Hello Pride!!
First, I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I spent the weekend at the Southern Christmas Show and at the craft festival in Chester getting a headstart on some holiday shopping. I also spent time with my family and some close friends relaxing and recharging before we start this busy week ahead.
I would like to share with you how honored and blessed I feel to be a part of the Riverwalk Academy Pride. When I made the decision to come to Riverwalk, the sense of community and the stories of how the school surrounds each child was what made me feel I was in the right place. I actually left my first interview and remarked to my husband what a profound sense of family the school had and what a hidden gem Riverwalk Academy is.
I believe that teaching and leading is a calling and we never know the impact we have on students both now and in the future. My own personal inspiration was my fifth grade teacher, Gloria Erby and I still am in contact with her today. In fact, there is a sign that hangs in my office that she gifted me when I graduated from the University of South Carolina in May with a Doctorate in Education. In these challenging times, it can be hard to find the motivation to persevere and continue to pursue your “why”. Teaching and leading (much like parenting) is hard work, it can be emotionally, mentally and physically challenging. There are days where you leave and you are empty, but you go home, load up on grace, mercy, compassion and faith and go back the next day to do it all again. Leading the next generation is a task of servant leadership, and servant leadership is sacrificial in nature- after all ,leaving a legacy is not easy. Just as Gloria Erby poured into me all those years ago (more than I care to count), it is now my turn to pour into the students and staff at Riverwalk Academy. One of my favorite songs is Rise Up by Andra Day and I love the following lines:
You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
Move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
The students and staff are my “why” and my reason to rise up and nobody journeys alone at Riverwalk, we work as a team. I hope that I am able to make a positive impact on the students and staff everyday. I am so blessed to have a place that I look forward to going to each and every day. Pride, let’s go move mountains!!
~Dr. Dempsey
Middle/High School Principal
We're asking that our families assist us in managing everyone's status by using this form when your child shows symptoms, tests positive, is a close contact, or is a household close contact. The data shared with us is kept confidential. After completing this form, you'll receive an email or phone call from Nurse Donna to discuss your child's specific isolation/quarantining plan.
Linked here is Riverwalk Academy's COVID Dashboard. This COVID dashboard is updated by 3:00 pm each school day. This dashboard can also be found on our website.
We've received a few questions about our dashboard, so I wanted to provide an explanation for everyone. Click here for an explanation of our COVID data.
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 can’t believe we are halfway through November already!!! I hope everyone saw the Riverwalk Academy Facebook post regarding World Kindness Day! I feel sure our students already perform at least one act of kindness every day. Personally, I see them hold doors for adults and students alike, share smiles, support each other when sad, work together for common goals, and fuel each other’s positive energy. I know their smiles, hugs and enthusiasm fuel me.
Three books I love that teach kindness are: What does it mean to be Kind? by Rana DiOrio, Try a Little Kindness by Henry Cole, and Right Now, I am Kind by Daniela Owen. At some point this school year, the students will all hear at least one of these stories.
This coming week I will continue to remind them of the first two rules of the Energy Bus: Create a Positive Vision and Fuel your Ride with Positive Energy. We will find the correlations between Positive Energy and the upcoming holiday Thanksgiving. The first graders have all completed their thankful for me turkeys and I have one more class to share this lesson with in Kindergarten. It is so rewarding to hear their responses when I ask them what they are thankful for - outside and within themselves. In fourth and fifth grade - they will find one word they want to work on so they can fuel their positive energy for the rest of the school year. It is my hope they will continue this tradition each year and continue to grow themselves well into their adulthood. I am also excited that one of my small groups is getting started this week. Two more will start after Thanksgiving Break.
If you ever feel your student would benefit from individual or small groups with me - please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Finally, and you will hear it time and again, I want to say thank you to all of you. I am thankful for my position at Riverwalk, thankful for all the students, staff and caregivers. It is a privilege and my honor to be the Elementary School Counselor. Thank you!
Hugs - Mrs. Carr
Hello everyone!
We are getting so close to Thanksgiving and I am EXCITED to eat some of my favorite foods and spend time with my friends and family. I’m thinking of each and every one of you as we come upon the holiday season. For some of you, it’s the best time of year and brings feelings of joy and happiness. For others, it can be a challenging time that pairs with mixed emotions for various reasons. Wherever you’re at, I am thinking of you, and hope that there’s something you can find joy in during the coming months. You all are cherished, and Riverwalk is thankful to have you be apart of our family! Please reach out if you have any needs this coming season.
Things to know:
-11th and 12th graders, York Tech is holding an Apprenticeship Fair THIS Tuesday, November 16th from 3:00PM-7:00PM in Building C. If you are interested in learning more about apprenticeship opportunities in the area, please stop by and check it out!
-10th grade families, I sent out an email Friday that included a sign up for IGP (individualized graduation plan) meetings. Please select a sign up time so that we can have this important meeting regarding your student!
-As always, email me if needed at cmenges@riverwalkacademy.com
Let’s make this week a great one!
Ms. Menges
Dublin, London, and Paris Travel Questions
Is your student enrolled for the Dublin, London, and Paris trip this coming April? Many questions have come up in the past few weeks concerning COVID-19 and international travel. At the present time, the trip is still scheduled, as planned; however, if you have any questions you feel you need answered, please email rloyst@riverwalkacademy.com. He's working with EFTours to address any concerns you may have on an individual basis.
Still interested in traveling with the school this Spring Break? There's still time to enroll! Email rloyst@riverwalkacademy.com for more info.
Week Ahead
Monday: 11/15
- Advanced Band Practice 3:00pm-4:00pm
- Boys JV Basketball Practice 3:30pm-5:00pm
Tuesday:11/16
- Beginner Band Practice 3:00pm-4:00pm
- Apprenticeship Fair @ YTC 3:00pm-7:00pm
- Cheer Practice 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Boy's JV Basketball Practice 3:30pm-5:00pm
- Board Meeting 6:30pm
Wednesday: 11/17
- Advanced Band Practice 3:00pm-4:30pm
- Boys JV Basketball Practice 3:30pm-5:00pm
- Spirit Night at Empire Pizza (Newport) 4:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday: 11/18
- Beginner Band Practice 3:00pm-4:00pm
- Cheer Practice 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Boys JV Basketball Practice 3:30pm-5:00pm
- Beta Club Induction 6:00pm-7:00pm
Friday: 11/19
- BPA Meeting 12:30pm
Connect with Us
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