Ranger Report
River Mill Elementary - October 9, 2026
Dear River Mill Families,
Thank you so much for joining us at the Second Grade Family Breakfast on Wednesday! It was such a joy to see so many of you sharing breakfast with your students and spending quality time together. Your presence made the event truly special, and we are grateful for your continued support of our school community. We look forward to many more opportunities to connect and celebrate your children’s growth and achievements!
Our Harvest Festival is just around the corner on Thursday, October 29th from 5:00-7:00! Get ready for a fun-filled evening with carnival games! This will be a CASH ONLY event. Plus, if you'd rather skip cooking dinner, we’ll have pizza available for purchase. We are looking for parent volunteers and candy donations. Information is below. Thank you for your help!
Please complete the PARENT/CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE SURVEY (Link Below)
At River Mill, we are committed to providing a positive and enriching experience for all our families. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand what we are doing well and where we can improve. By sharing your thoughts, you will help us enhance the school experience for your child.
Please take a few minutes to complete our survey. We recommend finishing it in one sitting, as your responses will only be saved once you click “submit.” You will be asked to select your child’s school, and if you have children in multiple schools, you can complete a separate survey for each one.
Note: On some mobile phones, the survey may display better if you switch to "desktop site" mode in your browser.
Thank you for your continued support at River Mill!
Lindsey Fullenwider, Principal
Trevor Syring, Vice Principal
This Week's Schedule
In order to help you all know what the week looks like, we will list it out clearly for you each week. REID days are for ALL students! Students will engage in a variety of meaningful learning opportunities on Friday REID Days. Depending on their needs, students may participate in enrichment and extension activities, take on additional challenges, or receive targeted support to strengthen specific skills. On those days, our doors open at 7:50 and dismissal is at 10:00 am. If you have questions about this week's schedule, please let us know!
This Week:
- Oct. 12th: Regular School Day
- Oct. 13th: Regular School Day (PTO Meeting 5:00--6:00 pm - See information below)
- Oct. 14th: Regular School Day
- Oct. 15th: Regular School Day
- Oct. 16th: REID Day for ALL Students (8:00 am - 10:00 am)
Upcoming Events:
- Oct 26-29: Red Ribbon Week
- Oct 29th: Harvest Festival (See Flyer Below)
- Nov. 10th: Picture Retakes
- Nov. 18-24: Book Fair
- Nov. 23-24: Conferences
Parent/Family Engagement Survey
At River Mill, we are committed to providing a positive and enriching experience for all our families. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us understand what we are doing well and where we can improve. By sharing your thoughts, you will help us enhance the school experience for your child. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are conducting a survey in partnership with Studer Education to monitor our progress in creating a positive school experience for you and your child(ren). Your feedback is crucial in helping us identify areas for recognition and improvement.
The survey will ask you to select the school your child(ren) attends. Once you complete the survey for one school, you will have the option to provide feedback on another school, if you have a child at another school in the district. Providing feedback to each school should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We encourage you to complete it in one sitting, as your responses will be saved once you click submit.
Note: On some mobile phones, the survey may display better if you switch to "desktop site" mode in your browser.
The Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey can be accessed here:
The survey is open from Monday, October 5th, to Friday, October 16th.
To maintain the confidentiality of the Parent/Caregiver Survey, our partners at Studer Education will be administering the survey, managing the data collection, and aggregating the data to provide results reports to leaders.
Thank you for your partnership!
Responsibility Awards
Yesterday, during our morning assembly, we had the pleasure of honoring two students from each classroom who exemplified Responsibility. Students are recognized for showing responsibility when they make positive choices, take ownership of their learning and actions, and follow through on their commitments. Whether it’s completing work on time, taking care of materials, or helping others, these students demonstrate that they can be counted on to do what’s right — even when no one is watching!
REID Days
REID Days Are for EVERY Ranger! 💚
At River Mill, ALL students are invited and encouraged to attend REID Days! While attendance is not required, we HIGHLY encourage families to have their child participate.
