Principal's Corner

Greetings Riverside Families,

I hope this message finds you all doing well. Please note the date change for our first Family Night of the year. Our National Board Certified Teachers will host Family Fitness Night on Thursday, October 15th, due to anticipated high temperatures next week. Students who participate will earn a homework pass. I hope you can join us!

Dr. Rocky's message this week is timely, as we continue to support students in navigating everyday situations such as redirection, attending to a non-preferred task, and being told no, which often result in interruptions in learning for the whole class. Ensuring your child has the tools necessary to gain independence, build stamina, and successfully manage frustration is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

Please read below for information about the week ahead.

Warm regards,

Ms. Richardson

Safety First at Drop Off and Pick Up!

Distracted driving, double parking, and U-turns during drop-off and pick-up are safety concerns for us all.

Parents, please cross with your students at the crosswalk and model looking both ways to ensure safety when walking.

If dropping off from your car, please pull over and park at the curb rather than having students cross in the street.

As always, be a good neighbor and refrain from blocking the driveways of our neighbors.

I thank you in advance for your partnership and cooperation.

E-Choices is Now Open

October 1 - November 6

E-Choices is now open. You will need to fill out a 2027-2028 application if you are interested in Magnet, Dual-Language, SAS, or Affiliated Charter programs.

In order to have an incoming student receive "sibling priority" to enroll at Riverside Drive, you must apply by November 6th.

Click here for the e-choices site.

High Dose Tutoring Continues This Week

After School Tutoring will be on

Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Please refer to the letter sent home about time and location.

Students will check into Prime Time and get a supper (if they wish) before tutoring and then return to Prime Time when tutoring finishes. Students will need to be signed out and picked up from Prime Time.

Translation for Upcoming Parent Conferences

November 9-13, 2026

Do you need translation for parent conferences?

Please let your child's teacher know ASAP.

Middle School 101

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 8:30am in Auditorium

Parents are invited to join our 5th graders for presentations from Armstrong, Reed and Van Nuys Middle Schools about the programs they offer. We will also go over the echoices application process and answer questions.

You do not need to be a 5th grade parent to attend.

NEW DATE- Family Fitness Night

Thursday, October 15, 2026 5:15-6:30PM

Rescheduled due to forecasted heat this week

Please join our NBC teachers for Family Fitness Night. There will be family friendly games and activities for all ages. Students can earn a homework pass for attending workshops.

Families will enter and exit through the Houston Gate

Prospective Family Tours

Friday, October 9 at 8:30am

Thursday, October 22 at 8:30am

Please share with any families that might be interested in our Riverside community next year.

Dr. Rocky's Health Corner

Setting Boundaries at Home and Preventing Anxiety

What does setting boundaries at home and anxiety have in common?

Many gentle parenting experts and resources promised that gentle parenting would prevent adolescent anxiety. Unfortunately, that is not the situation our students find themselves in. Research has shown that 12-year-olds are the most anxious generation on record.

Many parents chose gentle parenting to give their children the emotional security they did not get. There are many parts of gentle parenting that are worth keeping. Connecting with your children, welcoming feelings, eliminating shame-based discipline, and not using coercion are all ideas that help children grow emotionally. New research has shown that with some gentle parenting practices, many things children need are accidentally removed - mainly adult authority. Children need a stable adult in the room whose decisions land as facts - parents, grandparents, babysitters, teachers, coaches, etc. It is important to note that authoritarian and authority are NOT the same.

A child who is missing authority may produce anxiety because a child without real authority in the room is a child running the room themselves. While it sounds like freedom, because children do not have the executive functioning to run a room, it can be terrifying for their nervous system; chaos and anxiety may develop.

An anxious child is actually processing exhaustion from being a decision-maker in their household. They become overwhelmed with never knowing where the actual limits are because they move with each of their feelings. The uncertainty of never being able to relax, under a trusted adult providing structure, is the anxiety parents and schools are seeing.

What should parents add to gentle parenting? Warmth stays, but structure returns. Keep validating feelings and listening to your children when they are upset. As the trusted adult, do not ask for permission for decisions such as bedtimes, dinner, chores, and behavior expectations. The hard part is to do both of these at the same time and be patient, as behaviors do not change overnight.

If you are interested in more information and actual steps to use, click here (This is not an endorsement or a recommendation to purchase the book.)

Prior Dr. Rocky Topics (click on title)

How to Help Kids Talk About Learning Differences

Jackets, Sweaters, Water Bottles, and Lunch Boxes...Oh, My!

Our lost and found is already overflowing!

Please write your child's name on their jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, 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. Items not claimed by the end of the month will be donated. I thank you in advance for your partnership.

Team Prime Time Update (After School Program)

I am happy to share that the new TPT Director will be Coach Jackie. She has been at Riverside as a coach and will be returning to Riverside Drive as the Site Director for Team Prime Time. Coach Carolina will continue to support our students as the Assistant Site Director.

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. You can find the forms here.

LAUSD and Riverside Drive Cellular Telephone Policy

REMINDER

LAUSD and Riverside Drive have a

NO Cellphone and Smart Watch Policy

and

New Water Bottle Safety Policy

Mobile Devices- including smart watches

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.

New Water Bottle Safety Policy

All water bottles must be stored in the student's backpack.

Students are highly encouraged to bring soft and plastic water bottles to school

Students may not use a water bottle to harm another person or property

Students who violate this policy may not be allowed to bring a water bottle to school

** Further violation of the District Policy will require a conference with the Principal. **

I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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.

- If treats are sent without teacher approval, they will stay in office and can be picked up before the end of the day

- 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.

- Families may not use volunteer badges to attend a birthday celebration

Please note that all classrooms make a student feel special on their birthday regardless of whether treats are allowed or sent

Please sign up in the Parent Portal!

Volunteer Applications are now open for the

2026-27 School Year

Parents, are you signed up in the Parent Portal? The LAUSD Parent Portal is where you can update emergency contact information, submit absence notes, and how you access the E-Choices platform to apply for magnet programs.

Parents will need their student's ID number and your Parent PIN. You can contact the main office for this information.

You can access the Parent Portal here.

A Few Things to Remember...

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. It is strongly encouraged that you monitor your child's online activity and any social media accounts.

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. The nurse will contact you to pick up your child if they do not return with the appropriate documentation. Please call the office with any questions in order to avoid confusion.

Covid/Communicable Disease ~

Please notify the main office if your child tests positive for Covid or another contagious disease, such as lice or hand-foot-and-mouth disease. 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.

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.

New this year- Students arriving to school after 8:01am MUST be escorted and signed into office.

Dismissal: Gates open at 2:29 pm (M, W, Th, F) and 1:29 pm on Tuesday. Gates are locked at 2:45 pm (1:45 on Tuesdays). UTK- 5th grade students not picked up on time will be taken to the after-school program (TPT) to wait for pickup.

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!

Thursday, October 15 ~ ShakeOut Drill

Friday, October 16- Coffee with the Principal - 8:30am in Auditorium

Wednesday, October 21- SSC/Governance Meeting - 3:00pm on Zoom

Thursday, October 22- Prospective Family Tour

Friday, October 30- Halloween Parade & Pep Rally - 8:15am on Yard

November 9-13- Parent Conference Week

Wednesday, November 11- No School for Veteran's Day

Upcoming Events

No upcoming events.

SUBJECT: Parent Update: Week of 10/5/26