The Riverview Reader

For translation of this newsletter please click on the "Translate" button above or on the right hand side of this page.

Para traducir este boletín, haga clic en el botón "Traducir" arriba o en el lado derecho de esta página.

Si aad u turjunto warsidahan fadlan ku dhufo badhanka "Turjumi" ee kore ama dhinaca midig ee boggan.

Để dịch bản tin này, vui lòng nhấp vào nút "Dịch" ở trên hoặc ở phía bên phải của trang này.

Riverview Families,

This week students in grades 3-5 will begin MCA testing. Please make sure your child's iPad is fully charged on testing days, that they bring a pair of wired headphones (no bluetooth) to school, that they get a good night sleep, and an energizing breakfast on all testing days. Also, please help us remind them that any phones, smart watches, or bluetooth headphones are prohibited and their test will be invalidated if they have access to any of them while taking their MCAs.

Additionally, please offer them some reassurance and encouragement. Remind them of the fact that they have learned SO MUCH this school year, and now it is there chance to "show what they know". They should not feel any nervousness or anxiousness about MCAs. Remind them that you expect them to try their hardest in everything they do while at school and that their teachers do too. Tell them that you are proud of them, that you believe in them, and that no matter how they do on any test or project, you will always love and care for them.

Best wishes for a great week! Read, read, read...

Shawn Peck

Principal

• Tuesday, April 15 - MCA Reading Exams Begin (see below for details)
• Tuesday, April 15 - Deadline to Register For Summer STAR (see below for details)
• Thursday, April 17 - Dakota County Vaccine Opportunity (see below for details)
• Tuesday, April 22 - MCA Math Exams Begin (see below for details)
• Tuesday, April 29 - 5:00-6:00 "Spring Into Kindergarten" Open House for incoming 2025-2026 Kindergarteners
• Thursday, May 1 - 5th Grade Information Night at Dodge Middle School (see below for details)
• Saturday, May 3 - South of the River Powwow (see below for details)
• Friday, May 9 - Track & Field Day at RVES
• Monday, May 12 - 5th Grade Information Night at Boeckman Middle School (see below for details)
• Friday, May 16 - Grand Day (Musical Performance For 1st Grade)
• Thursday, May 22 - RVES Learner Showcase (see below for details)

The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards are the statewide expectations for student learning in public schools around the state. MCA exams are completed by students each year so schools can receive feedback on our practices and whether or not they are leading to success in meeting these standards and benchmarks. These assessments provide us with data that we can use to strengthen our instruction as we step forward toward continuous improvement. The results also provide us with a snapshot of individual student learning success. Assessments are an important part of learning, because they help us determine whether or not our ambitious goals are being met.

In short, these assessments let us know if we are on the right track so we take them seriously. We want our learners to do the same so the feedback we get is as accurate as possible. So much learning has taken place this school year and we are confident that our students will perform well on their MCAs if they give it their best effort. We consistently challenge our learners to try their hardest in all they do, and we know you do the same at home.

What can you do to help ensure your child is ready for MCA assessments?

• Make sure their school-issued iPad is updated to the most recent operating system
• Make sure their school-issued iPad is fully changed on all testing days
• If your child has wired (not bluetooth) headphones, please send them to school on testing days
• Remind your child that personal devices such as cell phones and smartwatches are not allowed in the classroom during testing.
• Make sure your child gets a good night of rest, a healthy energizing breakfast, and a word of encouragement on all testing days. Encourage your child to do their best and show what they know!

At RVES, we believe that every day at school is a chance to learn, grow, and have fun! Regular attendance and being on time each morning help our students build good habits and get the most out of their education.

When students come to school every day:

• ✅ They don’t miss important lessons and classroom activities.

• ✅ They build strong friendships and feel part of the school community.

• ✅ They develop routines that will help them succeed in school and beyond!

Being on time is just as important! Arriving on time helps students:

• ⏰ Start the day calmly and ready to learn.

• ⏰ Join in the morning routines and important instructions.

• ⏰ Show responsibility and respect for their learning.

We understand that sometimes things happen—like illness or emergencies—but when possible, let’s work together to make school attendance a top priority. Thank you for helping your child succeed!

We have recently been seeing more and more disruption to our instruction and learning due to phones and smartwatches, especially in the upper grades. Often times it is because students are messaging their parents or family members. We understand parents' desire to stay connected to their child during the school day, but we kindly ask that you do not message your child during the academic day. And we ask that you remind them to wait to message you until the end of the day.

Our school rule is that cell phones should be powered off and remain in lockers from the morning bell to the end of the school day. Most students understand this and follow the rule each day. If smartwatches become a disruption to the learning environment or a distraction to learning for the individual child, we will ask students to take it off and either give it to the teacher for the remainder of the day or return it to their locker for the remainder of the day. Of course, we would rather not have to worry about phones or smartwatches at all, but when they get in the way of learning we are obligated to do so. Thank you for your understanding.

