Welcome —
About Us
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, nor a brave pirate. Your journey toward becoming a resilient and accomplished individual starts here.
At River Bend Middle School, we embrace the philosophy that challenge and experience forge true strength. We pride ourselves on providing a dynamic and innovative learning environment where students are empowered to navigate the open waters of knowledge and reach their full potential. We recognize that success is not final, and failure is not fatal. Our students are encouraged to take pride in successes and to build upon them while understanding that if a goal is not reached, one can learn from mistakes and get back on the right track.
Our entire holistic approach is anchored by the SAIL Mission Statement—a compass guiding all we do:
S - Safety: Creating a secure and supportive harbor for all explorers to learn and grow.
A - Accountability: Taking ownership of your actions and charting a responsible course.
I - Integrity: Maintaining a true north of honesty and strong moral principles in every decision.
L - Leadership: Guiding the crew and inspiring others to embark on great voyages of discovery.
We blend rigorous academics with a strong emphasis on character development, creativity, and critical thinking. Our diverse array of programs—from advanced coursework and engaging extracurricular activities to personalized support—ensures every student receives a well-rounded and enriching expedition in education.
Join our crew. Let us inspire and prepare you to become a skilled sailor and brave pirate—future leaders ready for a lifetime of success on any horizon.
Inclusivity
We prioritize inclusivity by actively promoting a welcoming and supportive environment where every student feels valued and empowered.
Stay up to date on exciting news, events and more with the ParentSquare app!
December 4, 2025
🚨 Catawba County Schools ParentSquare AlertDue to the possibility of freezing precipitation in the early morning hours—and with temperatures expected to improve after 9:00 a.m.—Catawba County Schoo...
December 1, 2025
"Foundation Focus"Volume 1 Issue 2December 1, 2025Message from our Executive Director....As we enter t...
November 26, 2025
All of us at Catawba County Schools wish our CCS families a wonderful Thanksgiving! We're grateful for you! 🩸 Community Blood Drive — Parents & Community Members OnlyJoin us at St. Stephens ...
November 19, 2025
🦃🍂 Thanksgiving Break ReminderCCS Families, please remember that Thanksgiving Break will be observed NEXT Wednesday, November 26, through Friday, November 28. All schools will be closed during t...
View the full calendar to see all the exciting events we have happening in the next few weeks and months!
School Profile
Mission Statement:
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, nor a brave pirate.
Grades: 7-8
Enrollment: 450 students
Principal: James Byrd
Assistant Principal: Yecenia Pastrano
School Hours: 7:30 AM – 2:25 PM
Principal’s Message
Greetings!
I am James Byrd, principal of River Bend Middle School. I am excited for the opportunity to serve in the Bunker Hill feeder district. As principal of RBMS, my goal is to work with staff members, students, and the community at large to prepare our young Pirates for their futures. They will some day be Bunker Hill Bears, and we want them to have the knowledge and skillsets to be ready for that journey and for their future academic endeavors and careers beyond high school.
Middle school is an extremely important time in the lives of young people. What direction their lives may take can be affected by numerous factors, but what happens at school can have a major impact. I want students to have a great middle school experience where in addition to gaining content knowledge and academic skills, students start thinking about what their adult lives will look like. I want students to have the opportunity to learn about how their interests can lead them to lucrative careers in their futures and for them to begin to figure out what steps they will need to be on the right paths.
I look forward to building partnerships with students' families and the community to make sure we are best serving our students and guiding them in the right direction.
Thank you, and Go, Pirates!
Warm regards,
James Byrd
Phone: 828-241-2754 | Email
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
