Cedarcrest Team Earns First Girl State Track and Field Trophy in School History! Sophomore Laine McKenzie Wins Two Individual State Championships! Photos courtesy of Corey McKenzie and Marc Hillestad “Well, that was quite an end to an outstanding and historic 2024 Cedarcrest Track and Field season,” shares Coach Bruce McDowell. Historic indeed, because for the first time in Cedarcrest High School history, the Girls’ Track and Field team are bringing back a state trophy, following the team’s second-place finish at the WIAA 2A State Track and Field Championships at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma on May 23-25, 2024! Sophomore Laine McKenzie made Red Wolves’ history, earning two individual state championships! She is the 2024 Girls Long Jump champion, with a leap of 17’ 8 ¼”. Additionally, Laine also won the Girls Triple Jump title, with a jump of 37’ 7”. Not only did Laine win the state title with that leap, she also broke her own Cedarcrest school record. Laine becomes the sixth and seventh individual state Track and Field champion in school history and the first Cedarcrest Track and Field student-athlete to win two state titles at the same competition. She joins Jacob Predmore (1994 Boys Triple Jump and 1995 Boys Triple Jump), Adam Candland (2009 Boys 400 meters), Grant Van Valkenburg (2018 Boys 3200 meters) and Avril Wilson (2022 Girls Pole Vault) as Red Wolves state Track and Field titleholders. In total, the Girls Track and Field squad saw 10 podium placements out of 12 possible events, another first for the school and program. With an additional podium placement on the Boys’ side, as Ethan Swenson reached the podium in the Boys 400 meters, Red Wolves’ Track and Field achieved 11 total podium appearances, besting the previous school record of eight in 2017. Here are the results, of those who reached the podium, for the Red Wolves Track and Field team at the State Championships: • Laine McKenzie – First Place – Girls Long Jump (17’ 8 ¼”) • Laine McKenzie – First Place – Girls Triple Jump (37’ 7”) • Laine McKenzie – Second Place – Girls 200m (25.78) • Laine McKenzie – Third Place – Girls 100m (12.57) • Maddy Brooks – Third Place – Girls Discus (116’ 10”) • Mira Knowlton – Fourth Place – Girls Triple Jump (34’ 6 ¾”) • Summer Soptich – Fourth Place – Girls 400m (58.40) • Ethan Swenson – Fifth Place – Boys 400m (49.99) • Lydia Swenson – Fifth Place – Girls 800m (2:20.35) • Addy Jenkins, Kaylee Scott, Summer Soptich and Lydia Swenson – Fifth Place – Girls 4 x 200m (1:46.68) • Addy Jenkins, Kaylee Scott, Summer Soptich and Lydia Swenson – Eighth Place – Girls 4 x 400m(4:10.03) “Scoring in 10 of 12 events is a really good reason why we finished second. We had students willing to take on extra workload and run relays on top of their individual events. Without that happening, we don’t finish as strong as we did,” said Coach McDowell. “The girls were ecstatic, and the coaching staff was thrilled. This year was quite a ride!” In a summary email message to Track and Field families, Coach McDowell made a point to celebrate the members of the Track and Field coaching staff. “Dean Vergillo is the girls’ head coach and in charge of the sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, and vaulters. Mike Miyoshi is our throws coach. Marc Hillestad is our jumps coach. Michael Seymour is our hurdles coach, and this year we added two Cedarcrest alums. Ben Benson is our pole vault coach and Austin Ward coaches with me with the distance runners,” he adds. McDowell also coaches the boys’ program. At season’s end, the 2024 Cedarcrest Track and Field team set new school records in 11 separate events: the Boys 100m, Boys 200m, Boys 4x100m, Girls 100m, Girls 200m, Girls 400m, Girls 800m, Girls 4x200m, Girls Discus, Girls Long Jump and Girls Triple Jump. Congratulations to the Girls Track and Field team, Ethan Swenson, and all our Track and Field student-athletes for putting together the greatest season in Cedarcrest Red Wolves’ history. Quite a ride indeed!

