For the fifth consecutive year, Riverwood is an AP Merit School. The 2012 AP Merit distinction recognizes schools having at least 20 percent of the student body taking Advanced Placement exams and with at least half of those exams receiving a score of 3 or higher.  Based on the results of the 2010-2011 AP classes and exams, Riverwood was one of only nine Fulton County high schools to receive this designation. Congratulations to the students and the teachers for this outstanding accomplishment!

The College Board also named Riverwood an AP STEM School and an AP STEM Achievement School. 

Congratulations to Aaron Bhole', Riverwood's 2011-2012 STAR Student.  The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors Georgia's outstanding high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development. Each high school STAR Student names a STAR Teacher; Aaron's STAR teacher is Mrs. Sheri Smith. To obtain the STAR nomination, high school seniors must have the highest score on a single test date on the three-part SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year and be in the top ten percent, or top ten students, of their class based on grade point average.

Congratulations to Seniors Lee Miller and Jacob Turner for advancing from Semifinalists to Finalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition.  The National Merit Finalist news arrived in February; winners of scholarships will be notified in March.  Congratulations also to Taja Strickland on being selected as a 2012 National Achievement Scholarship Program Semifinalist. The students were identified through exceptionally high scores on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which they took as Juniors.  Taja is one of 1,600 semifinalists among Black American high school students.

Please also congratulate these fifteen Seniors recognized as 2011 National Merit Commended Scholars:  Jordan Berne, Aaron Bhole, Briana Bills, Hannah Carlson, Nikolas Farrer, Alayna Feng, Isabel McClain, Zach Meads, Leah Michalove, Cara Mogilski, David Oliver, Andrew Parmet, Eric Rabinowitz, Danielle Rizzo and Ben Tulman.

The Raiders FBLA Chapter brought home the First Place "Sweep" award at the 2012 Region Leadership Conference.  More than 30 students contributed to earn the highest overall average in the testing events and will advance to the State Leadership Conference in March.  Congratulations!

Michael Santoro, Social Studies Teacher and Head Baseball Coach, accepted the position of Athletic Director at the end of fall semester.  Santoro has been a history teacher at Riverwood for 13 years and the head baseball coach since 2000.  Under his leadership, Raider baseball teams have been to the state tournament nine times in the past 12 years, with two region titles, 249 wins, and netting many college players and one current professional baseball player.  This semester Coach Santoro will continue teaching AP US History and Magnet US History. 

For the second consecutive year, Atlanta Magazine lists Riverwood as one of the metro area's best high schools.  Of the 50 schools named in the January 2012 edition, Riverwood holds the number 14 spot. Congratulations again to Raider students, faculty and staff!

Atlanta Magazine examines what makes a high achieving school, often using test scores and course offerings as deciding factors. For the 2012 rankings, the magazine considered SAT scores, English and math graduation test scores, graduation rates, Advanced Placement exams and pass rates, the percentage of students requiring remedial support when entering college, HOPE eligibility, and the percentage of students earning college preparatory diplomas.  The issue is available for purchase online and at local newstands. Visit http://www.atlantamagazine.com/features/schools/home.aspx for more information.

Parents, students and employees should assume that school is in session and operating on normal schedules unless the Fulton County School System website (www.fultonschools.org) or the Riverwood website carries information to the contrary.  The following TV and radio stations will also have closing information:

Centennial High School is sponsoring a Defensive Driving Class on Thursday, March 1 for teen drivers and their parents.  The discounted $225 enrollment fee covers one student, one parent, the three hour class and a five hour driving session which will take place the weekend of March 3-4.  Additional family discounts are available.  Click HERE for the program flyer.  The Riverwood PTSA will receive $10 for every Riverwood family enrolled.

The Sandy Springs Police continues to conduct monthy P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Injury and Driver Error) classes at police headquarters.  Members of the SSPD Traffic Unit lead the workshops for parents and teen drivers. For more information contact Officer Shelly Weed at sweed@sandyspringsga.gov.

Does your home have natural gas service? If so, enrolling in the TrueBlue School program will raise money for Riverwood and may actually save you money, too. Through 2011, more than 45 families enrolled in the TrueBlue School program for Riverwood and Georgia Natural Gas has already donated $4,675 to the school -- What a great program and an easy way to support Riverwood!  Click "Read More..." for more details

Riverwood has a new procedure for student absences from school.  Before returning to class after an absence, students must obtain an Admit Slip from the Attendance Window.  Students must present a signed, handwritten note, which includes a phone number, for verification of the absence.  The Attendance Office can no longer accept an email or phone call to excuse an absence.

