Riverview School District Professional Learning Leader, Mark Klune, has worked hard this year to put student voice at the heart of his work with students and staff at Tolt Middle School. Recently, Mr. Klune facilitated four listening sessions with a new Tolt Inclusion Advisory Team to discuss issues of importance to Tolt students. Over the course of several weeks, approximately 20 students joined Mr. Klune, staff, and school and district administration, discussing potential solutions to issues they had identified earlier in a schoolwide survey. One session concerned making Tolt safer, as students shared ideas about how to avoid being jostled while moving through crowded areas. Students voiced concerns in a second session about their lunchtime experiences, seeking suggestions for more culturally responsive menu items and additional opportunities to participate in activities, use technology, or have access to quiet spaces to visit with friends. Making learning more engaging was a third topic where students offered guidance to adults in attendance, causing teachers and staff to reflect on best practices for teaching and with more choice in how students can most effectively demonstrate their learning. A fourth session analyzed the use of personal phones during the school day. Students discussed educationally appropriate uses of their phones, including apps which help them stay on top of their schoolwork, make it easier to collaborate on group projects, and allow the use of camera and video to show what they have learned. “It is a credit to our teachers and administrators that they are willing to hear directly from students about how Tolt can be a better place to learn,” shares Mr. Klune. “The adults involved were surprised at how reasonable the students’ concerns and ideas have been. Their willingness to engage with the Tolt staff on difficult issues has set an important precedent for listening to students going forward.” The Advisory Team developed a Consensus Action Item for each topic, identified the key players or individuals who can help enable change, and established dates and timelines for the proposals to be implemented. In addition, student suggestions were shared with the teaching staff during a recent Site Council and staff meeting, and discussions are underway about how to take advantage of the students’ ideas as staff work to make the middle school experience better for students. The Tolt Inclusion Advisory Team will reconvene again after Spring Break to resume working towards potential implementation of the changes they would like to see within their school.

The Riverview School District Food Services Department is looking to find the best elementary school and secondary school junior chefs in our valley! Riverview School District is participating in the 2023 Junior Chef Competition, in partnership with The Lunch Box. Student chefs, competing in teams, will plan a kid-friendly menu item, which follows USDA meal guidelines and meets the district's per-meal food cost criteria. The winning recipe will be featured on the 2023-2024 Riverview School District menu and the school with the winning team will be awarded kitchen tools and aprons as prizes. The Elementary competition will be held at Cedarcrest High School on May 23, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The Secondary competition (Middle School/High School) will be held at Cedarcrest High School on May 24, 2023, also at 5:30 p.m. All applications should be submitted by April 7, 2023. Final teams will be announced on April 24, 2023. Finalists must attend a food safety course on May 10, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Riverview School District ESC in Duvall. Forms, applications, and additional information for this year's event are provided below! Elementary Entry Form Application Guidelines Budget List ​ Secondary Entry Form Application Guidelines Nutritional Analysis Form Budget List

Riverview PTSA Council is hosting a community event, "HiCap: Smart is Not Easy," on March 22, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Riverview School District ESC in Duvall. The event features a presentation from Austina De Bonte, President of WA Coalition for Gifted Education, and is open to all Riverview families. For more information, please visit the websites linked in the posters below or use the QR code to register, submit questions, and RSVP for child care, provided by members of the Cedarcrest High School Honors Society, if needed.

The Riverview School District will conduct a Public Hearing, during the March 14, 2023 School Board Meeting, to receive testimony from members of the community on the potential closure of the Eagle Rock Multi-Age Program. Public Hearing is scheduled to begin at approximately 6:05 p.m. The Board Meeting agenda packet and additional information for the March 14 board meeting is available by clicking the link below: https://www.rsd407.org/meetings.

Riverview School District has finalized plans to make up for the days and time missed due to school closures on November 30, 2022, and December 1, 2022. The 2022-2023 calendar has been modified to reflect these changes. The last day of the school year will now be June 23, 2023. The following changes have been made to the 2022-2023 calendar: Thursday, June 22, 2023, is now a half-day for Cedarcrest High School students. This was previously scheduled for June 20, 2023. Friday, June 23, 2023, will now be the the last day of school and will remain a half-day for K-12 students. To see the revised school calendar, please click below: 2022-23 Revised School Calendar - FINAL Additional calendars for years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 are also available by visiting here.

