Report to the Parents 2023-2024
Catawba Ridge High School SIC
Be The Why
The Catawba Ridge School faculty and staff set high expectations for all students in academics, the arts, athletics, character, extra-curricular activities, and community involvement. This school year the faculty and staff continued to grow the #BeTheWhy culture by creating opportunities for students to be selected as Students of the Month. These students are voted on by each department and embody the culture of #doright with positive attitudes, kindness and citizenship. The students receive a shirt that says, "I Am The Why," a certificate and free entry into athletic events for that month.
Excellence in Academics
Curriculum Night
CRHS JROTC Program
Catawba Ridge High School Corps of Cadets were named the #3 Best NJROTC unit in the Nation(over 600 schools nationwide) and for the 4th year in a row our NJROTC Navy Corps of Cadets were invited to the Navy Nationals Drill, Academic and Physical Fitness Championships in Pensacola Florida(Only 26 schools nationwide receive an invite). Huge achievement finishing 15th overall in the Nation. The Corps of Cadets also had 6 ROTC Scholarship winners…over a million dollars in scholarship money earned by this Senior class. Our focus on STEM resulted in a banner year for our Drone team as they were invited to and competed at the Area 6 Drone Championships. The Area 6 Manager conducted his first inspection of our Unit in April and left extremely impressed. The cadets also had a remarkable year contributing over 3500 hours of community service and over 1500 hours supporting their school. In addition, for the 3rd year in a row Catawba Ridge was named the #1 Top NJROTC Unit in the Carolinas placing our Corps of Cadets in the TOP 24 Units in the Nation. Remarkable achievement considering how young we are AND compared to NJROTC schools that have been around for 30+ years.
National Merit Scholar
Congratulations to Era Bhide, Grace Eisenrieth, Erika Giaconia, Justin Isch, Kayla Mancini, Josiah McHargue, Donavan Rhee, Rebekah Rich, and Haripranov Shanmugam Baraneedharan our finalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Competition.
High School students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT as a Junior. The selection of some 7,500 Merit Scholarship winners from the group of more than 15,000 Finalists is now in progress. In March, NMSC will begin notifying scholarship winners. Please join us in celebrating these students in this very prestigious competition!
Excellence in CTE
Catawba Ridge News
Our Media Technology (television) program, CopperHEADSUp!, through CRN-TV, received the Broadcast Excellence Award for Best Daily Show, the Gold Medal for Sports Coverage, and Maddie Crider and Eric Johnson were chosen as Closing Ceremony Hosts at the National Competition in Long Beach, California. In addition to the daily morning show, CopperHEADSUp!, CRN provides leading edge reporting on school and community events, as well as entertaining features throughout the school year. Example of such excellence in reporting may be viewed at the Catawba Ridge News channel on YouTube.
Digital Art and Design
DAAD students Liam Vigier and Katie Browning designed our district Program of Studies cover.
AgSci
PLTW Human Body Systems
In this lab, Project Lead the Way Human Body Systems students, evaluated the effectiveness of antiviral medicines by completing a plaque assay.
Excellence in our Staff
CRHS Teacher of the Year
CRHS Support Staff of the Year
Excellence in Athletics
CRHS had an excellent year on the field and on the court.
XC- Boys and Girls Region Champions, Boys Upper State Champions, Boys State Champions
Girls Tennis- Region Runner up, SCHSL Playoffs
Swim- Boys and Girls- Region Champs, SCHSL Playoffs
Girls VB- Region Champs, SCHSL Playoffs- Upper State Championship Runner Up
Boys Volleyball- Upper State Champions, State Championship-Runner Up
Girls Golf- Region Champs- Finished 3rd in SCHSL State Finals
Competitive Cheer- Region Champs , SCHSL Playoffs
Boys Basketball- Region Champs, Quarterfinals of SCHSL Playoffs
Girls Basketball- Region Runner up, SCHSL Playoffs.
