The Ridge in Review

💙💛 Celebrating Our Support Staff of the Year Finalists! 💛💙

We are so excited to recognize three incredible members of our River Ridge family as our 2026–2027 Support Staff of the Year finalists:

⭐ Ms. Alicia Brackett
⭐ Ms. Autumn Hamilton
⭐ Ms. Tina Pellegrino

These ladies do so much behind the scenes—and often right out front—to take care of our students, staff, and school each and every day. Their hard work, willingness to help, and commitment to the Ridge make a difference in more ways than they probably realize.

We are incredibly fortunate to have each of them on our team. Please help us congratulate Ms. Brackett, Ms. Hamilton, and Ms. Pellegrino on this well-deserved recognition! 💙💛

Safety is always a top priority at River Ridge, and we are grateful for the continued investment our School Board and district make in keeping our schools safe. One of those investments is the growth of the CCSD School Police Department, which now includes 35 certified officers serving schools across the district.

At the Ridge, we are especially thankful to have Officer Tyler Thomas as part of our Knight family! Officer Thomas is a familiar face around campus and an important part of our school community. He works alongside our students, staff, and administrative team each day to help keep our campus safe while also building positive relationships with our students.

We appreciate Officer Thomas and all he does for the Ridge. If you see him around campus, be sure to say hello—and thank him for helping take care of our Knights! 💙⚔️

NYC at Night

Wednesday, September 30th | 6:00 PM

The RRHS Homecoming Parade is fast approaching, and this year we’re bringing a little bit of the Big Apple to the Ridge with our 2026 Homecoming theme — NYC at Night!

We are excited to have our River Ridge community join us as we celebrate our Homecoming Court, athletes, clubs and organizations, feeder teams, community sponsors, and more.

Linked below, you’ll find the 2026 Parade Route and designated general parking areas for the evening.

Homecoming Parade Route 2026

Want to be part of the parade?

If your team, club, business, or organization would still like to participate, there’s still time to sign up! Registration will remain open through Friday, September 25th.

Use the QR code on the attached image or the link below:

HOCO 2026 Parade Sign Up

Once your group has registered, a payment link will be sent to your designated point of contact.

A Few Important Reminders

For the safety of our parade participants, please do not park anywhere along the parade route.

Bring your chairs and blankets, find a great spot along the route, and don’t forget a bag for all that candy! We do ask that spectators remain out of the roadway during the parade, even when that perfect piece of candy lands just a little too far away. Safety first!

Guests needing accessible parking should enter through the football stadium entrance, where our volunteers will direct you to the appropriate parking area. We will also have shaded viewing areas available.

The parade will begin promptly at 6:00 PM. This is always one of our most anticipated Homecoming events, and our campus fills up quickly, so plan to arrive early and get settled.

If you are participating in the parade, your designated point of contact will receive additional lineup and arrival information the week before the event.

We can’t wait to see the Ridge come alive for NYC at Night as we kick off another great Homecoming celebration!

GO KNIGHTS!

We are excited to announce the 2026 Homecoming Dance at River Ridge High School! Please review the important details below:

• Date & Time: Saturday, October 3rd from 6:30–9:30 PM
• Location: River Ridge High School Cafeteria
• Theme: NYC at Night
• Attire: Semi-formal attire is encouraged.
• Tickets: $25 per person and ON SALE NOW!

Purchase your ticket through GoFan:

https://gofan.co/event/6879887?schoolId=GA25508

Students must present their ticket upon arrival for entry.

Bringing a Guest?

• Students who plan to bring a guest who does not attend River Ridge High School must complete a Guest Approval Form.
• Guest Approval Forms are available outside Rooms 2302 and 2114. Please make sure the form is completed and approved by Wednesday September 30th -PRIOR TO PURCHASING A TICKET

Parking & Drop-Off Information

• All parking, drop-off, and pick-up will take place at the BACK of the school. The front roundabout will be closed for the dance.
• Attendees Who Are Driving
• Please enter through the stadium entrance and park in the student lot in the spaces closest to the student entrance.
• After parking, students will walk around the exterior of the cafeteria to the bus lane entrance, where tickets will be checked at the door.
• Attendees Who Are Being Dropped Off
• Drop-off will take place in the bus lanes near the cafeteria entrance. Tickets will be checked at the door.
• Please do not park or wait for an extended period of time in the bus lanes or along the sidewalk. This area can become congested quickly, and we want to keep traffic moving smoothly.

