Augusta County Schools
2024-25 School Information
Link: Augusta County Schools Website
Link: Augusta County Schools Calendar 2024-25
- First day of School: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
- Fee Collection Begins: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
- 8:30 am - 4:00 pm daily
- fees can be paid in person at the school or online through the parent portal
**Late Fee Collection Night: TBA
- Back to School Night/New student Orientation - Wednesday, July 31 - 6:00 p.m.
**Annual Online Registration for Returning Students is open through August 15! From a computer, laptop or mobile device, , the primary household guardian may log in to Campus Parent Portal and complete your student's health information, emergency contacts, and more! Log in at ACPS Online Student Registration Information Avoid lots of paperwork; after Annual Online registration closes you will need to complete manual paper registration to update all of your child(ren)'s information and permission forms (if you haven't completed them online). Need help? School office staff can assist you.
RHS School Picture Information:
- Friday, August 16 (underclassmen)
- Friday, August 23 (Seniors)
School Supplies for 1st day to get started:
- Spiral notebook
- Pencils/Pens
* Zipper and/or Zip Up Binders are NOT permitted
Letter to RHS Students and Families,
We are excited for the 2024-25 school year! We cannot wait to see our students back in the building learning and thriving in their classes as well as in our programs. As we continue to plan and you begin to think about the upcoming school year we wanted to pass along some information in anticipation of another successful year at Riverheads. The first day of school is Wednesday, August 7, 2024. First bell will ring at 8:08 am and we will dismiss at 3:16 p.m. each day on a normal schedule.
- Class Schedules/Fee Collection: Student schedules and fee collection will be available to students and families on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. School fees can be paid online through the parent portal and/or in person by coming to the school between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day. Late night fee collection will be on Wednesday, July 31 until 7:00 p.m.
- School Registration: Official school registration must be completed online. From a computer, laptop or mobile device, the primary household parent/guardian may log in to Campus Parent Portal and complete your student's health information, emergency contacts, and more! Log in at https://augustava.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/augusta_county.jsp and click More > Online Registration. Avoid lots of paperwork; after Annual Online registration closes you will need to complete manual paper registration to update all of your child(ren)'s information and permission forms (if you haven't completed them online). The online process can be done from home or we will have laptops available at the school to help assist families in this process. Returning families should have received a registration email during the summer to begin that process. It is extremely important that accurate information be entered when updating the registration. This includes address, emergency contact information and accurate phone numbers. In addition, alerts are available for attendance, changes, grade postings, assignment scores, and food services balances. In addition, as a school we will continue to update families through email and mailings about ongoings, events and happenings at the school throughout the year. Some of this information will also be posted on our school website. We ask that you complete the school registration process as soon as possible. This information not only provides accurate information for us here at RHS but helps with bus transportation, snow day notifications and communication from the school.
- Freshmen/New Student Orientation: We will have freshmen/new student orientation on Wednesday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m. Upon arrival parents/guardians and students will be asked to report the Auditorium for a brief presentation. Students who have previously been enrolled in ACPS should bring their old chromebook from the middle school - if they still have them - as they will be getting a new one for the 2024-25 school year. It is our hope that students can exchange their chromebooks along with their charger on the night of freshman orientation or on the first day of school. Any new student to ACPS can report to the Library to pick up a student chromebook and will have a new chromebook available to them on the first day. Also, clubs will have information available to new students in the cafeteria during the orientation. Yearbooks will also be on sale as well.
- Chromebooks: Returning students who kept their chromebook over the summer should begin charging their device. IF there any issues with the device they can swing by the school prior to the first day and report to the Library to see our Librarian Ms. Berry. IF there is an issue and they are unable to get to school prior to the first day, they should report to the Library upon arrival the first day and seek help in the Library before the first bell. IF the student turned in their device at the end of the year, they should go to the Library to pick it up. Please note that ACPS will not be supporting personal devices this year - only devices issue through the school will be supported by our Tech department.
- Student Medication: If your child has a medical condition that requires them to take medication at school during the day, please reach out to our school nurse - Ms. Becky Hipes - regarding the proper procedures for administering that at school. Ms. Hipes can be reached by email at hipes.rl@augusta.k12.va.us or by calling the school to answer your questions.
