RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
A Second Campus of Herron High School
Highlights of the
April
Newsletter:
Newsletter for April 2017
Dear Students, Families, and Friends of Riverside High School,
Hopefully you received our full 2017-2018 academic calendar via email last week. It is attached to the
Pictures
from
our
Photo
newsletter email, as well, for reference. It was a big milestone for our team to solidify the dates for the
Shoot at the Armory!
upcoming school year! I want to highlight and explain a few events that might not be familiar to you,
#wearefirst
yet.
July 24th - Student and Parent Orientation: Student and Parent Orientation is a community-building
Meet the Teacher:
day where we will not only get to know one another, but we will also introduce essential information for
Jason Kizzia,
Mr.
the start of school, ranging from our Universal Behavior Policies to our traffic flow and bell schedules. Founding Latin Teacher
August 31st - Meet the Teacher Night: Meet the Teacher Night is an evening for parents and
guardians to meet their student’s teachers. We invite you to follow your student’s schedule to each class,
SALE at SchoolBelles!
spending time with each teacher and gaining an overview of the content areas. Please note that the date
for this event has been changed to August 31st. It was listed as August 24th on the first calendar
that went out.
Unpacking
the
Riverside Model:
November 2nd - Open House: Open House is an evening for prospective families to visit Riverside
ADVISORY
High School and learn about our model. Current families are welcome to volunteer or bring guests.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
January 26th - Freshman Recognition Coffee: Our Friday morning Freshman Recognition Coffee is a
celebration of students who have had outstanding academic achievement in their first semester of high
school. Families are invited to join us as we recognize their students.
Saturday,
May 6:
rd
Skate Party at Skateland May 3 - Freshmen Parent College Night: Our Academic Advising Department will head up the first
in an annual series of Parent College Nights for our families. Together with Administration, they will
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
share about the path to college and how to make sure students and family members are prepared.
Saturday,
May 13:
We will continue to add events and activities to our calendar with the input of our founding students and
Information Table at
families – you! What a privilege it is to work together to start a school and leave a legacy of events and
Riverside Park Art Fair
traditions.
11:00
a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
I have one more piece of exciting news to share with you. Early next week, we will be able to announce
Saturday,
June 10:
the location for the temporary home of Riverside High School while renovations are completed at Heslar
Family Picnic
Naval Armory! Keep an eye on your inbox for the big reveal. We are confident that students and
12:00
noon – 2:00 p.m. families will be as excited as we are about the space that will be our first home together.
Riverside Regional Park
Masterplan
Survey
Opportunity
QUESTIONS ABOUT
ENROLLMENT?
Call Natalie Lott,
Director of Enrollment
Services:
317-231-0010, ext. 1107
I hope to see all of your students at our upcoming Skate Party on Saturday, May 6th, at Skateland
(invitation attached), and I hope everyone can make it out for our Founding Families Picnic on Saturday,
June 10th (location to be announced) from 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.! Please reach out with any questions
you have in the meantime.
Sincerely,
Founding Head of School, Riverside High School
317-231-0010 ext. 1144 / [email protected]
Introducing Founding Riverside Faculty
When Herron High School began the process toward replication, the leadership of the school made a
firm commitment that it would be a true replication – a second high school with the same mission,
vision, core values, and culture that drive the success at Herron. We knew that this would not be
possible unless we were able to lean on some of the amazing educators who have helped make Herron
what it is today. We have asked five HHS teachers to join us as part of Riverside High School’s
founding faculty; we are pleased to introduce Mr. Jason Kizzia, one of these core teachers, who will serve as our founding
Latin teacher.
Mr. Jason Kizzia began teaching at Herron in 2009 after earning degrees in Classics and
Anthropology from the University of Arkansas and a Masters in Classics from the
University of Colorado-Boulder. Kizzia also worked as an archaeologist in Indiana and
the Near East prior to teaching. Having started studying Latin in the ninth grade, Mr.
Kizzia has taught Latin I, II, III, and IV at various points in his tenure at Herron High
School. An Eagle Scout and outdoorsman, Mr. Kizzia can often be found outside
working in the dirt or exploring nature in its many forms.
