Principal’s Update
January 14th, 2008

Dear Parents,

Good afternoon!!! The scheduling process for next year begins next week. On Tues., Jan. 22nd your students will receive scheduling information. Please take the time to sit down with your student and go over this information. There is a very short turn around time to get scheduling forms back to counselors. All forms will be due back to your child’s first period teacher by Jan. 28th, 2008. Counselors are available if you or your student has a question.

The following information is being provided to help keep you informed. Have a great week.

· Congratulations Poms!! 1st place in two categories: Jazz & Hip-Hop at the Marriotts Ridge Competition. Our girls and new sponsors, Ms. Alvarado and Ms. Ficke are doing a fantastic job. Good luck in future competitions!!

· For their 2nd quarter project, Chef Lang's Culinary Science students created eight beautiful gingerbread houses. They spent two and a half weeks designing their creations, baking the gingerbread and royal icing from scratch and then putting it all together into a feast for the eyes!! The projects were displayed in the front office, the guidance office and the media center the last three days before holiday break and received so many compliments. Our aspiring chefs include:

Alex Bailey
Sofi Benitez
Megan Bishoff
Jonathan Blasher
Kashya Brooks
Steven Brooks
Jason Cohen
Sophie Diamond
Karen Donaldson
Becky Golder
Ken Kim
Kelly McIntyre
Josh Patel
Dustin Pet
Dia Sandlin
Tina Tyrell

· GUIDANCE UPDATE

Attention Seniors: The Guidance office is now accepting envelopes for midyears. Bring one stamped business size envelope for each school that you have applied to, to Mrs. Alderson in Guidance. Address the envelope to the Admissions office at the school, but do not put a return address on the envelope.

Coffee with Guidance
On Friday, January 25th at 9am in the Guidance Office the Guidance Counselors will be meeting with interested parents and students. The counselors will be sharing information about the counseling program at River Hill and they will be discussing topics of interest to parents and students. If you would like to be part of this program please RSVP to Phil Vangeli at pvangeli@hcpss.org or 410-313-7400.

Widener University One-Day Engineering Mini-Camp for girls in grades 9-12
The Philadelphia Section of the Society of Women Engineers and Widener University are co-sponsoring a one-day Engineering mini-camp for girls in grades 9-12. The camp will be held Saturday, February 9, 2008 on the Widener University’s Chester campus. Enrollment is limited to the first 100 girls. Please go to www.widener.edu/SOE/minicampgirls to register.

National Association of Women Business Owners – Barbara Balter Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship
The Baltimore Regional Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-BRC) is pleased to announce its Barbara Balter Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship Program. This year is will award a scholarship to two female high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial talents and live in the State of Maryland. The Scholarship award amount is $1,000.
Students interested in being considered should complete the Scholarship Application available at http://www.nawbomaryland.org/wh_scholarship.phtml and provide a description of their business or entrepreneurial project. Eligible applicants will meet the following criteria:

· Be a female high school senior planning to attend a university, community college, or trade school in 2008.
· Be a graduating senior in Spring 2008.
· Have taken or be scheduled to take SAT examination.
· Submit a fully completed scholarship application
· The business or entrepreneurial project must be ongoing or have occurred in the past and demonstrate “Entrepreneurial Spirit.”
· Attend the NAWBO-BRC Scholarship meeting.
Applications must be postmarked no later than February 29th, 2008.

Conexiones Scholarship
The Guidance Office has received Scholarship Applications for Hispanic/Latino Seniors in Howard County Public High Schools who will be graduating in 2008. Awards will be given on the basis of one or more categories: Academic excellence; Community service, leadership, citizenship; Overcoming challenges to graduate. Challenges may include learning English as an older student; working through high school to assist your family; illness, disability or death in the family; other hardships. (To be eligible for a Community Service or Overcoming Challenges award, a student should have a 2.0 GPA). Complete applications MUST be received by April 4, 2008

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
The RI District 7620 RYLA Program is an intense, 4-day, 3-night leadership training program that is designated to recognize, encourage, and further develop the leadership skills of 11th and 12th grade high school students who have shown potential for rendering important service to their schools and communities. RYLA 2008 will be held at YMCA Camp Letts, Edgewater, MD. The program will begin on Friday, February 15, 2008, at 4pm, and end on Monday, February 18, 2008, at 2pm. More than 150 high school students attended RYLA 2007. These students were sponsored by Rotary Clubs from Districts 7620 and 7630, and YMCA Branches throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. Selection Criteria:

· Age/Grade: Students must be 11th or 12th grade High School students by September 2007.
· Leadership potential/ Experience: Does the student demonstrate those qualities that might make him/her an effective leader? Has the student had opportunities to practice leadership skills in real-life situations?
· Academic Ability: Has the student consistently maintained at least satisfactory academic performance?
· Extracurricular Activities/Work Experience: Has the candidate been involved in extracurricular activities?
· Questioning Thought: Does the student think about things that he or she reads or hears, or does he or she blindly accept what is presented?
· Articulation: Is the student able to clearly express his or her ideas both verbally and in writing?
· Ability to Relate with Peers: How well does the student work with others?
· Receptive to New Experiences: Will the students be receptive to new ideas and experiences?
If interested in being nominated you must provide a resume to Mrs. Pizzo in guidance by January 16th, 2008.

Why take Career Research & Development at River Hill?
There is an old saying that goes, "Find a job that you love and you'll never work a day in your life." In this course students will learn about their strengths, interests, abilities, and values. Using personal assessments, engaging and interesting projects, completing internet activities, and hearing guest speakers, students will gather helpful information about potential career paths. This is the time to consider choices that will set students on a career path armed with facts about specific jobs, importance of skills, and current educational requirements. Did you know CRD can also be a graduation completer? By taking CRD 1 in 10th or 11th grade and then CRD 2 combined with a site based work experience, students will satisfy their graduation completer. Adults spend almost 100,000 hours of their life working...why not let CRD help you find a career path that is both rewarding and lucrative.

· PTSA NEWS

RHHS REFLECTION CONTEST RESULTS : MOST MOTIVATIONAL TEACHERS ARE: Lisa Kump, Cynthia Schnaar, Linda Storey, and Wayne Tromble

Here are the winning results of the poll from the 145 participants in the 2007-2008 Reflections Contest at RHHS for teachers that best motivated the students to enter the contest. Congratulations to these RHHS teachers for promoting this creative program. Beautiful gift baskets will be awarded to each in gratitude from the Reflections Committee. Again, thank you to all the RHHS teachers, staff and administration for supporting the Reflections Contest this year!

· RHHS BOOSTERS NEWS

Everyone welcome at the January Booster General Meeting
Wednesday, January 16th @ 7 p.m. in the RHHS Information Center
All team reps are encouraged to attend. Look forward to seeing everyone!

· MUSIC BOOSTERS NEWS

Howard County's Largest Ro ck Concert . . . RHHStival
River Hill High School is once again hosting RHHStival, an evening of music featuring local rock bands and emerging talent. This year's festival is scheduled for Friday, January 18, 2008, from 6:00p - 11:00p (doors open at 5:30). Tickets are $10 at the door. Eleven bands, representing most of the Howard County high schools, will perform on two stages. A complete list of performing bands can be found at www.riverhillmusic.org or on the fliers posted around school.