Riverside Review

Dear RSI Parents and Guardians,

It’s been a fast-paced and focused week as our students worked hard on their ILEARN Math assessments. Today, we wrapped up make-up testing for those who were absent, and we’re in great shape to finish our final round of ILEARN next week. On Tuesday, April 29th, our 5th graders will take the Social Studies assessment, and our 6th graders will complete Science. The rest of the week will be used for any remaining make-up tests. Please help your child come to school ready to shine with a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast on testing day!

This past Thursday, RSI proudly celebrated our 2024–2025 Teacher of the Year, Ann Marie Lotridge (6th Grade STEM), and our Honors and Excellence Award Winner, Teresa Johnson (Treasurer). We are so thankful to work alongside these two outstanding professionals. Please be sure to congratulate them when you see them! See Pictures Below

A big thank you to our amazing PTO parent volunteers for helping us wrap up our final Hawk Party of the year this evening. Our Hawks had an absolute blast!

Wishing you all an amazing and restful weekend. Remember, “Keep soaring high, Hawks!”

Sincerely,

Dana Kaminski, Ph.D.

Riverside Intermediate Principal

ACES is a proactive program sponsored by the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Its purpose is to promote good school attendance by enforcing the legal obligations of compulsory school attendance noted in Indiana Law. Students may be referred by HSE Schools to the Hamilton County Deputy Prosecutor for the City of Fishers for participation in the program for being truant from school or having unexcused absences. Students with absences without a doctor’s note that exceeds 10 days per school year are considered unexcused and may also result in a referral to the ACES program.

We Want Your Feedback!
Help us improve how we communicate with you! Take our HSE Schools Communication Survey now through March 31 to share your thoughts on emails, social media, newsletters, and more. Your feedback ensures our updates are clear, accessible, and relevant.

Click below to take the quick, anonymous survey!

https://hamiltonsoutheastern.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bl3Jy356VzNQFTM

HSE Intermediate students participated in the Journey of a Student Survey in Fall 2024 to help identify barriers they face while learning. Included in the following pdf are three of the most common barriers reported by our 5th and 6th grade students, along with practical ways families can support their children at home. Online resources are included as well which can be used as tools to help children learn to persevere through these challenges.

Consistent school attendance is essential for promoting student achievement. Research shows that regular attendance is linked to higher success rates in math and language arts, and students with lower chronic absence rates are more likely to excel.

Attendance Reminders:

1. Call-In Requirement: Parents/guardians must notify the school by 10:00 AM if a student will be absent or arriving late. A 24-hour voicemail is available for your convenience.

2. Excused Absences: A maximum of ten (10) absences per school year will be excused. Beyond this, absences require a doctor’s note to avoid being marked unexcused.

3. Half-Day Credit: Students must attend for at least 3 hours to be credited for a half day, which is necessary to participate in extracurricular activities.

Reward Opportunity: Students who maintain an attendance rate above 97% will soon be eligible for a special reward, so keep aiming for great attendance! Let’s work together to make this a successful year!

School Start: 9:15AM

School End: 4:00PM

Our goal is to keep our parents/guardians informed of the events and policies at RSI. Please read the information below and call the school office with any questions. Thanks for being such a vital part of making Riverside Intermediate a special school.

Skyward allows parents to access students’ grades from teachers’ electronic grade books.

ParentSquare will be used as the primary communication tool between the HSE school district and students, parents, and staff for emergency situations (for example: school delays or closings). It will also be used for attendance and general information as well throughout the year to notify parents about important information, upcoming events, or milestones.

iPads are required for all students in the 5th and 6th grade to expand our HSE21 curriculum. Please visit our website https://rsi.hseschools.org/academics/tech-in-the-classroom

The Riverside Review is our weekly newsletter that is sent out via ParentSquare. It is also posted on our website at https://rsi.hseschools.org/our-school/news-and-events

It is full of important information and scheduled activities.

