The Riley Connection-

September 7th- No School

September 13th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

September 4th- No School

September 7th- No School

September 14th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

September 21st- SPIRIT WEEK

September 25th- PSC Survey sent to parents

September 25th- Homecoming Parade 5-6 Downtown SJ (students walking be there at 4:30)

September 29th- Picture Day

October 11th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

October 12th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

October 16th- No School

October 19th- No School

October 23rd- Senior Night Light Show @ HS 6-9PM

October 30th- Halloween Parade 3:15PM

October 31st- Halloween

November 3rd- Election Day

November 11th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

November 9th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

November 11th- Veterans Day

November 23th- Early Release 1:35PM

November 24th- Early Release 1:35PM

November 25th- No School Thanksgiving

November 26th- No School Thanksgiving

November 27th- No School Thanksgiving

November 28th- No School Thanksgiving

December 1st- Holiday Concert

December 13th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

December 14th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

December 21st- January 1st- No School Winter Break

January 5th- School Resumes

January 10th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

January 11th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

January 18th- MLK Day - No School

January 26th- MS Music Teachers Visit 5th Grade Students @ Riley

January 29th- PSC Survey Sent to Parents

February 7th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

February 8th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

February 12th- No School

February 15th- Presidents Day - No School

March 8th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

March 11th- Early Release 1:35PM

March 12th- Early Release 1:35PM

March 14th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

March 26th- April 2nd- Spring Break

April 5th- School Resumes

April 5th- M-Step Testing Begins (3rd, 4th, 5th Grade)

April 9th- PSC Survey Sent to Parents

April 11th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

April 12th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

April 22nd/23rd- RCADS Survey Administered to Students

April 29th- Riley Spring Concert

May 9th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

May 10th- PEAP Awards @ HS Auditorium 5PM

May 10th- SJPS Board of Education Meeting @ HS, 6-8PM

May 26th- MS Counselors Visit 5th Grade Classrooms

May 28th- 5th Grade MS Visit

May 31st- Memorial Day - No School

June 10th- Early Release 1:35PM

June 11th- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Early Release 1:35PM

June 13th- PTO Meeting, 6PM @ AGRO Liquid

Dear Riley Families,

Welcome to September! It was wonderful seeing so many of you at our Open House, and we had a fantastic first week back. We kicked off the year with our Welcome Back Riley PRIDE assembly and conducted PRIDE lessons throughout the building. Teachers are actively building strong classroom cultures, practicing routines, and leading engaging team-building activities. We will continue these efforts in the coming weeks and throughout the year as we reinforce Riley PRIDE alongside our social-emotional learning programs, Second Step and Capturing Kids' Hearts.

Important September Updates & Events:

• Assessments: Beginning right after Labor Day and continuing throughout the month, students will complete their first round of i-Ready and BAS testing to help us target their learning needs.
• Spirit Week & Homecoming: Join in the fun September 21st–25th for Spirit Week, capped off by the Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 25th!
• Picture Day: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 29th. Keep an eye out for the order link coming soon.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in helping us make this a great school year.

Mr. Tisdale
Principal, Riley Elementary

At Riley Elementary, PRIDE is at the heart of how we support student behavior through our PBIS and MTSS systems. Each letter in PRIDE reminds us of the values we strive to show every day: Practice Responsibility, Respect Others, Include Kindness, Demonstrate Grit, and Exercise Safety. These expectations are taught, modeled, and reinforced throughout the school to help all students succeed both socially and academically. By following PRIDE, students build strong character and contribute to a safe, respectful, and welcoming school environment. PRIDE is not just a set of rules—it’s how we show who we are at Riley Elementary.

Each month this school year, our newsletter will highlight one part of PRIDE. Our hope is to share what these expectations look like at school while also offering families a few simple ideas that could be helpful at home.

PRIDE Focus of the Month: Practicing Responsibility

This month, we’re focusing on the letter P, which stands for Practicing Responsibility. At school, this can look like having supplies ready on a desk before class begins, cleaning up after lunch in the cafeteria, or putting toys away on the playground.

At home, students might enjoy practicing responsibility in ways that fit your family routine. Some possibilities could include:

• Taking on a daily or weekly chore

• Choosing a spot to keep school items so they’re easy to find

• Making a simple checklist of what to pack in a backpack or activity bag

These small habits can help children feel more prepared and confident, both at school and at home.

