This fall, as part of the district’s parent engagement plan, GRPS is continuing an

aggressive campaign focused on improving student attendance.

Student success goes hand in hand with good attendance and far too many students are

chronically absent – missing 18 or more days of school. Showing up for school has a huge

impact on a student’s academic success in kindergarten through high school. Even as

children grow older and more independent, parents and families play a key role in making

sure students get to school safely, every day, ready to learn. Riverside students made great

gains in attendance last year and we want to continue!

What is Challenge 5?

It’s the GRPS 2015-16 attendance challenge!

Strive for less than five absences this year.

Every day you miss school, whether excused or unexcused, you miss opportunities to learn,

which limits your success. So this year, strive for less than five!

It’s the GRPS 2015-16 parent challenge!

Opportunities to get involved exist at every GRPS school. See what’s happening at YOUR

school this year, and strive to participate five times to support your child’s success in school!

It’s the Parent University challenge!

Strive to take five classes this year and earn Power Parent status. A joint venture of GRPS

and Believe 2 Become, Parent University will offer both in-person and online classes begin-

ning in October. Learn more at www.grparentuniversity.org.

Please join us in this continuing effort!

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

RIVERSIDE MIDDLE BELIEFS STATEMENT

We believe ALL students can learn.

We believe in a strong partnership between students, parents, community, and

Riverside Middle School.

We believe in creating an environment of high expectations, caring, respect, open

communication, diversity and inclusiveness, trust, and collaboration.

We believe that ALL students should take ownership of their education and

develop a positive outlook for the future.

RIVERSIDE MIDDLE

SCHOOL

HOME OF THE RED HAWKS

AIDA TOLEDO , DEAN OF STUDENTS

DONNA BOMAN , PRINCIPAL

265 ELEANOR NE

GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49505 PHONE: (616) 819 -2969

FAX : (616) 819 -1195

ht tp: //grpubl ic school s .org/r iver s ide

Inside this issue:

Counseling Corner 2

PBIS 2

PTCC 3

Health Center News 3

Frequently Called

Numbers

4

Mark your Calendars 4

Our mission is to ensure that all students are educated, self-directed

and productive members of society!

September 2015

Page 2

Hello Riverside,

My name is Nicole McCarthy and I'm excited to join the Riverside Middle School

team as the new school counselor this year. I have been a school counselor with

Grand Rapids Public Schools for 6 years. I look forward to supporting students, families, and our

staff so we can all have a successful year together! Please feel free to contact me with any issues

or concerns that may arise. I can assist with resources for your child to help foster growth in the

areas of academic, career, or personal/social development. I wish all of our Riverside family a very

happy learning year!

Nicole McCarthy

819-5541 mccarthyn@grps.org

Counseling Corner

Protect MI Child

Are your children safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements

from alcohol, tobacco, pornography and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thank-

fully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching e-mails, mobile phones

(text messaging ads) and instant messenger IDs. The Michigan Child Protection Registry is a free do-not-contact

service for Michigan’s families and schools and can be located at www.protectmichild.com.

Riverside 3 R’s Respectful, Responsible and Ready

Riverside Middle School uses a PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and

Supports) program to increase positive interactions, behavior and academic

achievement. Students earn “tickets” that are used to purchase various items

from “The Hawk’s Nest”, our PBIS store. Students are also recognized through

formal celebrations occurring every 4-6 weeks.

Parent Teacher Community Council (PTCC)

We welcome all parents to join our PTCC! The council

meets on the following Tuesdays @ 3:00pm in

Riverside Room 131:

October 13 , 2015

November 10, 2015

December 8, 2015

January 12, 2016

February 9, 2016

March 8, 2016

April 5, 2016

May 10, 2016

Family Night Events @ 6:00pm

(includes dinner!)

11/17/15 Curriculum Night 12/15/15 Social Media 1/19/16 ADHD 3/15/16 Standardized Testing 4/19/16 Transition Night—Elementary to Middle School and Middle School to High

Health Center News

Immunizations are an important part of the health of our Riverside Students. If your child is waivered for immunization you must go through Kent County Health Department annually to renew your waiver:

Location: 700 Fuller Ave NE Phone: (616) 632-7100

Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday through Friday No cost or co-pay for GRPS students receiving

services.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions!

Jackie Vigh, RN Laurie Carlson, Health Aide

819-3245 819-4266

Emergency Drills

Riverside has conducted the following drills

this school year:

1 of 6 Fire Drills

0 of 3 Lockdown Drills

0 of 2 Tornado/Severe Weather Drills

Please talk with your student and reinforce

the importance of taking all drills seriously.

GRPS Information

(616) 819-2000

Athletics/Student Activities

(616) 819-2010

Community & Student Services

(616) 819-2150

Dean Transportation

(616) 819-3000

LOOP

(616) 855-9675

(616) 204-0955

Public Safety/Security

(616) 819-2100

Riverside Middle Office (616) 819-2969

Special Education

(616) 819-2185

FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS

Please Ca

ll in

Absences!

819-296

9

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR...

September 8 -1st Day of School

September 15—Title I Open House

6:00pm

September 21— 1st day of LOOP

October 7—Student Count Day

October 13—Parent/Teacher Conferences

3:00-7:30pm

October 15—Parent/Teacher Conferences

3:00-7:30pm

October 30—end of 1st Marking Period

November 2—NO SCHOOL for students

265 ELEANOR NE

GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49505

PHONE: (616) 819 -2969

FAX: (616) 819 -1195

ht tp: //grpubl ic school s .org/r iver s ide

RIVERSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL

HOME OF THE RED HAWKS

SCHOOL UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

Tops: Collared solid color navy blue, light blue,

white, black, red or orange (short or long-

sleeve)

Bottoms: Navy blue, black or khaki/tan.

Jeans/Denim are NOT permitted in any color.

Leggings/jeggings may only be worn under

dress/skirts/shorts of appropriate length, NOT

as pants. Shorts/skirts must be uniform materi-

al/color.

Long-sleeve, plain color shirts or crew-neck

sweatshirts may be worn UNDER the required

collared shirt

Solid color navy blue, light blue, white, black,

red, or orange sweaters or fleece jackets (no

hoods) may be worn over the required collared

shirt.

Title I Open House 9/15/15 6:00pm

Please join us for information about

Title I funding, parent opportunities,

and a chance to tour the building and

meet your student’s teachers