Wrestling- SCSHL Playoff Qualifier
Baseball- Region Champs, In Playoffs now
Softball- Region Champs, In Playoffs now
Boys Tennis- Region Runner up, State Playoff Qualifier
Boys Golf- Region Runner up, Upper State Qualifier
Boys Soccer- Region Champs, In Playoffs now
Girls Soccer- Region Champs, In Playoffs now
Track and Field- Region championship is Thursday (May 2)
Boys Lacrosse- State Playoff Qualifier
Girls Lacrosse- State Playoff Qualifier
21 Varsity Sports
20 Teams qualified for the SCHSL Playoffs
11 Region Championships
3 Upper State Championship Appearances (Girls VB, Boys VB, Boys XC)
1 Upper State Championships (Boys XC)
1 State Championships (Boys XC)
Ladies Golf
Cheer
Cross Country
CRHS Baseball 4A 2023 State Champions
CRHS Softball 4A 2023 State Champions
Boys Basketball
The boys basketball team were region champs
Wrestling
CR SWIM
CR Football
Excellence in Performing Arts
BAND:
The CR Band program had yet another outstanding year in 2023/24.
Marching Band
- The marching band were a class champion at the Bands of America Carolina Regional in Conway, SC, and finished 2nd overall regardless of class in the finals competition. The marching band was also the SCBDA 4A Upper State Championships and the SCBDA 4A State runner-up. Finally, the marching band placed third at the Bands of America Southeastern Regional Championships in Troy, Alabama.
- The marching band was a featured performer in the 2024 London New Year’s Day Parade.
Concert Band/Wind Symphony:
- The CR concert band, comprised mostly of Freshman, received a superior rating with distinction at the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCDBA) Concert Performance Assessment. The CR Wind Symphony, the top concert ensemble, also received a superior rating with distinction, the highest award given by the SCBDA, at their Concert Performance Assessment in mid-March.
The CR Band also had record setting indoor seasons.
- The CR Indoor Winds program won the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Winds Scholastic Open class Gold medal in mid-April. The Indoor Winds program also won the gold medal in the Winds Scholastic Open class at the prestigious Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, Ohio in late-April, setting a program record high score at both events. This is the first winds groups from South Carolina to ever win a gold medal at Winter Guard International World Championships.
- The CR Indoor Percussion program won the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Percussion Scholastic World class Gold medal in mid-April. The Indoor Percussion program also won the gold medal in the Percussion Scholastic World class at the prestigious Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, Ohio in late-April. This is the first Percussion Scholastic Concert Gold medal won by a South Carolina school since Fort Mill High School won in 2005.
- The CR Winter Guard participated at 2 Winter Guard International regional events, setting a record high score for any CR guard and making finals at both events.
Individually, the Catawba Ridge band had a record setting year with 47 students making All-Region Band, and 7 making All-State Band.
THEATER and CHORALE:
Our Chorus Department had an incredible year under the direction of our new leader, Ms. Jessie Haynes. We kicked off the year in the Snake Pit by singing the National Anthem at our home game against South Pointe and singing at our Fall Pep Rally. Aside from our successful Fall and Spring Concerts, the chorus department hosted a Catawba Ridge First - a holiday themed talent show! Many singers were involved in the wildly successful, magical 5-show run of Roger & Hammerstein's Cinderella, our school musical. 8 singers participated in SCACDA, 2 singers were sent to All-State, and 3 singers made it to Southern Region - comprised of the best singers in 11 south eastern states. What a year! We are looking forward to growing as a choral family here at the Ridge!
Our Theater department just hosted a musical rendition of Cinderella here at the Ridge. One showing was done during the day and we hosted students from Fort Mill High School, Nation Ford High School, Forest Creek Middle School, and Banks Trail Middle School.
Excellence in Visual Arts
The Catawba Ridge Visual Arts Program was actively involved in collaboration, community service, and cultivating a vibrant school culture. Visual Arts produced several gallery shows including Freedom Quilts, Design Principles, and an AP Art Showcase.
Art
We will have the AP Art & Design Showcase on May 14th in the CR Gallery.
Marlee Metz received the Silver Key Award for her ceramic piece in the Mid-Carolina Art Region from the Scholastic Art Competition.
Seven students had artwork chosen to compete in the SC Congressional Art Competition. (final awards will be announced any day now)
Marlee Metz won second place with a drawing in the Memory Mill Art Competition.
Culture Totems
Beginning Ceramics created Culture Totems. Each section is a representation of the students' heritage.
Drawing 1 Student Colored Pencil Art
Excellence in Organizations, Activities & Community
Clubs:
Clubs as diverse as our population. CRHS offers over 40 Clubs for every interest and passion. A complete list of clubs is listed on our webpage, including Diversity Club, Walk for Water, FCCLA, Sewing Club, Yearbook, Writer's Club, and Copperhead Cookie Club through Special Services. Club info was posted in the Art Gallery with remind or QR codes for more information.
