OWL NEWS
VOLUME 7 - OCTOBER 30, 2025
Owl Families,
Thank you to all the families who have supported our Dance Marathon fundraiser! As a reminder, donations close on Friday, October 31, and we’re so excited for the big celebration event that same day. Your generosity helps make Riverside a vibrant and thriving community—thank you!
It was also wonderful seeing so many of you at parent-teacher conferences this week. We deeply appreciate your partnership and all you do to support our scholars and staff. With the second quarter now underway, we’re looking forward to continued growth, learning, and connection.
We are also thrilled to recognize Ms. Anna Dawson as our Owl Supporter for the month of October! Ms. Dawson, who also serves as our incredible 5C, exemplifies dedication and heart in everything she does. Even while on maternity leave, she has continued to find meaningful ways to support Riverside—whether it's lending a hand in the office, assisting in the media center, or simply being a positive presence in our community.
We feel so lucky to have Ms. Dawson and her wonderful children as part of the Riverside family. Her commitment and care make a lasting impact, and we truly cannot imagine Riverside without her. Congratulations, Ms. Dawson, and thank you for being such an inspiring Owl Supporter!
As we wrap up October and move into November, we want to highlight just how grateful we are to work and learn with the entire Riverside community!
With much love and respect,
Ms. Kama-Starr and Mr. Cohen
IMPORTANT DATES
10/31 - Dance Marathon & Costume Parade
11/4 - Election Day [No School Scholars/PD Day for Educators]
11/11 - Veteran's Day [No School Scholars and Educators]
11/18 - Picture Retake Day
11/18 - PTC Meeting at 6:00PM in the cafeteria
11/19 - Family First Night and PTC Fundraiser at Red Robin
11/26-11/29 - Thanksgiving Break [No School for All Scholars and Educators]
CMSD FAMILY-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS SURVEY
Today or tomorrow, your child(ren) will be bringing home a flyer with information about a district-wide Family-School Relationships Survey.
We hope you will please take a few minutes between now and November 7th to complete the survey.
You can also access the survey through this link:
https://surveys.panoramaed.com/clevelandmetroschoolsoh/fall25family/surveys?language=en
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Kama-Starr or Mr. Cohen if you have any questions.
Thanks in advance. We certainly appreciate your partnership!
NEW RIVERSIDE PARENT AMBASSADOR
My name is Kathi Bloom, I am excited to announce that I am the new Parent Ambassador for Riverside! This is my 4th year as a Parent Ambassador. I am also assigned to Artemus Ward (where I have a 4th grade son).
My main goal as the P.A. is to get families involved in their child's education. I will work on this goal by getting families registered for the online CMSD Gradebook, attending family nights, being involved with the Parent Teacher Council and assisting with communications between the school and families.
I will be at Riverside on Mondays from 8:30AM to 1:30PM with additional time being added in the future. I am at Artemus Ward on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00AM to 1:00PM.
I can be reached at 216-370-3357(google voice), Class Dojo messenger or by email at katherine.bloom@clevelandmetroschools.org.
I cannot wait to meet you!
Our Dance Marathon fundraiser wraps up tomorrow, Friday, October 31! To be honest, we are falling well short of our goal. We are hoping we can finish strong. If each child's family could donate just $5.00 that would help us raise another $2,500. We hope you will consider donating.
October 31st Dance Marathon Schedule
10:00-10:25 PreK, Kinder, and 1st Grade
10:25-10:50 2nd and 3rd Grade
10:50-11:15 4th and 5th Grade
12:45-1:10 8th Grade
1:10-1:35 7th Grade
1:35-1:55 6th Grade
The Dance Marathon will culminate in our annual Costume Parade and the announcement of our final fundraising total. Our goal is $10,000—and every dollar makes a difference!
A few notes about costumes...
- Scholars are permitted to wear their costumes for the duration of the day at school.
- Scholars cannot bring any accessories that resemble any type of weapon. Examples include but are not limited to knives, guns, cleavers, machete, etc.
- Scholars can wear minimal face paint (eye makeup, lipstick, scars, etc.).
- Please ensure that your child can take their costume on and off independently. It is a good idea that scholars have t-shirts, leggings, or shorts under their costumes in case they need to take them off during the school day.
- Scholars still need to wear school appropriate footwear.
- Scholars can ONLY wear masks during the parade time for the safety of all scholars.
SAY YES W/ MS. INDIA
What's Inside:
-Digital C Internet
-Community Coat Giveaway
-FREE medworks dental clinic
-Thanksgiving Heroes - Self-nomination for food to be delivered for Thanksgiving dinner
-Thanksgiving Luncheon
-Produce Markets
FROM NURSE UPPERMAN
The Cleveland Clinic Van is coming Monday, 11/10/2025. The Mobile Dentist is coming on 12/15, 12/16, and 12/17. Sign up below!
PTC CORNER
Please save the date for our next Family First night at Red Robin!
PICTURE DAY INFORMATION
MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE
A big shout out and thank you to Ms. Bodon and Mr. Cuevas for providing mini donuts for everyone at our Middle School dance! Please check them out for all of your upcoming events!
A HUGE thank you to the following that helped out at the Fall Dance:
Selena Hernandez
Tiffany Rudo
Stephanie Bodon
Hendrick Cuevas
Aris Ward
ATTENDANCE
- Please call the office (216-838-6700) if your child will not be at school.
- Scholars are tardy after 9:35AM.
- Scholars will not be released early from school without the office receiving communication and consent from a family member by 3:30PM. We also ask that scholars are not picked up between 3:00PM - 4:05PM. This is to support our preparations for dismissal.
CMSD NUTRITION SERVICES IS HIRING
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
DROP-OFF (Arrival)
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Drop-off begins at 9:15 AM.
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This is a rolling line: Pull up → Scholars hop out → Families drive off.
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Please ensure your child is ready to exit the vehicle quickly and safely when you reach the drop-off zone.
PICK-UP (Dismissal)
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Dismissal begins at 3:55 PM.
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Pick-up also follows a rolling line model: Pull up → Display your pick-up card on your dashboard → Wait for your child to be brought to you.
PICK-UP CARDS
- All families must complete [THIS FORM] to receive updated pick-up cards.
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All adults picking up scholars must have a pick-up card displayed.
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If you don’t have a card, you will be asked to show ID.
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If your child is riding with another Riverside family, that family must have a card for each child they are picking up.
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Cards from last year will not be accepted—all adults picking up will need newly printed cards for the 2025–2026 school year.
NEW THIS YEAR -- Any family choosing to walk to Riverside to pick up their child, will need to pick them up, with a pick up card, from the cafeteria door. No families will be permitted to stand in front of the main entrance nor enter the main office from 3:30-4:05PM.
TRAFFIC FLOW & SAFETY
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Follow the traffic map carefully and enter the car line from Warren Road and Montrose Avenue.
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Do NOT enter from Glencliffe Road—this entrance is for bus riders only.
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Scholars will enter and exit only on the curbside of your vehicle.
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Do not block driveways, crosswalks, or park in our neighbors’ driveways.
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The school parking lot is closed to families during arrival and dismissal.
The playground is closed to families and scholars during arrival and dismissal
SCHOOL MISSION
In partnership with our families and communities, Riverside will develop responsible scholars, who think critically and creatively while becoming lifelong learners who make positive contributions to our diverse society. Riverside is committed to providing student-centered, inclusion-based educational practices that seamlessly incorporate technology, the arts, health, and fitness.
Riverside, we overcome, we evolve, we grow - today, tomorrow, and always!