- Guidance: Our guidance department is available to help assist with student schedules, student & family support, college planning, scholarships, financial aid as well as other things. In addition, guidance counselors are available to help assist and provide additional support for those students dealing with social/emotional issues. Please reach out to the guidance department should you have any questions. Here is also a link to help get you started (hover over and click) - RHS Guidance Department
- Gov. School & VCTC: Information regarding any questions associated with Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning (SVCAL) - which includes the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School and Valley Career Technical Center (VCTC) should be directed to those places, or RHS guidance department depending on the nature of the question -
- Link: Shenandoah Valley Governors School
- Link: Valley Career and Technical Center
- School Insurance Information: Voluntary student accident insurance is available to those families wishing to explore this option. Please hover and click on the following to access the information: Student Accident Insurance | Augusta County Public Schools
- Athletics/Band/Club Information for 2024-25: Students are encouraged to explore and get involved in one of our many athletic programs, band or clubs at RHS. There are a variety of opportunities to be involved in something positive here at the school. The Marching Gladiators Band has already begun camp and is preparing for its performances in the upcoming year. IF your child is involved in the band and you want to help/support the RHS Band, please contact Ms. Justus Butler - RHS Band Director (butler.jt@augusta.k12.va.us) - about how to get involved in the Band Booster Club, or how you can help in general.
The Fall Athletic season kicks off the week of July 29. Information on practice/try-out dates and coaching can be found below:
- Golf (boys & girls) - July 29 at Gypsy Hill Golf Course (Staunton, VA); 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. - Coach D. Moore - moore.md@augusta.k12.va.us
- Competition Cheer - August 1 at 4:00 p.m. - Coach Fortune/Coach K. Norcross - ahemp@augusta.k12.va.us; norcross.kr@augusta.k12.va.us
- Sideline Cheer (Football) - August 1 - more information to come - Coach Fortune/Coach K. Norcross
- JV and Varsity Football - August 1 - 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm - meet at Fieldhouse; Coach R. Norcross - norcross.rm@augusta.k12.va.us
- JV and Varsity Volleyball - August 5 - 3:30- 5:30 pm - RHS Gym; Coach A. Moore - moore.aw@augusta.k12.va.us
- Boys & Girls Cross Country - August 5 - 3:30 - meet at the track/fieldhouse. - Coach Hipes & Coach Heizer hipes.rl@augusta.k12.va.us; heizer.jk2@augusta.k12.va.us
Athletic Notes of Importance:
- Must have a valid physical dated after May 1, 2024 and will be good for the entire 2024-25 school year. VHSL physical forms are available in the main office or by clicking on this link: VHSL Physical Form
-All parents and student athletes are required to review and sign the concussion information form and student code of conduct ACPS Athletes Pledge before they will be eligible to participate in sanctioned contests.
- There is a $25.00 athletic participation fee due to RHS (payable after teams have been selected)
- Fall Athletic Parent Night has been scheduled for Thursday, August 8 at 6:00 p.m. One parent/guardian is expected to attend for every student-athlete participating in Fall Sports. The parent night will begin in the auditorium and then individual teams will breakout to cover team rules, expectations, etc. Reach out to Mr. Weller, AD, should you have any questions.
- Please note that RHS, along with other areas schools, in particular the Shenandoah District, will be using GoFan - online ticketing - as an option for paying admission for regular season contests this year. If you are interested in getting involved in the Athletic Booster Club please reach out to Mr. Weller for more information on how you can help and get involved with this organization.
- Punch passes for home regular season contest will be available again this year. Punch passes can be purchased for $40 for 10 home RHS games and can purchase here in the front office starting July 30. For more information reach out to Mr. Weller.
- Fall Sports Pictures:
- Monday, August 12 - Volleyball, Cheer, Cross Country - 3:30 pm
- Tuesday, August 20 - Football, Golf, Band - 3:30 p.m.
- Additional updates and information can be found by clicking on the RHS Athletic website
If you are interested in joining a club, explore the club pages and pay attention to announcements on club days to join. To help you begin the process of exploring what options are available, please click on this link - RHS Activities - then click Menu and locate "Activities" to see what is available. Please reach out new Activities Director Mr. Patrick Weller (weller.pw@augusta.k12.va.us) should you have any questions regarding Athletics and Ms. Hailey - Assistant Principal (hailey.el@augusta.k12.va.us) - regarding any of the clubs.