Social Responsibility:
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.
Building Community:
Senior Special Events
Student Council: Spirit Week & Traditions Tuesdays
Ridge Fridays
Fun Food Fridays
#BeTheWhy
The Ridgies Academic Awards Show
Hispanic Heritage Month
Black History Month
Disability Awareness Month
Polar Plunge for Special Olympics
Miss CR Pageant
Community Blood Drives
Coat Drive and Community Volunteers sponsored by Athletics Teams
HBCU Fall Fair
Golden Gala
Club Rush
Model UN
Miss CRHS Pageant
Miss CR Sweetheart - Mia Kovacs
Miss Congeniality - Talia Postel
Miss Freshman Runner Up - Kendall Howe
Miss Freshman - Jiada Nguyen
Miss Sophomore Runner Up - Meredith Reynolds
Miss Sophomore - Lily Romero
Miss Junior Runner Up - Brianna Peterson
Miss Junior - Ryleigh Rhodes
Miss Senior Runner Up - Silmar Botello
Miss Senior - Olivia Carrouth
Miss Catawba Ridge - Layla Gaskins
The Venom Yearbook
Mock Trial
National FFA Week
Newspaper
The newspaper staff produced and distributed our school's first every newspaper! It can be picked up from the multiple newsstands around the school.
Club Unified
Club unified participated in a track meet at Nation Ford High School.
Excellence in Building Our Culture
Prom King and Queen
Polar Plunge
Our grand total: $9,385, this was more than collected last year. And since we hit our goal of $9,000 Mr. Ledford dressed in a polar bear suit. 50% of all funds raised go directly back to CRHS Special Olympics. OUTSTANDING!
Staff Holiday Cookie Bar
Staff & students celebrated the last couple of weeks before break with holiday dress up days.
Spirit Week
Students and adults always enjoy the Spirit Week with the dress up days and events!
Teacher Appreciation
About the CRHS School Improvement Council (SIC)
This year, the SIC focused on the following areas: communication, parent involvement, student safety, and creating a positive culture.
SIC Members 2023-2024
CRHS School Improvement Council
Elected:
Jeff Davenport, Parent
Carrie Seekings, Parent
Jen Weiser, Student
Alexandra Cardozo, Student
Isabella Garcia, Student
Hannah Smith, Student
Tiffany Davis, Teacher
Drew Dittmer, Teacher
Appointed:
Kristie Hill, Community Member
Katie Marciniak, Community Member
Karena McCoy, Community Member
Ex-Officio:
Brad Mercer, Assistant Principal
Barry Ledford, Principal
The Mission & Beliefs of Catawba Ridge High School
Beliefs
We believe each student possesses the ability to learn.
We believe each student deserves a safe and supportive learning environment.
We believe communication among parents, faculty, staff, students and members of the community is essential and all are responsible for student success.
We believe each student can maximize learning through career-based educational opportunities integrated with business, government, and the community at large.
We believe in providing students with a relevant, challenging program of study.
We believe it is essential to use student achievement data and program evaluations to ensure continuous improvement.
About Fort Mill and Catawba Ridge High School
Fort Mill
The town of Fort Mill, South Carolina is located just south of the North Carolina state line. Nearly 20,000 people live inside the Fort Mill corporate limits with a total of nearly 50,000 people residing within the entire township. The Township of Fort Mill currently supports three high schools with a Catawba Ridge High School opening in the fall of 2019.
Catawba Ridge High School
The faculty of Catawba Ridge High School consists of teachers, one principal, five assistant principals, five school counselors, a media specialist, and numerous facilities and faculty support staff.
More than 200 course selections are offered, including Advanced Placement, Honors, and College Preparatory courses.
Catawba Ridge High School has more than 40 co-curricular activities and 22 athletic teams.
Purpose of the Report
For more information regarding the Catawba Ridge High School SIC please contact Brad Mercer at mercerb@fortmillschools.org
Contact Us
Catawba Ridge News (CRN) @CatawbaRidgeNews and on YouTube
Email: mercerb@fortmillschools.org
Website: http://crhs.fortmillschools.org/
Location: 1180 Fort Mill Pkwy, Fort Mill, SC 29715, USA
Phone: 803-835-5200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catawbaridge
Twitter: @CatawbaRidge