Rocky Mountain schools, athletics ready for new school year

With most summer projects and preparations completed, the new school year at Rocky Mountain Schools in Cowley begins with the first day of school next Tuesday, Aug. 19.

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.

Elementary school

Rocky Mountain Elementary School will hold a Back to School Night open house on Monday, Aug. 18, 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 21 at the school library. Call 548-2211 for an appointment. The first day of preschool is Monday, Aug. 25.

The first day of school for K-12 students is Tuesday, Aug. 19, 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.

Parents are reminded that the main school parking lot has been revamped to help with the flow of parents picking up their children and buses exiting the bus loop. Vehicles will now enter the lot on the north side of the parking lot and exit on the south side, then turning right (north). There are two lanes within the parking lot for parking or student pickup. If possible, parents are asked to have their student sit on and/or exit via the driver’s side of the back seat so that the student may exit safely onto the sidewalk.

RMMHS

Rocky Mountain Middle/High School has scheduled a sixth-grade and new middle school student orientation for Monday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 5 p.m. during which new students can tour the school and visit their classrooms. A Senior Kickoff event has also been scheduled for Monday in the school library from 4 to 5 p.m. to help prepare students for their senior year.

A Back to School Night open house will be held the same evening 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.

As with the elementary school, the first day of school is Tuesday, Aug. 19. 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.

Principal Betsy Sammons was out of town at a training last week and upon her return was available to report new staff members, coaching assignments and summer capital construction projects.

Summertime facility projects include heating repairs in the agriculture classroom, all new lighting throughout the building and new shot clocks in the main gym. The library has been remodeled and reorganized, and a new outdoor pickleball and basketball pad has been poured on the west side of the building.

New staff members are Rachel Whipple, high school special education; Braden West, agriculture and science; Kirby Winland, science to replace the retired Daniel Robertson; Cassidy Winland, middle school Title I and sixth grade reading to replace Pat Winland, who has moved back to elementary school fifth grade; Macie Muller, HS special ed paraprofessional; Jadie Gifford, HS Life Skills paraprofessional; Heather Pittman, job coach paraprofessional (new position); Cheyenne Bendixen, middle school special ed paraprofessional to replace the retired Michelle Banks; Macy Jones, library paraprofessional; and Brooke Whiting, assistant secretary in the office with Chandi Workman as lead secretary with the retirement of Brenda Brost.

In addition, Anna Anderson is now teaching sophomore English with Geranne Rasmussen moving to the library to replace the retired John Bernhisel. Rasmussen will also handle communications and podcasting and teach senior English. Jamie Cooley is a part-time physical education teacher with Tobee Christiansen assuming all athletic director duties after splitting duties for years with the now retired Rod Winland.

New coaching assignments are Austin Haslem, assistant high school football; Kay Townsend, head volleyball; Stacey Haslem, assistant girls basketball; Aric Hanusa, assistant track; Pat Winland, assistant HS track; Wyatt Horrocks, assistant MS football; Kendall Moore, assistant MS football; Rylee Winland, assistant MS volleyball; McKay Baxendale, head middle school boys basketball; Gerry Burton, assistant MS track; Sheril Slater, head cheer; and Amy Hedges, assistant cheer.

Slater and Hedges are leading a revamped cheerleading program for the school.

Athletics

A sports orientation program for middle school students wishing to participate in athletics will be held August 18 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.

A Meet the Squad Night for high school sports is set for Thursday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Athletic Director 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. 18.

The fall sports season begins on August 29-30, when the volleyball team hosts the North Big Horn Invitational in Cowley. The football team will participate in a jamboree August 30 in Greybull at 10 a.m. and open the regular season on Friday, Sept. 5, at Lusk. A cross country schedule was unavailable at press time.

Middle school practices begin the first day of school, Tuesday, Aug. 19.