If anyone asks me what is my favorite time of the year, I would answer that BACK TO SCHOOL is a time I eagerly anticipate every year!  This week we have welcomed our staff.  In addition to all of the hard work they have to put forth in order to be ready for the high school year ahead, they are showing their school spirit in their own Top of the Hill competition.  They are challenging each other to maximize their steps and you may even see them around our community enjoying some fun team-building activities.  They are initiating our focus on STUDENT VOICE this year, with some fantastic bulletin board marketing and they are wearing their RHHS spiritwear with pride.  As we have said farewell to several staff members, we want to welcome our newest staff members:

• Paula Nickles joins us in the front office as one of our secretaries.  She is with us in the morning and she will greet you with a welcoming smile and an offer to help.
• Lindsey Glascock is the newest member of the Special Education Team.  She is an HCPSS graduate and has most recently been working in middle schools.  She loves softball and can't wait to meet our students and become active in the RHHS school community.
• Lethia Jackson comes to us from higher education and knows just what our students need in computer science and computer programming in order to be successful in the global work force.  She has worked in HCPSS in prior years so we welcome her back.  You might spot her at volleyball and basketball games in her free time!
• Tiffany Liu traveled across the country and across continents to become a HAWK!  She will be teaching Earth Science and Chemistry.  She has been in the process of moving into a new state, a new home, and a new school and she is happy to begin to feel like she is settling down.  Be sure to ask her about her summer trip to Australia.
• Kevin Cannon is well-known as our wrestling coach and now he is going to be able to coach and TEACH at RHHS.  He is taking over classes in technology education and computer science.  You will be sure to see him at wrestling matches!!

My next favorite time of the year is just around the corner because the students return to school on August 29, 2017.  Their counselors are working hard to ensure their schedules match their college and career goals.  Their coaches and sponsors are eager to foster their strengths, their interests, and their teamwork.  Their teachers are getting ready to facilitate their learning, to encourage their thinking, and to challenge them to be their very best!  For parents, communication is critical, and you can keep up to date with school news and school calendar events by regularly checking our website, following us on Twitter, and signing up for HCPSS news. For students, engagement is a key driver in their high school success and the Canvas Student Community (a model for the school district) will keep them updated with school events, clubs and activities, and student responsibilities.  Canvas also is the platform for course materials, assignments, and grades; parents have access to the same information since the parent account is tied to the student account.

Back to School Night is next on my list of highlights and it comes early this year.  Make sure you have your calendar marked for September 1st.  We will start with class meetings for parents at 6:30 pm.  The PTSA, Boosters, and principal will welcome you at 7:00 pm. The mad dash through your student's schedule will begin at 7:20 pm.  This is a great community night when parents catch up with neighbors and learn a lot of information that kicks off the school year with a great start.

Our community has already been enjoying the track and I'm guessing many of you have see the new turf field.  Please help us maintain our stadium so that it is clean and safe.  You might have also seen the roof work over the summer, but the most spectacular part of that work involved the replacement of the skylights!  The interior seems so bright!  And parents should not forget that you will have a little homework during that first week of school since your signature is required on some of the documents.  Each day next week, students will participate in an extended 3rd period during which time information will be discussed so that everyone understands expectations, rules, and policies.  One slight change was made in all high schools this year with regards to what we have fondly called Hawk Time: due to several factors, all schools will host this time on Wednesdays between 2nd and 3rd periods and RHHS will be making the appropriate adjustments.

Please don't hesitate to call me or any one of our Assistant Principals if you need assistance.  Each AP is assigned a portion of the alphabet (by student last name):

• Mrs. Fairley: A-G
• Mrs. Galbreath: H-N
• Dr. Saunders: O-Z

If you need to reach me, please contact Mrs. McQueeney who can help find a time that works for all of us.  You can also email me or any member of our RHHS staff with the shorter questions or concerns.

At RHHS, we are looking foward to a great year, better and better every day, in every way!

With Hawk Pride, Mrs. McKinley