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Good afternoon, Pirate families, this is Dr. Woods-Weeks calling with the weekly update. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTA for another fantastic Friyah! Thank you for all you do to support our school community. 😊

Congratulations to our Basketball teams who defeated Northern Durham, in the final contest of the regular season. All three teams won by double digits, and a special thank you to all our senior winter sports athletes and all the volunteers who have helped make this winter season special.

Also, on behalf of the Riverside PTA, congratulations to Mr. Seth Stallings on being selected as the winner of a Riverside Pirate Hero Award! This award recognizes a Riverside teacher, coach, or other staff member who has gone above and beyond to support our community.

As a reminder:
Monday February 19, 2024, is a Required Teacher Workday. No school for students.

Quarter 3 Progress reports will be distributed on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.

School Safety and Security

DPS School Safety, Security, and Emergency Information Guide for Parents/Families

DPS Safety/Security has created a school guide to provide parents and families with school safety, security, and other emergency information. These can be found here: DPS School Safety, Security, and Emergency Information for Parents and Families and DPS School Safety, Security, and Emergency Information for Parents and Families (SPANISH VERSION).

These can also be found on our website.

COUNSELORS CORNER
Mark Your Calendar! Our Spring Curriculum Night will be held on Wednesday, February 28th for ALL students and parents from 6:00pm-7:15pm.

Please govern yourselves according to the following schedule:
o    6:00 –6:10 p.m. - Parents and students arrive
o    6:15 - 6:25 p.m. - Parents and students report to 1st Period classes
o    6:30 –6:40 p.m. - Parents and students report to 2nd Period classes
o    6:45 –6:55 p.m. - Parents and students report to 3rd Period classes
o    7:00 –7:10 p.m. - Parents and students report to 4th Period classes
o    7:15p.m. - Curriculum Night ends

ATHLETICS UPDATE
Riverside Women's Basketball will travel to East Chapel Hill on February 20, 2024 and play at 6:00 pm in the first round of the Conference Tournament. The Varsity Boys will host a home Conference tournament game on February 21st at 6:00 p.m. The conference Championship game will be played at Chapel Hill High School on February 23rd.  Wish our Pirates luck. 

The Women's Soccer team will host an intrasquad scrimmage at Riverside on February 21st at 6:00 p.m., and the Men's Lacrosse team will also host an intrasquad scrimmage on February 22nd at 6:00 p.m., both contests will take place at Linny Wrenn Stadium.

Ticket to play is by appointment only, any student requesting a late ticket to play should contact Erin_Samuels@dspnc.net for more details.

Tickets can be purchased by card or online at TICKETS.  All DPS athletic events observe a "Clear Bag Only" policy in conjunction with no Re-Entry.  For more information about winter sports please visit https://riversideathleticzone.com/

Fall Registration
Course registration for the 2024-2025 school year opened February 14th and will continue through March 11. During this time rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors will be able to select their core and elective classes. Students with experience with registration are welcome to begin to select classes during these dates. However, all students will be required to attend a registration meeting with their assigned counselor. Students and parents can begin to check Canvas on Monday February 12 for their registration appointment time and location.

Maximize Your ACT Potential: Upcoming Test Prep Sessions for Juniors
ACT Test Prep Sessions for Juniors continues. These sessions are designed to help students achieve their highest potential and best scores. The last two sessions are scheduled on February 23rd, and 28th, and will feature comprehensive, expert-led guidance covering all critical areas of the ACT.
Students are expected to participate in four sessions, with one session each week. These sessions will take place in four designated rooms along the tech hall – Rooms 161, 163, 165, and 167. Each student will be assigned to a specific room for their sessions, ensuring a focused and conducive learning environment.
Signs will be posted to guide students to their assigned room and period, making it easy to locate their respective sessions.
We look forward to seeing our students excel and achieve their academic aspirations!

ACCESS for ELLs
The window for ACCESS testing for all EL students in DPS will continue Tuesday February 20th--March 1st. All EL students must test.
Testing is also permitted March 4th-8th for late enrollees and hard-to-get make-ups.

Semester 2 - MOY Benchmark
The second SEMESTER benchmark window for MOY are coming up soon!   February 29-March 6

2024 Spring WorkKeys
The ACT WorkKeys assessment is administered twice a year - once in the fall and once in the spring. All 12th grade CTE concentrators must take the WorkKeys assessment during one of the windows. This year, the window for the SPRING WorkKeys assessment is February 19th-March 15th.  Mark your calendar and govern yourselves accordingly.


COLLEGE ADVISING – See important updates below

IMPORTANT UPDATE!

