The Catawba Ridge School faculty and staff set high expectations for all students this year in academics, the arts, athletics, character, extra-curricular activities, and community involvement. Stakeholders worked together to grow our culture and to encourage students to “Do Right” in spite of the challenges presented by the pandemic. Our staff embraced the mantra “Be The Why”: Be WILLING to do it with all your HEART year after YEAR. This message resonates now, more than ever, in a time when many grow weary of the obstacles we face in education. Catawba Ridge News partnered with our Special Services Group to create an awareness campaign, #RiseAbove, to inspire students and staff to see one another as an individual, not a preconceived label. Our dedicated staff continues to work to ensure our students have the tools they need to succeed in their post-secondary education endeavors.
The Class of 2021 was our 1st ever graduating class for Catawba Ridge High School. We believed it was important to have as “normal” of a year as possible for our Seniors, and we held several special events to recognize this special group including: Parking Spot Painting, Senior Pictures, Senior Breakfast, Homecoming, Senior Banners & Yard Signs, Senior Nights for Athletics Teams and Band, Senior Showcase, Senior Celebration, and Prom. The Class of 2021 was offered over $5.2M in scholarship money and 21 students qualified for Palmetto Fellows, the highest scholarship level offered through the SC State Lottery to attend SC State Schools. Most important, this class persevered through an emotionally and academically challenging Junior year to emerge as strong, unified leaders for their Senior year. We are so proud of all they have accomplished and what they will achieve as they pursue their next steps.
Artistic and Athletics groups adapted to the constraints placed upon their performances and excelled in spite of these restrictions. Though the CR Band did not have a traditional marching season, Percussion and Winter guard were both finalists at the WGI Competition and Winter guard placed 1st at the CWEA competition. Band also held three community Blood Drives and a 1st Annual Golf Tournament. Our Theater and Chorale groups produced two performances: Asleep in the Wind, which was recorded for viewing at a later time; and Brightstar, a live event that showcased the talents of both theater and chorale students. Visual Arts produced several gallery shows including Freedom Quilts, Design Principles, and an AP Art Showcase. Our Athletics Program continued to grow and excel this year with 18 of our 20 varsity sports teams qualifying for 4A playoffs, ranking either #1 or #2 in our region. We had 3 individual state championships with Sam Rich winning for cross country, and the 320 and 1600 races. Our Ladies Soccer Team was runner-up at State. Several of our coaches received Region Coach of the Year honors.
The CR Navy JROTC was recognized as the 3rd best Navy JROTC unit in South Carolina, significant since the Navy does not yet recognize us as a NJROTC unit but as a NNDCC unit. Our cadets placed 1st place overall at 6 of the 10 competitions in which The Corps participated, with top 3 finishes for the others. The Unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit with Academic Honors streamer, the highest honor an individual unit can receive for their performance throughout the school year and Cadets performed 2230 hours of community service.
Career and Technology Education programs continued to provide students with real world experience. Our Media Technology (television) program, CopperHEADS Up!, through CRN-TV, won 1st place in Social Media & 2nd place in Broadcast Package at the SCSPA USC Fall competition and the Broadcast Excellence Award as the best daily High School broadcast show in the country. Digital Art and Design created a retail and online merchandise store for CRHS Gear using a grant from the Foundation for Fort Mill Schools.. DAAD produces a variety of digital and printed materials for clients throughout our school community. Engineering continued to support internal and external client requests for custom engraved awards and other custom designs for programs. Health Sciences offered students real-world experience through internships at local health organizations. Agricultural Sciences made good use of their new greenhouse with the 1st Annual Spring Plant Sale. Family and Consumer Science Classes supported our community 1st responders with treat baskets, and worked with Student Council and Beta Club to collect almost 3200 canned goods for the Fort Mill Care Center.
Faculty and staff focused on bridging the gaps of achievement for End of Course, ACT, and SAT testing and will continue to work with students to meet the high academic standards set by the Fort Mill School District. We will reinstate our FLEX Program this coming year to allow students to receive extra academic support before school, during lunch and after school. Teacher professional development focused on developing processes for common assessments.
Our student organizations contributed to their community through Food and Cold Weather Gear Drives for the Fort Mill Care Center, the Copperheads Care initiative (Angel Tree), Care Packages for local First Responders, a Book Drive for the Historic Paradise Foundation, and monetary donations for Special Olympics through our Ice Bucket Challenge. The 2020 Yearbook, The Venom, was featured in the Jostens Look Book which highlights the “best of the best” yearbooks across the nation.
We cannot wait to see what the 2021-22 school year holds for our resilient and determined students and staff!
Montrio Belton, SIC Chair
Darren Wilson, Principal
