January 15, 2015

Headmaster Letter

Hello Rivermont Families!

Thank goodness we have emerged from our recent bout of bitterly cold weather. Like a number of parents and students, I was wondering if we can put big wheels on the mansion so as to make our way down to Florida for the winter.

I would like to take a few moments to update you on several exciting new programs we introduced this academic year. While many of our Upper School parents are aware of the new Educational Partners program, it might not be as well-known across the entire Rivermont family. This program has proven to be an outstanding addition that enables our seniors to attend classes at either Augustana College, St. Ambrose, or Western Illinois Universities. While on campus, they are truly considered college freshman. Not only does this unique experience provide a window into the rigors of college courses, it also offers our students a tremendous opportunity to participate in university events and programs. Our seniors just completed their first semester taking classes from Chemistry to Engineering to Theater. The feedback has been wonderful, not only from our students whose confidence in attending college is now at an all-time high, but also from our parents who saw firsthand the excitement and continued growth of their student. The college credits our students earn are also able to be transferred to the various universities they will attend next year. It's no wonder our juniors, who we are starting the preliminary registration process for next year, are so excited about the program.

We are also excited to begin our expanded senior internship program this month. This highly successful program pairs seniors during the third academic quarter to a wide variety of businesses and agencies across the Quad Cities. A concerted effort is made to align the internship to the student's perspective college field of study. Thank you to our exceptional partners around the Quad Cities to include Sears Manufacturing, Friendly House, KJWW Engineering, Family Medical Center, DCS Computer Services, the Putnam Museum, WQPT Broadcasting and the Davenport Country Club.

Mark your calendars for the next Evening with the Headmaster scheduled for February 3rd in the Becherer Hall auditorium from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. We will be discussing a variety of topics from our recent College Admissions Study to new curriculum initiatives. We will be Live-streaming the event over the web. Child care will be provided in the library.

Get ready for summer! Rivermont will be unveiling its new summer school catalog February 1st. We are following up our highly successful program last year with even more classes and events, including our continued partnership with River Music Experience (RME) offering three sessions of its highly successful Rock Camp USA on our campus. More to follow, so keep watching our website for details.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. Please stay warm and safe.

Best,

Todd Zachary

Headmaster

Parents' Council Winter Coffee
January 29 at 8:00 am

The Parents' Council invites all Rivermont parents and families to have a quick cup of coffee when they drop off their students for school. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new families, catch up after winter break, and shake off those January chills.

Join us, we'll keep the coffee hot!

Parent-Teacher Conferences (K-12th Grade)
January 29, 3 to 8 p.m.
(Early dismissal at 11:45 a.m.)
January 30, 8 a.m. to Noon
(No classes)

Sign Up Early

The conference sign-up book is now available at the front desk in Becherer Hall. Come in and choose a time with each teacher you wish to see. Slots fill up quickly, so it is recommended that families register early.

Child Care

Early School lunch, Afternoon Adventures, and After School Care (for PreSchool - 12th Grade) only take place on full school days. Since Thursday, January 29th is an early dismissal day, special After Care services are available, at a nominal fee, starting at 11:45. Please notify your student's teacher if your child will be staying and if he or she will need a school lunch.
Complimentary child care is available in the library during your scheduled conference time(s).

Early School parent-teacher conferences will take place on March 3 & 5.

Bake Sale

January 20

Our first bake sale will be on Tuesday January 20 during snack time and all three lunches (10:15-10:40 and from 11:30-1:00). Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades are asked to bring baked goods (pre-packaged preferably) or store bought. If any items contain nuts please include a note. Items can be dropped off in the morning and set on the tables in Becherer Hall.

Development Note$
"Tastes of World" Meeting
January 22 at 2:00pm

Anyone who would like to help with the new school fundraising event - "Tastes of the World" to be held June 6 - is invited to attend a planning meeting on Thursday, January 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Mansion Alumni Room. Contact Rod in the Development Office Ext. 314 for more information.

Academic Fair

February 12 in Becherer Hall

Exhibits open at 6:00pm in the gym

Living Biography Performances start at 6:00pm in the auditorium

Prepare to be amazed. Rivermont's annual Academic Fair is the culmination of months of student research and preparation. The fair features projects on display, as well as performances of Living Biographies. All students in grades 1-11 participate.

This event is open to Rivermont families and the public.

It's Basketball Season!

Support Our Lions

Come support our players at these upcoming games.

Thursday, 1/15 - Middle School Boys vs. Morning Star at 4:30pm (home) End of season party following the game.
Varsity Boys vs. Scattergood at 6:30pm (home)
Tuesday, 1/20 - Varsity Boys vs Quad City Christian at 5:00pm (home)
Thursday, 1/22 - Middle School Girls vs. Temple Christian at 4:30pm (home)

More information and the full season schedules can be found on the Rivermont Website.

Go Lions!

Concordia Thanks!

A BIG thank you, Merci, Gracias to all the Grand-parents, Parents, Faculty and students who supported the Concordia Cane sale in November and December. We made $614 toward our trip expenses. Thank you to Ms. Paget, Mrs. Sears and the students who helped tie tags on candy canes.

You all rock!

Request from Yearbook Staff Outside Activities Photos Needed

Deadline, February 27

The Rivermont yearbook staff would like to request a digital copy of your student's "outside activities" photos. You can submit your child's sports/activity photo via email to: brown@rvmt.org.

The professional photo usually taken is preferred but any high-quality, close-up photo in uniform or costume may be acceptable, as well as a scanned copy of a photo. Because of limited space, please select ONE sport/activity for each child. You may send photos from multiple activities, but be aware, we will choose only one. If you have a preference, please let us know.

Since this is early for spring sports, feel free to send their photo from this past season if necessary.

Nikhil Wagher (Grade 9)

This week we are excited to introduce you to Nikhil Wagher. Nikhil is not your average 14 year old. In addition to being an excellent student and friend, Nikhil is also a talented musician, builder, innovator and creator. Nikhil's passion for music began when he started taking piano lessons at the age of four. Today some of his favorite music genres include; ragtime, jazz and swing. He really enjoys playing the piano to help raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House. His love of music doesn't stop there, he also plays the drums and is currently teaching himself to play the banjo.

Nikhil is known throughout the Rivermont community for his work on the school's FTC Robotics team where he helps design and build robots for competition. But When he is not playing music or building robots, you will most likely find Nikhil in his basement workshop, in shorts and bare feet, working on his ultralight airplane. The plane, which he has framed with aluminum, will be powered by the engine from a Polaris Snowmobile that he will rebuild himself.

This summer Nikhil plans to re-purpose a 1969 lawn mower for racing. This will include reworking the electrical system, the carburetor and the engine. When complete, the mower will reach a speed of 40 mph, perfect for racing. As a Christmas gift this past year he promised to construct a fort for his two younger siblings, modeled after the cockpit of a 747.

We are so proud to call Nikhil a Rivermont Lion!