The certificate says it all! Congratulations to our amazing Transportation Team and Department, who received outstanding Washington State Patrol School Bus Inspections throughout the Winter and Summer of the 2021-2022 school year. Sabrina Warren, Riverview's Transportation Supervisor, shares, "This certificate and recognition is due to the excellent mechanics we have on staff maintaining our buses for safety, and the drivers who also pre-trip these buses each day to make sure they are in compliance daily. We are honking our air horns down here!" Please join us in congratulating our Transportation Team for continued and ongoing success in providing the utmost safety, care, and concern for our students and families in Riverview.

Carnation Elementary students and staff recently paid tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, here's a look at the MLK Walk at Carnation, which took place on January 12, 2023.

Click on any photo to expand the gallery into larger view. The annual PTSA Reflections arts competition is one of the most popular annual events in the Riverview School District and the creativity and inventiveness from our student participants has never been more engaging or inspiring. Organized by Reflections Chairs, parent volunteers from each school, students created and submitted pieces around this year’s theme of "Show Your Voice!" Students submitted entries in the categories of Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, and Visual Arts. Submissions were first evaluated at school-level competitions last fall, and nearly 90 pieces advanced to compete at the district competition. Entries were judged by volunteers and community members at both the school and district level competitions. In a ceremony held at the Riverview School District's District Office on Friday, January 6, 2023, 23 student submissions were announced as finalists, eligible to compete at the State Reflections competition later this spring. The program opened with two musical and two interpretative dance performances. Carnation Elementary fifth grade student Penelope Edwards performed her instrumental piano piece, “My Story,” while Tolt Middle School eight grade student Rowan Suchyta sang his acoustic guitar-based song, “ten trails.” Tolt sixth grade student Jordan Pullman and Ferber Hage showcased their dance piece, “Stand and Be Brave,” while Riverview Learning Center seventh grade student Evelyn Besmer performed her dance selection, “I’m Not Ashamed.” The event was hosted by the Riverview PTSA Council and emceed by Cedarcrest High School Reflections co-chair Tara Bergman. More than 200 people attended the awards ceremony and students earned certificates of achievement from the PTSA, presented on stage by Riverview Superintendent, Dr. Susan Leach. The National PTA Reflections program is PTA's cornerstone arts program. It was developed in 1969 by Colorado's PTA President Mary Lou Anderson to encourage students to explore their talents and express themselves. Each year, students in Grades Pre-K through 12 are recognized for bringing the specific year's theme to life. The names of the state finalists and all award recipients are listed below. Congratulations to all the students who participated and received recognition in this year's Reflections competition. 2022-2023 Riverview School District Reflections District-Level Honorees and Finalists (bold signifies Finalist recognition) CARNATION ELEMENTARY Kindergarten: Chloe Batishchev, Savannah Bryant, Evelyn Dix First Grade: Rowan Clifford, Walker Julius, Kamden Kuhlman, Zoey Misbin, Valentina Page Second Grade: Dhamayanthi Dineshkumar, Alden Egan, Beau Ingersoll, Avyay Koonaparaju Third Grade: Michael Batischev, Xander Colburn, Lincoln Julius, Nico Krieger, Jillian Metcalf Fourth Grade: Cora Clifford, Alex Higareda, Ava Ingersoll Fifth Grade: Penelope Edmonds, Ian Jensen, Evelyn Parkin, Agnes Wadsworth CHERRY VALLEY ELEMENTARY Kindergarten: Jordan Kosters First Grade: Rya Clark, Margaret Fahey, Keira Hodo Second Grade: Logan Choi, Preston Culbertson, Aspen Dumovic, Allyson Holm Third Grade: Stella Clark, Grace Farley, Anya Kakaraparthy, Landon Kosters Fourth Grade: Rubi Martinez, Lina Robinson, Penelope Snook Fifth Grade: Hunter Choi, Avery Dumovic, Sophia Gonzales, Alex Vogrinec STILLWATER ELEMENTARY First Grade: Talon Nelson Second Grade: Easton McDonald Third Grade: Patricia Sherman Fourth Grade: Mayson Hughes, Clare Jackman, Cambri McDonald, Jaxon Nelson Fifth Grade: Hadley Sary EAGLE ROCK MULTI-AGE PROGRAM Kindergarten: Deacon Wetherbee First Grade: Enzo Carosino, Elyse Taljeh Third Grade: Alaina Borjeson, Cassius Richenburg Fourth Grade: Maggie Carosino, Eileen Guan, Harrison Taljeh Fifth Grade: Gwen Petzing, Leonidas Richenburg, Leila Wetherbee RIVERVIEW LEARNING CENTER First Grade: Elvie Gilliam Seventh Grade: Evelyn Besmer TOLT MIDDLE SCHOOL Sixth Grade: Faye Cohen, Ryan McBride, Jordan Pullman Seventh Grade: Daniella Hemker, Alina Linz, Vivienne Rodgers Eighth Grade: Leo Free, Ethan Galvez, Rowan Suchtya CEDARCREST HIGH SCHOOL Ninth Grade: Maile Salois Tenth Grade: Sophie Behm, Aize Montes, Hannah Palmer Twelfth Grade: Alyssa Adams, Benjamin Floyd, Allison Frodsham, Isabella Garside, Olivia Juarez, Aspen Tobler, Emma Tompkins

