Riverside Review

Dear RSI Parents and Family Members,

I hope you are all well today and trying to find joy in the cold winter days. As we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, I want to address an important topic: safety in the car rider line. If you are a car rider parent or family member, it is so important that we work together to keep everyone safe. That includes our students, staff, and YOU!

Safety First: Tips for the Car Rider Line

1. Pay Attention: Please stay alert and focused while in the car rider line. Avoid distractions and keep your eyes on the road and surroundings.
2. Phones Down: Refrain from using your phone while driving in the car rider line. This ensures you can react quickly to any unexpected situations. This also ensures that you move your car forward when a space opens up. I see giant gaps each and every day due to people being phone focused.
3. Move Forward Cautiously: Proceed with caution and follow the directions of our staff members. Moving forward slowly helps prevent accidents.
4. Exit with Caution: When it's time to exit the car rider line, do so carefully. Watch for other vehicles and pedestrians. You may have also noticed that all of our exceptional learners are out front daily. Let's keep them safe, drive slowly!
5. Be Ready for Student Mistakes: Remember, our students are still learning and may make mistakes. Be prepared to stop or adjust your driving to keep everyone safe.
6. Be Kind to One Another: We are all part of the same school community. Show kindness and patience to fellow parents, students, and staff members.

By following these guidelines, we can ensure a safe and efficient car rider line for everyone. Let's work together to care for one another and keep our school community safe.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Dana Kaminski, Ph.D.

Riverside Intermediate Principal

Every year, we gather input from various stakeholder groups about possible revisions to our Student Handbook. Please consider reviewing our current Student Handbook https://www.hseschools.org/about/student-handbooks and offering feedback for enhancement; these suggestions could be revisions, removals, or additions. If you have suggestions, please feel free to email Dana Kaminski at dkaminski@hse.k12.in.us. All feedback is due by Friday, January 24. Thank you for your assistance in this important process!

Join Superintendent Pat Mapes at Schoolhouse 7 Café for an informal discussion and learn about the great things happening across the district on Wednesday, January 22 from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. at Schoolhouse 7 Café (12125 Cyntheanne Rd, Fishers). No registration is required – just stop by to hear updates, share your thoughts and ask questions.

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.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools is seeking public input on a Title IV Ed-Flex Waiver. To learn more about this waiver, how it will be used by the district, and to provide public comment please visit hseschools.org/publicnotices and click on IDOE Title IV Ed-Flex Waiver.

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

We are in search of assistance for the PTO in the upcoming year. As we prepare for the 2025/2026 school year, we are actively seeking parents and guardians who are interested in joining a committee or supporting a position within the PTO. If you're interested in finding out more about how you can contribute and become a part of the RSI PTO Community, please join us at our upcoming PTO Meeting on February 11, 2025, at 7 pm in the Media Library.

I think this is a fantastic way to show our appreciation for the Pacers and also have a terrific time at a wonderful price point. Check out our Pacer's fundraiser and select a game that interests you. Make sure that your child receives the credit by locking in the school name and your child's name. https://www.nba.com/pacers/school-night/2425/raptors

Dine to Donate cannot come soon enough! Save the dishes for someone else on January 27th from 12 pm until 9 pm at Blaze Pizza. We are hoping that you join us and mention RSI PTO so we can obtain a kickback to raise funds.

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

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.

6th grade:

Summary -

In this week’s lesson, your child learned how different parts of their brains play a part in managing their strong emotions.

Try This at Home -

Ask your child to teach you about some of the different parts of the brain and how they manage emotions. Look up a picture or video of the brain and learn some more!

5th grade:

Summary -

In this lesson, your child practiced building empathy for different groups affected by a community problem. Learning more about each group’s point of view will help them find solutions that can work better for everyone.

Try This at Home -

With your child, think about a problem in your community and make a list together of what you could do to learn more about someone else’s point of view. If possible, try out one of your strategies

Please see the attached information to enter the Yearbook Cover Contest as well as information for joining the Yearbook Club.

Our next Best Buddies event will be on Wednesday, January 29th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm in the Riverside Intermediate Cafeteria. We will have games, crafts, snacks, and more! All 5th/6th grade students will need a permission slip to attend. Late permission slips will not be accepted. Permission slips are due Monday, January 27th. Permission slips can be turned in to Miss James room 540 or emailed to dljames@hse.k12.in.us Please contact Miss James with any questions!

We at Purdue Extension Hamilton County are excited to share with your students about all the opportunities available through the 4-H Program. You may use the following or the attached pdf. Thank you for all you do to support 4-H and all of our wonderful Purdue Extension Programs!

“Don’t be caught in the cold! We encourage all families to enroll in 4-H by January 15. Participants must re-enroll every year. 4-H is an informal educational program where youth “learn by doing.” Anyone in grades 3-12 can learn life skills such as cooperation, leadership, decision-making, responsibility, and more through hands-on projects in more than 60 different subject areas.

Youth in grades K-2 may enroll in Mini 4-H. The 4-H Program is a great opportunity to develop a hobby, experience camp, make new friends, and promote family togetherness.”

For more information, contact the Purdue Extension Hamilton County Office at 317-776-0854 or visit puext.in/hamco4h.

Enroll online at in.4honline.com.

Sign Up Now - Early Bird Spring Sport Registration is Open!

Get ready for an action-packed spring! With 9 sports to choose from, there’s something for every skill level and interest. Early bird registration is now open at myathletics.com and runs through January 31st. Sign up for baseball, softball, soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, rugby, boys volleyball, pickleball and track & field. Explore detailed season information here and secure your spot today!

Spring Program Scholarships Available:
Interested in spring program scholarship opportunities with our leagues? Families who are on free or reduced lunch within the district can apply for one per season per child and must apply and be accepted during our open registration period. For spring sports these dates are January 1st – January 31st. Email 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.

The global meal will be served on Thursday, January 23rd!

6:30am before school - click button below for enrollment instructions

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