Good Morning River Hawk Families,

It is with pride and joy that I share at Wednesday's Hart District Board Meeting, our very own Assistant Principal, Mr. Flores, was named the new Principal of La Mesa Junior High School! Mr. Flores will be greatly missed in our River Hawk community, but we know that his passion for working with junior high students and his expertise in Special Education will be an extreme benefit to the LaMesa students, staff and community! While we are sad to see him go, we are wishing him all the best in his new adventure!

Next week is going to be a busy one for us with the fundraiser starting, Back to School Night on Thursday, and the first dance on Friday. Be sure to read the articles on these events below. Today half our students had a Fabulous Friday in PE class with our teachers' rendition of Hungry, Hungry Hippos (pictures below). The other half of our PE classes will be treated to this human version of the game on Monday!

In this issue learn more about:

• Important Dates

• Rio Welcomes a New Assistant Principal

• Direct Donation Fundraiser kicks off Tuesday

• Back to School Night This Thursday!

• Attendance Information

• Back to School Dance - this Friday!
  

• Sign-up Genius for Dance Donations

• Digital Wellness Webinar for Parents and Educators

• PTSA Association Meeting

• PTSA Fundraiser Flyer - September 10th, 11th, 12th

• Karate and Volleyball Extra Curricular Flyers

Repeated in this issue:

• ID Cards Every Day

• Parent Square
  

• Rio Merchandise Back to School Sale

• PTSA membership and Facebook Page

Enjoy a beautiful, restful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bennett

Now through Sept 10th:

• Back to School Rio Merchandise Sale

August 26th:

• School Fundraiser Assembly

August 27th:

• Students set-up fundraiser account on Pledgestar (in advisory)
• Direct Donation Fundraiser Starts

August 28th:

• Book Fair Begins - in the library

August 29th:

• Minimum Day - dismissal at 12:05 p.m.
• Back to School Night 6 p.m.

August 30th:

• Back To School Dance 6-8 p.m.

September 2nd:

• Labor Day - NO School

September 5th:

• First PTSA General Association Meeting, MPR 8:30 a.m.

September 10th-12th

• PTSA Funburger Restaurant Night - 35% back!

CLICK HERE for a printable copy of the calendar pictured. Please use this calendar for our holidays, minimum days, and Early Release Schedule to plan as many appointments and trips during non-instructional times.

As we bid farewell to one Assistant Principal, we welcome Mr. James Webb, who was appointed as Rio Norte's newest Assistant Principal at Wednesday evening's Hart District Board Meeting. Mr. Webb was able to spend a bit of time meeting some of our staff and students at the end of this week and begins full-time this Monday, August 26th.

Mr. Webb is a seasoned educator and leader with over 20 years of experience. As a Program Specialist in MTSS and Literacy at the district office, he has driven positive school culture and data-driven instructional practices for school sites through professional development. Previously, he served as a Consultant in Teacher Preparation with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, developing the state's literacy standards and training evaluators on educator preparation programs. His extensive background includes directing the Hart District's induction program and teaching English at Saugus and West Ranch High Schools, where he led curriculum development and mentored new educators.

We are so excited to announce that our annual fundraiser is starting this Tuesday. Students will attend an assembly on Monday the 26th to learn how the fundraiser works and hear about the amazing prizes. On Tuesday, all students will log-in and create an account on Pledgestar through their advisory class. When students get home Tuesday night we are requesting they enter 10 emails/texts into Pledgestar. All students who enter the 10 emails/texts will be able to get ice cream on Wednesday during lunch just for entering the emails/texts - but they must have 10 or more. With the help of their supporters and you, our parents, our goal is to raise $60,000 to help benefit the programs, events, and activities we want to keep providing our River Hawks! No amount is too small because every dollar helps! Thank you in advance for your support!

Please join us at Back To School Night this coming Thursday, August 29th to learn more about your student's classes and teachers. Our library will open at 6 p.m. for the annual book fair and the evening begins on the outdoor stage at 6:15 p.m. Principal Bennett will give a welcome address to all parents at the start of Period 1 through RioTV.

A printed copy of the letter pictured will go home with your child on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday after they fill it out with one of their teachers. Should your child lose it or forget to give it to you, download this document (below). You would still need their class schedule which can be found in Infinite Campus. Click here for directions to find your child's schedule.

Again - you do not need to print this if your child remembers to give it to you.

*Please note the printed program coming home with your student has a slight error on the Period 1 time, but the attached/pictured program here is correct.

Our Attendance Technician, Ms. McDaniel RNattendance@hartdistrict.org, is constantly working to make things easier on our families, while still complying with state laws and district policies. For all of your attendance needs, please look at the ATTENDANCE PAGE on our website. A new addition this year, is the Early Release Request Form, on the right side of the page. Please note this form cannot be utilized on days before holiday weekends or school breaks due to the sheer volume of requests.

