Greetings RJR Family!
October is an incredibly busy, but wonderful time to be a Demon! Whether it’s athletics, academics or the arts, there’s literally something for everyone!
“Athletically speaking”, we hope you were able to attend the annual Homecoming celebration, but if not, there are nearly 50 athletic events in the month of October spanning football, cross country, volleyball, golf, field hockey, soccer and tennis. So get off the sofa and cheer on the Demons!
On the “academic front,” RJR will induct the newest class of National Honor Society members and students will take both the PLAN and PSAT, plus have the opportunity to take a practice SAT for FREE. Students are settling into their classroom routines, although there’s really nothing “routine” about RJR classes!
Have you wondered why your children are writing poems in math? Because of our fall arts immersion theme of Poetry, of course! On October 2nd, we kicked off the month in grand fashion with the screening for the entire student body and staff of “Twin Poets: Why I Write” (from the River Run Film Festival 2012). Poets Albert Mills and Nnamdi Chukawuaka and filmmaker Sharon Baker conducted a post-screening discussion, while Reynolds Poet Laureates, Lily Bachelder and Caitlin Thomas, performed their award-winning poetry. For two days, Al, Nnamdi and Sharon held master classes for English, journalism, creative writing, performing arts and documentary film-making students. Photography and film students captured presentations of poems, songs and student workshops, and will post them on the River Run and R.J. Reynolds websites. This exciting project, spearheaded by RJR parent and River Run Director of “Films with Class,” Jane McKim, and Arts Magnet Director, Karen Morris, was truly a cooperative effort, financially and otherwise! As Karen stated, “It is through community collaborations such as this that Reynolds is able to expose students to high quality arts programming. We are grateful to River Run and to the fundraising efforts of the Reynolds PTSA who made this happen financially.”
And this is just the beginning! The annual Reflections contest, an Arts Express trip to the “Flying Dutchman”, the fall drama, “Coriolanus”, and an RJR band concert will round out the month!
All we can say is WOW…we are all very blessed to be part of such a vibrant, diverse and inspiring community!
Lisa and Greg Carter
Our dedicated volunteers have ushered in fall with a flurry of activity. Whether they’re working front-and-center or behind the scenes to further RJR’s commitment to excellence, we appreciate all they do, every single day!
On Monday, RJR’s staff was celebrated with a bountiful array of apple and fall-themed treats in each teacher workroom throughout the school. Sue Evans and Karen O’Brien organized a team of volunteer Cooks-on-Call to provide our fabulous educators and faculty with an assortment of delectable homemade pies, cakes and muffins, fresh fruit, caramel apples, nuts and pretzels, breakfast meats and apple cider. Cooks-on-Call also furnished paper products, handled decorations, setup and cleaned up, and offered service with a smile. We can guarantee that everyone felt truly appreciated and that no one left hungry! Thanks to Monica Adams, Laura Angle, Margaret Bessette, Abigail Blake, Betsy Bost, Jennifer Briggs, Jeanne Brooker, Michelle Caldwell, Donna Carr, Lisa Carter, Caroline Cochrane, Anna Fadel, Anne Garvey, Jennifer Green, Deborah Groce, Lynn Gwyn, Sandy Irvin, Tonya Joseph, Crystal Joyce, Alice Mahoney, Shannon Meinberg, Douthit Meka, Margaret Morris, Karen O’Brien, Merritt Orr, Gayle Parker, Alison Peeler, Portia Propst, Lisa Rowell, Robin Welch, Mary Blake Whiteand Julie Williams for helping out with this seasonal tribute to our teachers.
Also on Monday, our own Girls Council cheerfully delivered treats to the staff and faculty at WileyMiddle School. We appreciate our students being ambassadors of RJR goodwill toward neighboring schools!
Michelle Caldwell spent weeks almost singlehandedly preparing for, promoting and advertising last Wednesday’s “Getting In” event, aimed at demystifying the college search and application process. In collaboration with The Princeton Review and representatives from 12 North Carolina colleges, Michelle put together a presentation, college admissions panel and mini-college fair. This informative, well-attended event was open to the public, and many area high school students and their families surely feel better-prepared to navigate the college application process, thanks to Michelle’s hard work. Michelle has been in charge of this important occasion for two years, so she brings a great deal of experience to the table, and we all benefit from her know-how and efforts. Michelle was assisted throughout the evening by a team of invaluable volunteers: Cathy Jeffreys, Gayle Parker and Renet Parris. For more than three hours Wednesday, this group offered whatever help was needed including distributing materials, aiding college representatives, even moving furniture in the media center. We congratulate Michelle Caldwell and her aides for a job well done! Many thanks!
Thanks to the generosity of Legacy donors, we are off to a Great Start in reaching our goal of $110,000.00 for 2013-2014!
