August 2013 Blue Ridge High SchoolBlue Ridge High School

Blue Ridge High School

August 2013

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

Dear Parents and Students:

Welcome to a new school year. It is hard to believe that the first day of school is just around the corner. I hope this newsletter

finds you and your family having a fantastic summer! I am excited about beginning my 12th year at Blue Ridge High School.

Orientation will consist of two days: Monday, August 12, and Tuesday, August 13. See orientation schedule. During this event,

students will have their student ID and the picture for the yearbook taken, receive schedules, pay fees and debts, receive locker as-

signments, pay for parking, etc. Yearbooks will be purchased directly from Jostens. See yearbook information. Athletic insurance

must be paid directly to the coach. In addition, school insurance must be paid separately.

All students will report to homeroom on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 21, at 8:45 a.m. Please note that this will be a

full day of attendance. Buses will be running and lunch will be served. Tentative meal prices for 2013-2014 school year are as

follows:

Breakfast: Lunch:

Full paid student—$1.00 Full paid student—$2.10

Reduced Student—$ . 30 Reduced student—$ .40

Adult—$2.00 Adult—$3.25

**Students may not charge meals. If a parent is unable to pay for student’s meals, please apply for free and reduced meals by com-

pleting an application available on-line at the school district website or from the Cafeteria Manager.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2013-2014 school year for you and your student. Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,

Reena Watson, Principal

Orientation

For Parents and Students

11th—12th grade students: Monday, August 12

12th grade 9:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

11th grade 1:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.

** Band members will report at 1:00 on this day.

9th—10th grade students: Tuesday, August 13

10th grade 9:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

9th grade 5:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m.

A-L 5:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

M-Z 6:45 p.m. —7:45 p.m.

During orientation parents will be able to pick up lunch applications and prepay for meals on the above orienta-

tion dates.

Blue Ridge High SchoolBlue Ridge High School

REMINDERS Each student must have a 2013-2014 Student Medical Emergency Form completed within

the first seven (7) days of school which is August 30, 2013.

For your student’s safety, all medications are to be administered through the health room.

Students are NOT allowed to bring in medication. Parents MUST bring in all medications.

Privacy rights– parents have 15 days to refuse (in writing) to permit any information as di-

rectory information. Send this request to the guidance department.

Do not schedule trips or vacations for school days, exams or snow days. Students can miss

no more than 5 days in a semester class or 3 days in a quarter course.

Mission trips, cruises, weddings, family vacations, family reunions, non-Blue Ridge High

School sponsored events, etc. are not excused absences.

No schedule changes will be made 1st or 2nd semester. The deadline was April 26,

2013.

Be prepared to clear all debts before receiving schedules.

Save all receipts; the original receipt must be submitted for refunds.

All skirts, dresses, & shorts must touch the knee.

All shirts must have sleeves.

Students registered for Driver’s Education must prepay for this class in advance. Letters

have been mailed.

No parking permits will be issued to freshman.

Monitor absences very carefully. Contact the teacher with questions.

Submit documentation for absences within 3 days of return to school.

Early dismissals are between classes.

No early dismissal by telephone, email, or fax.

No early dismissals during exams.

Car riders will be picked up in the front of the building only. The bus parking gates will

be locked each day until 3:40 p.m. The bus parking lot is for teachers, buses, and students

with early dismissals.

Bus students will wait in the cafeteria until their bus arrives.

The student parking lot will be a one way exit in the afternoon until 4:00 p.m.

Be positive and believe that it is going to be a great year: “A Tiger’s Path to Success be-

gins with a Positive Attitude”.

Page 2 Blue Ridge High School

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Make-up pictures will be taken September 9, 2013

Fall Open House at 6:30 p.m. on September 23, 2013

Curriculum Night at 6:30 p.m. on January 27, 2014

Spring Open House Drop-In from 5:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. on February 20, 2014

Prom is May 10, 2014 at Greer City Hall Events Center

Awards Night is May 19, 2014 at 6:30 p.m.

Graduation rehearsal is 2:00 p.m. at Timmons Arena on June 2, 2014

Graduation is at 2:00 p.m. at Timmons Arena on June 5, 2014


PTSA

(Parent Teacher Student Association)

Please join PTSA. Joining PTSA is

a very important way to support

BRHS. PTSA represents parents, teachers, and stu-

dents as members of the oldest child advocacy group in the nation. Our

current projected enrollment is 1155 students. Our goal is 100% mem-

bership for our school, but we need you to take action and join for each

parent and child that is associated with BRHS. Our goal this year is to

have 500 memberships. This goal is less than half of the student body.

