Ryle PTSA - phone call home

The following text is being sent via telephone call to Ryle households.

Hello, students, parents and staff of Larry A. Ryle High School.  This is your principal, Matthew Turner.

I am calling to remind you that the Ryle PTSA will be hosting their annual open house at Ryle High School tonight September 6^th at 7:00 pm in the Ryle auditorium.  Please make plans to attend, this is a great opportunity to visit the school and meet your child’s classroom teachers, counselors, and principals.  Remember to bring a copy of your student's class schedule and room numbers.  We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Also remember that school pictures will be taken tomorrow Thursday, Sept. 6^th during the school day.

The 2012-13 school year is off to a great start and we are very proud of our students and staff and are very pleased with their progress.  Now that we are 3 weeks into the school year, our Academic Support Process has begun and if your student has a failing grade in a class the teachers will contact both you and your student and recommend a course of action.  If you have questions or concerns please call the school office at 384-5300 and our staff will assist you.  

Our goal with this calling system is to promote communication between our school and your home.  We will use this system to notify you of important school events, weather delays, or crisis situations.  Having an accurate telephone number is essential to the success of this program.  Should your telephone number change, please contact the school office immediately at 384-5300.  If you wish to receive the weekly emails containing school events and other information, you may add your email address to your profile in the parent portal of Infinite Campus.  Again, contact the school office if you need any assistance.

Thank you and remember make it a great day or not, that choice is always yours!

PTSA Open House - Sept. 6th at 7 p.m.

Mark your calendars!

The Ryle PTSA is hosting their annual Open House on Thursday, September 6th at 7 p.m. in the Ryle auditorium.  After a brief opening session in the auditorium, parents and students will have a chance to visit with teachers as about 10 minutes will be spent in each class period of the day.

Ryle runs past Henry Clay 28-20

By Mike Fields — mfields@herald-leader.com

Ryle senior running back Tanner Pulice said "redemption" was the key to the Raiders' 28-20 victory over Henry Clay in the iHigh Fayette County Football Frenzy on Saturday night.

Pulice felt redeemed by the way Ryle bounced back from a crushing 35-6 loss to Cooper last week.

But Henry Clay Coach Sam Simpson probably would say that Ryle's game plan was the real key to the Raiders' win.

Last week Ryle's offense operated out of the shotgun and it backfired a lot.

"They never once were in an I-formation," Simpson said.

So when Ryle employed a power I most of the night against Henry Clay, the Blue Devils weren't ready for it. The Raiders took advantage, relying on their dominant offensive line to push Henry Clay up and down the field.

Pulice ran 29 times for 144 yards, and David Aulick ran 14 times for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Ryle rushed for 287 yards, and added 30 yards passing.

"Our line did an excellent job, and our backs busted through," Coach Bryson Warner said.

"Our line is unreal," Aulick added. "They pounded their way every single play."

Simpson thought his defense adjusted pretty well, all things considered.

"My biggest disappointment tonight was what Ryle did to stop us offensively."

Henry Clay out-did Ryle on the ground, rushing for 344 yards. Elijah Bell ran nine times for 176 yards, and D.J. Jackson ran 15 times for 117 yards and a score.

But the Raiders' defense did its job by forcing three crucial fumbles.

Henry Clay lost a fumble in its own end zone in the opening minute of the game, and Ryle's Dylan Plvan fell on it for a touchdown.

Henry Clay answered with a score of its own — Anthony Lindsey's 8-yard TD run. Bell ran for the two-point conversion to make it 8-6.

Ryle regained the lead on quarterback Nathan Davis' 1-yard run, giving the visitors a 14-8 halftime lead.

Jackson tied it for Henry Clay with an 81-yard TD dash early in the third quarter.

The Devils were on the march on their next possession, but a fumble killed that scoring chance.

Ryle went back in front 21-14 on Davis' sneak for a TD late in the third quarter.

After Henry Clay pulled to within 21-20 on quarterback Rhomas Janes' 4-yard run early in the fourth, the Raiders answered again, with Aulick scoring from the 2.

