Riverbend Parent Newsletter

Riverbend Families,

Trimester 3 is upon us! This school year is going by so quickly! Our core value of focus for this trimester is Resilience. Traditionally, the last part of the school year tends to be the most challenging for students and staff alike. The weather gets warmer, the days get longer, and thoughts start to shift to summer plans. When you combine those aspects with already challenging events like MAP testing and End of Year Assessments (EOY’s), resilience is a key component needed to help our students finish strong. If you find that your student is struggling to make it through, here are some suggestions that could make the difference they need:

• Self-Advocacy - Encourage your student to communicate openly and often with their teachers about their needs. Sometimes, teachers may not be aware that a student is struggling because they don’t ask questions or ask for help. Clear communication can help everyone determine the problem and work together to find a solution.

• Regular Check-In’s - Each Friday, our students are required to complete a grade check during Tribe. Ask them to share that with you as well. It’s a great tool for parents/guardians to stay informed about student progress, and it gives students some accountability to know where they stand.

• Brain Breaks - Everyone needs some time to decompress this time of year. Adults and students alike can wear down from the grind of a long school year. Take advantage of the warmer weather and block off some time to enjoy some outdoor activities away from the computer screen.

We have a lot to be excited about for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. We encourage you to be a part of that with us and we look forward to partnering with you to finish another year on a high note.

PROPOSITION S: SAFE SCHOOLS FOR A STRONG FUTURE

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, residents of the Meramec Valley R-III School District will vote on a $43 million general obligation bond issue.

The proposed measure will appear on ballots as Proposition S. If it’s approved by at least 57.14% of voters, approximately $38 million of the bond’s total would be used to construct a new energy-efficient middle school with a storm shelter to replace Pacific Intermediate.

MVR-III property taxpayers WOULD NOT see property tax rates increase because of an approved bond issue.

Family Resource Night

All families are welcome to our 3rd Annual Family Resource Night on March 12th at Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center. This event supports resources for families of children birth - 12th grade.

Todd Dempsey

Principal

We encourage parents of our current 7th graders to review course selections with their students for next year. Counselors are currently meeting with current 7th graders to register for next year's classes. More information on electives offered can be found in 7th Grade Central on Canvas.

The Children's Advocacy Center will return on March 11th to present the Body Safety Program to students currently enrolled in PE B. If you do not want your child to participate, please fill out the attached opt-out form.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's counselor.

7th Grade - Mrs. Hohe: ahohe@mvr3.k12.mo.us

8th Grade - Mrs. Vitale; pvitale@mvr3.k12.mo.us

Please take a moment to ensure your child’s immunization records are up to date. Our school nurse is reviewing records, and any missing or updated vaccinations need to be submitted as soon as possible.

How to Update:

• Contact your child’s healthcare provider for any necessary immunizations.
• Request an updated shot record.
• Submit a copy to the school nurse via email, fax, or by sending it with your student.

Keeping immunization records current helps protect the health and safety of all students and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to the school nurse’s office.

Thank you for your cooperation!

On February 20th, forty-two Riverbend Middle School students were recognized for demonstrating the district pillar of Responsibility. These students were nominated by teachers and staff throughout the building. Congratulations to all of our students for being outstanding citizens.

Students in Mrs. Puls' Studio Art class recently took on a special service-learning project to make Riverbend even more inspiring! They collaborated with teachers to design and paint custom ceiling tiles that reflect the personality and spirit of each classroom. Their hard work and creativity will leave a lasting impact, as these beautiful tiles will be displayed throughout the school for years to come! Way to go, artists!

2025-2026 yearbooks are on sale now. You will be able to order a yearbook through May 19th. To order simply use the link below. Please be sure to note your child's grade and Tribe Teacher. If you are unable to order online, please contact Ms. Miles via email - smiles@mvr3.k12.mo.us or by phone 636-271-1481. Yearbooks will not be available for pickup until July. You may also pick up at your student's fall registration here at Riverbend or at PHS.

Attention Beta Club Members: This month is a do-it-yourself service project. Find a random act of kindness that you can do WEEKLY and make it happen. Write in the feed (respond so we can all see) what you did and what response you received. Have fun and be kind. Turn this in by March 31st. Remember we will be checking grades and service projects, so make sure you are up-to-date.

Riverbend Skills Day is coming to Riverbend on May 1st during the school day! Last year, over 25 businesses visited to share with students their careers and the life skills that helped them succeed. Please make sure your student attends school this day so they don’t miss this valuable, real-world learning opportunity. It’s an experience they won’t want to miss!

This trimester, four creative and ambitious students took the initiative to transform our classroom into a true geographic wonderland. What began as a simple idea quickly turned into an impressive redesign: half of the room now feels like an outdoor adventure, while the other half takes you beneath the sea.

Although the trimester ended before we could complete the final portion of the project, the next group of students will have the exciting opportunity to finish what was started.

A special thank you goes to Allison Caldwell, Kasey Linn-Campbell, Kassidy Duncan, and Haylee Henry, who led the charge and dedicated countless hours to bringing this vision to life. While many students contributed to the effort, these four did the majority of the planning and design work. In fact, it was Kasey and Allison who first (and very politely!) brought the idea to my attention with the memorable observation: “Mr. Velten, your room looks like a warehouse.”

Their creativity, leadership, and initiative made a lasting impact on our classroom community, and the results speak for themselves.

Attention all 8th Grade Students:

Are you interested in joining the Pacific High School Dance Team? Would you like to show your spirit and dance skills? Come join us for our dancer clinics and tryouts on March 24th, 25th and 26th from 5-6 pm in the PHS Main Gym. Please see the flyer below for more information.

• Missed the meeting? No problem! The energy on Tuesday night was incredible as we unveiled our Summer 2027 journey through The Netherlands, Belgium, France, and England. The big news? Enrollment is officially OPEN with EF Educational Tours!

  Space is strictly limited to 25 spots on a first-come, first-served basis. Here is how you can lock in the best deal:

  The "Early Bird" Triple Play

  Enroll by March 6th to claim these exclusive perks:

  • $200 Instant Discount: Automatically applied to your trip price.

  • Scholarship Entry: You’ll be entered to win one of three $333 scholarships (winners announced Monday, March 9th!).

  • Fundraising Power: Gain immediate access to a personal fundraising page and the EF Global Citizen Scholarship.

  Why Book Now?

  • Easy Start: Secure your spot for only $95.

  • Risk-Free Window: Enjoy a 7-day full refund period while you finalize your plans.

  • Peace of Mind: The tour price already includes a base health plan for on-tour illnesses and accidents.

  Where We're Going!

• Amsterdam and the Scenic Canals
• Brussels and the Hidden Treasures
• Paris with the Art and Culture
• London with its Iconic History
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• Ready to join us?

  View Full Itinerary & Enroll Here

  Questions? Reach out to Jenny Smith or contact the EF Traveler Support Team at 800-665-5364 our trip number is 2952775CW.

  I would love to have you and your student join us for this life-changing experience!

• *This is a non-school sponsored trip.

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We want to wish a Happy Birthday to all students, parents, and staff who celebrate their birthday this month.

We love to see our Riverbend students supporting each other at the various extracurricular activities around our district. Please note that all Riverbend students must be accompanied by an adult in order to attend an extracurricular event at any of our buildings around the district. Unaccompanied students will not be allowed to enter an event. If there are changes to game times, please check out the link below for additional information.

Helping students reach full potential through innovation, engagement, character, and community.

Website: mvr3.k12.mo.us

Location: 2085 Hwy N. Pacific, Mo. 63069
Phone: (636) 271-1481
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RMSIndians