Dear Parents,

It’s shaping up to be a busy Friday at the Hill. I’ve included this update with the PTSA News to prep everyone for Friday night. In addition, there is also an announcement regarding junior parking.

The following news is provided to help keep you informed:

Volleyball, Football, and Landmarks

The action begins at 5pm when the Hawks Volleyball team takes on the Reservoir Gators. We will be directing those coming for volleyball only to park in front of the school. If you are staying for the football game, you may park in the regular lot.

The action continues at 7pm as the Hawks Football team starts their playoff run against the Howard Lions. We anticipate the lot in front of the school to be full at the start of the game, so football fans will be directed to the main lot and to overflow areas on the basketball court (which will be lit) and at Clarksville Elementary School.

Finally, at 8pm, RHHS Theater Director Pam Land presents the benefit performance of Landmarks: Songs I Meant To Sing, Stories I Need To Tell. Parking will be reserved for the Landmarks benefit performance as follows: directly in front of the school (once the volleyball game ends) and the mini-lot next to the auditorium.

Those attending the Landmarks performance may park at Lutfis Hair Salon (to the right of the River Hill entrance) from 7:45 p.m. on--this business closes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays.--so, don't park there prior to 7:45.

Other suggestions to avoid potential parking hassles;

1. If you are a student, ask a parent who is not attending the games/performance to drop you off.

2. If you live in Clarksville, carpool or ask a non-attending family member to drop you off.

3. Come early and catch the volleyball game and/or the first half of the football game before seeing the show (or stay and watch the whole game).

It promises to be an exciting night! You can grab a piece of pizza or a "Hawk Dog" before the show. If it's too chilly for you, we will have the cafeteria open for a gathering place beginning at 6:00 p.m. Only those who have purchased a ticket to the Landmarks benefit performance will be admitted to the cafeteria.

Junior Parking Update

Parking for seniors only has always been the norm at RHHS, with the exception being juniors enrolled in the GT Mentorship program whose course placement requires them to leave campus during the day. It is a shame that our facilities cannot accommodate more students; however, we have to work with what we have. The administration recently looked into the possibility of allowing juniors to park on campus and has determined that we will not be able to extend parking privileges to juniors this year. After processing the senior applications from our last parking presentation and counting up how many spots we need to save for seniors who plan to park once they get their license, we simply do not have enough spots to include juniors in a fair and equitable manner.

I know that there are many juniors who have presented some pretty compelling reasons for obtaining a parking permit; however, it is just not feasible to include juniors at this time. Those juniors who had been issued a permit (whether by honest or dishonest means) will be called down to the office to return the permit. In addition, please know that our Security Assistant and our SRO have ramped up their efforts to identify unauthorized cars in the lot. Please follow the rules and do not park on campus if you are not authorized to do so. Thanks.

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PTSA eNews November 9, 2011

THIS ISSUE: Advocacy, Music News, Reflections, SAT Prep, Theatre Arts, POMS Clinic, Register Store Cards, Steven Dankos Turkey Trot

PTA Advocacy PROPOSED CHANGES TO MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE for FALL 2012

The school system is anticipating that the new Common Core State Curriculum will have a direct impact on the Middle School program offerings and they are proposing some changes which we think as parents we need to have some input on before they are implemented in the Fall of 2012.

Here's what is being recommended:
• Literacy instruction will be purposefully integrated into all courses. Reading will not be taught as a stand-alone course.

• Time allotted for content courses will be increased.

• All students should receive 90 days/year of physical education. Whenever possible, instruction will be spread across the full school year.

Students should be given the option to begin world language instruction in 6th grade. The instruction will be spread across the full school year. The school system is proposing these changes because they recognize that there has been concern about the Fitness Needs of Middle Schoolers and likewise and they are hoping that the proposed changes will result in earlier foreign language study. Under this proposed plan, Middle School students will have the option of learning a foreign language in 6th grade vs. 7th grade.

On the face of this, these changes look great but there are some areas of concern which will require more discussion and consideration. For example:

• The proposed changes involve not teaching reading as a separate course of study and there is research which suggests that the achievement gap is a reading gap. Students will no longer be afforded the opportunity to learn reading strategies which have a direct impact on other areas of study such as math. Integration of reading across the curriculum sounds good but we need to understand and ask questions about the level of training our science, math, social studies teachers etc. will receive on reading instruction so that they have a level of proficiency in teaching reading which will not detrimentally affect our children.

We also need to explore the impact that this will have on staffing of related arts as their load will be significantly increased.

