This has been a busy week at RHHS with so many back to school tasks.  Preparing for a virtual opening has required some new routines and adjustments.  On behalf of the entire RHHS staff, I want to thank you for your support, your flexibility, and your patience. Please take time to read this message thoroughly.  I know it is long, and I want to make sure that everyone has the information that will help make the first week of school a great start to this school year.

Back to School Orientation allowed students the opportunity to visit their four classes, meet their teachers, and practice the Google Meet codes for class access.  

• New with virtual classes, students are required to have a code to enter class, instead of a pass to leave class!  Please note that teachers will take attendance for Periods 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Absences, late to class, and leave from class will be recorded.  Make sure to remind your high school child to be on time for class and to remain in class for the entire class period. 
• All classes follow a standard meet name convention with the period # being specified for pd1, pd2, pd3, or pd4.  We will also communicate meet names for Homeroom (HR) and Hawk Time (HT), which occur during the Flex Time indicated on the schedule for student classes on Mondays.  rhhs-kmckinley-pd1
• Absence notes for excused absences need to be emailed to RHHSabsence@hcpss.org.  Discretionary absence requests should be completed and attached through email as well. 
• HCPSS has updated Attendance and Grading expectations for the Fall Semester.
• The RHHS Attendance Secretary is Anne Marie Key.

Back to School Curb-Side Pick-Up was a massive undertaking for a school community of 1500 students.  Join me in thanking the volunteers who stuffed bags and alphabetized them by student schedule, the teachers who added necessary textbooks, and the amazing volunteers who delivered bags to a never-ending line of cars.  Make sure you join Boosters and PTSA, and recognize our community sponsors, who really helped make all of this possible.

• New with the virtual school model is curbside pick-up!  Thank you, families, for working with the school to help us collect materials and re-distribute materials.  Especially, thank you for being so patient with the long line.  Everyone on Route 108 was fully aware of how great it is to be a Hawk!
• Remember that students are taking 4 courses during first semester.  Textbook distribution was limited to math, some social studies, some world language, and art.  If you are unsure of your student's textbook needs, feel free to contact the teacher on September 8th.  
• Chromebooks that were requested by August 28th, using the HCPSS online request process, were distributed.  HCPSS is waiting for future Chromebook deliveries and we will continue to process requests as the devices become available.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Michael Ahr and Kathleen Markley who are the RHHS Media Specialists.
• RHHS will hold a second curbside pick-up later in September with additional materials, as needed.  At that time, we plan to include yearbook distribution.
• Beginning September 8, 2020, the RHHS Office will be staffed with one secretary and one administrator on a daily basis.  A bin will be placed outside of the front doors for drop-off and pick-up.  Please email RiverHill_HS@hcpss.org to indicate a request for drop-off or pick-up.  Staff will respond to phone and email messages as efficiently as possible.  At this time, the school building remains closed to the public.

Back to School Night gave our families a sense of the virtual school day.  Teachers were excited to meet and greet you before school begins.

• New with a virtual back to school night was the joy of no traffic jams in the parking lot and no crowded hallways to navigate in the 2-minutes between classes.  Of course, we made up for the traffic congestion with our curbside pick-up!
• Teacher email addresses have been updated on the website.  Teachers will respond to emails within 48 hours, during the school day.  They have been working very hard during these pre-service weeks to be ready for their virtual classes and may not be able to address any individual questions before the first day of school.

Back to School officially begins with the first day of school on September 8, 2020.  The student time schedule is posted at the bottom of the home page in the RHHS Student Canvas Community and students should be able to access it this weekend, in addition to their course homepages.  We have also posted the schedule on the RHHS website.

You might want to print a copy of the daily class schedule and attach it to the student's work space at home. Please review school expectations with your child:

To ensure academic success, student well-being, and Hawk PRIDE:

• Set up a quiet work space without distractions.
• Turn on the computer's camera, say hello/present in the Chat box, and mute the microphone at the beginning of each class.
• Keep the microphone muted when not speaking to reduce background noise.
• Use the chat to ask questions while the teacher or another student is talking.
• Use the “raise hand” to request the microphone to ask questions.
• Demonstrate effort, accuracy and persistence in work as well as ask questions and seek instructional supports when needed.
• Work to build positive classroom relationships by respecting differences.
• Behave in a virtual environment in a manner consistent with the expectations when in school.
• Check the Canvas calendar, announcements, and to-do lists daily to ensure all assignments are complete.

​​​​​​​HCPSS Google Meet Expectations for Students and Parents provides a clear overview to help make the virtual school environment accessible and positive for everyone.

During the first week of school, students should attend the "additional synchronous support"  times as well as the synchronous class meet times for each of the four periods.  Information shared in the "additional support" class times will review very important HCPSS Policies.  For reference, parents and guardians are also asked to review the HCPSS Student and Parent Handbook which includes the Code of Conduct.

​​​​​​​I encourage you to also review any communications from HCPSS since the school system is also updating information as we move along.  Two items were included in today's communication that I thought I would highlight:

Fall Meal Distribution

• Meals will be provided at no cost to all students through December 31, 2020, subject to U.S. Department of Agriculture funding availability. Families are encouraged to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) program application as soon as possible to ensure they will have access to free and reduced meals throughout the school year along with a wide range of resources and discounts, including testing fees, tuition, internet and more. Learn more about the meal locations, pick up procedures, FARMs information and more.

 
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

• The HCPSS Help site is grouped by subject to allow quicker and easier navigation, and includes a keyword search function, making it easier to quickly find answers to frequently asked questions.

RHHS is ready for this new school year!  Remember Hawk PRIDE, Hawk Spirit, and Hawk Heart!  Together, every day will be a great day to be a Hawk, and together, we are committed to being better and better every day, in every way!

Enjoy the long weekend!  I can't wait to start this school year with our students and our families on September 8th!

With Hawk PRIDE,

Kathryn McKInley