RIA Parent Communication 5.08.2026

Hello Riverview International Academy Families and Staff,

Please note that construction at Riverview campus is expected to cause minor inconvenience to our traffic patterns in the coming days. Please read more detailed information below and pass this along to family members who may be picking up or dropping off your children at Riverview campus!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, mother-in-laws, and others this weekend!

If your child will be receiving an award in the third trimester, you will hear directly from your child's teacher within the next week. Please make note of the Awards Ceremony date/times.

Students continue to complete state and district testing in some classrooms. Please ensure that your child attends school on time, every day possible to show what they know on our state and district tests. A friendly reminder that students who do not complete required testing due to absences must do so before participating in other end of the year activities.

Thank you for honoring our staff during our annual Staff Appreciation Spirit Week this past week! Our staff was so grateful for the kind words and treats from our school community!

Thank you for reading our weekly newsletter all the way through so that you are informed about our school and district events! Did you know that next year's academic calendar has been released already so that families may plan vacations and appointments over breaks? It's available here: LUSD District Calendar 2026-2027

HEALTHY SNACK REMINDER

Please send your child to school with a healthy, nutritious snack (such as a piece of fresh fruit, granola bar, piece of string cheese, or goldfish crackers)! We have seen an increase in hungry students during the morning recess. This is especially important during state and district testing!

HEALTH OFFICE REMINDERS

Please remind your children to wash their hands often with water and soap. We encourage students to keep hands away from their eyes, ears, and noses to avoid spreading germs.

In addition, a few cases of head lice have also been observed in the county. If your child is ill with symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours; a persistent cough, wheezing, or difficulty breathing; constant or severe stomach/abdominal pain; or has any rash that is not yet diagnosed or is spreading; please keep them home and contact our Health Clerks at your child's campus.

• Ms. Devonne at Winter Gardens (619-390-2687)
• Ms. Karla/Ms. Alex at Riverview (619-390-2662)

MAY IS AAPI and Nation Military Appreciation MONTH

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and National Military Appreciation Month are both celebrated in the month of May. Did you know that it is also ALS Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Haitian Heritage, and Jewish American Heritage Month? Ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in history empowers future generations and is part of the third pillar of our school's language immersion program regarding sociocultural competency.

SAVE THE DATES: May and June Events at RIA

Save the upcoming dates for Trimester 3

• Tuesday, May 12 - Parent Advocacy Night at WG at 6 pm
• Wednesday, May 13 - PTSA Baskin Robbin Night Fundraiser (3-9 pm)
• Thursday, May 14 - RIA Spotlight at the Lakeside Union School District Board Meeting (6 pm)
• Tuesday, May 19 - Lakeside Union School District Facilities Community Engagement (3:45 pm and 5:30 pm at the District Offices)
• Wednesday, May 20 - PTSA Science Night and Association Meeting at RV campus
• Friday, May 22 - Minimum Day for Professional Learning (11:45 am dismissal for Riverview campus and 12:05 pm dismissal for Winter Gardens campus)
• Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day Holiday [NO SCHOOL]
• Wednesday, May 27 - 2nd and 3rd grade Awards at 8:45 am; 4th grade Awards at 9:30 am

• June 1-5 - Spring Into Summer Spirit Week at RIA
• Monday, June 1 - Kinder and First Grade Awards at WG at 8:45 am; TK Awards at 9:30 am
• Wednesday, June 3 - SSC at 7 am; ELAC at 9 am
• Thursday, June 4 - Fifth Grade Awards at 8:45 am at Riverview MPR
• Monday, June 8 - Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony at 11 am at the Rodeo Grounds
• Monday, June 11- Last Day of School
• Monday, June 19- Juneteenth Holiday [DISTRICT OFFICES CLOSED]

DRESS FOR THE WEATHER

Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather each day. With the changing seasons, we recommend that children dress in layers. Research shows the importance of play and normal peer interactions, which can be limited by rainy day or other extreme weather schedules. We recommend that you label all jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, lunch bags, water bottles, and other personal items with your child’s first and last name in permanent blue or black ink. A friendly reminder that our lost and found rack is located at the MPR of each campus and items are donated every 2 weeks to a local charity.

