First day of school...class assemblies...athletic practices...club meetings...Back-to-School-Night...finally FRIDAY!  I want to first thank our students for a great first week.  River Hill High School pride shows in everything they do!  I especially have appreciated the number of students who greet me in the front lobby every morning and who introduce themselves at lunch or in hallways.  Back-to-School Night with our parents and families presented us with a full school building; it is amazing how we can pack a full school day into a 90-minute snapshot of a student's day.  On behalf of RHHS, I want to thank staff, students, and families for being an engaged school community.

I would love to share a few highlights for RHHS this week:

• VIP visitors on Day One to include Ann DeLacy (BOE member), Kirk Thompson (Director, HR), and Bill Barnes (Director, Secondary Curriculum)
• VIP visitors on Day Three to include Allan Kittleman (County Executive) and Helen Nixon (Chief of Staff)
• Conversation and collaboration with RHSS Student Leaders
• Great weather for lunch on the patio, photography class activities, and practices
• A round of applause for PTSA and Booster officers and volunteers
• The opportunity to observe classes to see authentic learning that prepares students for achieving excellence

The Administrative Team has also spent time talking with teacher leaders about how we can promote student success.  I would like to encourage all of us to focus on high expectations for each of our students.  It is truly a simple focus: students should come to school prepared to work hard, be respectful, demonstrate responsibility, value integrity, and balance academics, athletics and activities as part of school engagement and well-being.

I have heard comments about change.  I want to reassure you that my leadership is not about change; instead it is about listening, learning, and growing together.  River Hill HIgh School is a dynamic school community and we need to come together to support student pathways to success.  Policies are subject to Board of Education vote and approval; most of the policies reviewed this week and shared in the Student-Parent Handbook have been in existence for many years and clearly define the policy purpose and the implementation parameters.  School expectations are in place to ensure a safe learning environment and to promote positive student behavior.  Daily routines and practices help all of us in our personal lives and are especially important in a school setting where teaching and learning is our business.  I encourage you to contact one of the Administrative Team if you have any questions about the dress code policy, the best practice for dropping off items at school for your student, safety procedures to ensure we are all safe, or any questions you may have about this school year.  Many of these topics have been addressed on our newly designed website, so I hope you find the updates helpful.

One question that was answered for me this week is something that I want to emphasize throughout the school year.  River Hill High School is celebrating its 20th anniversary year.  What was the foundational belief that brought this school community together?

Better and better every day in every way. Here at River Hill High, Home of the Hawks!

Thank you to all for a successful first week.  Let's make every week better and better together!