Riverside Central Elementary
A Community School Connection, January, 2018
In this Newletter
2. Riverside Partners with Art4Trails to Design a Sculpture
3. Every Tree Needs A Friend (Festival of Trees)
4. Heart of Dance Experiences in 5th Grade
5. Nature Desks by Michael and Pam Pagelkof
6. Riverside Focus on Attendance
7. Upcoming Events! Check it out!
- Community Connect Event
- Movie Night: The Jungle Book
Infinite Wisdom from Our Own Advocates
Jerrell, Lydia, and Sonida
We did a Food Drive at the People's Co-Op. My favorite part was when we were handing out the flyers and people were being so nice. I felt happy and respected when people cared enough to stop and listen to us. I went up to a person on the phone, and they actually stopped to listen. I knew that I would need to be quick so that she could get back to her conversation.
We only met a few people who rude, most were very nice. We didn’t pay much attention to those people or let it hurt our feelings. We just chat about it for a few seconds and left it alone. I think that it is a good experience because people are not always nice in this world. Maybe they had a rough day, and you shouldn’t just judge them from that one experience.
I learned today that people care about other people. It was really nice to have people get their time. I felt cared about.
Art4Trails and Riverside Sculpture Collaboration
This project has had so many wonderful turns that it has become its own blog. If you would like to learn more, feel free to visit the regularly updated blog below.
Big thanks to Susan Cizek for supporting this project in her Media class!
Every Tree Needs A Friend
The students wonderful creations were enjoyed by thousands of members of our community and continued to bring joy to many throughout the holiday season.
Our trees’ new home is Stewartville Care Center.
Heart of Dance Experiences
We have had another great year sharing ballroom dance with 5th grade students at Riverside. But like with all experiences, they are never just that. Experiences bring trial, failure, learning, regression, progress and reflection. Experiences also come with connections and opportunities. We are thankful for the dozens of opportunities this experience has brought Riverside students and families. Often broadening horizons and empowering students to challenge themselves to try something new. Things like dance, public speaking, performing and using the experience to highlight a language and a culture, validating and affirming our unique identities.
Examples include:
- Select students speaking at a luncheon (see photos below, students extensively quoted in news article below)
- Select students performing at a luncheon
- Speaking at student performance
- Speaking and being performed on film (see below)
- Performing dances in front of hundreds of peers, families and community members
- Working toward state competition
- Performing at state competition
Taking home the second place trophy for the second year in a row. Congratulations Otters!
Special thanks to their wonderfully committed teachers, Chelsie Dietrich, Beth Markert and Guy Simmons who always go far beyond the call of duty to support their students in opportunities like this.
Nature Friends and Nature Desks
Michael and Pam are incredible volunteer naturalists who expose children to the natural world through their collection. We are thankful that they support our Kindergarten classes with their expertise.
Attendance Focus
Community Connect at Riverside
We will have food (Chipotle) and booths with information. This event will take place in the cafeteria from 4:00- 6:00 pm.
If your organization has resources or connections you would like to share with families, please reach out to Lida Casper or Jody Peterson.
Riverside Central Elementary, A Community School
Email: licasper@rochester.k12.mn.us
Location: 506 5th Street Southwest, Rochester, MN, USA
Phone: 507-328-3690
Twitter: @riversideotters