College Acceptances -Week of February 12, 2024 (the class of 2024 has currently surpassed more than $7 million in scholarships offered!!)

If you have already completed your FAFSA Form:
The US Department of Education recently announced that due to the extensive updates to the FAFSA, schools will not receive FAFSA information until mid-March. Schools expect to begin making financial aid offers for newly admitted students in early April.

If you have NOT already completed your FAFSA Form:

The 2024-2025 FAFSA application is now available. If you need help completing the form, please see Ms. Harris as soon as possible to get started. Students must have an SSN to be eligible for federal student aid, however, there may be other opportunities to receive other forms of financial aid. Parents who do not have an SSN can still create an FSA ID.

To ensure that you are prepared to complete the form, have the following materials accessible when applying:

- Laptop
- SSN
- 2022 Tax Information
- Records of child support received (if applicable)
- Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
- Net worth of investments, businesses, and farm

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday, March 6th at 11:00 AM-2:00 PM: College Trip to UNC Chapel Hill
      - This opportunity if only for Seniors that have applied to UNC Chapel Hill and Juniors. If you want to visit Chapel Hill, complete the interest form on the daily announcements page on Canvas. You must meet the minimum criteria to be considered. Please submit the interest form by Monday, February 26th. Submitting the form does not guarantee a spot on the trip*


SCHOLARSHIP ALERT: The title of each scholarship application is hyperlinked with more information
        Durham Promise Scholarship
•    All students who apply for a scholarship through DPS Foundation are automatically entered into consideration for a Durham Promise award. The Durham Promise will be awarded to one graduating senior in each senior high school in the Durham Public Schools System in the amount of $3,000 (non-renewable). Eligible students must be graduating seniors who expect to enroll in a post-secondary institution in the fall. A minimum 2.5 GPA is required.   
       Andrew Edward Crabtree Scholarship
·             Available for seniors at Riverside High School in the amount of $5,000 (non-renewable). Eligible students should demonstrate a strong and significant interest, proficiency, passion and participation in drama, choral music, history, or creative writing. A minimum 2.75 GPA is required. Deadline is March 4th, 2024.
      Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship
·             The Aubrey Lee Brooks scholarship provides an award up to approximately one-half of the cost of an undergraduate education to students who demonstrate financial need. Selection for the Brooks Scholarship is competitive. Successful applicants have excellent high school grades and SAT/ACT scores. Applicants are expected to have participated in extracurricular activities, volunteered in their community and/or been regularly employed. These students often demonstrate leadership within the organizations with which they work. Deadline is March 1st, 2024
       2023-2024 Noz Scholarship
o        This scholarship is in honor and memory of one of Ms. Laura Brady's best friends, Nick. Nick was her biggest supporter throughout high school and college, a constant reminder to resist being average, live in absolutes, and the invaluable importance of persistence. His passing left an indelible mark on the world. This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates leadership inside and outside of the classroom and strong character. Eligible candidates should be driven, curious, and persistent. Deadline is March 4th at 11:59.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
•    DPS Foundation Scholarships - Due March 4th
•    Durham Alumni Chapter of NC A&T Scholarship - Due March 29th
•    Durham Civitan Withrow Scholarship - Due April 26th
•    Home Builders Association Scholarship - Due March 1st
•    R. Marjorie Thorpe Scholarship - Due April 8th
More Scholarship Search Engines
•    bullcityschools.award.spring.com
•    cfnc.org
•    nccommunityfoundation.org
•    fastweb.com
•    studentscholarships.org
•    trianglecf.org/students/scholarships-awards/

College Acceptances -Week of 2/12/24 (the class of 2024 has currently surpassed more than $7 million in scholarships offered!!)

•    Theo Dessauer - University of Cincinnati ($10,000/yr.)
•    Ray McCloskey - Appalachian State University Honors College
•    Caileigh Ressler - Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($27,000/yr. President’s Scholarship)
•    Andrew Sergison - Clemson University
•    Lincoln Domina - St, Johns (Annapolis) ($14,000/yr.)
•    Josie Lines - Drexel University ($48k/yr. Merit Scholarship)
•    Josie Lines - University of Maryland
•    Josie Lines - Fordham University
•    Josie Lines - University of Georgia ($10k/yr. Merit Scholarship)

That said, parents please continue to help us enforce the DPS Code of Conduct by ensuring that your student adheres to the policies and procedures set forth. Students show your school pride by wearing our school colors on Friday. I will see each of you at the River Wednesday. Go forth and make it a great evening. Roll Pirates Roll! Thank you