Riverwalk Roar

Happy Sunday, Pride!

I hope each of you was able to spend some time outside this weekend. I don't think we could have asked for any better weather. I was looking ahead at the calendar and guess what, we're only 3 weeks (15 school days) away from Spring Break. As a reminder, we're on break from April 11th - 18th (it's the 5 days, plus the following Monday). Students will return from Spring Break on Tuesday, the 19th. One more "spring break" reminder, the Friday before (8th) is an early release day (which is different from our typical Friday). We'll release at 11:05 am (elem only) and 11:30 am (middle/high and their elem siblings).

I have a favor that I'd like to ask (will explain it below). One of the things that I believe strongly in is the power of positive relationships. I believe that this is something that is a "glow" for Riverwalk Academy. It's my goal that every student feels connected to multiple staff members. Every student deserves to have a champion . . . someone who is intentional about doing whatever it takes to help each of them become their personal best . . . someone who values their talents and their voices.

So here is my favor. I'd like for you to ask your student about their champion. 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.

Pride, I can't wait to read (and share) your responses with your student's champion.

Have a great week!

In Strength and Blessings,

~Dr. Compton

This week's photo of the week was taken on Wednesday when we made a surprise announcement to the staff that Ms. Long (elementary STEM teacher), Ms. Lahr (middle school social studies teacher), and Ms. Kunde (high school math teacher) were named as our 2022 Teachers of the Year. You can read more about them by clicking here.

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

Pride, let’s #RockOurSocks on Monday to support #WorldDownSyndromeDay.

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,

We are on the home stretch to the end of the year. Meetings for me now revolve around end of the year celebrations, end of the year testing and (WOW) our first graduating class. Obviously, the celebrations are much more fun to talk about and plan for than testing. I do hope all of you received your testing information last Wednesday, with your student’s report card. If you didn’t, the information will be repeated in these newsletters and will be posted on our website. As always, you can always email me with any questions. If you are concerned about your student experiencing test anxiety, please let me know so I can talk to them, but I will be covering this topic in the testing grades prior to testing.

This month, I am still reading Pete the Cat and the Magic Sunglasses with the lower grades and doing challenges regarding Growth Mindset with the upper grades. I love using different voices for all the friends Pete runs into and hearing the laughter and reactions of the children. It has been very rewarding to see the upper grades enjoy my lessons as well. It is very difficult to entertain the video game generation that I deal with now. Some of these challenges take me back to decoding “detective” type games I got from my cereal boxes in my youth and to have the technology driven children enjoy them is extra rewarding. Remember to ask your students about my lessons, if possible.

Please make sure to get your children to stop and smell the flowers and do “old school” type activities in and outside the house. It may take a bit of extra effort sometimes, but the return on your investment is priceless.

Have a fabulous week!

Hugs,

Mrs. Carr

Hello Everyone!

Happy Sunday and yay for warm weather this weekend. Last week was so fun with St. Patrick's day and all the leprechaun shenanigans going on. I forgot all the hype that goes on with St. Patrick's Day when you work in a school. I don't think I've celebrated St. Patrick's Day that much in a long time. I think from here on out in the school year, things are going to be pretty busy with all of the events and happenings to end out the year. It will be tiring, but so much fun! Thankfully we will have a little break with Spring Break in the middle there as well. Parents as we will have lots of things in the coming weeks, please read the updates below each week and note the important points that relate to you and your student.

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.

• 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.

• 10th grade families, stay tuned for an email regarding a "Moving up to York Tech" meeting sometime in April. This meeting will cover all things York Tech, Class Registration, Dual Enrollment, and more!

• 11th graders, the regular ACT is happening Tuesday, the 22nd first thing in the morning at York Tech, please do not be late for testing.

• 11th graders and 12th grade early graduates, The ACT Workkeys (THIS IS DIFFERENT) will be Friday the 25th for ALL 11th graders and 12th graders graduating early. All students must take the Workkeys test to graduate high school. This test will be held at Riverwalk.

Reach out if you have any questions or concerns!

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

• 11th graders, the regular ACT is happening Tuesday, the 22nd first thing in the morning at York Tech, please do not be late for testing.

• 11th graders and 12th grade early graduates, The ACT Workkeys (THIS IS DIFFERENT) will be Friday the 25th for ALL 11th graders and 12th graders graduating early. All students must take the Workkeys test to graduate high school. This test will be held at Riverwalk.

Reach out if you have any questions or concerns!

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!

Monday: 3/21/22

• Rock Your Socks
• Track Meet @ York High School (Coach Arizmendi)
  

Tuesday: 3/22/22

• Beginning Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
  
• Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)

Wednesday: 3/23/22

• Advanced Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
• Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)

Thursday: 3/24/22

• Beginning Band, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
• Student Council Meeting 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm (Manigault)
• Track Practice: 3:15 - 4:45 pm (Coach Arizmendi)

Friday: 3/25/22

• 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