Principal's Corner Greetings Riverside Families, I hope this message finds you all doing well. Thank you to everyone who participated in parent - teacher conferences last week. The connection between home and the classroom is vital to student success. We appreciate your partnership. We will have a minimum day dismissal on Monday for our final day of conferences. I want to extend personal heartfelt appreciation for all of the birthday wishes last week. Your kindness is very much appreciated. Weather reports show more rain for next week. As a reminder, all kinder students should enter through the Ethel gate, and all 1st through 5th grade students will go to the auditorium.
Please read below for information about the week ahead.
Warm regards, Ms. Richardson |
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| Does your child need breakfast in the morning? For Monday, a minimum day, we will be offering breakfast BEFORE school starting at 7:30am. If your child will be eating breakfast at school they will need to be on campus by 7:45am to give them time to eat. |
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| Don't Forget - Minimum Day & Parent Conferences November 17 Dismissal at 12:49pm on Parent Conference Days Teachers will be sharing sign ups for parent conferences soon. Please schedule a meeting with your student's teacher to discuss their academic progress. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss your child's strengths and needs. |
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High Dose Tutoring There Will Be Tutoring All This Week Continues until December 12 Tutoring will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. All students enrolled in high dose tutoring MUST be enrolled in Team Prime Time. Students who begin tutoring at 3:00 or 4:00 will go to TPT BEFORE tutoring.You don't need to leave your student after tutoring, but it's there if you are running late. Students will be picked up from TPT at the Huston Gate. Attendance in High Dose Tutoring is extremely important. Please make sure that your student does not miss. If students miss more than 3 times they may be removed from tutoring. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Meyers at bjm3953@lausd.net |
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Disney Day Spirit Day Wednesday, November 18 Riverside Drive Student Council is sponsoring Disney Day. Come dressed as your favorite Disney character or in Disney merch. We can't wait to see Riverside - The Happiest Place on Earth! |
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| Pep Rally and Cereal Box Domino Challenge Friday, November 21 at 8:01am Weather Permitting (We will reschedule if it rains.) |
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| Comprehensive Needs Survey Parents, we need you to voice your opinions on our upcoming 2026-2027 school priorities in our budget. Please take the school's Comprehensive Needs Survey and rate your priorities for our school. Budget 2026-2027 will be decided by SSC and Governance at the beginning of December. Please click here to take the survey before November 30, 2025. There will be a School Goals & Budget Consultation Informational Meeting on Wednesday, December 10th at 9:00am on Zoom. Meeting ID: 219 745 0091 Password: ROCKY |
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| Support Our Cereal Box Donation and Domino Challenge! RDCS Cereal Challenge Mr. Burrell is leading a great community-building activity for Riverside Drive. We will create a HUGE cereal box "domino" effect at the November 21st pep rally. If you are able, please donate unopened cereal boxes for the challenge. Students can deliver the cereal boxes to room 2. Once the pep rally is over, all cereal will be donated to MEND. |
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| School Communications Please do not opt out of our communications system. This is an extremely important way for us to communicate with you about emergencies, upcoming events, and information that is important for you to know. If you are not signed up for the LAUSD Parent Portal, please do. Families can access attendance records, Schoology, grades, test scores, and more. Beginning this year families will need to digitally sign field trip slips and this can only be done on the Parent Portal or LAUSD App. If you need your child's student ID number and parent pin, please contact the main office at 818-990-4525. We will also be offering a parent workshop for those who might need additional support on Friday, November 7 at 8:30am. More details will be sent home soon. If you have opted out of text messages, you can go here. Once there, scroll towards the bottom to the blue headings. Open the one "Opting-In Phone and Email Messages" and then follow the directions for "Opting-In to Text Messages". If you have opted out of emails, please email the school so we can forward your information to the correct department. You can also access a job aide here for written directions. |
