We thought you might enjoy periodically hearing from someone “other than us” and are thrilled to have our first “guest columnist” – Principal Pat Olsen! Please see his letter below.
Don’t forget that RJR’s Homecoming game is Friday, October 4th vs. Parkland and we have an incredible tailgate planned for that same evening beginning at 5:30. It’s not too late to join the fun! See the “Homecoming” section later in this newsletter for more details!
Also, note that the Parent Portal section of PowerSchool opens October 1st. Additional information can be found later in this newsletter.
Lisa and Greg Carter
Hello greater RJR Community:
Thanks to Lisa and Greg Carter for allowing me to be the “guest” columnist for this week’s newsletter. I am honored for the opportunity to directly let folks know what is happening here at RJR.
Upon promoting Michelle Collins from her English classroom to the Curriculum Coordinator’s office, work on finding a replacement has made good progress this week. By the time you read this, I believe an offer will have been made and hopefully accepted.
As you know, we are down one assistant principal. Karen Gregory has been selected as our next assistant principal. Karen will be coming from Reagan High School where she is a CTE teacher. Karen’s strengths include experience with staff development (at the county and state levels), observing and coaching teachers, and instructional technology. Karen’s daughter graduated from RJR in 2006. Look for Karen to be on staff by November 1st, sooner once Reagan hires a replacement teacher.
Susan Gordon has left her position in the office and a replacement will be hired by the time this goes to press. Interviews were conducted earlier in the week and the reference checking process is nearing completion.
Tickets sales for the Homecoming Dance have been surprisingly sluggish. The dance is in danger of being cancelled due to a lack of interest. On a happier note, a Powder Puff tournament is being planned for an October date. Final plans are being made and will be announced in the near future.
Thank you all for your willingness to support all of our efforts at RJR. The state of education is well into a time of transition and many things in the state of North Carolina are not running as smoothly as they could (or should). I guess when government is overly involved, the wheels of progress seem to grind painfully slow until they are finally greased.
Please know that the entire staff at RJR is off to a good start. Everyone is working hard and the things that are happening in the classrooms are wonderful. I hope the fruits of everyone’s labor can somehow be recognized someday. Every day here is special and incredible things happen. I am honored to be a part of R.J. Reynolds High School. It is good to be a Demon!
Pat Olsen, Principal
RJR’s Arts Magnet Program permeates all areas of the school, with offerings of special discrete courses, performances, speakers, field trips, and arts integration in core classes.
Invaluable and year-long support is offered for the program by PTSA’s wonderful Arts Magnet Committee, consisting of Chairman Aparna Patel and members Maike Copeland, Sharon Fogarty, Anne Garvey, Michele Grattan, Crystal Joyce, Meredith Kress, Karen Lordemon-Rowdy and Karen O’Brien. During Arts in Education Week, this group met to plan support for Arts Magnet programs throughout the fall, including box office work, promoting the fall campus-wide theme of poetry, hosting a dinner for the Arts faculty, and providing volunteer assistance for the many upcoming Arts Magnet events.
An impressive 30 parents have already offered to chaperone Arts Express trips, including three who accompanied students to see Les Miserables.
In preparation for school’s opening, members of Reynolds’ Arts Service Club (RASCals) worked alongside other students to paint all the bulletin boards, to take pictures during Freshman Orientation, and to hang displays throughout the campus. Thanks to their creative efforts and hours, the bulletin boards show colorful and captivating photos of campus life and numerous examples of arts integration. We’d like to give a special nod of recognition to Nicole Proctor who used her photography skills to take pictures during Freshman Orientation, promptly edited them, and managed to have them printed, laminated and displayed by Open House that evening. Thanks, Nicole!
The entire school community benefits from the Arts Magnet Program which fosters amazing creative output from our talented students and exposes them to a wealth of artistic opportunities. We are in awe of Arts Magnet Coordinator, Karen Morris who juggles her many responsibilities with optimism, determination and great cheer, and is a tireless champion of RJR and the Arts Magnet Program. We appreciate the Arts Magnet Committee and all faculty, students and volunteers who work to promote this worthy program!
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 http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/9679, and mail them to R. J. Reynolds High School 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! 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 Reynolds High 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: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/76757
At the end of this newsletter, please read the viewer’s guide to UNC-TV’s program entitled "NC Schools and You: What Changes in Our Schools Mean for Parents and Students." The program aired Sept. 19th at 10 p.m. and will air again on Sept. 27th at 4:30 p.m.
Past editions of the Black & Gold yearbook have ended with spring sports because of the need to have all our pages in to the printer and still get yearbooks back in May. NEW for this year, though, yearbook staff members will meet that regular deadline -- you'll still get your book in May -- but add a 16-page, full-color supplement that can be placed into the book when received over the summer. This supplement will include prom, graduation, Follies, Class Day and other late-spring events vital to truly capturing the year. The supplement will be provided at NO extra charge to those who buy the book!
This is the final week to take advantage of the "Welcome Back" special: $50 for the book with a free name stamp -- a $5 value. After Sept. 30, the deal goes away, so visit YearbookOrderCenter.com today. Enter order code 10595 to get to the RJR page.
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.
BASEBALL HATS are finally in stock!! Come check out our new designs. Cooler weather is on the way, so make sure you have sweatshirts ($25) and sweatpants ($20) to keep you warm. It's time to pre-order yourletterman jacket ($200) so it will arrive in time for the holidays (order form attached). Remember the Demon Shop is open on Wednesdays and Fridays (12-2 p.m.) in the cafeteria.
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 R.J. Reynolds Student of the Week Andrew Carter. Andrew was nominated by Ms. Cruz for his positive attitude and solution-driven approach. Thanks for making RJR great, Andrew!
One of the great strengths of R.J. Reynolds High 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 ().
“As a partnership of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, the Winston-Salem Foundation, the United Way and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, the Crosby Scholars Program is a nonprofit college access organization through which students begin to prepare academically, financially, and personally for successful college admission beginning as early as middle school. With a 20-year history of providing academic training, financial aid and college application workshops, advisory services, college tours, and Last Dollar Grant scholarships, Crosby Scholars now servesmore than 7,500 public school students per year.”
Parents of 9th and 10th Grade Students:
It’s time to apply for Crosby Scholars! Applications are open until October 1st!
To apply go to www.crosbyscholars.org.
9/30 Shenandoah 1:00 p.m.
9/30 Duke Univ. 1:30 p.m.
10/1 Virginia Tech 9:00 a.m.
10/1 Roanoke 12:00 p.m.
10/1Regency Beauty School - lunch periods in cafeteria
10/2 Emory & Henry 1:30 p.m.
10/4 American Univ. 9:00 a.m.
10/4Hampden-Sydney 1:00 p.m.
Ryan Clark, MBA, CCPS and author of the book, College Aid for Middle Class America, will host a free presentation at East Forsyth High School on Monday, October 7th at 7:00pm. 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