Rocky Mountain schools gear up

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 24 on the district website – www.bighorn1.com --  and must be completed by August 11. 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 onsite registration day was held Wednesday, Aug. 7.

As students come to the school, they will find a table of school supplies provided by the New Life Church of Powell and 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 Tuesday, Aug. 20, 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 20 at the school library. Call 548-2211 for an appointment.

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 21, 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.

New staff members this year are Wyatt Horrocks, a special education paraprofessional; Andi Riddle, fifth grade teacher replacing Pat Winland, who has moved to the high school as a literature coach; Madison Bryson, first grade teacher replacing Stacy Moore, who is moving to third grade for Kim Fuller, who is moving to fourth grade to replace Alicia Troutman, who is becoming the new school interventionalist; Lacey Bassett, kindergarten, replacing Kelsey Lohof, who has taken a teaching job in Lovell. There are also two Title 1 and one special education paraprofessional in the works, Honeyman said.

Construction projects this summer are numerous, Honeyman said: new boilers, LED lighting throughout the school building, adjusting the playground fencing so it is open to all students, with the playground no longer blocked off, new water heaters, new locks with a fob system for classroom entry, though keys will also work in the event of a power outage, a new marquee in front of the school, plus a bench and updated picnic tables and benches on the playground.

Honeyman also said a two-year project to replace the heating and air conditioning system has begun, with initial work being done in the computer lab and library as phase I.

RMMHS

Rocky Mountain Middle/High School has scheduled a sixth-grade and new middle school student orientation for Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 3:15 to 5 p.m. during which new students can tour the school and visit their classrooms. 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 Wednesday, Aug. 21. 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 said new staff members are Chandra Grohman, high school special education teacher; Morgan Haley, ag and science teacher, replacing Christin Shorma; Erica Griffin, art, replacing the retired Berta Newton; Pat Winland, literature coach; Ashlee Clark, middle school Title 1; Sonya Koltes, high school special ed para; Sheril Slater, high school special ed para; and April Smith, custodian.

Sammons said summer projects are a new surface for the track in brown and gold, brown as the main color with gold exchange zones; new locks with an electronic fob system; a half wall in the music room and a new office for the school resource officer.

Athletics

A sports orientation program for middle school students wishing to participate in athletics will be held August 20 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. 22, 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. 19 (see related story).

The fall sports season begins on August 30-31, when the volleyball team hosts the North Big Horn Invitational in Cowley. The cross country team will compete in the Billings Invitational on August 30. The football team will participate in a jamboree August 31 in Greybull at 10 a.m. and open the regular season on Friday, Sept. 6, hosting Lusk at 1 p.m.

Middle school practices begin the first day of school, Aug. 21.

New coaching assignments are Justin Moss, assistant high school football; Josh Sponsel, assistant high school football; Taylor Winland, head middle school girls basketball; Madison Grandalen, middle school girls basketball; Hal Moore, head middle school football coach; and Kim Fuller, middle school track.