Rocky students ready to begin on Aug. 25

Rocky students ready to begin on Aug. 25Preparations are in place at Rocky Mountain schools for the start of the 2015-16 school year, school officials reported this week.Students will start the new year next Tuesday, Aug. 25, following a series of meetings and events.Rocky Mountain Elementary School Secretary Lesley Boardman said that, due to the calendar configuration this year, the school did not schedule an open house for students and parents, but the annual Preschool Program Family Night will be held Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. following the preschool screening, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Preschool students and their families are invited to attend the family night, and dinner will be served at the elementary school cafeteria. Families are also welcome to tour the preschool room at the administration building. Screening can be arranged by calling 548-2211.School for K-5 begins Tuesday and runs from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.The first day for preschool classes is Thursday, Aug. 27, will all three sessions meeting.[caption id="attachment_9810" align="alignright" width="210"] Rocky students ready to begin on Aug. 25[/caption]Principal Karma Sanders said there were no major summertime projects this year except for general maintenance and cleaning. Plans are in place for new carpet next summer.New staff members include second-grade teacher Julie Riding of Byron, a transfer from the Burlington School, third-grade teacher Kelsey Giesenhagen of Lovell and cook Mary Patterson of Cowley.RMM/HSRocky Mountain Middle/High School Principal Tim Winland said the annual orientation for sixth-graders and any other new students is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, from 3:15 to 5 p.m. The orientation is for students and their parents, and attendees will be taken to find their classrooms based on their schedule and meet their teachers. Ice cream sandwiches will be served.The orientation will be followed at 5 p.m. by the middle school sports and physical education orientation at the auxiliary gym for all middle school students participating in sports this year. Coaches will be on hand to explain the middle school athletics program to all participating sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders and their parents.All students must have completed a sports physical before they can practice.As with the elementary school, the first day of school at the middle/high school will be Aug. 25, and the bell schedule is 8 a.m. to 3:22 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. on Friday.Winland said the school is implementing a new alternating schedule for the Friday half days. On so-called Brown Fridays, periods one through four will meet, and on Gold Fridays, periods five through eight will meet. That will allow a full 48-minute class period instead of 30-minute periods, Winland said, and will also reduce passing time.“This will help our teachers being able to give full lessons and maximize contact time with the students,” Winland said.He added that every Friday schedule will include a enrichment period from 11:28 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. to be used for character education, school improvement and close reading strategies, teacher advising, assemblies and test preparation. Students will report to their home rooms for the enrichment period.AthleticsA high school meet the squad night is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. during which coaches, parents and players will get together for a barbecue served by the Grizzly Booster Club. Winland said the idea is for coaches and athletes participating in fall sports to get acquainted and enjoy some good food while making sure all paperwork is in place for the season. Schedules will be passed out, as well.“Specific expectations will be covered by each of the coaches for their respective programs, and it’s also an opportunity for parents to meet coaches and ask questions,” Winland said.He noted that athletic director Rod Winland will also cover general expectations from the Wyoming High School Activities Association and the school district in areas like eligibility and sportsmanship.Sports action begins next week with the North Big Horn Invitational Volleyball Tournament Aug. 28-29 hosted by Lovell and Rocky Mountain with Rocky hosting the varsity tournament and Lovell the junior varsity.The cross country team will also be in action on Friday, Aug. 28, when the harriers travel to the Cody Invitational at 4 p.m. for the first meet of the season.The Rocky football team will not have a “week zero” game this year but rather will hold an intrasquad brown and gold scrimmage on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. in Cowley.The Grizzlies open the regular season Friday, Sept. 4, in Dayton againstthe Tongue River Eagles at 7 p.m.Most fall coaching assignments are the same, except that Daniel Robertson will be an assistant high school football coach, replacing  Justin Moss, who is the new middle school head football coach. Jennifer Steed is the new freshman coach for the high school volleyball squad. Ashlee Blackburn and Leslie Mayes are new assistant middle school volleyball coaches.There were no major capital construction projects at the school this summer, but Winland said he has a request in for an additional discus ring at the track complex for middle school throwers, and he would also like to see grass or artificial turf installed around the long jump and triple jump runways and pits to replace the gravel currently in place.Staff changesNew staff members include Geranne Rasmussen, who moves from high school language arts and social studies to a new role as instructional facilitator, replacing the retiring Freda Miller; Breanna Gunderson, moving from Whitehall, Mont., and teaching high school language arts; Daniel Robertson, high school science; John Bernhisel, moving from teaching science to media specialist, replacing the retiring Lea Sorenson; Cara Sommers from Idaho Falls, replacing Nick Tolman as middle school and high school band and choir director; and Glenn Thompson, a new custodian for after hours duties, replacing Amy Lewis, who is moving to a full-time custodial position, replacing Susan Doughty.Winland also noted that Keith Harris has moved from Cokeville to replace Patrice Riley as district curriculum director and federal grant program manager.By David Peck