Weekly News & Updates

September 11, 2022

Administration

Dr. Robert Compton

Head of School

Ms. Erica McCray

Elementary Principal

Dr. Christina Dempsey

Secondary Principal

6 - 9

Mr. Richard Ball

Secondary Principal

10 - 12

Ms. Dwana Tillman

Assistant Principal

K - 9

Other Contacts

Ms. Kathryn Carr
School Counselor
K - 6

Ms. Caroline Menges
School Counselor
7 - 12

Ms. Christine BornProgram Coordinator/ College & Career Counselor
10 - 12

Mr. Chris Carroll
Dean of Students

Ms. Shenelle Mabey
Student Information

Ms. Katie Robinson
Front Office

Nurse Donna
School Nurse

Ms. Kelly Burns
Food Services
K - 9

Happy Sunday, Pride!

I hope each of you are doing well and that you and your family were able to spend time together, resting and relaxing. 

Before I get to the purpose of this week's letter, I'd like to ask for 3 minutes of your time to give us feedback on household/parenting topics that you'd be interested in learning more about. The survey can be found by clicking here. 

A few weeks back I mentioned that I share a daily inspirational quote with our staff. It's just a little pick-me-up to start the day. There was a quote a few days back that really caused a positive reaction from our staff.

The quote is from Jimmy Casas, a 22-year principal and  2013 National Principal of the Year.  

"Get used to the fact that not everything always goes as planned. Life is unpredictable. People will disappoint us. How we conduct ourselves in these moments will either inspire or deflate others. Let’s allow them to recover from their mistakes."

This quote has so many applications to life and it works from so many different levels (no matter the chair we sit in).  

For educators, I'd ask them to replace the word "people" with students or colleagues or even administrators.

For parents, swap out the words people with "your child(ren)."

Did the quote change for you when you swapped out a specific noun for the word people?  Should it matter?

Just some thoughts to start your week.

Have a great week, Lions!

In Strength and Blessings,

~Dr. Compton

Riverwalk Academy App

Download our Riverwalk Academy app to see updates, announcements, and other resource:

Photo of the Week
Landon (1st) is dressed for success for hi yearbook photo. 

Attractions Book Fundraiser Kickoff EXTENDED!

We have extended the fundraiser to  Tuesday the 13th. Hurry and get your orders in while supplies last!

The preferred payment method is EZPay (info on envelope)

If there are any questions about the fundraiser please reach out to Ms. Davis - sdavis@riverwalkacademy.com 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Riverwalk PTO
Riverwalk Academy's Parent Teacher Organization is an organization committed to the success of Riverwalk Academy, by working together with families and students to help provide our schools educational needs by supporting teachers and staff. 

Tell us a little about yourself! Please fill out this survey and let us know how you want to be involved in the PTO this year. For example, volunteering, donating, both, or even taking on a leadership role. We would love to hear from you!

PTO Survey

120661449_10159323481481535_6006175005583354272_o-alc-768x768 image

Donate Instruments to Our Band

Please consider donating any instruments you have to the Riverwalk Academy band. If you have any further questions, please reach out to Mr. Hosenfeld.

Email Mr. Hosenfeld

School Lunches (K - 9th Grade)
 
The new menu for September has been uploaded to our website. Beginning this month, our monthly School Nutrition Council will be announced and more information will go home with the selected students. 

Lunch Menu

ImageForNews_721710_16599712842538987 image

COVID

Pride, we adjusted our COVID-related protocols to be more inline with the latest DHEC recommendations (which were updated on 8/15/22). The latest DHEC guidance can be found here.

If your child tests positive for COVID, please use this form to communicate this to Nurse Donna. If you have any COVDI-related questions, please contact Nurse Donna.

A Note from Ms. McCray

 
Hello Pride,

We are so proud of your students progress and their hard work. The students are doing an amazing job and we appreciate their positive attitude each day. Thank you parents for your support and encouraging your student to always do their best.

By now your child should have received their progress reports for the first quarter. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher.

Again thank you for your support, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me.