Right now your questions and involvement are needed so that we have a clearer understanding of the issues and potential impact that this will have on our students. Here's how you can get involved and we once again need your presence and your voice:

- The Board of Education will receive a report about the proposed changes on Dec. 8, 2011

(Contact your Board Member if you have questions about the proposed changes) Click here to find out which BOE member is assigned to your school

- Public Hearing will take place on January 12, 2012 (WE NEED YOU TO TESTIFY and VOICE YOUR OPINION)

- Board will take action January 26, 2012

- Implementation of changes slated for Fall 2012

MUSIC NEWS

The RH Music Dept. would like to congratulate Joe Fischer & Mike Blackman and the RHHS Marching Band for a great season! Thank you for your vision, dedication & enthusiasm! Also a BIG Thank You to Nick Novak & the RH Staff, Music Parents, Music Boosters, Boosters & PTSA who gave their time and support to help make it a reality!

Our Annual POPS Concert is Friday November 18th at 7PM in the RH auditorium. This promises to be a spectacular evening of music and the only time ALL of our music groups will be on one stage for one huge night of music! Featuring a special performance from our very own guitar students the Soggy Bottom Boys! Raffle basket sales and refreshments available! Ticket forms and details are available on our website www.riverhillmusic.org.

Are you purchasing gift cards for holiday gifts? Please consider purchasing them through the RHHS Music Dept. We have an ongoing fundraiser for gift cards by Scrip (www.shopwithscrip.com). Proceeds from this fundraiser help support individual students as well as support the RHHS Music Boosters. For more information please contact Dave at david.furst@comcast.net.

“So You Want to Major In Music?!” Monday November 21, 2011 at 6:30PM in the auditorium. This is a great opportunity for students considering majoring in music; it will be an informative step by step guide to everything you need to know about choosing a music school, the audition process, degree choices, financial aid and much more. The event is FREE!

RHHS Music Dept. welcomes the US Navy Band on Friday December 2, 2011 at 7:30PM in the auditorium

SENIOR YEARBOOK ADS

Believe it or not, there’s only about 200 days left of school for our Seniors! The 2012 Yearbook will feature a “shout out” section for parents and friends to congratulate their graduate. If you’d like to place an ad, read more at www.riverhill.org

REFLECTIONS Contest 2011-2012 Theme is “Diversity Means…”

Simple rules, entry forms, and entry drop box will be in the RHHS front office starting October 2011. Entry Form, Guidelines, and RHHS flyer can be found on www.riverhill.org/ptsa, click on Reflections or click here. Deadline for submission is December 14, 2011.
Be sure to visit: http://www.ptareflections.org/ for more information and to view last years winning entries. The Reflections Committee is looking forward to seeing all your creativity in interpreting the this year's themeReflections Chair, Danielle Hilliard, dphilliard@comcast.net Don’t hesitate to call with any questions.

Spring SAT Prep Classes ACCEPTING REGISTRATION

PTSA is once again pleased to offer our Prep Courses for the SAT exams given in May and June 2012. Classes are offered for both Math and Critical Reading/Writing.

Saturdays – Classes meet on Saturdays beginning the last week of January and run through the end of March. This is ideal for the student who is busy after school. The cost is $275 for both classes or $175 for either Math or Critical Reading/Writing. Please register by January 13th.

After School – Classes meet on Tues/Thurs in February, March and early April. The cost is $275 for both classes or $175 for either Math or Critical Reading/Writing. Please register by February 1st .

Space is limited to 15 students for each class so sign up quickly! Registration forms can be found on the River Hill PTSA website at www.riverhill.org/ptsa (or click here) or from the Guidance Office at River Hill High School. The registration forms detail the specific dates the courses are held. Contact Sally Swygert at TSwygert@verizon.net or at 301-395-9728 with questions.

RHHS Theatre Arts Department Announces Auditions For..

Footloose The Musical

Auditions for the spring musical, Footloose, will take place in the River Hill auditorium on November 29, 30 and December 1, immediately after school. Auditions are open to all RHHS students who are academically eligible for extra-curricular activities.

Interested students should sign up on the bulletin board in the Drama Hallway (outside of Room 205)

Interested students should get a detailed information packet and audition form as soon as possible.

Audition information packets and audition forms can be obtained by;

1. Sending an email request to Mrs. Land (pland@hcpss.org)

2. Stopping by the Drama room (205) before or after school to get a hard copy of the packet.

Contact Mrs. Land with any questions, pland@hcpss.org

FUNDRAISERS

River Hill Theatre Arts Proudly Presents…

Landmarks: Songs I Meant To Sing, Stories I Need To Tell

(A Musical Birthday Celebration with Pam Land and her family, friends and alumni)

11/11/11 @ 8:00 p.m.

