A Note From the Principal
Good Morning River Hawk Families,
We started our week with a good old fashioned Sliming for me and Mrs. Welch due to the amazing job our River Hawks did with fundraising. I have to say that I think it might have been the biggest crowd we've had around the stage and our students LOVED it! If you didn't get to see us slimed, be sure to check out the rioasb Instagram account.
This morning Pongo was back on our campus and continued to hang out at brunch with the kids, who were able to pet him with Mr. Eric's (his handler) permission. Check out today's RioTV Episode where you can see the same video our students saw about how Pongo does his work. You can also see the highlights from the Mac & Cheese Showdown by our Advanced Culinary Class and a video highlighting all of our amazing Campus Supervisors!
Please be sure to read the article below about Tik Tok/Social Media challenges we're seeing on campus, and talk with your student about the harm some of these challenges cause for others and the trouble it can lead to. Remember a great resource for parents is our partnership with #icanhelp by Digital for Good. You can find helpful parent resources HERE.
Finally, be sure to come to the PTSA General Association Meeting this Thursday in the MPR at 8:30 a.m. We will introduce our new Assistant Principal, Mrs. Dunn, and our SRO, Deputy Hellewell, will briefly talk with our parents about her job with us.
In this issue learn more about:
- Project Linus Make a Blanket Day (AOC & COC)
- Tik Tok/Social Media Challenges
- PTSA General Association Meeting in the MPR, 8:30 a.m.
- Wish Foundation Ascend Conference
Repeated in this issue:
- PTSA Reflections Contest - DUE MONDAY & TUESDAY
- Science Olympiad Team Needs a Business Sponsor
- From the Hart Newsletter
- PTSA Red Robin Fundraiser coming soon
- E-bike & Scooter Spot Checks and Safety
Sincerely,
Mrs. Bennett
Important Dates
September 30th & October 1st:
- PTSA Reflections Submissions are Due
October 3rd:
- PTSA General Association Meeting - MPR 8:30 a.m.
October 7th:
- Fall Break - No School (only one day off in our district)
October 9th:
- PTSA Red Robin Fundraiser
October 15th:
- Hart District Annual Culture of Safety and Wellness Community Event 6-8 p.m. at the La Mesa Junior High School MPR
October 18th:
- End of Quarter 1 (Q1)
October 22nd:
- Q1 Grades Post to IC after 3 p.m.
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.
Project Linus 2024
Project Linus is an annual AOC (Academy of the Canyons) tradition that offers students throughout the Hart District an opportunity to earn community service hours for helping make blankets for those in need. For more information watch the short video below and then sign-up on the form below that.
Tik Tok/Social Media Challenges
While social media has some fun, wonderful and beneficial challenges there have also been many harmful challenges over the years. Challenges that are hurtful to others and even at times destructive. We are purposely going to our parents rather than putting this on RioTV as we do not want to encourage participation with the current challenges showing up. Our hope is you can take a moment to have a conversation with your student about your expectations with challenges like these:
- Students are challenged to collect backpack tags off of the zippers of students backpacks.
- Students are challenged to open someone's backpack pocket where things can fall out and further challenges are now suggesting they take something random with the intent of giving it back, the problem though is it doesn't always come back.
- Students are challenged to hit each other very hard in the lower side-hip area to essentially create a numb leg.
Please ensure your student understands that the top two of these are theft and even the small backpack tags are, understandably, upsetting many of our students when they go missing. The last one can be downright dangerous and harmful. Students caught participating in challenges like these will likely receive consequences, especially with theft of items and harm to others.
The overwhelming majority of the theft challenges on our campus are occurring when students leave their backpacks unattended or leave it with a friend/friend group to "watch" and then they walk away before the owner returns. Staff have told students multiple times this year to always keep their belongings with them, but so many do not. Please make sure your student understands the importance of keeping their belongings with them at all times.
As a parent you have to determine what is right for your child, but we strongly encourage you to use the resources through Digital for Good and know what social media sites your child is accessing and what they're watching. Many parents we talk with are often surprised at what their child is actually seeing. We appreciate your partnership!
