Dear River Hill Families,

As the Principal of RHHS, my leadership focus is on our students.  We all know academic achievement is a priority and we are proud of our strong learners and dedicated teachers.  With recent events in our community paired with ever-shifting societal norms and the faceless communications through social media, I am also hearing that our children need something else. In order to meet their needs, I do listen to them and they are regularly sharing that they wish we had more balance, more time for student voice, and more opportunities to develop positive relationships.  December 21st is going to be their day to address exactly those priorities.

I just read the article "Is There School Today?"  Although it tells the story of a child in kindergarten, take a minute to read it and think about how it relates to these critical high school years: http://empathyeducates.org/is-there-school-today/

My point is not to debate educational legislation, but to emphasize the importance of the skills we teach our children.  Who they are is just as important as what they know.  In Social Emotional Learning: Opportunities for Massachusetts and Lessons for the Nation (2016), Rennie Center notes "that students' social and emotional learning--or the processes through which students and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions--is critical to developing competencies besides academic knowledge that are necessary to succeed in college and in careers." (p. 1).

On December 21, 2016, we are hosting a day to address social-emotional learning.  Staff and students will be participants as we explore our cultures, our diversity, and our values of commUNITY.  Facilitators from the Office of Cultural Proficiency will lead the sessions and everyone will also be able to attend the keynote address. One River Hill aligns with One Howard County and builds the skills and attitudes essential for excellence and equity.  Please make sure your student is able to participate.  Don't let a young person convince you that this is a "skip" day because we need everyone to listen, to share, and to commit to a better school.

Students have access to the day's agenda on Canvas and can share it with you.  HawkTime and Period 4 will take place as normally scheduled so that students can attend to academic needs that day as well.

With RHHS Pride,
Kathryn McKinley

Principal, River Hill High School