General News

Ridge View High School 2019 Career Day

Ridge View High School- On April 10 2019, the 6th annual Career Day at Ridge View High school was hosted by Career Specialist Aretha Barnes. When asked if Career Day has changed throughout the years, Ms. Barnes commented:“The format hasn’t changed at all [but,] I think it has evolved in the presenters that attend.”

Career Day is designed to allow students to get a peek into the world of work and careers, particularly ones that they are interested in. Students are then placed into seminars to interact with the presenters and to ask questions about their careers. Common questions answered included: what is their work environment like, what is the average salary of the career, and what type of education do they need before entering the workforce? The seminars are set up to allow students to get information on careers they are interested in and it is also a great networking opportunity for students.

Ann Neely from Richland County Coroner Office presented at the event. Ann Neely is a coroner officer, which is a person who investigates violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths. She has been working for the coroner for 25 years with her husband who is also a coroner officer. In the sessions, Neely provided information on what her job entails and the things they see on a day to day basis, primarily corpses. Neely shared with the students that her job is challenging because of the sad news that she often has to deliver to families. Ultimately, she advised students that being a coroner requires being positive minded and having a strong stomach.

Another visitor was Nancy Johnson, a realtor who works for Restate. Johnson acts as an agent for the sale and purchase of buildings and land for real estate agents. She owns her own company and has been working in real estate for almost 15 years. Johnson shared important life lessons to help consumers with purchasing different homes and goals about her own career. She presented real situations that one would face when you become apart of real estate. For example, how to lower the prices of the homes to sell easier while also making good money.

Theodius Oates and Dan Cardio, occupational and physical therapists, were two more presenters. Oates works at Encompass Health as a physical therapist a, which is a doctor who helps injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain. Oates talked about how his work field helps individuals get back on their feet (in most cases) once they have a stroke.

There were also some more artistic careers representative at this year’s Career Day. Tabitha D. James, an author, grew up in a Florence, South Carolina and graduated with 75 other people in her class. She graduated from Coastal Carolina and moved to South Florida to pursue her career. She currently works at Clemson University and writes many books, poems, and other forms of literature.Her book, Not Posted: S.E.A.S.O.N.S of the Untold, speaks about the many struggles that people go through in life including relationships,

Ridge View also had military based career sessions. Sgt. Prutzman showed the students the Apache helicopter and its functions outside, on the school’s practice field. Sgt. Prutzman’s job is to support U.S. soldiers in close quarter combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. While he was explaining to the students about the life of a pilot, he also informed students about opportunities to join the National Guard, the Air Force, or any other military branch for those interested in looking for a job in the military.

Another military affiliated career, Veterans Affair nurse, was represented by Arletha Toland, whose job is to provide opportunities for others to lead or participate in Lean Six Sigma improvement projects and other system redesign activities. Arletha gave students a chance to see how one of the devices that she typically uses works, such as the tool used to check blood pressure. Arletha focuses on helping out others. Arletha stated that when being a VA nurse you have to be on standby because you never know when someone needs you.

Darryl Caldwell of the Caldwell Law Firm is a attorney that has worked for several law firms expanding his knowledge and understanding of the practice of law. During Career Day, he talked about and shared how he deals with cases to the class and also that the most difficult cases to deal with are family cases because of how hard is it to deal families that have children involved. He also said he used to be an officer in the military before becoming an attorney. Currently, he is serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard as a JAG officer. At the end of the class, he offered advice on how to become a lawyer in the future.

Overall, Ridge View’s 2019 Career Day was a successful opportunity for students to explore careers that interested them as well as find out about careers they had not previously known about.

Post Black History Month at Ridge View High School

This past February, Ridge View High School’s student council chose the theme “African Migration” to celebrate Black History Month.

School wide activities included trivia questions, dress up days, an assembly, and a showcase featuring Greek sororities and fraternities. The student council committee took pictures of the events and posted them to social media.

Throughout the month, on the morning announcements, a trivia question was asked about black culture and history. The first three to send in the correct response received a reward.

The dress up days varied from wearing tie dye, HBCU shirts, future occupations, and traditional African dashikis.

The assembly, directed by student council director, Paige Fennell, demonstrated African culture and heritage. The assembly included different performances, such as spoken word, African dance, and stepping.

The Greek showcase was held in the auditorium. Multiples sororities and fraternities gave brief overviews of the organizations and performed their strolls. Current teachers at Ridge View High School also performed with their sorority or fraternity. Shawna Moore, a chemistry teacher, said, “I was really excited about the Greek showcase. It gives students an opportunity to see that there's more than what we normally learn.”

She also gave insight on what she wished was done differently by saying, “This is one of the only times we get to hear our Black national anthem and that is something that did not occur.”

