Dear Rivermont Community,

Today Rivermont students and faculty participate in our annual Service Day.  Although our students are involved in numerous service activities throughout the year this day is special because we try to have every student from Kindergarten through Grade Twelve go out into the Quad City community.  The inspiration came a few years ago when the Upper School decided that there was still a lot to be done after participating in the United Way Day of Caring.  That year they decided to hold a second "Day of Caring."  Lower School students and teachers were motivated by the example of the Upper School and suggested that everyone go out and serve the community.

This is so Rivermont!  Someone gets an idea and does something about it.  Other students are motivated to join in and before you know it a tradition is born.  Call it community, call it positive peer pressure, call it setting the example, it all comes down to leadership.  Leadership begins with one and grows from there.  How uplifting and encouraging to be part of a school community that is focused on developing good ideas and caring habits.  The Rivermont Experience is not just one thing, but rather a collection of ideas and people who seek to advance the entire community.

Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grade students have been busy making special cards for the residents of the Bettendorf Care Center.  The students and their teachers will travel to the Center to hand deliver the cards to each resident then they are off to Rocket Park to clean the park and have a picnic lunch.

Second Graders decided that they wanted a special project of their own.  The students (with parent help) organized a bake sale to raise money to donate to the Fulton Illinois De Immuigrant Windmill.  Their entrepreneurial efforts will purchase a brick in the memorial walkway.

After taking a river cruise, the Fourth Grade will clean up Butterworth Parkway.  I am certain the views on their river cruise will motivate them to help clean one of our beautiful parkways.

Fifth Graders will take a step toward Middle School as they work on the National Junior Honor Society garden on our campus.  Vegetables from this garden will be donated to our local agencies to provide good, nutritious food.

Our strings students will travel to Manor Care Nursing Home in Davenport to entertain the residents while our ShowChoir will take their talents on the road with five concerts at other local centers.

Middle Schoolers will walk to area elementary schools and read to students, bringing their love of reading to the community.  That done, they will get bags and gloves and clean the neighborhood surrounding our campus.

The Upper School students and faculty will travel to CASI and Cafe on Vine to lend a helping hand.  One group will also participate in the Quad Cities Leadercast and provide support service for this conference and one group will stay behind to work on the campus grounds.

For the Middle and Upper Schools, the day began with a service leadership workshop led by the Davenport Volunteer Connection and Dean Ed Knupp.  Students will explore ways they can become more involved in their local communities while learning how to share their talents.

Intellect, Character, and Creativity!  Everyday but especially today!

Rick St. Laurent

Headmaster

Congratulations to our Middle School students and Director Kris Skaggs for putting on a fantastic production of "Looking Glass Land" last weekend.

On to Nationals!  Congratulations to Lolly Telleen, Adam Dada and Grace Moran who placed First in their division at the National History Day - Senior State Competition. They will represent Iowa at the National Competition in June!  History is made here everyday!

WQPT, along with Butterworth Center & Deere - Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum and Midwest Writing Center are proud to announce the winners of the PBS Kids Go Writers Contest. 16 winners were chosen, four from each grade.

From Rivermont:

First Grade - Third Place: Isabella Jones

Third Grade - Second Place: Angela Jones

Congratulations to our Sixth Grade Math Bee Team for placing 5th in the state.  Naina Ninan and Sophia Xiao received special awards for their individual scores.  We are so glad we can count on you Kenton Fee, Niana Ninan, Collin Smith, Sophia Xiao and alternate Perapa Chotiprasidhi!  Special thanks to volunteer coach Mrs. Chae Hee Porubcin.

Good Luck to Rivermont's participants in the National History Day - Junior State Competition on Monday, May 7.  Kenton Fee, Sophia Xiao, Naina Ninan, Emilia Porubcin, Shivani Ganesh, & Manasa Pagadala.

Fifth grader Mahum Haque won 2^nd place in the regional What the Flag Means to Me essay contest. She writes, "I believe the flag means justice,k perseverance, hope, and all our country's accomplishments. I believe the flag means pride and freedom..." She received a savings bond as a reward for her fabulous essay.

Rivermont Collegiate Sports Update

Cooperative Sports Programs*

This week Alex Skillin, 8th grade and Ryan Howell, freshman, participated in tryouts for the freshman baseball team at Bettendorf High School. Both are involved with club baseball in the Quad Cities. Alex also competed for and won a spot on the Quad City Blues hockey team which features the best high school hockey players in the area.

Lolly Telleen, freshmann and Shravya Pothula, sophomoren are playing tennis with the Bettendorf team this spring. Next week is the girls conference tournament.

Michal Porubcin, freshman, is competing in the conference tournament with the Bettendorf varsity boys tennis team. Next week, Michal and his teammates will enter District play with the goal of earning a trip to the State Tournament.

Middle School

The Lions Track & Field team will wrap up their season with the Quad Cities Conference meet next Monday (field events) and Wednesday (running events).

* Did you know that students in Rivermont's Upper School are eligible to play on athletic teams at Bettendorf High School when Rivermont does not field its own team?  In the past students have participated on the football, track, swimming and soccer teams.  Rivermont students have been welcome participants thanks to their strong work ethic and respect.

Good luck to Lions of all ages as they compete in

their spring and summer sports programs!