Friday, January 30 at 8:01am

Please join us for our monthly Pep Rally.  This month we will be honoring our students with outstanding attendance, students who passed the English Proficiency Exam, and our school's Spelling Bee winners.

Do you have any photos for our yearbook?

We are looking for field trips, celebrations, class pictures, special events and spirit days.  You can send them to Ms. Meyers bjm3953@lausd.net

thank you!

Sports Club will begin Friday, February 6 (2nd-5th grades)

We are pleased to announce a new Sports Club for after school run by Got Game coaches (our PE program).  The club will focus on basketball skills, sportsmanship, and team building.  

Space is limited and students will be registered on a first come, first served basis. Forms will given out to 2nd-5th graders on Friday and can also be found here.  Please make sure to fill out both sides and turn into the office.

Theatre Club will meet on Monday & Tuesday

Theatre Club will meet in the auditorium from 3:00-5:00 on both days.  All students will need to check into Team Prime Time and then will be dismissed to the auditorium. Pick up will be through Prime Time at the Huston Gate.  If you need to pick up your student early, please make arrangements with Mr. Burrell.

Updates will be provided through Class Dojo. If you have not accepted or received your invite, please reach out to Mr. Burrell at mgb4972@lausd.net with any questions.

Know a family who would like to attend Riverside Drive next year?

We are having tours on Wednesday, January 28 and Thursday, February 5.  Both tours begin in the auditorium at 8:30am.

Thursday, February 5, 2026 - 5:15-6:30

Please join our NBC teachers as they present a fun family night focusing on culture and community.  This is open to all ages, but please remember it is not a drop-off event. Parents must stay with their children in the workshops.

All students who participate can earn a homework pass.

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.

Why Won't My Child Listen to Me?

As a parent it is very frustrating when your child does not listen to you.  The first piece of advice many therapists have is make sure there is no physical reason - have their hearing checked annually during doctor visits.  Assuming there is no physiological issues, children are listening.  The better question to ask ourselves is, why doesn't my child do as they're asked?

Some of the common reasons children don't listen or follow directions include:

    - being hungry, tired, stressed, or lonely

    - not wanting to be told what to do

    - not having the skills to do what is being asked

    - the way they are being asked

    - the quality of connection between child and adult

Most of the time, it's not just one thing, but a combination. The goal for children is not compliance, but rather finding balance in rules and freedom.  Sometimes children just have to buckle up in the car, can't throw knives or need to clean their room. 

Here are some strategies for when your child doesn't listen:

    - keep it simple

    - get on your child's level

    - have your child repeat it back

    - drop the "don't" and make it a "do"

    - using a wait time 

    - remember children can be illogical and irrational

For more tips from therapists, click here

Past Topics from Dr. Rocky

    - How to Talk to Children About Their Day here

    - New Year, New Beginnings here

    - Creating a Culture of Kindness here and here

    - Anxiety in Children and Teens here

    - The importance of reading here

    - 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

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 the 12 Days of Attendance and the return of our game, It's Sweet to Be at School. There will be certificates for free kid's meals and a movie party.  We have been given squishmallows that will be raffled off for students who are present and on time each day.

Please see the flyer for additional information.

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 - New Classes Begin February 2

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.