2023-24 Riverside Calendar of Events 

Last day of classes before Spring Break - March 21 

Student Learning Conferences - March 21 and 22 (no classes on the 22nd) 

Spring Break (School Closed) - March 25 - April 1 

Classes resume - April 2 

Athletics - See updates on our Athletics Page   

Our school was a sea of pink shirts today in recognition of Pink Shirt Day. Riverside students completed activities focusing on our core values of RICK, while Grades 2, 7 and 8 students attended the annual Calgary Hitmen “Be Brave” game and event.  

We have completed our communication with families regarding the lottery for the 2024-25 school year, making offers of placement to nearly 100 students from Kindergarten to Grade 9. I am thankful for each expression of interest in our school and take each one as a compliment to the incredible work done each day by Riverside staff and students. 

Speaking of enrolment for next year: no action is needed if you intend for your child to continue to be enrolled at Riverside for 2024-25. Thank you to those of you who have reached out to indicate this, though it is not necessary! We would, however, appreciate if you could email us at riverside@cbe.ab.ca to indicate if you do not intend for your child to continue with us next year (unless your child is in Grade 9 – we know they are going to high school!). 

ZenCity community engagement re: School Development Planning and financial priorities for 2024-25 

With my attention focusing more and more on the 2024-25 school year each week, I want to inform you of an opportunity to provide your input into School Development Planning and financial priorities for the upcoming school year.  

Parents and guardians are welcome to share their thoughts through the ZenCity Engage platform. The engagement survey can accessed by clicking here. The survey will remain open until 11:59PM on March 13. 

I will share a report detailing the feedback received through this engagement survey with the school community via our website no later than the end of April. Please feel free to reach out to the school if you have any questions. 

School Council and Parent Society update – Upcoming learning opportunity  

Riverside School Council will be hosting a learning opportunity for parents and guardians on the evening of March 12.  The presentation will discuss anxiety and resiliency in today's youth.  A short bio of the presenter is below. 

Abrielle (Abby) Heck has been supporting healthy mental wellbeing in children, teens and families for over 15 years. She has a passion for demystifying mental health, and helping families struggling with emotional regulation, anxiety, tough life events & transitions and thriving with neurodiversity, such as ADHD. She loves to get creative and uses art and play interventions to meet kids where they’re at. 
 
Abrielle Heck is a Registered Social Worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers with her Masters of Clinical Social Work, specializing in Infant, Early childhood, School-aged and Adolescent mental health. She utilizes Attachment Theory to walk alongside families to acknowledge their past and instill hope for the future. Abrielle has extensive training and experience in Parent-Child Attachment Relationships, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Play and Art Therapy interventions and is a Certified Circle of Security Facilitator. 

Vaping Awareness and Prevention | Family and Caregiver Session 

Join the Alberta Health Services Healthy Schools and Population Health Promotion team on Wednesday, March 6 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. for a virtual parent learning session on the youth vaping epidemic.  

In this session, parents will learn about what vaping is, current vaping trends among youth and the harms and risks associated with it. We'll explore what legislation is in place at the local and provincial level to combat youth vaping use and what you and your child's school can do about it. Ideas on how to talk to kids and help them quit, as well as where to go for more information will also be covered.  

 Link: Registration Link 

With kind regards, 

 Steve Radder, Principal 

Riverside School