A membership application is enclosed. You may return the attached ap-

plication to your student’s homeroom teacher.


BRHS PTSA Membership

It only takes a moment to join. It is not the amount of time you can contribute that is most important, but rather your commit-

ment to help PTSA make a difference in the lives of our children. When you join PTSA, you are helping your child’s school! The

two ways our PTSA raises funds are through memberships and canteen sales. WE DO NOT DO FUNDRAISING!!!

A portion of your membership dues goes to support District, State and National PTA. The remaining amount and ALL funds

raised during the year go back to the school in ways that benefit students and teachers. Some of the things your PTSA member-

ship helps with include:

Red Ribbon Week After-Prom

School Grounds Beautification Senior Scholarship Fund

Boys and Girls State Staff Breakfast and Luncheon

Student Appreciation Teacher Grants for the Classroom

Please join PTSA and help Blue Ridge High School!

Dues are $6.00 per person. Make checks payable to BRHS PTSA. Thanks!

(If you do not wish to join, but still want to help our school, you may make a tax-deductible donation to BRHS PTSA.)

1. Name__________________________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________________

Phone(s)________________________________________________________________

Email__________________________________________________________________

Please check one: _____Parent _____Student _____Teacher _____Staff

I would like to volunteer to help with:

_____Working during lunch in the school Canteen

_____Helping with After-Prom

_____Hospitality: Send in food for special school events

2. Name__________________________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________________

Phone(s)________________________________________________________________

Email__________________________________________________________________

Please check one: _____Parent _____Student _____Teacher _____Staff

I would like to volunteer to help with:

_____Working during lunch in the school Canteen

_____Helping with After-Prom

_____Hospitality: Send in food for special school events

Student Parking:

Students wishing to drive on campus at Blue

Ridge High School for the 2013 -

2014 school year must purchase

a parking pass. In order to pur-

chase a parking pass students

must do the following:

Complete Alive @ 25 Class

(register for the class at

www.scaliveat25.org).

ALL school debt must be cleared.

Have a valid driver’s license & proof of

insurance.

Return the signed portion of the parking

contract.

Parking passes are $30. Passes will be sold on a

first come, first serve basis.

“Alive @ 25” Class at Blue Ridge

Sign up now!

BRHS will offer Alive at 25 on August 8 at

9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Remember, only those completing this

class will be eligible to buy a parking

pass for the 13 - 14 school year.

Please go to www.scaliveat25.org to register.

Fees for 2013-2014

Academic Fees: Class Dues:

Teacher Cadet Workbook $22.00 Freshman $ 5.00

Anatomy/Physiology $17.00 Sophomore $10.00

Arts I & Arts II $20.00 Junior $15.00

Chemistry $10.00 Senior $15.00

Foods & Nutrition I & II $10.00

Drivers’ Ed $150.00

Parking Permits $30.00

(1/2 year-Seniors) $15.00

Strings $30.00 (students who do not bring their own instrument)

Latin Fee $1.50 (Cambridge website)

Ceramics $25.00


http://www.scaliveat25.org

http://www.scaliveat25.org


Join Our Back to School Reading Celebration!

It’s not too late to send us a post card with a short description of a book, magazine, or e- book you’ve read this summer. We will accept post cards

that are postmarked through August 31st. Students who send one in will be in-vited to the Media Center’s annual summer reading party. Refreshments will be served and many door prizes (including several gift cards) will be awarded. Students who do not have access to a postcard can pick one up from the school office or the media center. Teachers, be sure to send us your postcards too! Students who send in a postcard will receive an invitation to our celebration.

The date will be announced after school starts through daily announcements.

Follow the directions below when sending in your postcard:

Write a brief note of the place you are visiting or have visited and the Title

of a book, magazine or E book you are reading.

Be sure to sign and print your first and last name and upcoming grade, so

we will know who to invite to the summer reading party.

If you do not get one of our pre-addressed postcards, send your postcard to:

BRHS Summer Reading Program

2151 Fews Chapel Road

Greer, SC 29651

Ms. Byrd and Mrs. Stephenson

Year Book Information 2013-2014

Yearbooks will be purchased from Jostens again this year, and the first order form

should arrive to students' homes during the last week of September or the first week of October.

