Riverwalk Roar

Happy Sunday, Lions!

I’m excited! Not because the weather is slowly turning to fall or because I had a great weekend with my family. I’m excited because something exciting and transformative is taking place inside Riverwalk Academy. In previous weeks, I’ve referenced some of the behind the scene things that we’re working on to make Riverwalk Academy truly the place to be.

I was reading an article over the weekend and came across this quote: The act of change is naturally uncomfortable because it is a divergence from what is known. But that is also known as “growth”.

As weird as it sounds, uncomfortable-ness is what’s going on behind the scenes. Our teachers are being pushed outside of their comfort zones as it relates to their instructional practices and thinking. The same uncomfortable-ness is happening for our administrators and support staff. We’re facing our uncomfortable truths head-on. When things go well, we try to dissect our actions to determine what led to our success. Likewise, when things do not go well, or when they do not go as planned, we do the same thing. Every time we want to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, we first start by holding up a mirror.

Author Duane Cummings says, “you can tell someone something all day long, but they must discover it for themselves if there's going to be real change. It’s called ‘holding up a mirror’. A person will begin to reflect on his or her words and actions when you ‘hold up a mirror’ because that's what a mirror does. When the person takes time to reflect, it makes him or her more cognizant and aware.”

You all would be proud to hear the discussions, thoughts, and comments that are being made by our team of outstanding educators. Like I mentioned, change is uncomfortable. So some of our early discussions were very uncomfortable..

Something transformative is slowly starting to emerge now that the dust is settling.

Lions, as you think about this week, think about something you’ve wanted to improve or bring more clarity to. Try holding up a mirror as it relates to the “thing” you’ve thought about. The mirror should help you see yourself for who you are and it can help you discover “what it is,” for yourself that needs to change. Discovering what “it” is, is the prerequisite needed for you to embrace the change.

Have a great week and make sure you see the below announcement about Red Ribbon Week.

In Strength and Blessings,

~Dr. Compton

This week's photo is of Noah Goins (sr) who was recognized during Tuesday's board meeting for being named a Commended Student by the National Merit® Scholarship Program.

Monday, October 25th - Friday, October 29th we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week at Riverwalk Academy. This week was created to teach students about living a healthy life, saying no to drugs, and understanding the importance of medication, and the safety revolving around it. The flyer attached explains the spirit week theme days.

Along with the other activities this week all grades will participate in a door decorating contest. Mrs. Andrychowski will judge the doors based on originality, neatness, and this year's theme "Drug Free Looks Like Me".

Elementary:

• Doors must be completed for judging by 12 p.m. on Friday Oct. 29th.
• Each pod is responsible for their own decorating materials.
• Do not use materials that will damage doors, office walls, or lobby areas.
• No nails, tacks, or staples may be used and all adhesives used must be removable.
• Have fun and show off what it looks like to be drug free in your grade!

Middle/High:

• Doors must be completed for judging by 2 p.m. on Tuesday Oct. 26th.
• Each class is responsible for their own decorating materials.
• Do not use materials that will damage doors, office walls, or lobby areas.
• No nails, tacks, or staples may be used and all adhesives used must be removable.
• First place will receive 500 points, second place will receive 250 points, and third place will receive 100 points towards the Battle Of The Mod Challenge.
  
• Have fun and show off what it looks like to be drug free in your grade!

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.

Help support the Riverwalk Cross Country team and feed your friends & family at the same time!

Moe’s Southwest Grill will be delivering to Riverwalk Academy on Wednesday, November 3rd from 3:30-5pm.

Order and pay online in advance, drive up to the front of the school, and we will put the order into your car and off you go.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY: Tue. November 2nd by 4:00PM

To preorder, visit: https://form.jotform.com/212843998369172

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.

Family Literacy Night was scheduled for this week but due to a high chance of rain the event will be postponed until next Thursday, November 4th from 5:00pm-7:00pm. This will be a night where parents and their children will be given a time, a place, and some helpful guidelines from an experienced teacher to write, read, and share their ideas. The purpose is to read for individual enjoyment and build a stronger sense of reading as a benefit to the family and to the school community. The event will be hosted on the Riverwalk Academy Campus on

For more information, please reach out to Ms. Christman at achristman@riverwalkacademy.com.

