Rushville Consolidated High School

Thanks to the Purdue IN-MaC grant, our PLTW science course Human Body Systems will have some new equipment and supplies! Thank you so much! #PurdueINMaC

At RCHS we focus on communication skills in the Spanish classroom. We practice speaking, reading, writing and listening in Spanish. Culture is also included in our studies. Spanish is either an elective or required on most diploma tracks. Freshmen may take Spanish 1 if they earn a C average or more in 8th grade English.

The agricultural program was well represented at freshman orientation on Wednesday January 17. Students were ready to tell the story on how agriculture and FFA can impact their walk through their high school journey and beyond. The agriculture program offers dual credit courses including animal science, horticulture, mechanics, and so much more. Hands on learning provides an informal class setting with tremendous results. The FFA is an extension of the classroom program providing competitive events leadership training while providing a family atmosphere. Mr. Orme and Mrs. Wagner are the instructors.

The business department offers 3 pathways for graduation (Marketing, Accounting, and Business Operations and Technology). We also offer the Banking and Finance course which is a state requirement with a prerequisite of Principles of Management.

3D Art at RCHS includes Introduction to 3D, Intermediate 3D, Advanced 3D, and Ceramics I and II. Through these courses, students will learn about different 3D art forms and experiment with different 3D materials such as wire, paper mache, clay, found objects, and even cardboard. Mrs. Schultz’s two dimensional visual arts classes focus on experimentation with and exposure to a variety of media: watercolor, acrylic and oil paints, graphite and colored pencil, ink, marker, oil and chalk pastels, collage, silverpoint, fresco, printmaking, engraving, scratch board, photography, and digital arts. With each media, students expand their critical thinking skills and creativity, while gaining knowledge of art history, art styles, and classical and contemporary artists.

College Goal Sunday is 2pm local time on February 25th at 40 locations across the state. Visit collegegoalsunday.org to find the location closest to you and to get information on the items to help get organized and ready for the event. College Goal Sunday is having a drawing for 5 scholarships with $1,000 each for students who attend this event and fill out a survey on February 25th! Creating FSA IDs before College Goal Sunday is strongly encouraged. To eliminate barriers to filing, students and parents should have these before February 25th if possible.

Not a new program, but a reminder of our science program! -The Science department offers a wide range of courses designed to promote critical thinking, laboratory skills, and science literacy. All freshmen start their high school science journey with Biology followed by one of the four physical science courses in the student's second year. The third and fourth (optional) years consist of electives based on the student's interest and educational goals. We also offer Project Lead the Way's Biomedical Pathway which consists of inquiry-based, hands-on learning where students learn vocational skills associated with the medical field. This pathway includes Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Medical Interventions. This year, we have added a dual credit course, Biology II (Biology 101) via IvyTech which allows students to earn college credits towards Indiana College Core.

Take a look at another great program we are starting at RCHS with Mrs. Fox! If you consider yourself creative and you would like to expand your artistic abilities in digital design the following courses could be a perfect fit for you. We offer Principles of Digital Design and Digital Design Graphics, which will teach you how to design and create animations, videos and websites using software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Dreamweaver. Perhaps you have an interest in video and/or audio production. If so, we also offer Interactive Media Design and Digital Design Capstone which will give you access to produce content and be part of Lions Live and The Roar crew. These two courses give you the chance to showcase your work on our daily announcements and our radio station that airs 24/7. All four of these courses are dual credit through Ivy Tech and will count towards completion of the Digital Design pathway.

The Indiana College Core (ICC) is a block of 30 credit hours that can be applied to any Indiana Public College. Although sophomores cannot take any specific ICC classes, Spanish 1 and 2 are prerequisite courses for Spanish 3, which is an ICC course. As a freshman and sophomore, you could also be collecting college credits to add to your total credits to potentially earn an Associate’s Degree (60 total credit hours)! As a junior, there are a series of classes that you will take to prepare you for the ICC. Please make sure to indicate to your counselor if this is the route you are wanting to take. Even if you are an incoming senior, it is not too late to get your ICC! Talk with your counselors and Mr. Bottomley to look at your schedule and get a plan in place!

