October was a busy month across River Rock Academy campuses, filled with learning, creativity, and connection. Let’s take a look at all the fun things going on at our campuses! 

Amity Campus 

At the Amity campus, Student Council hosted the annual Fall Fest, bringing students from all grade levels together to celebrate the season. Students enjoyed pumpkin painting, tie-dye shirts, a spirited mummy-wrapping contest, snacks, and music.  

Bradford Campus 

Bradford students took part in a meaningful community service project with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Middle and high school students helped bag meals for the backpack program, which provides food for students in need through their home districts. 

Carlisle Campus 

Our Carlisle students welcomed professional firefighter and EMT Ryan Bosserman from York Area United Fire and Rescue. He spoke with students about his path to firefighting, the importance of teamwork, and the realities of working as a first responder. Bosserman also reviewed key fire safety and seatbelt tips, showed his equipment, and answered questions. 

Cressona Campus 

Our Cressona campus highlighted a new student-inspired cooking club launched by a secondary student with a passion for food. With support from staff, students have been grilling, baking, and preparing seasonal treats while learning practical cooking skills and kitchen safety. The club will soon extend its impact by baking pies for the Thanksgiving luncheon, where students will help host representatives from local school districts. 

Clifton Heights Campus 

Clifton Heights campus devoted a week to Breast Cancer Awareness, with students and staff wearing pink and creating educational posters. Custom shirts and classroom activities helped raise awareness and show support for those affected. 

Harrisburg In-District Placement 

Our Harrisburg IDP class continued to grow its Wednesday Clubs program, offering options like cooking, fitness, music, art, and chess. These clubs give students structured time to explore interests and connect with peers outside of core classes. 

Indiana Campus 

The Indiana campus officially opened its doors and introduced the “Great Start Initiative” to encourage consistent attendance. Students earned rewards for attending three days in a row, which helped jump-start positive routines and build momentum during the first weeks. Over time, many students continued showing up even after incentives faded, demonstrating growing investment in their school community and pride in being part of the new campus. 

Lancaster Campus 

The Lancaster campus celebrated the opening of its new Elementary Program, designed as a highly structured, alternative education setting for younger learners. With small class sizes, an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, a behavior coach in each classroom, and an elementary counselor, students receive individualized behavioral and academic support. Daily social skills instruction, sensory supports, and meaningful incentives like Fun Friday and All-Star breakfasts help students stay engaged while working toward their goals. 

Newville Campus 

Newville campus elementary students combined hands-on learning with fall fun by creating skeleton art and visiting Paulus Farm. They met animals, picked pumpkins, and later painted them at school, reinforcing classroom lessons in a memorable way. 

Red Lion Campus 

Red Lion campus participated in a week-long mental health and suicide prevention program in partnership with the organization To Write Love on Her Arms. Students spent the week engaging in honest conversations, reflecting, and learning strategies to better understand their own mental health and understand that they are not alone.  

Shiremanstown Campus 

Shiremanstown elementary students who met behavior expectations and studied Civil War history earned a field trip to Gettysburg. With staff support, they explored key sites and viewing towers, then ended the day with ice cream as a reward. 

Sinking Spring Campus 

At the Sinking Spring campus, students took part in Ripple, an eight-week music program led by visiting teaching artists. Throughout the workshop, students learned about beat making, instrumentation, songwriting, and recording, ultimately creating their own original song and music video. They also explored roles such as videography, choreography, and fashion design. The program included studio visits and ended with certificates and small gifts to recognize students’ hard work. 

Spring Grove Campus 

Spring Grove’s Buddy Program group carved pumpkins together to celebrate the season. Students collaborated on designs and shared their finished pumpkins with Spring Grove Parks and Recreation for a community fall event. 

Across River Rock Academy, October highlights how academics, social-emotional learning, and community-building come together to support students. These snapshots offer just a small look at the meaningful work happening every day in our classrooms and programs. We look forward to sharing more moments of growth and success as the year continues.