On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, more than 30 students participated in the first-ever Riverview School District Student Advisory Council. In its inaugural year, the Riverview Student Advisory Council is open to students in grades 6-12 at Tolt Middle School, the Riverview Learning Center and Cedarcrest High School. In order to keep students at the center of the District’s work, the advisory will exist to provide direct input to the superintendent. Advisory members will serve as liaisons between the superintendent and the student body and advise the superintendent on the impact of central office decisions. ​ The advisory meets three times during the school year (typically in November, February and May) for a two-hour meeting at the Educational Service Center. Students are selected to serve a one-year term and completed a brief application in order to be considered for this important role in our district. ​ For the first meeting of the Student Advisory Council, after an introduction from Superintendent, Dr. Susan Leach, the students were placed into small groups, with each group comprised of middle and high school students, and presented with five questions to discuss, consider, and respond to. Students rotated through each question with their group, collaborating and working together to have important and thoughtful conversations with their peers. ​ The questions/prompts presented to students included: In terms of your education in Riverview, what is working well? What is not going so well? What do you wish your teachers knew? Are there things at school that get in the way of you doing your best work? What things at school support you in doing your best work? ​The launch of the 2022-2023 Student Advisory Council is a significant step in Riverview to bring student voice into the conversations which occur each and every day among administration, staff, students, and families. We are proud to have such a diverse array of students representing our Council and informing us on the experiences they are sharing individually and collectively in Riverview School District!

Prior to Winter Break and over the last few weeks, the Riverview School District has been working behind-the-scenes to put in place plans to bring the district's bimonthly School Board meetings to a wider audience. Effective January 10, 2023, we are happy to share that Riverview School District School Board meetings will be livestreamed to the Riverview Community, available to view on your favorite device, from the comfort of your own home. School Board Meetings take place at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, except in December (2nd Tuesday only), April (4th Tuesday only) and July (4th Tuesday only). Following each School Board meeting, video broadcasts will be available on demand, through the School Board webpage on the district website, within 24-48 hours of completion of the meeting. Board meeting video broadcasts will also be archived. To view the livestream and find more information regarding School Board Meetings, including the schedule, Board procedures, and additional information, please visit: https://www.rsd407.org/meetings. Check out these images from some of our behind-the-scenes preparations, as members of our Information Technology team, Superintendent's Office, and ESC staff portrayed Board members, audience members, and presenters as we tested the equipment, sorted out logistics, and simulated the events of an actual Board meeting.