Erica McCray

Riverwalk Academy Girls on the Run

Riverwalk Academy Let Me Run Boys

Elementary Yearbooks
﻿Just wanted you to know that you can go ahead and purchase the yearbook for this school year if you want to get a head start.

Order by 9/16/2022 to save $5! The cost is $25.  

Order Now

A Note from Dr. Dempsey

        
Hello PRIDE!! Thank you for yet another great week!! This week you should have received a Progress Report for the first 4.5 weeks of school. Please review this with your student and check Powerschool for any work that needs to be completed. One of my goals this year is to have a Parent 101 with sessions regarding different topics related to our school community, please be on the lookout for this later next week.

Dr. Christy Dempsey

A Note from Ms. Menges

        
Happy Sunday!

It is finally September which means Fall is really going to be kicking in soon. I am ready for things to start cooling down. Pumpkin spice, apple picking, sweaters, and football, I'm pumped! With fall there also comes other things too...ACT, SAT, and PSAT testing...really getting into the meat of classes...red ribbon week...and lots of athletic events. Our school has a lot going on and I'm proud of all that is being accomplished. Let's look forward to what's on the agenda for this coming week.

Things to know:
-8th grade students received PSAT forms last week. If yours did not make it home, I will attach it here. It must be returned by September 12th with payment on the school store for your student to participate.

PSAT Selection Form

Quote of the Week: 
"We are repeatedly what we do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
-Aristotle

Sincerely,
Ms. Menges

Middle/High Yearbook
Just wanted you to know that you can go ahead and purchase the yearbook for this school year if you want to get a head start.

Order Now

RiverTech Students

(a catchy-name for our 10th-12th grade students)

A Note from Mr. Ball

        
Hello PRIDE.

We have had another great week at “RiverTech.” We have several events coming up for our students to help them as they prepare for success in high school and beyond. Please encourage your students to take advantage of these opportunities. In addition to our newsletter you can see what is being offered on the Padlet.

Just a reminder that September is School Attendance Awareness Month. Student attendance is directly correlated with student achievement. I encourage our students to Be here…Be present…Be engaged. At the high school level, where classes are offered on a semester basis, students are only allowed 5 absences (excused or unexcused) in a class. Any absences beyond those 5 will require students to attend make-up sessions in order to receive credit for the course.

Progress reports came home with your student this week. I encourage you to go over the progress report with your student to ensure they are making academic progress in their classes. If you have questions regarding your Childs grades, please reach out to their teacher to see how we can all work together to ensure your child success.

Dual Enrollment Students

We're on the back half of your first set of York Tech courses! Please be sure to check your grades in D2L and reach out to professors and tutors if you need extra help.

Your mandatory weekly check-ins are focused on making sure you are in a good place with your school work, checking in to see how you're feeling in general with the workload, and preparing for classes for the 2nd 8 weeks of the fall semester. These courses need to be finalized before the end of September and classes are filling up quickly! If you haven't attended your weekly check-in lately, reach out to Mrs. Born ASAP!Mrs. Born is officially virtual for the remainder of the school year. She will be on campus every other Monday, but if you need anything, please email her! York Tech student check-ins will meet through Google Meets each week. 

﻿Mrs. Born will create a repeating calendar event for you that includes your Google Meets link for your check-ins. Remember, you have the same check-in day and time until October 8th when new classes begin!

College Visit Survey: 11th and 12th grade students, if you are interested in attending college visits with Riverwalk this year, please take this survey to indicate the schools you would like to visit!

Winthrop University

        
Winthrop University will be visiting the RiverTech space in the D Building on Monday, September 26th at 9:00 AM (NEW TIME!). If you are interested in attending the meeting with the Winthrop Representative, please click here to save your spot!

        
10th and 11th Grade York Tech students: 

10th and 11th Grade Families: Forms and emails were sent home two weeks ago regarding the PSAT on October 12th! Students who are interested in taking the PSAT should have turned their interest form in by Friday, Sept. 2nd. If your student is interested but has not turned in a form, please reach out to Mrs. Born ASAP. 