Parents/guardians can order a yearbook from Jostens online by visiting the Jostens website,

www.jostensyearbooks.com, by telephone: 1-866-282-1516, or through the postal service by

mailing their order to: Jostens Yearbook Service Center, P. O. Box 17609, Denver, CO 80217.

Senior Ad information will be distributed during senior orientation. Deadline for Senior Ad:

Senior Ads will be due to Mrs. Hendley by the end of the school day on Wednesday, September 18,

2013. The completed order form, photos, text, and deposit must be submitted by the end of the day

on September 18, 2013 in order for an ad page to be reserved. No senior ads will be accepted after

September, 18, 2013. The submission of a Senior Ad Form and a Senior Ad Deposit represents a

binding contract for the purchase of a senior ad and a commitment by the purchaser to pay the

remaining balance. The Blue Ridge High School El Dorado yearbook staff will not be able to cancel

a senior ad or refund the deposit. The remaining balance on the senior ads will be due on Wednesday,

November 13, 2013. If the remaining balance is not paid by this date, the student to whom the ad

belongs will be placed on the Blue Ridge High School debt list. The El Dorado yearbook staff will

no longer provide secret senior ads. The staff will not maintain the secrecy of the purchase of the ad

or the content of the ad.

El Dorado


GUIDANCE NEWS

Students will be assigned to counselors alphabetically. Counselors will be assigned students

from all grades—9th-12th.

TBA A-Gibson 355-1815

Jessica Fevrin Gilbert-N 355-1813

D’Ann Todd Ni-Z 355-1814

Patti Crenshaw Guidance Counselor (part-time) 355-1818

Patti Crenshaw Career Counselor (part-time) 355-1818

Pam Stokes Guidance Clerk 355-1804

There will be no schedule changes. Parent and students were informed last year that

April 26, 2013 was the deadline to make any schedule changes.

If a student has one of the following reasons with his/her schedule, then a request should

be made in writing and submitted to guidance. Forms can be picked up in the guidance office.

Schedule changes will not be made if one of these reasons does not affect your student’s sched-

ule.

1. You do not have 8 classes for the entire year. Seniors are the only grade level that can have

late arrival or early dismissal.

2. Student needs a course for graduation/college and you will graduate this year.

3. Student completed a course assigned in summer school or credit recovery.

4. Student previously failed under this teacher and is requesting another one.

5. Student failed to meet prerequisites for a course.

6. There is a computer error where all of your academics are in one semester and all of your

electives are in another semester.

If your schedule is wrong because of one of the above reasons, then a form must be completed

and turned in to Guidance no later than Monday, August 27, at 3:30 p.m.

Students must remain on class rolls and will be expected to attend all classes on the current

schedule until official approval and a new schedule from guidance is given to the student.

ATHLETIC ID BADGES

The Blue Ridge High School Athletic Department will be offering all BRHS students the opportunity to purchase an Athletic ID for the 2013-2014 school year. The cost of the ID will be $55 and may be purchased on the following days and times: Tuesday August 6th from 10 AM – NOON and 5 PM – 7 PM. Thursday August 8th from 10 AM – NOON and 5 PM – 7 PM. Students may also purchase Athletic ID’s at Orientation. Students that wish to purchase the Athletic ID for the 2013-2014 school years must complete the Athletic ID Form found on the school webpage. Please bring completed form signed by student and parent when you come to purchase your Athletic ID. Athletic ID’s will be printed at the time of purchase. Athletic ID’s will be sold until September 6th 2013. The Athletic ID would serve as the students ID badge for school and allow him/her admittance into all BRHS home athletic events for the 2012-2013 school year. This does not include jamborees, scrimmages, tournaments, invitational, or playoff games. Stu-dents would be required to pay for those types of events. Listed below are estimated costs for student admittance to all BRHS athletic events for one year.

As you can see, the purchase of an Athletic ID is an amazing deal. Once purchased, the Athletic ID comes with the following guidelines and regulations. 1. Lost, stolen, or damaged ID’s will cost $10 to replace. 2. Any student that allows someone else to use their Athletic ID to enter an athletic event will forfeit their ID. 3. You must present your Athletic ID at the gate/door to obtain admission to an athletic event. No ID. No admission. No excep-tions.

