February is Black History Month
Dear River Hill Families,
As February arrives, it brings with it the annual observance of Black History Month. This is a time dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the significant contributions and achievements of African- Americans throughout our nation's history. It is a period for reflection, education, and appreciation for the profound impact African Americans have had and continue to have in shaping the fabric of our society.
While Black History Month offers a focused opportunity to delve into this vital part of our shared history, it is crucial to remember that the significance of these contributions is not confined to just one month. The rich tapestry of Black history is integral to our collective story, deserving of recognition and appreciation year-round. Together, let's honor the past, inspire the present, and create a future where equality and justice prevail.
Last week was a busy week! On Monday evening, the River Hill soccer program was honored for its excellence at the prestigious Maryland Association of Coaches of Soccer All-State Banquet. This event, which celebrates the achievements of high school soccer programs across the state, recognized the hard work, dedication, and talent of our athletes and coaches.
Four of our outstanding River Hill athletes received well-deserved recognition at the banquet. From our Allied Program, Zachary Agnant and Philip Swenson were recognized with the 2023 Spririt of Soccer Award. Senior Zareen Mathew was named 2023 Maryland Girls All-State Second Team and Senior Dylan Martinez was named 2023 Maryland Boys All-State First Team. Their commitment to excellence, both on and off the field, has not only led to personal achievements but has also significantly contributed to the success of our soccer program. It is their perseverance, team spirit, and exceptional skill that have earned them this esteemed honor.
In addition to our athletes, our boys soccer coach, Matt Shagogue, was also recognized as the Regional Coach of the Year, for his exemplary leadership and contributions to the sport. Under his guidance, our team has thrived, embodying the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of excellence. This accolade is a testament to his passion for soccer, his dedication to our students, and his unwavering commitment to elevating River Hill's soccer program to new heights.
The recognition of our athletes and coach at the All-State Banquet was a spectacular moment for our soccer program and a point of pride for our entire school community. These accolades reflect the hard work and dedication of not just the awardees but of all members of our soccer program, including the players, coaches, staff, and supportive families.
This past Friday, River Hill had the honor of hosting two distinguished members of the Board of Education, Dr. Chen and Dr. Lu, for a visit that provided both an insightful discussion on our academic programs and a platform for addressing critical budgetary concerns.
The visit was an invaluable opportunity for us to showcase the outstanding academic initiatives and programs that define the educational experience at River Hill. Dr. Chen and Dr. Lu engaged with various segments of our school community, gaining a deeper understanding of the innovative teaching and learning happening in our classrooms.
A significant portion of their visit was dedicated to open dialogue with our staff about the impending budget implications facing our school district. Teachers were given a chance to voice their concerns regarding the proposed staffing cuts and the potential impact on our students and programs. It was a moment of candid and meaningful conversation, with both Dr. Chen and Dr. Lu listening intently to the perspectives shared by our dedicated educators.
The presence of Dr. Chen and Dr. Lu and their willingness to engage directly with our staff was greatly appreciated. It underscored the Board of Education's commitment to understanding the challenges and considerations of our school community. Their visit left us feeling heard and supported, with a hopeful outlook toward collaborative solutions that prioritize the well-being and success of our students.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Chen and Dr. Lu for their visit and to our staff for their openness and advocacy. Events like these are crucial in fostering a transparent and collaborative relationship between our school and the broader educational leadership in our district.
It is with immense pride and joy that I write to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students in the PTA Reflections program. As many of you know, the National PTA has long championed arts education, recognizing its invaluable role in fostering creativity, confidence, and a love for learning among students. The Reflections program, now over fifty years strong, is a cornerstone of this commitment, offering students from Pre-K through Grade 12 the opportunity to create and present original works of art.
This year's theme prompted our students to dive deep into their creative reservoirs, exploring their thoughts, feelings, and ideas through various artistic mediums. Their submissions were not only a showcase of their incredible talents but also a testament to their capacity for introspection and expression.
The dedication, creativity, and passion of our River Hill students have once again shone brightly, yielding outstanding results at the County level. It is with great pleasure that I announce our school has secured 4 first places, 2 second places, and 2 third places - an achievement that speaks volumes about the talent and hard work of our students.
Congratulations to the following students for their exceptional accomplishments:
- Literature - 1st place Estelle Chen, 3rd place Ella Wang
- Music Composition - 1st place Advik Rai, 2nd place Jonathan Mackrell
- Photography - 1st place Ella Wang, 2nd place Ananya Kumbhare
- Visual Arts - 1st place Sunny Tian, 3rd place Alice Han Chen
These accolades are a reflection of the vibrant arts culture at River Hill and the supportive environment fostered by our teachers, parents, and the broader school community. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our PTA for their unwavering support of the Reflections program and for their role in nurturing the artistic talents of our students.
To our winning students, your achievements underscore the importance of the arts as a means of communication, expression, and exploration. You have each embraced the challenge of the Reflections program with enthusiasm and creativity, and you should be immensely proud of your work and the recognition you have received.
Lastly, reflecting on this past eventful week, I want to highlight our school spirit and address a concerning incident. This past Friday, our Hawks faced off against our long-standing rivals, Atholton High School, in what was undoubtedly one of the season’s most anticipated basketball games. It was a nail-biting match, showcasing incredible talent and determination from both teams. Our undefeated Hawks played with heart and tenacity, but in the end, we fell just short, with a final score of 70-75.
The energy in the gym was electric, a testament to the strong community and school spirit that defines River Hill. I want to commend our players, coaches, and fans for their passion and dedication. Moments like these bring us together and remind us of the pride we share in our school and its achievements.
