The Riverwalk Roar
December 8, 2019
Note from Dr. Compton
Pride,
I've been grinning ear to ear since Friday evening (go ahead and insert your Buddy the Elf "Smiling is my favorite" joke here). For those of you who were lucky enough to attend the Rock Hill Christmasville parade on Friday, you were treated to the sights and sounds of the Riverwalk Academy marching band and color guard.
If you're thinking to yourself, "I didn't know that Riverwalk Academy has a marching band and color guard," don't worry, neither group existed until last week. That's right, what you saw on Friday happened thanks to the vision and determination of a few staff and these students. Thanks to Mr. Monty Johnston, we've had a small band for a year. As we met two weeks ago about the parade, he pitched the idea of "why not." "Why not have these students march," he asked. He purchased three shoulder drum kits that arrived last week and just like that, our marching band was formed.
If we have a marching band, then we need to have a color guard. This idea was mentioned to Ms. McConnell, Ms. Taylor, and Ms. Tillman the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Then 4 days before the parade, the students met for the first time and like magic, we had a color guard.
I commend these staff and students for what they were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. My phone was filled with texts and messages from friends who saw Riverwalk in the parade. They were in awe when I told them the backstory of how both groups just formed over the past week and how they never practiced together.
This is what I love about Riverwalk. I love that we're still in the building years and we get to set the standard and tradition for those to come. I can hardly imagine what the conversations will be like in the future as we laugh about our beginnings. I can picture it now, while the band is on the way to the state band competition, a student is going to turn to Mr. Monty and say "Remember back in 2019 when we didn't have uniforms and we only had 5 practices before the first time we marched as a group?" Or, one of my favorite stories of "how far we have come," while we're on the bus heading to the state track and field competition, a student is going to say to Coach Wilson, "Don't you think it's funny that my first two years of running track and field at Riverwalk Academy was when we didn't have a track and we had to run in our parking lot that sort of was shaped like a track."
There are a few things I know for sure.
- Our students are doing some pretty amazing things. They are resilient and they don't give up.
- Our staff loves our school and our students and they would anything in their power to give our students a well-rounded experience.
- It's going to take OUR Pride to transform us from good to great.
Pride, let's have another outstanding week. I have a feeling that these final 10 days are going to fly by and the Winter break and 2020 will be here before you know it.
Sincerely,
~Dr. Compton
This Week's Newsletter Photo
This week's photo was taken on Friday, December 6 at the Rock Hill Chrisrtmasville Parade. Pictured is the school's inaugural marching band and inaugural color guard. This group of talented students filled the parade participants with the holiday spirit. Way to go band and color guard!
Consumer Incentives
Save the Date
Attraction Books - A message from our 10th grade students
Hello, families and students of Riverwalk Academy! We are in the 10th-grade Impact class that is facilitated by Ms. Davis. We are here to introduce you to a fundraiser we are hosting right now, The Attractions Coupon Book! The Attractions Coupon Book is full of coupons that are good for many restaurants and businesses in the greater York County area. The books are only $20 and most families who buy the book save an average of $373.60 a year! We are raising money to work on creating spaces on our campus that will benefit the Riverwalk students and staff.
Each student was sent home with a book to sell (more will be sent home once orders are collected). We will collect orders on Mondays and Wednesdays and distribute ordered books on Tuesdays and Thursdays from now until December 19th. Please return payment using the envelope we sent home, or pay online using EZPay (directions can be found on the envelopes provided)! For every 5 books sold online using EZPay you will get 1 additional book free (no limit)! If you chose to not purchase the book that was sent home just return the book in the collection envelope to your child’s teacher on or before December 16th. All sales need to be sent in by December 19th.
Thank you for your support!
Questions can be sent to our class through our advisor, Ms. Davis, at sdavis@riverwalkacademy.com.
Sell books to win prizes! (see below)
Elementary Prizes:
1 book: 1 Collectible Animal Character Keychain!
3 books: 2 Additional Collectible Animal Character Keychains!
7 books: Sparkle Poop Slime!
10 books: Mini Orb Flyer!
Top seller in Elementary wins the Adventure Air Party Pack!
$320 Value! You and 10 friends will jump in the trampoline park, take on the ninja course, and play ultimate dodgeball!
Middle/High School Prizes:
Top seller in Middle/High School will earn a free class period!
Top individual seller will win an XBox (or $250 Visa Gift Card)!
Second place will win a $100 Visa Gift Card!
Third place will win a $50 Visa Gift Card!
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.
Rudolph
Liam Carter, Kindergarten
Vintage Red Truck
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.
Pengiun Patch
The Penguin Patch is back for the 2nd year. The Penguin Patch is a holiday shop for young children. Students will have the chance to select gifts for their loved ones, wrap it up and have it just in time for the holidays. It's geared to students in K - 2nd grade, but it's open to any student K - 5. The linked flyer was sent home on Wednesday and Thursday. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.
Parents, we need help with the Penguin Patch. If you're able to give one hour of your time, please sign-up here. The Penguin Patch cannot happen without your help. Questions about volunteering, contact our PTSO.
Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy Clarification
Attention Middle School Families, in an effort to clear up some of the confusion about the cell phone and electronic device policy, each middle school student received a copy of this letter on Tuesday. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Graham.
Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy Clarification
Attention High School Families, in an effort to clear up some of the confusion about the cell phone and electronic device policy, each high school student received a copy of this letter on Tuesday. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Graham.
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.
Tuesday (12/10)
- Penguin Patch Store (K - 5) at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (PTSO)
- Advanced Band @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
- Marathon Kids (yellow group) @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm (Laster)
Wednesday (12/11)
- Penguin Patch Store (K - 5) at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (PTSO)
- Beginners Band (5th Grade) @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm (Johnston)
Thursday (12/12)
- Penguin Patch Store (K - 5) at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (PTSO)
- Advanced Band @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Johnston)
- Marathon Kids (green group) @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm (Laster)
Friday (12/13)
- Entrepreneurship Winter Ball @ 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Future Dates of Interests
- Winter Arts Performance: 12/17/2019
- Early Release Day: 12:20/2019 (11:05 am and 11:30 am)
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.
Rivers was spotted on Friday at the Christmasville Parade hanging out with Grant the Gnome.
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