This Week at Russellville High School Sept. 9-15
By David Perez and Ashley Cancino, Student Editors

This Thursday, Grades 6-12 will host RussellvilleJunior/Senior High School’s first of two Parent-Teacher Conference nights this year. Parents and guardians are encouraged to come between 5:30 - 7 this Thursday and meet with their child’s teachers.

Progress Reports Will Be Sent Home Tuesday

Parents should be receiving a Progress Report from their child on Tuesday evening. Progress Reports are being sent home with students and will not be mailed. If you do not receive a progress report, you may stop by the HS front office at any time and one will be printed for you.  

Fall Break Reminder

Fall Break this year will fall one week later than it has in past years. Just a reminder that it will be from October 8-12 this year.

Friday Phone Calls

Each Friday at 4 p.m., RJSHS will use the one-call system to notify any parent/guardian of any student that has a grade of “F” or lower in one or more classes. Included in this call are instructions for logging on to Infinite Campus to check their child’s grade as well as contact information for the school. Any parent/guardian needing assistance with getting online access to their child’s grades may contact the school at (270) 726-8421 and ask to speak with Counselor Rex Booth. He may also be reached via email at rex.booth@russellville.kyschools.us  

Soccer Claims All A Region 4 Championship

On Saturday, the boys Panther Soccer team took another step forward as they defeated visiting Clinton County 5-1 to claim the All A Region 4 Championship. The win propels the Panther Soccer team into the State Tournament to begin iSaturday in Owensboro where the Panthers will facethe Owensboro Catholic Aces. The win was the Panther’s seventh of this season, moving their record to 7-3-1. The seven wins so far this season exceeds the combined win total for the program from the years of 2010-2017.

Social-Emotional Testing this Week

All students at Russellville Jr/Sr High School will be taking a Social-Emotional Learning Diagnostic (SELD) this week. Attention to Social Emotional learning has been a major emphasis of the Kentucky Legislature in recent sessions. The SELD taken this month will give students information about strengths and needs that they may have based on their responses. Students will have the opportunity to discuss with their teachers the ways in which these insights may help them as they move forward academically, socially, and emotionally. Testing will be done under the watch of RISD School Psychologist Dr. Regina Guthrie. In addition to working with students in the district, Dr. Guthrie provides a highly rigorous Dual Credit class to students at RHS, offering Psychology 101 in the Fall and Developmental Psychology in the Spring.

Campus Life

7th Period Conditioning

By Gram Humphrey and Hannah Alford

Russellville Jr/Sr High School has seen a lot of changes this year and one of the changes that most affects students and teachers is the new schedule. One particular class offers students who are in a sport, a jump start. This class grants students an entire 45-minute period to train for fall and spring sports. During this conditioning students may lift weights, run, or work on different drills. Students enrolled in this class will train an extra 45 minutes on top of regular practice after school. The addition of conditioning class gives teams an advantage by helping student athletes and programs grow and improve. From the outside one might think this will take away from academic time, but the schedule offers students time to complete work when they are not training.

One football player provided insight into the weekly schedule for football players. Lennon Ries, a student athlete taking advantage of this new class, broke down the schedule explaining that on, “Monday, Thursday, and Friday we watch film and on Tuesdays and Wednesday we lift weights.”.Ries recognizes the benefits of having extra time on the field, “This gives us more on field time after school, instead of spending practice time off the field and watching film.” Football isn’t the only team benefiting from this class.

Sophomore Chloe Whitescarver, a member of the Lady Panthers basketball team, the girls are staying just as busy as the boys. She says that, “While some sports are lifting in the weight room we spend time working with the shooting machine in the gym or conditioning and lifting when the boys are watching film.”

The volleyball team is also working hard during 7th period. Co-captains Jasmaine Loving and Dominique Gatewood described the hard work that happens during conditioning. The team spends time “stretching, running, doing hit lines, serve receive drills, and working on our rotations’. The extra time in the weight room is new for the team this season. Both captains mentioned, “In the past, usually the football team took up the majority of the time in the weight room, but now we get time in there, too”.

Principal Ben Bruni said the class has received nothing but positive feedback. He made it clear that the overall purpose for the class is not sports, but fitness. He said, “It creates not only a better physical mindset but also a mental mindset as well.” Principal Bruni later explained that the redesigned schedule here at Russellville Jr./ Sr. High School provides an opportunity to have more physical time, but not take away from academics either. Bruni sums up the purpose of the class and its benefits by explaining, “It blends a healthy balance of both physical and academic time.”

Student Spotlight

By Hayle Sharp

The RHS school newspaper has started a new section called Student Spotlight. Each week a new student will be interviewed by the staff. This will be an opportunity to get to know the Panthers and learn what makes them unique. The Student Spotlight is a way for Panthers to tell their story and have some fun. Sharaya Booze (known as Shay to her friends) is a junior and a member of the band. She is our student spotlight of the week and here is what she shared with us.

Sharaya Booze

Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my last year in band.

Q: What would most of your teachers be surprised to know about you?

They would be most surprised to know that the Russellville High School band made it to state!

Q: What fictional character would you likemeet in real life and why?

I would love to meet Cheshire the cat from Alice in Wonderland, because he’s clever!

Q: What is your favorite excuse to tell your teacher when you don't turn in your homework on time?

My dog ate my homework!

Q: What do you like to do with your free time?

I enjoy playing my favorite sport, which is soccer!

Q: What is your biggest regret about school?

My biggest regret about school is actually waking up in the morning

Q: What do most adults don’t seem to understand about kids?

What most adults don’t understand about us kids is that we struggle as a kid too.

Q: What are three words or phrases that describe you the best?

I’m good to get along with, I have a big heart, and I love to help people!

Q: When you were younger, what did you used to imagine yourself as?

When I was younger I would see myself as being a police officer.

Q: What is one goal you have for yourself?

One goal I have is that we (the band) make it to finals!!

PSAT

Sophomore and junior students wishing to take the PSAT should begin signing up in the front office. This test is a National Merit Scholarship Qualifier. Cost of the test is $15 and must be paid to the Guidance Office by Sept. 11. For more information, please see Mr. Booth.

Sports Happenings

Football

Panthers’ Home Opener

By Makayla Jefferson

The lights of Rhea Stadium were shining bright on Friday, Aug. 31. The stadium was filled with supporting family members, students, teachers, and fans. The Panthers are a football legacy and that history can be felt throughout the stands and onto the field, so the atmosphere was exhilarating.

Fans were there to support the Panthers in their home opener against the Butler County Bears. The Panthers were able to defeat the Bears 17-13, continuing their winning streak at two. The game started off great for the Panthers with two touchdowns in the first quarter and a field goal in the second quarter.

But, after halftime the favor began to shift from the Panthers to the Bears. The Bears were able to come back and score two touchdowns in the third quarter, making the score 17-13. This did not discourage the Panthers. They were able to maintain the lead and stop the Bears from scoring anymore throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, thus winning the game.

Upcoming Schedule

Calendar

What’s for Breakfast and Lunch this week?

BREAKFAST ITEMS SERVED DAILY: Pop Tart choices, Cereal choices, Strawberry Bagel w/Cream Cheese, Muffins, and Fruit.

Monday- Sausage Pancake on a Stick

Tuesday – Donut Holes or Mini Pancakes

Wednesday-Sausage & Biscuit w/Jelly

Thursday-Bacon, Egg and Cheese Burrito

Friday-French Toast Sticks w/ Syrup

Lunch