Regrettably, the evening took an unexpected turn with an altercation in our parking lot after the game. I want to address this directly and openly with our school community. Our preliminary investigation indicates that no current River Hill students were involved in the incident. We are actively working with the administration at Atholton High School to help identify those involved and address the situation appropriately.
The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members are our highest priorities. Incidents like these are concerning and serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment, both during school events and in the wider community. We are reviewing our safety protocols to ensure that future events remain safe spaces for everyone to enjoy.
I also want to take this opportunity to remind our students and community members of the importance of responsible behavior and mutual respect at all times. Let's continue to support each other, show respect to our rivals, and represent our school with pride and dignity.
As we move forward, I am confident that our school community will come together to support our teams and each other, embodying the values that make River Hill a remarkable place to learn and grow. Let's focus on the positive spirit of competition and the sense of unity that sports and school events can foster.
Have a fantastic week!
Warmest regards,
Robert A. Motley
Principal
National School Counseling Week is THIS WEEK
National School Counseling Week is February 5-9. During this time, the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success will be highlighted. Staff, students, and families who have been positively impacted by their school counselor are asked to complete the Shout Out to My School Counselor form to share their experience. These responses will be shared with school counselors throughout the week. Responses must be submitted by 3 p.m. on February 9.
SAT Prep Class
The PTSA is once again offering in-person SAT prep classes at RHHS on Saturday mornings starting February 10. The classes are tailored to the new digital SAT format. For more information and to register: https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/ptsa-sat-prep
SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION
DUE BY: February 27 (DO NOT SEND DOCUMENTS VIA EMAIL; FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS)
1. Go to https://www.hcpss.org/connect/ *Do NOT use your Mobile Phone
2. Login to your HCPSS Connect Portal (Parents & Guardian MUST use the parental login. Using your students log in info. will not allow you to register); Once logged in, go to the menu on the left and click the bottom option More Options (Family File, Reports Cards, etc.). If you have more than one student make sure you have selected the student from the drop down menu at the top of the page.)
3. Click on Athletic Registration on the right hand side Menu, select the correct season: Spring;
4. Complete all of the forms: Parent Authorization Form, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form, Concussion, please complete all additional documents. Do not skip or leave any boxes blank.
5. Physical Examination Form: Verification of an examination within 12 months of the tryout date (3/1/24) for the particular sport must be submitted in each academic year of participation. Upload ALL pages of the Physical Examination Form. Older physicals will not be accepted. https://www.hcpss.org/athletics/forms-and-guidelines/ (Physical Forms can be found here to bring to doctor’s office) If you are having trouble getting a doctor’s appointment try this: https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/physicals
6. Upload a RECENT Utility bill (Dated January 1, 2024 OR later), it must be the actual bill. Older Utility bills will NOT be accepted. Utility examples: BGE, Water OR Cable Bill ONLY (Must match address the school has on file for enrollment).
**NO Cell Phone Bills, Mortgage Statements or Credit Card Bills will be accepted**
Common Errors: *For physical you enter the physical date for the upload to be successful*
· File size may be too big on downloads. Make sure document is under 4MB
· Just because forms have been submitted, that does not necessarily mean they have been accepted
· AAM will go through to ensure proper dates, signatures, boxes checked off, address matches Synergy address.
**Reminder Physicals for Athletics are different from those used to register to attend school. The Athletic Physical includes a Clearance without restrictions by Medical Staff.
Please, make sure physicals have all signatures (Parent/Guardian, Athlete, and Physician) before scanning and uploading.
**Returning Athletes-If a Student Athlete is returning from Fall to play Winter and/or Spring season and wants to use the fall physical, parent/guardian will need to click the checkbox (option to use physical on file dated) and save. Otherwise, it’ll wait for a new one to be uploaded. Reminder, returning athletes will still need to complete permission information and upload a new utility bill.
High School Athletic Registration – User Guide
Academic Eligibility for Athletics
For high school, a full-time student earns academic eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities by maintaining a 2.0 grade-point average (GPA), calculated using credit or non-credit courses, with no more than one failing grade for the marking period which governs eligibility for that activity.
*All Students: 2nd Quarter Grades are used for spring athletic eligibility
For sport-specific information, please see below. If you have general questions about the paperwork required for the winter sports season, please see below. Paperwork questions can be directed toward the head coach for each sport.
Allied Golf - Coach contact: Stephanie Stoutenborough at stephanie_stoutenborough@hcpss.org (Email for start date)
Allied Softball - Coach contact: Brian Van Deusen at brian_vandeusen@hcpss.org(Email for start date)
Baseball - Coach contact: Craig Estrin at bjbspecialties@erols.com
Boys' Lacrosse - Coach contact: Keith Gonsouland at keith_gonsouland@hcpss.org
Girls' Lacrosse - Coach contact: Amy Weinberg at amy_weinberg@hcpss.org
Outdoor Track & Field (Boys' & Girls') - Coach contact: Donnie Richmond at sprinterace1984@gmail.com & Ammera Schmidt at ammschmidt@gmail.com
Softball - Coach contact: Marni Rosenbaum at marni_rosenbaum@hcpss.org
Tennis (Boys' & Girls') - Coach contact: Kelley Pfefferkorn at kelley_pfefferkorn@hcpss.org
*What to Bring: Water bottle (large size), cleats/turf shoes (lacrosse/baseball/softball), sneakers/track shoes (tennis/track), athletic clothing for all; be prepared for outdoors and cold weather. Please contact your sport specific coaches for questions about equipment and scheduling.
*Anyone who is planning to try out for a team should be sure to check with sport specific coaches on schedules/details; once tryouts are completed, all teams will begin official team practices, scrimmages and then games. Spring sports participants should be prepared to potentially play during spring break as well. Refer to your coaches for scheduling details.
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