Hello Riley Elementary parents!

School portraits are scheduled for

Tuesday September 29th

If you have not already submitted an order please use the link below to order your school portrait package.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE.

Each student will receive 1 complimentary 5x7 class composite. If you would like a larger size please include it with your order.

This is a link to take advantage of our special Prepaid Package pricing (BEST VALUE). Please submit your order on or before your child's scheduled picture day. All orders will be processed and the picture packages will be delivered back to the school about 3 weeks after picture day. If you choose not to take advantage of this special prepaid package pricing you will receive information when the prepaid packages are delivered to the school with an opportunity to submit a reorder.

There will be no order forms sent home. If you would rather not submit an online order please call the studio 989-227-8441 and we will take your order over the phone.

NOTE: The school picture that you will see on the ordering site is a sample picture not of your child.

Directions:

Simply search for your student by name. You can type either their first or last name and you will see student names pop up. If you have multiple students please submit separate orders for each child. If you do not see your students name, choose "New Person" and add their information then click the "prepay for photos button"

You DO NOT need to send the printed receipt to school. We will already have a record of your payment!

Click this link or copy this web address below and paste into the address bar

ospgo.com/120039

We are looking forward to photographing your children!! If you have any questions please call the studio 989-227-8441 or email Andrew@Canfieldjenkins.com

Riley Elementary school will be participating in the Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 19th! This event is a fantastic way for our students to demonstrate their school spirit and connect with our community.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, September 25th
• Parade Start Time: 5:00 PM
• Line up begins at: 4:30-4:45 PM
• Meeting Location: SE corner of E. Lincoln and Clinton Ave (north of downtown)
• Route: We will walk from our meeting point to the east side of the courthouse.

Important Information:

1. Student Participation: All students are encouraged to join the parade. Please ensure your child is dressed comfortably and appropriately for the weather, and showing their school spirit by dressing in school colors or Riley/Redwing gear.

2. Pre-K to 1st Grade Students: For their safety, students in Pre-K through 1st grade must walk with a parent, grandparent, or older sibling.

3. Meeting Time: Please begin to arrive SE corner of E. Lincoln and Clinton Ave (north of downtown) between 4:30-4:45 PM so we can begin walking promptly at 4:59 PM.

4. Weather Considerations: The parade will go ahead rain or shine. Please check the weather forecast and dress your child accordingly.

We look forward to a wonderful evening of celebration and school spirit. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the school office or Molly Bancroft our PTO President through the Riley PTO Facebook Page.

8:55 A.M.- Students May Arrive

9:10 A.M.- School Day Begins

4:07 P.M. - Dismissal

PLEASE UTILIZE LOWELL ROAD AS THE LINE GETS BUSIER AND CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERN WITH TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON PRATT.

Morning Drop Off:

• Parents may drop students off at 8:55 A.M. using the West Parking Lot entering the lot using the Lowell Rd. entrance (See map below).

• Please do not use the bus loop at any time, it is for buses only.

• Students may NOT be dropped off in the parking lot, they MUST use the drop off line.

• Please pull as far forward as you can when picking up and dropping off.

After School Pick up:

• The procedures are the same as the morning. School dismisses at 4:07 P.M. daily. We are unable to provide after school care.

• If your child will not be riding the bus or is going home with a friend, you must send a note to the school or call the school by 3:30 P.M. unless we have a written note from a parent or a phone call, we will always send students home in their normal manner.

• If your child is going to an alternate drop off from their normal bus ride, BOTH parents (the child who is going someplace different, and the parent of the child that is accepting them on that day), MUST send in a note. The bus garage will not drop students off at the alternate spot without notes from both parents.

• ***We ask that parents do not park and walk up to the pick up or bus lines to collect students. If you need to collect your student due to an appointment or event please do so prior to the release of school through the main office by signing them out.

WE KINDLY REMIND YOU TO STOP BY THE OFFICE TO:

• sign-in / sign-out your child whenever he/she is late or leaving early.

• check in and receive a visitor pass for your visit to the classroom, when speaking with the teacher and/or bringing something to a classroom.

