Rocky Mountain prepares for new year

With online registration already well underway, back-to-school preparations are hitting their stride in Big Horn County School District No. 1 as Rocky Mountain Middle/High School and Rocky Mountain Elementary School officials look forward to the new school year.

Online registration began July 27 on the district website – www.bighorn1.com -- and must be completed by August 12. Returning students can simply go to the website and sign in to their PowerSchool parent access account. New students are asked to contact their respective school office -- 548-2211 for the elementary school and 548-2723 for the middle/high school – but there are both returning student and new student links on the district website.

An on-site registration day was held Wednesday, Aug. 5, for Rocky Mountain Middle/High School and is set for August 12 at the elementary school. Registration must be completed before high school students can practice on August 17.

As students come to the school, they will find a table of school supplies provided by the Big Horn County Child Protection Team for families who can use the extra supplies. Supplies will be available during the middle/high school back-to-school night.

Elementary school

Rocky Mountain Elementary School will hold a Back-to-School Night open house on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. All students K-5 and their parents are invited to attend and are welcome to bring in their school supplies, greet their teacher and pick up information, Principal Eric Honeyman said.

Screening for the preschool program will be held August 27 at the school library. Call 548-2211 for an appointment. The first day of preschool is Monday, Aug. 31.

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 26, and the school day for the elementary school is 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on Friday. Breakfast is served at 7:40 a.m.

Honeyman noted several new staff members. Madison Bryson is a new first-grade teacher, and Beverly Wacaser has been hired as an extra/new fifth-grade teacher with the school moving from two to three fifth-grade classes, Honeyman said. Likewise, an extra kindergarten class has been added, and Taylor Winland will teach that class.

Other hires are:

Whitney Hopkins, Leandra Rasmussen and Laura Mills as special education paraprofessionals, Talli Larsen as a half time special ed para and half time Title 1 teacher and Doug Bisby as a food services worker. Dale Riddle has moved from a Title 1 position to half-time Title 1 and half-time computer science, while Chris Townsend has moved from first grade to head Title 1 teacher.

There are no major capital construction projects this summer, Honeyman said, but he gave kudos to the custodians for having “this place looking awesome” and the groundskeepers for “doing a magnificent job.”

RMMHS

Rocky Mountain Middle/High School has scheduled a Back-to-School Night open house August 25 from 4 to 7 p.m., during which students are invited to bring school supplies, pick up information, check out locks in the office and say hello to their teachers. In addition, the school will host a “Senior Kick Off” for all seniors and their parents.

“We will be providing information to help our seniors know what to expect for their senior year and resources for parents,” Principal Betsy Sammons said.

As with the elementary school, the first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 26. The bell schedule is 8 a.m. to 3:22 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Friday. Doors open at 7:40 a.m., and breakfast is served at that time.

“We also offer a second chance breakfast that students can pick up in between first and second periods,” Sammons said.

The major capital construction project for the school is new paved parking lots for the football field. Sammons said the school will send information home showing the flow of traffic once the parking lots are completed.

New staff hires are Maria Haire as a high school special education teacher and Heather Pittman as a life skills teacher at the high school. 

New coaching assignments
at the high school are:

Cross country -- Gerry Burton head coach, Mindy Mickelson assistant

Girls Basketball -- Rod Winland head coach, assistants Danielle Malson and Pat Minchow

Wrestling -- Ethan Crawford assistant coach.

New Coaching assignments
at the middle school are:

Cross country -- Mindy Mickelson head coach

Football -- Will Loyning assistant coach

Wrestling -- Rachel Bitton assistant coach

Boys basketball -- Kirby Winland assistant coach.

Athletics

A sports orientation program for middle school students wishing to participate in fall sports will be held August 25 at 5 p.m. in the auxiliary gym. Coaches will talk about their programs and explain rules and expectations. Students will then split up by sport, and football players will check out equipment.

Fall sports team meetings for high school sports are set for Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. Athletic Director Tobee Christiansen will provide information on rules and expectations, the coaches handbook and WHSAA participation agreements, guidelines and protocols. Meetings will then be held for each sport, and coaches will discuss the upcoming season with parents.

High school practices begin Monday, Aug. 17.

The fall sports season begins on August 28-29, when the volleyball team hosts the North Big Horn Invitational in Cowley. The football team will open the regular season on Friday, Sept. 4, at Southeast. Cross country will open at Billings Senior High on Friday, August 28.

Middle school practices begin on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 26.