SPORT COST PER GAME # OF GAMES TOTAL COST

Varsity Football $6.00 5 $30.00

C team/JV Football $5.00 5 $25.00

D team Football $3.00 4 $12.00

Volleyball $5.00 6 $30.00

Varsity Basketball $6.00 12 $72.00

JV Basketball $5.00 10 $50.00

Wrestling $5.00 3 $15.00

Varsity /JV Baseball $5.00 8 $40.00

Varsity/JV Softball $5.00 8 $40.00

Track $5.00 3 $15.00

Varsity/JV G Soccer $5.00 8 $40.00

Varsity/JV B Soccer $5.00 8 $40.00

Totals 88 $409.00


ATTENDANCE RULES

In accordance with the South Carolina Compulsory School Attendance Law, The School District of Greenville County has adopted uniform rules to assure that

Students attend regularly. When students are not in school each day, they miss hours of valuable instruction and opportunities for learning that they will not

have again.

Student are counted present only when they are actually in school, on homebound instruction, or at an activity authorized by the school principal.

The school year consists of 180 days. To receive credit, students must not miss more than five (5) for a unit course, ten (10) days for a year long unit

course or three (3) days for a 1/2 unit course, as well as meet all minimum requirements for each course. Any absence in excess of five (5) days may cause

a student to lose credit for a unit course; any absence in excess of three (3) may cause a student to lose credit for a 1/2 unit course.

All absences beginning with the sixth (6th) for a unit and the fourth (4th) for a 1/2 unit course must be lawful. See below:

In order to be counted present for a full class period, a student must be in class at least 60 minutes for a block semester class.

Lawful Absences

1. Personal illness of a child verified by a statement from a physician within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. Absences for chronic or extend-

ed illness will be approved only when verified by a physician’s statement. Serious illness or death of an immediate family member when verified by a

medical note, program, or an obituary from the funeral home within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. A total of three days bereavement will

be given.

2. Absences for recognized religious holidays when approved in advance. Make requests to the principal in writing.

3. Juniors and Seniors are allowed 3 college day visits per year. Pick up form from guidance. Upon return to school, a letter from the college verifying the

attendance that day must be submitted to the Attendance Office within three (3) days.

4. Medical Notes will not be accepted by fax, e-mail or telephone.

6. Any forged documentation for an absence is subject to disciplinary action.

Unlawful Absences

Any student absence, with or without the knowledge of the parent that does not meet the conditions for a lawful absence, shall be counted as unlawful and will

not be excused.

SCHOOL DAY

The school day begins at 8:45 am and ends at 3:45 pm. The school is open to students at 7:45 am. Students must be picked up by 4:00 pm. Students should be

on campus before or after these times only when involved in supervised school activities.

Bell Schedule

Period 1 8:45-10:15

Period 2 10:20-11:50

Period 3 11:55-2:10

Period 4 2:15-3:45

Lunch Shift During Period

Early Lunch 11:50-12:15 (Bonds & Fine Arts)

1st Lunch 12:35-1:00

2nd Lunch 1:10-1:35

3rd Lunch 1:45-2:10

2 Hour Delay

Period 1 10:45-11:20

Period 2 11:25-11:55

Period 3 Regular Schedule

Homeroom Procedures

11:40 am Bell rings

11:45 am Homeroom (Attendance taken)

11:55 am Bell for 3rd period


Dear BRHS Parents:

It’s time to elect School Improvement Council parent representatives. The School Improve-

ment Council (SIC) is an advisory committee to a school’s principal and faculty. The SIC

serves as a liaison between the school and community. SIC brings together parents, educators,

students, and community stakeholders to collaborate in the improvement of their local school.

Input from SIC is used to make sound decisions in regards to school programs and other school

related issues.

Under law, the council is required to consist of two parents elected by the parents of children

enrolled at BRHS, two teachers elected by the faculty, other representatives of the community,

and people appointed by the principal.

The elected member to the School Improvement Council serves a minimum term of two years.

Parents of students elected in their last year of enrollment at BRHS may serve a term of only

one year.

Please assist me in nominating parents for the 2013-2014 SIC Committee by completing the

form below and returning to the front office. All nominations are due by Tuesday, September

10. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Reena Watson, Principal

1. I would like to nominate ____________________(Parent) to service on the

School Improvement Council. I feel this parent would represent the parents of

the community well.

2. I, __________________________(Please print), do not wish to be included on the

ballot if I am nominated.


PARKING PERMIT REGULATIONS

BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL 2013-2014

1. DRIVING TO SCHOOL IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT.

2. Parking tags cost $30.00. Tags will be sold on a first come, first serve basis for students

who meet the criteria listed below.