School anxiety can show up in different ways—ranging from morning stomach aches to complete refusal to get out of the car. It often masks itself as irritability, acting out, or extreme withdrawal, making it tricky to pinpoint at first. Some tips to help your child overcome school anxiety are:

*Have a consistent morning and evening routine.

*Keep yourself calm and relaxed.

*Have a conversation with the teacher and/or school counselor.

*Have your child bring in one small item from home.

*Teach and role model problem solving skills.

A few calming strategies to work with your child are deep breathing exercises, countdown from 10 to 1, do something active and focus on positive thoughts.

Additional Resources include:

https://childmind.org/article/back-school-anxiety/

https://parentguidance.org

www.worrywisekids.org

St. Johns Public Schools, in partnership with Clinton County RESA, plans to administer a Social Emotional Behavioral screener to students in Grades 3-12 (the week of October 6th) as well as send out an optional parent survey for K-2 students (the week of September 26th). Riley Elementary will administer the RCAD screener on October 9th during the school day. This screener is recommended for students in these grades. The purpose of this screener is to ensure that appropriate supports are provided to students who may be struggling with emotional-behavioral-mental health issues. The screeners that will be utilized are called the “Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale” (RCADS-25) and "Pediatric Symptom Checklist" (PSC).

These are evidence-based, valid and reliable measure of students’ perspectives on their emotional and behavioral well-being. Our district, along with CCRESA, chose this measure due to the reliable nature of the screener. We have plans in place to respond quickly to any students who rate themselves to be elevated in either emotional or behavioral areas. This universal social-emotional-behavioral health screener is intended to be given three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) similar to other academic screeners. Students will be given 25 items to which they can respond “Never,” “Sometimes,” “Often,” or “Always.” A sample of these statements are: “I feel sad or empty.”

“I have trouble sleeping.” “I feel worthless.” “I feel afraid that I will make a fool of myself in front of people.” “I worry that something bad will happen to me.”

Please know we are working in the best interest of our students and families with the intention of being proactive in ensuring all our students are given the support needed to set them up for success. If you have any questions or concerns about your child taking this assessment, please contact Mr. Tisdale.

*If you opted your student(s) out of the screener the previous school year, they are opted out of the screener this year as well. If you'd like to opt your student out please fill out the attached form below or email your students classroom teacher or Mr. Tisdale.

To ensure the safety and well-being of your child, please follow these steps:

• Obtain a Medication Permission Form:
• You must have your child's healthcare provider complete and sign the Medication Permission Form. This form provides necessary details about the medication, dosage, administration times, and any special instructions.
• Parent/Guardian Signature:

• After the healthcare provider completes the form, you, as the parent or guardian, must also sign it. This signature indicates that you consent to the school administering the medication as prescribed.
• Submit the Completed Form:
• Return the signed Medication Permission Form to the school’s secretary in the main office. You may do this in person or via email/fax.

• Medication Delivery:

• Please deliver the medication to the school in its original pharmacy container, clearly labeled with your child’s name, medication name, dosage, and administration times. Hand the medication directly to the school personnel.
• The medication must be delivered by an adult not the child.

This process is the same for both prescription medication and over the counter medication.

School lunches this year are free for everyone but we still need you to fill out a Education Benefit Form (formally called free and reduced application). WHY?

1. While we participating in Michigan School Meals which provides free meals to all students, we still need to track which students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

2. Education Benefit Form help our school district qualify for more grants that will benefit all students academically.

3. Over 30 Million students participate in the National School Lunch Program every school day. Over 50% received Free Meals!

We know this is a lot of information to process. For your convenience, feel free to print

*** New Simplified Application ***

Strictly Confidential!

• St. Johns Public Schools Free and Reduced-price meal are strictly confidential!

• Family finance is a very personal matter and your application is handled with confidentiality and respect.

• Students receiving meal benefits are not identified in the service line.

• All students use the same service line and the computer screen does not indicate which students are free and reduced-price.

Email: tisdalea@sjredwing.org
Website: www.sjredwings.org/our-schools/rileyelementary/

Meet Our Staff: www.sjredwings.org/our-schools/rileyelementary/meet-our-staff
Location: 5935 W Pratt Rd DeWitt, MI 48820
Phone: (989) 227-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RileyElementarySchool