The Riverview School District is excited to host two big events on May 30, 2024, for those interested in becoming a substitute and honoring those who have served and supported our students, staff, and school communities! BECOME A SUBSTITUTE - MAY 30 - 9 AM to 11 AM Learn how to become a substitute at our upcoming Substitute Open House on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the Riverview ESC (District Office) in Duvall. Substitute packets will be available, staff will be on hand to help assist you in signing up and we will offer fingerprinting services for $50.00 (reimbursable after 72 hours worked). Come and meet members of our Transportation, Food Service, Nursing Staff, Maintenance/Custodial, Payroll and Benefits Departments and teacher representatives to ask questions and learn what a typical day looks like for a substitute in Riverview School District. If you have any questions regarding the Substitute Open House, please contact our district office at (425) 844-4500 or email communications@rsd407.org. SUBSTITUTE APPRECIATION GATHERING EVENT MAY 30, 2024 from 4:00 - 5:30 P.M. On the afternoon of May 30, 2024, Riverview School District will be hosting "An Appreciation Gathering" for all the substitutes in our district. Whether you have been a substitute once - or a hundred times - come join us as we celebrate all our substitutes do for our Riverview students, staff, and community. The event takes place from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. at the Riverview School District ESC. Please note that this is an adults-only event and a casual, mix-and-mingle format with refreshments available. To attend, please RSVP our Substitute Office Secretary, Jennifer Horton-White (hortonj@rsd407.org). If you have any questions regarding the event, Jennifer is also more than happy to answer those questions as well. We love our substitutes and cannot wait to celebrate them on May 30, 2024, with our first "An Appreciation Gathering" event!

On Tuesday, June 11, the Riverview School District School Board of Directors will host the district's annual Retirement Ceremony celebrating the incredible accomplishments and achievements of this year's retirees. Please RSVP with Maggie Gronberg, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, by May 31, via email at gronbergm@rsd407.org, and help us honor these incredible Riverview employees! The event takes place at the Riverview ESC (District Office) from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. This year’s honorees include: • Susie Archuleta, Cherry Valley Elementary, First Grade Teacher • Peggy Coe, Bus Driver, Transportation • Vicki Hill, Paraeducator, Tolt Middle School • Nancy Knight, Paraeducator, Pre-K, Carnation Elementary • Ronda Marshall, Paraeducator, Tolt Middle School • Sue Minkiewitz, Cook - Food Services, Stillwater Elementary • Jan Neigel - Paraeducator, Stillwater Elementary Join us in congratulating them for their dedication and devotion to the Riverview School District, its students and families, and our community. We will miss them all greatly, but cannot wait to celebrate with them!

Over the past few days, we've noticed an increase in calls about bear sightings around our Riverview community. We appreciate you keeping us informed and understand people’s concerns. To avoid sending frequent communication about possible bear sightings, we wanted to take a moment and share the steps we take, while also encouraging vigilance and caution during these late spring and summer months. When a bear is reported or spotted near a school campus, we take all necessary efforts to ensure the safety of students and staff. This may include sending a message through ParentSquare, or lead to the implementing of temporary, precautionary secure-and-hold measures until the area around campus is deemed to be safe and secure. We are in contact with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to assess these situations and work with them to help determine when it becomes safe to remove any safety measures put in place. With bear sightings increasing this time of year, please be extra careful if you live in areas where bears are frequently observed. We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding as we share with our community the steps we take to address these concerns. Stay safe everyone!

Cedarcrest High School Nursery Landscape Team with State FFA Officers (Cedarcrest Team Members, beginning second from the left: Jayden Adams, Caitlyn McKenzie, Sabrina Bradley, Rafe Lipsky, and Selah Swart) In March 2024, the Nursery Landscape team, consisting of members Jayden Adams, Sabrina Bradley, Rafe Lipsky, Caitlyn McKenzie, and Selah Swart, won the FFA State Championship, earning the opportunity to compete at Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana, this October. Following 10th place finishes at Nationals in 2017 and 2019, this is the third time the Cedarcrest Nursery Landscape team will represent the state of Washington in the national competition. Earning such a prestigious opportunity was no easy task. The team studied rigorously and prepared diligently before the competition. “Students have a test bank of 500 questions to memorize, including applied geometry, trigonometry, conversions - a ton of math,” shares FFA teacher Seth Thomas. “Just the horticultural knowledge alone – we will study all day heading up to competition day.” Mr. Thomas adds that the students have put in “easily hundreds of hours” into these events and competitions, with the Nursery Landscape team now prepping for that trip to Nationals in the fall. “Our kids show a lot of leadership, which helps bring younger students to us. The kids coming out of these competitions realistically know a lot more than they think they do. In fact, industry partners who attend these regional competitions, and the state and national competitions, see these kids, see our kids, and say ‘We want to hire these students’.” Sabrina Bradley with Cedarcrest principal Jeannette Siemers, holding certificates from the Washington State Career Development Event Bradley, who finished second overall in individual scoring at the state event, talks about how interconnected FFA is, not just within the Nursery Landscape team, but with all teams and students competing month after month and learning such detailed and comprehensive information. “We all have this drive to keep moving forward and we do not want to stop competing. I know the studying can be a challenge sometimes, but the trips you take together, the connections you make – those are friendships which become just so, so important.” With their ticket to Nationals punched and Indianapolis on the horizon, the Nursery Landscape team is ready to represent Cedarcrest High School and their community and make a major impact. “We are heading to face the 50 best teams in the nation,” says Mr. Thomas. “This team has the potential to do really great things, and it is fun to see a really young team, consisting of four juniors and a sophomore, achieve this at this stage in their FFA experience.” We congratulate Cedarcrest's Nursery Landscape team on this amazing achievement and cannot wait to cheer you on this October!

