Celebrate the joy of the season!  Join us for Rivermont Collegiate's Annual Holiday Open House, to be held Saturday, December 11th from 4:00-7:00 p.m.  The Rivermont Collegiate campus is home to the Historic Joseph Bettendorf Mansion, built on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi.  The Mansion is a local landmark, featuring Italian marble, painted ceilings, and hand carved woodwork.  Joseph W. Bettendorf, head of the Bettendorf Company, built his English manor style home in 1915 for his family and to entertain railroad magnates from the east.  The Mansion remained a residence of the Bettendorf family until it was sold to the Marist Society in 1959 and used as a seminary.  In 1973, St. Katharine's-St. Mark's School purchased the Mansion and moved the school from Davenport.  In 2002, the school was renamed Rivermont Collegiate, since it no longer had a religious affiliation.  In 1984, the Bettendorf Mansion was recognized for its historical significance to the people of Iowa and was entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Annual Holiday Open House is a chance for the community to view the Bettendorf Mansion in all its splendor, beautifully decorated for the holidays.  Rivermont Collegiate is located at 1821 Sunset Drive, directly off 18th Street behind K&K Hardware in Bettendorf.  Drop in between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. for light refreshments and tours of this local gem!

This event is open to the public and dress is casual - please RSVP to Brittany Marietta at (563) 359-1366 ext. 301 or marietta@rvmt.org.

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, nonsectarian college-prep school for preschool through twelfth grade - visit us online at www.rivermontcollegiate.org.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

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Rivermont alums score big on and off the court!  Rivermont Collegiate will host the annual Alumni Basketball Game on Tuesday, November 23rd at 6:30 p.m. in the gym on the Rivermont campus. This special event gives alumni the opportunity to re-connect and reminisce with classmates and faculty while enjoying some friendly basketball competition - often against former teammates!  Alumni Cheerleaders will be performing and Alumni will have the opportunity to meet the current Rivermont Varsity Basketball team and Varsity Cheerleaders.  Rivermont Alum Kevin Ferris (Class of 1980) and former Assistant Headmaster Ken Ferris will be serving as referees for the night!

With a 126 year tradition, our alumni come from St. Katharine's School (affectionately known as St. Kit's), St. Katharine's - St. Mark's School, and now Rivermont Collegiate.  Alumni are a key piece of the Rivermont community and play many critical roles, from returning to teach and coach to serving on the Board of Trustees.  As an independent college-prep school, Rivermont turns traditional education inside out.  Customized learning ensures students nourish personal talents, while taking risks in academics, leadership, athletics, arts, and service.  A traditional curriculum infused with innovative ideas and technology provides a solid foundation, creating alumni who sustain a path of life-long learning and engage fully in their local, national, and global communities.

Alumni who plan to attend should RSVP to Athletic Director Ed Knupp at knupp@rvmt.org.

This event will take place on the Rivermont campus, located at 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf (directly off 18th Street behind K&K Hardware).

Nightmare sailors, zombie pirates, and hypnotizing mermaids - oh, my!  Join us as Rivermont Collegiate thespians in grades 6-12 present a snappy comedy featuring a play within a play!  As the story goes, the star of a popular pirate play is the heartthrob of every teenage girl in Shakespearean England until the cast is kidnapped by real pirates during one of their productions.  Hilarious antics ensue as the heartthrob pirate Frank and his supporting cast, including prima donna Esmerelda, say goodbye to stardom and hello to servitude on a real pirate ship.  Rivermont students have perfected a performance of The Fearsome Pirate Frank that will provide laughs long after the curtain closes!

Join us Friday, November 12th and Saturday, November 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium on the Rivermont Collegiate campus, located at 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf (directly off 18th Street behind K&K Hardware).  Tickets are $5 at the door.  This event is open to the community!

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.


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Attention Quad City high school students!  Planning for college?  Worried about the cost?  Confused about financial aid?  Join us for a free presentation at Rivermont Collegiate!  It is possible to finance a college education without drowning in debt - but the process can seem overwhelming!

Families are invited to learn how to complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as address a variety of financial aid concerns.  Explore what types of assistance are available, learn about application deadlines, and get answers to all your financial aid questions!  This presentation is extremely helpful for seniors and their parents, reducing the confusion that often accompanies the financial aid process.

