Dear Rivermont Parents and Families,

I write to you from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) Head of School Conference in Chicago. For those that may not know, ISACS is our accreditation organization. Every 7 years, Rivermont (like the other 452 ISACS schools) goes through an extensive accreditation process. Teams from a variety of schools visit campus and examine everything from curriculum to school operations. It is an incredibly detailed process akin to a college level accreditation. The visiting team usually is scheduled during year 3 of the 7 year cycle. During the other years (we are currently in year 1), there are studies, reports, and surveys that the school completes in preparation for the year 3 visit. You will be hearing more about ISACS, but I thought you might find it interesting how rigorous our accreditation process is, as we are the only ISACS accredited school in the Quad Cities.

Over the course of the day, in talking to other ISACS Heads of School, it is easy to see how alike we are to our ISACS neighbors, but also how we are different. One of the most visible differences, due to the tremendous work of Rivermont faculty, is our steadfast commitment to bringing the many facets of the human condition to Rivermont. Last week we had the opportunity to witness Galumpha, a comedic dance group (thank you, Gwen Pokora!) and the quarter before we enjoyed the Ladies of Lee choir. The list of performers goes on and on, from poets to singers to musicians, all lighting the fire of imagination and creativity among students and faculty. This is certainly not limited to the arts - we have chess clubs, social and community clubs, and technology and science groups like the robotics program and the new coding club.

We also have interest in the community to use our campus to host presentations and seminars. While not officially sponsored by Rivermont, tickets are usually discounted for Rivermont students and families. The next seminar, for example, is on February 6th at 6:00 p.m. in Becherer Hall, where Mr. Rob Woodhall, Director of Manufacturing at ALCOA, will discuss the revolutionary advances in the aluminum industry. While we may not be able to offer the number of presentations you could find on a college campus, sharing our facilities reinforces Rivermont's commitment as an educational partner in the Quad City community.

Lastly, before I sign off from Chicago, I would like to remind everyone of the upcoming Evening with the Headmaster this Tuesday. Thank you for your patience and understanding with the crazy weather over the past several weeks. Please stay safe this weekend.

Best,

Todd Zachary, Headmaster 

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