Hawk News from the Principal
Week of May 13, 2024
Happy Mother's Day!
Dear River Hill Families,
I would like to take a moment to extend a heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and mother figures in our school community. Your love, dedication, and unwavering support play an indispensable role in nurturing the young lives entrusted to you.
This Mother’s Day, I hope you are able to take a moment for yourselves—to reflect on the vital role you play, to celebrate your successes, and to be pampered and appreciated by those around you. Know that your efforts are deeply valued and recognized by our entire school community.
May this Mother’s Day bring you joy, relaxation, and the satisfaction of knowing just how significant you are in the hearts and lives of your children and all of us at River Hill High School.
Thank you for everything you do, each and every day. Enjoy your special day—you truly deserve it.
Did you get the chance to see our Spring Dance Concert? It was nothing short of spectacular! Our dancers showcased their incredible talent, and the performance was a testament to the hard work of both the students and their teacher, Ms. Byrd. The positive feedback has been overwhelming, including a note from a parent praising the phenomenal talent at River Hill. It’s moments like these that remind us how fortunate we are to have such gifted students and dedicated educators.
I had the pleasure of attending the ARL graduation ceremony for our Academy of Finance students. A huge congratulations to Mahi Patel and Michael Ama on their graduation. Their hard work and determination are commendable, and I am excited to see what the future holds for both of them.
Last weekend, our students represented River Hill admirably at the Maryland State History Day competition. Special congratulations to Annabelle Wu, Surie Zhang, and Tirzah Chan for securing second place in the Senior Group Performance category, and to Charan Bala, who received a special prize in the Senior Documentary category. Their dedication to understanding and presenting historical subjects is inspiring.
In athletics, our girls' tennis team clinched the county title while our boys' team put in a strong performance to finish second—fantastic achievements for both teams! Softball and baseball teams also showed their prowess by winning their first-round playoff games. Softball will face Reservoir tomorrow, and baseball will take on Sherwood on Tuesday. Best of luck to our teams!
Our girls' lacrosse team pulled off a thrilling overtime victory and will face Glenelg tomorrow. We are cheering you on for another great game! Meanwhile, we bid farewell to the boys' lacrosse season, which ended last Friday. Congratulations to Coach Gonsouland and all the players on a great season. Your effort and sportsmanship have made us all proud.
Last and certainly not least, in outdoor track and field, in the Girls 4x800 relay, the relay team of Alyssa Mattes, Marella Virmani, Lauren Virmani and Nikita Mohan set a Howard County meet record time, finishing in 9 minutes, 33.43 seconds. Congratulations girls as you continue to push the boundaries and break records!
Finally, as we eagerly anticipate our upcoming commencement ceremony on May 29th, we have several important updates regarding graduation tickets and related items distribution, scheduled for this coming Friday. Please review the following details to ensure you are fully prepared for what is sure to be a memorable day for all.
Graduation Tickets and Obligations
Ticket Distribution: Each graduating senior will receive 10 tickets for the commencement ceremony. Ticket distribution will take place this Friday during our first Class of 2024 meeting for graduation.
Clearing Obligations: It is essential that all school obligations (library books, athletic uniforms, etc.) are cleared before tickets can be distributed. Students with outstanding obligations will receive a notification this week detailing any items that must be resolved. Please take immediate action to clear these obligations to ensure you receive your graduation tickets without delay.
Additional Tickets: We understand that some families may require more than the allocated 10 tickets. We encourage seniors to communicate with their peers to acquire extra tickets, as not everyone will use their full allotment. This cooperative approach has been successful in past years and helps accommodate larger families.
Cap and Gown
Along with their tickets, seniors will also receive their cap and gown on Friday . Please be sure that you review and understand all materials provided below to avoid any confusion on the day of the ceremony.
As we reflect on the incredible Teacher Appreciation Week that just concluded, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our PTSA, Boosters, and the entire River Hill community for your outstanding efforts and contributions. The thoughtfulness and creativity displayed throughout the week were truly remarkable, and our staff felt deeply appreciated and valued.
From the delightful meals and treats to the thoughtful gifts and the kind words, every gesture made a significant impact. These acts of kindness not only brightened our teachers' days but also reinforced the strong sense of community that makes River Hill High School such a special place to work and learn.
Being a part of this community is a privilege, and the support from our PTSA and Boosters never goes unnoticed. Your dedication to making Teacher Appreciation Week a memorable and uplifting event is just one example of how you continually go above and beyond for our school.
On behalf of the entire staff, I express our sincere gratitude for making us feel so cherished and supported. We are indeed fortunate to be part of such an active and caring community, where the efforts of our educators are recognized and celebrated.
Once again, a very Happy Mother’s Day to all celebrating!
Have a fantastic week!
Warmest regards,
Robert A. Motley
Principal
Class of 2024 Graduation Information
Class of 2024 YARD SIGNS
Class of 2024 Yard Sign Sale through May 14th
Celebrate your graduating senior with a RHHS Class of 2024 yard sign!
The ordering deadline is May 14th, and your yard sign will be ready for pick up by May 18th.
Available options are: Standard $15, Personalized $20, Photo $25.
Questions? Email Cindy at treasurer@riverhillptsa.org. Order at https://varsitygraphics.net/river-hill/.
AP TESTING INFORMATION
Transportation for 2024 - 2025
Register for school transporation for next school year!
- Don't forget to register for transportation for next year.
- The link to register for transportation is here.
Upcoming Performing Arts Concerts
- Orchestra Concert -- May 15
- Guitarpalooza -- May 16
- Musical Theatre class will be performing SIX Teen Edition -- May 18 and May 19
Summer SAT Prep Classes at River Hill
SAT PREP CLASSES AT RHHS - SUMMER SESSION OPEN!
In 2024 the PTSA is once again offering in-person SAT prep classes at RHHS. The session will consist of 28 hours (14 Math + 14 Reading/Writing) of instruction from experienced teachers. Following the approved College Board framework, students will learn SAT content, study strategies, and test-taking skills. The cost of both classes is $350 and is open to 10th-12th grade students. For more information and to register: https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/ptsa-sat-prep
Summer Session: Daily from 9:00am-12:00pm
Math: July 15-19
Reading/Writing: July 22-26
Boosters Summer Sports Camps
Registration
Registration for Boosters Summer Camps is now open. Please visit https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/19770 for more information and to register.
Mark Your Calendar
May 14 -- Schools Closed -- Primary Election Day
May 27 -- Schools Closed -- Memorial Day
May 29 -- RHHS Commencement at Merriweather at 11 am
May 29 -- School Closes early at 9:50 am for ALL STUDENTS
River Hill High School
Email: Robert_Motley@hcpss.org
Website: www.rhhs.hcpss.org
Location: 12101 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD, USA
Phone: (410) 313-7120