RHETORIC NEWS

RHETORIC SCHOOL NEWS

Dear Rhetoric families, 

We have much to celebrate. 

The seniors just did their cap and gown walkthrough–the second year of a new tradition!--and were cheered on and celebrated by students and staff from all three divisions. 

We’re gearing up for final exams and for graduation, and I am reminded daily of the grace, the love, and the wonder that characterize our classrooms. Students and teachers alike are pursuing much more than high school credit or a GPA: We are attending to the true, the good, and the beautiful. 

Several alumni from the class of 2023 came to campus to share their wisdom with our high school students. This “alumni chapel” is a yearly tradition, managed by Angela Traywick, our College Counselor. This year’s alumni were a diverse bunch, studying everything from pre-med to English to finance to communications. They were also wise. All of them spoke of the importance of relationships, especially of getting plugged in to a church and a campus ministry. They all also emphasized to students how important it is to learn the Covenant curriculum and not to take shortcuts. Covenant does as good a job as any school around (I’m convinced) at teaching our students the basic skills of reading, writing, research, calculation, and problem solving. Our alumni consistently report that they are better prepared for college–whether a large state school, a small liberal arts school, or even an elite tier 1 school–than most of their peers. 

Today, however, I want to celebrate one person in particular: Heather Roberts, the Rhetoric School recipient of the St. Ambrose Award for Excellence in Teaching. Heather has taught math in the Rhetoric School for 10 years, and currently serves as the Math Department Chair. She is also one of two sponsors for Student Council and our two-year-old house system. 

Heather does not enjoy the spotlight. She much prefers to do her work behind the scenes. And I can tell you, she does a LOT of work! Two years ago, she expanded our Student Council from eight students to 16 to accommodate our growing Rhetoric School. She has led these 16 students in the creation of the House System, along with three new events: a day of service, a Christmas party, and a field day. Through it all, she has helped them develop new leadership skills, and has always empowered them to make decisions and carry out their own plans. (While managing this huge change, she has also continued to deliver excellent student experiences on fall retreat and our three school dances.)

Heather is a volunteer. She is constantly covering for teachers who are sick or absent; she takes on extra duties whenever there’s a need; often, she sees problems before they happen and volunteers to head them off. You may even find her at the front desk when Jennifer Tompkins has a meeting to attend or work to do as Registrar. 

She is also a dynamic and innovative teacher. Four years ago, she designed a new course for our Math Department, called Scientific Revolutions. It’s a course that combines physics with precalculus in an ingenious way: The students learn scientific and mathematical concepts the same way that historical scientists and mathematicians have learned them: through experimentation. Students recapitulate the discoveries of the scientific revolution and the enlightenment, by conducting the same experiments that Galileo (and dozens of others) conducted. This course is one of the crown jewels of our academic program. It took many hours of research, and Heather continues to find ways to reflect on each year’s experience and make the course even better. 

There’s one characteristic that stands out above all: Heather Roberts is careful. And I don’t mean she’s timid or that she lacks initiative; I mean that she is full of care–for Covenant, for our curriculum, and for our students. Her room is always full of kids who come to her for help on math or for life advice, or just to be near her–because they know she cares. Our faculty, too, have experienced her care over the years. She is a trusted mentor and a loyal friend. I often thank God for all that Heather does to take care of us. She’s one of Covenant’s all-time greats, and a deserving recipient of this award. 

As I said, we have much to celebrate–and much that I haven’t managed to get into this letter (which is already too long). Thank you all for such a fruitful and engaging year. We’re proud of our alumni and our graduating seniors; we’re hopeful for our 9th to 11th grade students, and excited to welcome our 8th graders in three months; and we’re so, so grateful for the wisdom and love of our teachers, who continue to serve and instruct our students one day at a time. 

Sincerely, 

Chris Schmidt
 

Upcoming Events & INFO

Covenant's Italy trip is coming up in spring break 2025! More information can be found here. Registration closes May 24, 2024! Late registration is only possible if the trip isn't full. Direct inquiries to Amber Whitehead ([email protected]).

Locker clean out - Seniors' lockers should be cleaned out by end of day today in order to avoid a fee.  All other Rhetoric students should have
lockers cleaned out by end of day Wednesday, May 22 in order to avoid the $35 FACTS fee.  

Friday, May 17 - Last day of classes Rhetoric Casual Dress Day.  Students may wear jeans or pants on casual dress days. Sleeveless shirts, shorts, knit pants, sweatpants, leggings (without a skirt), joggers, overalls, and cutoffs will not be permitted. No immodest or revealing clothing will be permitted. Students may also wear their school uniforms on these days. 

Seniors & Senior Parents - Keep those Senior May Calendars and Senior Guides handy.  These contain more details than just the dates listed below.  

May 6-17 - AP Exams --Students who have two exams in a day should bring a snack and/or lunch.  They will have a 10 minute break in the middle of each exam for a snack as well. Students wear uniforms.
May 17th  Physics 8-11:30  @ Church In Dallas

Friday, May 17 - 6:30 pm - Senior Blessings Banquet

May 18 - Volunteer Opportunity in our own backyard.  Grab a friend and be a blessing to our neighbors.

