Intellect, Character, Creativity
Rivermont’s gifted faculty provides students with a demanding and comprehensive education driven by excellent resources and small class sizes. The Rivermont education provides students with the necessary tools and honest desire to pursue knowledge independently, to lead their peers in community involvement, prize fitness and compete athletically, and to take intellectual and artistic risks.
Early School
The Early School at Rivermont Collegiate provides children with their first step in formal education. This important transition from family as the primary learning environment to a broader learning community sets the stage and develops skills and attitudes necessary for success.
Lower School
Rivermont Collegiate provides an environment in which students experience the joy of learning and the excitement of discovery. Our teachers are equally concerned about helping each child develop socially, emotionally, and physically. In partnership with parents, teachers strive to meet the needs of every child. Active family support and frequent home-school communication help children accomplish their goals.
Middle School
Rivermont Collegiate is committed to removing any roadblocks to success for its Middle School students. The widest possible array of choices in curriculum and extra-curricular activities help assure that each student is able to achieve academic and personal goals successfully.
Upper School
The Rivermont Upper School student is well-rounded, with many opportunities available for personal and academic development. Good citizenship is emphasized in every aspect of student life. Rivermont students, although diverse in their national and cultural backgrounds, share a common concern for each other as well as for the community at large.
Co-curricular
Rivermont students continue a proud tradition of athletic excellence and leadership in clubs and organizations.
Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Rivermont’s team competes in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A. A typical season begins in January; the School’s Homecoming revolves around this team of seasoned players. Home games are often evenly-matched, exciting and provide ample opportunity for Rivermont families, friends and staff to mingle and show their school pride.
Cheerleading: The cheer team is comprised of male and female students endeavoring to improve their gymnastic, dance, cheer and all-around athletic abilities. Teamwork, experimentation and coordination are key skills needed for success. The squad typically performs at all home Varsity Boys’ Basketball games.
Cooperative Programs: Students interested in taking part in other athletic teams are encouraged to take advantage of the Rivermont’s cooperative agreement with Bettendorf Public Schools. Rivermont students often compete alongside Bettendorf students in football, soccer, track & field and golf.
Computer Club: Rivermont students with an interest above and beyond the progressive curriculum offerings join together to learn more about the world of Computer Science, and put that knowledge to practical use. One notable example is Rivermont’s annual “Computer Optimization Day”; club members raise funding for their computer education by tending to the software/hardware needs of interested QC residents.
Drama Club: Drama Club students enjoy theatre—as participants and audience members. They work to promote the Rivermont Drama program in the school and the community, they raise funds to help support the program, and they try to attend at least one outside theatre performance each year. Drama Club is open to all Middle School and Upper School students.
National Honor Societies: The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation's premier organizations established to recognize outstanding high school and middle level students. More than just an honor roll, NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character (and Citizenship for NJHS). These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since their beginnings in 1921 and 1929.
College Counseling
How is Rivermont's College Counseling program different than that of a public high school and other local alternatives? Bonnie Campbell, Director of College Counseling describes Rivermont's program as being custom built to the individual and "limitless." Counseling is structured and thorough; each student receives specialized attention throughout the sometimes complicated application process, including search, application, interview, and acceptance. Most importantly, students explore a variety of college opportunities, expand their understanding of the large and sometimes daunting landscape of post-secondary opportunities. Perhaps most unique are the counseling services offered to parents as well as they participate in the college application process.
Contact Bonnie Campbell
campbell@rvmt.org
(563) 359-1366 x304
Preparation Overview
The process begins in earnest in 9th grade, continues through college acceptance, high school graduation, and throughout life as an Alumni.
- Testing--PLAN, PSAT, ACT, SAT, SAT II, BEST
- Guidance--Summer programs/internships, interest vocational surveys, 1-on-1 sessions with Director of C.C.
- Financing--Scholarships aggressively pursued, FAFSA presentations, Financial Aid guest speakers
- Parental Attention--Comprehensive walks through the admissions process
- Portfolio--Carefully presented resume, entrance essays, and collateral materials: recommendations, samples etc.
- Choice--Application quotas, small-group visits with college admission counselors, required college visits
100% of Rivermont graduates are accpeted to a college of their choice. A sampling of colleges recent Rivermont graduates have been admitted to:
- Princeton University
- Augustana College
- Bradley University
- Knox College
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- Purdue University
- University of Chicago
- University of Iowa
- University of Oregon
- University of Southern California
- Washington University in St. Louis
College Admissions Headlines
by: Bonnie Campbell, Director of College Counseling
College Reps Arriving Soon
College representatives have begun scheduling visits. Representatives are available for juniors, seniors, and any interested sophomores at 10:50 on Mondays. This coincides with Advisory Period. Students are encouraged to attend even if the school is not on their list for application. Talking in a small group setting with a college representative can gain insight into the general college application process, college majors, honors programs, etc. and help students in applying to other schools. Sometimes a student may be surprised to find the school more appealing than he or she expected. So far we have scheduled:
- September 28: Maria Silippone of Knox College
- October 18: Mike Pettis of Augustana College
- October 25: Susan Hillman of Earlham College
New Application Procedures
As Rivermont students begin a new year, they will see small but significant changes in the college application process. Some are straight forward such as fine tunings of the Common Application (this month seniors will be offered a mini course workshop in the Common Application). Other changes are less easily grasped: the waxing and waning of college admission’s philosophical views of what constitutes an ideal curricular background for applicants. See what I mean? What philosophical views? Currently, two areas are under scrutiny: Advanced Placement courses and PreMedicine preparation.
Many believe that the best avenue to medical school acceptance lies in taking as many hard science courses as possible, to the detriment of humanities courses. Rivermont Collegiate, however, continues to believe students ought not to be lopsided; an education for any field is a well rounded education and a preparation for life. Colleges and universities may be poised to act on a long held debate over “whether pre-med courses and admission tests produce doctors who know their alkyl halides but lack the sense of mission and interpersonal skills to become well-rounded, caring, inquisitive healers.”
A recent study compared the “outcomes for 85 students in the Humanities and Medicine Program with those of 606 traditionally prepared classmates from the graduating classes of 2004 through 2009, and found that their academic performance in medical school was equivalent.”
This study was conducted by Humanities and Medicine Program at the Mount Sinai which since 1987 has guaranteed a small number of students a place in med school (skipping the MCAT) if they took a humanities based program. Will this new study result in colleges and universities following suit and making changes in admissions? I will keep you posted.
Getting Into Med School Without Hard Sciences
By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS
New York Times: July 29, 2010