Our Calendar is on our website with the most up to date information. https://www.hsecalendars.org/public/genie/752/school/13/

School Attendance is extremely important. The school attendance line is 317-594-4328. Parents are requested to notify the school as soon as possible. Automated letters will be sent out when your student reaches 5, 8 and 10 absences whether the absences are excused or unexcused. See the student handbook for the detailed attendance policy.

The Tardy Bell rings at 9:15 am. If your student is going to be late to school or absent from school, please call our attendance line at 317-594-4328.

Change of Transportation/ Early Dismissal requires a note sent to school with your student. Be sure to include your student’s full name. Your student should give the note to their homeroom teacher first thing in the morning. This will advise the office of a change. The dismissal bell rings at 4:00 pm. Our office does NOT use Dismissal Manager.

All Cell Phones are to be off and secured in student lockers during the school day. Their use during the school day is forbidden. Cell phones will be confiscated if visible during the school day. All confiscated cell phones must be picked up by a parent.

To be Excused from Participation in PE, students MUST have a doctor’s note stating why he/she cannot participate and for how long the student should be excused. A parental note may be used for one day only.

Safe Visitor Background Checks MUST be on file with the school to volunteer or go on a field trip. Background checks are valid for 3 years.

Address Changes must be reported to the main office and require proof of residency. Refer to the HSE website for acceptable documents.

Golden Hawk of the Month is the character education program at RSI. Students will be recognized for displaying any of HSE’s nine positive character traits throughout the year by earning a poster and a prize!

The Counselors at RSI loop with the students. Therefore, your student will have the same counselor for 5th and 6th grade. Individual counseling, group counseling, classroom guidance, and character education are all services provided by the counselors at RSI.

Breakfast and Lunch pricing for this school year: breakfast meal $1.50, student lunch K-6 meal is $2.80. Checks may be made payable to RSI. Please include student ID number on the check. You may also use your debit or credit card to pay for lunch online through eFunds.

Free and Reduced Application is available with a parent Skyward login. For complete instructions, click here.

Canvas is a tool for teachers to use to distribute important information, submit assignments, and more. Students use the same credentials for Canvas as they use to log into the computers at school.

All HSE Schools student handbooks (K-12) are now online for easier access. The 5/6 handbook is available via this link:https://rsi.hseschools.org/our-school/student-handbook

We encourage you to review it at your earliest convenience. Should you have any questions, please contact the RSI main office at 317-594-4320. Our staff is available to assist you. Have a great school year!

President - Christina Stenske

Vice President - Christine Gilchrist

Treasurer - Jenny Shoemaker

Secretary - Teresa Hunckler

Member at Large - Leslie Halcomb

Member at Large - Marissa Deckert

For any questions regarding PTO events, please email riversideintpto@gmail.com

The final Hawk Party was a SUCCESS! Nothing but laughter, wonderful times outside playing, and enjoying our DJ and photo booth experience—we appreciate all parents, volunteers, teachers, support staff, and especially the students for making this a successful event this school year. We concluded this fundraiser for the 2024/2025 school year, and we anticipate raising over $13K from these events overall. Thank you!

This week, we held our final public PTO meeting and elected our new executive board members for 2025/2026. We are excited to announce the following:

President: Teresa Hunckler

Vice President: Marissa Deckert

Secretary: Brieann Saxhaug-Toste

Treasurer: Jenny Shoemaker

*May 11th PTO Meeting has been cancelled

Finally, we are eagerly anticipating our Teacher Appreciation Week. Despite receiving numerous donations from various companies, we still require a little assistance from our parents/guardians. We aim to collect twenty $25.00 gift cards, redeemable at any location like Target, Starbucks, Walmart, etc. If you are able to contribute, we kindly request that you send a gift card to the school, addressed to the PTO, by Friday, May 2nd. We are grateful for these donations, which will ensure that all teachers and support staff have a week to celebrate their hard work over this school year.

Thank you to all the companies that have donated, and we look forward to celebrating this week with the following items each day starting on May 5th through May 9th.

Please see the attached list if your student is in need of a tutor!

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has confirmed six cases of measles in the state — all connected to one outbreak in Allen County. There are no reported cases in our county, and the overall risk to the public in Indiana remains low.