Pick-Up

• The dance ends promptly at 9:30 PM. Please make arrangements for rides to arrive on time.
• Clean-up will begin shortly after the dance ends, so students will need to leave the area promptly. Because the bus lanes can become congested, please communicate with your student/ride ahead of time to help make pick-up as smooth as possible.

We look forward to an evening of school spirit, music, dancing, and experiencing NYC at the Ridge! Thank you for helping us make Homecoming a safe and memorable event for our students.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Madison.Rhoad@cherokeek12.net.

The River Ridge Crochet Club is up and running this year. Meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. We meet in the media center at 7:30 before school. All levels are welcome.

📱 Help Your Student Stay in the Loop!

Parents, please take a moment to make sure your student’s cell phone number is listed correctly in ParentVUE. This allows students to receive ParentSquare notifications and messages directly from their clubs, activities, and extracurriculars—and helps us keep them connected to all the great things happening at the Ridge!

Updating the information is quick and easy through ParentVUE → Online Registration → Student Information Update. Once submitted, please allow up to 24 hours for the information to sync with ParentSquare.

See the attached flyer for step-by-step directions.

Did you miss out on joining Beta Club last year? Applications will be open this semester to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who have at least an 89.5 GPA and would like to join RRHS National Beta Club. We will hold a brief informational meeting on Thursday, Sept 17th in Room 2210 at 7:45am. Online application for membership coming soon! Check morning announcements, flyers around the school, and the Ridge in Review (Freshmen can apply 2nd semester).

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a career exploration assessment designed to help students better understand their strengths, skills, interests, and potential career paths. While the ASVAB is used by the military as part of its enlistment process, taking the ASVAB does not require or commit a student to joining the military.

The ASVAB can be beneficial for all students, including those planning to attend college, enter the workforce, pursue technical training, or explore military service. Results can help students identify areas where they naturally excel and connect those strengths to possible careers. It is a great opportunity for students who are still asking, “What am I good at, and what might I want to do after high school?”

Mark your calendar for the River Ridge College Fair!

📅 Thursday, October 1
🕛 During all lunch periods
📍 RRHS Library

Students will have the opportunity to meet college representatives, ask questions, and learn more about schools they may be interested in. We encourage families to talk with their students about this great opportunity to explore future college options! 😊

Save the date!

The 2026 Cherokee County Marching Band Exhibition will be on Monday, October 12 at Etowah High School!

This is one of our favorite Fine Arts traditions each year, bringing together all six CCSD high school marching bands for one incredible evening of music, movement, and school spirit. We are also excited to welcome The King’s Academy to perform with us!

Mark Your Calendars:

October 12, 2026

Etowah High School

Gates open at 5:00 p.m.

National Anthem at 6:00 p.m.

Can't wait to see you there!

Fall 2026 Final Exam Dates

Week of December 15-18

The expectation of all students is to take their final exams on the scheduled days. Unless extraordinary circumstances occur, students must take their exams during the scheduled time. Any student requesting permission to take an exam at an alternate time requires approval from Mr. Sanderson. Please understand that family trips and prescheduled vacations are not reasons for early exams. Only major, extraordinary events/circumstances are reasons for early finals.

U.S. Senate Youth Program Application:

The 2027 U.S. Senate Youth Program application window is open from August 10 to September 30. High school juniors or seniors may apply, provided they meet all program qualifications outlined by the U.S. Senate Youth Program. The application, program criteria, and informational brochures are on the Excellence Recognitions U.S. Senate Youth Program webpage. Applications are due by September 30 at 5 p.m.

• Additional Information: U.S. Senate Youth Program Webpage
• Contact: Arlecia Brooks, arlecia.brooks@doe.k12.ga.us
• Deadline: September 30 at 5 p.m.

U.S. Presidential Scholars Application:

The 2027 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program application window is open from September 1 to November 1. High school seniors may apply, provided they meet all program qualifications outlined by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The application, program criteria, and informational brochures are on the Excellence Recognitions U.S. Presidential Scholars webpage. Applications are due by November 1 at 5 p.m.

• Additional Information: U.S. Presidential Scholar Webpage
• Contact: Arlecia Brooks, arlecia.brooks@doe.k12.ga.us
• Deadline: November 1 at 5 p.m.

Reminder for Students & Parents: Register early to avoid late fees and secure your preferred testing location. Seats are limited. Mark both the test date and registration deadline on your calendar!

SAT Registration Link: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/

ACT Registration Link: www.act.org

Last call for enrollment

Hello future travelers,

I wanted to send one final reminder if you have not yet enrolled for our England trip! We’ve had an amazing amount of interest, and today is the deadline to reserve your spot.

