On Thursday, May 9, the PTSO met for the first time since November after building back from their hiatus. According to principal John Duellman, the new PTSO is “thriving.”

During Duellman’s principal’s report, he spoke about the conclusion of Teacher Appreciation Week and all the events the admin and PTSO organized throughout the week, including lunch, smoothies, and a supply cart with gifts for all the teachers. “I think our teachers feel great when they feel appreciated by the school community because we know how difficult their job is and how much good they bring [to the school],” Duellman said. 

On May 9 and 10, PTSO and school volunteers went to each senior’s house and put up a sign announcing their upcoming graduation in the class of 2024. This sign was free of charge for the senior class, as a way for the PTSO to give back to the student body. 

Also for the senior class, the PTSO discussed details for the upcoming graduation party they’re hosting, with a guarantee of many stations and activities sponsored by the PTSO, along with lunch and goodies sponsored by Rock Ridge. Seniors will attend their last class-wide breakfast, then participate in the mandatory graduation practice, and end with lunch and a three-hour party from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The PTSO will release links for gift card donations and parent volunteer slots to help during the party. 

As the seniors graduate, the PTSO is emphasizing senior scholarships in their budget. Applications are in, and there will be four winners who will receive their scholarships at the senior award night. 

With the year coming to a close, PTSO elections are coming up for next year. The PTSO spoke about their goals for the upcoming year, placing importance on connecting better with the school community — especially through messaging with students — because at times there is a disconnect between Duellman’s messages and student actions. 

A recent example of a disconnect between students and PTSO messaging was the confusion surrounding the Cell Phone Policy that will be instated next year. Some students believed that cell phones were being banned, but the policy was only an adjustment to the existing policy. School rules will not change, but there will be a clear policy next year with outlined consequences for misbehavior: during non-instructional time, cell phone use is allowed, and in classrooms, teachers enforce their own rules of cell phone use. It is the admin’s goal to work with parents on proper cell phone usage from their teens and teach them the permanency of social media. 

Finally, the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), will host an award ceremony on June 5 to honor teachers who have done an exemplary job in the past school year. One teacher getting awarded is Stone Hill Middle School art teacher Kelsey Hazzard.