Riverside Community Connection
Week of May 1st & The Garden Party!
Join us for a Garden Party on May 5th, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
This Friday, May 5th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., we are fortunate to have partners, neighbors, volunteers, staff and students involved in our garden party! The purpose of this event is to engage and connect students and community to our garden while sharing in the joy and community that it brings. All are welcome anytime throughout the day.
Students will circulate through these enriching learning opportunities in small groups.
a. Garden Salsa Station - Pasquale from Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria and Caitlin, a U of M SNAP-Ed Educator will be making garden salsa for students to taste.
b. Public Health - Jo Anne and Joan from public health will help students create garden recipe book and sample garden snacks with the students.
c. Building Station – Students will have supervision and be able to participate in building the garden beds (students will not be involved in the sawing).
d. Mixing Compost/Dirt Station – Students will mix dirt and compost and carry it in buckets to the garden beds.
e. Lumber Painting Station – Each student will have their own piece of the garden to design with paint.
f. Perennial Station – This station will focus on the use of perennials in our gardens/landscape. They will bring a number of visuals for people to enjoy and learn about.
g. Tissue Paper Flower Construction Station – Students will create pipe cleaner and tissue paper flowers with students so they have something to take with them.
h. Planting Station - Students will plant veggies in small containers for transplanting in garden
i. Bee Observation Station - Students will see an observation bee hive and see a Bee suit.
j. Freeze Pop Station – The final station is the Freezie Pop Station. You may want to have a meeting spot (playground, wall, etc.) so your students know where to meet when they are done.
*We are also lucky enough to have live music by Bailey Williams!
If you are interested in participating in any way, please reach out: licasper@rochester.k12.mn.us
Artist in Residence at Riverside
Our budding musicians have two upcoming performances to share!
- Friday, May 5th at 1 p.m. at Riverside!
- Thursday's on First & 3rd on June 1st at 12:30 - 1 p.m. on the Peace Plaza stage!
Powerful Practice in Advocacy!
My favorite part of our Hy-Vee Food Drive was getting to talk to different people and seeing how much food we could get for our Family Resource Room. I liked seeing how we could make a difference. - Gabi Burchill, 5th Grade
I liked being with the Mayo High school students becuase they are older and they had more experience so they could teach us. I also liked knowing that all we did was hand out a flyer and talk to people, and how much that impacted our Family Resource Room. When people donated the food to us it reminded me of how kind people are. -Georgia Lambert, 5th Grade
A huge thank you to Hy-Vee Barlow, Mayo High School Students and so many who took time in spirit or in person to come out to our food drive in partnership with Hy-Vee, Mayo High School and Riverside Elementary.
As you may have seen, our otters, small in stature, but mighty in spirit, demonstrated kindness, perseverance, determination and love as they advocated for their school community. It’s not easy to walk up to an adult with an ask, be turned down and then do it all over again not knowing the next result. Seeing faces they knew, or just welcoming faces in general, boosted their confidence in a sea of unknowns reminding them that their voices matter!
The great news is that each child productively struggled and each was enthusiastic about trying it again. Perhaps most powerful of all, they also got to see the fruits of their efforts which brought in seven full carts of over $1500 in food and hygiene items for our resource rooms.
Thank you to the many of you who support our community efforts. We are thankful to be on your team.
Support for Students and Families During Summer
Thank you!
Lida Casper
Email: licasper@rochester.k12.mn.us
Location: Riverside Central Elementary School, 5th Avenue Southeast, Rochester, MN, United States
Phone: (507) 328-3700
Twitter: @lida_casper