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River Day at St. Margaret’s School is one of the highlights of the year. When starting in the eighth grade, I had no idea how much an adventure each one would be. Students at SMS are extremely fortunate to be able to see our unbelievable view of the river every day, but River Day gives us all a chance to experience different locations of the river and what each has to offer. In the eighth grade, students spend river day at the beginning of the river and each year classes go to a different part of the river, until senior year when we get to see the ocean in Virginia Beach.
Since I am now a day student, the time I get to spend with my boarding friends is only in between classes. River Day gives me a chance to reconnect with old friends I do not get to see often or to get to know a new student in my grade. It is also a time to do things I would not ordinarily do, such as marsh mucking or sleeping in a tent. Sophomore year, one of my favorites River Days, was the first time I had ever been camping.
That year, we took a cruise out of Tappahannock to Mrs. Dickinson’s family home. We spent the afternoon kayaking and swimming in the river. My favorite part of the trip was jumping off of a very tall pole on the dock into the water. It was a little scary at first, but definitely worth it in the end. I ended up climbing up to jump off about three times! The next morning we kayaked across the river and went marsh mucking, which was not too fun. We raced back and showered off before heading back to school.
I really liked sophomore year’s trip, but this year, my senior year, was definitely the best. It was the most relaxed river day I have had since starting SMS. We went to Virginia Beach and spent the afternoon walking on the boardwalk. We came back to the campsite and ate dinner, made s’mores and told scary stories. The next day after we packed up the camp, we went on a very fun dolphin cruise. This was the first year seniors took the cruise, so I felt pretty lucky.
Even though I have grown up near the river in the Northern Neck, River Days at St. Margaret’s over the last five years are memories that I will have forever. It really is a fun time to share with classmates and make friendships that will last a lifetime. It was something I always looked forward to at the start of a new year and I am sad to think that this year was my last River Day experience.
Annie, a senior, has attended St. Margaret’s since 8th grade both as a boarding and day student.
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Annie, a senior, has attended St. Margaret’s since
8th grade both as a boarding and day student
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