a few adjustments to our face mask policy for the second semester.
The face mask is seen as a part of the required school uniform. As such our intent is to provide students with options while also having some uniformity. Beginning with the start of the second semester on Monday, January 18, 2021, and until further notice a student’s face mask must comply with one of the following options:
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- A Roncalli facemask
- A solid colored facemask with no other markings on it (this includes one time use facemasks)
A student not in compliance with the face mask rule will be subject to a referral to the Dean’s Office similar to any other type of school uniform infraction.
The school’s main office will continue to supply masks for students who arrive at school without a mask or whose mask breaks during the school day.
Please direct any questions to our Dean of Students, Tim Crissman.
We appreciate everyone’s understanding and support as we move through these unprecedented times.
MY STORY, R FAMILY SERIES
Today's My Story, R Family video comes from junior Xavier Wilson and his mom, Amy (Miles) Wilson R'96. The Wilsons are St. Roch parishioners, and Amy is currently the principal there as well. Roncalli is one big family, and the Wilsons embody that every day. Their experiences as students, and now Amy as a parent, really show how special this place is.
For more information on the school and all we have to offer, please visit roncalli.org.
LIGHT UP THE CIRCLE TOY DRIVE
On Monday, December 14th from 5-8 PM, Roncalli will have our first ever Light Up the Circle Toy Drive to benefit Anna's House!
We invite all students and families to come drop off toy drive donations (NEW, in the package toys. No batteries required.) on the circle as we have some of our teams and clubs decorate and light up the Circle to help bring Joy to the Christmas Season!
Every Toy donated by students counts for 15 minutes of service as well, a great way to help complete our service requirements AND benefit those organizations in need.
Virtual Tour
Nothing can replace an in-person campus tour, but these images are the next best thing. See some of the highlights tour guides share on their guided campus tours and check out Roncalli academic facilities.
RONCALLI MEDIA NETWORK
Your place to see and hear Roncalli sports action! Check out upcoming broadcasted events on the calendar.
RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Roncalli is excited to welcome the Class of 2025 next fall! As a reminder, the Application for Admission is now available online. You CAN fill out the application before your student takes the High School Placement Test.
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Once the application is complete and the $100 registration fee is received, you may continue the registration process. For those who have not been in a South Deanery Catholic grade school for grades seven and eight, those next steps will include scheduling an admissions interview for Saturday, January 9 (limited space available). For all others, it will be scheduling your appointment to meet with your student's counselor to create their freshman year schedule. Please email Director of Admissions Allie Ross or call (317) 787-8277, ext. 243 with any questions.
FREE BULK BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEALS
During the time our students are at home synchronous learning, the Roncalli Cafeteria would like to offer our students free breakfasts and free lunches for Monday through Friday. You can pick up 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches for that week from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. Pick up will be at door 10 of the school building. To ensure we have enough food on hand, we ask that you sign up for these meals by contacting food service director Jeff Richardson at jrichardson@roncalli.org or by phone (317)788-4099.
Please respond no later than December 28 and January 8 to ensure that we have sufficient items for meals on hand.
We plan to offer the meals in the following four weeks: December 14, January 4 and January 11. Please consider participating in this offering. We receive funding for the meals through the US Department of Agriculture.
“CELEBRATE RONCALLI”
VOLUNTEER CALL OUT!
SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 24, 2021
We are looking for a committee of enthusiastic volunteers to help plan our celebration of Roncalli. This is our annual gala that raises funds for tuition assistance. The night traditionally consists of dinner, drinks, silent and live auctions, raffles, student entertainment and fun. If you can help or have an item to donate for the silent or live auction, please email Jeen Endris.
ABOVE AND BEYOND
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to senior Maggie Peats, girls swimming, and junior John Hammerschmitt, boys swimming, who were recognized as the Above and Beyond Players of the Week by Coach Curtis Cox and Jersey Mike’s Subs!
PRE-ORDER 2020-21 YEARBOOK
The 2020-21 yearbook is now available for pre-order, and what a great Christmas gift it would be for your Roncalli student! Go to roncalli.org/yearbook to order online. Yearbooks are $60 until February 15 when the price goes up to $75. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Julie Albertson.
CORPORATE SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES!
