Dear Parents,
Well, we’ve reached the halfway point. Today begins the 2nd semester! The journey to June can be fast and furious, so be sure to follow all the news that comes out from the administration, student services, and the PTSA. In addition, stay in close contact with your child’s teachers through Aspen and/or class web pages (especially if you’re concerned about their 3rd and 4th marking period grades).
The following news is provided to help keep you informed:
Kudos
Congratulations to River Hill’s Team Rocket for winning the MIT SPHERES Zero Robotics competition! I had the pleasure of joining the team this weekend at Cambridge where we watched as the code they wrote was loaded onto the satellites on the International Space Station. After some drama with hardware malfunctions and scoring errors, River Hill emerged on top! Great job by all the students and their teacher Mrs. Anne Contney.
Mission Months
Did you know that each month this school year we have and will continue to highlight an aspect of our mission statement that doesn’t always fit in with classroom instruction? There is a theme every month, but we also plan other activities as well. Here’s a recap of what we’ve done this year:
In September,
students watched a press conference about the new initiative of Hawktime.
Through the focus on “responsibility,” students
reflected on how they could make use of Hawktime each week in a responsible
manner. Soon, we’ll be conducting a survey to get some “official” data
about Hawktime, but unofficial feedback has been extremely positive.
Students and staff alike love the time they have to meet with clubs,
review for a test, or just relax.
In October, the theme was integrity. Students explored academic integrity
in an extended 3rd period lesson and also looked at character in general
in activities such as SGA’s pledge drive to get River Hill students
to sign a national petition sponsored by pacer.org. The campaign was
titled “The End of Bullying Begins with Me.” River Hill
students were encouraged to sign the pledge and, more importantly,
to live the pledge. The SGA and administration message to students
was that we all have to make a commitment to mutual respect and fair
treatment for all students.
In November, we continued to address issues of mutual respect and fair
treatment by focusing on diversity. The SGA made posters with quotes
about diversity and displayed them around the school. Every morning
on the PA in November, I gave students suggestions on how to celebrate
diversity and promote a safe and nurturing environment at River Hill.
All students attended an assembly called “You Don’t Know
Me” presented by Dr. Michael Fowlin. After the assembly, all
students participated in an extended third period discussion about
the assembly, specifically addressing what issues are prevalent at
River Hill and what we can do to prevent teasing, bullying, and harassment.
In December, we revisited the theme of integrity and our SGA once again
spread the message about the importance of character and integrity
by creating and displaying quote posters throughout the school. As
I did in November, each morning I greeted students with messages about
what it means to have integrity and to be a person of character. The
extended third period lesson this month introduced students to the “Pause
Before You Post” campaign that raised awareness about responsible
online behavior. One of the counselors helped make a video that showed
clips about cyberbullying, facebook, and twitter and students had an
opportunity to discuss these issues with their peers.
In January, we explored the concept of balance. As students signed
up for courses for next year, they were reminded not to overload their
schedules with too many difficult classes. In addition, the School
Improvement Team continued working on its four focus areas for the
year: 1) drug and alcohol use, 2) teasing, bullying, and harassment,
3) decline in morale, and 4) real world connections to learning. For
each area, we have analyzed data from sources such as HCPSS Goal 2
surveys and River Hill senior exit surveys. Our plan of action is derived
from a root cause analysis and is informed by steps we have already
taken this year.
The next Coffee with the Principal is this Thursday at 8am in the professional development center. As always, I enjoy seeing folks in person, but also want to make sure you know that you can participate online at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2007084&password=M.B720DE48896053D99F0E6C2F2A352F
I recommend logging in about ten to fifteen minutes before the meeting begins to get acquainted with the program. You might also want to check out the following training link:
http://www.elluminate.com/Services/Training/Elluminate_Live!/?id=418
Front Office Drop-Off Procedures
Recently, there has been an increase in items being dropped off for delivery to students. We want to continue to be able to provide excellent service to you and your students; however, in order to balance this service with other needs in the front office and the school in general, we will be instituting several changes to the drop off procedures. Please see below for specific directions regarding lunch and homework drop-off:
Lunch Drop-Off
1. Sign in on the visitor log in the front office.
2. Complete the drop off log for the student; please write "cafeteria" in the item field
3. Take the lunch to the cafeteria and place it on the "Lunch Drop Off" table located in the front of the cafeteria on the left-hand side.
