If you're a high school student who lives in Roy, one thing is certain: You will be going to Roy High School.
That certainty has created a special bond among the city, the school and its students.
It's not uncommon for the seats at the city council meetings to be filled with high school students -- those earning extra points in government class or, perhaps, making up service hours for absences or tardies.
The city also honors students' accomplishments with a resolution, plaques and awards, and banners hanging across the street in front of the city offices.
This feeling of community is what made Gina Butters excited to be the principal at Roy High.
Butters was the school's assistant principal from 2005 to 2007 and was impressed with the relationship the community and city have with the school. She knew she could expect that full support when she took over as principal in the fall of 2010, and she hasn't been disappointed.
"I've never been at a school where the police chief (Greg Whinham) is a constant presence," Butters said. It's not because there are always problems, she explained, but because he is trying to stay ahead of problems. She noted that his presence was the key to finding out about an alleged bomb plot at the school earlier this year.
She pointed out that the Roy High School band and its boosters are heavily involved in the city's Roy Days events, overseeing the booths and much of the food that is prepared for sale.
She knows that City Manager Chris Davis, the fire chief and the mayor are only a phone call away.
Davis said that relationship has always been present between the city and high school. The city makes it a goal to be of service to all of its schools.
He has found that there's a strong connection between the city and many of the principals and teachers because of their love for the community. Some were born and raised in Roy; others lived in the city later in life and they stay to educate the children of the community.
Davis said the city and the schools need each other to make their respective programs work, and the city enjoys helping the schools in any way it can.
He pointed out times when Roy High has used city property for a dance, and mentioned the give-and-take between the city and the schools when it comes to facilities, parks and recreational events.
"The people here have a sense of community," Davis said. When the schools are doing something, everyone, including the city, likes to pitch in because that's just what they do.
Davis said it's a real asset to have Fire Chief Jon Ritchie on the Weber School District Board because Ritchie keeps the city in the loop about things going on and how the city can be involved.
Both Butters and Davis said a top priority is the safety of the students, so the two entities work together to ensure that safety.
Weber School District spokesman Nate Taggart echoed the feeling of community in Roy, saying that's what makes things work.
He said the fact that businesses and other groups also support the high school plays a large role in community involvement and a successful relationship between the school and the larger community.
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