Please note that no one indoor space has the capacity for the entire school population to remain indoors in the event of weather extremes. We strive to maintain normal schedules and routines for our students while keeping student safety and comfort at the forefront of our decisions. Please exercise extra patience and caution when picking up and dropping off your child during weather events. We thank you for your cooperation and patience.

STUDENT PROFILE AND COMMON COURTESIES

Thank you for reinforcing our district Student Profile and our school's Common Courtesies at home! As parents and educators, we will model these for our students. We appreciate your cooperation with emphasizing these with your children! Students may earn a Marvelous Mustang ticket for demonstrating the Student Profile and Common Courtesies each day.

If you have not yet done so, please review our updated Riverview International Academy Family Handbook HERE. We encourage you to review it with your child/children in an age-appropriate way every so often.

Thanks for your continued support of our school. If you have further questions about your child's academics or behavior, please contact your child's teacher directly. You may contact the Winter Gardens office at 619.390.2687 and Riverview office at 619.390.2662.

Warm regards,

John Greenwell, Proud Principal of RIA

The letter below was sent home to all fifth grade students earlier this week with important details regarding this year's Promotion Ceremony on Monday, June 8, at 11 am. Please review it and contact the school office with any questions at (619) 390-2662.

Riverview campus is preparing for the imminent demolition of the existing ESS building at Riverview campus. We hope to have a brand new ESS building ready for the start of the new school year!

Starting on Monday, May 11th, ESS families will start new, temporary procedures for ESS drop off and pick up while construction is underway:

• ESS parents will drop off in the morning at the red curb by the lunch tables between 6 am and 7:40 am

• Breakfast drop off will be at office 7:40 - 7:55 am

• A friendly reminder that parents and family members should use the normal school procedures for drop off and pick up (lower lot drop off and pick up for grades 3, 4, 5 and lunch table gates for 2nd grade and siblings) for drop off between 7:55 am and 8:10 am and pick up at 2:35 pm (12:35 pm for Wednesdays).

• ESS parents will use the northern-most driveway closest to the school marquee for pick up and drop off.

• ESS parents wait until 1 pm and 3 pm to pick up in the afternoons and will pick up at red curb. Adults should remain in their vehicle and call the phone number on the ESS banner (which will be moved near that gate).

• Only call the number posted, if an ESS staff member is not present. Parents/guardians/authorized adults may need to show their ID when picking up students from ESS.

We thank all of our Riverview families for their patience and understanding as we build a new space for our ESS program!

We are so proud of our 4th and 5th grade students for participating in this year's Junior Olympics and representing our school!

Some students are still completing state and district testing continues the week of May 11, 2026, while others have finished. We recommend that students get a full night of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast to prepare for district and state tests. A friendly reminder that all students are eligible to receive free breakfast at school. Please make sure that your child arrives at school on time.

Please speak to your child about doing their best on these tests. These tests are indicators of a child’s success and also informs our team to determine next steps for supporting all of our students. The tests may also be used by the state to identify our school as a high-quality public school, such as our recent distinction as a 2025 California Distinguished School for Exceptional Student Performance.

The use of cell phones and other electronic devices (such as Apple Watches or bluetooth earphones) are strictly forbidden during state mandated testing. Students may not have these devices with them during testing, per the state’s regulations. Teachers will likely collect any electronic communication devices prior to the start of the test session, or they may be placed in a child's backpack outside of the classroom.

Please read the letter below (from the school) for more information and the testing schedule.

Join us at Winter Gardens on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from 6 to 7 pm in the MPR for a night on how to advocate for your child and observe or participate in a roundtable.

Join our teachers and staff for some school community fun and help raise funds for our PTSA at the Santee Baskin Robbins on Wednesday, May 13 from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Bring the whole family, enjoy a sweet treat at Baskin Robbins and help support programs that make our school community shine.

Special treat: Your favorite teachers and staff will be making guest scooping appearances! Come say hi, grab a scoop, and see them in action behind the counter! Every scoop makes a difference and a portion of the proceeds go toward enriching experiences for our students and teachers!

Date: Wednesday, May 13

Location: Baskin Robbins - 9665 Mission Gorge Rd, Santee, CA 92071
Time: 3pm-9pm

Come for the ice cream, stay for the smiles. We can’t wait to see you there!

