Principal's Weekly Update #3

Welcome Back, RHS Families!

We hope you enjoyed a safe, relaxing, and refreshing Labor Day weekend. As we return to school, we are excited to continue building momentum and creating opportunities for every student to grow, learn, and thrive.

This week, we are especially looking forward to welcoming our families to Curriculum Night, an exciting opportunity to learn more about what happens inside our classrooms and how we are preparing our students for college, career, and life.

As we continue our work together, we are guided by our 2026–2027 theme:

Every Classroom. Every Student. Every Day.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Riverside High School. Together, we are making a difference for our students!

Roll Pirates Roll!

Dr. Gloria Woods-Weeks

Congratulations, RHS Men’s Volleyball!

Congratulations to the Riverside High School Men’s Volleyball Team for being selected to represent the State of North Carolina at the First Point National High School Invitational in Texas this April!

Congratulations to the RHS Football Team on a thrilling victory over Person High School last week! The Pirates battled until the final minute in an exciting game that featured spectacular plays on both offense and defense. Leading the Pirates defensively were Elijah McDonald and Josh Elemenshawi, who helped anchor a strong defensive effort. On offense, the Pirates were led by Taylen Lea, Dekari Monds, and Leighton Lascalette, whose outstanding performances helped secure the victory. Way to go, Pirates!

Congratulations to the RHS Women’s Tennis Team on defeating Northern High School to open the Battle of the North Series for the 2026–2027 school year! The Pirates were led by Zoe Robinson and Cynthia Combs, who delivered strong performances to help the team start the series with a win.

Congratulations to both teams on representing Riverside High School with pride, excellence, and Pirate spirit!

We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and coaches! Way to represent Riverside High School and North Carolina!

• Our school attendance last week: 88%

• Goal for next week: 95%

• Reminder: Every day matters! If your student will be out, please let us know.

School Resumes Tuesday, September 8

We look forward to welcoming all students and staff back to school on Tuesday, September 8 following the Labor Day holiday.

Inside the Classroom: Preparing Every Student for College, Career & Life

We are excited to welcome our RHS families to Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 10, from 5:30–7:00 p.m.

This year, Curriculum Night will be designed as a Parent/Student Academic Showcase, providing families with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of:

• What students are learning
• How students are supported academically and socially
• Course expectations and curriculum
• Opportunities available to students
• How families can partner with teachers and the school to support student success

We will begin the evening together in the RHS Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. with a brief presentation from our PTA, including information regarding the PTA budget approval.

Following the PTA presentation, families will hear from our counselors and teachers about the many academic programs and curriculum opportunities available at Riverside, including:

• Character Strong / SEL
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• Mathematics
• Science
• English Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Career & Technical Education (CTE)
• Arts and Electives
• College and Career Readiness
• And more!

Families will then have an opportunity to visit classrooms and learn more about course curriculum, instructional expectations, and ways to support student learning at home. We encourage all RHS families and students to attend!

All students who returned their student laptop last year and paid their technology fee or submitted a waiver should have received their laptop this past week.

If your student has not received their laptop or is experiencing an issue, please contact our Tech Champion: Dr. Tara Gold tara_gold@dpsnc.net

The North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics (NCSSM) will host an informational session for interested freshmen and sophomores.

Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time : During Advisory - 9:15 - 9:35 a.m.
Location: Testing Center — next to the Media Center

Students interested in learning more about NCSSM should register to attend through the registration form provided by the school.

This is a great opportunity for students to learn about NCSSM programs, opportunities, and the application process.

RHS will offer the optional PSAT to 11th-grade students on Tuesday, October 6.

The PSAT can provide valuable practice for college entrance testing and may provide students with opportunities connected to academic recognition and scholarships.

Registration Deadline: September 14

Please visit the Riverside High School website for additional information regarding the purpose of the PSAT, registration, and payment.

Late Tryouts Still Available

The following teams are accepting late tryouts. Contact the coach directly and make sure you have submitted your Ticket to Play.

• JV Football: Cory_Lea@dpsnc.net
• Field Hockey: adrobo19@gmail.com
• Women’s Flag Football: ryansamuels00@gmail.com

Volunteer Sign-Ups: We need your help at all games and contests. Please share this information with your parent groups as we have multiple opportunities available. CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP

Ticket to Play Fall Sports:

To participate in athletics:

1. Complete your student’s DragonFly profile to 100%.
2. Upload all required documents, including a current physical.
3. Submit the Ticket to Play Google Form once your DragonFly profile is complete.
4. The Athletic Department will review your submission and contact you through the email listed in DragonFly if anything is incomplete. Make corrections and resubmit promptly.

DragonFly: https://max.dragonflyathletics.com/maxweb/max-cover/landing?orgId=5e2e5261eb8fa480a8b4ad92

Ticket to Play: https://forms.gle/J4xzSNZ2Pw5mCREn7

Games This Week:

Tuesday, 9/8

• Volleyball vs Sanderson JV 5 V 6:15
• Field Hockey vs Cape Fear 5:30

Wednesday, 9/9

• Boys Soccer @ Durham Academy V Only 6 pm

Thursday, 9/10

• Volleyball vs Northern (Rivalry Night Wear Purple) JV 5:00 V 6:45
• Flag Football vs TMSA 5:15@ DSA
• JV Football @ Jordan 6:30
• Women's Tennis @ East Chapel Hill 5
• Field Hockey @ Carrboro 6

Friday, 9/11

• Football vs Jordan 7:00 (Wacky Tacky Theme Night) (2006 Football State Champion Runner-up Celebration)

Interest Meetings

-Women's Soccer interest meeting Sept 10th during homeroom or after school, Room 117

-Swim and Dive will have an interest meeting on September 15th at 8:30 am in Trailer 3.