From 2014 – 2016, Mr. Kizzia served as the Dean of Students at Herron High School
prior to moving temporarily to New York while his wife pursued a professional
opportunity as a college professor. Once they returned to Indianapolis, Mr. Kizzia
rejoined the faculty of Herron as a Latin teacher.
Sharing his first name with the eponymous leader of the fabled Argonauts in what can only be described as the most
fortuitous of circumstances, Mr. Kizzia looks forward to initiating the inaugural class at Riverside into the hallowed
traditions of learning the linguam Latinam, which acts as a conduit connecting our modern world to the ancient one across
thousands of years of history. He believes that we cannot hope to find the path to the future without looking at where we
have come from, learning from our mistakes and our successes, and building upon the solid foundations that have been
laid down for us by our ancestors. Moreover, the deep logic inherent in the structure of the Latin language helps shape and
train our minds to be critical thinkers, meticulous analysts, and curious inquisitors; that is, it helps us be better humans.
Unpacking the Riverside Model
Riverside High School will implement the same proven academic model as Herron High School. Both schools are
anchored in a classical, liberal arts and sciences, college preparatory curriculum and instructional methodology. We are
excited to introduce our model to our Riverside families and will feature signature components in each of our monthly
newsletters. This month, I’d like to share with you about an important part of our school day - Advisory.
Advisory
Advisory at Herron and Riverside High School is our version of homeroom. Students gather in Advisory every Monday –
Thursday between 1st and 2nd periods for 25 minutes. Each Advisory, comprised of about 20 students, is assigned an
Advisory teacher, and the teacher stays with that group of students year after year. Advisory is critical to our mission,
vision, and core values:
1) Advisory promotes a culture of respect and trust – both between teachers and students, but also among students.
Advisory teachers serve as advocates for their students and help them problem solve roadblocks to success.
2) Advisory helps students engage in the life of the school. School announcements are made each day in Advisory,
and the Advisory teacher leads a subsequent discussion about upcoming events and opportunities for students to
get involved.
3) Advisory supports all students as scholars. Weekly, Advisory teachers meet 1:1 with each student to analyze
grade trends and make the necessary plans for success.
4) Advisory teachers are a primary resource and contact for parents and guardians. We hope you get to know your
student’s Advisory teacher early in the year and are in frequent communication!
Placement Testing and Course Selection
If your student has taken a placement test and has submitted enrollment materials including middle school grades and
standardized test scores, then we have begun the process to create a 9th grade course schedule for your student! You
should receive in the mail a packet that includes the following:
-
A listing of the core classes (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Latin) recommended for your student
based on placement tests and previous academic data. This form will also indicate whether or not your student
was selected for support classes in the English and Math content areas – both during Summer Academe and
during the school year – based on his or her data.
-
A selection document for your student to preference his or her elective choices. We ask that you review this
document with your student, make your selections, and return as soon as possible. Please read the directions and
the information carefully!
-
If you have questions about your student’s schedule for the fall, please feel free to contact Head of School, Mrs.
Katie Dorsey, or Assistant Head of School, Mr. Emanuel Harper. We are glad to talk through options and
questions or set up an in-person meeting to finalize.
o Katie Dorsey: [email protected] / 317-231-0010 ext. 1144
o Emanuel Harper: [email protected] / 317-231-0010 ext. 1130
If your student has not yet taken a placement test, please contact Mrs. Natalie Lott immediately to schedule!
[email protected] / 317-231-0010 ext. 1107
You will receive separate communication regarding details about Summer Academe if your student is required to attend
one or both sessions for English or Math Lab.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 29th, 9:30 – 11:00 AM: Placement Testing at HHS
Monday, May 1st: Riverside High School – Temporary Year 1 Location Announcement! Check email!
