The Riverview Reader
Updates For The Week of Jan. 22nd
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Si aad u turjunto warsidahan fadlan ku dhufo badhanka "Turjumi" ee kore ama dhinaca midig ee boggan.
A Message To Families From Mr. Peck
Riverview Families,
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has declared the week of January 22 as Paraprofessional Recognition Week across the state to celebrate the more than 20,000 paraprofessionals who provide services in schools across Minnesota. This is a separate recognition than National Paraprofessional Appreciation Week which occurs in April, but we rely on our paras so much that they deserve all the appreciation we can throw at them throughout the school year. We appreciate everything each of them does for our students, our school, and the entire Farmington community!
We hope you are able to join us for Family Movie Night this Friday, January 26. The students voted last week for which movie they preferred and "Leo" was the winner. The film tells the story of a classroom pet lizard who is taken home by different students throughout the school year, gets involved in the challenges each student is facing, and offers great advice to each of them. The film will be shown in the RVES Cafeteria near the main entrance. Doors will open at 6:00 and there will be popcorn, candy, and water for purchase with all sales going to support the Riverview PTP. Students are invited to bring sleeping bags, pillows, squishmallows, or other cozy things to watch the movie with. We will start the show at 6:30. All families are invited to join in the fun and please remember it is not a drop off event. We hope to see you there!
Best wishes for a great week!
Shawn Peck
Principal
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, Jan. 22 - Coins For Kids Fundraiser Kicks Off (see below for details)
- Tuesday, Jan. 23 - Fentanyl & Opioid Community Engagement Event (see below for details)
- Thursday, Jan. 25 - Kindergarten Field Trip to the MN Children's Museum
- Friday, Jan. 26 - Coins For Kids Fundraiser Concludes (see below for details)
- Friday, Jan. 26 - Family Movie Night at RVES, 630 pm (see below for details)
- Monday, Jan. 29 - 5th Grade African Drumming Unit Begins
- Tuesday, Jan. 30 - CARES Student of the Month Breakfast
- Thursday, Feb. 29 - Science Fair at RVES
Congratulations, Tracy Hinz on Being Honored With an Inclusive Educator Award!
Congratulations, Lauren Kier on Being Honored With an Inclusive Educator Award!
RVES Night at El Charro Was A Big Success! Thank You To Everyone Who Joined Us
Join Us On Friday For Family Movie Night! Doors Open at 6:00; Show Time is 6:30
This Week's Riverview Hero: Paraprofessional, Lisa McGhie!
Farmington Area Public Schools and RVES Kindergarten Featured In The News!
A recent article appeared in Sun This Week newspaper which serves the local communities of Apple Valley, Lakeville, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount, and Farmington. The focus of the article was around the kindergarten experience for children at Riverview and throughout Farmington Area Public Schools. The author of the piece, Kara Hildreth did a nice job of capturing the sentiments of our wonderful kindergarten teachers and shining a light on what a day in the life of a kindergartner looks like and feels like.
2023-24 Riverview Elementary Yearbooks Are On Sale Now!
A reminder to be sure to order your 23-24 yearbook! Orders will be accepted until March 11, 2024. Yearbooks cost $16.00 (plus tax) and all orders are made online through Jostens. You can order by visiting www.schoolannual.com, and then clicking on "Buy student's yearbook". Select "Riverview Elementary, Farmington", MN and you will be in the right spot. You must know your child's teacher's name and the grade they are in. Place your orders online today!
Have a Child Starting Kindergarten In the Fall? Enrollment is NOW OPEN!
African Drumming Unit Returning to Riverview; Coins For Kids Fundraiser Details
Our friend from Ghana, Fatawu, will be back at Riverview to drum and dance with the 5th graders this year. We are SO excited to see him again!
Fatawu is also the founder of the Mbangba Cultural School in his home village of Tamale in Northern Ghana. Unfortunately, they do not have an actual schoolhouse to call their own. They borrow random spaces to have a place to learn as it is a very poor community that does not have money to support a school or the children’s education. In 2018, Fatawu took matters into his own hands and started raising money to build what he would call, the “Tiyumba Youth Development & Cultural Center.” A place to learn. A place to dance. A place to be safe. The TYDCC is still incomplete since construction of the school stops as soon as the money Fatawu raises runs out. His goal is to finally open the TYDCC this August 2024 and Riverview would LOVE to help!
The week before Fatawu is here, Monday January 22nd through Friday January 26th, Riverview will participate in a school wide fundraiser called “Coins For Kids.” The money raised will go towards helping Fatawu purchase the materials needed to finally complete his school. We will surprise him by announcing the total amount raised at our School Wide African Drum & Dance Assembly on his last day at RVES!
Want to know more about Fatawu, his home, and why this partnership is so important to us? Click here for an interesting and informative slideshow.
Calling All Scientists; The Science Fair is Coming to RVES on Thursday, Feb. 29!