Homecoming is Oct. 4th making it a perfect time to make your donation to the Legacy Campaign. With a $25.00 donation you and your family will receive admission to the Homecoming Tailgate Picnic with dinner provided by Twin City Diner! Other incentives such as Sports passes, Arts passes and Village Tavern gift cards are available at other giving levels that are listed on the pledge cards you received in the mail or which can be viewed on the Legacy Campaign page on the RJR website. Get in the spirit and support R. J. Reynolds by making your donation today!
Support the Legacy Campaign by completing your Legacy Donation and Donor Information forms accessed through the links at the bottom of the Legacy Campaign page and mail them to R.J.ReynoldsHighSchool with your check. If you prefer, you may donate on-line through our NEW PayPal account. Please email us at with any questions you may have.
We are truly grateful to the following companies for their contributions to the Legacy Campaign. Please show them your support by visiting them when you are out in the community.
-- Megan and Rick Erickson
Your gift makes a difference…and every gift counts!
THANK YOU CORPORATE LEGACY GAME SPONSORS!
Registration is now open for the 2014 Youth and Government Conference! The R.J. Reynolds delegation will meet again on Thursday, October 10th in the media center. Program information and registration forms are available on Mr. Cristofer Wiley's website under the Youth and Government link. Email Mr. Wiley at with any questions.
All classes and practice tests will be at ReynoldsHigh School.
SAT Classroom Prep
Prepares for the January SAT
The class kicks off with a free practice test on Saturday, October 19 at 9 a.m. and includes six classroom sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Two additional practice tests are also included.
ACT Classroom Prep
Prepares for the April ACT
The class kicks off with a free practice test on Saturday, January 18 at 9 a.m. and includes six classroom sessions on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Two additional practice tests are also included.
Click here for specific dates and details on how to register:
Senior ads and business ads are being taken now for yearbook.
Senior ads in the yearbook are a great way to highlight the journey undertaken by the Class of 2014. Ads can be purchased as a full page, half page or quarter page to celebrate your graduate (and maybe embarrass him/her a little with a cute baby photo!). Contact yearbook adviser Steve Hanf at if you would like an information sheet on senior ads, or if your business would like to support and reach out to the RJR community with a business ad. Deadline for ads is Oct. 14. New this year -- Black & Gold staff members will be happy to design your ad for you or work with you during a session at the school.
Pine Whispers, RJR's student-run newspaper, continues posting timely and fun updates on its website, PineWhispers.com. You can follow all our updates @RJRPineWhispers on Twitter and Facebook.com/PineWhispers. The newspaper class continues printing eight editions a year. If you have a business that would like to advertise to the more than 1,700 students, faculty members and others in the community who see the paper each month, please contact adviser Steve Hanf at for an information sheet.
Parents - show your support for ReynoldsHigh School by wearing Demon apparel. Short-sleeve tees are $12, long-sleeve tees are $15 and sweat shirts are $25. The Demon Shop will be open for businessFriday, Oct. 4 at Homecoming.Short-sleeve and long- sleeve T-shirts, sweat shirts, new Demon golf umbrellas and other fun Demon logo items will be available at the stadium concession area. And, don't forget the Demon stadium blanket for those chillyfootball nights – now on sale for only $25!
A special thanks to my wonderful volunteers, Carolyn Strickland and Donna Carr, for working in the shop for three hours this past Saturday, and selling $400 of merchandise to the Class of '83!
Join us for the North Carolina Big Sweep on Saturday, October 5th from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We will weed, trim bushes, pick up garbage and plant fall annuals. Bring gloves, rakes and shovels, and enjoy a beautiful morning on campus. Meeting spot is the picnic tables outside the cafeteria. Contact Lynn Gwyn at with any questions.
For the second year, RJR Women's Soccer is offering a night of babysitting just before the winter holiday break! Whether parents need a night without kids or time for some last-minute shopping, keep the evening of December 19th in mind! Time and location are TBA, but check the PTSA newsletter for updates throughout the fall!
Congratulations to RJR Student of the Week Starnice Galloway. She was nominated by Mr. Rothe for her contributions to class. Thanks for making RJR great, Starnice!
One of the great strengths of R.J.ReynoldsHigh School is its diversity. Among our 1,700+ students are over100 students from more than 30 different countries, from Albania to Egypt to South Africa to Vietnam.
Many of these students would benefit from just 45 to 60 minutes a week of one-on-one tutoring. To be an ESL tutor, you do not need to speak Spanish or Korean or Tagalog. You just need to speak English and have a little time to give.
Tutoring slots are available each day throughout the day. Students will arrive at their tutoring sessions with specific assignments to complete or review. No planning by the tutor is required.