Henry Clay drove to the Ryle 2 midway through the fourth quarter, but a fumbled handoff ended the threat.

Simpson said afterward that his Devils "gotta do a better job throwing the football to balance things out. We relied on the run too much tonight."

James was 8-for-10 for 60 yards against Ryle.

Ryle 14 0 7 7—28

Henry Clay 8 0 6 6—20

R—Dylan Plvan fumble recovery end zone (safety). HC—Anthony Lindsey 8 run (Elijah Bell run). R—Nathan Davis 1 run (Garrett Meade kick). HC—D.J. Jackson 81 run (run failed). R—Davis 1 run (Meade kick). HC—Rhoman James 4 run (run failed). R—David Aulick 2 run (Meade kick).

Records—Ryle 1-1, Henry Clay 0-2.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/25/2311014/ryle-runs-past-henry-clay-28-20.html#storylink=cpy

Lady Raider Soccer - RYLE 4, DIXIE HEIGHTS

RYLE 4, DIXIE HEIGHTS 1 – Junior midfielder Claire Kolkmeyer scored the lone goal of the first half to give the Raiders a lead they would not relinquish.

Sophomore center midfielder Lauren Diggins finished with two assists for Ryle.

Senior defenders Jaclyn Zembrodt and Ellie Schmalzl helped shut down the Dixie Heights offense, holding the Colonels to three shots on goal.

HALFTIME: Ryle, 1-0. GOALS: R—Kolkmeyer, Davenport, Duggins, Zembrodt. DH—Critcher. RECORDS: Ryle 2-1, Dixie Heights 1-1.

Read more: http://www2.kypost.com/dpp/sports/820-gsoc-sk-rallies-past-cooper#ixzz24GjBB47J

Paralyzed girl, 17, continues progress

Marsh Madness is tonight at Turfway.  Come support Abby and her family by attending!  

by William Croyle, Enquirer Contributor


UNION — It hasn’t been easy, but 17-year-old Abby Marsh is slowly making progress.

The senior soccer star from Ryle High School was a passenger in a pickup truck on May 21 near Warsaw when the truck slid off the slick road and hit a tree.

Abby suffered a severe spinal cord injury, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down, and had to undergo an immediate 12-hour surgery to reconstruct her neck.

Today, she has movement in her arms and is in very good spirits. She has a long road ahead but is ready for the challenge.

“She has a great attitude,” said her mother, Reta Marsh, “and she believes in the power of faith.”

From 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, friends of the family will hold “Marsh Madness” at Turfway Park. The fundraiser, open to the public, will feature auctions, raffles, dancing and all you can eat and drink. Tickets are $25 per person, $45 for couples and $15 for those under 21.

The money will go to the Marsh family for medical bills and to renovate their home to make it wheelchair accessible.

As a prelude to the fundraiser, movie star and former Ryle student Josh Hutcherson held an online auction this past week that raised roughly $12,500 for the family. The auction was for five people (and a guest with each person) to have dinner with Hutcherson this weekend at an undisclosed location.

“While I don’t know Abby or her family personally, sharing a hometown and high school with her made this story very close to my heart,” Hutcherson said in a statement through his publicist. “I wanted to do anything that I could to help raise money and awareness for her and her family and this seemed like a great way to contribute.”

And just as Abby continues to stay positive, there’s no stopping her supporters. They’ve already scheduled a different type of fundraiser for Aug. 25, a 5k walk/run, which they’re calling “March for Marsh.”

Abby was conscious and alert after the accident, Reta said, but had no feeling from the neck down. Her lung collapsed four days later and she had to have a tracheostomy. She was on a ventilator around the clock but now uses it only at night.

This week, she put her shirt on by herself for the first time, and though she cannot move her fingers, she has figured out how to use her iPad.

“Her face just lights up when she’s on that iPad,” Reta said. “She gets on Facebook and is able to stay in touch with her friends.”

Abby has received a lot of emotional support from her friends at church and students at Ryle. One of her goals is to graduate with her senior class in June.

