User:Tsheppard21/Riverside Academy

Riverside Academy Riverside Academy is an independent, Nonsectarian, non-profit affiliated private day school comprised of grades pre-K through 12th in Reserve, Louisiana. Located in St. John the Baptist Parish, Riverside was established to fulfill the educational needs of students in the parishes of St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist. The school site covers 20 acres and consists of eleven permanent buildings.

History
Riverside Academy opened on September 18, 1970 and included first through twelfth grades. The pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes were added later. Initially a facility that included a few buildings built by the volunteer hands of Riverside parents, today the school has developed into a campus with many facilities for both academics and athletics. Volunteers continue to assist with Riverside’s upkeep.

The first principal of Riverside Academy was Mr. Clyde A. Gisclair. The list of former principals includes Mr. Englade, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Tarzetti, Mr. Heltz, Mr.Barton, Ms. Sinibaldi, and Mrs. Tomeny-Duhe. The current principal is Dr. DiCarlo.

Before a new elementary building was constructed in 1983, all elementary classes were held in the Reserve Bantum Recreation building. Students ate their bag lunches outside, and they did not wear uniforms. Two years later, in 1985, a middle school addition was completed, and not long afterward in 1994, a new Pre-K facility and the current cafeteria were built, partly due to an increase in enrollment.

A new high school wing was completed in 2002 that included technology labs and administrative offices. The original Rebel Football Den, which still stands, is now a storage facility. The new Rebel Den was built in 2002, which includes a weight training room and other amenities. The original gym was destroyed by a tornado in 2003 and consequently rebuilt. Recently, a wooden gym floor and basketball bleachers were added to enhance the gym’s appearance. A baseball locker room was also added in 2009. The Riverside Academy School Board along with parental volunteers and community members raised the necessary funds to ensure Riverside Academy’s consistency in remaining an excellent educational institution and coordinated the construction of all of these facilities.

Education
Riverside employs over 50 full time faculty members, who are dedicated to offering an excellent educational experience for all students. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all students, whether they are college bound or on their way to vocational-technical training. The school is fully approved by the Louisiana State Department of Education. The curriculum includes the addition of electives and advanced courses, with a number of AP offerings. RA students have benefited from the addition of both technology and science labs. Today, classes are equipped with LCD and Elmo projectors, and many classrooms have Mimio boards as well.

Academic programs include dual enrollment, advanced placement, honor, academic, business, technology, consumer science, performing arts, visual arts, drafting, and foreign language courses.

Riverside Academy is the only Louisiana A+ School in the area.

There have been successes achieved in state and national academic competitions. Many students have advanced to compete in the state Literary Rally while members of Mu Alpha Theta have represented Riverside Academy well by earning state and national placements. Over the years, Riverside graduates have received scholarships to attend countless universities, colleges, and technical schools.

In 2011, Riverside graduates received over $2 million in scholarships.

In Louisiana Connect for Grades 8 through 12, students learn about future pathways for both college and career through an on-line program to begin preparing for work opportunities in the years that follow a Riverside Academy education.

Mission Statement
"Our mission is to develop each individual student into becoming a lifelong learner, to support students as they mature into responsible and moral individuals, and to dedicate ourselves to maintaining the highest academic standards in a family-oriented environment."

Athletics
Riverside Academy is well known for their success in class 2-A athletics in Louisiana. The Rebels house 14 varsity sports teams. Many of the athletes are dual sports athletes and are involved in many other extracurricular activities.

The school’s athletic tradition began in the 1970s. While part of the LISAA (Louisiana Independent School Athletic Association), the Rebels earned many state championships in various sports. In 1986, Riverside Academy became a member of the LHSAA (Louisiana High School Athletic Association) as a Class-A participant. The tradition of fielding competitive teams in all sports has continued. The teams merited state championships in baseball, basketball, softball, and track. The Rebels advanced to three state football championships played in the Louisiana Superdome and numerous volleyball, soccer, and golf playoffs.

The Marching Pride of Riverside
The Marching Pride consists of band members, the Southern Sweetheart Dance Team, and auxiliary units and marches in many Mardi Gras parades, band competitions, and travels to numerous venues to perform. They have been performing halftime shows for numerous years at all home football games.

Carnival Ball and Spring Fest
The Carnival Ball and Spring Fest remain two major school fundraising activities. The first Carnival Ball was held for elementary students only. During the second year, a high school Carnival Ball was added. The funds from these events are used to enhance Riverside Academy’s success and continue to assist in creating a rich dedicated Riverside Academy family history.