If you are interested in being an ESL tutor or simply want to learn more about the program, please contact Deborah Casstevens () or Kathy McLean ().
Nicole Beale / Oct. 4
Heather Barto Wiley / Oct. 7
Eric Findeis / Oct. 8
Ryan Solomon / Oct. 8
Derrelle Mitchell / Oct. 8
Victoria Matisko / Oct. 11
Ginneth Morrisey / Oct. 11
10/7West VirginiaState9:00 a.m.
10/7 Brevard2:00 p.m.
10/9College of Charleston10:30 a.m.
10/14 SalemCollege9:00 a.m.
10/15 Notre Dame2:00 p.m.
10/17Univ. of Richmond2:00p.m.
10/25 EmoryUniv. 9:45 a.m.
10/28Alabama11:30 a.m.
Ryan Clark, MBA, CCPS and author of the book, College Aid for Middle Class America, will host a free presentation at EastForsythHigh School on Monday, October 7th at 7:00p.m. His presentation will cover topics such as what the more selective colleges really want to see in your student’s application, the 5 questions to ask colleges before your student applies, how to maximize your student’s potential to receive scholarships, grants and other aid, is it possible to attend a private college for a public college price and why procrastination can (and will most likely) cost a family thousands of dollars. Plan for a full hour and feel free to bring your student!
Ryan Clark is one of the nation's leading experts on college scholarships, admissions, and financial aid. He has saved thousands of families millions of dollars in college costs over the past 10 years.
Proceeds of the sale of Ryan Clark’s book will benefit the EFHS PTSA.
Reynolds Demons -- discover your world and explore new cultures or your own through dance, film, literature, music, photography or visual arts. No experience is required to participate in Reflections. Choose the arts category you’re interested in, create an original piece of artwork based on the theme “Believe, Dream, Inspire” and be recognized as an artist in your community. Visit the RJR webpage to access all necessary rules, guidelines and forms. Deadline for entries is October 18th.
There will be a band parent meeting Thursday, October 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the band room. All are welcome. This meeting will be very brief. Topics of discussion will be:
Fund Raising
Logistical Support
Communication Support
We hope to see you there!
There is a new system that EVERYONE needs to log into and either renew your volunteer status or complete the application. On the WSFCS website, under the “Parent” tab,” Volunteers” should be chosen. The website is self-explanatory about how to proceed. Any questions, contact Amy Colona .
Graduation will be on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 5:45 p.m. in Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum. The date published in the PTSA summer newsletter of June 7th was based on preliminary information which changed. Please make a note of the graduation date!
During the summer renovations in the media center, our large file of old magazines vanished. Can you help us replenish our supply? Students use old magazines for a number of projects in numerous classes, so it will take some time for us to build up the supply from our current subscriptions. Please send in any magazines you'd like to donate to Mrs. Moody in the media center. Thanks!
Oct. 7V Golf at Reagan, 4:00
JV/V Soccer vs. Parkland, 5:30/7:30
Oct. 8JV/V Field Hockey at MountTabor, 5:00/6:30
JV/V Volleyball vs. West Forsyth, 5:00/6:00
Oct. 10JV/V Field Hockey at CarlisleSchool, 4:45/6:00
JV/V Volleyball at Reagan 5:00/6:00
JV/V Soccer at DavieCounty, 5:30/7:00
JV Football vs. West Forsyth, 6:00
Oct. 11V Football at West Forsyth, 7:30
Oct. 12Cross Country at BeesonPark, 9:00
There will be an informational meeting for swimmers on Tuesday, Oct 15 in the media center at 3:45. Students who want to be on the team must have a current physical.
RJ Reynolds Home Field Advantage
RJ Reynolds Arts
Pine Whispers
RJR Women’s Soccer
@RJRAthletics- The Official Twitter of the Athletic Department
@RJRdemonsxc—Cross Country
@RJRvolleyball—Volleyball team communication and updates
@RJRwsoccer—Girls Soccer
@RJRDemonsSoccer- Boys Soccer
@RJRBaseball- the Demon Baseball Program
@RJR_Lacrosse- Boys Lacrosse Team
@RJRtennis- Boys Tennis Team
@ReynoldsRowdies- The Student Fan Club
@RJRCollege- The Student Services Office
@RJRArts—Schoolwide maintained by Mrs. Morris
@MadameMatisko—updates on French homework
@RJRFrenchClub—updates on French club
@mrswileyrjr—Mrs. Wiley (English teacher)—classroom updates
@RJRbands—Mr. James and band updates
@Sramorrisey—Mrs. Morrisey (Spanish teacher)
@RJRArtSociety—Art Society as well as info on contests and events open to all students
@RJRpinewhispers—student newspaper
@RJRyearbook –yearbook
@RJR_GC- Girls Council