If you plan to join us, make sure to register before midnight tonight, September 11, to secure your spot and take advantage of the discount.

👉 Enroll now and check out the trip details here: www.eftours.com/2921590JX

Questions? Email me directly, check out EF’s website, or contact EF’s Traveler Support Team:

💬 Live chat: https://www.eftours.com/contact-us

📞 Call: 800-665-5364

🖥 https://www.eftours.com

Thank you again, and we are so excited to travel with you!

Trip Details:

📅 When: 2027 – April 3rd – April 10th
📍 Where: London, England

Why you’ll want to be part of this experience:

• ⚽ Chelsea Stadium Tour – Go behind the scenes of the business of football.
• 🏛 Museum of Brands & Bank of England Museum – Discover how brands and finance shape our world.
• 🛍 Retail Strategy Walking Tour – Explore flagship stores and see how business meets creativity.
• 💡 Workshops at LSE Generate – Learn from entrepreneurs, innovators, and global leaders.
• 🎭 Theater Night in London – Soak in England’s rich performing arts culture.
• 🎨 Explore icons like Tate Modern and Tower of London.

This isn’t just sightseeing—it’s a hands-on journey into entrepreneurship, marketing, and global careers while experiencing one of the world’s most vibrant cities.

Reach out to Ms. Barber @ stephanie.barber@cherokeek12.net or enroll here: www.eftours.com/2921590JX

Dear Cherokee County families,

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming trip to Japan in Summer 2028, and your student is invited! This life-changing experience will help students build confidence, independence, and global perspective.

DeAnda Davis

Educational Travel Program

Cherokee County School

Stephanie Barber

Assistant Principal

River Ridge High School

PTSA Website:

Please visit www.rrhsptsa.com for all things PTSA! Links to Sign Up Genius, our calendar, reflections forms, Ambassador info, staff favorites and MORE can be found on our website!

PTSA Membership: We are at 570 members strong! To join PTSA, please join through Totem.

https://jointotem.com/ga/woodstock/river-ridge-ptsa

Reflections - graphic attached

2026-2027 Reflections

Reflections Program Now Open for Submissions.

Please review submission rules, program details, and entry form at https://www.rrhsptsa.com/reflections.

Physical media submissions will be accepted in the media center until October 2nd at 3:15pm.

*We are not accepting submissions by email. Physical media only. We also can not accept any late submissions this year.

• Reminder to order your River Ridge High School spirit wear. Don't see what you want? We are accepting custom orders through the site.
• Home | March & May Design

Please send in any updated Medical forms such as Emergency Action Plans for managing a student's health condition while at school. This also includes any medication to be administered by the nurse or self-carry items such as Diabetic Insulin, Inhalers, Epi Pens and the like. Prescription and Over the Counter meds need to be in original or unopened containers ( not expired). ALL forms can be found on the CCSD or RRHS websites under FORMS. Action plans can also be filled out by the student's doctor as well and sent in.

Lost and found can be located in 1201! Any items left will be donated.

We have a designated attendance email for any attendance notes and early check-out requests: rrhs.attendance@cherokeek12.net. Please use this email instead of emailing Mrs. Mondello or anyone else directly to ensure timely processing of notes. Sending notes through Canvas or Parent Square will delay the process.

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the RRHS - Tardy Policy.pdf

Especially, if you are a student driver, as parking decals are tied to tardies and attendance.

Did you know – that morning announcements heard by your students in the am are also linked here and can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/@RRHSKnightVision

Link to the RRHS homepage - https://rrhs.cherokeek12.net/

Did you know that you can find out what is going on in our community by checking out the CCSD Bulletin Board. Check out the link below:

https://www.cherokeek12.net/bulletin-board

Birthday Shout-outs Now Available!

Celebrate your student with a birthday message displayed on our indoor kiosk—just $5!

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/10puX2dQpu

See the link below for all your - Academic, College & Career, Personal & Social student counseling needs.

https://rrhs.cherokeek12.net/student-services

New! RRHS sports streaming service featuring football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and track. Check out: https://tinyurl.com/rrhs-sports

Coaches SY26-27

Please find below information about happenings at the Ridge in addition to information on how to follow your favorite River Ridge sports. Please note that events on the athletic calendar may change at the last minute.

Email: Stephanie.Barber@cherokeek12.net
Website: https://www.cherokeek12.net/4/home
Location: 400 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, GA 30188, USA
Phone: (770) 721-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverRidgeHSGA