-
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent May 24, 2022
The weather here this week requires you keep an umbrella or poncho with you.
A simple reminder: the company that will be publishing the next edition of the RJR Alumni Directory (next year) is still in the process of verifying each alum's data. If you have not done so yet:
PLEASE CALL 1-866-927-9302 TODAY to verify your data!
Only data that has been personally verified will be in the next RJR Alumni Directory. This call will only take a couple of minutes!
PLEASE forward this email on to any RJR classmates and/or friends that you think don't know about the Alumni Directory! The more Alumni that are listed, the better connected we become.
The person you will talk with on the phone will probably try to sell you some version of the next Alumni Directory, and/or some other RJR-related things.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING!
If you have never submitted your information but want to do so: THAT IS FABULOUS! Merely call 1-866-927-9302 and tell the person answering your phone call that you want to be added to the database.
Since the last email I sent you, there have been TWO fabulous musical student concerts staged at Reynolds Auditorium that were recorded. On May 12th the RJR band staged its Spring Band Concert.
To view that video, click onto the following link:
video of the SPRING BAND CONCERT
Then on the evening of May 17th, the renowned RJR Department of Choirs staged its much anticipated Spring Choral Concert.
video of the SPRING CHORAL CONCERT
Near the end of the Choral Concert, I (on behalf of the RJR Alumni) presented the Choral Department with a battery-powered public address speaker that they had wanted.
To view that presentation, click onto the following image.
video of the presentation of the gift from the RJR Alumni to the RJR choirs
RJR's Senior Day event at Reynolds Auditorium will take place TOMORROW. That is the day the RJR Alumni will continue our tradition of annually awarding two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors, and of also giving $1,000 to the RJR staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. Financially that means we will be disbursing $3,000... like we have done for many consecutive years! The RJR Alumni organization is the ONLY alumni organization of a public high school in the USA that does this annually (that I know of)! These yearly disbursements occur ONLY because RJR alumni like YOU send us enough donations to cover these costs. Every single donation we receive (no matter how small) is important!. I hope that YOU will make a donation so we can continue this tradition next year.
To learn how to make a donation TODAY, click onto the following link.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent May 12, 2022
The weather is FABULOUS here. I hope it is the same where you are!
The company that will publishing the next edition of the RJR Alumni Directory (next year) is still in the process of verifying each alum's data. If you have not done so yet:
PLEASE CALL 1-800-237-9337 TODAY to verify your data!
Only data that has been personally verified will be in the next RJR Alumni Directory. This call will only take a couple of minutes!
The person you will talk with on the phone will probably try to sell you some version of the next Alumni Directory, and/or some other RJR-related things.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING!
PLEASE forward this email on to any RJR classmates and/or friends that you do think don't know about the Alumni Directory! The more Alumni that are listed, the better connected we become.
If you have never submitted your information but want to do so: THAT IS FABULOUS! Merely call 1-877-237-9337 and tell the person you want to be added to the database.
The Orchestras of Reynolds High School and Wiley Middle School performed their combined Spring Concert on May 10th at Reynolds Auditorium.
To view a video of those amazingly talented musicians (who we led by their awesome teacher Deb Shebish), click on the following link:
video of the RJR and Wiley Middle School Orchestras SPRING CONCERT
RJR's Senior Day event at Reynolds Auditorium is only 2 weeks away. That is the day the RJR Alumni will continue our tradition of annually awarding two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors, and of also giving $1,000 to the RJR staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. Financially that means we will be disbursing $3,000... like we have done for many consecutive years! Your RJR Alumni organization is the ONLY alumni organization of a public high school in the USA that does this annually (that I know of)! These yearly disbursements occur ONLY because RJR alumni like YOU send us enough donations to cover these costs. Every single donation we receive (no matter how small) is important!
.
To learn how to make a donation TODAY, click onto the following link:
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent April 29, 2022
The weather is FABULOUS here. I hope it is the same where you are!
This newsletter concerns the data that is now being collected and verified by the company that will be publishing the next edition of the RJR Alumni Directory (which will be coming out next year). Because quite a few folks have told me they want to change the information for themselves that was in the last Alumni Directory: PLEASE call 1-877-237-9337 TODAY to verify what data they have for you. I informed this company that the ONLY information that will be printed in the next Alumni Directory will be that which has been personally verified!
The information I hope you will verify (or give them) is:
* your name
* the year you graduated (or the last year you attended RJR)
* your email address
* the city you live in.
If you have never submitted your information but want to do so: THAT IS FABULOUS! Merely call 1-877-237-9337 and tell the person you want to be added to the database.
If someone did not graduate from RJR, but only attended for a year (or more): if they want to have their name placed in the Alumni Directory...THAT IS GREAT. Tell them to call 1-877-237-9337 and inform the person on the phone that they want to be added to the database.
The person you will talk with on the phone will probably try to sell you some version of the next Alumni Directory, and/or some other RJR-related things.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING!
Also, I have a BIG favor to ask of you: please forward this email on to any RJR classmates and/or friends that you do think don't know about the Alumni Directory! The more Alumni that are listed, the better connected we become.
RJR's Senior Day event at Reynolds Auditorium is May 25th. That is the day the RJR Alumni will continue our tradition of annually awarding two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors, and of also giving $1,000 to the RJR staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. Financially that means we will be disbursing $3,000... like we have done for many consecutive years! Your RJR Alumni organization is the ONLY alumni organization of a public high school in the USA that does this annually (that I know of)! These yearly disbursements occur ONLY because RJR alumni like YOU send us enough donations to cover these costs. Every single donation we receive (no matter how small) is important!.
To learn how to make a donation TODAY, click onto the following link.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent April 10, 2022
I hear that warm weather is supposed to show up this week. It's about time!!
The decision has been made to publish a new RJR Alumni Directory next year. The firm Publishing Concepts has begun contacting alums concerning verifying and/or obtaining their pertinent personal information. They will be sending out postcards and emails. Because only information that has been verified by the alumni will be published in the Directory, I hope that YOU will take the time to call to verify (and/or add) your information. There is NO obligation (when you call) to purchase ANYTHING! Details about this can be found by clicking onto the following image.
Details about this can be found by clicking onto the following link.
Information about the forthcoming new RJR Alumni Directory
The 2022 RJR Key Club Follies was staged at Reynolds Auditorium on April 1st. This was recorded. If you are a past member of the Dancing Boots: I would suggest you at least look at the last part of that video (since the Dancing Boots were the last act). You will no doubt remember the high leg kick they all simultaneously performed. The question I am wondering whether you can answer affirmatively: could you end that performance they way they did?
To view a video of this most entertaining event, click onto the following image.
Click here to view the Key Club Follies video
RJR recently received the cash register pictured below (which was specifically made for Reynolds High School in 1927). Calvin Freeman (RJR's Principal) would like to know more about it...such as: where was it used. If you have some old pictures from a relative that attended RJR, or an old RJR yearbook: can you check to see if maybe a picture exists in which this cash register appears (such as if you have a picture that was taken at the RJR cafeteria)?
If you do find such a picture: please click on the following link to learn what to do next.
Click here is you find a picture that includes the above cash register
On RJR's Senior Day (which is not far away), the RJR Alumni will continue its tradition of annually awarding two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors and of also giving $1,000 to the RJR staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. Financially that means we have been disbursing $3,000 EVERY YEAR! Your "RJR Alumni organization is the ONLY alumni organization of a public high school in the USA that does this annually (that I know of)! These yearly disbursements occur ONLY because RJR alumni like YOU send us enough donations to cover these costs. Every single donation we receive (no matter how small) is important!.
To learn how to make a donation TODAY, click onto the following link.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent March 27, 2022
I was hoping Spring weather would arrive this week. Maybe it will next week!
Several weeks ago I asked you to send me information about any RJR alumni you knew that have excelled in their profession...so I can hopefully interview them via Zoom...so the RJR Alumni community can learn about their accomplishments. Yesterday I had such an interview with an outstanding member of the Class of 1987: Dr. Mary Margaret Frank (who is the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development for the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia).
To view the video of this very informative conversation between us, and/or to send me an email about a RJR alum that has excelled in their profession: click onto the following link.
A conversation between Dr. Mary Margaret Frank and Harry Corpening
Back on February 23rd at Reynolds Auditorium, the 2022 RJR Piano and Guitar Showcase was staged. This amazing concert featured some unbelievably talented student musicians.
To see a video of that entire event, click onto the following link.
RJR's 2022 Piano and Guitar Showcase
Since we are quickly approaching April, that means RJR's Senior Day is not far away. That is the day the RJR Alumni awards two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors, and also gives $1,000 to the RJR staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. Financially that means we are disbursing $3,000. The "RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends" corporation is unique NATIONALLY in that to my knowledge it is the ONLY alumni organization of a public high school that does this annually! These yearly disbursements are able to occur only because RJR alumni like YOU send us enough donations to cover these costs. I would hope that you would seriously consider making a donation to the Alumni organization TODAY, so we will be able to continue doing this in the future.
To learn how to make a donation, click onto the following link.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent March 13, 2022
It's amazing how quickly the weather can go from Spring-like to Winter-like!
Every so often I get the itch to learn what all is taking place at my alma mater. One of the easiest ways to do this is read the latest email from the RJR PTSA President. I have made the decision to start posting these emails on the RJR Alumni website.
To see the one for March, click onto the following link.
Link to RJR PTSA President's March email
The email sent out from RJR PTSA President Laura Neelon highlights a couple of very interesting events. One is the upcoming Reverse Raffle being staged by the RJR Booster Club. This April 2nd event is the largest fund-raiser for RJR athletics. How does a reverse raffle work? The winner is the person holding the last remaining ticket! What is the prize for winning? $10,000...or 33% of the gross ticket sales. If you attend, you get a free dinner catered by The Porch restaurant. However, you don't have to attend to win! I now live 80 miles from the Winston-Salem area, and I will be buying two raffle tickets. I hope you will do likewise (to help support all 42 of RJR's athletic teams)!
To learn more about this event, click onto the following link.
Link to April 2nd Reverse Raffle event details
The other interesting event in the PTSA email was information about the "Spring Showcase" staged on Friday evening at Reynolds Auditorium by RJR's Theater Arts Department. I attended that AWESOME event, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the super talented RJR actors and actresses. I recorded this, and that video can be viewed by clicking onto the following image.
I recorded this, and that video can be viewed by clicking onto the following link.
Link to the video of the Spring Showcase
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who have made donations to name seats in Reynolds Auditorium. If YOU have not yet PERMANENTLY named a seat for someone that is special in your life...or for yourself: there are still a lot of seats that are un-named.
To learn how simple it is to do this, click onto the following link.
Learn how to permanently name a seat in Reynolds Auditorium
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent March 6, 2022
I hope the weather where you are is as nice as it is here this weekend.
On Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 pm, the official groundbreaking for the construction of the RJR Multi-Sports Stadium took place. A front-page article in the local newspaper the next day about this ceremony was accompanied by the following picture.
This event was able to take place because of the 12+ years of hard work done by the RJ Reynolds High School Home Field Advantage organization...since they were responsible for raising the needed funds for the stadium's construction. Yesterday, I had a recorded Zoom conversation with Mrs. Kathryn Spanos (who is its President). Our 22-minute chat covered a lot of topics, and was quite informative.
To learn where things stand concerning the stadium, click onto the link below to view the video of me talking with her.
Link to video of conversation between Kathryn Spanos and Harry Corpening
To follow-up on a few topics I raised in my last newsletter: I want to thank all those folks that donated their used musical instruments to the school. The response from you to my request was amazing! And that request of mine still stands: if you have a used musical instrument that is just sitting around, please consider donating it to RJR. For information concerning how to do this, merely reply back to me with your questions. And concerning upcoming Class Reunions: the Class of 1982 sent me a note stating they are planning their 40th Reunion for this fall. As I told you in my last newsletter: if you are planning a class reunion: just send me a note with the details, and I will post it on the Alumni website. Also, I will supply you with the information collected from the publication of our last Alumni Directory concerning your classmates...if you ask me for it.
To learn about all the information we have received concerning class reunions, click onto the following link.
Information about the upcoming Class Reunions we know of
In closing, I would like to ask you to PLEASE consider making a donation to the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization. We annually award two $1,000 scholarships, and we give the staff member selected as the RJR Teacher of the Year (by their peers) a check for $1,000. We can only do this if we have the funds to do so. And those funds come from only one place: YOU! Should you wish to make a (tax deductible) donation, merely click onto the link below for details.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent February 20, 2022
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones doing well.
On Wednesday morning there was a front page article in the local newspaper titled "School Board approves spending $2.1 million for Reynolds practice field; its expected to be a site of athletics stadium." Two days later, I had a conversation (that was recorded) with Stan Dean. He is the spokesman for the 'RJ Reynolds High School Bring It Home' organization (a non-profit created over a decade ago by parents and folks wanting to build an on-campus multi-sports stadium for RJR). That conversation included a comprehensive update of where things stand concerning building the proposed stadium.
To view that informative 21-minute video, click onto the following link.
Link to video of conversation between Stan Dean and Harry Corpening
On a completely different topic: the Reynolds' band is in need of an alto saxophone for a student that just relocated from Maryland under unfortunate circumstances. RJR does not have any of these that are not now being used. If you have a forgotten or unused alto saxophone in the attic or in storage: would you please consider making it an in-kind donation by sending it to the school, so this child can use it? If so, please reply back to me, and I will supply you with the details. In fact, if you have ANY kind of unused or forgotten musical instrument (in working condition): I hope you will consider donating it to RJR. I personally donated my unused coronet a couple of years ago! If you do: just reply back to me for the specifics of doing this, and getting credit for an tax deductible in-kind donation.
It appears as if the weather is getting ready to turn warm for good...and it also appears that the pandemic is going to soon hopefully be a thing of the past. That being the case: I feel sure there are Class Reunions being planned for later this year. I would hope that if you are planning one, that you will send that information to me, so I can post it on the RJR Alumni website...so all your classmates can see learn of the details about it. Also, if you know of a Class (or group of Classes) that meets periodically during the year: please send me the information about those gatherings...and I will post that onto the Alumni website. Currently, only the Classes of 1970 and 1972 have informed me of up coming Class Reunions. To see that information, click onto the link below. You are welcome to use the data for your classmates that was collected during the research done for the last RJR Alumni Directory that was published. All you have to do is ask me for it.
Listing of all RJR Class Reunions we have been informed of
In closing, I would like to ask you to consider making a donation to the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization. We would like to do such things as help the staging of the induction of new members into the next class of the RJR Arts Hall of Fame (since these folks, after all, are alumni). However, we can only do this if we have the funds to do so. And those funds come from only one place: YOU! Should you wish to make a (tax deductible) donation, merely click onto the link below for details.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent February 7, 2022
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones doing well.
Two Fridays ago (during halftime of the Reynolds boys versus Parkland basketball game), 9 alumni were inducted into RJR's Sports Hall of Fame. To learn more about the accomplishments of these outstanding athletes, click onto the following image.
To learn more about the accomplishments of these outstanding athletes, click onto the following link.
Accomplishments of the 9 RJR Sports Hall of Fame inductees
Concerning outstanding RJR Alumni: if you have read the previous emails I have sent to the Alumni, you will know that I have staged recorded Zoom conversations with quite a few Alumni and RJR staff members, and posted those videos on the Alumni website. A lot of people have found those interviews to be quite enjoyable. That being the case: I am still searching for outstanding RJR alumni to interview via Zoom. If YOU know of such an alum: please reply back to me with that person's contact info (if you know it), and a little information about them. To those of you who have already sent me suggestions: MANY THANKS! I am in the process of trying to line up interviews with each of those suggested alums. I would like to have enough of these people on file, so I could conduct such interviews quite often!
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who have made donations to name seats in Reynolds Auditorium. If YOU have not yet PERMANENTLY named a seat for someone that is special in your life...or for yourself: there are still a lot of seats that are un-named.
For details on how to do this, click onto the following link.
Learn how to name a seat in Reynolds Auditorium
Also, I want to remind you that we are still raising funds to create an endowment, so we can FOREVER award scholarships and give $1,000 cash awards to staff members selected as the RJR Teacher of the Year. Any size donation is appreciated.
If you would like to make a donation that will allow us to FOREVER award special people at our alma mater, click on the following link.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent January 23, 2022
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones doing well.
Concerning the fabulous musical concert: last Saturday evening at Reynolds Auditorium, the Reynolds High School Department of Choirs staged its16th annual "A Cappella Jam for Hope." The hosts were the World Champion a cappella group "Six Appeal." Besides them performing, there were a cappella groups from several local high schools, as well as from UNC Greensboro. And RJR had 3 of its renown a cappella groups also performing...including "Accafellas," "Syncopate" and "X" (which is pictured below).
To see the video of this enjoyable concert featuring some very talented students, click on the following link:
"A Cappella Jam For Hope" video link
Concerning searching for outstanding RJR Alumni: if you have read the previous emails I have sent to the Alumni, you will know that I have staged recorded Zoom conversations with quite a few Alumni and RJR staff members, and posted those videos on the Alumni website. A lot of folks found those interviews to be quite enjoyable. That being the case: I am searching for outstanding RJR Alumni to interview via Zoom. If you know of such an alum: please contact that person to see if they would be willing to be interviewed by me. If they would: please reply back to me with that person's contact info, and a little information about them.
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who have made donations to name seats in Reynolds Auditorium. If YOU have not yet PERMANENTLY named a seat for someone that is special in your life...or for yourself: there are still a lot of seats that are un-named.
For details on how to do this, click onto the following link.
Learn how to name a seat in Reynolds Auditorium
Also, I want to remind you that we are still raising funds to create an endowment, so we can FOREVER award scholarships and give $1,000 cash awards to staff members selected as the RJR Teacher of the Year. Any size donation is appreciated.
If you would like to make a donation that will allow us to FOREVER award special people at our alma mater, click on the following link.
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent January 9, 2022
I hope you are in a warm place, because it is BRUTALLY cold today in N.C.
Concerning the can't miss concert: on Saturday evening at Reynolds Auditorium, the RJR Department of Choirs will stage its 16th annual "A Cappella Jam for Hope." This year's event will be hosted by the two time World Champion a cappella group "Six Appeal."
Groups from all over the state will be performing, as well as all of the renowned a cappella groups from Reynolds High School...including the Acafellas...which are pictured below. I'll be there. If you live in Forsyth County, I hope you will make plans to attend. You will be glad you did! It may well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see world champion Six Appeal perform live!
Concerning the great interview: if you are a reader of all of my emails to the Alumni, you may remember that I mentioned that the renowned thespian (and RJR alum) Alan Toy was cast as FDR in the live television musical "Annie Live" a month or so ago. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Alan via Zoom. To view that entertaining interview, click onto the link directly below the following image.
Alan Toy and Harry Corpening interview link
In closing, I would like to thank all of you who made donations to name seats in Reynolds Auditorium in December. If YOU have not yet PERMANENTLY named a seat for someone that is special in your life...or for yourself: now may be a great time to do just that. For details on to how to do this, click onto the link directly below the following image.
Learn how to name a seat in Reynolds Auditorium
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent December 26, 2021
I hope you are having the merriest of weekends!
On Tuesday afternoon I had a Q&A zoom interview with RJR Principal Calvin Freeman. Mr. Freeman was in the process of finishing up his first fall semester at Reynolds High School. We discussed a lot of topics in that 32-minute informative conversation. I personally think this is a MUST SEE video by all RJR alumni.
Click onto the following link to view that interview.
Calvin Freeman & Harry Corpening
As we approach the end of the year, I hope that you will consider sending in a donation to help us create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation. Any size gift will be appreciated, and an endowment will allow us to FOREVER annually award $1,000 scholarships and give $1,000 cash gifts to the staff member selected as the RJR Teacher of the Year. To learn the various ways you can make a donation, click onto...
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
There are hundreds of RJR alumni that have permanently named seats in Reynolds Auditorium. I personally have honored 6 of the most important people in my life by naming seats for them....and of course I had to name one for me! Naming rights for a seat only requires a $500 donation.
To learn how to do this, click onto the following link.
Details of how to PERMANENTLY name seats in
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent Christmas week, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you getting ready for your best Holiday Season ever!
The gift I have for you: the video of RJR's Holiday Showcase concert performed Tuesday evening in Reynolds Auditorium, which featured the RJR choir and all their renown cappella choral groups...as well as the Dancing Boots! It was full of traditional holiday songs...a lot of which were arranged by the students. To view this video featuring some amazingly talented RJR students, click onto...
featuring the RJR Choir and the Dancing Boots
For those of you still looking for a memorable gift for a special person...
I would like to suggest an easy way to honor the important people in your life:
PERMANENTLY name a seat for them in Reynolds Auditorium!!
It only costs you a $500 donation (which is tax deductible) for each seat named. I have done this several times over the past seventeen years...and the reception of this gift from those so-honored created life-long memories! And I must also admit I have named a seat for yours truly! To learn how to do this, click onto...
Details of how to PERMANENTLY name seats in
I feel sure a lot of you are in the process of making year-end donations to your favorite nonprofit organizations. I hope YOU will remember your high school alma mater: RJ Reynolds High School. Any size donation from you will help us create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Symphony, so we can FOREVER do such things as annually award $1,000 scholarships and give $1,000 to the staff members (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. To learn how to make a gift, so we can FOREVER make a difference in the lives of future RJR students: click onto...
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent December 5, 2021
This past Thursday evening I attended the RJR Orchestra's "Winter Concert." On Friday afternoon I was fortunate to stage a Zoom interview with RJR's Director of Choirs Josh Settlemyre. When I reflect back on these two events, they showed me yet again that RJ Reynolds High School is still a GREAT school! It continues its tradition of having an awesome staff, and there is still a lot of parental involvement!
Concerning the conversation I had with Josh Settlemyre: it was recorded, and that video is posted on the Alumni website. During that 27-minute interview, I learned such things as:
* a typical RJR choral concert will feature about 130 or more students.
* it costs about $2.25 to $2.75 in royalties PER STUDENT for the rights to perform a "modern" song in a concert setting.
* RJR's "Holiday Showcase" concert (which features performances by the full RJR choir, as well as all of the RJR a cappella groups, as well as the Dancing Boots) will take place on Tuesday evening, Dec. 14th, at Reynolds Auditorium.
* the RJR A Cappella Jam, at 7:00 pm on Friday at Reynolds Auditorium on January 15, 2022, will feature a performance by a mens a cappella group from Minnesota that has twice earned the honor of being proclaimed as "The World's Best Mens A Cappella Group"...a title it earned at a Russian Festival that had 180 groups from 16 nations.
* RJR's Principal Calvin Freeman is pretty much NEVER in his office, because he is constantly walking around the school interacting with students and teachers. In fact, he recently assumed the role of "substitute teacher" for one class.
Concerning the concert: I recorded it, and that video can likewise be found on the RJR Alumni website. Because RJR's amazing Orchestra teacher Deborah Shebish also teaches at Wiley Middle School, all of her students from both schools were on-stage. If you view the video of this performance, you will see that the auditorium stage is FILLED with students...and their MANY instruments. However, what you do not see is what impressed me even more: the downstairs seating area at the auditorium was FULL! Because of the ongoing pandemic: this was the first time most of these your musicians had performed in front of an audience. The enthusiasm of the audience to see these young musicians performing onstage was on full display. It was awesome seeing so many family members and friends there supporting these students!
To go to the RJR Alumni website to view these two entertaining video, click onto:
The RJR Alumni website...www.RJRalumni.org
In closing let me say I hope to see YOU at the Holiday Showcase! Also, I would hope that YOU would seriously consider making a donation to our efforts to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Symphony, so we can FOREVER do things to help Reynolds High School...such as annually award $1,000 scholarships and give $1,000 to the staff members (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. To learn how to make a gift, so we can FOREVER make a difference in the lives of future RJR students: click onto...
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent November 28, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you having just celebrated
your BEST Thanksgiving EVER!
We are entering that time of the year when a lot of people consider making donations to their favorite nonprofits. I hope that you will remember "dear old Reynolds High" when you make your year-end giving decisions. Next week has two days that have historically been days where a lot of donations are given by folks. Monday has the distinction of being called "Stock Monday".,.because it is the day when lot of people have donated stocks to nonprofits of their choosing. You may ask: what is the advantage in donating stocks? You can save on taxes! When you donate your appreciated assets, you avoid paying capital gains tax. If you itemize deductions, you can also take a charitable deduction for the entire donation amount.
And then Tuesday of next week is called "Giving Tuesday"...and it has become the day of the year that has had more donations given than any other day (other than December 31st).
We would hope that YOU would seriously consider making a donation to our efforts to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Symphony, so we can FOREVER do things to help Reynolds High School...such as annually award $1,000 scholarships and give $1,000 to the staff members (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. To learn how to make a gift, so we can FOREVER make a difference in the lives of future RJR students: click onto...
'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'
Since I am discussing donations, I would be remiss if I did not ask you to consider naming a seat (or two...or three) in Reynolds Auditorium for yourself, or special people in your life, or a special entity. A donation of only $500 allows you to name a seat, and you can name as many as you wish (for a donation of $500/seat). I have personally already honored seven important people in my life by having their names permanently placed on seven different seats. And I feel certain that in the future there will be others that will have seats named by me! To learn the specifics of doing this, click onto...
details of how to permanently name seats in Reynolds Auditorium
In closing, let me inform you that Thursday evening will be a special time for enjoying the work of performing artists that have ties to Reynolds High School. For those of you living in the Winston-Salem area, the RJR Orchestra will perform their Fall Concert at 7:00 pm at Reynolds Auditorium. And then for everyone: RJR Class of 1968 alum and thespian Alan Toy can be viewed on NBC at 8:00 pm. He has been cast as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Broadway musical "Annie Live" (which will be performed and broadcast live).
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent October 31, 2021
Happy Halloween!
This newsletter will pretty much only deal with arts at Reynolds High School. Last week in my email to you, I suggested those living in the Winston-Salem area join me at the RJR Fall Choral Concert. It was FABULOUS! Should you wish to view a video of that amazing concert and listen to some unbelievably talented musicians, click onto...
RJR became an arts magnet high school in 2007. But that was NOT when students became interested in arts. As a perfect example, take a look at some of the artisans in my Class of 1968. There are several classmates that make their living as professional artists. The most recognized classmate is probably Judy Voss Jones (who was a renown artist and teacher). The building directly behind Reynolds Auditorium is named the "Judy Voss Jones Arts Center." Eddie White creates sculptures. Merlyn Weygandt Bost is involved with paper making and encaustic painting. And Alan Toy is a thespian. To learn about these talented professionals, click onto the following links:
Judy Voss Jones * Eddie White * Merlyn Weygandt Bost * Alan Toy
One other important note: Alan Toy can be viewed on NBC at 8:00 pm on December 2nd. He has been cast as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Broadway musical "Annie Live" (which will be performed and broadcast live).
In closing, let me suggest you visit the RJR Alumni website. It has a new article that tells about a game played by RJR's first football team (during the school's first year), in which a RJR player died during the game. It also states that the as opposed to being known as the Demons, RJR athletic teams were instead then known as The Golden Tornado. To see this and other articles, click onto...
The RJR Alumni website...www.RJRalumni.org
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent October 24, 2021
I hope the weather is good where you are.
It has not rained in Forsyth County for MANY weeks!
A couple of quick things. First: I hope you will join me on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm, in going to Reynolds Auditorium to enjoy a concert featuring the renown RJR choirs (that will be performing live for the first time in over a year)! Even though you will be watching young high school students perform, their talent and professionalism I feel sure will impress you. And when they break out into their a cappella groups: THEY ARE AMAZING!
Concerning my ideas for your next Class Reunion: I hope you and your classmates will do something that in some way benefits our alma mater! A couple of options are to raise funds to help the 'RJ Reynolds Alumni & Friends' organization or 'The Friends of RJ Reynolds Auditorium' create endowments, so there will be funds available annually to do good things. The latter can be done by generating the funds to name a seat (or seats) in the Auditorium in honor of your class. The Alumni can be helped by sending in donations. And if your class really wants to make a difference in someone's life: please consider creating a scholarship. I am a proud member of the Class of 1968. In 1998 at our 30th reunion, we had some members provide some great leadership in convincing us to start raising the funds needed to endow a scholarship with the Winston-Salem Foundation. The following year we awarded our first scholarship. It was valued at $500. This spring, we awarded our 23rd annual scholarship, which is worth $25,000 over 4 years! To read the history behind this and view the 23 recipients, click onto...
RJR Class of 1968 Memorial Scholarship Fund
In closing, I hope you will consider making a donation to help the RJR Alumni organization create an endowment, so that we can forever award $1,000 Scholarships and give $1,000 checks to staff members selected as the RJR Teacher of the Year. You will find articles about this, and many other interesting topics, on the RJR Alumni website...which can be viewed by clicking onto...
The RJR Alumni website...www.RJRalumni.org
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent October 17, 2021
The weather has turned chilly and the leaves are turning orange here in N.C.
I hope the weather is good where you are!
On Friday afternoon, I had the honor of staging an hour-long recorded Q&A interview with RJR's new Principal (Mr. Calvin Freeman). Many of the questions I posed to Mr. Freeman came from RJR Alumni...who had replied back to my email to them last week, when I asked them to send me questions I could ask.
MANY thanks to all of you that replied back with your questions!
A wide variety of topics were brought up by Mr. Corpening, and Mr. Freeman, to his credit, answered every single question. And just like his predecessor (Dr. Leslie Alexander): he was not afraid to discuss topics where things need to improve "amid the pines."
To view this entertaining and informational video, click on the following link:
A Q&A interview with Mr. Calvin Freeman
In closing, I hope you will join me in going to Reynolds Auditorium (between Thursday and Saturday) to enjoy the hilarious comedic musical play: " The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". I would also like to suggest that you take time to view the two new articles posted onto the RJR Alumni website this week:
The RJR Alumni website...www.RJRalumni.org
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent October 10, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying your BEST Columbus Day holiday weekend ever! TWO quick things...
FIRST: this coming week I will be interviewing (via Zoom) the new Principal of RJ Reynolds High School: Mr. Calvin Freeman. This Q&A event will take place some day after Tuesday. This will be recorded, and the resulting video will be posted onto the RJR Alumni website for everyone to view. I need YOUR help! Please reply back with the question(s) you would like me to ask him. I will collect them all, and make sure he answers each of them. If several alums send me essentially the same question: I will consolidate them into one question. No names will be mentioned as to who sent me the questions. (And, obviously, I will discard any "untasteful" questions).
SECOND: the AWESOME Theater Arts Department at RJR is going to stage their fall play "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" starting on Thursday evening, Oct. 21st, thru Saturday evening. This is a hysterically funny comedic musical with tons of improvisation. We ALL need a break from the EVERY DAY madness we are now enduring in this crazy world we live in. This upcoming student performance is the PERFECT "prescription" for what ails us all! Please click onto the link below to order your tickets...as I feel sure they will go fast...and YOU do NOT want to miss this AWESOME performance of some unbelievably talented RJR students!
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
In closing, I would like to thank the many of you who have sent in donations to help us create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation. Also, there have been some new articles added to the RJR Alumni website. I hope you will take the time to view them...by clicking onto...
The RJR Alumni website...www.RJRalumni.org
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent September 26, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you getting ready for a GREAT fall season!
There has been a lot taking place in the month of September at Reynolds High School (and at other local high schools). For instance:
* a Mt. Tabor student was shot and killed on-campus, a Mt. Tabor student and a RJR student had guns confiscated from them while on-campus, and gun shots were fired near Parkland High School, and...