Following the recent challenges with inclement snow and weather conditions, as well as treacherous roads and the use of limited bus transportation routes impacting our district for several days, it is a good reminder to share that Riverview School District uses a variety of communications platforms to convey the delays, closures, and schedule alterations we report to families. The following is a list of the various ways you can become connected to the places Riverview School District communicates and how to stay informed on the latest news and happenings across the district. SCHOOLMESSENGER TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS SchoolMessenger text alerts are available to parents/guardians and staff in Riverview School District. To receive these alerts, you must have a mobile/cell phone number in our Student and Staff Information System - Skyward. Text alerts are not available to people outside of our district and not currently available to students. Skyward and SchoolMessenger sync their databases daily. In that process, when any new phone numbers are identified, SchoolMessenger generates an opt-in text message to send to those new numbers. If you receive a text inviting you to receive SchoolMessenger text alerts, you must opt-in. To do so, simply text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. You will receive a message indicating that you are now able to receive SchoolMessenger text alerts from Riverview School District. Without opting in, you will not receive text alerts. You must opt-in to receive them. EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS The Riverview School District offers several ways to receive email updates. Each school provides opportunities to subscribe to receive email notifications. Our recently redesigned school websites offer a “Subscribe” button next to the news feed on the home page. Clicking that button allows you to subscribe and receive an email notification when a new article is posted to the school’s website. Subscriptions are also available for signing up to each school’s Constant Contact email distribution list. On the Riverview School District website, you can click “Subscribe” under the District News feed to receive new article notification or be given the chance to subscribe to the district’s Constant Contact email distribution list. Email notifications are available to anyone who chooses to subscribe to them. SOCIAL MEDIA For those active on social media, Riverview School District communicates through three official platforms. Like or follow the school district on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rsd407) Follow the district on Instagram (@riverview407) Follow the district on Twitter (@Riverview407) These updates are available to anyone who chooses to like or follow these accounts. FLASH ALERT In terms of reporting school delays and closures to the local news media, the district uses Flash Alert, which transmits our messages directly to Seattle-area television and news stations. Flash Alert notifications are also available to come directly to you. To sign up for these notifications via email, text message, or both, visit: https://www.flashalert.net/signup/ WEBSITE The Riverview School District website (https://www.rsd407.org) is also a place to find the latest updates and information regarding happenings in the district. Through our sharing of articles, or use of pop-up “lightboxes,” we attempt to provide you with the most current and up-to-date information regarding any delays, closures, or emergencies. If you have any questions, or need assistance with connecting to any of the communication platforms shared above, please contact the Communications Office via email at communications@rsd407.org and we will be more than happy to help.

When faced with the possibility of inclement weather and school delays, the Riverview School District's Transportation team will implement Limited Transportation Routes to ensure students are transported safely. Please check your bus/route for your bus stop times and locations for morning and afternoon. Kindergartners are still required to have a parent/guardian at the bus stop. These are the changes that will occur to Riverview School District's bus routes if "limited bus transportation" is put into effect during the school year. The district will notify families of Limited Bus Transportation Routes being utilized, should they be necessary in the case of a school delay or early release because of weather conditions. To see the routes and plan accordingly, please visit: https://www.bus.rsd407.org/routes

Stillwater Elementary now has a book vending machine, courtesy of the Stillwater PTSA! On Friday, November 18, Stillwater Principal Jack Madigan hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony, with a student representative from each grade and PTSA representatives. "When Stillwater students consistently demonstrate their Hawk Mindset of safety, respect, responsibility, and leadership, they earn Hawk feathers," shared Mr. Madigan, in opening remarks. "When our students hit 75 Hawk feathers, they will now receive a gold coin and they can come to the vending machine to select a book that they get to keep!" The ribbon cutting ceremony was livestreamed to Stillwater families and we are happy to share it with our Riverview Community!

Across the district on November 10, 2022, students in elementary, middle, and high school participated in a wide-range of assemblies, activities, celebrations, and guest speakers, in celebration of Veterans Day. Here is a snapshot of nearly everything that occurred across our district, in recognition of Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served and joined us to make this such a memorable and unforgettable day or learning for so many of our students.

