OWL NEWS

Starting Monday, March 2nd, Riverside will be launching our school-wide i-Ready March Madness Challenge, and we could not be more excited!

From March 2nd through March 20th, grade levels will compete in a bracket-style academic showdown focused on passing i-Ready lessons. Each round, grade levels will go head-to-head to see which team can earn the highest percentage of lessons passed. The grade level with the highest percentage advances to the next round, all the way to our championship matchup!

This initiative is more than just friendly competition. It is a powerful opportunity for our scholars to:

• Strengthen foundational skills

• Close academic gaps

• Build confidence

• Prepare for upcoming state testing

We know that consistent practice and focused effort lead to real growth, and this challenge is designed to motivate our scholars to give their very best. The winning grade level will earn a celebration — either an epic Bounce House Party or a Game Truck experience for the entire grade!

Families can support by encouraging their scholar to stay focused, complete and pass iReady lessons, and give their best effort each day. We can’t wait to see which grade level rises to the top.

Let the madness begin… and good luck, Owls! 🦉🏆

Ms. Kama-Starr and Mr. Cohen

3/10 - PTC Meeting

3/18 - Family First Night [Chipotle]

3/13 - End of Quarter 3

3/23 - Spring Break Begins

3/30 - School Resumes

3/30 - One School One Book Launch👀

4/23 - One School One Book Family Night

4/30 - Spring Music Concert

We are thrilled to recognize Lisa Rand as our Owl Supporter of the Month! Our nominator shares, "whether volunteering in the classroom or generously purchasing items from our class wishlist, Ms. Rand consistently goes above and beyond to support our scholars and staff. Many of the materials she donated were just put to great use during our Dino‑mite Math Mania event! We are deeply grateful for her kindness, partnership, and commitment to helping our school thrive.

Please join us for our first Art and Music show here at Riverside! On April 30th our school will be transformed into a Glow party with art, music, and glow-themed games and activities! Mrs. Viets will be creating an incredible Glow Art Installation in which all families are encouraged to participate, and there will also be an art show where the work of our scholars will be displayed. As you walk through and see all the wonderful art the students have created, be sure to vote for all the “Best-In-Show” categories!

The gym will once again host our end of the year music concert with Mr. Paul, and there are sure to be songs that you will want to sing along with! The dress code for the evening will be all black or neon colors (think bright, glow-in-the-dark!). Families – join in on the fun and wear your neon colors and light-up wear too! Times for each performance, including arrival, are as follows:

• Pre-K – 2nd Grade: 5:30 arrival, 6:00 performance
• 3rd-5th Grade: 7:00 performance
• 6th-8th Grade: 8:00 performance

Please remember, attendance this evening is mandatory for all scholars. Scholars who miss their music performance and do not have an excused absence will receive a 0 for their concert grade. Mr. Paul must be notified prior to the performance of any absences. Examples of excused absences are as follows:

• Illness
• Family emergencies

Making sure that our scholars and families are present for events like this is crucial in ensuring that Riverside can continue to provide the wonderful, well-rounded educational experience that makes our school a destination. We thank you in advance for your support and can’t wait to share all the amazing things going on in the Riverside Fine Arts department!

All CMSD schools have been tasked with creating a calamity day plan in the event that we need to shift from in person to online learning. If an online calamity day is announced, families will receive notice with enough time for scholars to bring home their devices and be ready to engage in their scheduled learning activities remotely.

If CMSD shifts to an online learning day, scholars will log on from home and follow the activities outlined by their teachers. If your family needs support with Wi‑Fi or connectivity, please reach out to Ms. Kama-Starr, Mr. Cohen, or Ms. India—we are here to help ensure every scholar can join successfully.

We want to ensure that our scholars who observe Ramadan feel supported and respected. Every day during Ramadan, students who are fasting will have the option to go to an alternate location during recess and/or lunch. We hope this initiative helps create a positive and inclusive atmosphere for all our students. Wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Ramadan!

What's Inside:

-Free tax prep

-Legal Aid assistance

-Job fairs

-FREE produce markets

As the warmer weather approaches, so does allergy season. If you or your child typically struggles with seasonal allergies, now is the perfect time to prepare. Consider checking in with your healthcare provider for recommendations that can help reduce symptoms and keep everyone feeling their best for all the spring fun ahead.

March is also a wonderful time to put heart‑healthy habits into action — from moving more, to choosing nutritious foods, to finding moments of calm in our busy days.

Let’s step into spring feeling strong, healthy, and ready to soar.

Go Owls!

Our next meeting is on 3/10 in the Cafeteria.

We hope you join us at Chipotle on 3/18 for Family First night.

• Please call the office (216-838-6700) if your child will not be at school or forward all attendance concerns to Ms. Khayla Smith.
• 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.
• All daily transportation changes need to be communicated via note, call, or ClassDojo message to the main office by 3:30PM. Word of mouth changes from scholars will not be accepted.

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!