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Riverwatch Sixth Grader Places 3rd at State MATHCOUNTS, Advances to Nationals

Aarav has a true gift for math and is one of those students you will never forget!! He is naturally curious and inquisitive...always looking for the next challenge. In addition, he is a great teammate, always looking to help others and celebrate their success. - Lori Calupca

The image shows a man wearing a black t-shirt with the text %22MATHCOUNTS%22 standing next to a young boy wearing a yellow t-shirt. They appear to be in an office or classroom setting with boxes and other items in the background.
A classroom setting with students seated at desks, engaged in various activities, and a projection screen visible in the background.
A young man in casual attire stands in front of a sign for a campus administration building, holding a tablet in his hands.
Four individuals, three males and one female, are standing together in what appears to be a school or academic setting, based on the background. They are holding various awards or trophies, suggesting they have achieved some form of recognition or accomplishment.
The image shows a group of students gathered for an awards ceremony, with a display board in the background announcing the %22Mathcounts Awards%22 and the 5th place individual winner, Aarav Suresh.
A group of young people, likely students, standing together in front of a building with a large Christmas tree in the background.

Riverwatch Middle School sixth grader Aarav Suresh placed 3rd at the 2026 State MATHCOUNTS Competition on Monday, March 9. Competing against the strongest middle school math students from across the state, Aarav’s exceptional performance secured him an all‑expenses‑paid trip to the National MATHCOUNTS Competition in Orlando, Florida, taking place May 9–11.

Aarav will represent both Riverwatch Middle School and Forsyth County Schools on the national stage, continuing the district’s long tradition of excelling in STEM education. His achievement highlights not only his strong problem-solving skills and dedication, but also the vital support from his coaches, teachers, and family.

The Riverwatch MATHCOUNTS team consistently performs at a high level, and Aarav’s advancement to nationals adds a new milestone to the program’s legacy.

Forsyth County Schools congratulates Aarav on this outstanding achievement and wishes him success as he prepares to compete at the national level in May.

Creating, Performing, Inspiring

How Music, Art, and Theater Shape Student Success

She leaned in to read the name on the label, and it was him.
That student who had struggled, who had needed a safe place to land,
had never stopped making art.

The image shows a young woman with a braided hairstyle wearing a yellow shirt, and a man wearing a red and white striped suit and a large hat, standing in front of a cityscape backdrop.

Every time a student picks up a violin for the first time, steps into a theater rehearsal, sketches a scene from a favorite story, or finds their place in a choir, something remarkable happens in their brain. Music education and the arts are among the most powerful and well-researched tools we have for supporting the development of the whole child, and March gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate them. Music in Our Schools Month is a national recognition that highlights the essential role that music, theater, and visual art play in public education. These programs are not extras. They are foundational. Students who participate in the arts develop stronger memory, sharper attention, and deeper language skills. They learn discipline, collaboration, and how to work toward something challenging with patience and persistence. These are life skills expressed through color, movement, rhythm, and creativity.

What makes the arts especially powerful in a school setting is the way they reach students that other subjects sometimes miss. A child who struggles in a traditional classroom may find confidence while painting a backdrop or performing a scene for the first time. A student who feels invisible may discover their voice, literally and figuratively, through a choir or a theater ensemble. The arts create a sense of belonging, and in a school community, that sense of belonging matters more than we can measure. Research consistently shows that students involved in music, theater, and visual art have higher attendance rates, stronger connections to their schools, and better outcomes across academic subjects. The benefits do not stay inside the band room, the art studio, or the auditorium. They shape every part of a student’s school experience.

In Forsyth County Schools, arts educators work every day to give students not only technical skills but a genuine relationship with creativity that can last a lifetime. From elementary classrooms where young learners explore rhythm, movement, color, and storytelling, to award-winning high school ensembles performing on competitive stages and producing full-scale theater productions, the arts are woven into the fabric of who we are as a school community. This month, we are shining a spotlight on the people who bring music, theater, and visual art to life in our schools. We asked Forsyth County’s educators a few questions so families can hear directly from them about what this work looks like and why it matters.

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