4. Sign out on the visitor log in the front office.
Homework Drop Off
Let a secretary know that you have work that your student needs to
submit.
Please fill out the homework drop off slip (student’s name, teacher’s
name, drop-off date).
Work items for a student (homework or projects) will be placed in the
mailbox of the teacher who is requiring the work.
Thanks for your help in implementing these changes!
Obligations
When visiting school please check the list of obligations posted in the front lobby. We are currently missing textbooks, sports uniforms, band uniforms and emergency cards. These obligations must be cleared. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Lockhoff in the front office.
Class of 2012 Senior Teacher of the Year Voting
The time has come for the Class of 2012 to vote for the Senior Teacher of the year.
Voting will end:
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 11:59 PM
To vote visit http://vote.riverhillsga.org and login using the account credentials below:
Your Username is the same as your Aspen and computer account: Ex. bsmith1234
First Initial of your First Name
First 5 digits of your Last Name
Last 4 digits of your student ID number
Your Password is: hawks
If you have account issues, please email: vote@riverhillsga.org
RHHS Theatre Arts Seeks 80s Prom Gowns and Tuxes
RHHS Theatre Arts is seeking those 80s prom gowns and tuxes you have in your closets and attics. We are working on Footloose (March 14 - 18) and would love to give your gowns and tuxes a new life. If you have these items and are willing to donate them, just sent them to the Drama room. Any donations we aren't able to use will be sent to our local thrift stores. Email Pam Land (pland@hcpss.org) with any questions.
Class of 2012 & Class of 2013 News
The class of 2013 is offering an opportunity for all juniors and seniors to earn discounted or even FREE prom tickets! Here is how it works:
Claire's Gourmet will provide all juniors and seniors with a fundraising packet. These packets are filled with delicious cakes, pizzas, and more! If a student sells 10 of these items, they have earned 50% off of their prom ticket. Selling 15 items earns 1 free prom ticket. That is a $60 value! If the student goes all out and sells 25 items, then the student will receive 2 FREE prom tickets!
There will be an assembly on January 25th during HAWKtime for all juniors and
seniors to give details about this opportunity. Don't miss out!
New!!! HYPE Street Team from Howard County Rec’s and Parks
The Howard County Youth Promoting Events (HYPE) Street Team is an initiative through Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. Our goal is to market teen programs and special events and to create new fun ideas for teens. Simply click the link below and take a look at our upcoming events.
For more details, click here:
Hype Street Team E-Newsletter
River Hill High School Stem ExpoIn an effort to assist Howard County high school students in becoming more college and career ready, River Hill High School will be hosting a STEM Expo on Tuesday March 13, 2012 from 7-9 PM in the Information Center and Student Dining Center. We will have professionals from many aspects of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields to meet with students to answer questions, display STEM related projects, and distribute information. There will also be numerous colleges in attendance with STEM related majors to answer questions and promote their programs. Some of the schools who have already agreed to attend include Howard Community College, Salisbury University, University of Baltimore, and Stevenson University. This will be an excellent opportunity to network with colleges and STEM professionals. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Business Expo on March 13th. We hope to see you there!!!! If you have any questions about the STEM Expo please feel free to contact Danny Ives or Annette Jackson at 410-313-7400.
Class of 2014 Pudgie's Night
Help the class of 2014 by simply bringing the family to eat dinner at Pudgie's! Pudgie's will donate a percentage of the night's profit to the Class of 2014!! We hope to see you there!! (mention River Hill at the time of purchase!)
When: Wednesday, Feb. 1
Where: Pudgie's (12447 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD)
Time: 4-8pm
Women’s Science Forum
The Space Telescope Science Institute will be hosting a 2012 Women's Science Forum. Girls in grades 6-12 are invited to take part in hands on activities related to science and engineering. To register, please visit:
http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/youthae
High School Cyber Security Fair and Expo
Registration is Now Open for Students, Adults and Volunteers for the High School CyberSecurity Fair and Expo in conjunction with the 7th Annual Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
The first 200 students who register and attend will receive complimentary t-shirts and giveaways, and the high school that has the largest attendance will be honored with a plaque of outstanding participation!
