Dear RJR Community

Volume 6, Issue 11 RJR PTSA NEWSLETTER Nov. 19-Dec. 2, 2012

Dear RJR Community,

On Thursday, our country celebrates Thanksgiving. We are thankful for R.J. Reynolds High School.

 We are thankful for our new principal, Mr. Pat Olsen, and his positive attitude, fresh perspective, visibility and obvious passion for high school students. We are grateful for his predecessors who led this institution for 89 years and left a strong legacy.  We are thankful for teachers, administrators, counselors and support staff who pursue excellence and go above and beyond for our students. We are grateful for those who also coach, sponsor a group or club, or direct student performances.  We are thankful for the diversity across our RJR community.  We are thankful for the variety and number of extracurricular activities available to RJR students. We are grateful for the adults who support all of these activities  We are thankful for our beautiful facilities including the nearly new arts building, the renovated auditorium and our historic main classroom building. We are grateful for the prospect of a stadium on our campus.  We are thankful for every PTSA member and every Legacy Campaign donor, past and present. The choice to join and/or donate is a tangible endorsement of the goals and efforts of the RJR PTSA.  We are thankful for every volunteer, sharing their time and their talent to positively impact RJR. We are grateful for our board members, committee chairmen and other volunteer leaders in the PTSA and the Booster Club. We appreciate the initiative of our volunteers and the leadership of parents who make our positions much easier. We are also grateful for our predecessors who built and configured a roadmap for leading our PTSA.  We are thankful for our Arts Magnet program and the arts exposure and arts opportunities it provides all students. We are thankful for the opportunities our student artists have to pursue and enhance their passions. We are grateful to student musicians, singers, actors and visual artists who share their artistic talents for the enjoyment of others.  We are thankful for our students and their accomplishments in the classroom, on the court or field, on the stage and in the community. These students are our future.  We are thankful for the opportunity to serve as your PTSA presidents, making us more aware of and thankful for the whole RJR community.

Happy Thanksgiving! We are proud to be R.J. Reynolds Demons! William and Lisa Dull PTSA Co-Presidents Jane McKim, Community Director for RiverRun International Film Festival and RJR parent, recently provided many of our students with a unique and wonderful opportunity. She arranged for numerous private screenings of a documentary film about ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro in our own Black Box Theatre. After showing “Life on Four Strings” to various classes, Jane led riveting and informative discussions about the art of documentary filmmaking. She also arranged for a reduced ticket price for students interested in seeing Jake Shimabukuro’s November 3rd performance with the Winston- Salem Symphony. Thank you, Jane McKim, for generously sharing your time and talent, and for exposing so many of our students to the best our arts community has to offer.

Several weeks ago, Reynolds implemented a change to its student parking policy. Students are no longer expected to park in an assigned numbered space. Students may park in any student parking space provided the car displays a valid parking sticker. The “driver” of this change was lost time and energy for student drivers and office staff involved in dealing with situations where a car was parked in another car’s assigned space. By eliminating this type of violation, student drivers are in class and office staff can focus on other responsibilities instead of “playing musical cars”. Many situations involved multiple drivers: an initial violation resulted in multiple subsequent violations before being reported to the office. Students have now adjusted to the policy change and students and office staff are enjoying significantly fewer parking issues. Your gift makes a difference…and every gift counts! $86,857.00 from 188 generous donors!! Toward our goal of $130,000 Below is a list of various items SIT (School Improvement Team) has allocated funds toward this year:  Winston-Salem Journal newspaper subscription for Journalism classes

 AP French materials

 “Smart Music”

 Software for school newspaper

 Supplies/Groceries for food classes Thanksgiving lab

 Portable drawing boards in design classes

 Graphing calculators plus goggles, sulfur and zinc for Chemistry labs

 “Anatomy Reveal App” which projects the dissection of an animal

 Whiteboards, markers, marker refills

 Wireless headphone set

 Books for History/Social Studies classes

 Dry erase boards, markers and erasers We Need Your Support! Keep Those Gifts Coming!

To contribute: http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/9679

Our mailing address is : RJR Legacy Fund 301 N. Hawthorne Road Winston-Salem, NC 27104 For questions, additional pledge cards/materials, please email us at: [email protected] Thank you! Marie and Guy Arcuri Legacy Chairs THANK YOU CORPORATE LEGACY GAME SPONSORS!!

Do you know anyone interested in coming to RJR next year? Please share the recruitment flier with them as the application period will start in January. Also, follow RJ Reynolds Arts on Facebook and like RJRArts on Twitter for updated information about applications, auditions, tours and how to get tickets to events. Are you looking for a way to make an impact on R. J. Reynolds students? Consider the ESL Tutoring Program.

