March Newsletter

Dear West Riverside Families,

As we welcome the month of March, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many wonderful moments our students and community experienced in February. It was truly inspiring to see the creativity and enthusiasm our students demonstrated through their Black History Month and Lunar New Year assignments and classroom activities. We also appreciated the meaningful learning that took place during our Saturday School sessions, where students explored the contributions of instrumental African American heroes. These experiences help deepen our students’ understanding of history, culture, and the importance of diverse perspectives.

We hope that those of you who attended our Sweetheart Dance had a wonderful time. Events like these bring our school community together and create lasting memories for our students and families. Additionally, we have enjoyed celebrating the many successes of our students as Trimester 2 came to a close. Report cards were sent home on Monday, and we are incredibly proud of the progress our students are making. As we now begin Trimester 3, we look forward to continuing to support our students’ growth and achievement during the final stretch of the school year.

This time of year also marks the beginning of testing season, and your partnership is incredibly important. Encouraging your child to do their best, ensuring they get a good night’s rest, and reinforcing the value of learning can make a significant difference. When families stay engaged in their child’s education, it greatly supports their overall development and long-term success.

We are excited to have kicked off Read Across America Week, and we look forward to seeing many of you at our Reading on the Green event tomorrow. Reading together is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s academic growth, and we love creating opportunities that celebrate the joy of reading.

Tomorrow we will also celebrate students who demonstrated excellent attendance during Trimester 2 with our Excellent Attendance BBQ. We love recognizing our students’ efforts and achievements, and consistent attendance plays a critical role in student learning. Every day in school matters, and we appreciate your continued support in ensuring your child is present and ready to learn.

March will be filled with many fun and engaging activities for our students. We encourage you to follow us on social media and stay connected through Class Dojo so you can keep up with the exciting events and celebrations happening on campus.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such an important part of the West Riverside community. Together, we can ensure that our students continue to learn, grow, and thrive.

With appreciation,
Mrs. Lopez and Ms. Valdenegro

We are proud to share that our upper grade students have already completed their ELPAC testing, and we look forward to seeing the results and celebrating the progress they have made. Throughout the remainder of the month, our K–2 students designated as English Learners will be participating in their ELPAC assessments. We kindly ask for your support in helping your child be prepared for testing by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast each day. Our students have been working very hard this year, and we are proud of the growth they continue to demonstrate. We are hopeful that their ELPAC results will reflect the learning and progress they have made. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s success.

Sweetheart Dance

Our Sweetheart Dance was a beautiful celebration of family and community! A heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTO parents for organizing such a joyful and memorable evening. Families filled the room with laughter and energy as they danced the night away to music by our very own DJ, Mr. Gonzales, our talented third-grade teacher. It was truly a special night that reminded us how strong and connected our West Riverside community is. Thank you, PTO, for making it happen!

Community Literacy

We are also excited to share that our Family Stories Literacy Class for Parents is off to a wonderful start! With 18 parents already enrolled, this class has quickly become a space for learning, sharing, and growing together. We still have room for two more parents and would love to welcome you. When families grow as readers, our entire school grows stronger.

Attendance Incentive

Our Attendance Incentive Game Room continues to be a highlight of the week! Last Friday, Mrs. Villalobos’ class and Mrs. Guillen’s class earned 40 minutes in Room 26. During this special time, our third-grade students showed why West is the BEST by guiding and supporting our kindergarten students during board games. There is no better way to end the week than seeing our students collaborate, lead with kindness, and build friendships across grade levels.

Celebrating Read Across America

On Thursday, March 5, we are excited to welcome a group of high school students to our campus in celebration of Read Across America. These students are generously donating 294 books to our youngest learners, and we are proud that our K–2 students were selected to receive them. This special act of kindness is a beautiful reminder that when students inspire students, a culture of literacy and leadership grows stronger across generations.

Reading on the Green, A Celebration of Family and Literacy

You are warmly invited to join your child for our Reading on the Green Family Event on Friday, March 6, from 1:45–2:30 p.m. There is something truly powerful about sitting side-by-side and sharing a good book. These simple moments create lifelong memories and nurture a love of learning that extends far beyond the classroom. Your presence sends a powerful message: reading matters, and time together matters even more.

As a special thank you for your continued partnership through our Adopt-A-Family collaboration, families who attend will receive a cozy pair of pajamas (sizes 2T–10), while supplies last. We hope you will join us as we celebrate literacy, family, and community—one page at a time.

Parent Tip: Get Involved at our School!

No matter what grade your kids are in, consider volunteering at school. It's a great way to show them you're interested in their education.

At West Riverside, we believe that supporting students’ social-emotional development is just as important as supporting their academic growth. The Zones of Regulation is a framework that helps students recognize, understand, and manage their emotions by organizing feelings into four color-coded zones. By learning to identify how they are feeling and using strategies to regulate their emotions, students develop important self-management skills that support positive behavior, focus, and healthy relationships. These skills are especially important for elementary-aged students as they are still learning how to navigate their emotions and respond appropriately in different situations. At our most recent Coffee and Conversations, our West Riverside Wellness Coach, Mr. Sandoval, provided families with training on the Zones of Regulation and shared ways parents can support these skills at home. Below you will find helpful resources to further empower our students and families as we continue building strong social-emotional skills together.

If you would like to walk or run the track with your child, we will have a family color run from 2:30-3:00 PM. Don't forget to wear your white shirts!