Dear Families,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year at Riverside Elementary! We’re excited to open our doors and welcome students and families as we work together to create a supportive environment that encourages academic success, personal development, and a strong community spirit. At Riverside Elementary, we recognize that each student brings unique talents and potential. Our dedicated team of educators is here to nurture these talents and help every student reach their goals.
You’re an integral part of our Riverside team, and we encourage you to actively participate in your student’s education. We believe that a strong partnership between the school and families is crucial for student success. Open communication and engagement with our teachers and staff are essential for creating a supportive, positive, and thriving learning environment.
This year, we have exciting plans and initiatives to enhance the overall learning experience for our students. We will maintain our commitment to delivering a comprehensive education by offering ample opportunities to excel academically, as well as in extracurricular activities and personal development.
Throughout the year, we will keep you updated on school events, academic progress, and important announcements through our website, newsletters, and parent-teacher conferences. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to support you in every way we can.
Please help us welcome the following staff who will be joining our Riverside Team: Riley Duis, School Counselor; Kendell Lubben, Preschool Teacher; Liz Garry, Second Grade Teacher; Kenna Miller, Third Grade Teacher; Tala Wilhelm, Paraprofessional, and Katelyn Sorensen, Office Administrative Assistant.
School packets have been mailed out with your child's classroom teacher's information, and other important information. PK-3 Conferences will be held at Riverside Elementary on Tuesday, September 3, from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday, September 4 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Classes begin on Thursday, September, 5.
Students will have the opportunity to have their fall pictures taken before or after a scheduled conference with teachers. If you haven't already scheduled a time for your student to meet their teacher, please call the school office at 507-847-5963. Lifetouch packets may be picked up in the main office. If you prefer to order online, please see the Lifetouch School Code information in this newsletter or on our school webpage. Photographers will be located in the small gym and we will have helpers to collect picture packets.
Thank you to “Supplies for Kids” which has generously donated many school supplies for students. You do not need to purchase supplies, but if you prefer to buy certain items for your students, the grade-specific school supplies flier has been included in back-to-school packets. You can bring any supplies during your parent-teacher conference.
*All new students and incoming kindergarten students should stop by the cafeteria to get their fingerprints scanned by food service.
This year our Husky Pride Traits will be aligned with Pleasantview Elementary and the Middle School as we implement the B.A.R.K. Husky Pride Traits.
1. Be Respectful. Respecting yourself, the rights of others, and property.
2. Act Responsibly. Being a responsible learner and accepting responsibility for your actions.
3. Remember Safety. Acting in a healthy and safe manner.
4. Kindness Counts. Being positive and kind towards yourself and others.
During morning meeting time PK-3 classrooms will have Kikori Social-Emotional Learning activities that help students develop a sense of belonging, leadership, and responsibility. This will be in addition to Quest SEL classes with our new school counselor, Riley Duis.
For our schedule this year, K-3 breakfast will be served at Riverside from 7:40-8:10 a.m., and classes will begin at 8:15 a.m. Preschool breakfast will be served at 8:15 a.m. in the classrooms. School will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. and on Wednesdays, we will have a 2:00 p.m. Early Dismissal.
Breakfast and lunch will be free to all students. If a student brings their lunch, they will need to pay for milk if they would like one.
The first day of school for PK-3 grade students will be on Thursday, September 5. Students should arrive at school no later than 8:10 a.m. If you would like them to eat breakfast, please have them at the school by 8:00 a.m.
Kindergarten parents/guardians are welcome to walk with their kindergarteners to their classrooms on the first day of school, as they get acquainted with their classrooms and teachers. We understand the first day, can be emotional sometimes for both parents and students, and will do our best to ensure that our new kindergartners feel welcome and safe. After the first day, if parents are dropping their students off at school and would like to bring them inside, we ask that you help us build their independence by having a brief goodbye and reassuring hug in our "Hug & Go" area by the main office. We will have staff available to walk them to their classrooms and areas.
If you have any questions at any time, please contact us at 507-847-5963.
Go Huskies!
Dr. Kim Meyer
Riverside Elementary Principal
507-847-6649
School begins at 8:15 a.m. Careful records are kept on all cases of absence or tardiness. Attendance is a key indicator of a student’s academic success, and it is important to communicate with the school office if your child needs to be absent or tardy. It is our goal to work with students, families, and communities to support regular school attendance and improve academic achievement.
As a safety check, we ask that you call the school office before 8:10 a.m. if your child will be absent or tardy. A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom by the 8:15 a.m. bell. Students will need to check into the office if they arrive after 8:15 a.m. If it ever becomes necessary for a student to leave school early, stop in the office and sign them out. We want to be sure they are in good hands.
For every absence, please call the SCHOOL OFFICE at 507-847-5963, even if you have contacted the teacher. For detailed information regarding our attendance policy please refer to the Student-Family Handbook on our Riverside webpage.
Parent Portal Information
Online Payments for Meal Accounts
Online payments are now available via the Parent Portal Website. Simply log-in to your Parent Portal to deposit a payment into your child's meal account. There is a $4.00 convenience fee per transaction. You can deposit to multiple accounts per transaction. Any questions, please contact the district office at 507 847 3608.
