Dear River Hill High School Community,

As the 2015-2016 school year comes to a close, it’s important to take a moment to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead.  For me as principal, this year began with excited anticipation and ends with overwhelming memories surrounding the 20-year traditions and achievements that bring the RHHS motto to life: better and better every day, in every way!

The end of the year brings some heartfelt farewells.  As you know, staffing changes are a part of school life and this year are tied to personal life changes as well as enrollment and staffing outcomes.  While every staff member may not know a final destination, we wanted you to have an opportunity to send them a RHHS good-bye message:

• Anne Contney, Computer Science teacher, will be enjoying retirement by spending time with family and friends.
• Jason Bartholomew and Lauren Fischetti, English teachers, will be moving on to new school assignments.
• David McNeal and Lisa Nam, ESOL teachers will be moving on to new school assignments
• Richard Hollenbeck, mathematics teacher, will be moving on to a new school assignment.
• Daniel Post, science teacher, will be relocating to a new home in a new state.
• Jill Babe, counselor, will be moving on to a new school assignment.
• Hui Liang and Rhoda Nunez-Donnelly, world language teachers, will be moving on to new school assignments.
• Kerri Midiri, FACS/Teacher Academy teacher, and Jean-Eddy Augustin, world language teacher, will continue to be part-time at RHHS.
• Carol Graham and Aileen Downs, paraeducators, will be moving on to new school assignments.

Finally, our own Betsy Coe, Assistant Principal, will be leaving us at the end of June to become an Assistant Principal at Oakland Mills High School.  As one staff member shared, she is moving from the “Hill” to the “Mill”.  After 8 years of service to the school and community, she will be missed.  We welcome Lindsay Galbreath as our new Assistant Principal, who is coming to us from Oakland Mills High School!  She will assume many of the same roles and alphabet that had previously been assigned to Mrs. Coe.

Change is always challenging, especially when the River Hill HS community is losing so many talented staff members.  These shifts in staffing do impact course offerings since there are minimum and maximum class size restrictions, which may determine whether a class is available for selection.  Please know that we are making every effort to maintain programs for our students and we are expanding the courses that we offer through synchronous learning opportunities.

We also bid farewell and best wishes to the Class of 2016!  In my closing remarks to the students, I reminded them that success in academics, athletics, and service reflects not only their hard work and achievement, but their character as well.  Their graduation speech echoed the reminder to always be humble and kind.  “Kindness is a hard thing to give away; it keeps coming back to the giver.” (Ralph Scott)

On behalf of the River Hill High School staff, we wish each of you a restful summer vacation.  Over the summer work will continue on our roof and in our stadium with the turf field.  I already know that Boosters and PTSA are busy with plans for next year so please consider how you would like to be most involved.  Be sure to look for a summer mailing in early August, mark your calendars for sports try-outs, 9th Grade Orientation (8.25.16), and Back to School Night (9.1.16). 

Better and better in every way, every day,

Kathryn McKinley

RHHS Principal