Dr. Troy N. Wright September 2015 Volume 11, Issue 1 Principal 12301 Spotswood Furnace Road Rod Goode, Assistant Principal Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Michelle Gordon, Instructional Coordinator Christine Rogucki, Assistant Principal Tim Stimmell, Athletic Director Brian Lutterbie, Assistant Principal Phone: 540.548.4051 Fax: 540.548.2964 Joanne Rahm, Counseling Director http://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/rhs FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015~SCHOOL STARTS AT 7:30 A.M. BE ON TIME! Greetings Bears: Ninth Grade & NEW Please allow me to be the first to welcome you to the upcoming school year and share a little about what is new at RHS this STUDENT year. First and foremost, I just want to share my conviction that Riverbend is truly one of the best schools around. Our staff is ORIENTATION dedicated to helping your student be successful, our parent community is highly supportive and or students are driven to be Wednesday, successful. This combination creates a wonderful environment to learn and work and a place where I am very proud to serve as your principal. September 2, 2015 This year Riverbend was chosen as one of six high schools in VA to pilot the new AP Capstone Program offered by College From 5:00-6:00 Board. 90 RHS students will make up the first cohort of this rigorous program, taking the initial class, AP Seminar. Students students will be able who are successful in meeting the requirements of the program which include successful completion of AP Seminar, AP Re- to pay dues, visit club search and four additional AP courses, will receive the AP Capstone Diploma, demonstrating a high level of college readiness. tables, purchase P.E. If you are interested in being a part of the second cohort, please contact your student’s counselor this school year to find out more information about this exciting opportunity. uniforms and school apparel. There will This year’s instructional focus will be on literacy. A committee of teachers from each department has proposed this focus also be informational based on their research from student data over the last two years. We will implement the same literacy strategy school-wide programs for parents. with all students in all classes. During the first quarter every teacher will ensure that the students understand the reading com- A formal program prehension strategy and can apply it to the various scenarios needed within the class. The strategy, CUE, which stands for will begin at 6:00. Circle, Underline, Extend forces students to Circle verbs, Underline key words and provides some flexibility for teachers to Extend the learning. This strategy is devised to help students of all ability levels become more efficient in their ability to ana- Students will receive lyze and comprehend complex texts. This strategy is one that many of our feeder middle schools utilize, so it should be famil- their schedules iar to them. The vision of this initiative is to introduce a different literacy strategy each year so that our teachers will be better (subject to change) equipped to help our students more fully develop all aspects of literacy as it pertains to their particular academic disciplines. and locker information at this Based on student data and teacher recommendations, we will continue with last year’s “No Opt Out” program that provided orientation. after-school support for students whose academic performance was suffering due to missing assignments. Several teachers utilized this program with success when students failed to turn in assignments on time. The goal of the NOO program is for students to learn to do their assignments when initially assigned so that they do not have to stay after school to complete it. Many parents refer to this strategy as the “hard-way or easy-way” approach and so far it is working well at RHS. As with any program, it cannot be successful without parental support. Please continue to monitor your student’s assignments and encour- Welcome to our beautiful age work to be completed on time. school! School starts at 7:30 a.m. All visitors I would like to encourage parents to be actively involved in your student’s school life. This year we had several parents who please use the Main En- volunteered their time on a consistent basis to help in the office. We would also like to have parents share with our students trance located behind the during career week and at other times throughout the school. We need parent volunteers for our Homecoming Dance on Octo- flag poles. YOU MUST ber 17 and also to assist with proctoring the PSAT on Wednesday, October 14. If you would like to volunteer this year, either HAVE A PHOTO ID To in the office of for any other program, please contact Ms. Dickinson at [email protected]. I feel that the Enter Our School. Visi- more parents we have involved in our schools, then the more accessible our school will be to parent feedback. One great way tors requiring an ASL to get involved is by joining the PTSA. You can contact them at [email protected]. They will also be available to interpreter, should answer questions at New Student / Freshmen Orientation on September 2 at 5pm. If you are a new student or a freshman, I contact the Main encourage you to attend the orientation on the 2nd, and I look forward to meeting our new Bears. Office, prior to your visit. We are excited about this year and the many opportunities that are available. Don’t forget Back to School Night on September 30, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. As usual, I will be out front grilling hot dogs. Thanks for all your support in making RHS the best, and let’s have a great year! Sincerely, Troy Wright Don’t Cheat the Bears! Riverbend's mission is to prepare all students to excel in a diverse, dynamic and global society. Core Values: Character, Community, Inclusion, Rigor, Safety, Spirit, Teamwork Page 2 SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER! STUDENT SERVICES School Testing Class Schedules (See Page 8 for Dates) Counselors Students will receive their schedules SAT/ACT Testing the first day of school. Adjustments to Lance Firebaugh Testing dates and registration materials student schedules have been made for are available online at (SAT’s) failures and Summer School. Regis- Counselor A-C www.collegeboard.org, (ACT’s) tration drives the development of the Ext. 5328 www.actstudent.org Seniors should take master schedule and teacher assign- the SAT in October or November. ments. Therefore, schedule changes Kimberly Rolling Please be sure to register online, as the will be made for the following circum- deadline for the first testing date is early stances only: Counselor D-H September. Ext. 5325 PSAT Testing Failure of a course which is a pre- Jenna Haley requisite for a scheduled course or Testing will be given at Riverbend on graduation requirement October 14, 2015. Payment information Counselor I-M Clerical error will be available during September. All Ext. 5326 Change in course availability 10th and 11th grade students are encour- Joanne Rahm aged to take the test. It is a good oppor- Balancing of class size tunity for Juniors to identify weak areas Level changes (ex. English 9 to DIRECTOR & Counselor N-R before taking the SAT, and it will prepare Advance English 9) Ext. 5323 10th grade students for what lies ahead. Once a change is made there will be no Christina Smith reversal back to the previous class. A stu- ASVAB Military Testing dent who withdraws from a class after the Counselor S-Z first nine weeks grading period will receive The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude a “WF” (withdrew failing) or Ext. 5324 Battery (ASVAB) will be given at River- “WP” (withdrew passing) which are treated bend in the fall. Anyone thinking about a as an “F” when calculating the grade point Counselors are available for military option after graduation must take students and/or parent con- average (GPA). A student may not drop a the ASVAB. Others may wish to take required course at any time. Please refer ferences during the hours of this test as well because it provides the to the “Catalog of Secondary Course Offer- 7:15 A.M.- 2:45 P.M. Please student with information about career ings and Related Information” for addi- call Ms. Bohnstedt ext. 5321 interest. Register in Student Services. tional information or contact Student Ser- for an appointment. Students vices. Please note, students may not leave Selective Service school early on a daily basis unless en- are assigned to a counselor If you are a male, 18 years of age or rolled in a school/work program or with according to the student’s last older, you are required to register with permission from the principal. name. Selective Services. The school will have a representative here periodically to assist in registering 18 year olds for selective service. For more information check: College Night www.sss.gov. Wednesday, October 21, 2015 6:30—8:30 The College Board Advanced Placement College Night will be held at Spotsylvania Program (AP) provides an opportunity for Towne Center. Over 100 colleges and Registrar students to take college-level courses and Armed Forces recruiters will be present to Ms. Allison Jacobsen exams while in high school. Contact Emily answer your questions and hand out in- ext. 5329 Wessel at [email protected] or your formation. Everyone is invited to attend! See or call your school counselor for School Counselor for more information. more information. Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 3 SENIORS Congratulations for reaching a milestone in your high school career.