The Riverview School District is excited to announce that Mary Morman is now the permanent principal of Cherry Valley Elementary, effective immediately. Following School Board approval on Tuesday, October 13, 2023, she will now have her role made permanent and the “Interim” designation removed. With support for Morman shared frequently by families and staff since she assumed the role in August 2023, Riverview School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Susan Leach, and Riverview School District’s Director of Teaching, Learning, and School Leadership, Dr. John Lombardi, conducted a listening session with staff on Friday, October 6. The overwhelmingly positive feedback they received accelerated the process forward to recommend a permanent placement. “It was so encouraging to hear such thoughtful responses from Cherry Valley Staff and I was pleased to make a recommendation to the board last week,” said Dr. Leach. First entering into education with Peoria Unified School District in Glendale, Arizona, Morman worked as an instructional assistant for the district’s preschool program in 2001. She taught preschool from 2005 to 2013, also serving as an Early Childhood Mentor Teacher for State of Arizona Universities during that time. She taught kindergarten and third grade between 2013-2015, before joining Riverview School District in 2015. Most recently, she earned her Educational Administrative Certification from Gonzaga University in the spring of 2023. To learn more about Mary Morman’s education background and the path that led to her becoming Cherry Valley’s new principal, please click below: https://www.rsd407.org/post/mary-morman-named-interim-principal-of-cherry-valley-elementary Join us in congratulating Mary Morman, now officially the new principal of Cherry Valley Elementary!

The Riverview School District is taking a comprehensive look at its Communications program and as school districts continue to face many challenges, it is of paramount importance that the district is providing our parents/guardians, families, staff, and community with the information they want and need. Because this is so important, we are administering the SCoPE (School Communications Performance Evaluation) Survey, dedicated to evaluating the effectiveness of our communication with all that we serve. This email invites you to take the SCoPE Survey. You can access the survey at the link below, on almost any computer or mobile device. Participation takes less than 15 minutes and is completely anonymous. The SCoPE Survey will remain open through October 29 and it is important we hear from as many of you as possible. If you have any questions regarding the SCoPE Survey, please contact the Riverview School District Communications Office via email at communications@rsd407.org. We thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on district communications in Riverview.

Featuring a wide variety of locally grown foods, Riverview’s Food Services Team participated in the annual Taste Washington Day on October 12, 2023! Washington State Department of Agriculture (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. Taste Washington Day also includes our Cedarcrest FFA students appearing across the district, visiting our schools, providing samples of fresh produce from local farms, assisting with lunches, and interacting with students about the fruits and vegetables they are eating as part of this special day! Students at Tolt Middle School and Cedarcrest High School got to try homemade pozole with locally sourced ingredients. Among the farms partnering with Riverview this year: Ferndale Farmstead, Gebbers Farms, Local Roots Farm, Rain Dog Farm, and Oxbow Farm. This year, Ferndale Farmstead's cheese was donated through a partnership with the Dairy Farmers of Washington and students across the district were raving about its unique flavor and asking for seconds (and thirds!), Locally grown food and produce provided for Taste Washington Day includes: Ferndale Farmstead • Cheese Gebbers Farms • Apples Local Roots Farm • Carrots (in a variety of colors) • Cherry tomatoes • Cucumbers • Green cabbage Rain Dog Farm • Microgreens Oxbow Farm • Beets – Red and Golden • Hakurai Turnips • Lunchbox peppers • Purple cabbage • Red Escala radishes We thank our Food Services team and partner farms for making this annual event such a tasty and memorable experience for our students each year!

Since publishing this information, we have been informed the project will now begin on Monday, October 16, 2023. Please note that we have not changed the original or information below. Late yesterday afternoon (October 10, 2023), Riverview School District was notified of a construction project on Tolt Avenue/SR 203 which will begin Thursday, October 12. Starting October 12, contractors will be working to complete the City of Carnation’s Tolt Avenue Phase II Project. In summary, the project will complete all four ADA ramps of the intersection of Tolt Avenue and Morrison Street. There will also be a grind and re-paving of Tolt Avenue/SR 203, from in front of the Tolt Congregational United Church of Christ building to the north end of the city limits. The City of Carnation anticipates this project to take 11 days to complete. Graphics and imaging provided by the City of Carnation are included below, detailing the scope of the project. While the most significant impacts will be felt by our Carnation Elementary students and families, a detour/traffic plan from the City will be implemented. We expect some bus delays on morning pickup and evening drop offs during the duration of the project. The City of Carnation indicates this work must be completed now, during this current window of time, to avoid extended delays into 2024. If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Lora Wilmes, Administrative Services Manager for the City of Carnation, via email at lora.wilmes@carnationwa.gov or by phone at (425) 786-3903.

