Riverwalk Roar

Happy Sunday, Pride,

Before sharing an update from Ms. Carr regarding State Testing, I wanted to remind everyone of last week's "favor." If you haven't done this with your child, please take a moment to ask them, "is there a staff member at Riverwalk Academy who is your champion . . . is there a staff member who is your biggest supporter and someone who wants you to do your best? Who is that person and what do they do to show you that they are your champion?"

Use this to let us know what your student said.

State Testing Information

SC Ready/SC PASS:

State Testing is right around the corner. Below are the dates, tests and grades they apply to. All testing will begin at 8:30am each morning. Any student arriving after 8:15am will not be allowed to test and will have to wait for the make up testing date. Please refrain from scheduling any routine doctor, dentist or eye appointments during school hours on testing days. Please make sure your student has a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast prior to each test.

• May 4, 2022 - SC READY - ELA Part 1 (Writing) (3rd - 8th grades)
• May 5, 2022 - SC READY - ELA Part 2 (Reading) (3rd - 8th grades)
• May 9, 2022 - SC READY - Math (3rd - 8th grades)
• May 11, 2022 - SC PASS - Science - (4th and 6th grades only)

A Parent brochure was sent home with 3rd quarter report cards. A copy of these can be found here: SC Ready & SC PASS.

Students enrolled in grades three through eight will participate in the SC READY stand-alone field test. The stand-alone field testing for the Spring 2022 SC READY English Language Arts (ELA) assessment will include one text dependent analysis (TDA) item with one question.

Our students will take the field test on April 25, 2022. If students miss the field test, they will be required to make it up.

EOCEP (End of Course Examination Program)

The End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) is a statewide assessment program of end-of-course tests for gateway courses awarded units of credit in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The EOCEP encourages instruction in the specific standards for the courses, encourages student achievement, and documents the level of students’ mastery of the academic standards. Gateway courses in English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies will be defined by the State Board of Education. EOCEP examination scores count 20 percent in the calculation of the student’s final grade in gateway courses. Defined gateway courses currently include Algebra 1, Intermediate Algebra, Biology 1, English 2, and United States History and the Constitution, or courses with other names and activity codes in which the academic standards corresponding to these subjects are taught.

Our students will take their tests on the following dates for the courses listed. As listed above, all testing will begin at 8:30am, any student arriving after 8:15am will not be allowed to test and will have to take the test during the make-up session on May 20, 2022. These are the only dates these exams will be given.

• May 2, 2022 - US History (11th grade)
• May 16, 2022 - English 2 - Part 1 (Writing)
• May 17, 2022 - English 2 - Part 2 (Reading)
• May 18, 2022 - Algebra 1
• May 19, 2022 - Biology

EOCEP 2021-2022 Parent and Student Assessment Brochure-English

If you have any questions or concerns regarding state testing, please reach out to your student’s teacher or Mrs. Carr, State Testing Coordinator. If you have a student who is particularly anxious regarding testing, please contact their counselor (Mrs. Carr - Elementary or Mrs. Menges - Middle/High) so we can reassure them.

This week's photo is of Ms. Reneau's class who #RockedTheirSocks this past Monday to show support for World Down Syndrome Day (3/21).

On 2/22/22, DHEC updated its guidance for schools. A summary of the guidance can be found below.

• The guidance applies to individual schools, not entire school districts and childcare centers.

• Schools may suspend quarantine once they have had two consecutive weeks with less than 10 percent of all students and staff having COVID-19.

  • When quarantine has stopped, contact tracing and testing and masking of close contacts without symptoms is no longer required

• The first two-week period ends Feb. 28, 2022

  • Based on week-one data (week of Feb. 21) and if the trend of low cases continues, DHEC anticipates that most schools will have the option to suspend quarantine on March 1, 2022.

• Schools will continue to report the number of cases to DHEC on a weekly basis.

  • If a school that has suspended quarantine and has two consecutive weeks with 10 percent or more of all students and staff having COVID-19, Quarantine will need to be reinstated.
• Isolation requirements for those who have COVID-19 will remain unchanged.

As you can see from our data since January 2022, Riverwalk Academy has been well below the 10% threshold for over a month. Therefore, we are able to suspend our quarantining programing beginning on Tuesday. We will continue to update our COVID related data on a daily basis and if there is ever an uptick or spike in our numbers, we will adjust our processes accordingly. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to Nurse Donna.

Riverwalk Academy is a "bring your own lunch" school where students are encouraged to bring their own lunches. We do offer a fee-based lunch program that is not income-contingent. Our fee-based lunch program is provided by Golden Corral. For more information about this option, please click here.