One Performance Only

Proceeds to benefit The Howard County Food Bank

And

The RHHS Fine Arts Scholarship Fund

Pam Land, River Hill High School’s founding Theatre Arts Director is planning a musical birthday celebration that includes her family, her friends, and some River Hill alumni. The show features songs and dances from many styles of music from standard Broadway show tunes to Contemporary Pop to Rock to Country. The evening will include a live orchestra conducted by Patty Hammer, who has taught music in Howard County for more than 20 years. Other members of the orchestra are Steve Synk (RHHS ’09), Greg Land (Land’s husband), Erik True (old friend), Kathryn Knaus (RHHS ’09), Richard McCready (RHHS Faculty), and Ryan McMichael (RHHS ’06). Ryan Michael will also serve as the “opening act” in which he will play some of his original music.

This rousing musical celebration includes a cast of more than 22 performers as well as the River Hill Chamber Choir and Musical Theatre classes. Pam was looking for a way to mark a major birthday while getting a chance to perform with family, friends, and alumni while raising some money for two charities that mean a great deal to her.

Ticket Information

Tickets are $20.00 (general admission) and can be purchased;

On line at “Seat Yourself “via this link http://www.seatyourself.biz/rhhs
River Hill HS Front Office - beginning Monday, September 19 (Monday – Friday from 7:00AM -2:30PM)-see Carla Styczynski, RHHS bookkeeper
Contact pland@hcpss.org if you have any questions. The proceeds from this evening will go to The Howard County Food Bank and The River Hill Performing Arts Scholarship Fund. Tickets are fully tax deductible. We will also collect non-perishable food donations at the door.

DANCE CLINIC

RHHS POMS are hosting a DANCE CLINIC for any interested and excited dancers who would like to spend a day with the River Hill Poms. The clinic will be held in the River Hill cafeteria on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 9-1p.m. The cost is $40 and includes dance instruction and time with the team, a snack, and a River Hill Poms t-shirt. Sign up by emailing the participant’s name, grade, and parent name and number to rhhspoms@gmail.com or call 443-831-9525 with their information. Payment is not due until the day of the event.

STORE CARDS - RHHS participates in a variety of fundraisers in which the school receives a cash rebate when you make purchases using your store card. If you currently shop at these stores, please helps support our school by registering your card.

Giant Food A+ Bonus program: http://www.giantfood.com/aplus, Code 03336

Bloom For Your School: http://www.bloomforyourschool.com/cardno.php , Code 2052

Harris Teeter: http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx , code 7149.

Safeway: http://www.escrip.com/ code 6609733

Target: http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-005158, School ID:112030

Verizon Velocity RHHS PTSA earns cash when you order a residential Verizon product. The FiOS Triple Freedom order earns us $65! Just call 888-695-5299 to place your Verizon order and give them RHHS code 12160. Read more

GIFT CARDS (SHOP WITH SCRIP) PROGRAM 2011 -- 2012 SCHOOL YEAR: Check out participating merchants at www.shopwithscrip.com. For more info or to sign up please email david.furst@comcast.net.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Second Annual Steven Dankos Turkey Trot

November 26, 2011

Centennial Park

Please visit www.SDF55.org for more information.

The purpose of this foundation is to educate teenagers and their parents to the dangers of underage and excessive alcohol consumption.

To offer financial and/or other assistance to teenagers who wish to help educate their fellow students through programs and special events as to the dangers of underage and excessive alcohol consumption.
To offer yearly scholarships in the name of Steven J. Dankos to students meeting the guidelines which have been set up by the Scholarship Committee at River Hill High School.
To offer financial assistance to junior and high school programs and events which support extra-curricular activities and options to avoid underage and excessive alcohol consumption.
To assist victims of alcohol related motor vehicle accidents. This may include financial, educational, or recovery related means.
To financially support schools that may need assistance in opening clubs affiliated with the prevention of underage drinking or decision making areas.
HC DrugFree online alcohol survey
HC DRUG FREE is gathering information from local teens and young adults about their perceptions of alcohol use in Howard County . Teenagers and young adults age 25 years or younger are invited to assist HC Drug Free by participating in an ANONYMOUS ONLINE SURVEY . Thank you for helping with the survey.

END OF NEWS – if you have news to share, please email sheila@networkint.com by Tuesday of each week.

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