River Valley High School (Caledonia, Ohio)

River Valley High School is a public high school in Caledonia, Ohio. It is the only high school in the River Valley Schools district. In the fall of 2003, a new campus was opened for students due to the possibility of cancer-causing chemicals on the old campus.

River Valley High School
Address
4280 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd.

Caledonia
,
Ohio
43314

United States
Coordinates40°35′05″N 83°00′49″W
Information
TypePublic high school
School districtRiver Valley Local School District
Grades9 to 12
Enrollment547 (Oct 2017)[1]
Color(s)Columbia blue and gold
        
Athletics conferenceMid-Ohio Athletic Conference
MascotViking
WebsiteSchool Website

Statistics and schedules

The school had 547 students in grades 9 through 12 as of October 2017.[1] River Valley is on "block scheduling" which means that the school day is divided into four blocks (A, B, C, and D). Each full block class meets for 93 minutes per day for 18 weeks, or until the first semester ends. Once the semester is over, students are finished with that semester's classes and have new classes to begin after winter exams. They remain in this second round of classes until the end of the school year. River Valley does not have midterms as a whole student body, like other schools around the state, but individual classes have their own midterms scheduled.

Every year, River Valley has a Veterans Day assembly. Up until the 2006 school year, they were headed up by history teacher Richard Jones. After that date, they were headed by World History teacher Annette Bame. They have only two Elementary Schools, called Liberty and Heritage, and a middle school.

Academics
Former high school at Martel, now consolidated into River Valley

In order to graduate, students must obtain 21 credits by the end of their senior year. They are required 4 credits of English, 4 credits of mathematics, 3 credits of science, 3 credits of history (often referred to as social studies), a half-credit of health, a half-credit of physical education (which is two .25 credit hour classes), and a half-credit of Life Planning (all seniors are required to take this class except those who take at least 3 years of Agricultural Science).

Students planning on going to college after graduation are highly encouraged to take 4 credits of English (with emphasis on composition), 3 credits of mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II), 3 credits of science (including Physical Science, Biology and Chemistry), 3 credits of history, 2 credits of foreign language (some schools now recommend 3), and one credit of art.

River Valley does have a long list of academic classes offered regularly, including Advanced Placement courses that allow obtaining of college credit by taking a test at the end of the school year, and are a weighted grade for your high school GPA. They also offer extra core academic classes, such as Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, Pre-Calculus, and D.C. Calculus, for those who wish to have a more rigorous schedule or to explore an area of academics further. Until the 2005 school year, River Valley also offered 3 foreign languages (Spanish, French and German) but had to drop German due to financial difficulties. In 2010 they dropped French, also due to financial difficulties.

Cancer scare

Several families raised concerns about the number of leukemia cases among River Valley High School (RVS) graduates: as of April 11, 1999, there were 94 cases in a population of about 35,000.[2] These families formed a parent group called the Concerned River Valley Families. In August 1997, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) conducted an initial environmental site assessment of the RVS campus. Based on these assessments, a determination was made that the campus was located on a formerly used defense site (FUDS) known as Marion Engineering Depot (MED). The site was used for storing, maintaining and renovating heavy construction machinery for the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1962.[3] Congress established the Defense Environmental Restoration Program/Formerly Used Defense Site (DERP/FUDS) program to clean up properties that were under the jurisdiction of the Secretary and owned, leased, or possessed by the United States and transferred from Department of Defense (DoD) control prior to Oct. 17, 1986. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages the FUDS program.[4]

In December 2000, a Memorandum of Understanding and a Cooperative Agreement was signed by the Department of Army, River Valley Schools and State of Ohio to share in the costs of relocating the River Valley Middle and High School campus. As a result of this Cooperative Agreement, the schools were relocated in the fall 2003.[3] An ODH study released in 2001 concluded that continued study of leukemia among Marion County residents and RVS graduates would be unlikely to identify additional factors explaining the disease's incidence in these populations.[3]

Athletics
  • Wrestling
  • Football
  • Boys' Basketball
  • Girls' Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Girls' Tennis
  • Boys' Tennis
  • Boys' Soccer
  • Girls' Soccer
  • Track & Field
  • Cross Country
  • Girls' Volleyball
  • Golf
  • Bowling
  • Swimming

Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
Further information: Ohio High School Athletic Association
  • Boys' Cross Country – 1966[5]

Ohio High School Athletic Association District Championships

Extracurriculars
  • Industrial Tech Club
  • FFA
  • Marching Band
  • Concert Band
  • Jazz Band
  • Orchestra
  1. Rock Orchestra
  2. Fab Four String Quartet
  3. River Valley Baroque Chamber Orchestra
  • Show Choir
  1. Music Company (Mixed SATB)

Other schools in the district
  • Heritage Elementary School
  • Liberty Elementary School
  • River Valley High School
  • River Valley Middle School