-Taleeyah Covington

Clear Bag Procedure

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, Ridge View has announced that there will be a “Clear Bag Procedure” going into effect on January 1, 2019 for varsity athletic events and junior varsity events held prior to a varsity event. Only approved bags such as clear totes, or small clutch bags are permitted for these events. Some bags like backpacks, cinch bags, fanny packs, mesh bags, and other bags are prohibited in this event. Ridge View will be selling clear tote bags with the Ridge View logo in December.

-Gabriel Lopez Mendez

Hurricane Florence make up day

Due to Hurricane Florence, Richland Two School District will use December 21 as a final makeup day for the week schools were closed. Middle school will have early dismissal at 10:45 a.m., and elementary schools will be dismissing at 11:30. Richland Two high schools will have a full day of school. The state law requires that all school districts to make up a minimum of three days missed. Richland Two includes makeup days in the school calendar in anticipation of inclement weather. Making up the missed days ensures that the semesters will remain balanced.

Shireanna Tyler

Ridge View Evacuates

On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:46 students evacuated the school because of the release of toxic fumes. A member of the custodial staff accidentally mixed two cleaning products that were not meant to be blended. These chemicals were mixed on D-hall in the school bathroom toilet causing toxic fumes to be released. Two employees were exposed to the fumes and one was taken to the hospital for treatment. After the scene was called to be safe again, students were able to head back to class for regularly scheduled classes.

Ridge View Students Protest Gun Violence

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 10 a.m., students at Ridge View High School began to leave their classrooms where lessons were taking place in protest of gun violence. Faculty, Staff, as well as various students were briefed the days prior regarding the protest. For safety concerns, Ridge View’s Administration allowed students to gather in the gym, rather than physically walking out of the school. Protesting students arrived to a scene of solidarity and remembrance of the 17 victims who lost their lives at the hands of a school shooter exactly a month prior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The event, sponsored by Ridge View’s Scholar’s Academy Magnet Program for Business and Law, was regarded as a success by the students in charge of the peaceful demonstration.

-Caitlin Brewer

Ridge View hosts annual Special Olympics

Ridge View’s annual basketball Special Olympics was held on February 15, 2018. This is a series of basketball related events for all the schools in District 2. The event is held in the gym where there are different stations set up for the students to enjoy a day of fun. This is a way for these students to play and interact with other students with a little friendly competition.

–Jessica Green

Ridge View acknowledges Black History Month

Ridge View hosted an African American Read-In February 15, 2018 . As we know February is the month of black history, where we acknowledge all of the great contributions African Americans have done to better today’s society . At this read-in there were trivia, games, raffles for the Black Panther t-shirt, drawings, etc. The turn out was great, seeing as many students and staff showed up to participate in the many activities.

–Jada Green

Ridge View celebrates African American heritage

As we enter February, the month dedicated to the celebration and education of African American culture, Ridge View is preparing for its annual Black History Month Assembly. As a school that’s student body is composed of 76% of African American students, the assembly is highly anticipated by both faculty and students because it highlights how much the African American community has prospered through racism and prejudice, striving for equality. The assembly is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 16. Ms. Paige Fennell, teacher of History and AP Psychology, and director of the assembly, has already begun rehearsals for the much appreciated celebration.

– Caitlin Brewer

Eleven selected for R2DHO

“The Richland Two District Honors Orchestra (R2DHO) is made up of the top high school orchestra students from across the entire district,” according to Phillip Pagal, orchestra teacher at Ridge View High School. Ridge View currently has 11 students who made it into the R2DHO. Seven violinists:Madison Bush, John (Jake) Walker, Destiny Quattlebaum, Danielle Banks, Cheonia Pagan, Grace Miller, and Nicholas Johnson were selected, along with a viola player, Esai Jones, cellist, Cameron Borum and bass player, Vincent McClinton. The R2DHO will be performing their only concert this year with guest conductor Dr. Ken Pruitt, on February 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Richland Northeast High School.

–Isabella Walker and Justice Jackson

Chorus to perform at State House

Tuesday, February 6, students from all of RVHS’ choruses will be performing at the State House. Chorus students will arrive on campus before taking a bus to Washington Street United Methodist Church. From there, students will walk to the State House steps where they will perform. After this, there will be a Chamber Choir Rally inside the State House, concluding their trip.

– Adrien Trippany

CAT students complete WorkKeys

This past January 29 and 30, Carolina Alliance for Technology(CAT) students completed WorkKeys. It’s a test thousands of people take every year. There are three main parts applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents. To pass the test you must get a three out of seven on each section .There are four categories of scoring: Bronze, 1-2; Silver, 3-4; Gold, 5; Platinum, 6-7. The test can help when it comes to jobs, colleges, and scholarships. A big opportunity is the Disney program students who get a 15 or higher get the opportunity to go to Disney World and get to experience the science and mechanics behind what really makes the park magical.

-Elijah Lynch