Rocky schools ready for new school 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 21 on the district website – www.bighorn1.com -- and must be completed by August 8. 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. 6.

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 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.

There are no new staff members this year, Honeyman said, though there are some teachers in new positions: Chris Townsend returning to first grade, Pat Winland returning to fifth grade, Andi Riddle moving from fifth grade to fourth grade and Lacey Bassett moving from kindergarten to fifth grade.

There have been two major capital construction projects this summer, Honeyman said. The aging HVAC system has been replaced by a roof-mounted system. The new unit is in place, and duct work has been completed, with only some electrical work to be wrapped up, Honeyman said, adding that the system should be operational by the end of the week.

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.

The school LED lighting system was also completed during the summer.

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 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 this week and was not available to report new staff members, coaching assignments and summer capital construction projects, all of which will be reported in next week’s Chronicle.

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 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. 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.