The Rivers community welcomed Cambodian musician and human rights activist Arn Chorn-Pond at the end of September as the first of three guests in The Hall Family Speaker Series this year. Through the generosity of the Hall family and Trustee Alison Hall P’19, the series invites thought leaders to Rivers to share their research, writing, or activism in the realm of civic and community engagement. The series will continue later this academic year, with speakers reflecting the 2025–26 equity and engagement theme: “Courageous Voices, Global Impact: Leading with Integrity for a Just World.”

The Rivers School kicked off the new academic year with its beloved annual back-to-school picnic for families of students of color, a vibrant event that brought together close to 200 students, families, and members of the professional community. Held on the Lank Quadrangle outside of Revers, the gathering was a chance for both new and returning families and students to connect in a casual, upbeat setting, facilitated by Rivers’ DEI team.

Global Fair, an annual Rivers tradition, kicks off senior week for graduating students and serves as a celebration of the many cultures that make up the Rivers community through a combination of home-cooked dishes, interactive activities, and performances. The event is sponsored by the BRIDGE club (Building Real Intercultural Dialogue to Generate Engagement) and the Upper School affinity spaces and is supported by the Equity and Engagement team.

On a sunny morning in early March, The Rivers School welcomed award-winning author, sociologist, and scholar Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack as the speaker for The Hall Family Speaker Series. The series, which brings thought leaders to Rivers to address civic and community engagement, was organized by the school’s Equity and Engagement Team (EET) in collaboration with trustee Alison Hall P’19 as the third in a series of workshops and discussions surrounding the theme of the year: “Engaging in Citizenship Together.”

On January 30, Rivers hosted a dynamic Lunar New Year celebration, bringing together over 200 attendees for an evening of cultural appreciation, performances, and traditional festivities to honor the Year of the Snake—a Chinese Zodiac symbol of intelligence, mystery, and renewal. The Lunar New Year, celebrated by millions of people across the globe on the first new moon of the lunar calendar, began on January 29, with festivities continuing in an All-School assembly and in Mandarin language classes surrounding the date.