Riverview School District is proud to be a vendor at the Riverview PTSA Council's 2023 Summer Resource Fair, sharing information on numerous camps, activities, events, and programs available to youth in our community this coming summer. The event takes place on March 4, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and is hosted at the Riverview School District Educational Service Center (ESC) in Duvall, located at: 15510 - 1st Avenue N.E., Duvall, WA, 98019. The event flyer is shared below and we cannot wait to see you on March 4!

Amie Karkainen, Tolt Middle School’s Principal since the 2017-18 school year, has transitioned to the district’s Teaching and Learning Department. Scott Petersen has been named the Interim Principal of Tolt Middle School, effective Tuesday, February 21, 2023. He conducted a meeting with staff, prior to school, earlier this morning. Mr. Petersen currently serves as Riverview’s Director of Career and Technical Education. He first joined Riverview School District as Tolt Middle School’s Assistant Principal in the 2019-2020 school year and will complete the year in the Interim Principal role.

Check out the February 2023 edition of RIVERVIEWS, our community mailer and newsletter featuring news, updates and images from across our district!

Ray Labate and the Labate family In January, the Riverview School District accepted the retirement of Ray Labate, longtime Principal and former Assistant Principal of Cedarcrest High School. Mr. Labate retires after 28 years in school district administration, with 25 of those serving Riverview School District. He joined Cedarcrest as an Assistant Principal in July 1998, was named Interim Principal in December 2015, and subsequently hired as Principal in March 2016. His extensive background in coaching and mentoring, from his days as a physical education instructor and assistant basketball coach at Eastern Washington University, and as an assistant coach with North Adams State College Basketball in Massachusetts, served as a precursor to years spent as the head coach for Cedarcrest Varsity Boys Basketball from 1999-2008. Celebrating student achievement and success has always been of high importance to Mr. Labate. He instituted the “Pride of the Pack” award, recognizing graduating seniors who have made the greatest impact in their time at Cedarcrest. He was instrumental in bringing AAU Basketball to the community, encouraged increases in the availability of extracurricular opportunities for students, and gave Cedarcrest students space to learn, grow, and engage. Mr. Labate served on a variety of district committees, bargaining teams, and the Riverview Principals Association. His leadership was significant as he guided the Red Wolves community through tragic loss among the student body and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying challenges. “I thank Ray Labate for his years of service to Cedarcrest High School and Riverview School District,” says district superintendent, Dr. Susan Leach. “Ray is a veteran leader who has given so much to this community through the years. He leaves big shoes to fill as he enters a most well-deserved retirement.” Mr. Labate will conclude the 2022-2023 school year in his existing role. The district will begin conducting a nationwide search to find applicants for the hiring of the next principal of Cedarcrest High School. A tireless advocate for students, a dedicated coach and mentor, and a committed leader of his staff, school, and community, the Riverview School District wishes Ray Labate the very best with his pending retirement and thank him for 25 years of service to the Red Wolves and Riverview Community.

Riverview School District is excited to announce the launch of ParentSquare, a simple and unified school-to-home communication tool able to reach and engage every staff member and active parent. ParentSquare is an important addition to district communication, helping ensure everyone in the district can actively participate in their children’s education. Effective school-to-home communication has never been more important, which is why Riverview adopted the ParentSquare communication platform. We are looking forward to reaching 100% of our families no matter where they are, unifying all our communications tools. At this time, ParentSquare will be a one-way communication tool that provides alerts and updates directly to you from the district. District news and notes, weather alerts, school delays or closures will be delivered directly to ParentSquare. Additional communication tools and platforms the district currently uses will remain in place at this time. Families will be receiving an activation email on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, with further instructions on how to activate your account in ParentSquare. ParentSquare also offers 24/7 customer service support should any issues arise when activating or using the tool. Click the QR Code below, or visit our ParentSquare resource page for more information, including a tutorial, user guide, and overview of ParentSquare and look for your activation email on February 8, 2023.

Spread the word to your neighbors, friends, and family... Kindergarten registration is now open for prospective Riverview students for the 2023-2024 school year! Check out our new online enrollment process! Plus, watch the video below and take a look at what happens each and every day in our kindergarten classrooms across the Riverview School District! You can also give us a call at (425) 844-4500, and we will help connect you to those who can best help walk you through the steps in registering your student for the upcoming school year! For additional information on Kindergarten Registration and New Student Registration, please click here. We can't wait to see and meet the Class of 2036 starting this fall!