November Weekly Update

Greetings, Pirate Families!

We hope you enjoyed a wonderful weekend! As we begin week 11 of the semester, please remember that Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, are teacher workdays. There will be no school for students on these days. Students will return to school on Wednesday, November 4, at our regular time.

As we enter this short week, let us continue to celebrate our accomplishments, support one another, and keep our focus on the main thing, student success. Every contribution matters, and together, we can continue to make Riverside a place where every student feels supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed.

Lastly, I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our amazing PTA for the wonderful Halloween treats spread provided on Wednesday! The treats were yummy, delicious, and enjoyed by all. Your thoughtfulness and generosity brought smiles to our faces and added a special touch to our week. We are truly grateful for your continued support, partnership, and the many ways you make Riverside High School a special place to work and learn. Thank you for all you do for our Pirate family!

Every Classroom. Every Student. Everyday.

Have a safe, restful, and enjoyable couple of days. We look forward to seeing our Pirates back on campus Wednesday morning!

With Pirate Pride,

Dr. Woods-Weeks

Our Pirates continue to make us proud! Congratulations to our students and staff for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Riverside community.

• All-County Orchestra: Congratulations to Ms. Moore and our talented student musicians who participated in Wednesday evening’s All-County Orchestra concert: Grace Hochstetler, Yair Granek, Lauren Johnson, Michael Madrid Hernandez, Libby (Elisabeth) Pormann, Olive Ashkenes, Jesse May, Annabel Kruse, Andrew Davis, and Ellie (Elliot) Angerer. Thank you for representing Riverside with pride!
• Flag Football Makes History! Congratulations to our flag football team for hosting the first state playoff game in school history! The Pirates defeated Cary High School 34–6 on Saturday and are advancing to the second round of the playoffs. We are proud of our team and wish them continued success!
• A Frightfully Fantastic Haunted House: Shout-out to Mr. Holley, Ms. Jaffe, and all of our Haunted House Club members for creating a truly terrifying Haunted House experience this weekend. Thank you for your creativity, teamwork, and dedication!
• Celebrating Our EC Students: A special thank-you to Ms. Battle, Ms. Manning, Ms. Hardnett, and Ms. Abdullah for organizing an outstanding Halloween celebration Friday afternoon for our EC AU and EC MU students. Your thoughtfulness and commitment to creating memorable experiences for our students are appreciated!
• National Principals Month: We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our very own Dr. Woods-Weeks! Thank you for your tireless dedication to our students, families, and staff and for your continued leadership in moving Riverside forward.

Be sure to visit the Riverside High School Live Feed to see photos from these wonderful events!

• Teacher Workdays: Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3. No school for students.
• Winter Sports Tryouts: Tryouts begin Monday, November 2. Please visit the athletics section of the Riverside website for schedules and additional information.
• RHS Band Fall Concert: Friday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m.
• Underclassmen Picture Make-Up Day: Tuesday, November 10.
• Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11. No school for students.
• RHS Chorus Concert: Thursday, November 12, at 7:00 p.m.

Report Cards

Report cards were distributed to students on Friday, October 30. If your student has not shared their report card with you, please take a moment to ask them to do so. Reviewing grades together is an excellent opportunity to celebrate progress, identify areas for growth, and establish goals for the remainder of the quarter. If you have concerns about their performance, the teacher of record is the first point of contact.

End-of-Semester EOC Retest Permission

At the end of the first semester, students enrolled in Math I, Math III, Biology, and English II will take their corresponding End-of-Course (EOC) exams. Students who do not earn a proficient score on their first attempt may have an opportunity to retest to improve their score. Parent or guardian permission is required for a student to participate in an EOC retest.

If your student is enrolled in one of these courses, please complete the Parent Consent to Retest Form.

Your partnership in supporting student achievement is essential to our continued success!

Join us at Chipotle on Ninth Street from 5:00–9:00 p.m. to support the Riverside PTA. Remember to mention the Riverside fundraiser before placing your order. For online orders, enter code QX7ENNT.

Next PTA Meeting — Wednesday, November 4

The next PTA meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the RHS Media Center. Please note the change from Tuesday to Wednesday due to Election Day. We encourage families to attend, stay informed, and get involved in supporting our Pirates.

For additional information, please visit the Durham Riverside High School website

2026 Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame

The Riverside Athletic Booster Club is excited to begin preparations for the 2026 Riverside Athletics Hall of Fame! This special celebration will honor the outstanding athletes, coaches, and contributors who have helped shape the history, tradition, and legacy of Riverside Athletics.

As we prepare to recognize this year's honorees, we are seeking support from local businesses and community partners interested in sponsoring tables and supporting this memorable event. Your generosity will help us celebrate the accomplishments of our Pirate family while investing in the continued success of Riverside Athletics.

