Springs’ Renaissance Valley Academy (RVA) has seen its enrollment jump during this time of pandemic. When the shelter-in-place mandate came in March, it had 457 students. So far for the 2020-21 school year, there are 514 active students with another 81 prospective students. Nikia Hovey, principal, noted, “We are elated!”
She said that the school was “up and running” with distance learning in less than a week, and credited her staff for the smooth transition. In a recent parent/student survey, 77% indicated that they believed that distance learning had gone “very well.”
Graduation events included live-streamed activities and a senior parade for diploma pick-up. RVA teacher Denise King’s Class of 2020 Project, a senior sendoff with goodies, was fully funded by DonorsChoose for $445. She appealed for donations by noting that her seniors, due to the pandemic, were unable to enjoy many of the activities graduating seniors typically experience, such as the prom and graduation.
Noteworthy graduates included Jose Saucedo, who received a full scholarship to John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido.