Our Back to School Dance is this Friday, August 30th from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are now on sale through the WEBSTORE or at the ASB window and go up to $30 starting Monday. Students who purchased the Groove Pack still need to RSVP at the ASB window. Admission includes desserts, big pretzels w/ cheese sauce, drinks, face painting, a photo booth and DJ for dancing! Price will be $35 at the door so buy prior to 3 p.m. on Friday.

We still have TWO chaperone spots available and are in need of WATER and Capri Sun Juice. Please see the Sign-up Genius link below to help our ASB out! Thank you in advance!

For our 8th grade families, you may remember we had the pleasure of hosting a wonderful speaker last year, Kim Karr, who runs Digital4Good helping schools, parents, and America's youth understand the importance of Digital Citizenship. Ms. Karr has partnered with Rio to continue to bring our families resources. She alerted us to this upcoming FREE 30 minute webinar on August 28th that parents may find helpful. REGISTER HERE.

Come hear about our exciting plans for the year at our first PTSA meeting on Thursday, September 5th in the MPR at 8:30 am. Here is the agenda. At this meeting we will meet our two Assistant Principals, our Principals and then listen to a mini presentation from our amazing Rio Norte school counselors. Join us for some light refreshments and great conversations! We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for the Rio Norte PTSA Restaurant Fundraiser at Fun Burger who is generously allowing Rio Norte three dates on September 10th, 11th, and 12th! Enjoy delicious food while supporting our school. 35% of ALL purchases will be donated back to Rio Norte PTSA. Don’t miss out on this tasty way to give back!

All students were issued an ID Card at summer check-in. Students need their ID card every day in order to be scanned through our gate, get breakfast/brunch and/or lunch in the cafeteria, to check out books from the library, buy tickets to events and to be issued SOAR Bucks for doing amazing things on campus that fit into our SOAR Motto. Please be sure your student has their ID card each day and that they can easily access it quickly at the gate. Consider a lanyard or see-through case that clips into the backpack for quick access if your student is struggling to find it each day.

Students who missed check-in and still need their ID photo taken can now go to the library to have this done and receive their card. Students who lose their ID card will need to purchase one for $5 in the library.

Parent Square provides the district's main form of communication. If you do nothing, all communications will go to the email address you have on file with us. However, you can download the app and go into settings to select notifications, text messages or information to come in a daily digest. For more information click here.

Rio Norte uses a webstore (flyer below) as we've found it provides families a large variety of options and ships directly to your house. However this year we're doing a special Rio Norte Spirit Shirt (photo to the right), mimicking the popular Santa Cruz Skate brand. This shirt is being sold direct through ASB at the ASB window, cash or check payable to Rio Norte ASB, or on our ASB Webstore. This special edition is $15.

We're thrilled to invite you to become a part of our PTSA family! Each student that signs up will also enjoy fantastic monthly incentives, our first being a popsicle party. Simply visit JOIN PTSA and follow the steps to become a member today.

Please click this link to our PTSA Facebook page for updated information throughout the year.

Shonna August, 8th grade Assistant Principal

Thomas Flores, 7th grade Assistant Principal

ATTENDANCE Needs: Email RNattendance@hartdistrict.org

Email: bjbennett@hartdistrict.org
Website: https://www.rionortejuniorhigh.org/
Location: 28771 Rio Norte Dr, Valencia, CA, USA
Phone: 661-295-3700

Nondiscrimination Statement

The William S. Hart Union High School District prohibits discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment), or bullying based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, political affiliation, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, contact Equity Compliance Officer and Section 504 Coordinator Erum Velek, and Title II / Title IX Coordinator, Mark Crawford. Both can be reached at the William S. Hart Union High School District, 21380 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, (661) 259-0033, or by email: UCP@hartdistrict.org.

El Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias William S. Hart Union prohíbe la discriminación, la intimidación, acoso (incluido el acoso sexual) o intimidación basada en la realidad o percepción de una persona raza, color, etnia, origen nacional, estado migratorio, ascendencia, religión, edad, estado civil, embarazo, estado parental, discapacidad física o mental, condición médica, estado militar o veterano, afiliación política, sexo, género, identidad de género, expresión de género, información genética, orientación sexual, o asociación con una persona o un grupo con uno o más de estos características percibidas. Para preguntas o quejas, comuníquese con el Oficial de Cumplimiento de Equidad y el coordinador de la Sección 504, Erum Velek, y el coordinador del Título II / Título IX, Mark Crawford. Ambos pueden ser contactado en William S. Hart Union High School District, 21380 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, (661) 259-0033,​ o por correo electrónico: UCP@hartdistrict.org.