Plan to join us Wednesday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium on the Rivermont campus, located directly off 18th Street behind K&K Hardware in Bettendorf.  This event is free and open to the community.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

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Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only independent, non-sectarian, PS-12 college preparatory school, ranked #1 on Iowa's AP Index.

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Rivermont Collegiate is thrilled to announce tenth grade student Kelsey Qu has attained the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians by being selected as a member of the 2010 All-State Orchestra!  Kelsey, a cellist, is the daughter of Xin Liu and Zhiming Qu of Bettendorf.  Auditions were held Saturday, October 23rd, with only about 17% of students who auditioned being selected for the All-State ensembles.

All-State Festival participants will rehearse in Ames, IA on Friday and Saturday, November 19th and 20th.  The Festival Concert will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 20th in the Hilton Coliseum, located on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames.  The concert is open to the public - tickets are $15 and available through Ticketmaster. 

In addition, Iowa Public Television will record the concert for re-broadcast scheduled for Thursday, November 25th at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 28th at 5:30 p.m.  Tune in!

Additional Quad City high school students selected for the All-State Orchestra include :

Christine Kao - Bettendorf High School - Violin

Oliver Kao - Bettendorf High School - Violin

Adam Bengfort - Assumption High School - Viola

Jacob Warner - Davenport North - Cello

Noah Sund - Davenport North - String Bass

Kelvin Tran - Davenport North - Percussion

Michael Goodyear - Davenport Central - Oboe

Jennifer Keys - Davenport Central - Bassoon

Rivermont Collegiate is pleased to announce the following students have been recognized on the First Quarter Honor Roll:

Upper School Honor Roll (9th-12th)

1st Quarter 2010-11

Headmaster's List (3.85-4.00)

Souriyo Dishak

Michael Garneau

Pavane Gorrepati

Summer Lawrence

Christine Mbakwe

Matthew Newsome

Meghana Pagadala

Shravya Pothula

Ramya Prabhu

Kelsey Qu

Ashish Tadepalli

Distinction (3.50-3.84)

Vishal Bobba

Harriette Clarke

Rebecca Cupp

Alejandra Martinez

Christopher Mbakwe

Victoria Mbakwe

Amanda McVey

Tristan O'Harrow

Darsani Reddy

Asha Tadepalli

Joann Weeks

ChiIeong Wong

Merit (3.00-3.49)

Manas Chimpidi

Archana Chintalapani

Daniel Foster-Pray

Karanveer Gill

Basilia Koster

Darcy Ryan

James Weeks

Meghana Yerrapothu

Middle School Honor Roll (6th-8th)

1st Quarter 2010-11

High Honors

All grades B+ or higher (or B or higher for courses designated as Upper School level)

Helena Barber

Madeline Bowman

Sarah Bowman

Adam Dada

Brandon Eckhardt

Shivani Ganesh

Hannah Hansen

Windsor Lundy

Grace Moran

Hayley Moran

Benjamin Nordick

Manasa Pagadala

Emilia Porubcin

Michal Porubcin

Isaac Sears

Suhas Seshadri

Alexander Skillin

Marta Storl-Desmond

Loring Telleen

Jacob Vaughn

Claire Wallace

Honors

All grades B- or higher (C+ or higher for courses designated as Upper School level)

Christian Elliott

Madison Ellis

Samuel Lederman

Kaitlyn Mayfield

Piers O'Harrow

Bhavana Purighalla

Harrison Qu

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.  Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, non-sectarian PS-12th college-prep school.

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In a world where video games, computers, and cell phones are replacing bike rides and capture the flag, it's not surprising that our children are not reaching recommended levels of physical activity.  Nearly 10 million children and adolescents in the United States ages 6 to 19 are considered overweight, and one of the factors having a dramatic impact is physical activity - or lack thereof.  Even First Lady Michelle Obama has gotten involved, joining in the Let's Move campaign - America's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids.  "Exercise is not an option," Obama said during a recent interview with AOL Health senior editor Jennifer Fields.  "For our kids to be successful academically, they need to be successful physically."