- RHS Fan Wear and Apparel: Looking for RHS fan wear and apparel? Click on the RHS online store for a variety of options that can be delivered to your doorstep. A percentage of the proceeds come back to the school and help support the school. Use the following link (hover over and click) - RHS Fan Wear and Apparel - to get your RHS gear for the upcoming year!
- Attendance: Regular attendance is vital to the success of our students. We understand appointments and vacations during the school year will occur, however, we ask that you work around the school calendar as much as possible. if a student is absent, let us know with an email ( rhsattendance@augusta.k12.va.us), phone call, or note. While students are absent they will be responsible for the work they missed and they should communicate with a teacher about the work. If you know you are going on vacation in advance, please send a note and have your child swing by the main office to get a pre-arranged absence form so they are able to go around to their teachers to collect work prior to being out of school.
- Bus Lane/Student Drop-off/pick-up: Students may not be dropped off nor enter the building any earlier than 7:40 a.m. If arriving sooner, students can wait in the vehicle until prompted by a staff member to come into the building. In front of the high school, using the main parking lot and dropping off near the tennis courts is where we ask parents or guardians to drop off their students. Please do not drop off students in the lane directly in front of the school as that is for our busses. If dropping off a middle school student(s) in addition to a high school student(s), you can drop them off in front of the high school but the middle school student(s) will need to use the sidewalks and report to the front of the middle school to enter their building, and/or follow their procedures for morning and afternoon drop-offs in front of their building. With the anticipated increase in traffic with the opening of the new middle school, we ask that students and patrons use the crosswalks when crossing the bus lane directly in front of the high school. Students will enter the building through the main entrance each day and student should anticipate having to go through the weapon detectors each day. We anticipate the heaviest or busiest times with traffic in the mornings to be between 7:50-8:00 am and in the afternoons from 3:15-3:30 p.m. With the addition of the new middle school opening this year we may had to adjust our plans once we see how things are flowing with traffic and we request your patience and understanding as we work with the new middle school.
- Student Drivers: For those students who are eligible to drive to school, you will need to fill out a parking permit form online through parent portal or a form in the main office. Upon receipt and approval, students will be issued a tag to hang on their rear view mirror each day.
- Breakfast/Lunch: Breakfast and lunch for ALL of our students this year will be free of charge (minus extra chips, cookies, drinks, etc.) at RHS. Students should be prepared to enter their breakfast/lunch numbers each day. We are encouraging all of our students to each eat breakfast/lunch each day! A free and reduced form will still be sent home to families, also available in the front office, for families who may qualify for other programs within the school that have fees associated with them. Families are encouraged to fill those out and return those as soon as possible to the front office.
- School Pictures: School pictures for underclassmen will be held on Friday, August 16 here at the school. Senior Pictures will take place on Friday, August 23rd at the school. Picture forms for underclassmen will be sent home or you can purchase online through Strawbridge at www.strawbridge.net (code: FM458153) for underclassmen and Seniors will be given a time on August 23 for their pictures. Again, you can purchase online through Strawbridge Photography at www.strawbridge.net (code: TBA)
- Augusta County Schools: Stay connected with Augusta County Schools (see attachment). In addition, you are welcome to check out the ACPS website as well.
Upcoming Dates of Interest:
- July 30 - Fee Collection Begins/ Teacher Workdays begin
- July 31 - New Student Orientation - 6:00 p.m. (Late Fee night until 7:00 p.m.)
- August 7 - First day of School; bell rings at 8:08 a.m.
- August 8 - Fall Sports Parent Night (All Fall teams) - 6:30 p.m. (Auditorium)
- August 16- School Pictures (underclassman)
- August 23 - Senior Pictures (Formals & Cap/Gowns)
- August 19-Sept. 6 - SOL Testing Retakes
- August 31 - Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony - 4:00 p.m.
We look forward to another successful school year and we look forward to having students back in the classrooms ready to learn. Enjoy what is left of your summer! Go Gladiators - RED PRIDE.