School bells will ring for about 800 students at Rockmart High School at 7:55 a.m. Sept. 7 when the 2010-2011 term begins. Students will be dismissed at 3:45 p.m.

Principal Teresa Treadaway said the change from a 180-day to 160-day calendar has been a boon to RHS staff since August provided more time to transition from one term to another.

The shorter calendar will also mean teachers and students arrive ready to go into the A-B schedule. Classes will be about one hour and 45 minutes. Homeroom will meet once per week on Wednesdays between the first and second blocks. The hybrid scheduled will no longer be observed.

The school, which did not make AYP this year, is now on a Needs Improvement list. This means RHS will need to graduate 85 percent of the seniors in 2011.

Treadaway said every homeroom teacher will have a curriculum and the math department is writing lessons for each grade level.

“Math scores are what hurt us with AYP,” she said.

Ray Hammett, graduation coach, will be working with those who have not graduated. Teachers will be at the school until 4:30 p.m. and available to tutor students.

“It is hard to get information home to parents,” Treadaway said.

She said communication is tough since RHS parents, in general, do not come to the school.

“This is often due to the fact that their kids don’t want them here," Treadaway said. "Teachers make calls, and we have parent/teacher meetings so they can learn about their child’s educational progress.”

She listed the following information for parents and students at Rockmart High:

All students can pick up schedules between 8 a.m. and noon or 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. through Aug. 27. A locker for $5 or a parking decal for $25 may be purchased at this time. To obtain a parking decal, students must have an application signed by the parent, a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Freshmen are invited to attend orientation from 10 a.m. until noon Tuesday, Aug. 31. At this time, students can tour the school, meet counselors and pick up a schedule. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided.

“This is a time for students,” Treadaway said. “Parents should not plan on staying with their children during this session.”

Parents and the public are invited to an Open House from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. A hotdog supper will be available for a nominal charge.

Buses will drop off and pick up students in front of the school. The parent pick up area is located past the gym and vocational wing.

Cell phones and electronic devices such as MP3 players and CD players may not be seen or heard while a student is on RHS campus. Devices will be confiscated and held for 30 days on the first violation, 90 days for the second or until the end of the term, third violation.

New teachers will include Naomi Stephens, counselor, Kyle Stephens, science teacher, Jessica Moon Rayburn, math, Bryan Young and Monte Owens, special education.

Treadaway said her assistants are Jay Johnson, discipline and DeAnna Williams, curriculum.

“I hope each student returns to school filled with excitement and determination to make this their best year ever,” she said.