Going Above and Beyond For RHS Clubs

Molly Grass & Carolyn McCarthy,  Veritas Staff

Everybody knows of the variety of sports at RHS, but what about clubs? Although unsung heroes are typically for sports, this year the Veritas staff is recognizing club unsung heroes as well.

One club is also called a team: mock trial. Mock trial is an interscholastic competition in which teams from various high schools in Massachusetts compete against each other in a “trial.” This trial is a fictional scenario made up by the mock trial committee.

The students who participate play the role of attorneys and witnesses. The students have to read briefs and prepare in order to support their case.

Emily Delaney of the mock trial team Veritas photo

The advisors, social studies teachers, Randy Grimmett and Greg Rowe, chose one member who stands out the most: Emily Delaney.

Delaney is a new member to this year’s team and Mr. Grimmett say she does “an exponential job preparing for her role as an attorney. She has consistently been one of our top performers, according to the judges’ scoresheets.”

Delaney is what Mr. Grimmett likes to call a “quiet leader.” She is always willing to help out with the group and brings a positive example for others to follow. “She is a role model, as are several other members of the team, and gives 100% effort at all times,” Mr. Grimmett added.

Another club at RHS is the environmental club supervised by science teacher, Angela Armstrong. The environmental club is a group of students that have an eye toward promoting eco-conscious habits.

Club members are amping up their recycling program, starting a school garden, and some will be competing in this year’s Mass Envirothon.

Joe Naughton – unsung hero of the environmental club. Veritas photo

Mrs. Armstrong chose Joe Naughton as this club’s unsung hero.

Mrs. Armstrong says that he is one of the first people that has come up with great ideas for the club and who “takes action to institute these ideas.”

Mrs. Armstrong describes him as a “team player,” and “hard working.”

“Joe is proactive. He’s been a dedicated member from the beginning and wants to do more for our school and community.”

Naughton says that he feels honored to be the environmental club’s unsung hero because he enjoys being a part of it, and it’s something he strongly cares about. He is the club’s treasurer, and as he said that he “helps out with anything that needs to be done.”

Caitlin Hedges and Kylie McKenna put in a lot of time for the Class of 2016 yearbook. Mrs. Thompson photo

The yearbook committee, run by art teacher, Cheryl Thompson, is another club. It consists of seniors who lay out the Senior Class Yearbook during their free periods or after school. The yearbook is one hundred and forty four pages that the members of the club have to fill using a computer-design program called Pictavo. They work on page lay-outs, photos, design, and much more in order to have the yearbook fully detailed.

Sarah Margolis has put time and effort into the Class of 2016 yearbook. photo courtesy Mrs. Thompson

Mike Rocha working on the Class of 2016 yearbook. photo courtesy Mrs. Thompson

With the club consisting of nine seniors Mrs. Thompson said she couldn’t choose just one unsung hero, so she decided to choose four. The four unsung heros are Kylie McKenna, Mike Rocha, Caitlin Hedges, and Sarah Margolis. 

Mrs. Thompson said, “I am grateful to Kylie, Mike, Caitlin, and Sarah for their contributions, [but] I am regretful that they have had to sacrifice their art period in order to help out.”

She added, “If it weren’t for their dedication and effort, the Class of 2016 probably wouldn’t have a yearbook this year.”

These clubs are just three out of the many at RHS, and the Veritas staff, along with the advisors of each club, wanted to recognize the students who have worked hard behind the scenes,  to make their clubs successful.