Roncalli offers a comprehensive winter season Corporate Sponsor program that supports our students in several exciting ways, including tuition assistance and broadcasting opportunities. There are many benefits in sponsoring and supporting Roncalli. Your company will be exposed to other like-minded businesses that also support Roncalli. Almost 1,100 students, 125 faculty and staff, an alumni base of over 13,500 and thousands of Roncalli parents, relatives and friends will have an opportunity to see your business ad at some point during the school year. Our newest opportunity will include signage opportunities in the Ascension St. Vincent Gymnasium and on our YouTube broadcasts. Space will be limited so if your business is interested in supporting Roncalli through Walkathon, Roncalli Media Network, Rebel 5ive podcast, Rebelation or brand new opportunities in Roncalli’s newest multiple use facility, Ascension St. Vincent Gymnasium, please email Gary Armbruster or call him at 317-525-7046.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP
HOW TO TAKE CARE
DURING E-LEARNING
GREETINGS FROM GUIDANCE
PSAT Scores Available
Students received their PSAT results via email this week. They will be able to access the scores by going to CollegeBoard.org and signing into their account. If your student is a freshman or does not already have an account, see these instructions for information on how to create one. The instructions also explain how students can access personalized study materials for the SAT through Khan Academy.
Students who want their test booklet can pick it up from the Guidance Office during AM or PM office hours in December or when we return to school in person in January. Feel free to contact your child's school counselor if you have questions!
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Registration Open January 4th
Registration for the 2021-2022 school year will open for all returning students Monday, January 4th, 2021.
Scheduling Process Kicks Off
Between January 5 and January 8, all current freshmen, sophomores and juniors will receive preliminary scheduling materials for the 2021-2022 school year, including new course information, prerequisites, a tentative master schedule, applications for AP classes, and an 8 period day form. Students are asked to bring these materials home so that students and parents can discuss next year's coursework. If/When students have course conflicts (using the tentative master schedule), be sure to alert your counselor immediately. It is best for students to reach out to their counselor before January 31 if they have any questions regarding the process.
We encourage all parents to use this time as an opportunity to discuss course selection with their child as well as possible college and career interests as they can impact course selection decisions. A reminder that most colleges/universities list as their top admission priority that students take the most challenging, rigorous coursework within their range, and that the student then performs well within that coursework.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED
Join the Roncalli Family - Roncalli High School is looking for additional substitute teachers for the 2020-21 school year. We are seeking faith-filled individuals who enjoy being around the future of tomorrow. No educational background is required. Training is provided. If you are interested in being a substitute teacher at Roncalli High school please contact Jeff Small.
END OF THE YEAR
CIRCLE OF FAITH ANNUAL FUND
PLEASE PRAY
- For the repose of the soul of Jack Balint, grandfather of sophomore Aurdrey and senior Alex Balint, who passed away this week. May God comfort his family during this difficult time.
- For Rosemary Delph, grandmother and guardian of sophomore Ravyn Bond, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. May God provide her with strength and comfort during this difficult time.
- For retired, long time school secretary, Donna Smith Hon’95, who will be undergoing a battery of serious tests.
- For Ashley Fernandez Cross, wife of the boys lacrosse coach Sean Cross, who suffered a brain aneurysm this week. We pray for her family and God’s gift of strength during this time of recovery and healing.
- For Kara Cissell Roell R‘93 who is fighting aggressive cancer. May God provide her strength and comfort during this trying time.
- For former student Arthur Koehl, who continues to recover from a serious injury in an automobile accident, and for his mother Tamara and brothers Jaylen R’17, senior Theo, during this time of recovery and healing.
- For Ann Strykowski, mother of Chris Strykowski Roncalli History department and varsity assistant football coach, who is battling health issues.
- For Eric Davis R’04 who is battling Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
- For Robin Barna, father of Sarah Rose, Roncalli Science Department, who is battling with cancer.
- For all of our Roncalli family who are experiencing extra stress during this unusual and uncertain time. God please comfort them and provide them Your peace and understanding.
- For God’s blessings and mercy upon Archbishop Charles Thompson and his ministry in shepherding the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
- For those who struggle to find adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical services and for those most in need of God’s mercy.
- For healing of body, mind and spirit for all people dealing with depression, addiction or mental health issues.
- For strength and healing for all those fighting off life-threatening illness and for their families and caregivers.
- For the men and women of our armed forces and their families, especially our Roncalli High School alums who are serving in the military.
- For our Roncalli alums preparing for a religious vocation as a priest, religious woman or missionary.
- For vocations to the priesthood, religious life and missionary field, and that Roncalli High School and its families will provide a nurturing environment that fosters and supports these vocations.
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