Still, we want our families to be informed. Measles is a highly contagious illness that spreads through coughs, sneezes, or even talking. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.

What to Watch For:

Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red eyes
• A rash that typically starts at the hairline and spreads downward

School Guidelines:

Per state health regulations, students or staff exposed to measles without proof of immunity must stay home until they can provide documentation of immunity.

Those with medical or religious exemptions must stay home for 21 days following the last known case in the school.

How to Protect Your Family:

The best protection against measles is the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine:

• Given at 12–15 months and again at 4–6 years
• Anyone born after 1957 without vaccination records may also be eligible

Talk with your child’s healthcare provider or contact the Fishers Health Department at (317) 567-5045 to learn more.

For additional information, visit:

· Fishers Health Department

· Indiana Department of Health

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Summer is a time to refresh and reconnect. While relaxing is important, we want to make sure you are doing so in ways that allow you to use healthy types of self-care. Create a summer bucket list of ways you would like to implement healthy self-care this summer. Whether that is spending time outside each day, engaging in healthy eating habits, or connecting with people who bring you happiness, strive to find your best possible self this summer.

RSI Families,

Riverside Intermediate is pleased to announce the return of the Snack Attack program for those students in need. This program, supported by the Fishers Youth Assistance Program, is designed to provide students a little extra nourishment for the weekend until they can receive a hot meal at school on Monday.

Here's how the program works. Your student will pick up a small sack of food to be taken home over the weekend. The sack is filled with individually wrapped snacks such as granola bars, fruit cups, pop tarts, peanut butter/crackers, Goldfish crackers, etc. The type of snacks will vary each week. Please let us know if your child has a peanut allergy as he/she will receive a special bag of peanut-free snacks.

There is no cost to you or the school. To be part of this free program, you must sign up your family online. https://forms.gle/qQ2GgbD32C66Dhfg7 or have questions, please contact FYAPFood@gmail.com

You can also reach out to Brenna Anton, 6th grade school counselor, if you have questions.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (HSEF) is excited to invite families to participate in our annual Thank an Educator program and nominate exceptional educators and staff for enrollment in the Educator Honor Roll. This initiative offers a special opportunity to show appreciation for the remarkable individuals who inspire, support, and engage with our students every day.

From now until noon on May 2nd, HSEF is offering an opportunity to Thank an Educator! Through your $10 donation, each nominee will receive:

• recognition on HSEF social media April 28 – May 7
• notification of your generous gift through a certificate stating they have been recognized as outstanding, with a personal message from you included
• a $5 gift certificate from Schoolhouse 7 Cafe
• an entry into a drawing for a take and bake dinner for 6 from The Food Florist (one nominee selected from each building)
• a listing in the June issue of Fishers Magazine
• a permanent listing on our Educator Honor Roll

Enrollment for the upcoming 2025-26 YMCA Before & After School program will open to all families on Tuesday, April 29 at 6 a.m.! Programs tend to fill quickly, so we encourage families to enroll early.

Visit our website to see if the YMCA is in your child's school and learn more about next year's programs. All YMCA Before School programs open at 6:30 a.m. and run until the school day begins. All YMCA After School programs begin at the end of the school day and run until 6 p.m.

Hello again from HSEF!

Please save-the-date and plan to join us for the 3rd annual Prairie Dash 5k Fun Run taking place throughout the grounds of Conner Prairie on Saturday, May 17th.

For the third year, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (HSEF) is partnering with the Lawrence Township Schools Foundation (LTSF) to offer this family fun run. This partnership was born out of inquiries from many of our “School Program” teams and coaches from both school districts, who traditionally have offered a spring running program which culminated in the past with the Geist Half Marathon each May. Participation will again be limited to 1,000 people maximum.

Starting next week, we will again be offering both INDIVIDUAL and SCHOOL TEAM registration options for all 22 HSE Schools, at a fee of $25/runner. Team registration is open to all students, parents, and staff who are looking for a unique 5k running opportunity. All participants will again receive a race tee, timing bib, and commemorative medal along with (new this year) a voucher for a complimentary ticket to see the new Fishers Freight football team this summer at the Fishers Event Center. For school team participants, HSEF will be delivering these materials to your school, for distribution, the week of the Prairie Dash.