If you would like to support our school at the next Board of Education meeting, join Ms. Hood and Mr. Greenwell on Thursday, May 14th at 6 pm at the Lakeside Union School District main offices located at 12335 Woodside Avenue, Lakeside, California 92040. Wear RIA Spirit Gear!

Please join us for LUSD's Facility Community Engagement Forum on Tuesday, May 19th to give input on future capital improvement priorities.

There are two sessions available, both will be held in the district office boardroom.

Tuesday, May 19th

3:45 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

District Office Board Room

The flyer below will also be sent to all families in English and Spanish.

Explore the stars with PTSA at Riverview campus on May 20th starting at 5:30 pm. Join for our PTSA Association Meeting and stay for a fun activity that is out-of-this-world!

RSVP required at https://riaptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/

The County of San Diego Health & Human Services Department of Strategy & Community Engagement is partnering with UC San Diego’s Youth Advancement Collective (UCSD YAC) to host a "What I Wish My Parents Knew" event. The purpose of this event is to address Mental Health Disorders & How Social Media and AI Impact Youth.

All LUSD Families are invited to attend and refreshments will be provided. Families can RSVP by clicking the image below or here.

Event Details:

When: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Time: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Where: Live Well Support Center | 5469 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, CA 92123 – 1st Floor – Conference Rooms A&C

Join Riverview families and fellow immersion schools for a fun-filled day at a San Diego Padres baseball game! Bring your family, cheer from the stands, and connect with our community while enjoying America’s favorite pastime.

Date: May 24, 2026
Location: Petco Park
Tickets: GOFEVO.COM/EVENT/LIS2026

**Any tickets not purchased will be released to the general public for purchase beginning May 7, 2026**

Come celebrate language, culture, and community on and off the field! We can’t wait to see you there!

As the PTSA and school are planning for the upcoming school year, we want to share an important update with our school community.

Did you know that the RIA PTSA supports important programs that all students benefit from such as field trips, the music program, and materials for learning?

Due to lower than expected fundraising income this year (approximately $30,000), the PTSA must make significant budget adjustments for our upcoming school year. While these decisions are never easy, our goal is to continue supporting our students, teachers, and school programs as thoughtfully and responsibly as possible.

Please join us at our upcoming 5/20/26 PTSA Association Meeting where we will provide a full overview of the proposed budget for the upcoming school year, and answer any questions you may have. Although all are welcome to attend the event, you must be a PTSA member to vote. If you are not a current member there is still time to sign up. Please visit riaptsa.com to join and RSVP for the event.

As we work together to make the best decisions for our school community, we also request you take the below survey to provide input on what programs matter to you the most:

PTSA Program Recommendations 26/27 (Parent/Guardian Survey)

Thank you for your continued support, generosity and involvement. Our school is stronger because of families like yours and we appreciate being able to navigate these challenges together.

We are always looking for willing volunteers to chair an event or fill vacant PTSA positions! Step up to support our children!

Do you want to do amazing things for the children in our school, but are limited on time? Here are two opportunities for parent involvement with our PTSA. We need champions for these two roles: Fifth Grade Activities Committee (from this year's 4th grade class) and a Holiday Shoppe chair!

There is one more session of the optional Stop Motion Animation Club at Riverview campus to encourage student creativity and storytelling! This free after-school club will take place on the last Wednesday of every month and is intended for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students who attend Riverview campus only. Students must have excellent behavior and good listening skills to be able to participate and space is limited so this will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• When: The last Wednesday of each month. The next class will be on Wednesday, Feb. 58th.
• Time: 1.5 hours, 12:40-2:10pm
• Target Audience: Grades 3-5 (due to their prior experience with the software and techniques).

Again this will occur on the last Wednesday of every month in room 16 at RV campus. The last session is May 27.

*** This is for all students in grades 3 through 5 at Riverview campus. All students must demonstrate excellent listening skills and behavior and be picked up by 2:10 pm or signed into ESS. All levels of skill are welcome.

All participants must have a digital permission slip on file before starting. Space is limited to the first 28 students.

Please complete the Sign Up Link here: LINK

To celebrate our school's Love of Reading and foster a community of lifelong readers, the WG and RV Libraries are rolling out a new program! The Library Birthday Book Club is a special way to honor your student's birthday while also helping grow our school library!