The RVE Science Fair is open to all students in 1st-5th Grades!
All interested students are encouraged to participate! Science fair projects at the 1st and 2nd grade levels consist of models, demonstrations, or collections. Projects for the 3rd - 5th grade levels consist of demonstrations or experiments utilizing the scientific method and follow certain guidelines.
Why should you participate in the Science Fair?
The science fair is a fun and creative process! You will learn about science in a way that is interesting to you. You can also showcase what you have learned to the Riverview community!
Please see the attached brochures for additional information and project criteria!
Important dates:
Friday, February 2nd: Registration forms are due
Tuesday, February 27th: Science Fair projects are due
Thursday, February 29th: RVE Science Fair (AM presentation to RVE, PM presentation to families.)
Saturday, April 27th: Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Mankato, optional and must qualify to attend)
Once registered, students will be enrolled in the RVE Science Fair class on Seesaw. There they will receive science fair updates, as well as fair and project guidelines. As the science fair coordinator, I will be available for students to review the progress they are making with their projects and to answer any questions. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bclausen@farmington.k12.mn.us.
All the best,
Ben Clausen
iNature Teacher and Science Fair Coordinator
2023/24 MNSAA 4th Grade Passports Are Now Available!
The 4th Grade Passport offers every 4th-grade student the opportunity to ski and snowboard all season for $34.95! The Minnesota Ski Areas Association and its members offer the 4th Grade Passport, free lift tickets for the passport holder. The goal is to help introduce families to how much fun they can have together outside in the winter. The Passports go on sale each year in late summer and remain available until early February.
Visiting Riverview Soon? Check The Lost and Found For Missing Items
Our lost and found has grown significantly over the winter months. If you suspect that your child may have items in the lost and found, we invite you to come to RVES and check it out. Just stop by the main office first to check in. You can view the pictures below to see if anything looks familiar. Items that remain in our lost and found after Friday, January 26 will be placed in our "Community Closet" and be available for students who need them.
Also - please double check their your child's name is written somewhere on their coat, hat, gloves, snowpants, water bottles, and other commonly misplaced items. It helps to get misplaced things back into the hands of the owner easily.
Join Us For A Community Engagement Event Focused On The Fentanyl & Opioid Crisis
Community Ed Youth Enrichment Opportunities Are Available at Riverview
Looking for something fun for your child(ren) to do? Drama Lab, Bricktopia Wild Ride, Chess Club, Gymnastics, Parkour, Basketball, Playing with Food, and Soccer Shots are all starting soon! Register your youth today through Community Education today at: https://bit.ly/CE192ElementaryEnrichment23-24 or call 651-460-3200.
In need of fee assistance to participate? Youth on free and reduced lunch or who have extenuating circumstances are eligible to apply for fee assistance. Apply here: https://bit.ly/CE192FeeAssistance.
Parents/Caregivers Provide Us WIth Important Feedback on Our Approach/Direction
For the past several weeks, we have shared data from the learner survey that was completed in November by our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. There were also surveys provided to the parents/guardians we serve and while the response rate was not great (we only had 83 responses), we were still given useful information we can use to move our school forward. Over the next few weeks, we'll share some of the data from our parent/caregiver survey that was completed this past November.
Visit the RVES Spirt Wear Store!
Visit the RVES Spirit Wear School Store for lots of ways to show your school spirit. You can order online and pick up at school. Everything is super easy and all profits from sales are used by the Riverview PTP to support students and staff. Thank you for your support!
Please email spiritwear@rvesptp.org if you have questions or to arrange a pick up time at the school store.
Attendance Line Information
Riverview Elementary School Hours
Office Hours: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Riverview CARES
- Cooperation
- Assertiveness
- Responsibility
- Empathy
- Self-Control
Important Phone Numbers
Main Office: 651-460-1600
Nurse: 651-460-1606
Social Worker - 651-460-1629
Food Service: 651-460-3820
Bus Company: 651-463-8689
School Fax: 651-460-1610
School Closing Line: 651-985-1100
Community Education: 651-460-3200
Make Sure Your Child is Reading At Least 20 Minutes Per Night
About Riverview: A Learner Centered Community
The mission of Riverview Elementary School, a learner-centered community that transforms the future of learning, is to ensure each individual continuously grows emotionally, socially, and academically to have a positive impact in their communities through:
- Honoring the diverseness of our communities
- Learning experiences driven by passions, sparks, and interests
- Reflection on the learning process and real-life experiences
- Collaborative relationships, trust, and open communication
Our Objectives:
- Each learner continuously demonstrates academic and personal growth.
- Each learner develops the skills to understand how they learn best.
- Each learner possesses the skills to advocate for themselves and others.
- Each learner continuously explores personal interests and passions to drive their learning.
Read more about our Strategic Framework here.
Email: speck@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: https://rves.farmington.k12.mn.us/
Location: 4100 208th Street West, Farmington, MN 55024, USA
Phone: 651-460-1600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rve192