Monday, May 20 - Wednesday, May 22 - Rhetoric Exams
Monday - Math 8:30-10:30 (8:30 - 11:30 ET), English 10:45-12:45 (11:45-2:45 ET)
Tuesday - Theology (9 & 10 grades & makeup 11th) and double-Science/Math 8:30-10:30 (8:30 - 11:30 ET), Science 10:45-12:45 (11:45-2:45 ET)
Wednesday - History 8:30-10:30 (8:30 - 11:30 ET), Latin 10:45-12:45 (11:45-2:45 ET)

Wednesday, May 22 - Commencement Rehearsal (Seniors) 10 AM - 12 PM -- Photos begin at 10. Students should dress as they will appear at graduation for the photos.

Friday, May 24 - Commencement, 2 PM  Our special ceremony will be live-streamed HERE for all to enjoy.

college Counselor corner

Want to learn more about taking a gap year?  Click Here for information.

Rhetoric School Bell Schedule 2023-2024

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (50 min classes)
8:30-9:20 1st Period
9:25-10:15 2nd Period
10:20-11:10 3rd Period
11:15-12:05 4th Period
12:05-12:35 Lunch 
12:35-12:50 Flex Time -- Lunch into Clubs (M/T), Advisory (W) 
12:55-1:45 5th Period
1:50-2:40 6th Period
2:45-3:35 7th Period

Thursday (85 min blocks)
8:30-9:55 Block ( 3rd Period)
10:00-10:35 Chapel
10:40-12:05 Block ( 7th Period)
12:05-12:35 Lunch 
12:40-2:05 Block ( 6th Period)
2:10-3:35 Block (5th Period) 

Friday (85 min blocks)
8:30-9:55 Block ( 2nd Period)
9:55-10:15 Flex time
10:20-11:45 Block (4th Period)
11:45-12:15 Lunch 
12:20-1:45 Block ( 1st Period)
1:45-3:35 Co-curriculars

Reminders & useful info

• Senior Parents & Seniors:  Please note three forms in Resource Documents for you and/or your student to sign and return in order to acquire certain senior privileges.  These forms are also available under "Forms" in the Covenant app.  No printing required.  

• Consumable book fees will soon be billed through FACTS.

• Please review our Rhetoric Carpool and Parking Procedures. 

•  Student drivers have received parking stickers and should have them applied to their front windshield above the inspection sticker.  If you have not received your parking sticker, student, please see Mrs. Tompkins.  Parents should call Debbie Paul with any parent parking sticker questions.

Attendance Procedures

If your student is home sick or has an appointment, please email Jennifer Tompkins at [email protected]. Students should check FACTS for missed assignments and contact teachers if they need clarification.

If your student has a pre-planned absence, he or she must get a pre-planned absence form from Mrs. Tompkins (also available on the Parent Portal) and obtain required signatures. All work is to be made up beforehand or at the direction of the teacher. For college visits, students must also get an official note from the college to confirm that they attended admissions events. 

If your student gets sick while at school, he or she may visit the nurse, and the nurse will contact you. Students are not permitted to text parents during the school day and will not be permitted to leave unless the nurse has spoken to a parent.

academic warning/suspension

Student grades are assessed every two weeks, on Wednesdays at 8am.  These grade pulls act as progress reports and determine a student’s eligibility for extra-curricular participation.   

-If a student is failing a class at the time of a grade pull, the student will go on “Warning” for two weeks. A student on “Warning” may continue to participate in all extra-curricular activities.

-If at the next grade pull, the student is still failing that class, the student will go on “Suspension.” A student on “Suspension” may continue to practice with the team/group, but will be unable to participate in any contests or performances, ie. football games, drama production. This means a student may not dress out and sit with the team, etc., but could attend the contest/production with their family or friends. A student will remain on “Suspension” until they are not failing the class on a grade pull day. 

-If a student fails a course for the semester, that student will be put on “Sustained Academic Suspension.” The student will fall under the restrictions of “Suspension” for four weeks until the 1st grade pull of the semester. 

*On any grade pull day, a student failing 2 or more courses, and/or with 5 or more absences may not attend athletic practices until he/she has met with the teacher of the failing courses or courses from which the absences have occurred for tutoring and has a signed pass from the teacher.  

The Rhetoric School Head, in consultation with the Athletic Director, if applicable, may remove the student from all extracurricular activities at any time throughout the school year until the student’s grades and/or attendance record significantly improve. 

The purpose of this policy is to provide an environment that encourages students who are struggling in one or more courses to attend to their chief concern: to serve the Lord faithfully through their academic life at Covenant.

Attention Rhetoric School Students Needing Service Hours or PE Credits:

Be a manager or a student athletic training aide and earn hours or credits while having fun with a team sport! Contact Mrs. Traywick if you are interested.

Resource Documents

Check out the Resource Document section for important info--school supplies, Rhetoric textbook lists, and more.

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