* a committee of the School Board recommended that $1.7 million be used to upgrade practice fields at Reynolds (next to Hanes Park) and at Parkland.
The RJR Alumni website has articles that gives the details about all of the above, as well as articles that:
* show pictures of and transcripts of Q&A's with both RJR $1,000 Alumni Scholarship recipients, as well as with the RJR Teacher of the Year (that also received a check for $1,000 from the RJR Alumni), and...
* an article that tells of the RJR Alumni's recently revised list of on-going initiatives.
To view all of the above articles (and more), click onto...
The RJR Alumni website...www.RJRalumni.org
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent September 13, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you doing well.
Just like RJ Reynolds High School, Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium is approaching its 100th birthday (as it opened on May 8, 1924). 'The Friends of Richard J. Reynolds Auditorium' corporation (which is the organization that raises funds to make improvements at this grand facility) is in the process of raising the needed capital to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation, so that once created: there will be money each year that can go towards making improvements at this GREAT theater. It will take $25,000 to start this endowment.
The vast majority of financial donations to this organization come from folks naming seats in the auditorium. For a tax deductible gift of $500, YOU can PERMANENTLY have an Auditorium seat named for yourself (or anyone else, or for any entity)...and you can name as many seats as you would like (for $500/seat). If only 50 folks make the decision to name a seat: enough funds will be raised to create the endowment. I have personally made the decision to send in a gift to name a couple of seats this week. Hopefully YOU will consider doing this also!
For a LOT of people, this has been a good year for their financial portfolio. If you are one of those folks that has some stocks you may wish to sell, but are worried about capital gains that will come along with that transaction: why not transfer the stock to 'The Friends of Richard J. Reynolds Auditorium'? You will get credit for a tax deductible donation, and if the value of the stocks comes to $500: you can PERMANENTLY name a seat at the Auditorium!
To learn the details of how to name a seat: click onto...
PLEASE help us create an endowment
by making a donation to name a seat in Reynolds Auditorium
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent August 28, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you having had a GREAT summer.
One of the things that has bothered me during the past 5 years is that Reynolds High School has not gotten a penny of 'Title 1" funding. Per the RJ Reynolds High School website, the profile of the student-body in-part states "approximately 50% of our students qualify for the free and reduced (price) lunch program." During the last school-year, 714 RJR students were eligible for the free and reduced-price lunch program. FYI: 'Title I' is a federal education program that supports low income students throughout the nation. Funds are distributed to high poverty schools, as determined by the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The funds can be used to hire additional teachers or teaching assistants, to provide computers or software, to fund before, after and summer school programs, and to purchase additional materials or equipment.
At Tuesday evening's Board of Education meeting, Reynolds was named a 'Title 1' school, and as a result, it will get $453,028.51 in federal funding this school year! And even better news: assuming the demographics of the RJR student-body will not dramatically change from year-to-year: Reynolds can expect to receive a similar amount of federal funding each school year in the future!Since this just happened on Tuesday evening, it is still too early to determine how this will affect the Demon Pantry that A LOT of you have helped fund. Once a determination is made concerning the Demon Pantry: I will let you know.One thing I would like for you to remember: this federal funding does nothing to stop our efforts to raise the needed funds, so we can create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation. This endowment will allow the RJR Alumni organization to offer scholarships in the future to a LOT of deserving students. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, click onto the following:Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent August 8, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health!
The upcoming school-year is getting ready to start. For those of you living in Forsyth County: the RJ Reynolds High School PTSA has volunteer opportunities on August 15th and 17th. The tasks of those volunteering on the morning of the 15th are to help beautify the campus landscape. The tasks of those volunteering during the morning and/or afternoon on the 17th are to help guide new students and families coming to Reynolds Auditorium to a welcoming meeting. I have signed up to help out. Hopefully YOU will also! To learn more of the details, and to sign up to volunteer, click onto...
Volunteer opportunities on August 15th and 17th
For everyone: because the 2021 Graduation Day ceremony was the last day...AND THE FIRST DAY...the RJR Class of 2021 was together as a group: the Class picture had to be "digitally manufactured" by taking all of the 364 Senior pictures and creating a class picture with them. This amazing creation can be seen on the homepage of the RJR Alumni website. (One note about this website: it is part of the School System's website. The firm that hosts that website has made some recent upgrades and changes...and there are some technical glitches being worked out. When you get to our site, you may encounter some empty vertical space between the RJR athletic logo and "RJ Reynolds High School" and the top of the Alumni homepage. Merely scroll down till you see a picture of the school.) To go to the Alumni website, click onto...
Click here to go to the RJR Alumni website
On the Alumni website, you will find a link to an article entitled "The Simultaneous Creation of RJ Reynolds High School, Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium, and Hanes Park." This historical document has been recently updated with a lot of new information. Do you know: (1) why RJR does not face Hawthorne Road? (2) why the steps in front of the auditorium (that are across the road that circles it) lead down the hill? (3) according to the visions of Katharine Reynolds (the widow of RJ Reynolds): the only similarities in RJ Reynolds High School and Richard J. Reynolds Auditorium were: (A) they were named for the same individual (B) they were geographically adjacent to each other. If you want to learn about these 3 topics...AND MUCH MORE: Click onto:
The simultaneous creation of RJ Reynolds High School
Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium, and
And last, MANY thanks to those of you that have sent in donations to help us create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation...so we can FOREVER do such things as annually award $1,000 scholarships and annually give $1,000 to the staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. If YOU have not yet made a tax deductible donation to help us raise the needed $25,000: please consider doing so...by clicking onto...
PLEASE help us create an endowment with
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent August 1, 2021
I hope this email finds you and your loved ones in good health!
In the last email I sent you, three weeks ago, I told you about an August 21st "Back To School Parking Lot Party and Pep Rally." Today, I am regrettably informing you that the event has been cancelled for this year...due to concerns of the surging coronavirus pandemic. If you have sent in your payment for tickets: Rusty Doggett will be contacting you personally to make sure you are not charged.
FYI: Novant Health, Inc. announced on Friday that it is postponing its planned "Welcome Back" street festival in downtown Winston-Salem (which was also scheduled for August 21st). They reported this decision was made "in response to the rising Delta variant Covid-19 cases in this community."
In that last email you received from me, I also informed you that we (the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization) are in the process of raising the needed funds to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation....so that we can FOREVER annually do such things as offer $1,000 student scholarships and offer $1,000 cash awards to the staff person selected as the Teacher of the Year. It takes at least $25,000 to start an endowment...and I am happy to report that we have already raised over $8,000!!! MANY MANY thanks to all those who have sent in donations! If you are not one of those: we would hope that YOU would be willing to make a tax deductible donation to this most worthy cause. To make that gift...that will keep on giving...click onto...
Help us raise the $25,000 needed so we can create an
endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation...
so we can FOREVER support our alma mater!
Concerning the surging pandemic: if you live outside of Forsyth County, you may not know that on Wednesday, July 28th, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board mandated universal masking for all students. To read an article in the local newspaper that gives the details of that lively Board meeting: click onto...
An article about the July 28th
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board meeting
that mandated universal mask wearing for all students
And last: two things I am going to do that you may wish to do also.
First: RJR's new Principal, Mr. Calvin Freeman, starts work tomorrow morning. You may want to join me in mailing him a short letter, welcoming him to the flagship public high school in Forsyth County! I am also going to let him know that I personally am going to be praying that he will enjoy his new job, and that he will do well in this important leadership position. His mailing address is:
Mr. Calvin Freeman
c/o RJ Reynolds High School
301 Hawthorne Road NW
Winston-Salem, NC 27104.
Second: I am going to write a note to Dr. Leslie Alexander (RJR's past Principal) telling her how much I admire how she went about leading the RJR staff and students so that RJ Reynolds High School became known nationwide as a school of excellence. The four things that highlight that fact: (1) in 2017 RJR received the title of being a Nationally Certified Magnet School by Magnet Schools of America (2) Reynolds in 2018 was named a National Magnet School of Excellence by the Magnet Schools of America organization (3) RJR in 2019 was AGAIN named a National Magnet School of Excellence by the Magnet Schools of America organization (4) in 2020 a group of school administrators from Texas came to visit Reynolds to see why the school excelled. The one thing that impressed them the most: that ALL of the students at Reynolds semed to really like each other, and they treated each other with respect. These administrators said that was certainly NOT the case where they were located in Texas! Dr. Alexander's mailing address is:
Dr. Leslie Alexander
c/o W-S/FC School System
PO Box 2513
Winston Salem, NC 27102-2513.
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent July 10th, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying your BEST summer EVER!
The reason for me sending this newsletter is to let you know that there will be a Back to School Parking Lot Party followed by a Pep Rally in Reynolds Auditorium on Saturday, August 21st. This event will include a tour of the school, and a meal catered by Mr. Barbeque. The Pep Rally will include the Dancing Boots, Cheerleaders and RJR Band, a brief entertaining history of the creation of Reynolds High School and Auditorium...AND: the introduction of the new RJR Principal!
The cost for all of this is ONLY $21/person.
THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CLASS TO STAGE A CLASS REUNION! Segments of the parking lots will be assigned for each Class staging a reunion. To learn more of the details, click onto...
An August 21st Parking Lot Party followed by a
Pep Rally in Reynolds Auditorium
In closing, I would like to thank the many of you who have sent in donations to help us create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation so we can FOREVER help RJ Reynolds High School! To learn more about this fund raising effort (as well as read other articles on the RJR Alumni website): click onto...
Click here to go to the RJR Alumni website
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent July 5th, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you having just enjoyed your VERY BEST July 4th EVER!
The singular reason for me sending this newsletter is to let you know that the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board has approved the next person that will be the Principal at RJ Reynolds High School: Mr. Calvin Freeman. To learn more about Mr. Freeman, click onto...
Mr. Calvin Freeman has been named to be the next RJR Principal
In closing, let me inform you that there have been several new articles recently posted on the RJR Alumni website. I would hope you would take the time to view them. They can be viewed by clicking onto...
Click here to go to the RJR Alumni website
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent June 26th, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health...and enjoying what will hopefully be your BEST summer ever!
I am happy to inform you that we have been in talks with the folks at The Winston-Salem Foundation, and have decided that the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization is going to create an endowment with them (as soon we can raise $25,000). The creation of an endowment means that once established, it will disburse to us the interest and dividends that the endowed funds earned during the previous twelve months. Thus, the money used to establish the endowment (plus the donations later sent to it), will never be affected by yearly disbursements...since only the interest and dividends will be paid out.
The great thing about establishing an endowment is that years from now (when we have all died), these endowed funds will be overseen by the professionals working at The Winston-Salem Foundation, and our desires as to what the annual disbursements can be used for, and who is eligible to receive them, will be determined by what we decided when the endowment was created.
In past emails, I have informed you that the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends" organization hopes that you will include us in your estate planning. Also, we have informed you that we now accept tax deductible donations of stock, as well as well as checks and credit-card donations. All of that is still true. To learn more of the specifics of this, click onto...
Click here to learn about making a donation to help
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
so that proceeds from you donation(s) will help RJR forever!
To kickoff the fund raising of funds so we can quickly reach $25,000, I today have written a check for $1,000 for this purpose. I would hope that you would seriously consider making a donation yourself.
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent June 12, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved fully vaccinated...and getting ready to enjoy your BEST summer ever!
On Wednesday evening, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System announced that RJ Reynolds High School Principal Dr. Leslie Alexander will be leaving RJR. She has been promoted to be the new area superintendent for leadership development. Since coming to RJR in 2015, she has done a PHENOMINAL job of restoring Reynolds to its former glory! In 2017, she was named the Arts Magnet Principal of the Year, and the following year she was named THE Principal of the Year by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System. (And, to show that we at the "RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends" organization appreciate all the hard work she did to get these honors: she received a check from us for $1,000 on EACH of those years)!
A prime example of her amazing leadership abilities is the fact that while she was Principal at Reynolds (which has been an arts magnet school since 2008), RJR was named a National Magnet School of Excellence by the Magnet Schools of America organization...TWO YEARS IN A ROW! And prior to that (in 2017), the school received the title of Nationally Certified Magnet School by Magnet Schools of America. To quote Dr. Alexander from a School System news release back then: “The national certification and award process is based on the Magnet School Standards of Excellence and those standards really define Reynolds. Two years in a row provides our team with validation that our work continues to align with those pillars of diversity, innovative curriculum and professional development, academic excellence, high quality instructional systems; and, family and community partnerships.”
To read the brief article in the local newspaper about Dr. Alexander being promoted, and thus leaving RJR, click onto...
RJR Principal Dr. Leslie Alexander has been promoted to
become the new area superintendent for leadership development
As was done last year: this year's Class Day event (which in earlier times was called Senior Day) was staged virtually and turned into an AMAZING video. This recording should be viewed by ALL RJR alumni to see a lot of the outstanding RJR graduating Seniors...and their fabulous teachers. Should you be interested in seeing what teacher was named RJR's Teacher of the Year (by his peers)...and was thus given a check for $1,000 from the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization...as well as learning what two students were awarded $1,000 Scholarships by the Alumni: click onto the following link, and then go to the 25 minute 10 second mark on the video timeline to see me making those announcements.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 400-strong RJ Reynolds High School Class of 2021 staged its graduation ceremony at Deaton Thompson Stadium. For most RJR alumni, I would have to assume that when looking back at graduation day years later: this event ended up being considered the-best-of-times as well as the-worst-of-times. It was the-best-of-times because you had completed one of your major tasks in life...and were excited to start the next part of your life. It was simultaneously the-worst-of-times because that day you met for the very last time classmates you thought would be life-long friends.
Graduation Day for this PHENOMINAL Class of 2021 from RJ Reynolds High School was unique in MANY ways. The most noticeable one: it was simultaneously the last day of the school-year at which this whole class would be gathered together...and it was also the first day of this school-year at which the whole Class had gathered together!
To quote from RJR's Student Government Association President McCray White's Graduation Day ceremony speech: "Even though we may be recognized as the COVID Class of 2021, we are much more than that. We are now equipped with a heavy dose of resiliency and perseverance, which will enable us to overcome most any obstacles ahead.
The hard work, determination and character that we have exhibited over last 14 months can propel us to attain a lifetime of achievements. The world is full of discoveries, and this senior class is ripe for the challenges and explorations ahead."
To see pictures of some of these RJR graduating Seniors shown in the local newspaper, click onto...
Pictures of RJR Graduating Seniors
As was just mentioned, the RJR Alumni this year again awarded two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors (one going to a female, and the other going to a male). We also awarded $1,000 to the staff member (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. This annual awarding of these three $1,000 investments in our future by the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends" organization makes RJ Reynolds High School one of the MOST prestigious and unique public high schools in America! These yearly awards can ONLY be made because we received enough donations from caring RJR Alumni...like YOU! I would hope that YOU would consider making a tax deductible donation to the RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends organization by clicking onto:
Please make a donation to RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent May 27th, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones safe and in good health...and getting ready for your BEST Memorial Day weekend ever!
To the MANY of you that have served this nation in the Armed Forces:
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
To the MANY of you who lost loved ones who were serving in the Armed Forces,
and to those of you who were permanently wounded while serving,
and to those of you who have family members who were permanently wounded:
I feel sure that words will not help heal any of the
dreams that were instantly altered by such a horrendous event.
Please know that you and your peers are in our prayers!
The reason for sending this "must see" newsletter today is quite simple: I want to hopefully make it possible for you to remember some of the "good ol' days" while you were at Reynolds! Last week I had the honor of receiving a unique full-size 32-page brochure titled:
Amid The Pines
A History of Reynolds Senior High
1923 - 1973
The first words in this historical brochure explain the reason for its creation:
"The 1972-73 journalism staff dedicates this
brochure to Ricard J. Reynolds School in her
50th year of service to the community."
