Riverside Central Elementary School

As the 2024–2025 school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights from the past ten months. This list doesn’t capture everything great that happened in our schools, but I hope it gives you a sense of the extraordinary work we’ve done together. Everyone connected to Rochester Public Schools (RPS) should feel proud of what we’ve accomplished—and even more excited about what lies ahead. Read Superintendent Pekel's End Of Year Review: https://bit.ly/end-of-year-review-2025

Get Ready, because free summer meals are back! Starting June 9, summer meals will be offered at Elton Hills, Gage, Franklin, Longfellow, Overland, Riverside, Washington, Willow Creek, and John Marshall High School. Breakfast and lunch served daily. All meals for children 18 years of age or younger are FREE. Adult meals can also be purchased for $3.10 for breakfast and $5.50 for lunch. See the flyer for a full list, dates, and times, or visit www.rochesterschools.org/summermeals for more information. 🍏 June Menu: https://5il.co/3gpjn 🍏 Flyers: https://www.rochesterschools.org/documents/school-meals-and-menus/summer-meals/805175

What a night! Riverside Elementary wrapped up the final Family Night of the year with Spanish Immersion dance performances, a stunning K–5 Art Showcase, street painting with Slatterly Park neighbors, and more. Art, culture, and family—what a way to end the year!

At Riverside, our Hammock Forest is a calm, nature-filled space for quiet reading, drawing, studying, and mindfulness. With the sound of the river and bustling trees, Ms. Lenz has helped students AND staff learn to slow down, notice their surroundings, and engage all their senses. These moments build focus, calm, and self-awareness - tools that support learning and well-being.

Riverside Otters got moving during a high-energy break-dancing residency with artist Mona Lisa. Through guided instruction and creative exploration, 2nd graders built coordination, confidence, and self-expression -- all while learning the art of breaking. Families were invited to see what children learned on the final day.

Don't forget, School Year SACC Registration opens at 6 a.m. this morning! Get logged in to register: https://rochester.ce.eleyo.com/child-care/3/school-age-child-care

Yoga isn't just for grown-ups -- it helps kids build strength, focus, confidence, and can even help manage big emotions. Instructor, Jess Faunce made special connections to nature during this residency with Riverside 1st Graders.

Riverside Kindergarteners had an unforgettable visit to Red Barn Learning Center - for some, it was their very first time seeing farm animals up close! This hands-on experience opened their eyes to where our food comes from and the hard work behind it.

The 2nd Grade classes had an unforgettable day releasing butterflies as part of their science curriculum! Watching the butterflies take flight was a magical way to wrap up their lessons on life cycles and metamorphosis.

Our Spanish Immersion classes had a blast celebrating Día de los Niños with a festive piñata and cascarones! A joyful day filled with culture, laughter, and community as we honored the children at the heart of our school.

We're halfway through Teacher Appreciation Week, and it's been full of joy! We have loved seeing all the celebrations, from a giant chicken outside a building to chalk art, treats, high fives, and hugs! RPS schools are showing huge love for our teachers! Thank you for everything you do for our students! We appreciate you!

Heads up, students! There will be no school on Wednesday, May 7. Staff will be engaged in a Curriculum Adjustment Day. See you back on Thursday, May 8.

We're excited to see you all in TWO days! Join us for Kick Off 2 Kindergarten, a fun and informative fair designed just for incoming kindergarteners and their families. It's the perfect way to explore all that RPS has to offer and get excited for the school journey ahead! 🎒 When: Thursday, May 8, 4–7 p.m. 🎒 Where: Century High School, 2525 Viola Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906 🎒 Admission: Free and open to the public! At the fair, families can: 🎒 Meet the friendly faces from Transportation, Student Nutrition, SACC, and more. 🎒 Connect with community partners to learn more about their services. 🎒 Ask questions, gather info, and feel ready for Day One. 🎒 Capture the moment in our super-fun photo booth. We will also have multilingual interpreters ready to help! Discover what makes RPS a great place to learn and grow, because every big dream starts with a strong foundation. Play, learn, and get inspired with us!

Riverside Elementary had an amazing drumming residency with Mike Arturi, drummer for The Lovin’ Spoonful! Our kindergarteners learned about rhythm, teamwork, and self-control. Families joined us on the final day to discover how they can make music at home with everyday objects! Big thanks to Mike for bringing the rhythm to our school! 🙌🎵

Riverside Elementary welcomed several amazing community partners to share valuable resources with our families at Family Night! We are so grateful for these partnerships that help strengthen our school community and support our students and their families. Together, we’re making a difference! 💙 Thank you: Olmsted County Public Health Guiding Partners to Solutions Rochester Art Center Community Education Rochester Public Library ACHLA COPAL SNAP Ed. First Alliance Bank Olmsted County Outreach Early Childhood Family Services

Riverside Elementary’s PTA invited the community to join our “Litter Bit Better” cleanup event! Thank you to everyone (including K-Kids!) who helped make our school grounds cleaner and greener. We appreciate your hard work and community spirit!

Thank you to the Treble Choir from Honors Choirs of Southeast MN for sharing your talent with Riverside Students. We loved the performance!

Exciting partnership! Riverside Elementary and Winona State University have teamed up to support future teachers while benefiting our elementary students. Despite the rain, Family Night was a huge success—moving indoors didn’t stop the fun!

Join us for Kick Off 2 Kindergarten, a fun and informative event designed just for incoming kindergarteners and their families. It's the perfect way to explore all that RPS has to offer and get excited for the school journey ahead! 🎒 When: Thursday, May 8, 4–7 p.m. 🎒 Where: Century High School, 2525 Viola Rd NE, Rochester, MN 55906 🎒 Admission: Free and open to the public! At the fair, families can: 🎒 Meet the friendly faces from Transportation, Student Nutrition, SACC, and more. 🎒 Connect with community partners to learn more about their services. 🎒 Ask questions, gather info, and feel ready for Day One. 🎒 Capture the moment in our super-fun photo booth. We will also have multilingual interpreters ready to help! Come discover what makes RPS a great place to learn and grow, because every big dream starts with a strong foundation. Come play, learn, and get inspired with us!