The Riverwood Foundation Leadership Luncheon November 4 brought together civic, business, educational and international partners from the Atlanta and Riverwood communities to showcase and celebrate the "Riverwood Experience." The 2011 event featured Fulton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa and surprise guest Chris Triolo, the newly appointed principal of Riverwood from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools who will begin his duties December 12.  A recap of the 2011 Leadership Luncheon appeared in the November 28, 2011 edition of The Sandy Springs Neighbor. Click HERE to read the  article by Jennifer Klein.

Five students in the Career Technology Instruction (CTI) program participated in the Aspire AT&T/Junior Achievement Worldwide Job Shadow initiative on November 16, 2011.  Paired with AT&T employee "connectors," they toured the Buckhead campus, viewed the different divisions within the company, and saw varying job responsibilities within these divisions.  They experienced firsthand how engineers, web designers, marketing specialists and applications developers work within AT&T. 

The newly formed Honor Guard presented the flag at the final three home football games of the season.  Sophomore Sterling Reed-Johnson started the Honor Guard "to present some type of American patriotism around Riverwood, as there isn't an JROTC program at the school."  Other members of the Guard include Sophomore Zack Alexander, Junior Jonathan LaRoque and Freshman Zach Shreirer.  John MacDonald, a coach and social studies teacher, serves as their advisor.  MacDonald served 30 years active duty in the 75th Airborne Rangers in Iraq (War on Terror) and in Kuwait (Gulf War).  Going forward, the Honor Guard plans to present the colors at home baseball games this spring and may consider serving at other school functions as well.

In October, several students from Norway and Denmark spent four days in Sandy Springs networking with Riverwood students.  The Fourth Annual International Entrepreneurship/Innovation summit brought students together to learn about innovation and social entrepreneurship.  Students worked together, formed partnerships, and developed business plans for concepts created during the camp. Not only is this a forum for fledgling enterprises, it serves as a cultural exchange.  The participants visited The World of Coke and the CNN Center and had opportunities for home stays, too.  One highlight of the weekend was the baseball match between Denmark and Norway, which Denmark won 6-5. 

The 2011 SAT results are in and Riverwood remains one of the top 20 high schools in the state.  One of only eleven schools in Fulton County to see an increase in scores over last year, the six point rise puts the Raiders securely in 13th place in the state.   Congratulations to the students and faculty for another great year!  Click HERE to read the press release from Fulton County Schools.

As reported earlier this year, Jessica Bernstein (Class of 2012) received a National Gold Medal in the 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Competition.  As further recognition of her talent, her artwork is now hanging in Washington, D.C., one of only 44 pieces selected from 185,000 entries nationwide.  Her award-winning photograph "Self" will be on display for a year; she and her family traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the opening of the exhibition September 13 & 14, 2011.  Click "Read more..." to view Jessica's artwork and to learn more about her success.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RIVERWOOD RAIDERS FOR WINNING THE 2010-2011 5-AAA GEORGIA COOPERATIVE SPIRIT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD!  The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award recognizes schools that demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship at competitive events throughout the school year.  Introduced in 2006, the annual award goes to GHSA-member high schools by region from the five athletic classifications across the state.  Riverwood's student athletes, coaches, fellow students, school staff, parents and event spectators can be proud of this statewide recognition.  The award is not only a school honor, but a community honor as well.  To read the August 8, 2011 GHSA Press Release, click HERE.

The Washington Post has for several years rated Riverwood among the top high schools in the nation, and this year is no exception. The 2011 National High School Challenge Index measures how effectively a school prepares its students for college and Riverwood ranks #1 in Fulton County, #3 in Georgia, and #148 in the Nation.  The formula divided the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken at the school by the number of graduating seniors. "While not a measure of the overall quality of the school, the rating can reveal the level of a high school’s commitment to preparing average students for college," the website notes.

Riverwood was also listed in Newsweek's Best High Schools in America (June 27, 2011 issue). New criteria for the rankings have six components: graduates (25%), college matriculation (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB scores (10%), and AP courses offered per graduate (5%). Riverwood scores well with the new methodology as well, coming in #4 in Fulton County, #9 in Georgia,  and #316 in the country.