I have scanned all of this, and posted it onto the RJR Alumni website (as a pdf file...so you can enlarge each page should you wish). This amazing historical "brochure" is FULL of pictures I had never seen (of the campus, school activities, students, etc.)...and is filled with a lot of facts about RJR that I did not know. Such as: do you know what major policy decision was changed 1971?
Girls were allowed to wear pants!!
Hopefully this pamphlet will bring you many smiles and happy memories.
And you can see a picture of Mrs. Judy Jones (for which the Judy Voss Jones Arts Center was named)! To view this brochure, click onto:
A History of Reynolds Senior High
Because it is now the end of May, we are merely days away from the event that in earlier years was called Senior Day. This is the day when the RJR Alumni will award two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors (one going to a female, and the other going to a male). We will also be awarding $1,000 to the staff member (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. This annual awarding of these three $1,000 investments in our future makes RJ Reynolds High School one of the VERY most prestigious and unique public high schools in America!
These awards can take place ONLY because we receive enough donations from caring RJR Alumni like you! I would hope that YOU would consider making a tax deductible donation to the RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends organization by clicking onto:
Please make a donation to RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
To our knowledge, only one other public high school east of the Mississippi River has its alumni offering any scholarships...and they only offer one! That school is in Pennsylvania. Their scholarship is for $1,000. And the reason they started doing it: one of their teachers attended RJ Reynolds High School!!!
To briefly mention Class Reunions: we have only received notification about future reunions for two classes (1961 and 1970). If your Class is thinking about staging a reunion, please let us know...so we can tell others about it. To view the info for theses classes: click onto the "Class Reunions" article (which is near the bottom of the homepage of the Alumni website)...and then scroll down to "Class of 1961" or "Class of 1970." To get to the RJR Alumni homepage, click onto...
In closing, let me say that the last 10 days in Winston-Salem have somewhat reminded me of when I graduated from RJR. The weather has turned warm, and the roads are of full of cars with families seemingly getting ready to go somewhere ... anywhere ... just away from "here." Vaccines have given people hope, and the pandemic concerns of the last many months have seemingly vanished. People are free to come and go. Which reminds me of the last words of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech:
"Free at last. Free at last.
Thank God all mighty, we are free at last."
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent May 1st, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones safe and in good health!
On Wednesday afternoon, I staged a zoom conversation with RJR Athletic Director Brad Fisher that was recorded. It was quite enjoyable, and we covered a lot of different topics. I have posted the video of this onto the Alumni website. If you listen to it, I feel sure you will learn some things about the sports teams at Reynolds High School that you did not know (such as: RJR sponsors more athletic teams than does Wake Forest)! To view this enjoyable video, click onto:
RJR Athletic Director Brad Fisher
RJR Alumni President Harry Corpening
Because it is now May, we are getting close to the day that the RJR Alumni will award two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors (one going to a female, and the other going to a male). We will also be awarding $1,000 to the staff member (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. This annual awarding of these three $1,000 investments in our future makes RJ Reynolds High School one of the VERY prestigious and unique public high schools in America! This can take place ONLY because we receive enough donations from caring RJR Alumni like YOU! I would hope that YOU would consider making a tax deductible donation to the RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends organization by clicking onto:
Please make a donation to RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent the end-of-March, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones safe and in good health!
I want to start this newsletter by thanking those of you who (like me and my wife) bought tickets to enjoy the virtual viewing of the phenomenal RJR spring semester musical: "Jesus Christ Super Star." Regrettably, unlike the preceding two musicals that the RJR Theater Arts Department staged at Reynolds Auditorium, we are not able to now offer a link to this video, so you can view it cost-free. The reason "Jesus Christ Super Star" can't be viewed thusly: the royalties involved in doing this. If the video to this production was offered to the general public, the RJR Theater Arts Department would be charged $700 for EVERY DAY that occurred!
However, if you are looking for some highly entertaining acting and singing by some unbelievably talented students at Reynolds High School (especially if you don't care for college basketball...since the March Madness games will be in full display for the next 4 days): the links to the videos of the 2020 spring semester musical "Into The Woods" and the 2019 fall semester musical "Peter and the Star Catcher" are still available. These two fabulous productions (performed at Reynolds Auditorium) can be viewed via the Alumni website by clicking onto...
links to the videos of RJR Theater Arts productions of
"Into The Woods" and "Peter and the Star Catcher"
I hope you will take some time to view the recently updated RJR Alumni website. We have added a bunch of new articles, including those that tell about:
* Michael Swain, a RJR Class of 1968 grad and President of Cahill & Swain, announced that this 71-year-old mens store retail organization will be permanently closing on March 27th
* 2005 RJR grad Andrew Bates has been selected by President Biden as a Deputy Press Secretary
* Salem College announced that it is making dramatic changes so that eventually all its classes will have one goal: preparing women to take leadership roles in health-related fields.
To view these RJR Alumni website articles, and MANY MANY others, click onto:
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent mid-March, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health!
Several weeks ago in a previous newsletter, I informed you of a recorded zoomed conversation I had with Mrs. Elizabeth May (the superb manager of Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium). The response to that video was so great, I will start conducting zoom interviews with members of the staff at RJR on a regular basis. This week I participated in a zoomed conversation with Mr. Nick Zayas (who is RJR's Director of Theater Arts). We primarily discussed the upcoming spring semester musical ("Jesus Christ Superstar")...which will be staged (so it can be viewed virtually) this coming Friday at 7:30 pm. We also talked about the costs of putting this on, as well as the numerous hardships involved in doing this at Reynolds Auditorium during a pandemic. To view this enlightening 23-minute video, click onto...
an interview with RJR's Director of Theater Arts
I hope you will take some time to view the RJR Alumni website. We have added several new articles. There are also articles from past non-covid years that have links to videos of student concerts, plays, and the Key Club Follies staged at Reynolds Auditorium. To get to the Alumni website, click onto...
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent the end-of-February, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health!
This newsletter will deal with one major theme: RJR's fabulous Department of Choirs. Tonight, from Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium, the 15th annual RJR "A Cappella Jam for H.O.P.E." will be staged...virtually. If you want to view some VERY entertaining a cappella music being performed by current students (representing choral groups from RJR and other high schools, as well as various colleges): please click onto the following link at 7:00 pm TONIGHT:
You will notice that there is a link for you to make a donation, and the suggested amount is $10 for each person viewing this event. I must point out that in the past, this event ALWAYS generated a full house at the Auditorium. It is the way the Choral Department at Reynolds High School pays for all the expenses generated in staging their various concerts each year, as well as for the travel costs associated with their renown RJR a cappella choral groups. Should you wish to make a tax deductible donation to 'RJR Alumni and Friends' for supporting the Choral Department at Reynolds School, click onto...
please make a tax deductible donation
supporting RJR's Choral Department
And one last thing concerning helping RJR's Choral Department: Sutton Brothers (a hvac and plumbing firm located in Winston-Salem) is staging a contest between 3 local high schools (RJR, Atkins and Mt. Tabor) to see who has the most supporters that will take the time to merely go to a website and click onto their favorite high school. The winner will receive a $1,000 donation for that school's Choral Department! This email goes out to over 8,000 fellow alumni...so if we all vote: RJR could win $1,000!! Please cast YOUR vote...
to help RJR's Choral Dept. win a $1,000 donation
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent near the end-of-February, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones warm, and in good health!
When it comes to RJ Reynolds High School, I have been wearing two hats for about a dozen years. You know that I am the President of the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization. You may not know that I am also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of 'The Friends of Richard J. Reynolds Auditorium' organization.
Today I thought I would update you on Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium. Probably the best way to do that is to let you view a "zoomed" conversation I had this week with Auditorium Manager Mrs. Elizabeth May. We discussed what has been, what is, and what is not now taking place at the Auditorium...as well as what is being done to get ready for the Auditorium's 100th birthday (which will occur on May 8, 2024).
