In preparation for the 2019-2020 school year, counselors distributed class enrollment forms to studies classes this week. Along with the formal registration form, other materials such as a packet with class descriptions help students make informed decisions about their schedules. Betsy Jones, director of guidance at RBHS, said course request cards are due on Jan. 25 for rising seniors and due Feb. 1 for rising sophomores and juniors. March 1 is the last day schedules can be changed. To read more about important dates and information click here.
The course information provided by students helps determine the master schedule for next year. The master schedule is created by Jones.
“The master schedule is what, when, where courses are offered and who is teaching them,” Jones said. “These decisions are based on student request and when teachers will meet in their collaborative learning teams. It is created first in an excel document by department chairs and Dr Rukstad and then inputted into the student information system so students requests can be run through the scheduler to formulate individual student schedules.”
Counselor Gretchen Cleppe hopes to help students prepare for their future careers and ambitions, to do so he stresses the importance of thinking through class selection. Cleppe encourages students to be initiative and ask questions for additional help from their counselors.

 
Cleppe’s claims do not go unnoticed, as counselors have helped students such as junior Max Daubert in past enrollment situations.”
“My counselor helped me when I moved over the summer, before I started my sophomore year,” Daubert said. “He helped me to get into classes that I was somewhat interested in, even though I was late to enroll and many classes were already filled.”
Counselors such as Rachel Reed are heavily involved in the registration process. Reed helps inform rising juniors and seniors about the changes to the registration process this year. Among the changes was a new registration format, elimination of the teacher assistant option, as well as opening the Advisory mentor role to juniors, which was previously only allowed to seniors.
“[Rock Bridge] is working towards a model where there’s more targeted academic intervention for students who are struggling, and that’s why juniors can join the advisory classrooms,” Reed said. “TA [Teachers Assistant] has not been carried out with fidelity. We want students that want to help out other students. Some students would choose TA just so they could have an extra advisory.”
Finally, Cleppe, Reed, and Jones suggest students to keep a balanced schedule that fulfills graduation requirements and to consult with teachers on what classes they should take.
“We have so many students wanting to adjust their schedule the next year because they think they should ‘try’ a class. Unfortunately, it is getting increasingly difficult to change levels,” Cleppe said. “Sometimes students state that feel they are letting down a teacher who recommends the more rigorous class, and they may want to let that go. Teachers are going to make sure students know they are able to manage the work. However, the student and their parents will better understand how that work will fit into the context of their lives.”