Minimester

The Freshman Minimester is a treasured tradition and a required activity for all students at RCHS. During the week of April 20-24, 2026, all ninth-grade students departed from our school for a week of camping, history, and ecological studies on the Chesapeake Bay. Students experienced valuable hands-on learning, made new friendships, practiced leadership, and built independence and confidence.

Here’s the initial letter for the 2027 Sophomore Minimester. Please see Mrs. Humphries with any questions.

In the spring of 2026, we were excited to take our sophomores to Atlanta, Georgia, to explore civil and human rights. The city of Atlanta is rich with cultural and historical attractions that contributed to the development of our school's mission. Atlanta played an essential role in the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. While there, our sophomore students examined the Holocaust and other examples of genocide in the twentieth century and synthesized evidence from artifacts and primary and secondary sources to obtain information about events and life in world history.

Attractions like the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Center for Civil and Human Rights, Apex Museum, Museum of History and Holocaust Education, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site all served to inform our students of the rich history of the state of Georgia and how that history has impacted our lives today.

In addition to the cultural aspects of the trip, students toured the campuses of several area colleges. This allowed them to speak directly with admission officers and get a feel for campus life.

In April 2026, the Junior class and their sponsors visited Maryland and Pennsylvania. Highlights of the trip included zip-lining at Terrapin Adventures, touring Towson and Temple Universities, enjoying lunch at Reading Terminal Market, and visiting The Penn Museum. 

In April 2026, the seniors spend their Minimester week locally involved in activities that promote good citizenship and encourage senior bonding. For the 2026 Minimester, seniors spent one day painting canvases of their college and career choices.  They bonded over golf and lunch at Top Golf another day.  Another day we travelled to the VA War Memorial to speak to a panel of Vietnam veterans (after reading The Things They Carried in AP Lit class).  On the final day of Minimester, seniors received their caps, gowns, and yearbooks and enjoyed some nostalgic moments.