RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Riverside Middle School news and announcements MAY 16

Riverside Middle School students, left to right: Annlie King, Samuel Childers, Hannah Garity.

Seventh-graders Samuel Childers, Hannah Garity, and Annlie King were recognizedrecently at Furman University. The students qualified at the grand level and scored at or better than 90 percent of recent high school graduates who tested on at least one part of the ACT or the SAT.

The students have been invited to a special recognition ceremony at Duke University. Only about a 3 percent of all the participants in the Duke TIP Talent Search Program qualify.

Riverside teaches writes his first book MAY 16

Riverside High School teacher Steve Johnson has written a book, "Unknown Wars that Changed History." The book will be out in the fall.

He also will have an article, "France's Nightmare in Vietnam 1857-1884," published in the July issue of Military Heritage Magazine.

Riverside Middle School thanks all of the volunteers who participated in the Hands on Greenville Day 2013.

Volunteers included 75 from Hayssen Sandiacre Machinery Support, 20 from RMS and 6 from Grace Church. The volunteers planted shrubs, painted the office area, spread 15 yards of mulch, and distributed 3,000 bottles of water and snacks for PASS testing.

Kevin Kerr, 7th grade student, was selected as a winner in the Greenville County Conservation & Water Conservation District’s Essay Contest.

Samuel Childers, Hannah Garity and Annlie King, 7^th graders at Riverside Middle School, participated in the Duke TIP program and received national and state recognition for their SAT scores.

Earning state recognition were:

Students in the Riverside Middle School Band, Strings, and Guitar Classes traveled to Disney World where they competed in a nation-wide competition, Festival Disney.

Students with Riverside Middle and Mauldin Middle schools earned Superior and Excellent ratings at Festival Disney, while competing in divisions featuring band, orchestra, choir and guitar ensembles.

Riverside Middle School students earned awards and distinctions for their presentations at the State Model United Nations Conference in Black Mountain, N.C.

Riverside Middle School had 31 students participate in the State Model United Nations Conference in Black Mountain, N.C. (April 11-12) and earned awards and distinctions for their presentations.

The students participating and their proposals, presented at the YMCA Conference Center:

Annabelle Williams warms up during a Zumba session before participating in the iMove 5k Walk/Run at Riverside High School.

Students, alumni and parents participated in the iMove 5k Walk/Run Saturday morning at Riverside Middle School.

Amanda Bishop, Miss Wade Hampton, joined the participants in the morning activities. Bishop is a graduate of RMS and Riverside High School. She is a junior at the University of South Carolina. Bishop will compete in the Miss South Carolina pageant in July in Columbia at Townsend Auditorium.

Madelin Corvin of Riverside Middle School, won more awards than she could carry at the “Greenville County and SC Regional Science and Engineering Fair.” She was 4th overall and, as the photo illustrates, won more awards than any other student in the Junior Division.

Madelin Corvin took home a haul of awards with her 4^th place overall finish in the “Greenville County and SC Regional Science and Engineering Fair.” Corvin won the most awards of any student in the Junior Division.

Her project, “Flip It!” also earned second in Math and honorable mention in Engineering. Corvin received certificates, a trophy, and cash prizes for each award.

Victor Chasteen, senior at Blue Ridge High School, is the son of Scott and Heather Chasteen of Taylors.

Six students from greater Greer area high schools have been awarded the Foothills Scholarship by North Greenville University. The scholarships have an annual value of $12,000 and 4-year total of $48,000.

Victor Chasteen and Lucas McClain of Blue Ridge High School, Zachary Davis of Riverside HS, Ilse Peterson of Eastside HS, Kendra Webb, Greenville HS, and John Partin, home schooled, received the grants based on academic achievement, school, church and community involvement.

Greg Bissonette, who toured with Ringo Starr, will be one of the drum and percussionists featured at Perc Up! Percussion Showcase at Riverside High School on Saturday, April 13.

Riverside High School is hosting Perc Up! Percussion Showcase at 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 that will feature some of the world’s best drummers, percussionists and locally famous performing groups.

The showcase, featuring percussive works and solos, is $10 and benefits music education. The Riverside High School Drumline will participate in the evening’s show.

Stephanie Gonzalez (left) and Antoine Kahaleh will represent Riverside Middle School as finalists for the ACE Award banquet on May 23 at the KROC Center.

Stephanie Gonzalez and Antoine Kahaleh of Riverside Middle School were selected finalists for the ACE (Advocates for Character and Education) Award. The eighth graders were recognized for their hard work, positive choices despite adversity, leadership, and contributions in school and the community.

Gonzalez and Kahaleh will represent Riverside Middle at a banquet May 23 at the KROC Center. Other nominees were: Megan Lamb, Lindsey Wise, Abigail Smith, Tim Cooper, and Dean Lage.

The Riverside Middle School's Running Club was started this year to help students train for the run/walk. Students meet twice a week to train with track coaches, Audrey Cook and Jamie Luff.

Riverside Middle School took four groups to participate in Concert Festival at North Greenville University last weekend. Groups from throughout the state participated.

RMS groups and ratings:

Riverside Middle School Breakfast with Moms.