3. In order to purchase parking you must do the following:

*Complete Alive @ 25 Class (register for the class at www.scaliveat25.org)

*ALL school debt must be cleared

*Have a valid driver’s license & proof of insurance

*Return the signed portion of this contract

4. Parking privileges can be suspended at any time by administration for unsafe driving or be-

havior within the proximity of the school or failure to adhere to any part of this contract.

5. Your parking tag allows you to part in a specified area on campus. The entire campus is

checked each day for cars parked illegally parked. Consequences for parking in the wrong

area or for parking on campus without a tag are listed below.

6. Parking tickets will be issued for violations stated in this contract. 1st offense = Warning,

2nd offense = $10, 3rd offense = $25, 4th offense = car booted at owners expense.

7. All cars booted will pay a total of $110 to have the boot removed…($75 booting fee and

$35 ticket fines).

8. Students who try to remove or who damage the car boot in any way will be responsible for

replacing the boot which costs in excess of $500.

9. When tickets are paid it does not revert the student back to zero parking offenses. A record

is kept of all parking offenses. Unpaid fines will be added to the student’s debt.

10. BRHS parking lot gates are opened and closed each period of the day to accommodate ca-

reer center students and those with late in/early out schedules. However, traffic is not al-

lowed to ENTER the parking lot between 3:30-4:00 p.m. Those returning to campus for

after school activities will need to park in the bus lot. Failure to comply with this rule may

result in your driving privileges being suspended.

11. ALL DRIVERS MUST MAINTAIN 5 MPH OR LESS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY DUR-

ING SCHOOL HOURS. Be aware of the speed limit on Pennington Road and Fews Chap-

el Road.

12. Reckless driving such as “spinning” wheels and other offenses may result in losing privi-

leges. This includes entering, exiting and while in the parking lot.


13. All cars parked on school grounds during the day will display a current parking tag. Park-

ing tags are to be displayed on the rear view mirror. It is the sole responsibility of the stu-

dent to hang the tag in a highly visible manner. Parking tickets written for not being able

to see the hanging tag will not be forgiven.

14. Cars parked on campus without a valid parking tag will be subject to being booted at the

owner’s expense.

15. Students must park in the designated lot notated on their parking tag. Visitor and faculty

or staff parking spaces are off limits.

16. All students must park within the parking space lines. DO NOT USE MORE THAN ONE

SPACE. Do not park on the sidewalks or grass.

17. Handicap decals must be displayed on the rearview mirror or license plate at all times in

order to park in the handicap spaces.

18. No loitering in parking lot upon arrival, whether inside or outside of car, will be allowed.

Once students arrive at school, they must immediately park and enter the school. If stu-

dents are found in parked cars, they will be disciplined for being in an unauthorized area.

19. During the fall semester ALL students must exit the parking lot with their vehicle by 4

p.m. The parking lot is used by the athletic booster club during football games. Cars not

moved by 4 p.m. are subject to being towed.

20. No one will take another student from the campus in his/her car without parent/guardian

authorization.

21. No one will go into the parking lot during the school day.

22. No one shall drive to Bonds, Fine Arts, etc. without first gaining permission from the ad-

ministration at the BRHS and from the administration of the center involved.

23. Underclassmen (10th and 11th grade) park on the right side of the parking lot and seniors

park on the left side.

24. The student parking lot will be open at 7:45 a.m.

25. Students classified as 9th graders will not be issued a parking tag, regardless of age.


I agree to the terms set forth as stated on page one for parking and driving on the Blue Ridge High School campus.

PRINT ALL INFORMATION ,

STUDENT’S LAST NAME STUDENT’S FIRST NAME

GRADE DRIVER’S LICENSE # PARENT’S PHONE NUMBER

PROOF OF INSURANCE & POLICY NUMBER

CIRCLE LOT REQUESTED: UNDERCLASSMEN $30 SENIOR $30 Bus TBD

(Your request is not guaranteed. Spaces are sold on a first come first serve basis).

VEHICLE INFORMATION:

MAKE

MODEL

YEAR

COLOR(S)

LICENSE PLATE #

PARENT’S SIGNATURE DATE

STUDENT’S SIGNATURE DATE

SCHOOL USE ONLY

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SECTION

LOT ASSIGNED DECAL # RECEIPT #


Blue Ridge High PTSA Non-Profit Organization

District 1 PTA US Postage Paid

2151 Fews Chapel Road Permit No. 94

Greer, SC 29651 Greenville, SC

Documents

August 2013 Blue Ridge High SchoolBlue Ridge High School