Pride, if you haven't done so, please take a moment to check out our new and improved website. From the main page, you have immediate access to the latest news, and up to date calendar.

Greetings everyone! I would like to share some of my thoughts from this time of year. First I want to say thank you for everything you do for your student(s) and the educators at Riverwalk. Next, my thoughts… This time of year is full of energy, fun, celebrations, anxiety and stress. Counselors, teachers, administrators, students, parents, all of us are tired. Spring break can't come soon enough, but after spring break is just as busy, fun, anxious and stressful. I was reading one of my counselor blogs and she admitted what I often say myself: I have a lot going on in my life, and some things just fall through the cracks. I know I'm not alone in this - it's hard to keep track of all of the things we have to remember.

This happens to kids too, and I know that this is the time of the year that some of our students might be forgetting some of the friendship skills they've learned. They have been in class with the same kids for almost a full year, there is excitement about the warming weather and, of course, pressure regarding state testing. This can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to friendships - which is why you're likely seeing an increase in disagreements and other interpersonal issues this time of year.

We have definitely seen this increase at Riverwalk. Please be patient with your student(s) and yourselves while we get through the rest of the year. If your student has mentioned any altercations, arguments or any anxiety regarding friendships, relationships and/or state testing, please remind them this is normal. In our lessons we have talked about relationships, being positive (all our rules for the Energy Bus) and growth mindset. Mindsets and reversing negative thoughts will help all of us make it through to the end of the year. In the next couple of weeks, I will give you some resources and tips to help your students through this time.

If you didn’t already receive the information with the last quarter report card, please note the dates for the testing listed in this newsletter.

Have a wonderful week!

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a nice weekend. I had an exciting couple of days as I was able to visit Wrightsville Beach, NC for a family wedding. While I had never been there before, I found that it’s now probably one of my favorite places. It was so beautiful and we had a great time! I am looking forward to the week ahead and plan to ~hopefully~ finish up my IGP meetings with our 8th grade families. This has been such a nice time as I have been able to sit down personally with every student (8th-12th) and talk through their dreams and aspirations. Being new this year, it has given me the opportunity to sit down with each individual, have great conversation, and build rapport. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come meet about your students! Collaborating as a team is a great benefit for your child. Here’s what you can start thinking about for the upcoming week…

Things to know:

• 8th graders, a couple weeks ago I sent a sign up to parent emails for IGP meetings that started last week. Please sign up for a meeting time if you haven't already. These meetings help prepare your student for high school and if you do not sign up, I will have to move forward with the meeting with just your student as I have to meet with every student 8th-12th during the school year.

• 10th grade families, you should have gotten an email last week regarding a "Moving up to York Tech" meeting for April 6th at 5:30. This meeting will cover all things York Tech, Class Registration, Dual Enrollment, and more! Please plan to attend with your student!

See you all tomorrow!

Mrs. Menges

Please be advised that the SCDE Privacy & Security - Directory & Military Information Opt Out Survey is now available. Please inform your parent community that the survey is available and request they complete the survey ONLY IF they intend for the student’s directory information to be withheld from release to entities such as higher education institutions and/or military recruiters, by logging into their PowerSchool parent portal account. Directions to provide to families are here. We appreciate your assistance! If you have additional questions please contact

Prom!

• When: April 23rd 7:00-11:00 pm
• Where: Dogwood Barn, Rock Hill, SC
• Who: Juniors and Seniors
• How: Prom tickets are on sale and they can be purchased at the school store. If you are bringing a date, please see Mrs. Krebs for a date application and further information.
• What do I wear: Formal attire is required!

Cap and Gown Delivery is this Wednesday, 9:30 am, at York Technical College. Contact Ms. Krebs or Ms. Born if you have any questions.

Monday: 3/28/22

• Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)

Tuesday: 3/29/22

• Beginning Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
  
• Softball Club Interest Meeting, 3:15 - 4:15 pm (Girard)
• Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)

Wednesday: 3/30/22

• Senior Cap/Gown Pick-up 9:30 AM @ York Technical College Campus
• Advanced Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
• Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)

Thursday: 3/31/22

• Beginning Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
• Track Meet @ Catawba Ridge High School

Friday: 4/1/22

• BPA Meeting: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Girard)

The Mission of Riverwalk Academy is to lead students to achieve through authentic project-based learning experiences with the knowledge and inquiry skills they need to succeed in life, college, and their future careers.

Email: info@riverwalkacademu.com
Website: https://www.riverwalkacademy.com/
Location: 5750 Mount Gallant Road, Rock Hill, SC, USA
Phone: (803) -327-8400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverwalkacademy
Twitter: @riverwalklions