Arts Enrichment

Students enjoy programs representing a wide variety of the arts, including music, dance, painting, writing (creative writing, expository writing, and poetry—featuring many visiting authors), theater arts, storytelling, and more. The bulk of our programming consists of hands-on workshops that emphasize student participation and active learning. Below are some highlights from 2025-2026!

All Grades

Kangaroo Kids Jump Rope Residency - Riverside students had the opportunity to participate in a week-long PE residency in February.  Students got a cardio workout while building coordination, endurance, teamwork, and confidence - and of course, having fun! The instructors competed and won in prestigious events such as USA Jump Rope Nationals, AAU Junior Olympics, and the International Jump Rope Union World Championships. Our students learned from these professionals that jumping rope can be more than a playground activity, it’s an exciting, competitive sport enjoyed around the world. 

Poetry Week with Outspoken Literacy - Poets and educators Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger will bring poetry to life during Riverside’s 2026 Poetry Week for grades K-4 the first week of June. Through dynamic and interactive classroom workshops, they will engage students in writing and performing original poems, fostering literacy skills and self-expression. The week will conclude with a Poetry Picnic, where students will have the opportunity to share their poems with their classmates.

Kindergarten

Harmonized Kidz - Using rhythm, rhyme, and the engaging repetition of a song, Stacie Morgain Lewis led two interactive sessions during the year that skillfully addressed important topics such as friendships and feelings, helping to develop awareness of self and build empathy and compassion for others.

Alyssa Capucilli - The award-winning author of the Biscuit series shared her personal writing process, including the inspiration for her stories. She discussed developing characters and settings with the children and helped them understand how using action words can make a story come to life.

1st Grade

Henry Jones, Infinite Roots - Master drummer Kwamé Henry Jones introduced students to the complex rhythms of African drumming with an upbeat, hands-on workshop.

Abi Cushman - Award-winning author and illustrator Abi Cushman provided a fun and interactive presentation that inspired students’ creativity and love of storytelling. Students had the chance to see some of her sketches and storyboards and learn about the process of writing and illustrating a book. She encouraged students to use their imagination, and her visit sparked great excitement about reading, art, and creative expression.

2nd Grade

Dan Gutman - Students were treated to a virtual presentation and Q&A with beloved children's author and New York Times bestseller Dan Gutman. Dan is the author of the hugely popular My Weird School books as well as other children's series like The Flashback Four.

3rd Grade 

Play in a Day - Students worked together with professional storytellers from CT Storytelling Center to craft a play out of a story – all in a single day.

Government Program by Carol Glynn - Students learned about the democratic process in our state and federal government.

Journeys into American Indian Territory, Eastern Woodland’s Program - Students explored how Native Americans of our region met their three basic needs of food, clothing and shelter by using natural resources. They also focused on traditional government, including how laws were passed and how leaders were selected. Students experienced hands-on activities during live virtual sessions on traditional games and stories as well as the use of symbols in communication.

4th Grade

Janae Marks - New York Times bestselling author Janae Marks, known for the From the Desk of Zoe Washington series, visited the 4th grade classes. During her visit, she discussed her books, which often explore themes of friendship, family, and social justice. She shared insights into her writing process, the inspiration behind her stories, and the importance of perseverance in achieving one's dreams.

Connecticut Historical Society - Connecticut Historical Society presented a workshop where students were introduced to stories of moving to Connecticut. During the program, students worked in teams to examine artifacts and documents from curated immigration trunks and uncover different family stories about moving to Connecticut from Ireland, Germany, China, Georgia, and Puerto Rico in the 19th and 20th centuries.

5th Grade

Dana Rau - During her engaging presentation, "Who Is an Author?", students learned about how writers like Dana gather ideas, the process of turning facts into stories, and what it is like to live the life of an author. Most importantly, all children were encouraged to discover their own unique stories to tell. 

Revolutionary War Day - Students wrapped up their year-long study of the American Revolution with an outdoor presentation by Connecticut’s CT 5th and 6th Regiments on military and civilian life during the Colonial Period. Demonstrations focused on colonial clothing, games, money, and music.