Congratulations Raider students and faculty for another great year!

The Counselling Office conducted Grade Level Parent Meetings the first two weeks of school which covered issues such as Academic Planning, Testing, Study Skills Classes and other resources. To view the PowerPoint slides from the presentations, click HERE.

All Parents are urged to attend the Back to School Open House on Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30pm in the Tournament Gym.

The Fulton County Schools electronic gradebook, Home Access Center, is now up and running for the school year.  Parents/guardians presenting a photo ID may pick up a username and password in the front office.  Parents/guardians of students in other Fulton County Schools, or who have previous usernames and passwords, or who need to verify login information, should also visit the front office.   In every case, photo ID is required.

The August 2011 Back to School Issue of Inside Riverwood is online in an expanded format.  Families received a printed copy of an abbreviated version of Inside Riverwood in the mail in early August.  The online edition contains additional articles, color photos, interactive links, and more.  Going forward, families will receive Inside Riverwood in this new format via e-mail and it will also be posted on the  website. A limited number of printed copies will be in the front office.  PTSA members have the option to select mail delivery of the newsletter when filling out the PTSA membership form.  Click HERE to view the August 2011 edition of Inside Riverwood.

Tyler Thornburg, a 2007 Riverwood graduate and a June 2010 draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers, pitched the fifth inning of the 13th annual Futures Game as a member of the United States Prospects team. The Futures game took place prior to the 82nd All-Star baseball game in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday, July 10, 2011 and was broadcast on ESPN2.   Click HERE to read the MLB.com article.  Congratulations to Tyler as he continues his professional baseball career!

Congratulations to MK LaVallee (student) and David Armistead (faculty) for being the top ticket sellers.  LaVallee took home an Apple MacBook and Armistead is a proud owner of an Apple iPad. More than $65,000 was raised to kick off this year's Allegiance Campaign.   Click HERE to view 2 minute video about the Allegiance Car Raffle (RACR2011).  Click on the RACR 2011 Truck logo on the right side of this page to read more about the 2011 Allegiance Raffle.  Follow the truck and the promotions on Facebook and Twitter

A combination of projects, including bake sales, selling origami and Japanese candies, have been ongoing during lunch periods and after school.  Students already have over $600 in hand. To make giving easier, families and members of the community may donate online to the Mercy Corps on behalf of Riverwood.  Click HERE to link to the Mercy Corps website. The online donations already exceed $200.  Thanks to everyone for their support!  For further information, please contact Nico Moorman or Leah Michalove.

The College Board, the organization which administers the Advanced Placement programs and the SAT, recently named Riverwood to its annual list of high-performing high schools.  For many years Riverwood has appeared on the College Board list of AP Honor Schools, a designation indicating that students have the opportunity to take the most challenging curricula available.  The 2010 AP Honor awards are based on the Class of 2010’s testing results.  Riverwood is not only a 2010 AP Merit School, but is also an AP STEM School and an AP STEM Achievement School.  Congratulations to the Class of 2010 and the Raider faculty for these tremendous results!  Click on "Read more...." for further details

The January 2011 issue of Atlanta Magazine lists Riverwood as one of the metro area's best all-around schools and as a Top Achiever in the areas of Math & Science, Fine Arts, and Sports. The magazine ranked each high school by comparing course offerings, facilities, extracurricular activities and awards. Congratulations to Raider students, faculty and staff! The issue is available for purchase online and in local newstands. Visit http://www.atlantamagazine.com/currentissue.aspx for more information

All students remaining on campus after 4:15pm must be under the supervision of a teacher or coach. For the saftey of all students, students must have transportation arrangements to leave campus at the end of the school day or at the conclusion of afterschool activities. A copy of the After School Protocol will be included with the fall semester grade reports being mailed on January 21 and is also available online. To read the complete policy, click HERE. To read the pollicy in Spanish, click HERE. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.

The Georgia Public Broadcasting Service filmed several excerpts for a Georgia Department of Education Parent Involvement campaign at Riverwood in November. Members of the faculty, staff and many parents appear in the films which are now available to view on the Georgia DOE website. Click HERE to access the complete library of films. The school office also has a DVD of the films. The campaign, "Play a Role In Your Child's Success," includes 15 videos in both English and Spanish showing how parents can get involved in their child's education.