BETTENDORF, Iowa — From butterfly life cycles and cultural studies to advanced scientific research and original films, students from age 2 through grade 12 at Rivermont Collegiate showcased months of inquiry, creativity, and collaboration during the school’s Annual Academic Fair on Friday, March 6, 2026. The event highlights Rivermont’s inquiry-based approach to education, with students presenting projects spanning science, culture, engineering, literature, history, and the arts.
Beginning with the school’s youngest learners, Early School students presented projects focused on discovery and observation. Pre-Kindergarten students examined the butterfly life cycle by watching caterpillars turn into butterflies over six weeks, while Junior Kindergarten students studied sea turtles, learning about their life cycle, habitat, and conservation.
Montessori students conducted a cultural study of Morocco with guidance from a Rivermont parent from Morocco. Students explored Moroccan traditions, architecture, and celebrations, sampled traditional foods, participated in a tea ceremony, practiced writing in Arabic, and created collaborative art projects, including a papier-mâché camel and a Moroccan-American friendship flag.
Lower School students engaged in hands-on learning across a range of subjects. Kindergarten students explored what makes the Quad Cities unique by creating a collaborative map of significant places and making a short film about the community. First-graders designed and refined musical instruments to understand how sound is produced (and then put on a rock concert featuring songs by the Beatles and an adapted version of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”). Second-graders studied the cultures of Mexico, Brazil, and the Meskwaki people, culminating in display boards and a musical performance.
Older Lower School students concentrated on research and civic engagement. Third graders completed a community service project centered on environmental protection, which included persuasive writing and an interview with the director of the Bettendorf Parks Department. Fourth grade students researched a U.S. state of their choice and presented their findings through reports and displays. Fifth graders built a Living Museum featuring American Revolution figures, showcasing exhibits and performing first-person monologues in character.
Middle School students combined research, creativity, and technology. Sixth graders created short films about life in Ancient Greece and Rome. Seventh-grade students completed independent STEM projects, including designing a hovercraft, building a bacteriophage model, engineering assistive technology for people who are blind, and developing a magnetic train. Eighth graders wrote original suspense stories inspired by W. W. Jacobs’ The Monkey’s Paw, using literary techniques such as foreshadowing.
Upper School students presented advanced academic projects. In AP African American Studies, students explored lesser-known African American inventors and historical figures. AP Biology students presented findings from a year-long study of yeast strains developing resistance to triclosan. AP Computer Science Principles students developed interactive computer programs and games, while AP Human Geography students created models of sustainable cities aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There were video podcasts about famous movies, original Spanish-language short films, and presentations about Shakespearean plays.
Collin Lawrence, Interim Head of School, described the event this way: “The Academic Fair was a perfect encapsulation of the Rivermont mission of empowering students by cultivating their intellect, character and creativity. The projects required critical thinking, perseverance, planning, and problem-solving. The vibe during the event was electric, as all the built-up anticipation was finally over, and the students shined in front of their families. The best education is when teachers feel pride in their students and students feel appreciation for their teachers for pushing them to achieve. That feeling was palpable during Academic Fair.”
The Academic Fair marks the culmination of months of student research and hands-on learning, giving families the opportunity to experience the full range of projects across Rivermont Collegiate’s Early School through Upper School programs.
About Rivermont Collegiate
Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities’ only independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for students in preschool through grade 12. Located on a scenic campus overlooking the Mississippi River in Bettendorf, Iowa, Rivermont offers small classes, a globally focused curriculum, and an engaging learning environment that inspires students to achieve their full potential.
For more information about Rivermont Collegiate, visit www.rivermontcollegiate.org.