Congratulations to Carnation Elementary students and staff who are celebrating in the news of having a Certified Wildlife Habitat® recognized at the school's campus. On social media, Carnation third-grade teacher Dani Geitzke shared thanks to the third-grade team and extended the celebration beyond her classroom and students. "(A) Huge shout out to all the Carnation Elementary staff and teachers who were involved. Thank you (to) Brianna Grant (Carnation 2/3 PAT teacher) and Carnation Elementary PTSA for providing a grant to pay for the cert. signs. (And) Shout out to our community for donations of compost, plants, and all the help and time needed! (An) Extra shout out goes to Erica Parkin (Carnation 3rd grade teacher) for all she did and does." The press release is provided below, from the National Wildlife Federation! The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, is pleased that Carnation Elementary School in the Riverview School District has successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat® through its Garden for Wildlife™ movement. NWF celebrates this effort to create a garden that supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs and other local wildlife. Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden provides natural sources of food, water, cover and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants, conserves water and doesn’t rely on pesticides. Started in 1973, the Garden for Wildlife movement is the oldest and largest native plant/habitat program, recognizing over 289,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat® gardens across the United States to date, encompassing an estimated 4 million acres that support wildlife locally. Backyards, urban gardens, school grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos, and community landscapes can all be recognized as wildlife habitats through the program. “We are excited about this new Certified Wildlife Habitat®, as it provides native plants and essential habitat elements. Research shows certified properties have the potential to support twice as much wildlife compared to non-certified properties,” said Mary Phillips, Head of Garden for Wildlife™/Certified Wildlife Habitat®. “Anyone, anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities,” said NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski. “Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban area or a rural plot of land, you can make a difference for local wildlife. Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is fun, easy and makes a real difference for neighborhood wildlife. It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally and help birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife,” he added. For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife™ movement and how to qualify to have a garden space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit www.nwf.org/garden. To jump start creating your own Certified Wildlife Habitat® order native plant collections for your zip code designed to provide three season bloom at www.gardenforwildlife.com.

The Riverview School District is excited to announce the launch of Diligent Community, a cloud-based application used to help school boards modernize their governance and civic engagement. Diligent Community is the newest iteration of BoardDocs and is a one-stop shop for all board-related materials, including agendas, minutes, calendars, policies, and so much more! Specifically for Riverview, Diligent Community will provide a streamlined process to manage board meetings, drive efficient and transparent workflows, encourage engagement with the community, and increase accessibility to stay informed on decision-making. As of Friday, April 19, 2024, clicking the ‘School Board’ tab on our Riverview School District Website will take folks directly to Diligent Community. Here you will find everything you need to know in relation to our Board of Directors and upcoming board meetings. Some great features include: • Request to Speak – if you would like to share a topic with the board, you can easily send a request to be considered for a future board agenda. • Subscribe – sign up to be notified about upcoming meetings and newly posted agendas. • Advanced Search – Diligent Community provides the capability to search within policies and past meeting materials to efficiently find information and important governing documents. Want to learn more? Take a tour! Check out all Diligent Community has to offer with this quick site tour video. The next board meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 23. The agenda for this meeting is now published and accessible in Diligent Community. The live stream link for all meetings can be found on the Home page or in the ‘Live Stream’ widget. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Executive Assistant to Superintendent, Maggie Gronberg at gronbergm@rsd407.org or 425-844-4504.

Click the image above to visit the new Budget Information page The Riverview School District Business and Operations Office has launched a new Budget Information page for the Riverview community, outlining updated information and providing feedback opportunities, as the district continues the budgeting process for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Like many districts statewide, Riverview continues to grapple with financial constraints. Over the past few years, the district has had to make substantial and challenging decisions to reduce expenses and adapt the budget to a shifting financial landscape and evolving student needs.​ This new information page, part of a newly redesigned Financial Services website, will be updated frequently and include a Frequently Asked Questions page in the future, along with graphics, facts, and additional information on the budget process. Click the image above to visit the new Budget Information page, or simply click here.