*Parents/Guardians are always welcome to join students for lunch. We are unable to access a child's account for your meal, so please plan to pay cash for your meal/s when you sign in at the office.
Adult Lunches: $5.00
Please contact Palmer Bus Service for any questions on routes or transportation at 507-849-7117.
BUSING:
- Shuttle Bus to PLV/MS: Leaves Riverside at 7:40 a.m. (playground blacktop)
- Shuttle Bus from PLV/MS: Arrives at Riverside 8:00 a.m.
- Route Buses: Arrive at Riverside at 8:00 a.m.
- K-3 Breakfast: Served from 7:40-8:10 a.m.
- Preschool Breakfast: Served at 8:15 a.m. in classrooms
- School Begins: 8:15 a.m.
- School Ends: 3:05 p.m.
- Afternoon Shuttle Bus to PLV/MS: Leaves Riverside at 3:15 p.m.
- Afternoon Route Buses: Arrive/Leave Riverside at 3:45 p.m.
MORNING DROP-OFF LOCATIONS:
Door 2 - Main Office
Door 3 - Lower Parking Lot
Discovery Place - Preschool students
PRESCHOOL PARENT DROP OFF: 8:00-8:15 a.m.
Preschool students should be dropped off at the Discovery Place Preschool. We have staff waiting to guide students to their designated locations and classrooms.
After 8:15 a.m., preschool students must check in at the Discovery Place Office.
Breakfast for preschool students is served in the classroom at 8:15 a.m.
Families needing to drop off before 8:00 a.m. may utilize Kids Club at Discovery Place and will be charged a fee. Please make arrangements with Kids Club if your student needs before-school care.
PRESCHOOL PICK-UP: 3:05-3:15 p.m.
Students will be picked up from the Discovery Place Door (unless arranged to meet older siblings at different locations).
K-3 PARENT DROP-OFF: 7:40-8:10 a.m.
All K-3 students should be dropped off by the lower parking lot by Door 3.
Door 3 will be locked until 7:40 a.m., and students cannot be left unattended outside.
We have staff available to meet students and guide them inside beginning at 7:40 a.m..
After 8:15 a.m., K-3 students must check in at the main office by Door 2.
Families needing to drop off before 7:40 a.m. may utilize Kids Club at Discovery Place and will be charged a fee. Please make arrangements with Kids Club if your student needs before-school care.
HUG AND GO AREA:
K-3 parents bringing students into the building will need to enter the Main Office area at Door 2 where we have a Hug and Go area.
To help students become more independent, we ask that parents reassure students and keep their goodbyes brief when they drop students off in the Hug and Go area.
We have staff to help guide students to their designated areas.
To maintain a school learning environment with minimal distractions, parents/visitors are not able to walk students to and from lockers or classrooms unless they have a scheduled visit.
AFTERNOON PICK-UP LOCATIONS: (Parents let teachers/students know if you need to meet students at a different location)
Door 2 - Main Office for Kindergarten students
Door 3 - Lower Parking Lot for grades 1-3 students
Discovery Place - Preschool students
KINDERGARTEN PICK-UP: 3:05-3:15 p.m.
Students will be picked up by Door 2 (upper parking lot). For safety, if parents are parked across the street, they must walk over and cross the street with their student/s. We will not let students cross the street by themselves.
FIRST-THIRD: 3:05-3:15 p.m.
Students will be picked up by Door 3 by the lower parking lot. Older siblings will be dismissed to pick up their younger siblings in their classrooms and take them to designated areas.
PARKING
To avoid traffic congestion, there is available parking at Salem Lutheran Church parking lot, on Park Street, or the upper or lower parking lots. There is no parking or driving on the playground or in bus zones.
LATE AFTER SCHOOL PICK-UP
Students not picked up by 3:30 p.m. will be walked to Kids Club and charged a flat rate weekly fee. Parents will need to pick them up from the Kids Club area.
1-3 days = $25.00
4-5 day per week = $50.00
KIDS CLUB
For more information regarding Kids Club please visit the website at https://www.jccschools.com/kidsclubdaycare or contact Kids Club Director, Holly Schmit to arrange for before and/or after-school care.
Kids Club Phone: 507-847-5868
Email: holly.schmit@jccschools.net
END-OF-DAY CHANGES:
Changes to end-of-day transportation plans must be communicated by email to the office and teacher or by direct call to the office at least 30 minutes before dismissal to avoid students following their normal end-of-day procedures.
NON-HOUSEHOLD TRANSPORTATION:
Students will not be allowed to go home with a non-household relationship without prior communication. Transportation of students by non-parent/guardians must be requested in advance of dismissal by the parent/guardian.
PICK-UP/DROP OFF DURING SCHOOL HOURS:
*If you are picking up or dropping off your child during school hours, you will need to sign them out in the main office (door 2). To ensure safety, students will not be allowed to leave the building until a parent/guardian signs them out from the office.
Email: kim.meyer@jccschools.net
Website: https://www.jccschools.com/riversideelementary
Location: 820 Park Street, Jackson, MN 56143