Students at Russellville Junior/Senior High School were treated to a Happy School Year party shortly after their arrival for the first day of the 2014-15 school year. Principal Kim McDaniel opened the assembly with some encouraging words of welcome and an introduction of new faculty members, including some “familiar faces in new places” such as new RJHS vice-principal Jennifer Myers and new guidance counselor Nicole Osborne.
Mrs. McDaniel then reviewed the College and Career Readiness program, asking both incoming 6th graders and seniors to stand. Junior high school students were urged to begin thinking about college and career readiness in their middle grade years rather than waiting until they are juniors or seniors. Mrs. McDaniel recognized those students who have been declared College and Career ready by giving them a certificate and a t-shirt.
The RSHS cheerleaders then performed a dance and cheer routine, which set the tone for what some hope will become an annual event: the faculty-student dance off. Several teachers and students impressed the crowd with their dancing skills, including RSHS teacher Corey Waters, who performed a crowd-pleasing routine to the music from Saturday Night Fever.
Mrs. McDaniel recognized several groups of outstanding students, including perfect attendance students from last school year, Advance Placement (AP) students, students whose end-of-course (EOC) grades were As or Bs, and Students Engaged in Accelerated Learning (SEAL). She also drew several names from the perfect attendance students and those students who went all year without an office referral last year, presenting the winning students with gift cards.
A“Shake Your Tail Feather” contest was then held between several faculty members and students, followed by the RJHS cheerleaders performing the fight song and student representatives from each grade competing in a trivia challenge.
At the conclusion of the assembly, students were wished a very happy school year and dismissed to their next class.