August, 2008
Dear Parent/Guardian:
On behalf of the high school faculty, staff and administration I am pleased to extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome to you and your child for the 2008-09 school year. Students will be returning for their first day of school on Wednesday, September 3, 2008. To help ease the transition for our in-coming 9th grade students, RBR will hold its 9th Grade Orientation for students on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 1pm at the high school. The day will culminate with a parent/student information session and BBQ at 5:30PM. Transportation to Red Bank Regional will be provided. Parents will be responsible for taking their child home in the evening. Please see the attached orientation agenda and transportation schedule.
The 2007-2008 school year proved to be one of RBR’s best statistical years in the NCLB era. We achieved highs in Attendance Rate, Graduation Rate, College Placement Rate, and students scoring 3 or better on Advanced Placement tests (74%).
We have a terrific group of new staff members joining us who I know willhave an immediate impact on our school environment. Among them, Ms. Barbara DiLea joins us as our new Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts/World Language and Mr. Louis Del Pra joins RBR as our new Athletic Director/Supervisor of Health & Physical Education. Barbara comes to us from the Belleville School District where she has been the K-12 Visual & Performing Arts Supervisor since 2001. Del has been an Athletic Site Director and Physical Education teacher at Ocean Township High School.
In the coming year, we will continue work on the Freshmen Academy, the new Small Learning Community Academy programs, International Baccalaureate, block scheduling and the AVID program. We will also be preparing for a visit from the Middle States Association in early December for the purpose of reaccredidation. We welcome a challenging, eventful and prosperous 2008-2009 school year.
Please take time to thoroughly read all of the information enclosed. Forms requiring signatures should be returned by your child to their homeroom teacher on the first day of school.
I look forward to seeing freshmen on August 27th and all other students on September 3rd.
Sincerely,
Jim Stefankiewicz
Principal
732-842-8000 x210
Student Schedules
Take a moment to review the enclosed class schedule with your child. The schedule indicates class periods, teacher names, subject titles, meeting patterns for the days of the week and room assignments. Also appearing on each schedule is the assigned locker and locker combination. Stress to your child the importance of keeping this information secure. Students enrolled in semester courses will note that only the first semester course appears on the enclosed schedule.
In some instances a student may observe that changes have been made with their elective course selections. Some changes were necessitated by a student’s need for remediation (“enrichment”) courses. Other changes were the result of scheduling conflicts. Freshmen students whose NJASK8 scores placed them in the “partially proficient” category were scheduled for enrichment courses in lieu of electives.
QUESTIONS CONCERNING YOUR SCHEDULE CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE GUIDANCE OFFICE STARTING AUGUST 25, 2008.
Enclosed is a 2008-09 school year calendar. The faculty and administration of Red Bank Regional High School places a high priority on student attendance. The classroom experience can never be replicated when students are absent. “Make-up work” is burdensome for both the teacher and the student and typically creates a void in the student’s learning. In most cases, a student’s academic performance diminishes significantly during extended absences.
We appreciate your cooperation in scheduling family vacations and personal commitments during school holidays and after school hours. Family vacations will be recorded as “unexcused” absences. Please note that mid-term and final examinations can not be made up if students miss them due to an unexcused absence as defined in the student handbook. Mid-term exams will take place from 1/21-1/27/09. Final exams will take place from 6/15-6/19/09.
The first day of school for all students is Wednesday, September 3. This is a full day beginning promptly at 7:35 am and dismissing at 2:31 PM.
An important date to note is Thursday, September 25, which is the evening set aside for the annual Parents’ Open House. As per past practice, there will be a delayed opening (9:30 am) on the morning following the Open House. On Friday, September 26 students are expected to report to homeroom by 9:30 am. All transportation pick-up times will be 2 hours later than usual.
Please note that effective September 3, 2008, there will be only two entrances into RBR prior to 7:35AM.
Those two entrances will be the main entrance and the side entrance by the Language Arts wing. The doors by the Media Center will remain locked at all times. The side entrance will be locked at 7:35AM. After 7:35AM, all students must enter the building through the main entrance. This procedure has been put in place to ensure the safety of all students and staff.
- Federally Subsidized Breakfast and Lunch Program
An application for a free or reduced school meal program is enclosed. Families meeting the income guidelines for this program are encouraged to return a completed application as soon as possible to ensure delivery of services to your child. Families completing applications may expect applications to be processed within one week from the time of submission. Students will be responsible for their own meals during the processing period.
For additional information and/or assistance completing this application please call Ms. Theresa Logan at 842-8000, extension 202. The high school office is open every day from 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM throughout the month
of August. From September 3 on, the high school offices are open until 3:30 PM.
- Universal Student ID Card
Enclosed is a flyer (freshman packets only – returning students have ID cards) explaining the use of the photograph Universal Student ID cards at the high school. All freshman and transfer students are issued a photo ID card free of charge during the first week of school. Photo ID cards are to be carried at all times by each student. This Universal Card displays an individual bar code number for each student and permits students to use the card as a source of identification and as a means to borrow reference materials from the Media Center. In addition, the card serves as a personal debit card in the school cafeteria eliminating the need for a student to carry cash to school. Please stress to your child the importance of keeping this card in a safe and secure place on their person at all times. There is a fee for card replacement.
- SAT/College Admissions Testing
Seniors planning to take the October 4 administration of the SAT need to register by September 9. Registration packets are available in the guidance office or students may register on line. Subsequent SAT administrations are scheduled during the months of November and December. All three fall administrations are offered at RBRHS. RBR will be offering, through Kaplan, a SAT preparation class in the evening beginning August 25. Information on these classes has been sent to seniors under separate cover. Please call x202 if you are interested in taking the Kaplan SAT preparation class.
- Yearbook Portraits for Underclassmen– Senior Make-ups
Yearbook pictures for freshmen, sophomores and juniors are scheduled for September 9-11. Students will be photographed during their scheduled physical education class.
- Military Recruiters – Federal Legislation Requirements/Exemptions
Recent federal legislation, specifically amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2002, requires secondary schools to provide military recruiters the same access to secondary student information as they provide to post-secondary institutions and prospective employers.
The United States Department of Education directs schools to release the demographic information for juniors and seniors to military recruiters contending that the obligation for schools to provide this information does not conflict with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. The consequence for schools not complying with the military disclosure requirements is a loss of federal funding under ESEA.
However, under the law, parents/guardians have the option to request that the school not disclose the directory information as requested by the military. Parents/guardians choosing to exercise this option must complete a “Military Services – Directory Information - Parent Option Form” for each child enrolled in the school. Forms are available in this mailer, the Principal’s Office, Guidance Office and school website.
- Procedure for dropping off items for students
It is in the best interest of the student that he/she be prepared for the school day. Students should be conscientious about bringing all books, lunches, sports equipment, etc. to school each day. We understand that at times it is necessary for parents to bring in requested items such as eyeglasses and medication. For security reasons we ask that parents stop at the security desk just inside the main entrance and leave the items with our security/hall aides. RBRHS will no longer deliver flowers, balloons or other gift items to students during the school day. Thank you for your cooperation.