Here's how it works:

1-Parent/Guardian purchases a book from the Winter Gardens Library Wish list and fills out the attached form to be turned in to the front office.

2- Mrs. Camacho will place a bookplate inside the new book recognizing the donation with your student's name.

3- During the week of your student's birthday (or half birthday for summer bday's) your student will be given the opportunity to be the first one to check out the new book and have their picture taken and put on the Birthday Book Club display.

4- The book is checked back into the library for all to enjoy for years to come!

Please see the attached flyer for full details. Hard copies of the form will be placed in backpacks next week. Any questions please contact Nicole Camacho at ncamacho@lsusd.net. Happy Reading!

Our district has now opened both the process for school of choice (for families within the Lakeside Union School District) and our Inter-District Transfer process (or IDTs). Please help spread the word!

The TK and Kindergarten Immersion interest forms for the 2026–2027 school year are now posted on our district website. The links are here as well:

• TK 2026–27 Interest Form

• Kindergarten Immersion 2026–27 Interest Form

Please note that the TK 2025–26 form will remain available, as we are still receiving registrations for the current school year.

** IMPORTANT: If you are a current RIA family and have a sibling who will be enrolled in TK or Kindergarten next year, please complete this Sibling Interest Form here in addition to the district form above so that we may honor current families at RIA before enrolling new families: RIA Sibling Interest Form

Thank you for helping us share this information with other families: The best advertisement for our school is your word of mouth! We are hoping to fill our classrooms once again for TK and Kindergarten!

A parent in the RIA will supervise a free, afterschool chess club on the third Tuesday of every month in room 17 at RV campus. If you missed the club in earlier in the year, you can still attend! The last date is May 19.

*** This is for all students in grades 2 through 5 at Riverview campus. All students must demonstrate excellent listening skills and behavior and be picked up by 3:45 pm or signed into ESS. All levels of skill are welcome.

The link for the May 19th Chess Club link is HERE. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All participants must have a digital permission slip on file before starting. Space is limited to the first 30 students.

Pre-order your 2025-2026 RIA School Yearbook now to ensure you have this amazing keepsake item! Go to Jostens.com and select "Riverview International Academy" as your school or click this link.

Did you know that RIA and the Lakeside Union School District have supports in place and resources to help military families thrive in our school community, ensuring every child feels supported and connected?

If you or someone you know in our school community is connected with a branch of military service, please encourage them to contact Samantha Wooster (via email at swooster@lsusd.net), our School Counselor and Military Liaison, and also check out this webpage: https://www.lsusd.net/military-connected-family-resources/

Did you know that our School Site Council (SSC) and English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) meetings are available to the public and that all parents, staff, and school community are welcome to attend?

SSC (School Site Council) and ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee) at Riverview International Academy are partnerships made up of Parents, Staff, and Administrators. These groups help to advise the school about important decisions about our school. We value parent involvement and input about the future of our school. Together, we can achieve great things!

The RIA SSC meets at 7 am the first Wednesday of every month of the academic year (with the exception of December 2025 and April 2026). The SSC is responsible for advising the school and part of good governance as the school implements and updates the SPSA (or School Plan for Student Achievement). In addition, the SSC monitors the school's Comprehensive School Safety Plan and reviews actions, expenditures, and services intended to support students!

The RIA ELAC meets at 9 am the first Wednesday of every month of the academic year (with the exception of December 2025 and April 2026). The ELAC is responsible for monitoring supports and services for Multilingual English Learners (students identified by the state of CA who need support in English) and advising the SSC for updates to the SPSA (or School Plan for Student Achievement).

The last date for this year's SSC and ELAC is June 3, 2026.

We anticipate that the first SSC and ELAC meetings in the next school year will be on Wednesday, September 2nd at 7 am and 9 am, respectively.

All meeting agendas are posted in the Winter Gardens and Riverview offices at least 72 hours in advance of the meetings and meeting minutes are also attached for the previous meeting to that agenda.

All SSC and ELAC meetings (unless otherwise published) are available in person in room 17 at Riverview campus and online. Please email Marisa Chalk at mchalk@lsusd.net for the online meeting links.

