Hawk News from the Principal

Week of September 4, 2023

Happy Labor Day!

Dear River Hill Families,

As we approach Labor Day, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this holiday and encourage you to make the most of this special day with your family.

Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September, is a day dedicated to honoring the contributions of workers to the strength and prosperity of our country. It is a time to appreciate the value of hard work and the dedication that individuals put into their professions. It also marks the unofficial end of summer, providing an opportunity for families to come together and enjoy quality time.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in work and responsibilities. Labor Day serves as a reminder to pause, relax, and spend meaningful moments with our loved ones. Whether it's a picnic in the park, a day at the beach, a barbecue with friends, or a simple family gathering at home, this holiday offers the perfect chance to bond and create lasting memories. ENJOY!

Our first week of school is complete. The first day of the school year is always an exciting time for students, parents and teachers alike! I know you shared in that excitement (and butterflies, I am guessing!) last week as you and your child(ren) prepared to begin another school year. As students arrived that first day, they were excited to see their friends and discover their new teachers. As I spoke to several students the first week, one told me, “I’m glad to be back!” It is our job to maintain that enthusiasm year-round.

As our students embark on their journey through this year, I’d like to share a quote from operatic tenor Robert Breault – “Enjoy the little things because one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” As parents of high schoolers, you are perfectly poised to see just what that means for your child(ren); each step in their development, every milestone, small as it may seem, has significance for them and for you. Cherish these moments in their lives and celebrate them! This opening week was one of those moments. As a parent of a ninth grader, I, too, will be sure to keep this in mind.

What I enjoyed about this first week is that I was able to witness ninth graders taking on more responsibilities, sophomores and juniors exuding confidence as they walked the halls, and seniors assuming their place as role models and leaders. It reaffirms why I choose to do what I do!

I hope you had an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers last week at Back To School Night. As I stared in my opening remarks, communication is key to a successful partnership between home and school, and we encourage an open and ongoing dialogue. Our teachers are not only here to guide your children's learning but also to listen to your insights, concerns, and aspirations. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them whenever necessary.

This first week was about establishing and re-establishing routines. I met with each class – freshman, sophomore, junior and senior – to review HCPSS policies and expectations for a successful school year. My message to students pointed out that expectations have not changed but rather the consistent enforcement of the expectations may be new to them. These include arriving to school on time, parking permit enforcement, drinks in disposable containers, and Hawk Time accountability measures.

This weekend marked the “official” beginning of our fall sports season. Our football team traveled to Hammond High School Friday night to open their season. I am happy to report that both junior varsity and varsity teams shut-out the Hammond Bears in a very impressive display of talent. I look forward to following their progress this season. After Friday night’s game, I had the opportunity to come out and support our cross country team at the Top of the Hill Invitational hosted by River Hill Saturday morning. I was able to witness first hand the awesome talent of our team and cheer them on as they raced to the finish line. Congratulations to sophomore Alyssa Mattes who finished second in the event. I am looking forward to getting out and seeing all of our sports teams in action — volleyball this Tuesday!

Once again, happy Labor Day and have a terrific week!

Warmest regards,

Robert A. Motley

Principal