REID Days provide additional learning opportunities designed around what each student needs to grow and thrive. Students may participate in fun, engaging enrichment and extension activities in reading, writing, math, and more. Students who would benefit from additional practice with important grade-level skills may also receive targeted, small-group instruction, giving them extra time, attention, and support to build skills and confidence.
REID Days are also a wonderful opportunity for students to collaborate with classmates, strengthen skills, explore new learning, and have FUN!
There is something valuable for EVERY student on REID Day!
REID Day Details
⏰ Time: 8:00–10:00 a.m.
🚌 Transportation: Bus transportation is available to and from school on REID Fridays. Please refer to the communication from our Transportation Department for your child's Friday pickup and drop-off times.
🚗 Going Home Differently? If your child will have a different dismissal plan on REID Day than on a typical school day, please make sure to update their dismissal information in ParentSquare so we know how they will be getting home.
🍎 Breakfast & Snack: Breakfast will not be provided on REID Fridays. However, students will receive a hearty bagged snack to enjoy at school before our 10:00 a.m. dismissal.
We encourage families to plan for their child to attend REID Fridays throughout the school year so they don't miss out on these additional opportunities to learn, grow, connect, and have fun!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We can't wait to see our Rangers on REID Fridays! 💚
October Attendance!
Red Ribbon Week
Harvest Festival
We need help with donations
Lost and Found
Families: Please label your student's sweatshirts and coats with first and last names.
With fall weather arriving, we’re starting to see chilly mornings and warm afternoons! 🍂 As those jackets and sweatshirts come off throughout the day, our Lost & Found is already beginning to grow. Please take a moment to label your child’s jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes and other items with their name. This makes it much easier for us to return lost items to their owners and keep them out of the Lost & Found. Thank you for helping us keep our Rangers’ belongings where they belong! 💚
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Student Pick Up Reminder
Parents: Have ID ready and with you at Parent Pick Up
For the safety of all students, please remember to always bring your photo ID with you at parent pick-up. Our teachers see many faces each day and will always err on the side of caution if they don’t recognize a pick-up adult. If your child’s teacher has a substitute, that substitute will also ask to see ID.
We know this may feel like an extra step, but it’s an important safety precaution to make sure every child goes home with the right person. Thank you for supporting our teachers and helping us keep all students safe!
Counselor's Corner
PickUp Patrol -- How is your child getting home?
FOR ALL FAMILIES: TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
To ensure the safety of all our students, we ask that all families use the PickUp Patrol app to inform us of their child's daily transportation plans. Please make sure you have set up your child's plans for the first day of school and for the rest of the school year. This is an essential step for the first day of school. You can update these plans at any time! Registration emails were sent earlier this week.
PickUp Patrol in NOT for our PreK Students.
If you need any help or support, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here and happy to assist!
Kindergarten and First Grade Drop Off
For safety, Kindergarten and First Grade students will not be released from the bus unless an approved adult is present at the bus stop with identification. The adult must be listed on the student’s approved pick-up list.
Kindergarten and First Grade students may be released with an older sibling, but families must complete the required transportation paperwork in advance to give permission for this.
A Few Other Bus Reminders
- Please allow some extra time for buses during the first few days of school as drivers, students, and families adjust to new routes and routines.
- If you have questions about your child’s bus route, approved pick-up procedures, or the required paperwork, please contact our Transportation Department at 503-630-8606.
Thank you for partnering with us to make arrival and dismissal safe and smooth for all of our Rangers! We are so excited to welcome our students back to school! 💚🚌
Attendance Matters!
We want to take a moment to stress how important it is for students to be at school—on time—every day. Consistent attendance builds strong learning habits, helps students keep up with important instruction, and supports both their academic and social growth. Thank you for partnering with us to make sure your child is present and ready to learn each day!
Research shows that when students miss just one day of school each month, it can add up to weeks of lost learning over the course of a year, which makes a significant impact. Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student achievement, as it ensures children don’t miss key lessons, group activities, and opportunities to practice new skills with their peers.
We know mornings can be busy, and sometimes life throws curveballs, but your efforts to get your child to school on time each day make a big difference. Thank you for partnering with us to build strong routines and support your child’s success—we are here to help every step of the way!
