Palm trees and bricks will send a clear message to the world about what River Islands High is all about — academic achievement.

The new campus designed for 1,600 students that is now under construction in the 15,001-home planned community of River Islands at Lathrop will have two unique elements for the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

They are the extensive use of palm trees as well as a Walk of Champions.

While palm trees are keeping with the aquatic theme the name River Islands inspires, their branches are also a symbol of victory, triumph, and peace.

The use of palm branches as such a symbol originated in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean region.

The Walk of Champions is a tad less subtle.

The names of each graduating class starting with the Class of 2025 will have their names on bricks placed in sidewalks starting at the plaza at the rear of the administration building.

It will have an architectural element— a circular band as an open canopy of sorts featuring the words “Walk of Champions.”

Below will be a design in the concrete. From there, the names of graduates will be placed on bricks replacing cement walkways in various directions.

Students would daily walk on the Walk of Champions as they access the student center, media center, student government office, students store, and school offices in the two-story administration building.

The administration offices will be on the second floor.

The bricks could be sold as fundraisers for the high school’s boosters club or some other school organization. Details have yet to be hammered out.

One thing is for sure, the Walk of Champions will grow with each passing year as another class graduates.

 The $150 million first phase is targeted to be completed  the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

River Islands High will open with junior, sophomore, and freshmen classes.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com