From The Principal's Desk

Dear Riggins Elementary Families,

I want to officially welcome all of you to the 2021-2022 school year! Summer has come and gone and we must now move forward with many exciting changes to follow. We have been very busy throughout our campus this summer preparing for the arrival of our students. Everything is progressing for a great face to face opening of school Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

I (Trisha Simonson) am privileged to have the opportunity to become the new principal and I feel honored to work with our highly qualified and dedicated staff, our wonderful students, supportive families and our community. The elementary years are critical times of development for children and I look forward to working with all of you to make this school year successful. I am a lifelong educator and I am committed to students and families as well as a love for learning.

We have a few changes in faculty this year. Lisa Taylor will be taking over for me in preschool. Mrs. Taylor is a Salmon River graduate and we are so excited to add her to our staff. We have also added Susan Shepherd as our 5th grade teacher. Though Mrs. Shepherd has been with us for many years, we are excited for her to progress in her educational career. Christine Hauger is our new Art/PE teacher. She will also be teaching a few classes at the middle/high school. Mrs. Hauger is from Grangeville and is excited to join our team. Mrs. Folwell and Mrs. Medley have made a switch this year. Mrs. Medley will teach kindergarten and Mrs. Folwell 2nd grade. I'm excited to see all they and their students accomplish in their new roles.

This summer, Mr. Shepherd and his crew have been cleaning and preparing a new area for us. I am pleased to announce that our elementary students will now have a lunch room at the elementary school. The old ASK, Inc/school building has been inspected, declared safe for children, and prepared to become the Riggins Elementary Multipurpose Room. There will be a place for students to eat as well as an area for art and indoor recess. It is a wonderful addition to our site and a blessing to use once more. I give many thanks to our janitorial staff who have worked diligently to prepare the building for our use. All we await now, is our fabulous Riggins Elementary students.

I’d like to invite you to visit our district’s website www.jsd243.org and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Jsd243. These sites will serve as a resource too for upcoming events, important reminders, updates, and all of the wonderful things students and teachers are doing. This includes our Covid-19 reopening plan. Please email me if you have questions or comments about this document as we modify our plan to meet the needs of our students, staff and community. Please remember to keep sick children home.

This school year we will encourage our entire Salmon River JSD school district and community to demonstrate our Savage pride by wearing our school colors on Thursday!

The first day of school we will meet at the flagpole as we have in the past. Please maintain social distancing during this time. We will do a welcome and the pledge of allegiance. The teachers will then have the students line up to enter the building to start the day. For the safety of our students and staff we are asking that you say goodbye to your child outside of the buildings.

In closing, please enjoy the remaining days of summer. I look forward to seeing many new and familiar faces on our first day of school.

Warmly,

Mrs. Trisha Simonson

Trisha Simonson

Riggins Elementary Principal/ Special Education Teacher

Email: simonsont@jsd243.org
Website: https://jsd243.org
Location: 133 Main Ave. North (PO Box 872), Riggins, ID 83549
Phone: (208)630-6055
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jsd243