Phones are down...

An FYI to all GDRHS families. At this time our phone system is experiencing technical difficulties and we are not receiving outside calls. Email is up and running though...

Due to expected weather conditions, all GDRHS activities will cease at 4:30pm today.  There will be no GDRHS activities tomorrow.  Please drive safely and have a nice weekend.  Enjoy New England in the spring time!

Robotomies recap from Rhode Island competition

Thanks to Mr. Rocheleau for all his hard work and leadership with this group of students.  Below is a recap on last weekend's competition.  Also, here is the link to the website where you can learn more about the program and see pictures from their competitions.  They will be demonstrating the robot at the Florence Roche's Science Fair.

http://www.robotomies.com/2017-steamworks/steamworks-ride-competition/

The students made a number of improvements on the robot after the first competition which would have been great, however in a pre-competition practice match another robot slammed into ours knocking our ball hopper loose and then another robot ran over the part shattering it.  The students worked half the day fixing it so part of our functionality was compromised for several matches.  On Sunday we began having trouble with our climbing ability – something we had done excellently with since the beginning.  With little time to fix it we were unable to climb for the remaining three matches.  This inability made us undesirable as a finalist and so even though we finished in 18th place (24 robots compete in the finals) we were not selected.  The students were disappointed but still proud that they accomplished so much despite the setbacks.  It’s tough to know you were so close to finishing much higher and being able to compete in the finals, but that’s the nature of the competition – it doesn’t take much to make a big difference!

The kids did an amazing job and it’s worth noting that our team was awarded the “White Gloves Award” which “recognizes excellence in student led teams”.  It is given to two teams where students control all phases of the design and build season.  When you look around in the pits it can be very obvious that many teams are not only led by adults, but they are primarily responsible for the build as well.  Our team has always prided itself on the level of control granted to students.  Our mentors support and assist our students.  Right or wrong it is their robot and the level of pride and ownership they have in it is apparent by how quickly and overwhelmingly the students jump in to fix or improve the robot in between matches.  

This weekend we functioned like a team again and that had a lot to do with our improvement over last competition.  We are now looking forward to attending “Battle Cry at WPI”, a post-season matchup in May which gives the teams another opportunity to compete with their robot.  We also have some repairs to make before this Saturday when we will be demonstrating the robot at Flo Ro’s science Fair.  Several of our students are looking forward to showing off the robot to our future members!

Spring Play

GD Players Present: Twelfth Night, April 7th and 8th!

On April 7 and 8, the GDRHS Drama Guild presents their spring play, Twelfth Night! GD’s version of Shakespeare’s comedy has been reimagined with a casino island setting, making for fun sets and costumes. The play is being directed by GDRMS English teacher Mrs. Leung and assistant directed by Julia Joyce (‘18).

The comedy follows two twins, Viola (Celeste Vandermillen, ‘18) and Sebastian (Alex Sullivan, ‘17), who are separated and nearly drowned by a shipwreck. Both twins believe that the other is dead. When Viola finds herself on an island by herself, she decides to disguise herself as a man, “Cesario,” until she has adjusted to life on the island. She works for a duke, Orsino (Calvin Parker, ‘18), who sends her to win over the heart of Olivia (Lauren Maloomian, ‘20). Olivia is not at all interested in Orsino and instead falls in love with “Cesario”. Viola, meanwhile, is in love with Orsino, but Orsino doesn’t know that Viola is actually a woman and continues to pursue Olivia. To add to the confusion, Olivia’s servants try to entertain themselves by playing practical jokes on the characters!

Shows are April 7 at 7 P.M. and April 8 at 2 P.M. and 7 P.M. in the GDRHS Black Box Theatre. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $10 general admission. Don’t miss it!

Scheduling Information

Yesterday we met with all students in grades 9-11 and also hosted an 8th Grade Parent Information Night.  Thanks to the 200+ people who came last night.  Student requests for courses next year are due next Tuesday, April 3rd.  Please log in to Schoolbrains under the student log in to choose courses.  Remember, that all students must also pass in a Course Selection Sheet to Guidance (HS) or Homeroom (MS) on or prior to 4/3/17.

GDRHS School Counselors will be meeting with all 8th Grade Students this morning and will be scheduling meetings with each and every student after 4/3/17 to make sure that the scheduling process goes smoothly.  If any student/parent wishes to override a teacher recommendation and enroll in a higher course level than the recommendation, they will also need to fill out and submit a Course Level Change Form by 4/3/17.

The information presented to students and parents from departments can be found on the High School Web Page.

http://gdrsd.org/gdrhs/2017/03/28/course-selection-information-for-grades-9-11/

"Robotomies" retools for 2nd Competition weekend this year!

Best of Luck!

Our Robotics team will compete in this weekend's FIRST Robotics Competition.  They be competing at the Rhode Island event at Bryant University Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  There will be as many as 25 GD students attending the event, some for the entire weekend, others for only 1 day.  The students have made changes to the robot since the first competition and how well it performs will be as much of a surprise to us as it will be for you... this should be interesting!  

If you're interested, streaming video and results will be found here:

·  Webcast: https://www.twitch.tv/nefirst_red

·  Event Results: https://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2017ripro

2017-2018 Program of Studies

The new Program of Studies has been released.  Take some time over the next week or so to examine some of the changes and additions available to students next year.  You can find a link to the document on the page below.

Big changes:

• Juniors and Seniors can now fulfill the independent experience requirement
• Many new courses designed to fulfill independent experience requirement
• Phasing out of French courses

http://gdrsd.org/gdrhs/students/scheduling/