November Newsletter
October 31, 2020
Greetings RRHS Parents and/or Guardians,
As the 2020-21 school year started, there was some uncertainty on how school would go. As a parent, you had concerns and reliefs that students would have the option to come back to school face-to-face or through distance learning. With the development and implementation of the hybrid model, we have been able to maintain face-to-face instruction through the first 9 weeks of school. There have been some hurdles along the way with remote day learning, students and staff being quarantined, and restrictions on daily activities within the school. With your patience and the work of the teachers and students, we have made great strides as we close in on the end of the 1st quarter.
Back on August 31, which seems like a long time ago, we welcomed the freshmen Class of 2024 to Red River. Dr. Arason, Mr. Walters, Mr. Nelson, Officer Skari, and I met with all the freshmen to review the student handbook, discussed rules, policies, and expectations, and informed them of all the extra and co-curricular opportunities we have to offer here at Red River High School. Mr. Walters and myself are currently working on a video that will review the
handbook and code of conduct with our sophomores, juniors, and seniors. This video presentation will be provided through your student’s google classroom accounts.
In years past, Mr. Nelson has invited members of our junior and senior classes to be mentors for our freshmen. They receive training and are prepared for their mentorship. Despite the learning environment we are in, Mr. Nelson and his mentors have continued to hold meetings this quarter, following the guidelines to keep everyone safe, during small group discussions. Mentor meetings include topics such as character, leadership, teamwork, and school pride. The mentor meetings take place every other week during the 1st quarter. The mentors become a role model and resource for the members of the group.
Due to Covid-19, we have had some restrictions on our extra and co-curricular activities at Red River, but coaches and advisors are working hard to make these opportunities happen for our students. Most of these events, including music concerts, have been livestreamed for people to see from home due to the restrictions. Many of the clubs in our building are slowly starting to have meetings after school either face-to-face or though Zoom/Google Meet. As the year continues, please follow our academics and activities on the following Twitter accounts, @RRHS_Activities and @RRHS_Riders for updates on all that is happening at Red River High School.
As always, we appreciate your involvement in your son's/daughter's high school experience as we look forward to a year of growth in the 2020-21 school year.
In 'Rider Pride',
Tony Bina
Associate Principal
See Something, Say Something
Red River Families,
Statistics consistently show that schools are among the safest places to be due to the strong
commitment of educators, families, and our community to our students and schools. We strive to be proactive rather than reactive.
Despite these proactive measures, there may be times when your student struggles socially,
academically, or otherwise at school. There may be a time you/your student sees, hears, or is made aware of something that causes concern. In these circumstances, we would like you to remember the phrase, “See Something, Say Something.”
- Please directly contact your student’s teacher, counselor, or administrator when a school- related concern arises that requires intervention or assistance. The phone number to our school office is (701)746-2400.
- If there is a safety concern after school hours, on the weekend, or when school is not in session (ex: holiday break, summer break), contact the Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD) at 701-787-8000. To text an anonymous tip to the GFPD, text GFPD to 847-411.
- If it is an immediate concern, call 911.
- Please do not use social media (ex: Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as a forum to share these concerns. Individual privacy settings may inhibit emergency responders and school administrators from seeing these messages, making them unable to assist.
We care about each of our students and work hard each day to support their needs. Thank you for your efforts in keeping our students, employees, and community safe.
Mark Your Calendars!!!
A Look Ahead
December 2- Early Release
December 16- Early Release
Decemeber 23 through January 3- NO SCHOOL
January 13- Early Release
January 15- End of Quart 2/Semester 1
January 18- NO SCHOOL
January 27- Early Release
Monthly Cohort Calendar
Hybrid A/B days rotate each day and the pattern is not skipped due to holiday breaks, snow days, etc. If a week ends on a Cohort A day, the next day school is in session will be a Cohort B day.
If there is an unexpected school closure such as a snow day, the A/B schedule stays on the same rotation but is pushed back by the number of days the school is closed. For instance, if the last school day in session is a Cohort A day and the school is closed for a day due to weather, when the school reopens it will be a Cohort B day.
The Day 1/Day 2 schedule is only important for students that are enrolled in classes that meet EOD, every other day (Choir, Band, and/or Foundations of Fitness).
Red River Updates
Remote Learner-Picture Pick Up
Winter Extracirricular Activity Info
All athletes MUST present their white card to their coach in order to begin practices!
Distribution days- Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd from 3:00pm-4:00pm
Please see full details below.
HOSA Updates
Red River High School HOSA is off to a great start! The Chalk Talk event occurred on October 7, 2020. Students who participated in Chalk Talk wrote positive messages on the pavement outside the school’s front doors to spread positivity to the RRHS community. It was a great way to safely come together during a time in which positivity is needed more than ever. The Fall Leadership Conference that will be conducted over Zoom is set to be held on November 4th. It will be run by motivational speaker Patty Hendrickson and North Dakota’s HOSA State Officers.
HOSA will be meeting to plan an event focused on mental health awareness for the month of November.
Red River Outfitters
District Updates
Parents Lead
Communication
Believe it or not, you’ve been a role model for your kids since they first entered this world. This
means that every time you say something, behave in a certain way, or react to someone or
something, your kids are observing your behavior. From preschoolers learning how to manage
frustration by watching you to teenagers observing how you handle your personal relationships
or work stress; your kids are always watching. The good news is that teaching by example is
often easier and more effective than forcing your kids to obey rules by scaring, threatening, or
bribing them with rewards.
How do I role model? Visit www.parentslead.org