Beginning this year, the Riverview School District is launching a new Riverview Student Advisory Council for students in grades 6-12, representing Tolt Middle School, the Riverview Learning Center and Cedarcrest High School. In order to keep students at the center of the District's work, the Student Advisory Council exists to provide direct input to the superintendent. Advisory members will serve as liaisons between the superintendent and the student body and advise the superintendent on the impact of central office decisions. The advisory will meet three times during the school year (November, February, and May) for a two-hour meeting at the Riverview School District Educational Service Center (ESC). Meetings will be held outside the school day, with the first meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 30, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Twenty students will be selected from a pool of applicants and will serve a one-year term. Students must submit a brief application in order to be considered for this role and students chosen will be representative of all three schools. A direct link to the application form is available here (students will need their RSD credentials to login and complete the form). The application closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 18. https://forms.office.com/r/631xkYkawL If you have any questions regarding the Riverview Student Advisory Council, please email the Superintendent's Office, via Stacy Cook, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent (cooks@rsd407.org), or the district Communications Office (communications@rsd407.org) We cannot wait to work with our middle school and high school students and are excited to launch this new outlet for student voice in our district!

On October 13, 2022, Riverview's Food Services Team held its annual Taste Washington Day! WSDA Farm to School and the Washington School Nutrition Association (WSNA), with support from Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition (OSPI), partner to sponsor Taste Washington Day, an annual celebration of Washington grown foods served in school meals during the fall harvest season. Schools connect with local farms to make the most of our bountiful fall harvest. Among the farms partnering with Riverview this year: Oxbow Farms, Remlinger Farms, Rain Dog Farms, and Local Roots Farm! Thanks to our Food Services team and Food Services Supervisor, Shelly Young, we have pictures and images from the day. Taste Washington Day also included our Cedarcrest FFA students appearing across the district to provide samples of fresh produce from local farms, assist with lunches, and interact with students about the fruits and vegetables they were eating as part of this special day!

A sample of a recent Interactive Map of Air Quality for our region, courtesy of the EPA and the AirNow.gov website. With ongoing effects from the Bolt Creek Fire impacting our communities, several recent decisions involving relocating, postponing, or cancelling of afterschool sports, activities, and elementary indoor recesses have needed to be made. The purpose of this update is to share what factors and considerations lead to these types of decisions being made and the process Riverview goes through when making them. Riverview School District checks two main resources when determining air quality (AQI) and assessing the safety of our students and staff. We monitor AirNow.gov, a service provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Health Air Quality Guide for School & Child Care Activities. Regarding sporting events, we will have discussions with districts competing with our students and assess their air quality and conditions, should the need to relocate an event is necessary. It is important to note that districts are left to make their own determination on how to properly evaluate AQI and if conditions are healthy or unhealthy. Should our local AQI be deemed unhealthy, schools make determinations on whether to bring students in for recess, move practice indoors, or reschedule, relocate, or cancel/postpone an event. For athletic events, we contact athletic directors in other districts, have conversations with Riverview School District administration, and coordinate with our Transportation team. If relocation is possible, we must determine that we have Transportation available and that the conditions are safe for competition. The efforts are designed, in part, to avoid cancellations and allow teams at Tolt Middle School and Cedarcrest High School to complete their scheduled seasons. Questions have also been raised regarding the timing of these decisions. Transportation is a key consideration. For some teams on our high school sports schedules, schools or locations can be as far as two hours away. If AQI is impacted in one place and not the other, decisions must be made prior to the time when drivers would necessarily begin those routes. There are costs associated with every bus trip. While decisions are made with the best information available at the time, there may be situations where events are postponed or cancelled only to later learn that AQI may have otherwise improved. Decisions are made with the best of intentions. For cancelled or postponed events, efforts will be made to make up those events while considering facility availability, potential dates and times for such events to occur and other factors as indicated above. We understand the frustration these recent weeks may have caused for some of our students and families. Riverview must consider the health and safety of all students, families, and staff when making decisions related to AQI. We hope this information helps answer some common questions which have surfaced in recent weeks.