The Riverwalk Roar

Happy Sunday, Pride!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I know many of you were probably caught off guard yesterday with that liquid falling from the sky—but no worries, that was just rain. It’s been a while since we’ve seen that!

We had a busy and exciting week at Riverwalk Academy.

First, a huge shoutout to our band program. Twenty-seven students performed at the State Solo & Ensemble Assessments on Friday afternoon at Dutchman Creek Middle School. Twelve students earned the highest possible rating of Superior across nine different performances. Johnny Butler, Eriana Currence, and Alexi Taft each earned two Superior ratings. Also earning Superior ratings were Malia Benderson, Emerson Caldwell, Judson Campbell, Grace Cline, Camdyn Jessee, Joshua Kuebler, Ian McClain, Aidan Minchew, and Irene Soto.

Also performing at a high level and earning Excellent ratings were Natalee Atkinson, Eleighana Baker, Kaylee Gibson, Kyla Johnson, Dewayne Penland, Liam Ricks, Amy Savoie, Philip Shugart, Matthew Silver, and Olivia Wells.

Congratulations to all of our students who participated and represented themselves, and Riverwalk, so well. Bravo!

Our track team also competed on Saturday, traveling to South Pointe for the Tri-County Championships. We sent a younger squad, as many of our juniors and seniors were preparing for prom, and our Lions absolutely brought their A-game. Our throwers continue to show tremendous growth, with nearly all setting personal records. A special shoutout to two of our runners, Emma Commander and August Ferrand, for their outstanding performances! It was also great to see the leadership and encouragement of our upperclassmen.

Saturday evening, we hosted our junior-senior prom. The student-led prom committee selected the theme Starry Night, and it was a fantastic night for everyone involved. We wrapped up the evening by crowning our 2026 Prom King and Queen. Congratulations to Mr. Trent Marshall and Miss Hope Cratty!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, this is one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year. There is so much happening across our campus and in our community, and it’s a great reminder of what makes Riverwalk such a special place.

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, this is where our focus matters most. The energy, effort, and consistency we bring each day will define how we finish. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, or in service to others, these final weeks are an opportunity to finish strong and take pride in the work we’ve done together.

Let’s continue to support one another, stay focused on what matters most, and make the most of every opportunity in front of us. There is still so much to accomplish—and even more to celebrate.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

In Pride and Purpose,

~Dr. Compton

One thing we love doing every year is our 5th grade overnight field trip to Camp Cherokee. Our teachers, some school leaders, parents, and of course, our 5th grade students, head off for a great hands-on experience fishing, learning survival skills, and having tons of fun. Here a group of students are utilizing some basic fire building techniques using a ferro rod and steel to create sparks that burn at over 4,000F to ignite tinder.