More than 200 attended Breakfast with Moms Feb. 13, 2013 at Riverside Middle School. Mothers, grandmothers and guardians of RMS students enjoyed breakfast while being entertained by Ginger Greer’s Strings students.

Twin seventh-grade students Jessica and Tori Heiser-Whatley recently competed in the National Youth USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Landover, MD. Jessica placed 3rd and Tori placed 4th in the 3000m Race Walk 13-14 Division Girls.

Principal Eric Williams welcomes Reedy to Riverside Middle School.

Reedy from the Greenville Drive visited the Riverside Middle School sixth-grade lunch to promote the Greenville Drive's Reading All-Stars Program. All participating students will receive a free ticket to a Drive game, a t-shirt and a chance to win prizes at the reading celebration game.

The Riverside Middle School Model United Nations held their annual Festival of Nations Feb. 26 in conjunction with the annual talent show and Beta Club Blood Drive. Students, dressed in native attire, and representing nine different countries, hosted information booths about their country including traditional food and music.

Anna McCleer, with Riverside Middle School Principal Eric Williams, won the Vocal performance at the school’s Talent Show Tuesday night.

Anna McCleer won first place in vocal performance Tuesday night at Riverside Middle School’s talent show.

McCleer was a finalist last year at Greer Idol Teen (third place), where she impressed judges with her voice and song writing.

Jon Schultz, Upstate Forever Volunteer of the Year

Jon Schultz, former Riverside High School student, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Upstate Forever at its annual luncheon. Schultz was among five people honored for their work in promoting Upstate Forever.

Nell Newman, president and co-founder of Newman’s Own Organics, delivered the keynote address at the event. An ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture, Newman spoke about the importance of organic foods and shared her perspective on why living an environmentally conscious life helps everyone.

Students left to right: Braxton Collins, Alex Smith, Marianne Garcia-Alonso, DeAnte Bruton, and Jimmy Fritzsche pose at the Valentine's Dance.

The following Band students qualified by audition for the Region One All-State Band. They will attend a clinic on Feb. 22 at Furman University: Sienna Pavia, Jake Woodman, Alex Riese, Natalie Boulos, Annalie King, Noah Bridges, Nico Alvarez.

The RMS Valentine's Dance was held Friday, Feb. 15 with more than 350 students in attendance. Students danced to music provided by Jumping Jukebox. Proceeds from the dance will go toward school supplies as well as the new RMS LED sign.

Upcoming Dates at RMS:

March 4 -- MAP Testing Begins

Bassam Soumsoum tries his hand working with dough.

Eighth-graders in Teryn Traynham's French One class got to experience a bread-making demonstration at Baguette & Company in downtown Cowpens.

The students traveled from Riverside Middle School and got to enjoy an authentic French meal and try out their French skills with owners, Véronique and Yannick Bellefontaine.

Congratulations to members of the 2013 spring sports at RMS. Lady Royals SoftballRachel Cecere, Brooke Crowe, Gabrielle DeLuca, Samantha Jones, Gabrielle Laymon, Jenna Lizanich, Alexis Lorah, Mackenzie Proulx, Madison Pinson, Lauren Stanton, Mackenzie Stewart, Brittany Williams, and, Lucy Young. The coach is M. Rhonda McCauley.

Congratulations to 6th grade student, Hayes Brush, for winning the 2012-2013 RMS National Geographic Geography Bee. Hayes will now move on to the state-wide bee in Columbia. Spencer Phillips was runner-up and Matthew Robinson was the 2nd runner-up.

Congratulations to Mrs. Rohaley’s homeroom class for being named the 2012-2013 RMS 6th-Grade Basketball Intramural Champions. With a 14-11 win, they defeated Mrs. Burns' homeroom.

Members of the winning team are: Wyatt Armstrong, Lexi Bennett, Jordan Davis, Jimmy Fritzsche, Jaimya’he Rice, Omar Smith and Zoe Spearman.

In response to reading Wonder by RJ Palacio, Allison Burns’ 6th-grade students have researched cleft palates and Treacher-Collins syndrome which are conditions that affect the main character in the book. Ms. Burns’ students were inspired by this story to help others.

This Riverside Middle School sign will be replaced with a new digital sign displaying amber colored text. LEDs will replace the solar-powered lights that now illuminates the sign at night.

Riverside Middle School received a variance from the Greer Board of Zoning Appeals this evening to erect a new sign at the school’s entrance at 615 Hammett Bridge Road.

The variance was needed for the digital display on the bottom of the proposed sign. The top will be static identifying Riverside Middle School. Only the color amber will be used to display the text but no flash or scrolls will be used, according to Glenn Pace, Planning and Zoning Coordinator.

Eric Williams, Principal at Riverside Middle, and Michael Helvie, of Masstar Signs, answered question from the commissioners. “We recognize the current sign is an eyesore and it makes it difficult to communicate messages to students, faculty and parents,” Williams said.

LED lighting will replace the solar-powered now in use.

Pace acknowledged the sign would be across the street from the Riverside Chase community but his report recommended approval writing: “Staff believes that approval will not be detrimental to adjoined property or to the public good.”