“She was ahead of the curve and only needs four credit hours to graduate,” Reta said.

Abby’s stay at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is indefinite, and how much feeling will return throughout her body remains to be seen.

One of her short-term goals is to get well enough to attend her brother’s wedding in California next month. It’s ambitious – but that’s Abby.

“She’s a fighter,” Reta said. “We’re praying and believing for the best.”

August Checklist for Rising Seniors

By CHRIS TEARE


In March, The Choice introduced a series called Counselor’s Calendar, to keep students on track during the college admissions process.

This installment focuses on the class of 2013, who will soon begin their senior year. (Rising juniors, your August checklist will be published on Tuesday.) We’ve asked Chris Teare, the director of college counseling at Antilles School in St. Thomas, V.I., as well as an instructor of the course “Finding a College That Fits” in August at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., for this month’s admissions advice for the class of 2013. — Tanya Abrams

If you’re a rising senior who plans to apply to college, you might be a little nervous right now. Then again, you might be avoiding the issue completely — and appalled that someone like me would intrude upon your summer. If you’re anxious, you’re normal, because you have a big year coming up. Your nerves indicate that you care. That’s good. College is worth caring about. On the other hand, if you’re ignoring the calendar, you’re passively saving a lot to do with less and less time to do it.

Here is some advice to keep you on track:

Do the Summer Reading

Over 30 years, the students I’ve seen get the best results out of the college process are the ones who take care of business one day, one class, one assignment at a time. They’re not flashy; they’re steady. When I coached lacrosse, I said, “Pick up the next groundball.” Little things add up. Stop texting, log off Facebook, turn off your cellphone — and read. Not the SparkNotes. The book.

Pick the Right Courses

Selective colleges often start their review with your transcript, and strength of program is the first criterion of selection. Make sure your final transcript will include four years of the “five basic food groups”: English, math, history, science and foreign language. If you substitute from elsewhere on the curricular menu, select a course of equal or greater rigor in an area that better suits your abilities and interests. Make sure senior year is at least as challenging as junior year.

Keep Testing Under Control

By now, I hope you know whether you like the SAT or ACT better. Focus on the exam that works for you; if you prepare well enough, you’ll be likely to receive your highest score on the first or second attempt. Take your SAT II Subject Tests, if you must, whenever you’ll know as much as you can. Then forget bubble tests. Your scores are what they are. Stressing won’t raise them. Say the Serenity Prayer. Go test-optional. Focus your energy on classes, activities, and applications.

Keep Extra-Curricular Activities in Perspective

Remember that the hyphenate is extra-curricular. Even if you are being recruited for a talent in athletics or the arts, you must find a good deal of time to hone that skill set. You are no good to anyone if you run yourself into the ground by trying to do too much. Breathe. Eat. Sleep. Chill now and then.

Start Your Applications

If you haven’t already done so, create accounts. Use the Common App. Invest increments of time early on: When you have a little time, fill out the simple stuff. When you have a little more, add your activities and work experiences. When you can carve out still more, start drafting your activity paragraph and essay. Start on the supplements. Good writing usually takes time. Accept advice. Show what you have to your counselor or best teacher.

Create a List of College Fits

Shop for value: Figure out the program, size, type, location, personality, and likely final cost of the colleges that best suit you. Then list colleges that you might get into, some that you should get into, and two that you will get into.

Make more decisions up front. Be realistic. Make sure you can cover the cost. I like lists of six colleges. I understand nine. Beyond that, you’re denying reality, deferring decisions, and making the spring harder, via too many rejections or too many offers. Save yourself time, angst, and your parents’ money.

When it comes to life decisions, choosing a college is the first one in which most young people play a significant role. But it’s not the last one. Life has more in store. Pace yourself. Stay calm and sail on.

Do you have any college admissions advice for rising seniors? Would you like to share your thoughts about the upcoming school year? Please feel free to share in the comments box below.

