Principal’s Newsletter

Snow makeup day is March 14, it will be a Maroon Virtual Instruction Day.

Virtual Instruction Expectations for Students: Full explanation is attached to the email

• Virtual Instruction Days will be asynchronous. This means students will not be expected to login during scheduled class time, but they are expected to complete the work at their own pace. Teachers will be available by email if you need assistance.
• The teacher will publish an VID assignment folder for students to complete in each Schoology class.
• Students should access their classes in Schoology based on their MAROON/WHITE day schedule for the day. In other words, if a VID day falls on a MAROON day, students will complete work for classes they would normally have on a MAROON day.
• Student work is expected to be completed on this day or based on the teacher-identified timeline. If the work is not completed for any reason, the completion date will follow the teacher’s classroom policy for absent work.
• If a student experiences difficulty on an assignment or lacks accessibility to Schoology due to technical issues, they are to reach out to their teacher during the scheduled teacher time via email.
• Teachers will have specific office hours which will be shared with everyone closer to the day.

End of the 9-Weeks – This is March 26, two weeks left!

Inservice Day: This will be held on March 17. Students have the day off and will report to school on March 18 at the normal time.

Water fountain and cups: I want to share a change that will be happening at the school at the beginning of next school year. Over the winter break, our school installed cup dispensers at each water fountain/bottle filling station. This is done in preparation for a change that will occur at the start of the 25-26 school year. In August, there will be no water bottles or opened liquid containers permitted in the school during the school day. Students have continued access to water at all stations. unopened liquids will be permitted in the cafeteria, but they will not be allowed outside of the cafeteria.

Second Act for Seniors: All seniors will have the opportunity to participate in the Second Act program, which is a follow up to the Signs of Suicide program that is presented to 9th graders. This program focuses on life after school and how to handle these situations as an adult. See attached letter/form.

988 Coin Tour Assembly on April 10:The 988 Coin Tour is coming to the Ridgway Area Middle & High School. Created by the collaboration of SMAHS Dutch Manufacturing, John Schlimm, and the Community Education Center, this project aims to spread awareness of 988, the national suicide and crisis hotline, throughout the local rural and small-town region. Throughout this school year, the collaborative partners researched, designed, and produced the 988 Coin. Now, with the support of the Cameron & Elk Suicide Prevention Task Force and sponsorship by Dickinson Center, Inc.’s Signs of Suicide Prevention Program and the Elk County Commissioners, the project has come to fruition, with 30,000 coins being distributed throughout Cameron and Elk Counties. More information is attached to the newsletter email.

News from the Nurse: 

• No student is permitted to carry medication with them. This includes over the counter medications such as Dayquil, ibuprofen, tylenol, etc. All medication must be in the nurse’s office and must be transported by parent or parent designee. Also, medication orders are required for medications to be administered. The school does have a few medications on standing orders, which parents signed permission for at the beginning of the school year. Not all students returned this form so not all students are permitted to receive any of the standing order medications as well.  
• Sick Day Guidelines: If your child has a fever (>100.4), diarrhea, and/or vomiting please keep them home. They need to be fever free, without medicine for 24 hours prior to returning to school. If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea please keep them home for 24 hours after the last time he/she vomited or had diarrhea.  

ELKER Cupboard- Our food closet is fully stocked and available to all students and families. Students are encouraged to utilize the cupboard as often as they like. Parents are also welcome to visit the cupboard. Parents please contact the main office and the middle/high school if you would like to visit the cupboard.

Spring Assessments: As we move deeper into the spring semester of school, we start to look ahead to our state assessments and AP tests.  

PSSA Testing(Grades 6-8):

English Language Arts Assessment: April 22, 23 & 24 

Math Assessment: April 29 & 30

Science Assessment: May 1 

Make-up: May 5-9

AP Tests:

Literature – May 7 – start time 8:00 – 12 pm

Spring Keystones:

Algebra – May 12 & 13

Biology – May 14 & 15

Literature – May 16 & 19

Summer School: With the end of the semester, students have been questioning the make-up of work during summer school. We will have this as an option for students, please see the guidelines below:

 Per the student handbook, to be considered to attend summer school, students must achieve a score of 65% for the year. Other criteria that will be considered will be the 85% attendance stipulation and academic skills based on the final exam score of 60% or higher. Students will be responsible for all costs and fees associated with summer school (approximately $125) and must abide by all guidelines outlined for summer school as well as earn a minimum of 70% in the summer course. If a student passes summer school, the highest course grade they will receive for the school year is 70%.

Accelerated Reader Q3 Incentive: This will be on Thursday April 24. All students who have achieved their goal will enjoy an Ice Cream Sundae. Congratulations to all students who have achieved their goals.

SAT – This assessment will be administered at school for all students who have signed up for it on April 15 during the school day. There will also be a digital readiness check on April 8th that all test takers must complete at 7:30. All students should be sure their chromebooks are fully charged before testing

Dates to Remember:

March:

12: 8th grade HS orientation 6:30 cafeteria

12: High School Gifted Quiz Bowl-Rescheduled from 02/26

13: Blood Drive 9am-2pm, break for lunch

13: Scheduling request papers for 25-26 due to P. Schaut

20: Middle School Gifted to Clarion University

20-22: PMEA Region Chorus

21: Senior Lunch Downtown

21: 11th Grade Meeting at 11:30 Financial Reality Fair

22: Senior class volleyball tournament

27: FHS senior/staff basketball game

25: 11th Grade Meeting at 8:30-9:45 Financial Reality Fair–SMA

26: End Quarter 3

27: Senior/Staff Basketball Game 6:00pm

April:

1: Second Act for Seniors

3: Middle School Gifted PA STEM Design

3: 10th grade career cruise quarter 4 students

8: Digital Readiness Check for all students taking the SAT

9: Envirothon practice day field trip

15: SAT test

16: Middle School Stand Tall, Altoona Curve Game

17: Senior Lunch Downtown

17: Senior Research Project Community Night

22: 8-12 volleyball tournament(class of 2025)

23: Envirothon competition day field trip

21-25: PSSA Testing

28-2: PSSA Testing

May:

3: Prom

8: Fall Sport Sign Ups

8: Spring Choir Concert – 6:30 pm

12-13: HS Algebra Keystone

14-15: HS Biology Keystone

14: Principals Awards – 7:00pm

15: Spring Band Concert – 6:30 pm

16 & 19: HS Literature Keystone

16: Senior Lunch Downtown

16: RMHS Art Show – 5:00pm

20-22: HS Keystone Makeups

21: HS Final Exams White 1 & 3

22: HS Final Exams Maroon 1&3

23: HS Final Exams White 2 & 5

27: HS Final Exams Maroon 2 & 5

27: Senior Final Day

27: Senior walk through FSG

28: Baccalaureate, Awards, Banquet 5:30

29: Senior Breakfast

29: Mandatory Graduation Practice

30: Graduation