Who: All high school students are encouraged to attend. Middle and elementary school students are also invited. Parents, teachers and community members are invited to attend or volunteer.
What: Through interactive sessions, discussions, speakers and demonstrations, participants will be immersed in an exciting learning environment with the goal of igniting interest in cybersecurity. CyberWatch partners, to include 2 and 4 year institutions with cybersecurity/information assurance programs and student organizations, and our sponsors will participate in an information fair for attendees to enjoy throughout the day.
When: Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Where: John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Kossiakoff Center
Background: While similar to other cyber defense competitions in many aspects, the CyberWatch Mid-Atlantic Regional CCDC, as part of the National CCDC, is unique in that it focuses on the operational aspects of managing and protecting an existing network infrastructure. The teams are physically co-located in the same building. Each team is given physically identical computer configurations at the start of the competition. Throughout the competition, the teams have to ensure the systems supply the specified services while under attack from a volunteer Red Team. In addition, the teams have to satisfy periodic “injects” that simulate business activities IT staff must deal with in the real world.
The High School CyberSecurity Fair and Expo, will allow students to see the CCDC in action, and will enable students to learn more about careers in cybersecurity, certificate and college options, scholarships, and admission processes.
***This event is FREE and open to the public.***
For more information and to REGISTER, please visit: edtechpolicy.org/k12ccdc
We hope to see you at this exciting event on March 17th!
NHS Flower Sale
The NHS Flower Sale is just around the corner. Order forms will be available starting the week of January 23rd. Make sure to pre-order your plants! They will arrive just in time for Mother's Day! If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Gorelik at Mindy_Gorelik@hcpss.org.
Attention NHS Parents: Mark your calendars for Inductions on February 8th at 7pm. All eligible preliminary members will be receiving an invitation in the mail next week. Please contact Mrs. Gorelik at Mindy_Gorelik@hcpss.org if you have any questions.
LEADERSHIP UAre you interested in making a difference? Consider joining Leadership U Class of 2012. Leadership U is an exciting leadership development, teambuilding and community service opportunity for high school students. This four-month program involves: (1) a week-long summer session of hands-on learning and interactive activities, (2) Completion of a team community service project, (3) Participation in ‘Shadow Day’ where students have the opportunity to spend a day with a business or community leader. This program is for current high school sophomores with leadership potential, a desire to learn with others, and with an interest for the community. Come to learn more and speak to some of our grads at one of our information sessions: January 25 at Central Library, January 31st at Miller Library or February 9th at Hammond HS. - all from 7-8 pm. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. Applications and information are available in the Guidance Office or at www.leadershiphc.org. Applications are due Friday, March 9, 2012.
Helping the Unemployed--- RHFBLA's Dress For Success
River Hill FBLA is partnering up with the men of the Helping Up Mission and the women of Suited to Succeed to distribute business attire to the unemployed of Baltimore. If you have any used, unwanted business attire that you would like to donate, please place it in the box outside the front office. Also, if you would like to use your workplace as a collection site for RHFBLA's business-attire drive, please contact Natalie Tran at NTran@rhfbla.org and also if you have any questions/ concerns please contact Natalie.
Girls Engineering Outreach Program
February 4, 2012 on the Widener Campus in Chester, PA
Girls in grades 9 -12 are invited to spend the day participating in hands on lab activities with volunteers from Widener's School of Engineering and from the Philadelphia section of the Society of Women Engineers. The Camp is offered free of charge to all high school girls, but preregistration is required and enrollment is limited, so apply early!
For more information go to:
http://www.widener.edu/academics/collegesandschools/engineering/outreachprograms/hsgirlsminicamp
FBLA – Looking for Judges
River Hill FBLA is currently looking for professionals that are interested in judging the nine performance competitive events offered at the upcoming Maryland FBLA Region 9 Leadership Conference. The conference will take place from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at River Hill High School on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Judges should be present for the on-site orientation at 9:00 AM and the entirety of the judging process (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM). If you are interested in judging please fill out the Judging Interest Form found here: http://www.rhfbla.org/MDFBLAR9/judges.html If you have any questions, please email:
kurt.anderson@mdfbla.org.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) application process has begun for the 2012. They are looking to bring in the most highly qualified students from diverse backgrounds that are extremely motivated and passionate about conducting biomedical research.
