WINTER AFTERS BEGIN JANUARY 20, 2026 
UPDATE SCHOOL DISMISSAL MANAGER!

 

Winter Afters begin Tuesday, January 20 (Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and run until Spring Recess, with the last day of classes on April 2. 

This session includes returning favorites and exciting new classes. Check out the schedule and descriptions on the Riverside School PTA Afters Page. 

Registration has been closed. 

 

To Update SDM: 

  1. Go to "Recurring Dismissals" in the top left drop-down menu. 
  2. Select the student and select AFTERS for the Dismissal Instruction. 
  3. Write the name of the Afters Class and select the Day of the Week. 
  4. Then pick "Every Week" with an end date of April 2, (For FRIDAYS ONLY, Part I will run 1/23-2/27 and Part II will run from 3/6-3/27).  

Unfortunately we will not be able to accept any cancellations, changes or late registrations. 

 

Questions? Please email Liz Shaw, Suzy Roth or Jaclyn Glazer at riversideschoolpta@gmail.com.

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB MEETING 

 

 

Students in the Community Service Club will have an opportunity to learn more about Neighbor to Neighbor and prepare for an upcoming school-wide canned food drive. They will make signs and decorate / stuff goody bags for NTNs youngest clients.

  • WHAT: Community Service Club meeting - Neighbor to Neighbor, anyone in Grades K-3 is welcome to participate!
  • WHERE: Register here; meeting will be in the Media Center
  • WHEN: Wednesday, January 21 from 3:15-4:00pm

 

TOILETRY DRIVE SUPPORTING KIDS IN CRISIS
JANUARY 20-29

 

 

The 4th Grade Student Council is collecting toiletries for Kids In Crisis. 

  • WHAT: Please bring in travel size: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. The 4th Grade Student Council will organize these goodies at their next meeting on Friday, January 30.
  • WHEN: January 20 - January 29
  • WHERE: Please leave all items in a donation bin that will be placed in front of the school entryway path.

Thank you so much in advance for your generosity and kindness!

 

 

CANNED FOOD DRIVE SUPPORTING NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR
JANUARY 26-28

 

 

The Community Service Club will hold a canned food drive to benefit Neighbor to Neighbor, and the grade that generates the most donations in its category will earn an extra recess!

  • WHAT: While all non-perishables are much appreciated, each grade has been asked to donate specific items to ensure that we are providing Neighbor to Neighbor with a variety of the items they need most. 
    • Kindergarten: Canned tuna or canned chicken
    • Grade 1: Canned fruit 
    • Grade 2: Canned chili or any Chef Boyardee with meat
    • Grade 3: Cereal or oatmeal 
    • Grade 4: Pasta sauce
    • Grade 5: Peanut butter or jelly
  • WHEN: January 26 - January 30
  • WHERE: Donation bins will be in front of the school all week. Kindergarten donations should be delivered directly to their classrooms.
  • CONTACT: Kimberlee Halperin and Holly Harlow

 

RIVERSIDE RENOVATION: SHOW YOUR SUPPORT 

 

 

The town’s annual budget and capital planning process kicks off this month. The Riverside renovation is one of the largest items the Board of Estimate & Taxation (BET) will deliberate and vote on. 

Support from our community is needed to ensure future phases of the project can continue to move forward without delay. You can show your support for the project by attending (wearing red) or speaking at the BET’s first of two public hearings. 

  • WHAT: Budget Presentation & BET Public Hearing
  • WHEN: Tuesday, January 27 at 6:00pm (hearing at 7:00pm)
  • WHERE: Town Hall Meeting Room, 101 Field Point Road

If you plan to attend, we encourage you to arrive early. In recent years, the room has filled up fast. Unable to attend? Email the BET, encouraging them to allocate $43mm for the renovation in its FY27-28 capital plan. For more information about the renovation, see the PTA renovation webpage and GPS project page.

 

 

INTRODUCING THE RIVERSIDE SPELLING BEE 2026!

 

 

This year, Riverside will join several other GPS elementary schools in hosting its very own Scripps Spelling Bee on Friday, April 17 at Riverside School.

 

Participation is optional, and top scorers from each homeroom in Grades 3-5 will be able to compete in the Spelling Bee. Winners and their homerooms will receive prizes!

 

Contact the Riverside School PTA with any questions or if you'd like to be involved in planning the event!

 

HELP US FILL OPEN PTA ROLES!

The Riverside School PTA is looking for volunteers for this year!  Volunteering is a great way to engage with the school and community. If any of these roles sound interesting, please email riversideschoolpta@gmail.com to learn more!

  • Arts Field Day Co-Chair – Coordinate an afternoon "Arts Field Day" to be held on May 20, 2026 offering hands-on workshops in crafts, drama, dance, visual arts, writing and music to students in Grades 3-5.
  • Communications Team – Maintain and update content on RIVPTA.org.
  • Publicity Chair – Coordinate with local press around PTA events. 
  • Safety Duty - Assist children as they exit their vehicles in the front driveway during morning drop-off (8.30am - 8.45am daily) Sign-up Here 

 SUPPORT THE RIVERSIDE PTA BY JOINING TODAY!

Our school community counts on the PTA to deliver an array of events, programs and initiatives that enrich classroom curriculum, support teachers and staff, enhance the school campus, and strengthen the community.

To do this, we rely on the generosity of Riverside School families via our annual Membership Drive, one of the PTA’s most important fundraisers. While your participation is voluntary, we do aim for 100% participation in our Membership Drive.  The PTA does a lot – and we couldn’t do it without your support!

Join the PTA

 INTERESTED IN THE EARLY MORNING PROGRAM?

Sign-up Now!

The Early Morning Program (EMP) at Riverside School is a before school enrichment program that provides a fun, familiar place for Riverside students before the start of the school day and is staffed by a Riverside teacher.

The program runs every Monday through Friday from 7:15-8:30am, and students could be dropped off at any point during that timeframe. Visit the Early Morning Program page for more details.

PARENTING WORKSHOP WITH DR. BOGART

Follow-up Resources from October 8, 2025

At our Fall PTA General Meeting, Dr. Chris Bogart from the Sasco River Center spoke to us about "Raising Confident and Resilient Kids." He reminded us that stress is inevitable, normal, and even important for development; the hard part for parents is how to model healthy management of stress and struggle.  

Please refer to the following resources from the session:

If you have ideas for speakers or topics for future PTA parent enrichment sessions, please email us at riversideschoolpta@gmail.com.

THE NEW GPS REPORT CARD

Follow-up Note (session held on October 21, 2025)

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Principal Martín and Assistant Principal Collette provided parents with an overview of the new GPS Elementary School Report Cards. You can find the explanation for making the changes in this GPS District Video.

Although details are still being finalized, rather than assessing students' skills on a scale of 1-5, teachers will now assess students' skills as either ES (Emerging Skill), DS (Developing Skill) or SS (Secure Skill). 

The skills being assessed remain the same as in prior years for the applicable grade level, as they are tied to the CT Common Core standards. 

Please note that the first marking period will end at the end of November.

Upcoming Dates


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    2025-2026 District Calendar

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