Updates from Mudsock Youth Athletics:

Fall Early Bird Registration Begins May 1st
We’re offering a record number of sports this fall! Register for football (including expanded girls flag divisions), cheer, soccer, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, fall baseball, fall softball, high school rugby sevens, boys and girls lacrosse stick skills, and esports. Early bird registration runs through May 31st at myathletics.com. Information will continue to be updated here. Fall into play with us!

Girls Volleyball Rec+ Evaluations May 7th and May 18th
Mudsock Youth Volleyball will hold Rec+ evaluations for incoming 5th through 8th graders (2025–26 school year) on Wednesday, May 7th, or Sunday, May 18th. Find all the details and sign-up information here. Participants must also be registered for the girls rec fall season to attend evaluations. Registration opens May 1st at myathletics.com

Fall Registration Scholarships Available
Interested in scholarship opportunities for fall sports? Families may apply for one scholarship per season, per child. Applications must be submitted and approved during the open registration period, May 1st–31st. For more information, email [info@myathletics.com]info@myathletics.com.

Help us create a safe and positive environment for participants, parents, guardians, coaches and referees. When you register with us in 2025, you will sign the following agreement. Just think of the difference we can make TOGETHER.

This newsletter will assist you with all questions regarding Food Service - please click below.

Skyward allows parents to access grades, report cards, bus information, immunization records, lunch account/food service information, student fees, schedules, and the BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS 2024-2025. All students are required to have an iPad to expand our HSE21 curriculum. Please visit our HSE21 website for more information.

The following instructions are how to create and pair accounts in Canvas. Your HSE students will be using Canvas throughout virtual and in-person instructions. If you have a child or children that are new to the district, please use the following instructions to link your child's Canvas account to your parent account. Please note that if you have already created a Parent Canvas account and linked your child(ren)'s account(s), you will not need to do this.

You will need your child's school email address and ID#. This information can be found in Skyward. Please click here to access Skyward. If the link is not working, you can go to the HSE homepage and click on the Canvas tab located at the top right of the screen.

Once you are logged in, you will select your child's name from the drop down menu under Family Access at the top of the page. Next, you will click on the Student Info tab from the column on the left. Your child's school email can be found next to the word School in the middle of the screen (just to the right of their school picture) and their school ID # is located under their picture (their school ID # is labeled as Other ID).

Steps:

1. Please click here to access Canvas. If the link is not working, you can go to the HSE homepage and click on the Canvas tab located at the top right of the screen. You will click on the Students/Staff Portal rectangle to login with your child's information, using your child's full school email address as the username. Enter "hse" in front of their 6 digit other ID number for the password. You will now be logged in under their name.
2. While on their Canvas page, click on Account and then Settings. Look to the right and click Pair with Observer. You will need to write down the code so you can use it to link your accounts.
3. Click Account and Logout. You are now logged out of your child's account.
4. If you have multiple students in the district, you will need to complete steps 1-3 for each of your children. You will need a pairing code for each student in an HSE school.
5. Once you have a pairing code for each of your children, you will click here to access the home page of Canvas. If the link is not working, you can go to the HSE homepage and click on the Canvas tab located at the top right of the screen. You will click on the Parent Canvas Portal rectangle to create your profile. You will need your name, email, create a password, and one student pairing code. Click on Start Participating.
6. Check your email now to finalize your Canvas sign-up.
7. To add other children, go back to the HSE homepage, click Canvas tab, click Parent Portal, and login. Click on Account, click on Observing, and add your next child's pairing code.

This webpage below is intended to spotlight school and community activities of interest to students, staff, parents and those residing within the boundaries of HSE Schools.

Interested in finding out about things going on throughout our district - take a look at the Community Insider!

RIVERSIDE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

11014 Eller Road ♦ Fishers, IN ♦ 46038

317.594.4320 (phone)

317.594.4328 (attendance line)

317.594.4329 (fax)

Follow Us on X: @RSIGoldenHawks