Rushville Consolidated High School is excited to announce the addition of 3 new vocational programs beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Emergency Medical Services, Criminal Justice, and Fire and Rescue will be offered to juniors and seniors. The Criminal Justice and Fire and Rescue programs will be on campus and can be offered in 1 or 2 block sections depending on the year of the student. The Emergency Medical Services program will be half-day and be housed off campus in downtown Rushville. We will be talking to students next week to give them more details about these new programs.

Here is the link to the Lion Weekly Update! Have a great weekend and as always IT'S ALMOST MONDAY!!!! https://www.smore.com/kqur8

Tristan "Bill" Seymour was selected as the RCHS Student of the Month. Pictured with Bill is his wife, daughter, and opportunity school teacher. This is what Trenia Logan, his opportunity school teacher, had to say about him: Bill just started at Opportunity School this semester. He works full time, is married and has a little girl. Many times he worked double shifts before coming into class. As of today, he has completed 15 credits since the first day of this semester, all with A, B or C grades and has completed his graduation requirements. He does deserve some special recognition given everything he faced and the tenacity he has shown to reach his goal. He has set an example of what's possible with the right mindset for all of my other students here at Opportunity School.

Mrs. Natalie Hornsby and Mrs. Jan Thoman, our guidance counselors, were recognized this week at our board meeting as RCHS staff members of the month. These ladies take anything Mr. Cook throws at them in stride. We are so incredibly lucky to have these two ladies in our guidance department! Mr. David Doyle said the following about them, our counseling duo are tremendous. Natalie & Jan put in countless hours and influence and enhance the lives of our students, not only here at RCHS but after they graduate. I would also point out that they are both graduates of RCHS. I'm proud of them and am honored to be one of their colleagues.

Chelsie was recognized at our board meeting this week as the WCC student of the month. This is what her WCC teacher said about her, "Chelsie exemplifies dedication, reliability, and a consistent commitment to excellence in our Criminal Justice Class. Her work ethic, coupled with her ability to treat others with utmost respect, sets her apart as a standout student. It is evident that Chelsie’s exceptional qualities will undoubtedly pave the way for success in any career she chooses." Congratulations!

RCHS Band Booster tenderloin dinner is Saturday, February 24th from 3:30-6:30pm. Come enjoy a wonderful dinner and then stay for an evening of great music with our RCHS Jazz Band's side by side concert with the Rush County Big Band at 7pm in the Laughlin Center. If you would like tickets, please find a RCHS Band Member to purchase or you can contact if you do not know any band members. Heather Campbell, campbellh@rushville.k12.in.us

Never miss a beat with the new Rush County Schools App, available on Android and iOS today.

Check out the new Rush County Schools app...available for download on the Google Play and Apple App Store.

It's Mr. McCartt's birthday tomorrow so of course we had to celebrate today! Happy Birthday!

Current Seniors (Class of 2024): February 8th from 2pm-5:30pm RCHS Guidance will be conducting a FAFSA Filing Workshop. If interested, students should plan to attend the meeting with their parent/guardian. Parents and students must have an FSAID created before filing can take place.  Parents with existing FSAID DO NOT need to create new numbers--new students and new parents to the FAFSA system need to create the FASID at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch at least 3-5 business days before filing. Please contact the guidance department if you have any questions. Thanks!

Attention incoming Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores! We will have an informational meeting that will go over review of graduation requirements and some new opportunities we are offering at RCHS next year. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 7th in the RCHS Cafeteria. Each incoming class has a separate start time. Please see those times below. Parents/guardians are encouraged to attend with their student. Incoming Seniors (Class of 2025) 6pm -6:30pm Incoming Juniors (Class of 2026) 6:45- 7:15pm Incoming Sophomores (Class of 2027) 7:30pm-8pm