Today was a day of new beginnings for many Russellville Independent Schools students as Stevenson Elementary, Russellville Middle and Russellville High schools kicked off the 2012-2013 school year.
RHS Senior Luke Boisseau, at Thursday’s back-to-school open house at RHS, said while he’s excited about a school year that will give him the opportunity to hold a co-op job at Cayce Mill Supply, he’s also already thinking about how much he’ll miss being a Panther when he graduates.
“It’s my last year,” he said. “I’m not ready to leave.”
Cynthia Hazel, a senior who transferred to RHS from a school in Tennessee, said she was “excited and nervous” about her first day as a student at RHS.
Jasmine McGaugh, who went to RHS a couple years ago and is now returning to the school after attending Logan County High for a while, is looking forward to reconnecting with old friends.
“She’s excited,” said her mom, Janel McGaugh, “but I’m upset because she doesn’t realize how fast it will be over.”
Debbie Browder, Youth Service Center Director at RHS, said she enjoyed seeing all the students at the open house.
“I miss my children” during the summer, she said.
RHS Principal Kim McDaniel on Friday said this year’s back-to-school event was a huge hit, with more than twice as many students attending as they did last year.
“The energy and excitement in the building last night is what we are going to capitalize on from day one this year,” she said.
A feeling of excitement has been in the entire school district.
Faculty, staff, teachers and administration kicked off their opening day yesterday with an event at Crossroads Church that included a motivational speech by LaDonna Gatlin, a Speakers Hall of Fame member, Chicken Soup for the Soul contributor and sister to the famous Gatlin Brothers.
At SES, many programs and events are building up the positive energy.
Carol Kees, Family Resource Center Director, is looking forward to involving more fathers of students in volunteerism through SES’s implementation of a Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program. According to Kees, each Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer will donate a full day to the school each time he volunteers. For more information, contact Kees at carol.kees@russellville.kyschools.us.
Teacher Holly Gilbert, who will be coaching the SES Academic Team with fellow teacher Rhonda Kidd this fall, is looking forward to encouraging students to prepare for academic team tryouts Sept. 3-5.
Susan Allpress, beginning band director at SES, is excited about giving fifth grade students interested in band the opportunity to try out several instruments, with help from Phil Ashby of Royal Music Co., on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the school.
The students will begin with flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone or percussion.
While the early days of band will find the students focusing on learning the basic notes, “by fall break they will play some familiar tunes,” Allpress said. “We also perform in the Christmas concert in December and in the spring with the middle school and high school band.”
Any parent interested in buying an instrument for their beginning band child should bring their credit application information, if interested in using a payment plan to pay for an instrument, and a checkbook to Monday’s meeting with Royal Music. Those who can’t attend can call Royal Music at (270) 842-9435.
Parents interested in helping out with a SES Panther Cookbook being put together by Teacher Michelle Hindman are encouraged to send their favorite recipes for publication to the Hindman at the school or via e-mail at michelle.hindman@russellville.kyschools.us.
For more information about Russellville Independent Schools, check out www.russellville.kyschools.us.
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