Saturday, May 6th, 2:00 – 4:00 PM: Enrolled Student Party at Skate Land (invitation below)
Saturday, May 13th, 11:00 AM– 2:00 PM: RHS Info Table at Riverside Park Art Fair
Saturday, May 13th, 5:00 – 9:00 PM: Art and Food Truck Festival at Herron High School (Art Fair is free;
Food Truck Festival is $5 entrance fee fundraiser for athletics)
Friday, May 18th, 5:00 – 8:00 PM: RHS Info Table at NW Community Day at Watkins Park
Tuesday, June 6th, 8:00 AM: Start of Summer Academe Session I
Saturday, June 10th, 12:00 – 2:00 PM: Founding Family Picnic (location To Be Announced)
Founding Families Photo Shoot at the Armory
Mr. Harper, Mrs. Dorsey, and Ms. Knop couldn’t resist a selfie with our
founding families.
We love our waterfront view!
We are so proud of our Argonauts! #wearethefirst
What an honor it is to repurpose the historic Heslar
Naval Armory.
Riverside Serves!
On Saturday, April 9th, members of Riverside’s founding faculty and 9th grade class joined residents of the
Riverside neighborhood for a clean-up effort. We met at Global Prep Academy School #44 and had a great
time serving together!
HAVE YOU FOUND RIVERSIDE ON THE WEB?
Visit our website: www.riversidehighschool.org
Like us on Facebook:
Riverside High School, Indianapolis
Follow us on Twitter:
@RiversideHSIndy
2017SummerAcademe
Herron High School, in partnership with the Harrison Center for The Arts, welcomes students to
SummerAcademe. Summer Academe combines Herron High School’sCoreValues and the Harrison
Center’sGlobalVisionfortheArtstocreateauniquelearningexperienceforyourstudent’sacademic
andartisticgoalsduringthesummer.
Therearetwosummersessionsfrom8:00AMto2:00PM:
• Session1:June6toJune23(exceptFriday,June16)
• Session2:July10toJuly26
Weencourageallincoming9thgradestudentstotakephysicaleducationorhealththissummer.
Note:Dependingontheplacementtestresults,yourchildmayberequiredtotakeMathLanguage
LabbothsessionsduringSummerAcademe.
SubmittheSummerAcademeregistrationformonlineathttps://goo.gl/x4AEnWorpickupaphysical
copyatHerronHighSchoolasquicklyaspossiblesowecanholdapositionintheappropriateclass.
Onceyou’veregisteredonline,youcanfillouttheappropriatepaperworktogivetoHerronHighSchool
orRiversideHighSchoolstafftocompletetheregistrationprocess.
PleasereachouttoEmanuelHarper,DirectorofSummerAcademewithquestionsat
[email protected].
Top 10 Reasons to Enroll in Riverside High School!
10. Top-Rated
Riverside High School is a second campus of Herron High School, a
top-ranked public high school in Indianapolis and a top 5% high
school in the nation as reported by US News & World Report.
9. Individual
Attention
Small school and small class sizes! Be one of 200 students in our
inaugural Freshman class, benefitting from the commitment and
enthusiasm of our founding team.
8. College
Preparedness
Riverside High School prepares all scholars for college success,
following HHS' 99% graduation rate. Our students earned over $16
million in college scholarships last year!
7. Timeless
Curriculum
As the only public classical high schools in the state, we offer
students five core classes and two elective classes each semester,
taught through classical methodology.
6. Waterfront
Views
Our future home is Hesler Naval Armory, an important building
steeped in rich history, along the White River at the north end of
Riverside Park.
5. Diverse
Classmates
Our intentionally diverse student population already represents over 70
middle schools in central Indiana. Riverside High School values the benefits
that only a diverse student body can offer the entire community.
4. Urban
Engagement
Riverside High School is in a neighborhood with rich cultural history and is
close to other cultural hubs like Marian University, Indianapolis Museum of
Art, Butler University, Madame Walker Theater, The Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, and Riverside Park.
3. Exemplary
Educators
Riverside’s founding faculty is the best of the best. Our teachers are
committed to our core value of building a culture of respect and trust
with all students in content areas as well as our prized Advisories.
2. Tuition Free
As a public school chartered through the Mayor's office, Riverside
High School offers an elite caliber education option to all students.
1. Be the First!
The founding class of Riverside High School will be the school
leaders from day one, leaving a lasting legacy!