Reynolds tutors are currently assisting 31 students in our ESL program. There are still more students who would benefit from just 45 minutes a week of one-on-one tutoring time. To be an ESL tutor, you do not need to speak Spanish or Korean or Tagalog. You just need to speak English and have a little time to give.

Currently, our biggest need is for Math (primarily Algebra II and Geometry) and English tutors, but all willing participants can be placed with a student.

If you are interested in being an ESL tutor or simply want to learn more about the program, please contact Deborah Casstevens ([email protected]) or Kathy McLean ([email protected]).

Jean Downey - 22nd Michelle Collins - 25th Jeff Brill - 30th Robin Myers - 2nd

The Demon Shop is open on Wednesdays and Fridays during all three lunch periods. Parents, show your support for Reynolds High School by wearing Demon apparel. Short-sleeve tees are $12; long-sleeve tees are $15; and sweat shirts are $25. Short-sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts, alumni short-sleeve T-shirts, sweat shirts and other fun Demon logo items are also available. Don't forget the Demon Stadium Blanket for those chilly winter nights -- now on sale for only $25!

The Demon Shop is selling Varsity Letter Jackets! They are $200 and they must be pre-ordered.

On November 9th, our student body enjoyed a remarkable performance featuring the choruses of WSSU and WFU, and RJR’s own a cappella group, ballet and repertory dancers. Our Arts Magnet Committee provided exceptional assistance for this event. Notably, Karen O’Brien provided snacks and beverages for approximately 110 student performers. After helping Karen set up the refreshments, Aparna Patel served as a liaison between RJR and representatives from Reynolda House during the assembly. Our school community is certainly enriched by the efforts of our dynamic Arts Magnet Committee!

Thank you to the No Rules Theatre Company for the discounted tickets to the Fantastiks. There will be NO SCHOOL for students on the following days:

Nov. 21-23: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Winter Break

The Reynolds Key Club has started its annual canned food drive. Last year, the Key Club collected more than 23,000 cans! Because of the gracious giving of the faculty, families, students and staff of RJR, the Key Club was able to assist many needy families during the holiday season and throughout the year. Students can drop off donated cans in boxes located in teachers' rooms.

Winston-Salem State University will be in Student Services from 12:00 until 3:00 on Monday, Nov. 19th. Students will need to have a copy of their transcript and SAT/ACT test scores printed from their websites with them when they meet with the WSSU representative. Yearbooks are currently on sale. They can be ordered online at www.YearbookOrderCenter.com.

Congratulations to Teacher of the Month Rodney Allen. He was nominated for his support and leadership of the English department. Thanks for making RJR great, Mr. Allen!

Congratulations to Student of the Week Nigel Duncan. He was nominated by Mr. Friedman for his commitment to making the most of his educational opportunities regardless of obstacles. Thanks for making RJR great, Nigel!

The PTSA invites parents to attend

Chat with Pat A Parent Coffee with RJR Principal Mr. Pat Olsen Wednesday, December 5, 2012 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. RJR Media Center

You may park in the visitor spaces located in front of the arts building, along the curb on the school side of Hawthorne Road in the 30-minute loading zone area, in either of the two lower student parking lots but be mindful that many students arrive before 8:30.

Do not park in any driveway or in any faculty parking spaces as our teachers and staff will be arriving during this time.

Nov. 21 V Boys Basketball vs. Thomasville at Parkland, 6:00

Nov. 24 V Wrestling at Ragsdale, 9:00 V Boys Basketball vs. Vance at West Montgomery, 8:00

Nov. 27 JV Boys Basketball vs. Carver, 4:15 V Swimming at SW Guilford, 4:30 V G/B Basketball vs. Carver, 6:00/7:30 V Wrestling at East Forsyth, 6:00

Nov. 29 9th Grade Basketball vs. Reagan, 4:15 JV G/B Basketball at Parkland, 5:00/6:30 V G/B Basketball vs. Parkland, 6:00/7:30 V Swimming vs. Mount Tabor, 7:00

Nov. 30 9th Grade Basketball at Glenn, 4:15 JV G/B Basketball vs. Glenn, 5:00/6:30 V G/B Basketball at Glenn, 6:00/7:30

Dec. 1 V Wrestling at Ledford, 9:00

Baseball will conduct its Pre-Boot Camp conditioning from December 3rd-December 20th after school. Bring baseball cleats and warm clothes. Athletes must have a current physical on record with RJR to participate.