Cedarcrest High School is thrilled to introduce online ticketing for all sports events with an admission fee. Secure your tickets in advance via the CHS Go Fan page (linked below). For those preferring cash payments, cash boxes will be available. See which events are now available, and purchase tickets for Friday's Homecoming Football game vs. Meadowdale, by visiting the CHS Go Fan page or using the QR codes below! https://gofan.co/app/school/WA23179

Nate Bergman, a Cedarcrest High School (CHS) senior, has been named a semi-finalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, joining a prestigious group of students to earn this honor. Bergman is among approximately 16,000 students nationwide to achieve this honor. Over 1.3 million students nationwide entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). The semi-finalists represent less than 1% of all high school seniors in the nation and are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. “Nate is the epitome of what it means to be a Red Wolf! He excels both in and out of the classroom,” said Jeannette Siemers, principal of Cedarcrest High School. “Outside of being recognized as a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, he currently is the Drum Major for the CHS Marching Band. One only needs to be at a Friday night football game to see his passion and zest for all things Cedarcrest - especially as he leads our Marching Band in the fight song. Nate is also a member of our Cross-Country team and excels on the course as well. We are so proud of Nate and this amazing accomplishment and recognition of his dedication and commitment. #OnePack.” To move from being a semi-finalist to a finalist, Bergman must complete a detailed application and essay that proves his academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, honors, and awards received. In addition, he must also receive an endorsement from a school official. “I am honored by this recognition, and grateful for the opportunity for a potential scholarship,” Bergman shares. “My plan, post-graduation, is to study mechanical engineering at a four-year college. I am excited to see where my Cedarcrest experience takes me next.” Riverview School District is proud to join Cedarcrest High School in recognizing Nate Bergman for this outstanding achievement and wishes him well as he advances in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Lauren Nguyen, with Cedarcrest Principal, Jeannette Siemers (Top) Caitlin Bartman (Bottom) Cedarcrest High School and Riverview School District is happy to announce that Cedarcrest students Caitlin Bartman and Lauren Nguyen have been named Commended Students in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), which conducts the program, will be presented to the scholastically talented seniors. About 34,000 Commended Students are being recognized throughout the nation for exceptional academic promise. Although Commended Students will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship Awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). “Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” shares a spokesperson for NMSC. “Recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.” We congratulate Caitlin and Lauren on this outstanding achievement!

Check out our September 2023 community mailer, Riverviews, featuring news and information from the Riverview School District and tied to the district's theme of "Curiosity."

The Riverview School District will be utilizing the ParentSquare communication tool for all district and school-specific communications with parents, guardians, and staff. In our transition to ParentSquare, we will be ending our use of the Constant Contact email distribution service and SchoolMessenger text alerts, effective immediately. All messages and alerts previously received through those platforms will now be sent directly to you through ParentSquare. Unlike previous district communication tools, ParentSquare does not require parents/guardians or staff to “opt-in” to receive notifications. By using the email address(es) and phone number(s) you have provided to the district, ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each active family and staff member. To access ParentSquare through a desktop computer or PC, you can register an account by visiting https://www.parentsquare.com/signin. ParentSquare allows users to receive communication from the district, school, or classroom by email, text notification, through the mobile app, or by accessing the ParentSquare website. While we encourage parents/guardians and Riverview staff to download the ParentSquare mobile app and get a richer experience with the tool, there is no requirement to download the mobile app to receive communication. At the start of the school year, ParentSquare features will include: Receiving of notifications and urgent alerts. Newsfeed-style contacts from multiple sources. An ability to receive messages immediately or to have messages held and sent at one particular time each day. Teacher and classroom communication. Newsletters and information directly from your student’s school. School calendars and event information. Direct messaging with two-way translation in English and Spanish. One dedicated communication tool, supported and overseen by Riverview School District administration, Communications, and Information Technology. Direct support from Riverview School District’s Information Technology team, Communications Office, and ParentSquare. And much more! Additional features will be activated in the coming weeks. For additional resources, please visit our ParentSquare information page (https://www.its.rsd407.org/ps). Other important notes as the district transitions to ParentSquare: ParentSquare defaults to “digest” mode, where users receive all posts at one dedicated time during the day. Users can select “instant” to receive posts as soon as they are made. Users can select a preferred language of communication with their ParentSquare account. All communication through ParentSquare will be provided in English and Spanish (with Google Translate). ParentSquare is a tool for current Riverview families and staff members. For individuals not directly connected to Riverview School District, subscriptions can be made to “District News” on our district and school websites. When a new story is posted, an email notification is sent to subscribers, providing them with a link to access the latest news. This is a great way for grandparents, extended family members and relatives, and community members to receive information from a particular school location. Please note that the “District News” feature only notifies subscribers via email and does not provide a text notification. We are excited to make a commitment to ParentSquare in Riverview, and streamline several existing communication tools into one dedicated place for families and staff members to receive up-to-date information. If you have any questions regarding ParentSquare, please email communications@rsd407.org and we will respond as quickly as possible. We look forward to seeing everyone back for the first day of school on Tuesday, September 5, 2023!