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| School Wide Food Drive to Support Local Food Banks As federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency funding is set to end on November 1, food benefits will be reduced for thousands of families across Los Angeles, leaving many facing difficult circumstances. Please note that this change does not impact school meals. Our schools will continue to provide three nutritious meals each day—breakfast, lunch, and supper—to all students at no cost. To support our community during this transition, we are launching a schoolwide Food Drive to help replenish supplies at local food banks and community pantries. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for families in our neighborhoods. Each school is encouraged to collect non-perishable food items such as: Canned fruits, vegetables, and soups Rice, beans, and pasta Peanut butter, cereal, and shelf-stable milk
There will be a collection box in the main office where students and families can drop off food items. They will be donated to local food banks. If your family is experiencing food insecurity and need additional help, please let us know. Here is a list of some of the resources available in our area this weekend. |
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| Dr. Rocky's Health Corner How often should I read to my child? Studies have shown that children who are read to from an early age are more likely to have a broader vocabulary and pick up reading skills more quickly and easily. So how often should I read to my child? The short answer is as much as possible. Children who are read at least 1 book per day will hear about 290,000 more words than those who are not regularly read to by a caregiver. How often should my older child read? By the time a student gets to 6th grade, if they have read an average of 20 minutes a day, that student will know 1,800,000 words compared with a child who reads an average of 5 minutes per day will know 282,000. Reading really is the key to academic success! For more information click here and for a visual
Past Topics from Dr. Rocky - Setting Screen Time Goals here - How much sleep is enough sleep? here - Tips for preventing the flu from CHLA here - The No-Panic Guide to Head Lice click here |
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| No Glee Choir This Week Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 2:45-3:45pm RDC Glee will only meet Wednesday and Thursday this week. This week they will be meeting in room 22. All students who attend an after-school program must be registered in Team Prime Time. Pick up will be at the Huston Gate. If you need to pick up your student early, please make arrangements with Mr. Lasell at joseph.lasell@lausd.net or Ms. Roosevelt at jenifer.roosevelt@lausd.net |
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| Enrichment at Riverside Drive Our PTA-funded enrichment and District-funded arts programs are underway. Read below to see what your students are currently learning and what is on the horizon. Visual Arts ~ Rooms 9, 4, 2, 3, and 42 Enrich LA Garden ~ Rooms 3, 19, 8, 9, 39, 40, 42, and 43 Got Game PE ~ all classes LAUSD Theater with a focus on language and social skills development ~ Rooms 42, 43, 5, 39, 40, and 17 LAUSD Dance ~ Rooms 2, 1, 3, and 9 |
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Attendance Matters Regular attendance is essential for your child's success! LAUSD expects all students to maintain a 96% or better attendance rate (missing fewer than 7 days in one school year).
Benefits of regular attendance: - Higher academic achievement
- Use more academic language
- Develop healthy habits for the future
- Demonstrate reliability and confidence
- Make and keep connections with others
Please plan your vacations during school vacation's winter break, spring break, and summer vacation .If your child is absent for three days without a valid excuse, they are truant, and you will receive a truancy letter from the district.
Tardiness
School begins at 8:01 am. If your child is not in class by 8:01 a.m., they will be considered tardy. If your child is tardy for 30 minutes or more for three days without a valid excuse, your child will be considered truant. Tardy students will need to be brought by parent/guardian to office to sign in. Attendance Incentive Each month students can earn incentives if they: Come to school on time! Come every day! Stay the entire day!
We are excited to announce No Tardy November. There will be certificates for free kid's meals and a Chalk Party. Please see the flyer for additional information. |
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After School Programs Team Prime Time Site Director: Coach Maka Assistant Site Director: Coach Madison This year, LAUSD is implementing a One Comprehensive Program model at every school site with a Beyond the Bell program. This change means that students who have traditionally participated in the Youth Services (YS) program will now need to be enrolled in our site's grant-funded program —Team Prime Time. All students must be picked up promptly at dismissal if they are not enrolled in Team Prime Time. If you need afterschool care for your child, please be sure to fill out and submit your Team Prime Time application ASAP.
STAR Nova Classes Please see the following flyer about upcoming STAR classes. You may also reach out to the STAR Director for Riverside Drive, Miss Caroline at carolineh@starinc.org with any questions.