Notable alumni
Distinguished Alumni of River Valley Local Schools


Presented by the Senior Class and Addressed the Class at Commencement Ceremony
  • 1960, Lester J. Tomlin - Electrical Inspector and RV Board of Education
  • 1963, Richard Axline - B.S., The Ohio State University; M.B.A., Xavier University; Business Executive - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2009
  • 1964, Ann (Dennig) Wickersham - B.A., The Ohio State University; M.A., The Ohio State University; Educator, RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2004
  • 1964, Teena (Long) Cahill - B.S., University of Utah; M.S., Nova Southeastern University; Psy D., Florida Institute of Technology; Psychologist - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1989
  • 1965, James Gerfen - B.S., The Ohio State University; Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2019
  • 1966, Rena (Baker) Born - B.S., The Ohio State University; M.E., Mt. Joseph College; Educator - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1999
  • 1966, Gail Keith Douce - B.S., The Ohio State University; M.S., University of Georgia; Ph.D., University of Georgia; Co-Director of Center for Invasive Species, University of Georgia - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2018
  • 1966, John C. Snyder - B.A., Bowling Green State University; Network News Reporter - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1988
  • 1967, Pat Street - Melodyland School of Theology; Th.B., Christian Life School of Theology; Minister - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2012
  • 1967, Douglas A. Miller - B.S., The Ohio State University, College of Pharmacy; Pharm. D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science University; University Professor - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1990
  • Thomas G. Snyder - B.S., Bowling Green State University; Business Owner & RV Board of Education
  • 1969, James W. Ruth, Jr. - B.S., Heidelberg University; M.S., Ashland University; Educator and Coach - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1996
  • 1972, Robert S. Haas - B.S., Ohio Northern University; M.S., University of Phoenix; R.V. Board of Education & College Faculty Member
  • 1974, Karen S. (Daum) McCleary - A.D.N., Marion Technical College; R.V. Board of Education & Nurse
  • 1974, Cengiz Kurkeu - B.S.B.A., The Ohio State University; M.B.A., The Ohio State University; Business Executive, RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2003
  • 1975, Mary Lawrence - B.A., The Ohio State University; M.A., The Ohio State University; Newspaper Editor - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1995
  • 1976, Randy Caryer - A.A., North Central Technical College; Law Enforcement Officer - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1994
  • 1977, Stephen M. Ginn - B.S., Wheaton College; M.D., Medical College of Ohio; Cardiologist - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2005
  • 1978, Christopher McCord - B.S., Bowling Green State University; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison; University Administrator - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1998
  • 1979, Robert W. Cones - B.S., The Ohio State University; M.S.I.A., Union College; Business Executive - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2008
  • 1979, Dean L. Jacob - B.A., University of Notre Dame; J.D., The Ohio State University College of Law; Attorney, Teacher, and Nonprofit Executive - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1992
  • 1980, Lester Firstenberger - B.S., The Ohio State University; J.D., University of Toledo College of Law; LL.M., Boston University College of Law; Attorney - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2014
  • 1981, Karen E. Kirkham - B.S., Miami University; M.D., Wright State University, School of Medicine; Physician - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1991
  • 1981, Denise (Bishop) Smith - B.S.B.A., The Ohio State University - Accountant & RV Board of Education
  • 1982, Dick Hempy - B.A, Otterbein College; Businessman - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1987
  • 1983, Lisa Holloway - B.S., The Ohio State University; M.A., Marygrove College; Educator - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1993
  • 1983, Kim (Krumanaker) Tolnar - B.A., The Ohio State University; Account Manager - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 1997
  • 1985, Brant Ulsh - B.S., University of Cincinnati; M.S., University of Cincinnati; Ph.D., Colorado State University; Scientist - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2002
  • 1986, Jayne Klingel - B.A., The Ohio State University; M.A., Marygrove College; M.A., Heidelberg University; Educator & Coach - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2017
  • 1989 Andrew M. Vick - B.S., The Ohio State University; Ph.D., The Ohio State University; Scientist - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2000
  • 1990, Nicole (Clever) Ralston - B.S., University of Findlay; United States Marshals - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2015
  • 1992, Shad M. Huffer - B.S., University of Cincinnati; D.C., National College of Chiropractic; Chiropractor - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2006
  • 1995, Matt Axline - B.S., The Ohio State University; O.D., The Ohio State University College of Optometry; Optometrist - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2013
  • 1995, Shawn Grate, Has been convicted for serial killings 2006, 2015–2016; Life sentence without parole
  • 1997, Matthew J. White - B.S., Denison University; M.D., Northeast Ohio University College of Medicine; Physician - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2007
  • 1997, A.J. Hensel - B.S., U.S. Military Academy (West Point); J.D., The Ohio State University; Attorney - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2019
  • 2003, Kevin Hord - A.S., Marion Technical College - Structural & Mechanical Designer - RVHS Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2016
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References
  1. "Fall Enrollment (Headcount) - October 2017 Public Districts and Buildings". Ohio Department of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. "High cancer rate is shaking up Ohio industrial town". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1999-04-11. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-07-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-03. Retrieved 2010-07-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Ohio High School Athletic Association". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
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