﻿The last day is September 13th to save your spot! More information about the day of the PSAT will be sent later in September. Payments can be made at the Riverwalk School Store.

        
12th Grade York Tech students: 

Forms and emails were sent home two weeks ago regarding the fall SAT and ACT tests with Riverwalk. If your senior is interested in taking the SAT and/or ACT with Riverwalk, forms should have been turned in by Friday, Sept. 2nd. It is too late for the ACT, but if your student is interested in the SAT but has not turned in a form, please reach out to Mrs. Born ASAP. 

The last day is September 13th to save your seat! More information about the day of the assessments will be sent later in September. Payments can be made at the Riverwalk School Store.

The Works
Riverwalk Academy 10th-12th grade students have been invited to apply for The Works career exploration program for the fall! Click here to learn more about this opportunity. Space is very limited, so reach out to Mrs. Born quickly if you're interested!

Senior Announcements

Seniors! Don't forget to check the Riverwalk Academy Padlet daily for updates on scholarships. Opportunities are uploaded frequently, so don't miss your chance to earn some cash for college!

College Application Session
Here is your reminder that the College Application Session is Friday, Sept. 16th!  Questions should be directed to Ms. Born.

PadLet Don't forget to check the Riverwalk Academy Padlet daily for updates on scholarships. Opportunities are uploaded frequently, so don't miss your chance to earn some cash for college!

Padlet

Middle/ High Yearbook
Just wanted you to know that you can go ahead and purchase the yearbook for this school year if you want to get a head start.
﻿
Order by 9/16/2022 to save $10! The cost is $25. 

Order Now

Want to learn more about driver safety?

Teen Driver Safety Event

Fall Sports for all 7th - 12th Grade Students

If you have any questions about playing sports for Riverwalk, please contact the coach or contact our Athletic Director, Coach Ball.

The athletes and coaches would love to see you at their athletic competitions. Please check your calendar and try to make it out to their events.

This weeks schedule:

September 13:

Swimming @ FMAC vs Fort Mill and NaFo - 6:00

September 15:

Swimming @ RHAC vs South Pointe - 6:00
Cross Country @ YPA - 5:00

Our fall athletic fundraiser kick off meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 13, at 4:00 in the multi-purpose room at Riverwalk’s main campus. This meeting is for parents and athletes as we will have a representative from Vertical Raise on campus to answer questions and help set up accounts. The funds from the fundraiser will be used across the athletic program to help offset the cost of uniforms, equipment, travel, etc.

The Riverwalk Athletic program will have a spirit night at Whit’s in Fort Mill on Thursday, September 22. Whit’s has committed 10% of all sales for the day to our athletic program. Please plan to visit Whits on the 22nd! Invite your friends and family to join you as you help support Riverwalk Academy.

Winter sports are right around the corner. If you are interested in playing sports in the winter or spring you need to make sure you get an athletic physical and upload information into PlanetHs before competing. If you have any questions please contact Mr. Ball at rball@riverwalkacademy.com or 803-981-7061.

Currently Riverwalk Academy offers boys basketball in the winter. Because we do not offer girls basketball at this time, our female athletes are able to tryout for the school in which they are zoned for. However, I do want to see what the interest level is among our female athletes to start a girls basketball program. Please take time to complete this survey if you are interested in competing in girls basketball.https://forms.gle/afyYcaQ9wxExEd697

Facebook - Riverwalk Academy Athletics

Instagram - riverwalk_athletics

Twitter - @riverwalklions1

Monday: 9/12/22
Volleyball Game @ Chester - 5:00 pm

Tuesday: 9/13/22
Swimming @ FMAC vs NFD - 6:00 pm

Wednesday: 9/14/22
No Events Scheduled

Thursday: 9/15/22
Cross Country Meet vs. YPA - 5:00 pm
Swimming @ RHAC vs SOP - 6:00 pm

Friday: 9/16/22
No Events Scheduled

Pride Believe. Pride Achieve.

Riverwalk Academy | Contact Us | 