Sponsorship Opportunities and Event Registration

Tickets are now on sale! We encourage our Pirate community to explore the links below for event details, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket purchases. If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring a table or supporting this celebration, please share the information.

Whether you attend, become a sponsor, or spread the word, your support makes a difference!

• Sponsorship Information: Sponsorship
• Tickets and Registration: Registration
  
  

Let's come together to celebrate the tradition, excellence, and Pirate pride that make Riverside Athletics so special!

Winter Sports Tryouts

Winter sports tryouts are here! Students interested in participating should contact the appropriate head coach for tryout dates, times, and additional information.

• Men's Basketball: Christopher_Mayshack@dpsnc.net
• Women's Basketball: Keith_Jacquier@dpsnc.net
• Wrestling: Sean_Nickson@dpsnc.net
• Swimming and Diving: sball77@gmail.com
• Indoor Track and Field: Jason_Smoots@gmail.com

Winter Sports Ticket to Play

The Ticket to Play process is now open for Indoor Track and Field, Basketball Cheer, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Wrestling, and Swimming and Diving.

To ensure your student-athlete is cleared to participate, please complete the following steps:

1. Complete the DragonFly profile to 100%.
2. Upload all required documents, including a current physical.
3. Submit the Ticket to Play Google Form after completing the DragonFly profile.
4. Monitor your email for communication from the Athletic Department. If anything is incomplete, you will be contacted through the email address listed in DragonFly. Please make the necessary corrections and resubmit promptly.

Required Links:

• DragonFly: https://max.dragonflyathletics.com/maxweb/max-cover/landing?orgId=5e2e5261eb8fa480a8b4ad92
• Ticket to Play Form: https://forms.gle/J4xzSNZ2Pw5mCREn7

Please complete all requirements promptly to help ensure a smooth start to the winter sports season.

Games This Week

Come out and support our Pirates as they continue their postseason runs!

Monday, November 2

• Men's Soccer: NCHSAA Playoffs, First Round at Jack Britt — 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 7

• Women's Flag Football: vs. Cardinal Gibbons — Time TBD
• Cross Country: NCHSAA 7A State Championship Meet in Kernersville — 9:00 a.m.

Volunteer Opportunities

We need our Pirate community's support at athletic games and contests! Multiple volunteer opportunities are available, and we encourage families and parent groups to get involved. Please share the volunteer sign-up information with your parent groups and help us make each event a success.

Volunteer Sign-Up: CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP

Women's Flag Football: Pirates Advance to Round 3!

The Pirates are moving on! After allowing Cary to score on its opening drive and take an early 6–0 lead in the second round of the playoffs, Riverside quickly regrouped and took control of the game.

Seniors Greyson Range and Saniya Thurman helped get the Pirates back on track, setting up Au’Nehstti Hagans for a tremendous run down the sideline before connecting with Nijla Epps for a touchdown. From that point forward, the Pirates dominated on both sides of the ball.

Freshman Ida Okun also made key contributions on offense, picking up important first downs. Touchdowns by Nijla Epps and Saniya Thurman, along with three rushing touchdowns by Hagans, powered Riverside to an impressive 34–6 victory over Cary!

Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches on this outstanding performance. The Pirates now advance to Round 3, where they will face Cardinal Gibbons on Saturday, November 7.

Keep it going, Pirates!

Cross Country: Both Teams Qualify for States!

Congratulations to our boys' and girls' cross-country teams on their outstanding performances at Saturday's NCHSAA 7A Central Regional Meet! Both teams have qualified for the NCHSAA 7A State Cross-Country Meet on Saturday, November 7, in Kernersville.

Boys' Team — Regional Runner-Up

Our boys' team earned an impressive second-place finish! Congratulations to:

Cole Sease, Mason Riggs, Zack Abrams-Garrett, Manasseh Kimeli, Ayyub El-Genk, Charlie Kruse, and Ivan Kaiser-Potter.

Girls' Team — Fourth Place

Our girls' team secured an outstanding fourth-place finish and a spot at the state championship.

Congratulations to:

Anastasia Willis, Elli Schulien, Alana Gray, Izzy Halpern, Annabel Kruse, Vera Goldstein, and Holland Worthington.

We are incredibly proud of both teams for their hard work, determination, and commitment throughout the season. Best of luck as our Pirates compete at the state meet!

Finish Strong. Race with Pride. Go Pirates!

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough and reminds us that the greatest blessings are often found in the people who walk alongside us.”

Pirates, thank you for the dedication, care, and commitment you bring to our school community each day. Continue to encourage one another, celebrate our progress, and remember that the work we do together makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students. As we head into Thanksgiving, let gratitude guide our words, our actions, and our relationships.