The NIA would like to encourage your students to apply to the SIP. The NIH SIP application website went live on Wednesday, November 15,
Here are some helpful links:
1. SIP application: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip. Application process began November 15, 2011!
2. NIA research areas: (http://www.grc.nia.nih.gov/offices.htm).
3. NIA Summer Program details: (http://www.grc.nia.nih.gov/students/summeropps.htm)
4. 2012 NIH Community College Summer Enrichment Program
(https://www.training.nih.gov/ccsep_home_page)
I sincerely hope that you will share the above information and will have students apply for a summer training position at the NIA. If you have any questions, please call me on (410) 558-8121 or 1-800-681-7685 ext. 8121.
JROTC TIMELINE FOR TRANSFERS TO HOWARD, OAKLAND MILLS, OR ATHOLTON HIGH SCHOOLS
January 27, 2012 Interview must be completed by the JROTC Instructor and School Administrator.
January 30, 2012 School Administrator/JROTC instructor sends approvals, denials, wait list to the Student Reassignment Office.
February 6, 2012 Student Reassignment Office sends letters of approval/denial to parents in the mail. Copies of the letters will be sent to JROTC instructors, registrars, school administrators.
February 17, 2012 Approved OOD JROTC students must have requested an appointment for registration at OOD School.
February 24, 2012 The School Administrator/JROTC Instructor/Registrar informs the geographical home school registrar/school administrator of those students who have not registered.
For students requesting JROTC after the January 20, 2012 deadline:• In-county students – NO, may be eligible to apply the following year.
• Out-of-county students moving in during current school year or summer - NO, may be eligible to apply the following year.
• Out-of-county students moving in during current school year or summer/ALREADY IN JROTC program – YES, if the following criteria are met:
• Space is available in the JROTC program
• Student was enrolled in JROTC at the time of transfer OR, if enrolling during the summer, student must have been enrolled in JROTC in previous semester
• Recommendation from the JROTC Instructor at the previous school is received
• Interview with the JROTC Instructor and Administrator has been completed
Science – STEM opportunity- 2012 Kavli Science video contest
Kavli “Save the World Through Science & Engineering” Video Contest - The Kavli Foundation is challenging Grades 6-12 students across the world to brainstorm and share their ideas! Students worldwide are invited to submit entries to the 2012 video contest, with cash awards and prizes for the top entries. The best videos will be shown at the Festival Expo during April 27-29, 2012, where hundreds of thousands of science fans are expected to gather in Washington, D.C. The first place winner will also receive a travel stipend to attend the Expo.
http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2012festival/contests/kavli-video-contest.
Former Triadelphia Ridge Students and Families
We are putting in a brick garden at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School. This is the perfect opportunity to leave a lasting mark at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School. Purchasing a “brick” to go in the brick garden is easy. Log on to our website: http:/tres.hcpss.org. We will be building the “brick garden” in spring 2012. Proceeds from the project will support teacher initiatives with technology and environmental instruction. Thank you for your support.
State and Local Health Insurance Programs
If you or someone you know needs health insurance or would like to find out more information about state and local health insurance programs, a staff member at the Door to HealthCare would be happy to help. Located in the Health Department at 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, the Door to HealthCare is open Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Our staff is ready to answer your questions about program eligibility and application status, help you apply to health care programs, collect any documents missing from your application, and help connect you with doctors who will accept your insurance. If you are unsure what program you may be eligible for, you may call us to make an appointment to complete an electronic application with a staff member. For more information, visit our website at www.healthyhowardmd.org or call us at 410.988.3737 ext. 10.
Lena Bloom Hershkovitz, MPH
Eligibility Services Manager
Healthy Howard, Inc.
lhershkovitz@healthyhowardplan.org
410.988.3737 ext. 12
Calendar of Events
As always, you can find a calendar of all our events at:
http://web02.hcpss.org/school_calendars/FAV1-000974A7
Hope to see you out supporting River Hill!! Go Hawks!!
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