Suicide is a tragic loss which impacts an entire community. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and below we are sharing information and resources to help ensure all of our children stay safe and healthy. This topic continues to be a focus of support and education in our schools and community. Our schools have engaged students in a variety of prevention activities in recent years, in partnership with experts from Empower Youth Network (EYN), Washington's Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP), and the Student Assistance Program (SAP) operated through Prevention Center at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). On July 16, 2022, the 988 Lifeline was launched nationwide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. The 988 Lifeline now offers American Sign Language services for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Visit 988lifeline.org and select “ASL Now.” ​ To learn more about the 988 hotline, please visit SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) to learn more. Infographic provided courtesy of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Crisis Lines and Suicide Prevention Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 (Staffed 24/7, for people struggling with suicidal thoughts) Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-866-427-4747 (24-hour King County Crisis Connections resource) Teenlink: Call or text 1-866-TEENLINK (833-6546) (Evenings 6-9:30 pm, a help line for teens, by teens) 911: Call or text, if the person you are concerned about is in immediate danger of killing themselves and/or refuses to stay safe with you. Empower Youth Network Safe Place Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Friends of Youth RAINN: Assists victims of sexual assault, through a hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) or via a live, anonymous, and confidential online chat with a trained support specialist. The Trevor Project: Assists LGBTQ youth, dealing with crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of support in a caring environment. Call 1-866-488-7386. There is also a confidential online chat, confidential text message system, or access to a private, secure, and monitored TrevorSpace social networking site. UW Forefront Suicide Prevention National Alliance on Mental Illness Partnerships and Connections Within Our Schools and Community:​ Riverview Resilient Tips on how children can speak to their parents WEB - Where Everyone Belongs at Tolt Middle School Link Leaders at Cedarcrest High School Sources of Strength at Cedarcrest High School CEE (Center for Educational Effectiveness) Educational Effectiveness Survey Healthy Youth Survey Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) Social Emotional Learning Curriculum Riverview Youth Council, in partnership with Empower Youth Network How To Help A Friend (Peer Mentoring) Emergency Reponses Protocols and Teams District-Wide Riverview PTSA Community Resource Fair ​ Parent Resources​ Preventing Youth Suicide - What Parents Want to Know (provided by University of Washington Forefront Suicide Prevention) Resources for Parents (provided by University of Washington Forefront Suicide Prevention)

Relive the sights and sounds shared by our Riverview students and staff on the first day of the new school year!

With a new school year beginning, we would like to remind families that Riverview School District uses a variety of communications platforms to convey information, news, school delays, closures, and schedule alterations throughout the year. 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. PARENTSQUARE The Riverview School District utilizes the ParentSquare communication tool for all district and school-specific communications with parents, guardians, and staff. In our transition to ParentSquare, we will be ending our use of the Constant Contact email distribution service and SchoolMessenger text alerts, effective immediately. All messages and alerts previously received through those platforms will now be sent directly to you through ParentSquare. Unlike previous district communication tools, ParentSquare does not require parents/guardians or staff to “opt-in” to receive notifications. By using the email address(es) and phone number(s) you provide to the district, ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each active family and staff member. To access ParentSquare through a desktop computer or PC, you can register an account by visiting https://www.parentsquare.com/signin. To download the free ParentSquare app, visit the App Store (iOS) or Google Play store (Android) today. To learn more about ParentSquare, visit our ParentSquare information page. EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS 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. Email notifications are available to anyone who chooses to subscribe to them and are a great way for community members and family members who are not parents or guardians of our students to receive updated information on school and district news. 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 X (formerly known as Twitter) (@Riverview407) 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. To visit our school websites, please click below: Cedarcrest High School (https://www.chs.rsd407.org/) Tolt Middle School (https://www.tms.rsd407.org/) Carnation Elementary (https://www.ces.rsd407.org/) Cherry Valley Elementary (https://www.cvs.rsd407.org/) Stillwater Elementary (https://www.sws.rsd407.org/) Riverview Learning Center (https://www.rlc.rsd407.org/) Two departments currently have their own websites, available by clicking below: Information Technology (https://www.it.rsd407.org/) Transportation (https://www.bus.rsd407.org/) 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.