Running, as well as other sports, helps kids gain health and maturity, inspiring self-respect and sportsmanship.  Rivermont Collegiate is hosting a unique cross country event on Saturday, Oct. 16th for runners in grades 5-8.  This exciting event will have athletes completing a 2 mile course around the Rivermont campus - featuring varied terrain of grass and pavement.  Rivermont is located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi, so there will be challenging hills, as well!  Over 30 students from local Quad City Conference schools will be participating, with volunteers directing them around the unique course.  The race begins at 9:00 a.m., with check-in beginning at 8:15 a.m.  Rivermont is located at 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf, directly off 18th Street behind K & K Hardware.  Join us to cheer on these young runners as they rise to the challenge!

For more information on the Let's Move! campaign, visit www.letsmove.gov

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, non-sectarian PS-12th grade college preparatory school.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!

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Congratulations to Rivermont senior Asha Tadepalli, who has been named a Commended Scholar for her outstanding performance in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship program!  Approximately 34,000 students are named Commended Scholars; this distinct group represents the top 5% of the 1.5 million students who took the PSAT last October.  Asha, who has attended Rivermont since her junior year, is the daughter of Sharmila Pitta and Bhaskar Tadepalli of Moline.  Asha is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council, as well as participating on the Varsity Girls' Basketball team.  She is currently exploring pre-med options at the University of Iowa, University of Chicago, NYU, Northwestern University, and Washington University.  The entire Rivermont community is extremely proud of Asha!

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only preschool through 12th grade independent school, with a proud tradition of preparing students who are grounded in the basics, yet able to think analytically and creatively to confidently meet the challenges of the 21st century.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

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Everyone wants to make paying for a college education as painless as possible, particularly in these economic times.  With proper research and planning, paying college bills doesn't have to be difficult or devastating.  While most are aware of the value of scholarships and financial aid, many may not recognize the financial value of the College Board's Advanced Placement Program (AP), which provides the opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school and earn college credit.

Most students take five or six years, and sometimes even longer, to earn their bachelor's degrees at public colleges and universities.  Students who take longer to graduate from a public college or university can expect to pay between $8,000 and $19,000 for each additional year - and that figure can easily be over $26,000 at a private institution.  Studies have shown that AP students have significantly better four-year graduation rates than those who do not take AP - a 2008 study found graduation rates for AP English Literature students were 62% higher than for those who took other English courses in high school.*  In addition, many colleges report considering a student's AP experience when making scholarship decisions.  When these facts are taken into consideration, AP just makes cents!

Students at Rivermont Collegiate have virtually limitless options in selecting AP courses.  For the 2010-11 academic year alone, Rivermont students are enrolled in AP Calculus AB and BC, AP English Language and Composition, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, and AP U.S. Government and Politics.  Rivermont is especially excited to announce that Roshan Babu, Class of 2010, has qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher.  Only about 18% of 1.8 million students worldwide performed at a sufficiently high level to earn an AP Scholar Award.  Roshan, son of Dr. Hari and Mrs. Shobha Babu of Rock Island, IL, is now attending the UMKC University of Missouri at Kansas City Baccalaureate-MD program.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

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* Costs include tuition, fees, and books only, and do not include room, board, and other living expenses. Average Estimated Undergraduate Budgets, 2008-09 (Enrollment-Weighted). The College Board,"Trends in College Pricing," 2008.

Is there educational value in your Saturday night trip to the cinema?  Though some may hesitate to admit it, films are a significant influence on today's students and compete with books as the primary mode of storytelling.  In today's society, how often does anyone sit still and focus on one thing for two full hours?  That's part of the magic of film! Film can be a powerful educational tool - bringing to life characters, settings, and events that can seem very foreign and remote from a student's world.   Films tell stories in images, color, movement, sound, and light - going immediately to the senses.  For this reason, it can be argued that students register a stronger emotional intensity from film than from text.  The same skills a reader can be taught to bring to a written text are those that a viewer can be taught to bring to a visual text - exploring details of character, theme, plot, mood, conflict, and symbolism.

Local students at Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf will be "locked-in" overnight and immersed in the educational value of film on Saturday, May 22nd.  Students in grades 9-12 will gather in the auditorium on the Rivermont campus to view Academy Award winners and nominees including Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Sherlock Holmes, Crazy Heart, and Young Victoria.  To enhance the educational value of the evening and avoid distractions - all cell phones and electronic devices will be confiscated!  Though the value of books and the written text cannot be denied, these students plan to absorb the lessons offered by the best in directing, editing, visual effects, writing, and costume design - and have a little fun, of course!

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray at(563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, non-sectarian PS-12th grade college preparatory school.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!

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