River Mill Elementary Title Family Engagement Policy
At River Mill Elementary, we are committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed. Through our Title I program, we work together with teachers, parents, and students to provide the support and resources needed to help every student thrive in reading and beyond. We recognize the importance of forming a strong partnership with families and community members in order to positively impact the students in our school. We value input from parents, guardians, and community members in decision making. Please review the attached document to view our process for engaging families as partners in the educational process.
Nutrition Services
Meal Prices for the 2026-2027 School Year
Great news! This year, ALL students will receive free breakfast and lunch — and that includes meals on REID days too!
Hello Families!
Since 2000, Todos Juntos has been a leading non-profit in Clackamas County, bringing the capacity and expertise needed to improve outcomes for rural communities. They have developed after-school programs that provide leadership development and pro-social opportunities for historically underserved populations, and have expanded their reach to offer community-based, comprehensive, and integrated programs in four Clackamas County communities.
Todos Juntos is proud to make a positive difference in the lives of many families — and we are proud to partner with them here at River Mill!
Please take a moment to check out their Early Learning Newsletter — it’s filled with helpful information and great resources for families! Just click the green link below to view it.
Family Nights Out
Cell Phones and Personal Electronic Devices
In alignment with Oregon’s state mandate and Estacada School District Policy JFCEB, personal electronic devices must be AWAY AND SILENCED from bell to bell during the school day.
Personal electronic devices include, but are not limited to:
Cell phones and smartphones
Smartwatches
Tablets and e-readers
Smart glasses, including Meta Glasses
Earbuds, including AirPods
Headphones
Other personal devices capable of calling, texting, connecting to the internet, or communicating electronically
AWAY AND SILENCED Means:
Devices must be silenced and stored in the student’s backpack for the entire school day.
Devices do not need to be powered off; they simply need to be silenced and away.
Smartwatches may not be worn during the school day, even when turned off or being used only as a watch.
Earbuds and headphones must also remain stored away unless they are school-provided or being used as directed by staff for an instructional purpose.
The expectation applies bell to bell, including recess, lunch, transitions, and other activities during the school day.
If a Personal Device Is Out or Being Used During the School Day:
First Instance of Noncompliance:
Staff will remind the student of the AWAY AND SILENCED expectation and ask the student to put the device in their backpack.
Second Instance of Noncompliance:
The device will be temporarily held in the school office until the end of the school day. The student may pick up the device at dismissal, and the parent/caregiver will be notified.
Third Instance of Noncompliance:
The device will again be temporarily held in the school office. A parent/caregiver will be notified and will need to pick up the device from the office. School staff will work with the family to develop a plan for following the device expectations.
Beyond the Third Instance of Noncompliance:
The student may be asked to leave the device at home or check the device into the school office each morning for the remainder of the school day. Administration will work with the student and family to determine appropriate next steps.
Health & Accessibility Accommodations
Exceptions will be made for students who require access to an electronic device as part of a documented medical need, 504 Plan, or IEP.
Personal Responsibility
RME, CRE, and the Estacada School District are not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of personal electronic devices brought to school or school-sponsored activities.
The easiest way to remember our expectation: AWAY AND SILENCED, bell to bell.
Estacada Community-Built Basketball Program
School Year Calendar
Annual Notice for Oregon's Statewide Summative Assessments in ELA and Math
Oregon law (ORS 329.479) permits parents/guardians and adult students* to annually opt out of Oregon’s statewide summative tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and/or Mathematics by submitting this form to the school the student attends. The school shall provide any student who is excused from a statewide ELA or mathematics test with supervised study time while other students are testing. To opt-out of OSAS statewide summative tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and/or Mathematics, please complete the form, provided in the button below. This form must be completed by the parent/guardian.
Visit Oregon’s Starting Smarter webpage (https://or.startingsmarter.org) to learn more about what your child should know and be able to do in English Language Arts and Math, to view sample test questions, and to read more about your child’s test results. Contact your child’s teacher or school principal with questions.