Hawk News from the Principal

Week of September 18, 2023

River Hill Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

Dear River Hill Families,

By now, you should be aware of the adjustment made to the school start times for all Howard County Public Schools. Beginning this Wednesday, September 20, our new start and end time will be 7:50 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. This new start time will impact the times students are picked up at their bus stops. New pickup and drop-off times will be provided very soon in the online bus locator. Another message will be sent as soon as the bus locator is updated and activated with the new times. Please review the the following important resources:

HCPSS 2023-2024 School Start Times webpage that provides HCPSS students, families, staff and stakeholders with information on school start time changes.

Frequently Asked Questions related to the new school start times.

New start and dismissal times that take effect on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Last Friday (September 15) marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month! During this time, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by appreciating the rich history, culture, heritage, and contributions of individuals and their family members who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South- and Central America. Let’s recognize the contributions of this segment of our community by celebrating the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

There are several events planned by our Hispanic Hawks Club to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month. This week there will be a spirit week, prize giveaways during lunch shifts, a school-wide door decorating contest, an evening of performances (date tbd), and a community soccer tournament! I hope you are able to join and help celebrate! Please see all of the details below.

Tomorrow is PICTURE DAY! School pictures will take place tomorrow and Tuesday, September 19, 2023. This will be done through English classes. The schedule is below. All students who sit for a photo will be issued a River Hill High School Student ID card. Student IDs usually arrive between 3-5 weeks after pictures are taken. If you wish to order your photos in advance, please visit www.mylifetouch.com. You will need your child’s student ID (found in Synergy), or you may use our Picture Day ID code: EVTTX7Q3R.

This Wednesday, September 20 marks the return of HawkTime. For those of you new to River Hill, HawkTime occurs EVERY Wednesday for 30 minutes. This FLEXtime is a county-wide schedule that every high school uses. This is an amazing opportunity for students to schedule a time to meet with a teacher for additional assistance or to make up any work missed. Additionally, HawkTime is an opportunity for our clubs and activities to hold meetings, and even our sports teams may meet during this time. Some students use the time as a study hall or a chance to connect with their friends. This year, we are piloting an open gym and an open cafeteria where students may go to play basketball or simply connect with their friends in a larger space. Whatever they choose, students MUST have a pass from the sponsoring teacher. We will send a reminder to students regarding our expectations for HawkTime.

Lastly, as Homecoming approaches, I want to emphasize the importance of securing tickets and having guests approved. The deadline to purchase tickets is NEXT MONDAY, September 25th and the deadline for any non River Hill student guests is next WEDNESDAY, September 27th. Please see the information below.

Additionally, ALL OBLIGATIONS must be cleared to receive Homecoming tickets. This includes updating Family File information. All parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child each school year. Parents/guardians can complete Family File by logging in to HCPSS Connect selecting the More Options tab on the left and then selecting Family File in the center column.

Homecoming Non RHHS Guest Forms are due September 27th . The tickets for guests go on sale September 29th for one day only. Remember you need to have your guest form turned into the front office before purchasing a ticket.
The LAST DAY TO BUY A RHHS Homecoming Tickets is September 25th. There will be no extensions to this date.
Tickets will be distributed to guests the week of Oct. 2nd.
The Homecoming Dance is from 7 pm-10 pm and will feature a DJ with a night of Dancing! Light refreshments will be served and a fun giveaway for all who attend! Please wear shoes that are comfy so NO Spiked HEELS!!

Wishing you all a fantastic week!

Warmest regards,

Robert A. Motley

Principal