There was plenty of enthusiasm on the first day of school Wednesday at River Islands High.

Principal Carey Simoni emphasized just that as she perused the campus during the lunch session.

“The kids are back creating their own culture,” she said.

Nearly 860 students make up the first full-fledged comprehensive high school, consisting of all four grade levels.

Euan Costales and Andre DeLeon are among those who are proud to be the first-ever senior class.

For them, the first day “went fast” as they completed an abbreviated schedule.

As those blazing the new tradition of the Riptide – the school’s mascot in the teal and navy blue color scheme – Costales and DeLeon have been active during their years at River Islands.

DeLeon was on the school’s first-ever football, soccer, and volleyball teams while Costales was in Leadership and played basketball for coach Justin Graham, who is also the school’s Assistant Principal / Athletic Director.

Come late spring, they’re looking forward to being part of the school’s first-ever graduating Class of 2026.

For Assistant Principal / Activities Director Nikki Seibert, her first day kicked off bright and early with the Senior Sunrise just before 6 o’clock on the football field. About 75 or so – the senior class enrollment is at about 133 – showed up for this new tradition. Donations made possible the free donuts and drinks (a deejay played music) for all to enjoy, according to Seibert.

The campus – part of the Banta Unified School District, along with RI Technology Academy, NextGeneration STEAM Academy, and EPIC Academy, all feeder sites to the high school – is still a work in progress with CTE building, admission / student center, and classrooms buildings coupled with the community gym having already been completed, said Simoni.

She added that another tradition continued that morning with the school-wide gathering for the Pledge of Allegiance and the performance of the National Anthem.