This post was prepared in consultation with the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, a membership organization.  http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/counselors-calendar-august-seniors/

August Checklist for Rising Juniors

By SARAH GRAHAM


In March, The Choice introduced a series called Counselor’s Calendar, to keep students on track during the college admissions process.

This installment focuses on the class of 2014, who will soon begin their junior year. (Rising seniors, your August checklist was published on Monday.) We’ve asked Sarah Graham, the director of college counseling at Princeton Day School in Princeton, N.J., for this month’s admissions advice for rising juniors. — Tanya Abrams

In my career as an Ivy League admissions officer and college counselor, I’ve found that students who are happiest through the college admissions process — and with the end results — share some “best practices” that start in the beginning of junior year. Those common themes inspire this month’s checklist:

Keep Perspective

Relax! You are not behind. You can, however, start taking active steps now to make the admissions process as smooth as possible. Take a deep breath, and try to keep in mind that there really is a great college match for everyone.

Develop a Plan for This Year

Planning now will reduce anxiety later. Map out some key dates now before the pace of the year picks up. Devote a calendar solely to the college process. Decide when to tackle some of the bigger admissions tasks for this year. For example, plan to take the SAT and/or ACT at least once this year, as well as SAT Subject Tests, if they are required by the schools you’re considering. Take some time to review what each test covers, and decide how to prepare. Make a note of registration deadlines on your calendar.

Also, figure out when you will be able to visit colleges this year to block off the time and plan those trips well in advance. Aim to see many different types of schools at first (large, small, urban, suburban, etc.) to get a sense of what’s out there.

Find Out What Support Your High School Offers

The students who are most successful in the college admissions process are proactive and take advantage of the resources available to them. Don’t just wait for information to come to you: take the initiative and find out what services your high school provides to guide you through the college admissions process.

Ask how often you should expect to receive messages from your guidance office and how they communicate information. Make note of coming presentations on your calendar. Find the guidance office’s bulletin board, and check it often.

Thoroughly read e-mails and newsletters that counselors send, and pay attention when they make announcements. (Parents, this applies to you, too.) Too often, students have so many resources at their fingertips but fail to realize that until it’s too late to take advantage of them. Likewise, families often spend big money on college admissions services when they can get the same (if not better) information for free.

Also, when you meet with your counselor, go prepared with a list of updates about what you’ve been doing in regard to the college process, as well as a list of questions.

Reflect on Your Activities

Now that you’re halfway through high school, it’s a great time to reassess your extracurricular activities. When I worked in admissions and read applications, I loved to see students who were excited about what they did outside the classroom. Communicate that enthusiasm by taking on more responsibilities in the activities you love and by seeking to develop those interests to the fullest.

Set some goals for this year: Aim for quality and not quantity in your activities. Love the things you do, and take on more leadership in those areas. No time? Consider cutting back on one or two activities you don’t like as much to make time to pursue others in greater depth.

Keep the Focus on Academics

As you gear up for junior year and the new tasks it will bring, remember your studies still need to come first. The story that your transcript tells about you as a student will be the most important part of your college application. Also, working hard, meeting with teachers for extra help and developing knowledge of how you study and learn best will help make you a more successful college student.

Start to Research Different Majors

Take some time now to read about majors that sound appealing to you, and gain a sense of what’s involved when studying towards those majors. Most students change their minds about a major when they get to college (and that’s fine), but it’s still a good idea to start getting a sense of what’s out there. Your focus now should not be on choosing a major definitively but on learning more about your options. More information about majors and careers can be found online, like the College Board’s Big Future Web site. For more detailed career information, students often enjoy the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Savor the Rest of the Summer

While I recommend you follow up on these action items, please also take some time while the weather’s warm and the days are long to enjoy a few more ice cream cones with friends, take a long walk at sunset and rest up to start the new academic year rejuvenated. Sure, it may be a busy year ahead, but you’re ready for it!

Do you have any college admissions advice for rising juniors? Would you like to share your thoughts about the coming school year? Please feel free to share in the comments box below.

This post was prepared in consultation with the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, a membership organization.  http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/counselors-calendar-august-juniors/