Thank you to our amazing otter community who stopped by last night to support our students as they showed off their work at the Power of Words event! We're so proud to share how students have discovered the power of words in prose, poetry, and crafts. Check out some of the fun our families had and bookmark our next family engagement night on your calendar!
Before we officially begin winter break, we want to take a moment to celebrate the amazing students we have at RPS! During their annual fundraising competitions, our high school students raised a combined $123,077.95 for local organizations! Thank you, students, for all your hard work and effort to invest back into our community.
Thank you to Operation One More, and to everyone who organized, donated, and volunteered to deliver. Your generosity made a meaningful difference for several local schools, including Riverside.
Nature came indoors for Kindergarten! Sara Holger from Project GO helped students create sound maps, using instruments that echoed animal calls like the loon and the elk, along with photos of the animals themselves.
We’re grateful to HyVee and Pasquale’s for donating such delicious, quality food to our Community School Resource Rooms. Your support means so much to our families!
Dear Riverside Community, thank you for stepping up when food security felt uncertain. Your generosity filled our shelves—and our hearts. 💚 Our food shelf has never looked so good.
A huge shout-out to Emily Soderberg for spearheading this effort and making such a meaningful impact.
A huge shout-out to Emily Soderberg for spearheading this effort and making such a meaningful impact.
A powerful morning at Riverside. 💜 Brass Etc. joined our Walk for Ruby Bridges, and the president of the Rochester NAACP spoke about Ruby’s legacy of courage and inclusion.
What a fun STEM Night at Riverside! We’re so grateful to our partners—Winona State University, the Rochester Public Library, and First Alliance Bank—for bringing hands-on learning to our students.
Riverside families made waves at Family Canoe Night! Big thanks to Wilderness Inquiry and RPS Family Engagement for helping our Otters paddle into adventure together.
This month, our 4th–6th graders had an amazing day at Silver Lake with Wilderness Inquiry’s giant Canoemobiles! They learned to paddle, explore nature, and connect with our local environment thanks to awesome partners from Oxbow Park and Project GO.
Rochester Public Schools uses the Standard Response Protocol in response to emergencies that may occur in our school buildings. Students and staff will train, practice, and drill the protocol throughout the year. Learn more about what "hold," "secure," "lockdown," "evacuate," and "shelter" mean: https://www.rochesterschools.org/standard-response-protocol
Big milestones, big smiles! Riverside kindergarteners and 5th graders celebrated the end of an amazing year as they prepare to take their next steps. From first school days to moving on to middle school -- we're so proud of all they've accomplished!
What a night! Riverside Elementary wrapped up the final Family Night of the year with Spanish Immersion dance performances, a stunning K–5 Art Showcase, street painting with Slatterly Park neighbors, and more. Art, culture, and family—what a way to end the year!
At Riverside, our Hammock Forest is a calm, nature-filled space for quiet reading, drawing, studying, and mindfulness. With the sound of the river and bustling trees, Ms. Lenz has helped students AND staff learn to slow down, notice their surroundings, and engage all their senses. These moments build focus, calm, and self-awareness - tools that support learning and well-being.
Riverside Otters got moving during a high-energy break-dancing residency with artist Mona Lisa. Through guided instruction and creative exploration, 2nd graders built coordination, confidence, and self-expression -- all while learning the art of breaking. Families were invited to see what children learned on the final day.
Yoga isn't just for grown-ups -- it helps kids build strength, focus, confidence, and can even help manage big emotions. Instructor, Jess Faunce made special connections to nature during this residency with Riverside 1st Graders.
Riverside Kindergarteners had an unforgettable visit to Red Barn Learning Center - for some, it was their very first time seeing farm animals up close! This hands-on experience opened their eyes to where our food comes from and the hard work behind it.
The 2nd Grade classes had an unforgettable day releasing butterflies as part of their science curriculum! Watching the butterflies take flight was a magical way to wrap up their lessons on life cycles and metamorphosis.
Our Spanish Immersion classes had a blast celebrating Día de los Niños with a festive piñata and cascarones! A joyful day filled with culture, laughter, and community as we honored the children at the heart of our school.
Riverside Elementary had an amazing drumming residency with Mike Arturi, drummer for The Lovin’ Spoonful! Our kindergarteners learned about rhythm, teamwork, and self-control. Families joined us on the final day to discover how they can make music at home with everyday objects! Big thanks to Mike for bringing the rhythm to our school! 🙌🎵