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| School Breakfast and Lunch Menus A recess snack (second chance breakfast) and lunch are available at no cost to all students at Riverside Drive Charter. You can take a look at the menus here. Menus are also available on the Yum Yummi app. |
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Jackets, Sweaters, Water Bottles, and Lunch Boxes...Oh, My! Please check the playground and table at the Huston Gate for missing items if you can come to campus at dismissal. You can also check the tree platforms if you plan to attend the Pep Rally and Halloween Parade on Friday. Items not claimed by Friday, December 19, will be discarded. Please write your child's name on their jackets, sweatshirts, lunchboxes, and water bottles. This will allow us to help them find their belongings. Please encourage your child to keep track of his or her belongings. I thank you in advance for your partnership. |
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LAUSD and Riverside Drive Cellular Telephone Policy REMINDER LAUSD and Riverside Drive have a NO Cellphone and Smart Watch Policy Phones and smartwatches MUST be turned off and stored in backpacks. Our Governance approved policy is as follows: 1st Offense - Student is directed to put the device away 2nd Offense - The staff member will confiscate the device. It will be returned at the end of the day. Notice sent home. 3rd Offense - The staff member will confiscate the device and send it to the Main Office. A parent/guardian will need to pick up the device from the office and sign the policy notice. ** Further violation of the District Policy will require a conference with the Principal. **
I thank you in advance for your cooperation. |
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Classroom Birthday Celebrations I want to remind our school community about our Governance Council's approved birthday celebration policy. ** Parents must receive prior approval from the classroom teacher for all celebrations. ** - Parents must make arrangements with the classroom teacher at least 48 hours in advance. - Treats, if allowed by the teacher, must be store-bought AND must meet the dietary restrictions of ALL students in the class. - No goodie bags, toys, or balloons. - Celebrations are limited to the last 10 minutes of the school day - In lieu of a treat, families can donate a book or other prearranged item to the class. |
| A Few Things to Remember...
Food Drop-off- LAUSD and RDCS do not allow 3rd party deliveries (restaurants, DoorDash etc) or restaurant food drop off for students. If your student forgets their lunch at home, they are welcome to get a free snack/lunch from the cafeteria or families may drop off a homemade lunch in the office. As a reminder, we will not interrupt classes to let students know that something has been dropped off for them, and instead contact them during recess or lunch.
Social Media ~ We encourage our school community to follow the District's message, if you see something, say something. Please encourage your children to report any concerns to an adult on campus. Your partnership is much appreciated.
Parent Volunteers ~ A few reminders when volunteering on campus... Please maintain confidentiality and refrain from sharing personal academic and behavioral information about other people's children. If you have questions or concerns, please speak to the teacher. We appreciate your support in maintaining a safe and respectful classroom environment.
Student Injuries ~ Students with injuries that require crutches, splints, slings, or other equipment, MUST return to school with a doctor's note. District policy requires the note to indicate the student is cleared to return to campus and any restrictions.
Covid ~ Please notify the main office if your child tests positive for Covid. We are responsible for notifying any close contacts so that they know to look out for symptoms. You informing the office is a way to help ensure that everyone can make decisions to keep themselves and others healthy. |
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Arrival and Dismissal Gate Information Students may enter any school gate for arrival and dismissal. Arrival: Gates open at 7:30 am and are closed promptly at 8:01 am. Students arriving after the gates close will need to enter through the Main Office and will be marked tardy. Dismissal: Gates open at 2:29 pm (M, W, Th, F) and 1:29 pm on Tuesday. Gates are locked at 2:45 pm. UTK, Kinder, and 1st grade students not picked up on time will be taken to the Main Office. 2nd - 5th students not picked up on time will be sent to Team Prime Time. Students repeatedly not picked up on time will need to enroll in Team Prime Time. TK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade parents, please pick up your students at their classroom.
Safety First During Drop Off and Pick Up! Please model safe behavior when dropping off and picking up students. Be respectful of our surrounding community and follow traffic laws. Do not park in crosswalks, make illegal U-turns, block the driveways of our neighbors, or allow students to cross in the middle of the street. School police will be making patrols, and drivers may be ticketed. Thank you for your partnership and cooperation in advance. |
Just A Reminder! Friday, November 21- Pep Rally 8:01 on Main Yard November 24-29 - Thanksgiving Break (No School) Wednesday, December 3- SSC/Governance Meeting 3:00pm on Zoom Thursday, December 18- Winter Shows in Auditorium Friday, December 19- Minimum Day with 12:49pm dismissal December 22 - January 9 - Winter Break (no school) Monday, January 12- School resumes |
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Upcoming Events | | No upcoming events. |
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