This time of year again we tend to notice various organizations working to advertise for numerous events by placing yard signs or banners near school property. We want to remind all families and community members that we do not allow for placement of advertising materials on our properties. District groups can place signage on our properties, but all others should be run through the Superintendent’s Office and/or designee (typically the activities office at FHS). Any unapproved signs will be removed. Thank you for your understanding.

If you child was invited by their classroom teacher to participate in the summer STAR program, please remember that registration closes on April 15th. Registration information would have been handed out at conferences or sent home with your child. Please refer to this packet for information on getting registered. If you have lost the packet or need help registering, please contact your child’s teacher.

Dakota County will be hosting a low-cost/free vaccine clinic on Thursday April 17th for those who qualify. The clinic will be at the Dakota County Extension and Conversation Center in Farmington and run from 3:30-6:00 PM. If your child is an incoming K, 7 or 12th grader for the 25-26 school year or is missing vaccines this would be a great time to get those shots. See flier for the list of vaccines that will be offered. Please reach out to Dakota County Public Health if you have questions (their contact information is on the flyer below).

Riverview invites all parents of children who will be starting kindergarten in the fall to our annual open house on Tuesday, April 29 from 5:00-6:00. All parents will get the chance to meet the kindergarten teachers, visit the classrooms, explore the school, play on the playground, and more! We hope to see lot of future Riverview families. there.

5th Grade Families,

Welcome to Middle School! In the coming weeks, there will be many opportunities for you and your child to learn more about the middle school experience. Depending on your child’s middle school assignment, please plan to attend one of the following 5th Grade Family Engagement nights:

• Dodge Middle School - Thursday, May 1 at 5:30 PM

• Boeckman Middle School - Monday, May 12 at 5:30 PM

On these evenings, middle school staff will discuss the transition to 6th grade and families will have an opportunity to see the building. Administrators and counselors will be available for questions as well. Please do not hesitate to be in contact if we can support the transition to middle school in any way.

We look forward to beginning our partnership for the next several years!

Andy Nelson, Dodge Middle School Principal

Joe Sage, Boeckman Middle School Principal

More information to be shared soon!

Students entering grades 1-12 can take the stage in Storybook Theatre’s adaptation of The Little Mermaid! In partnership with Farmington Community Education, this exciting theatre camp gives young actors the chance to bring a classic tale to life while building confidence, creativity, and stage skills in a professional environment. Storybook Theatre is a touring theatre company dedicated to inspiring young artists through high-quality theatrical experiences.

Upon registration your child is automatically accepted into the cast, no acting experience necessary! Don’t miss this chance to be part of the magic of live theatre – sign up here: https://bit.ly/4cbrKLH

Want to join a great team of purpose driven people and make a difference in the lives of children? Consider applying for our open special education paraprofessional position! The position is for 32 hours per week and starts at $19.50 per hour. Click here to learn more and to apply. Feel free to reach out to principal, Shawn Peck at speck@farmington.k12.mn.us if you have any questions.

If your child - or a child you know - is ready to start kindergarten in fall 2025, now is the time to enroll! Enrolling now ensures you’re in the loop for all upcoming events and communications and it gives schools a chance to plan so they are fully prepared to give your child the best start possible. Enroll today at bit.ly/kindergarten-enrollment. We can’t wait to welcome our new learners this fall!

Visit the RVES Spirit Wear School Store for lots of ways to show your school spirit. You can order online and pick up at school. Everything is super easy and all profits from sales are used by the Riverview PTP to support students and staff. Thank you for your support!

Please email spiritwear@rvesptp.org if you have questions or to arrange a pick up time at the school store.

If a student will be absent, a parent/guardian must call Riverview’s attendance line at 651-460-1605 prior to 8:45 AM each day of the absence. You can call 24/7 and if no one answers, please leave a message. We ask that parents/guardians provide the reason for the absence at the time they call. If the school does not receive a call from the parent/guardian the day of the absence, the student’s absence is automatically marked as unexcused.

You can also click on this link to fill out online when your child will be gone.

April 7

March 31

March 17

March 10

March 3

February 24

February 17

February 10

February 3

January 27

January 20

January 13

January 6

December 16

December 9

December 2

November 25

November 18

November 11

November 4

October 28

October 21

October 14

October 7

September 30

September 23

September 16

September 9

September 2

August 26

August 19

August 12

The mission of Riverview Elementary School, a learner-centered community that transforms the future of learning, is to ensure each individual continuously grows emotionally, socially, and academically to have a positive impact in their communities through:

• Honoring the diverseness of our communities
  
• Learning experiences driven by passions, sparks, and interests
  
• Reflection on the learning process and real-life experiences
  
• Collaborative relationships, trust, and open communication

Our Objectives:

• Each learner continuously demonstrates academic and personal growth.
  
• Each learner develops the skills to understand how they learn best.
  
• Each learner possesses the skills to advocate for themselves and others.
  
• Each learner continuously explores personal interests and passions to drive their learning.

Read more about our Strategic Framework here.

Email: speck@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: https://rves.farmington.k12.mn.us/
Location: 4100 208th Street West, Farmington, MN 55024, USA
Phone: 651-460-1600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rve192