Greetings Parents,

As you likely know, all RGSD schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This decision, though difficult, was necessary for the safety of all staff and students. Despite the recent changes in teaching and learning, our dedication to you and our students remains the same.

We truly appreciate your patience during this time of remote learning and we will continue to stay in contact with parents and students regularly. We understand that some of you still have questions and I hope to provide insight for some of your concerns in this statement. The information below are important updates:

• Grades- A student's 3rd quarter grade is the baseline grade for second semester. In other words, their semester grade cannot go lower than their 3rd quarter grade. All current grades put in the TylerSIS grading system will be averaged with 3rd quarter. Ultimately, this is a great opportunity for all students, especially those who did not perform well during 3rd quarter, to improve for the semester.

• Senior activities- As parents, we understand that senior activities are monumental occasions. However, we must adhere to state and national guidelines to maintain safety. At this time the 2020 graduation and prom are currently postponed, not cancelled. All other senior activities are cancelled. I am working with district officials to secure refunds for these senior activities as soon as possible. Again, we appreciate your patience during this process.

Finally, we want you and your family to feel well, safe, and connected with RGHS. Please continue to check the district website and district related social media platforms for updates on resources to assist your family. We care about you and we are in this together!

In partnership,

Mrs. Traci Nave

Campus Principal

tnave@rgsd.k12.mo.us

Please feel free to contact your child's Assistant Principal or Home to School Coordinators for support if needed. Their contact information is listed below based on your child's last name:

• Mrs. T. Bland (A-F): tbland@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Mr. T. Ford (G-L): tford@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Mr. R. Merriweather(M-S): rmerriweather@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Dr. M. Perry (T-Z): mperry@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Ms. Mashonda Behling (SSD Area Coordinator): mdbehling@ssdmo.org
• Mr. Z. Thurwalker(Athletic Director): zthurwalker@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Dr. J. Smith(District Hearing Administrator): jarsmith@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Mrs. C. Brown(Home to School Coordinator): cbrown@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Mrs. K. Gerstner (Home to School Coordinator): kgerstner@rgsd.k12.mo.us
• Dr. R. Joyner (Home to School Coordinator): rjoyner@rgsd.k12.mo.us

We are available anytime

Ms. Liddell: 9th grade counselor--email address: Dliddell@rgsd.k12.mo.us

Phone: (314) 492-6582

Office hours: 9:00-3:00

Mr. Wharton 10th grade counselor--email address: mwharton@rgsd.k12.mo.us

Phone: (314) 500-6324

Office hours: 10:00-2:00

Mrs. Beverly 11th grade counselor--email address: tjacksonbeverly@rgsd.k12.mo.us

Phone: (314) 252-8789

Office hours: 10:00-2:00

Mrs. Graham 12th grade counselor--email address: agraham@rgsd.k12.mo.us

Phone: (314) 492-6518

Office hours: 8:00-2:30

Ms. Ross Social Worker--email address: wross@rgsd.k12.mo.us

Phone: (314) 492-4399

Office hours: 8:00-2:30

Website: rgsd.k12.mo.us
Twitter: @rghs_counselors

• Diana Gregory, Child Youth and Family Therapist: dgregory@rgsd.k12.mo.us

• College advisor: Ms. J. Glenn-https://glenn-coaching.youcanbook.me or email: jglenn@rgsd.k12.mo.
  

This time of remote learning is a new journey for most parents. If you are concerned about your child's participation, behavior, or daily life in general, please understand you are not in this alone. We are all adjusting to this new normal and we understand that your first priority is to take care of the well-being of your family. With this in mind, we have some tips for parents during this time at home:

• Model how to face crisis with compassion.--Have compassion for family members and friends who are feeling anxious or stressed. Some individuals are facing health and financial issues, so be supportive in any way that you can be safely.

• Communicate with your child, but give them space when needed.-- It is important to check on your child's needs regularly and spend quality time with them. However, don't feel the need to pressure them to talk about their feelings immediately. Give him/her some space to process their feelings and continue to check in with them.

• Encourage your child to document this time.-- As previously mentioned, this is a new normal for all of us and we will remember this time for years to come. Therefore, if you or your child has time, I encourage you to document your experiences in a journal or video. We hope we can all look back on this time and show how we survived a global pandemic.

• Ask your child about their school work, but be flexible with their work process.-- Although most students today have always had access to technology, some of them may not have much experience learning exclusively online. For this reason, we ask that parents are flexible and patient with teachers as well as their child at this time. We don't expect a regular school day at home. Check in with your child on their progress and encourage them to check in with their teachers, at least once a week or more if they need assistance.

As always, we wish you all well and keep in touch with us as needed.

Check out this video to see how parents around the country are dealing with school closure and daily life.

Check out the accomplishments of a few RGHS scholars below.

The RGHS Speech-Debate & Theatre Program is happy to announce that we have 3 new inductees into the International Thespian Society for Troupe #1198 (RGHS Drama Squad)!! The International Thespian Society is an organization dedicated to honoring the creativity and achievement of high school theatre students. In order to become inducted, students must achieve at least 10 thespian points through various contributions to their high school Theatre program.

This is a great achievement for our scholars who have worked very hard throughout this school year, establishing their legacy into the RGHS SD&T Program. This will be our 2nd group of inductees following our recent induction ceremony this past September.

We have 3 inductees this Spring, a freshman scholar and 2 senior scholars. The scholars are Marcus Alexander Jr. (9th), Tenesha Frazier (12th), and Mekaela Perkins (12th).

Their official (virtual) induction ceremony will be conducted/uploaded soon!

Below is a list of resources provided from various sources to assist with your child's social-emotional needs and daily materials.

For more updates on resources, please check out the Student Support Team (@rghs_counselors) on Twitter and the district website: rgsd.k12.mo.us.

Click on the attachments below to check out some resources that can possibly help you get food/materials for home or find healthcare providers.

9 Resources for coping with coronavirus anxiety:

https://www.healthline.com/health/9-resources-for-coping-with-coronavirus-anxiety9

Youth IN Need will continue to support scholars in our district through Telehealth communication. Youth In Need will also accept new clients at the schools they service with a parent consent form. View the attachment below.

Click on the link below to view resources from Special School District.

Open the attachment below for more details on alternative methods of instruction for SSD students.

Click on the link below to view activities/resources.

ACT's test-at-home remote proctoring launches this fall/winter for students in the U.S. Click on the attachment below for details.

Below is a preview of the 2019-2020 RGHS Yearbook. If you are interested in purchasing a yearbook, please contact lshadwick@rgsd.k12.mo.us .

We hope this quote will give you some encouragement in this challenging time. This edition's quote comes from author C.S. Lewis.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to make suggestions for our next edition, please contact me using one of the methods provided in the signature below.

Home to School Coordinator-Parental Involvement

Email: cbrown@rgsd.k12.mo.us
Website: rgsd.k12.mo.us
Phone: 636-649-5587