Pride,
I hope each of you are doing well and staying warm over this cold and rainy Sunday. I spent the last half of last week participating in the SC Department of Education's (SCDE) School Leadership Executive Institute (SLEI). The SCDE partners with the the Truist Leadership Institute in Greensboro to conduct the training. While it's never easy to miss a day of school (much less 3 days), it was time well spent and I'm excited to get back to school on Monday.
On my drive home on Friday, I was listening to Brené Brown's new book, Atlas of the Heart. I'm a big fan on Brené and her work on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. In her latest book, she explores 87 different emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human and walks through a new framework for cultivating meaningful connection.
I'll probably spend a few weeks discussing some of the "ah-ha's" that I have as I continue to listen/read her book. For today, I want to share a few thoughts about the emotion of wonder.
To wonder means to have a desire or be curious to know something.
Wondering about wonder (no pun intended) got me thinking about the connection between "wonder" and "PBL." I often see an "I wonder" board when I walk into many of our classrooms. I love when I see this because I know I'm walking into a classroom that is nurturing our students' curiosity. Clearly, there is a link between PBL and having an "I wonder" mindset. Wonder inspires the wish to understand. Wonder fuels our passion for exploration and learning, for curiosity and adventure.
Try thinking back to your younger self and a time when you experienced the joy of wonder. What excited you to take that deep dive to learn more about this thing you wondered about? I bet you can still recall the specifics of what your wonder led you to. Isn't amazing that after all these years you can remember these specifics about something from your childhood?
I found this quote from author Rachel Carson, who said, "If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life."
As adults, it's important that we not only encourage this type of thinking in our children, but that we also try to find the time to do this for ourselves.
I'd like to leave you with a quote from Albert Einstein who said, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
I can't speak for everyone, but for me, I'm choosing to keep my eyes open.
Have a great week, Lions!
In Strength and Blessings,
~Dr. Compton
Last week (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 all,
It has been a busy four day week. The weeks after a short respite are always busy and full of energy. It was also spirit week so everyone had even more energy. Although I am called the Elementary counselor, I still can’t let go of the big kids I have watched grow up this past five years. Thus, when I had the opportunity to attend the High School dance that took place on Friday evening, I dressed up and went. I love seeing the girls dressed so beautifully and the boys all looked very handsome. It was also great to have a bit of “normal” back in the school. Shout out to the BPA crew and Mrs. Girard for making it happen.
This week is Read Across America! I look forward to seeing more fabulous creative outfits. Most of the classes have finished decorating their book cover themed doors - but they have also gone beyond the doors and decorated the walls and ceilings as well. It is gorgeous! I hope you all have the opportunity to see them all - it will take some creative photography to envelop all they have done! I am sure our Kayla Bumgarner is up to the task.
Finally, I would love to thank all of you, our PRIDE family, for making us the Most Loved Charter school again this year and for our high percentage of returning students/families and our growing waitlist. I continue to be honored to be part of such a loving, caring and supportive school community.
Have a fabulous week!
Hugs,
Mrs. Carr
Happy Sunday!
I am loving this warm(er) weather that we have been having and can't wait for more of it this week. I hope you all were able to spend some time outside this weekend and get some fresh air! I am excited that our high schoolers were able to have a dance on Friday night. I was not able to make it there, but I cannot wait to hear all about it from our students. I love being a part of this year of "The Tradition Starts Now." I know it can seem unorganized at times and you can't always know what to expect, but we are working hard to build up these experiences for our students. We want all of our students to graduate from Riverwalk with tons of memories they can look back on. I look forward to the things to come, especially for our seniors, to build the memories they can take with them to their next journey! Here's what we have for this coming week...
Things to know:
- 9th and 10th graders, I have completed most IGP meetings with students, but will work on finishing those up in the next couple of weeks! I may pull your student during the day to have these meetings.
- -High School Students, make sure you're checking the Padlet with Riverwalk updates and things to know including scholarship opportunities, sports practices, and more!
Reach out if you have any questions!
Mrs. Menges
10th Graders, please get your ring orders in soon so they'll arrive in time for Ring Ceremony. Visit jostens.com for more information. Questions should be directed to Ms. Born.
Week Ahead
Monday: 2/28/22
- Beta Club Cereal Drive
- K - 5 Read Across America Spirit Day: Dress Like Your Future Career
Tuesday: 3/1/22
- Beta Club Cereal Drive
- K - 5 Read Across America Spirit Day: Read Your Shirt Day
- Beginning Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
- Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)
Wednesday: 3/2/22
- Beta Club Cereal Drive
- K - 5 Read Across America Spirit Day: Pajama Day
- Advanced Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
- Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)
Thursday: 3/3/22
- Beta Club Cereal Drive
- K - 5 Read Across America Spirit Day: Active Wear Day
- Beginning Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
- Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)
Friday: 3/4/22
- Beta Club Cereal Drive
- K - 5 Read Across America Spirit Day: Book Character Day
- Power O' The Pride Shirt Ordering Deadline
- BPA Meeting: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Girard)
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