Reflections Contest by PTSA - DUE MONDAY/TUESDAY
The National PTA has a long-standing commitment to arts education, and the Reflections program is a key part of this mission. Each year, over 300,000 students from Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art based on a student-created theme. This year’s theme, Accepting Imperfection, encourages students to explore their thoughts, feelings, and ideas through various art forms.
For over 50 years, the Reflections program has helped students develop artistic literacy, build confidence, and discover a love for learning that supports their success in school and life.
Students can submit original works in any of the following categories:
Arts Categories
Film Production
Music Composition
Visual Arts
Dance Choreography
Literature
Photography
Submission Details:
Submission Dates: September 30th or October 1st
Time: 7:30 AM
Location: Front Gate at Rio Norte Junior High
Make sure your student fills out this form to participate in the Reflections program.
Please email rionorteptsa@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Our Science Olympiad Team is up and running, meeting regularly after school and already beginning their preparations for competition later in the year. Students are welcome to be part of the club and to become a member of the competition team if interested. Science Olympiad meets in room B-3 on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2:45 to 4 p.m.
We are looking for a business sponsor willing to help fund competition fees and costs of materials and activities. If you or someone you know is connected to a business that might be willing and able, please reach out to our advisor, Mr. St. Peter, at jstpeter@hartdistrict.org
With an increase in electric bikes on campuses across the nation, complaints are rising from parents and community members who are witnessing dangerous behaviors to and from school. We spoke to our SRO, Deputy Hellewell, due to calls about unsafe behaviors by our students and to better understand which bikes should or should not be allowed on a junior high campus. E-bikes/scooters should be purely electric with a rechargeable battery and NO MOTOR or throttle. Page 9 of our binder, clearly states: non-motorized bikes, skateboards, and scooters may be ridden... in a safe manner. As our students are under 16 years of age, we should only be seeing e-bikes with pedals fitting the guidelines listed above (picture). We have started spot checking these vehicles with our deputy and a notice has been put on the bikes as a warning. We will continue to do this next week for those that might not have had their bike the days we've done this. Students will be informed if their vehicle cannot come back to campus and if it returns, parents will be contacted to pick it up. Please understand this is to comply with the law and ultimately for student and community safety.
If your student is riding a permissible E-bike/scooter, please take some time this weekend to discuss your expectations for their speed and behavior when passing by parents and little ones walking to elementary school, community members out walking, and while passing driveways & intersections where they are interacting with cars. We appreciate you stressing the importance of being safe, courteous, and respectful. Click here for an article on legal, appropriate E-scooters (we have no affiliation with the writer or site and share solely to help our parent community).
With some serious and life-threatening accidents occurring in our community, helmet safety is another important factor for any moving vehicle. All students riding bikes to school must have a helmet, but if your student is riding an E-bike or you're thinking of getting one, please consider the information shared by our local SCV Sheriff Department.
- Standard bicycle helmets (like what you would find at Walmart) are only rated at 14 MPH. These helmets are NOT safe for any class of electric bike. Electric bikes require helmets with a Mips or DOT rating.
- Mips rated helmets have several layers of foam, glass or gel, and styrofoam to cushion a rider's head on impact. The layers absorb energy upon impact to lessen the force on the head. Young riders will benefit from the full-faced version, as face trauma can cause just as much injury to the brain on impact.
- Here's a link for more info about Mips: https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/what-are-mips-helmets/
- DOT helmets are rated by the Department of Transportation, and are required for anyone operating a motorcycle. People purchasing these should only do so in person at a motorcycle or bicycle shop to assure proper fit. Additionally, there are a lot of counterfeit helmets on the internet which are NOT DOT rated, and offer no protection.
We thank Deputy Duxbury of the SCV Sheriff Department for this valuable safety information for the benefit of our students!
RIO NORTE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Shonna August, 8th grade Assistant Principal
Lauren Dunn, 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