The event takes place on May 3 and 4, 2024! Visit below for registration and sponsorship information! Cedarcrest DECA is hosting the second annual Valley Open Pickleball Tournament this coming May at Cedarcrest High School! This message from DECA Student Advisor and Teacher Marc Hillestad shares more information! "On May 3rd and 4th, 2024, Cedarcrest DECA will be hosting our second annual Valley Open Pickleball Tournament at Cedarcrest High School! Thank you to those who supported us last year for our first ever tournament, we could not have done it without you! Thank you once again to the Nicole Ji Group of Compass Realty for being our presenting sponsor. With two days of competition and over 60 teams, the first Valley Open Tournament was a success! We were able to support the PTSA’s of each of the schools in our district and CHS DECA, while also creating a fun way to bring the community together. The Valley Open Pickleball Tournament, once again, has a vision to bring together the Riverview School District (RSD) and to build community. Registration sales will be donated to an RSD school/program of each participant’s choice. This will be a wonderful opportunity for you to support our schools and community while advertising your brand at the same time." Check out the event website for registration and sponsorship opportunities. https://valleyopenpickleba.wixsite.com/my-site For additional questions and inquiries, please reach out to the event's email account: valleyopenpickleball@gmail.com

Riverview School District has finalized plans to make up for the days and time missed due to school closures on January 17 and January 18, 2024. The 2023-2024 calendar has been modified to reflect these changes. The last day of the school year will now be June 21, 2024. Important dates to remember: • All Riverview schools are closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 for the Juneteenth holiday. • Thursday, June 20, 2024, is a half-day for Cedarcrest High School students. • Friday, June 21, 2024, will now be the the last day of school and will remain a half-day for K-12 students. To see the revised school calendars, as well as calendars for the 2024-2025 school year, please visit: https://www.rsd407.org/calendar.

For three mornings in March 2024, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air in and around the P.A.I.V.E. classroom. Located at the Riverview Ancillary Programs campus (RAP) between Carnation Elementary and the Riverview Learning Center, the P.A.I.V.E. classroom space was transformed into the P.A.I.V.E. Coffee Shop with coffee, tea, and cocoa proudly poured and served to all who came by to pick up a morning beverage. “The purpose of the Coffee Shop is to expose our students to another form of job experience that they otherwise have not thought of trying,” shares Janet Resa, P.A.I.V.E. teacher. “Our students helped brainstorm a coffee shop setup that was welcoming and functional. Though the students are not coffee drinkers, they worked on planning options for people to order and understand the importance of offering a variety of choices.” P.A.I.V.E., or Personal Achievement in Independence, Vocation, and Education, is designed for adult students ages 18-21 who wish to enhance their learning in the areas of Education, Employment, and Independent Living. Students, their families, and P.A.I.V.E.’s staff work collaboratively to determine students’ post-secondary goals in each of those three areas. Because every student has different needs and goals, the curriculum and content of P.A.I.V.E. is designed to meet the needs of individualized students. Resa is proud to share that her students planned the entire project. This included creating planter boxes for outside the classroom and shopping for and planting flowers for a nice and inviting look. In addition, they made signs and purchased supplies and materials necessary to run a multi-day pop-up coffee shop. “One thing I am proud of is that our students learned to advocate for what they need to be successful,” said Resa. “In this instance it was fulfilling a coffee order. However, the students were able to say what did or did not work for them. On our first trial run, students learned what it meant to take a ‘break’ – to step away, leave, and then return to their shift when their break was over.” Resa also indicates that these experiences are vitally important in teaching P.A.I.V.E. students how to maintain a professional work environment, develop communication skills, follow directions, build confidence and independence, and understand the basics of creating a plan and seeing it through to success. As nearby staff from other RAP offices, Carnation Elementary, the Riverview Learning Center, and administrators from around the district came by to visit and place an order, smiles and excitement were felt by everyone. Whether someone ordered an Oatmilk Coffee with two pumps of vanilla, a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream, a standard Earl Grey tea, or any of the other combinations available on the menu, the drinks tasted great and everyone left the P.A.I.V.E. Coffee Shop happier than when they arrived. “This coffee shop was a success and I loved seeing our students have an extra boost of confidence,” said Resa. “We even got a $10 tip from someone that will go toward our laundromat fund! We cannot wait to put on another event soon.”

Click or tap the image above to participate in the ThoughtExchange, or use the QR Code provided and share your thoughts! The Riverview School District is currently in the budgeting process for the 2024-2025 academic year, and we are reaching out to our community for their valuable input. Like many districts statewide, Riverview faces financial challenges, with an anticipated budget shortfall of approximately $1.5 million for the upcoming school year. We recognize the importance of community involvement in addressing these challenges and are seeking your participation in this crucial ThoughtExchange. Overview Information: Throughout Washington state, school districts are grappling with insufficient funding to adequately support our schools. A primary factor contributing to this issue is declining enrollment, which serves as the main driver of revenue for districts. Over the past several years, Riverview School District has experienced a consistent decrease in enrollment, primarily due to a lower birthrate—a trend observed nationwide. Additionally, the district is contending with escalating operational expenses attributed to inflation and heightened regional salary competition. Your engagement in this dialogue will assist us in making informed decisions and prioritizing necessary adjustments as we navigate these financial constraints. We value your input and appreciate your partnership in ensuring the continued success of our students and schools. A full preliminary budget presentation was given at the March 12 school board meeting, and a recording of this can be found by clicking this link.