To view our conversation, click onto...
an interview with Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium
In past newsletters, I have suggested you visit the RJR Alumni website. Today I am going to suggest you take some time to visit the website for Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium...which can be viewed by clicking onto:
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent the end-of-January, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health.
Because of a local School Board ruling last week, 9th graders will be returning to high school starting on Monday (Feb. 1st). However, each student (with input from their parents or guardians) gets to decide whether to return to their school, or to continue with their virtual education. And FYI: last week's ruling has the 10th, 11th and 12th graders returning three weeks later on Feb. 22nd.
Two quick things. First: if you are a religious person, I would hope that you would join me in praying that things will go well with the return of students on campus, and that everyone (students and staff included) remains in good health.
Second: the main reason for me writing this newsletter is to ask that YOU consider making a donation to help in the stocking of the RJR Demon Pantry (which was established to feed students who come to the school hungry). As I assume you know, essentially 1 out of every 2 students now attending Reynolds High School is eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch. With that being the case: it only makes sense that some kids will show up hungry. The Demon Pantry is there to IMMEDIATELY address that problem.
Should you wish to make a tax deductible donation, click onto...
ways to make a donation supporting the RJR Demon Pantry
We have recently streamlined the RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends website. If you have not viewed it lately, I would hope you would do so...by clicking onto...
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent the middle-of-January, 2021
RJ REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL HAS TURNED 98 YEARS OLD!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A TRUE LIVING LEGEND!!
Regrettably I start this newsletter by informing you that RJR lost two VERY distinguished past head football coaches during the last seven days: "Red" Wilson and Doug Crater. Coach Wilson in eight years had two teams that were 4-A State Champions. Coach Crater coached three different sports: football, wrestling, and golf. When combining all the sports, he had teams that won numerous Conference Championships and seven 4-A State Championships.
Besides being phenomenal at teaching their players how to perform well as a team, they were also great at inspiring their players to perform at their best. Players under both of these men would do almost anything for these men! The RJR Alumni website has articles about these two great leaders. To see the multi-sourced article about Coach "Red" Wilson, click onto...
Coach "Red" Wilson has died, at age 95
To see the informative article about Coach Doug Crater, click onto...
Coach Doug Crater has died, at age 88
Given the fact that we are all seemingly being constantly bombarded daily with troubling news, I am assuming you would love the opportunity to take a few minutes to just chill out. If so: I have the perfect solution that will more than likely bring a smile to your face. To view three very entertaining one-song videos by RJR's three renown A Capella choral groups: click onto the following...
3 one-song videos by 3 fabulous RJR A Capella choral groups
RJ Reynolds High School first opened it's doors on January 15, 1923.
To help celebrate RJR's birthday,
we would hope you would consider making a donation to
help Reynolds High School remain as meaningful to
it's current students as it was for you.
You can do this by donating to the RJR Alumni LESLIE Fund. This fund was created to allow Dr. Leslie Alexander (RJR's highly touted Principal) to do things of her choosing which will make an immediate positive impact at Reynolds High School. To make a donation, click onto...
ways to make a tax deductible donation to the LESLIE FUND
to help RJR celebrate its 98th birthday
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent the January 10, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in good health.
Sadly I start this newsletter by informing you that RJ Reynolds High School lost a very valuable volunteer over the holiday break: Dr. Lee Kirsch. He was the team doctor for all the RJR football, basketball and wrestling teams for over 20 years. To read an article on the RJR Alumni website about this remarkable man who was most generous with his time and many talents, click onto:
Dr. Lee Kirsch, a RJR team doctor for 3 sports for 20+ years, has died
RJ Reynolds High Schools first opened its doors on January 16, 1923.
To help celebrate RJR's upcoming 98th birthday on Saturday,
we are making January 15, 2021 a Day of Giving.
We are raising funds for the LESLIE Fund.
This fund was created to allow Dr. Leslie Alexander (RJR's highly respected Principal) to do things (of her choosing) which will make an immediate positive impact at Reynolds High School. Given all of the many unanticipated expenses involved in dealing with Covid-19: it is a safe bet that a lot of dollars that may have been available to principals for upgrading and improving things at their schools have instead been spent on making sure all the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System personnel and students are as safe as possible. And those expenses will grow even more when in-person teaching for all grades begins later this month.
We would hope you would strongly consider making a donation to this worthy cause. What you may consider as an insignificant donation, when added to all the others that will be made, can dramatically improve things for the staff and students at Reynolds High School! To make a donation, click onto...
ways to make a tax deductible donation to the LESLIE FUND
to help RJR celebrate its 98th birthday
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends
An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening
to RJR Alumni everywhere!
sent the first-of-January, 2021
I hope this newsletter finds you having had a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
The reason for this note to you is simple: to let you know that RJ Reynolds High School is getting ready to celebrate its 97th birthday...on January 15th!
If you don't know how the agreement to simultaneously create RJ Reynolds High School and RJ Reynolds Memorial Auditorium and Hanes Park came to be: I have written a history of this fascinating story. This composition (which includes pictures of the folks that made this happen) can be viewed by clicking onto...
the story of the simultaneous creation of
RJ Reynolds High School & RJ Reynolds Memorial Auditorium
To help celebrate RJR's upcoming birthday, we are making January 16, 2021 a Day of Giving. We are raising funds to allow Dr. Leslie Alexander (RJR's highly touted Principal) to do some things (of her choosing) which will make an immediate positive impact at Reynolds High School. We would hope you would strongly consider making a donation to this cause. If you would: click onto...
ways to make a tax deductible donation
to help RJR celebrate its 98th birthday
Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.
MANY thanks for your time and consideration.
Click here ( * ) to go to the RJR Alumni & Friends homepage.
Select a School...
Select a School
- Ashley Academy
- Atkins High School
- Atkins School of Biotechnology
- Atkins School of Computer Technology
- Bolton Elementary School
- Brunson Elementary School
- Caleb's Creek Elementary School
- Career Center
- Carter High School
- Carver High School
- Cash Elementary School
- The Children's Center
- Clemmons Elementary School
- Clemmons Middle School
- Cook Literacy Model School
- Diggs-Latham Elementary School
- Early College of Forsyth
- East Forsyth High School
- East Forsyth Middle School
- Easton Elementary School
- Flat Rock Middle School
- Forest Park Elementary School
- Middle College of Forsyth
- Gibson Elementary School
- Glenn High School
- Griffith Elementary School
- Hall-Woodward Elementary School
- Hanes Magnet School
- Homebound-Hospital Education Center
- Ibraham Elementary School
- Jacket Academy
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School
- John F. Kennedy High School
- Kernersville Elementary School
- Kernersville Middle School
- Kimberley Park Elementary School
- Kimmel Farm Elementary School
- Kingswood School K-12
- Konnoak Elementary School
- Lewisville Elementary School
- Lowrance Middle School
- Main Street Academy
- Meadowlark Elementary School
- Meadowlark Middle School
- Mineral Springs Elementary School
- Mineral Springs Middle School
- Moore Elementary School
- Morgan Elementary
- Mount Tabor High School
- North Forsyth High School
- North Hills Elementary School
- Northwest Middle School
- Old Richmond Elementary School
- Old Town Elementary School
- Paisley IB School
- Parkland High School
- Petree Elementary School
- Philo-Hill Magnet Academy
- Piney Grove Elementary School
- Reagan High School
- Reynolds Auditorium
- Reynolds High School
- Rural Hall Elementary School
- Sedge Garden Elementary School
- Sherwood Forest Elementary School
- Smith Farm Elementary
- South Fork Elementary School
- Southeast Middle School
- Southwest Elementary School
- Speas Global Elementary School
- Special Children's School
- The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork
- The Downtown School
- Union Cross Elementary School
- Vienna Elementary School
- Walkertown Elementary School
- Walkertown High School
- Walkertown Middle School
- Ward Elementary School
- West Forsyth High School
- Whitaker Elementary School
- Wiley Magnet Middle School
- Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy
- WS/FCS Training
- WS/FCS Virtual Academy
- Lewisville Middle School
- WS/FCS Graduation