Help our community stay healthy! We encourage frequent hand washing with warm water and soap and covering your cough with your elbow. Please review the importance of washing hands with water and soap with your child. You can reference the green infographic below.

• Children should stay home if they have a fever, sore throat, diarrhea, or are throwing up.
• Children may return to school once they are free of a fever or throwing up for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.
• If your child is sick, please keep your child home and notify the Winter Gardens campus office at (619) 390-2687 or the Riverview campus office at (619) 390-2662.

The SDSU Chinese Cultural Center is excited to offer our Chinese Summer Camp this summer from June 15 to June 26, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM!

Campers will enjoy a fun and engaging program featuring Chinese language lessons, hands-on cultural workshops, Kung Fu fan activities, a field trip, and many more exciting experiences. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to learn, explore Chinese culture, and make new friends in a lively and supportive environment.

We encourage you to sign up soon if you are interested. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended!

The early bird rate is $700 if you register by April 30, 2026. In addition, Riverview students receive an extra $50 discount by entering “RIVERVIEW” in the coupon code field when registering.

All Riverview International Academy families and staff are invited to attend the June Chinese Cultural Fair at Winter Gardens on Saturday, June 7, 2026 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Did you know the Lakeside library branch offers times for homework help and study skills support for students? See the Lakeside Library webpage for days/times.

Our school support team can provide resources for families facing difficult times. If you know of a family that may need assistance, please refer them to the school principal or counselor.

MAY 2026

• May 12 - PTSA Parent Advocacy Night at 6 pm

• May 13 - PTSA Baskin Robbins Santee Fundraiser (3-9 pm)

• May 14 - RIA Spotlight at the Lakeside Union School District Board Meeting (6 pm)

• May 19 - Lakeside Union School District Facilities Community Engagement (3:45 pm and 5:30 pm at the District Offices)

• May 20 - PTSA Science Night and Association Meeting at RV campus at 5:30 pm

• May 22 - Minimum Day for Professional Learning (11:45 am dismissal for Riverview campus and 12:05 pm dismissal for Winter Gardens campus)

• May 25 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• May 27 - 2nd and 3rd Awards at 8:45 am; 4th grade Awards at 9:30 am

JUNE 2026

• June 1-5 - Spring Into Summer Spirit Week

• June 1 - Kinder and First Grade Awards at WG at 8:45 am; TK Awards at 9:30 am

• June 3 - SSC at 7 am; ELAC at 9 am

• June 4 - Fifth Grade Awards at 8:45 am at Riverview MPR

• June 8 - 5th Grade Promotion at 11 am at Rodeo Grounds

• June 11 - Last Day of School

• June 18 - Juneteenth - School and District Offices Closed

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🚩IMPORTANT DATES OF THE 2025-2026 SCHOOl YEAR

• Monday, June 8, 2026 - 5th Grade Promotion at 11 am at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds

Riverview International Academy welcomes prospective families to monthly tours and information sessions as we begin the process for enrollment for next year! Your word of mouth is the best way to ensure that we can continue to offer our high-quality public education as Southern California's Premier Mandarin and Spanish Immersion School! Please share this information with other families!

Please join our very active Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) by visiting a booth at one of our events or going to www.riaptsa.com. Please download the PTSA 2025-2026 Calendar of Events here as well.

Winter Gardens Campus TK-1

Address: 8501 Pueblo Rd, Lakeside, Ca 92040

School Office Hours: 7:45am-3:30pm

Breakfast is served daily from 8:00am-8:15am

Drop-off begins at open 8:15am

Class starts at 8:30am

WG Office Phone Number: 619-390-2687

website: https://www.lsusd.net/winter-gardens/

For absences at WG please email Devonne Donohue ddonohue@lsusd.net

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Riverview Campus 2-5

Address: 9308 Wintergardens Blvd, Lakeside, Ca 92040

School Office Hours: 7:45am-3:30pm

Breakfast is served daily from 7:40am-7:55am

Campus gates open at 7:55am

Class starts at 8:10am

RV Office Phone Number: 619-390-2662

website: https://www.lsusd.net/riverview/

For absences at RV please email Karla Carrillo kcarrillo@lsusd.net