RHS Weekly Update #9

Greetings Pirate Families,

I hope this message finds you well. As we enter Week 9, the final week of the first quarter, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support in helping our students stay focused and finish strong. The first quarter ends this Friday, October 24, and we encourage all students to complete any outstanding assignments, check grades in PowerSchool, and reach out to teachers if additional support is needed.

Let’s close out this quarter demonstrating the Riverside Core Values of Pride, Integrity, Relationships, Accountability, Teaching & Learning, and Empowerment in all that we do. Together, we are building momentum for a successful year of learning and growth!

With Pirate Pride,

Dr. Gloria Woods-Weeks

Congratulations to our Homecoming Court!

Homecoming Queen: Nailah Bolden
Homecoming King: Tyzjay Simmons
Freshman Homecoming Princess: Sally Gray
Freshman Homecoming Prince: Thomas Medley

Sophomore Homecoming Princess: Sydney Ettu

Sophomore Homecoming Prince: Ivan Kaiser-Potter

Junior Homecoming Princesses: Saniya Thurman and Kyla Bannerman

Junior Homecoming Prince: Joshua Elmenshawi

Thank you to all students, staff, and families who helped make Homecoming Week such a spirited and memorable celebration! Your energy, creativity, and Pirate Pride were on full display, from the pep rally to the big game and dance. Go Pirates!

There will be a Sophomore / Junior Parent Information Night on Monday, November 17 at 6:00 PM in the Media Center. Come on out to learn more about high school graduation requirements, GPA, career development plans and other important topics to help support your sophomore or junior successfully navigate high school.

• This weeks is CFNC Free Application Week. Make sure to check the College Advising Newsletter for a full list of events and submit your applications to be entered into a raffle. Here is a list of events that are taking place during and after school to support CFNC Application Week.

  • Oct 20: FAFSA completion Workshop (6-8 pm in Media Center) (register here)
  • Oct 21: RDS completion Workshop (6-8 pm in Media Center) (register here)
  • Oct 22: College application help drop-in (Lunch A, B, & C in media center)
  • Oct 23 College application help drop-in (Lunch A, B, & C in media center)
  • Oct 24 College application help drop-in (Lunch A, B, & C in media center)
  • Panorama Survey for All Students: Tuesday is the last day for students to have their voices heard. Here is the link to the survey; your student ID number is your access code: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/dpsnc/login.
  • Join us for a night of food, music and fun at our annual Hispanic Cultural Night this Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 pm
  • Students Interested in Governor’s School- Click this link for Governor's School Applications/Recommendations and Application/Recommendation submission links: https://sites.google.com/dpsnc.net/rhsadvancedacademics/home
  • Practice ACT Opportunity - To support schools in achieving their ACT goals, Durham Public Schools is pleased to partner with Compass Education Group to offer an ACT Practice Exam for up to 380 students. Riverside High School will have a total of 62 slots. The exam can be taken at home or in person. Riverside will be a testing site for the exam if you choose the "in person" option. Please click here if you would like for your student to participate in the ACT practice exam, October 25, 2025. Testing will begin at 9:00am. The deadline to sign up is October 23, 2025, 5:00pm. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to Assistant Principal McKoy. Jasmine_mckoy@dpsnc.net
  • The last day of Quarter One is Friday, October 24.
  • Underclassmen Picture Day: October 29. Families can learn more about ordering and selecting photos here.

I

Shout-outs (posted with photos on the school website)

• Homecoming Court/Mr. Hayes/SGA
• Men's and Women's Soccer Team hosted a soccer clinic at Club Boulevard Elementary.
• Over 30 athletes from different teams and grades attended a team building and leadership event with the Durham Fire Department on Wednesday.
• Field hockey players honored on Senior Night.
• Congratulations to our men’s and women’s cross country team for finishing 1st and 3rd in conference championships on Wednesday.
• Congratulations to our women's volleyball team for advancing to the NCHSAA State Playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
• A huge congratulations and milestone for our Women's Tennis Team. For the 1st time in school history, all 6 doubles teams advanced to the DUAL Regionals of the NCHSAA State

Photo Day for underclassmen will be Tuesday, October 29.

Families can sign up to receive direct updates from CADY about photo selections and ordering.
Learn more here: Underclassmen Photo Information

https://www.dpsnc.net/o/riverside/article/2480059

CFNC Free Application Week is happening this coming week (Oct 20-26th). Schools often require a fee of $50-$90 to submit your applications for college. During Oct 20-26th, all community college applications will be free and select private and public colleges and universities will also be free. The full list of schools who waive their application fee on CFNC is here: https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/nc-countdown-to-college/colleges-participating-in-caw/

Submit college applications by the end of the week and scan the QR on the flyer to enter to win a JBL speak or adidas duffle bag!

Click link below t access calendar of events:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1skBzvx-KMGqiLjElJRODLcNw1_N8j7wCF47njoPv9Vs/edit?usp=sharing

Congratulations to the Women's Tennis Team who will host Ashley High School on Monday 10/13, this is the first time since the early 2000's that our team will host post-season play. Wish them luck!!

This week will serve as Senior Night for the Riverside Football team. Wear your favorite team's or player's jersey to support the Pirates.

Interested in Winter Sports?

Contact the coaches below for preseason workout information:

• Indoor Track & Field: Jason_Smoots@dpsnc.net
• Men's Basketball: Christopher_Mayshack@dpsnc.net
• Women's Basketball: Barry_Garrett@dpsnc.net
• Swim & Dive: Stephanie_Ball@dpsnc.net
• Wrestling: Grabiel.Soto11@gmail.com

Ticket to Play for Winter Sports

A new digital process is now in place!
Scan the QR code on the Sports Medicine Room door to request your digital ticket.
Please remember: all prospective athletes must have a completed Dragonfly profile to participate.

This Week in Athletics

• Soccer 10/21 vs East Chapel Hill 5pm 6:45

  • Football –
  • Varsity Football vs Chapel Hill 7 pm Senior Night ( Jersey Night
  • Women's Flag Football- 10/ 22| 7:00 PM / Riverside vs Southern Durham Senior Night Durham Championship

• Cross Country- 10/25 Regionals

• Gymnastics: No scheduled meets this week

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Do you or someone you know have a local business?
We’d love to showcase your logo throughout Riverside High School!

The RHS Athletic Booster Club offers several sponsorship packages.
See the attached flyer for details, or contact the Booster Club for more information.

Stay Connected

The Athletics Department has a brand-new mobile app!
Click the link from your mobile device to download from Apple App Store or Google Play and stay up to date on all things Pirate Athletics.

To continue ensuring health assessment and immunization compliance, it is important that we follow state policy and requirements. Our school nurse is working closely with our Data Manager to confirm that all students are up to date with immunizations and health assessments.

The second round of compliance checks has been completed, and 30-Day Letters will be sent home for students who are not yet in compliance. Please note, state law allows only 30 days before non-compliant students are subject to school exclusion, which will result in absences and suspension from school until requirements are met.

We appreciate your cooperation in this important effort to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for all students. If you have questions, please contact our school nurse or Data Manager for assistance.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
— Robert Collier

This week, we encourage students to reflect on how our Core Values guide their daily actions.
Let’s end Quarter 1 demonstrating Excellence in effort, Integrity in choices, and Respect for one another.

Let’s make this another great week of learning, leadership, and Pirate Pride at Riverside High School!

With appreciation, Roll Pirates Roll!

Dr. Gloria Woods-Weeks

Principal