The Riverwalk Roar
November 3, 2019
Note from Dr. Compton
Pride,
We had a great week at Riverwalk Academy. Report cards went home on Wednesday and I hope what you saw on the actual report card came at no surprise. Our teachers are making an effort to keep their grades updated in the Parent Portal, which is where you go to have a real-time look at your child's class progress.
With the release of the first quarter report card will be the announcement of the middle school and high school honor roll students. We released the high school list on Thursday and we'll release the middle school list on Monday. Did you know that 38% of our middle school students earned all A's and B's and that 22% of our high school students earned the same?
We also took time on Friday to celebrate 19 elementary students who were recognized as our October PAWSitively Terrific Kids. This Friday we'll be announcing our September (a little late) and October Middle School and High School student of the month. This is a new award program that we're starting.
Our children's success can lead us to some crazy thinking. How should we, as parents and teachers, respond when our kids are (and aren't) recognized?
1. Know that we make a difference... Great kids come from great families. What is modeled at home is displayed at school by our kids. Parents and teachers have a huge influence on kids knowing and doing what is right and wrong. We should never underestimate the power of our words and example in the lives of our children.
2. ...to a point. Sometimes, we take too much credit for their success and too much blame for their failure. Despite difficult circumstances, some kids turn out great. Despite the best of home situations, some kids don't. Martha and I know there were times when our kids' accomplishments (and failures) were due to their own effort and choices. There were other times when their win was due to the support from other adults in their lives. It takes all of us (kids included) for them to be successful. #PowerOfThePride
3. Everyone doesn't win an award all the time. We should help our children know that they don't get a trophy just for showing up. When we do the right thing the right way each day, we have a better life and avoid painful consequences. There is inherent value in making wise choices. We don't always get a reward for that. Our kids should want to do their best so they will know the inner satisfaction of doing a good job. As a parent, this is an easy say and a hard do but there is a time when we want these little people to become big people who don't depend on others to know if they are doing well. We want them to know that for themselves.
4. Beware of "performance-based acceptance." This is when we believe we are OK only when we are winning or successful. Adults can easily tie their identity to their job performance (or their children's performance). Kids can think they are OK only when they get good grades or play well on the field or stage. This kind of thinking leads us to a dangerous place. We want our children to know they are important and valued simply because they are our children. If they do well or they don't, they need to know that we still love them. Identity should never be linked to performance.
At Riverwalk Academy, we want to build great kids of great character who can stand on their own whether they are "winning" or "losing" on any given day. Kids can do that when they see the adults in their lives modeling that for them.
Pride, let's have another outstanding week!
~Dr. Compton
This Week's Newsletter Photo
The 3rd-Grade team won this year's Literacy-Based Halloweeen Staff Costume Contest. While most think of the movie, Jurassic Park, it's based on a book written by Michael Crichton.
Book Fair
The Scholastic. Book Fair is this week (more information below). If you are able to help donate some of your time to help our book fair run smoothly, please do so by signing up at this link.
Also, check out the cash/check-free eWallet option. More information about it is found below.
Lion Artists of the Week (picked by Dr. Compton's daughters)
Check out Riverwalk Academy's online art gallery at Artsonia. Artsonia is the World's Largest Student Art Museum. Yet it's so much more than that! It's a free, safe, educational program designed to connect parents and families with their child's creative activities at school.
Desert Landscape
Cambri Moss, 5th Grade
One Point Perspective Mountain Landscape
Reading to our Cubs
Make sure you check out our new weekly series, Reading to our Cubs. We release these videos each Sunday at 7:00 pm on Facebook. Tonight's story is sure to be a treat.
Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair visits Riverwalk Academy this week. Grade levels will get the chance to preview the books on Monday and they'll have time each week to make their purchases.
One fairly new feature of the Scholastic Book Fairs is their eWallet. Parents can log onto the Scholastic website and pre-load funds with no additional fees. When the student shops at the bookfair and goes to check out, they just tell the cashier that their parents have already paid. Any unspent funds are returned after the bookfair. The best thing of all, it's 100% free. To learn more or to add funds for your child, click here.
Parents, if you would like to help volunteer at the bookfair, please sign-up at this link.
Lost and Found Items To Be Donated Friday
Lost and Found Items To Be Donated Friday
Student Drivers
10th grade students may be eligible to drive/park at Riverwalk Academy. Click here to view the student parking requirements. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Graham.
- Book Fair Open to Classes
- Cross Country Practice @ 3:15 pm
Tuesday (11/5)
- Book Fair @ 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
- Marathon Kids (Yellow Group) 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
- Cross Country Practice @ 3:15 pm
Wednesday (11/6)
- Book Fair @ 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
- Cross Country Practice @ 3:15 pm
Thursday (11/7)
- Book Fair @ 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
- Marathon Kids (Green Group) 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
- Cross Country Practice @ 3:15 pm
Friday (11/8)
- Book Fair @ 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Saturday (11/9)
- Girls Cross Country A/AA Region meet @ 5:00 pm in Camden, SC
The Pride on Parade
Each week, we'll share photos of members of our Pride wearing their school gear out in the community. If you have any photos to share, please send them, along with a short description, to Dr. Compton.
This week's picture is of Campbell Compton, Dr. Compton's daughter, who attended Saturday's community event at the Winthrop Coliseum. Part of the event was a community basketball game where the proceeds went to support Rock Hill's Miracle Park. While she and I were there, we ran into Ms. Baumeister, 2nd-grade teacher, and her fiancée Zack. Campbell also got to meet Coach Kelsey, the men's basketball head coach.
About Us
Email: info@riverwalkacademy.com
Website: www.riverwalkacademy.com
Location: 5750 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC, USA
Phone: 8033278400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverwalkacademy
Twitter: @RiverwalkLions