Welcome to Riverside Elementary

Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are excited to have students back in person this fall!  At this time, we will not be offering distance learning. We will continue to keep the health and safety of our students and staff at the forefront of our planning and protocols. Masks will still be available in the school office.  Students who ride buses will be required to wear masks on the bus.  In school, masks are  recommended, but not required. If there are any changes, due to Covid-19, parents will be notified by the district.  Please feel free to contact the elementary office with any questions or concerns you may have as the school year progresses. 

We have six new teachers who join us this year.  They are Casie Pohlman, Title I teacher, Emilee Olson, Preschool 4-5 teacher, Mary Brinkman, Preschool 4-5 teacher, Lindsey Lucht, Preschool 4-5 teacher, Collin Munoz, K-3 Special Education teacher, Ryan Zamzow, Early Childhood Special Education teacher, and Mary Temple, PK-5 Art teacher. Lisa Schensted is our new Preschool Director.  Please welcome our new teachers and director!

PK-3rd Grade Early Entrance Conferences will be held in person on Tuesday, September 7 and Wednesday, September 8. Our first day of school will begin on Thursday, September 9.  Conference scheduling will begin Monday, August 16.  Please call Sue Schulz in the Riverside Elementary Office (507) 847-5963 to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher.   You may bring your child’s school supplies including a clear or semi-clear plastic water bottle to the conferences. When visiting the school, it is recommended that you wear a mask in the building, but not required. If you or your family members have been ill,or you are unable to attend, we ask that you contact your classroom teacher to receive information via phone, Google Meet or Zoom during a scheduled time slot. 

Renovations:  As our renovations continue, the Discovery Place Preschool and Daycare rooms will be relocated to the upper floor of the Riverside building. 

Technology platforms for PK-3rd grade students will be Seesaw and Google Meet/Zoom and students will receive a school-issued iPad to use in the classroom.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the Riverside Elementary Media Center from September 7 through September 10. 

The Student Handbook and School Supply List are available on our school website at https://www.jccschools.com/riversideelementary.  Everyone is encouraged to review the handbook before school begins.  

School Hours: Our school day begins at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m. On Wednesdays, there is a 2:00 p.m. early dismissal. Breakfast is served from 7:35-8:15 a.m. Please do not bring your child to school before 7:35 a.m. We want to ensure they are safely supervised when arriving to school each day.

Transportation:  

• Bus Riders:  Parents of  bus riders will be contacted by Palmer Bus Company. Route buses will pick up and drop off students on the playground blacktop. Space in front of the Riverside building is reserved for the Lakefield shuttle buses between 2:45-3:15 p.m.  

• Car Riders:  Preschool through first grade students can be picked up outside Door 2 by the main office. Second through third grade students can be picked up outside Door 3 by the lower parking lot. If you have more than one child, the younger siblings will go with the oldest sibling to be picked up. Please contact your teacher if there are special circumstances.

• To avoid traffic congestion, there is available parking at Salem Lutheran Church parking lot, on Park street, or the upper or lower parking lots.  There will be new parking spaces in the lower lot, however space is limited. We ask that you do not wait in the yellow loading area, but drive to a designated parking spot to avoid congestion of traffic.  If you see the parking lot is full, please park in another location.  Your children will be waiting with their child’s teacher or para until you pick them up by 3:20 p.m.

• If you are picking up or dropping off your child during school hours, you will need to sign them out in the main office.  Students are not allowed to leave the building until a parent/guardian signs them out.

   

Attendance is essential to the success of each learner.  Please review the Riverside attendance policy found in the student handbook and encourage your children to attend and be engaged in school everyday. If you need to report your child as absent or tardy, you may call the elementary office and leave a message or talk to someone directly. If we do not hear from the parent/guardian and their child is absent, you will receive a phone call. 

We are committed to the safety and well-being of all JCC staff and students, and appreciate your support and flexibility throughout this upcoming school year.  As always, please contact me if you have any questions at kim.meyer@jccschools.net or 507-847-6649. We look forward to partnering with you in your student’s educational journey!

GO HUSKIES!

Dr. Kimberly Meyer

JCC Riverside Elementary Principal/Title I Director