This week in my article, I wanted to park my Energy Bus and focus on the theme of this week. Red Ribbon Week to most students is a way to have fun dressing in different ways, wearing crazy hair and being a book character or superhero for a day. They, unfortunately, miss the true purpose of the week. In the past I have done lessons involving red ribbon week and why we have it each year. These lessons are more difficult than they sound - children get confused as to what a drug is and upset because their parents smoke cigarettes, some children are triggered by talk of drugs and alcohol because of family trauma. So this year, I decided not to go into the classrooms to talk about it, but to continue my Energy Bus lessons. However, I wanted to give the parents a small history of Red Ribbon Week and its true purpose. Personally, I feel it is something to be handled in the students’ homes, with the parents or guardians choosing how to teach it. If you would like more resources to share with your students, please reach out to me. I understand it may be difficult and I am here to help and support you always.

Red Ribbon Week was started after the death of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who in 1985 was brutally tortured and murdered by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. After his death, his friends and colleagues began wearing red ribbons to honor his memory and his fight to make America safe for its children. National Red Ribbon Week was officially created in 1988. Yearly, from October 23 to October 31, schools across the country share the message of living healthy and drug free. For more information, there is a National Red Ribbon Week website: https://www.redribbon.org/

The 2021 National Red Ribbon Week Theme, Drug Free Looks Like Me™. The theme was created by Marin Wurst, a 7th grader at Solon Middle School in Solon, Ohio, the theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free!

Celebrate Red Ribbon Week: 5 Tips for Talking to Elementary Students About Healthy Habits

1. Talk About Habits. Kick off your Red Ribbon Week wellness discussions by talking to your students about what habits actually are. ...

2. Model a Healthy Diet. ...

3. Focus on Staying Active. ...

4. Teach Strategies for Stress Management. ...

5. Unplug.

HAVE A FABULOUS WEEK! HUGS!

7th and 8th Grade Families,

On Friday, you should have received our "weekly" 7th or 8th grade newsletter. These newsletters can also be viewed by clicking the following links:

• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade

Monday, October 25th - Friday, October 29th we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week.

The Red Ribbon Week Challenge is a week of challenges for middle and high school students to participate in each day to raise awareness for Red Ribbon Week. These teams and challenges will occur in FIRST BLOCK. This week was created to teach students about living a healthy life, saying no to drugs, and understanding the importance of medication, and the safety revolving around it. Have fun and be creative! The winners at the end of the week will receive something fun for their class!

For more information please reach out to Ms. Menges at cmenges@riverwalkacademy.com or Ms. Goedhart at kgoedhart@riverwalkacademy.com.

During the week of Monday, October 25th - Friday, October 29th we will also be celebrating Red Ribbon Week with a themed Spirit Week. See the flyer attached for the spirit week theme days.

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.

11th and 12th Grade students, we're looking for one male and one female to represent you on our student council. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Manigault for information about running for these elected options.

Cross Country

• 10/25/21 Regional Championship Meet @ McBee 5:00pm-6:30pm

Volleyball

• 10/25/21 Volleyball Banquet @ Riverwalk Academy 4:30pm-5:30pm

Cheer

• 10/31/21 Competitive Cheer State JV Championships @ Colonial Life Arena, Columbia
  

Monday: 10/25

• Red Ribbon Week: "Join the Fight Against Drugs” Launch the week by wearing Camo
• Volleyball Banquet 4:30pm-5:30pm

• Cross Country Regional Championship Meet @ McBee 5:00pm-6:30pm
• Cheerleading Practice 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Tuesday:10/26

• Red Ribbon Week: "Put a Sock on Drugs" Wear your crazy socks
  
• Cross Country Practice 3:15pm-4:30pm
• Cheerleading Practice 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Wednesday: 10/27

• Red Ribbon Week: "Put a Cap on Drugs" Wear your favorite hat/rock some crazy hair
  
• Cross Country practice 3:15pm-4:30pm
• Cheer Practice: 3:30pm-5:00pm

Thursday: 10/28

• Red Ribbon Week: "Be on a Drug-Free Team" Wear your favorite team shirt
  
• Cross Country Practice 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
• Cheerleading Practice 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
• SAT @ York Tech 8:30am-12:30pm

Friday: 10/29

• Red Ribbon Week: "Drug Free Looks Like Me" Dress up like your favorite superhero/book character
  
• BPA Meeting 12:30pm
• Fall Sports & Red Ribbon Week Pep Rally 10:00am-11:00am
  

Saturday: 10/30

• Competitive Cheer State JV Championships @ Colonial Life Arena, Columbia
  

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