2023-24 Guide to Riverside

Welcome to RPDS

It all starts here...

Welcome

Dear Parents,

Thank you for placing your trust in RPDS. As partners in your child(ren)’s educational growth and development, we are excited to begin this transformative journey alongside you and your family. At RPDS we believe childhood is to be celebrated and therefore have designed a program and experience that reflects our philosophy of education and values.

In these pages, you will find everything you need to get to know us. The Guide to Riverside shares the ins and outs to help you get acquainted with RPDS. We look forward to charging into our 75th year, a significant milestone year for the School and your family.

Ben Ketchum Head of School

Laura Bayer

Assistant Head of School ext.152

lbayer@rpds.com

Denise Fleming

Williams Building Front Office ext.100

dbrennan@rpds.com

Bizzy Wimberley

Newton Early Learning Center (ELC) ext.141

bwimberly@rpds.com

Tavia Mullen Admissions ext.128

tmullen@rpds.com

Julia Davis

Riverside in the Afternoon ext.163

jhdavis@rpds.com

Marye Edenfield Business Office ext.102

medenfield@rpds.com

Dates

Sundae Monday

August 14

First Day of School

August 15

Conference Day

October 4 (No school for students)

Professional Development Day

October 16 (No school for students)

Professional Development Day

November 3 (Early Dismissal for students)

Family Open House

January 25

Professional Development Day

January 26 (No school for students)

Faculty Development Day

February 16 (Early dismissal for students)

Conference Day

March 6 (No school for students)

Last Day of School

May 23

6th Grade Graduation

May 24

Breaks

Labor Day

September 4

Fall Break

October 13 - 16

Thanksgiving Break

November 20 - 24

Christmas Break

December 22 - January 5

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 15

Presidents’ Day

February 19

Spring Break

March 11 - 15

Easter Break

March 29 - April 1

Schedule

The RPDS community follows a 6-Day rotating schedule. This means that academic and resource classes correspond with specific rotation days rather than traditional days of the week. As you view the school calendar you will notice small circles with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 embedded in the bottom right corner of each calendar day. These embedded numbers represent the rotation day which aligns with the teachers’ and students’ daily schedules.

School Hours

PreK 3 and PreK 4

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Kindergarten - 6th Grade

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Chapel Thursdays at 8:20 a.m.

Extended Hours

RITA Early Morning Care

7:00 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.

Riverside in the Afternoon

12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Early Dismissal

11:30 a.m.

Morning drop-off is from 7:40 - 8:10 a.m.

Arrival & Dismissal

PreK 3 drop off is located via the RPC church parking lot. You may park and walk your student along the back of the Williams Building to the PreK 3 Atrium. You are also welcome to pull up to the curb and have a faculty or staff member escort your child to class if that is easiest for your family. For dismissal, PreK 3 students are escorted individually to the carpool line in the RPC church parking lot adjacent to the Williams Building.

PreK 4, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students drop off and pick up in the Newton Early Learning Center (ELC) loop. The entrance to the ELC loop is located off of Riverside Park Place. For PreK 4 dismissal, teachers will escort students individually to the carpool line in front of the ELC.

2nd through 6th Grade students should be dropped off and picked up in the Williams Building Loop.

Siblings? If you have more than one child at RPDS, you will drop off and pick up in the loop corresponding with the youngest child’s grade. (i.e. If you have a PreK 4 - 1st Grade student, you will pick up in the ELC loop.)

Please note this year the RPDS campus will undergo some construction as part of the Cornerstone Campaign. We will keep you apprised of any impacts to daily traffic flow & operations.

Peek into the Portal

myRPDS is our parent portal and the hub for all of your important school documents and registrations, such as:

• School Forms

• Lunch Cycle Sign-Up

• Afternoon Academies

• RITA Registration

• Class lists and more!

Please contact Admissions at 904-353-3459 if you need any assistance with the myRPDS parent portal.

School Communications You’ve got mail!

Riverside Reminders

Every Thursday morning, be sure to check your inbox for our weekly parent communication, Riverside Reminders. Riverside Reminders is filled with—well—reminders about everything from upcoming early dismissals, lunch cycle registration deadlines, and so much more. We know life gets busy, and everyone can benefit from a reminder!

Thursday Folders

Thursday afternoons your child will be sent home with their Thursday Folder. Thursday Folders are put together by homeroom teachers and mainly include grade and class-specific information and papers. Occasionally you might find a school-wide invitation or announcement.

The Ram Report

The last week of each month you will receive the newest issue of The Ram Report, Riverside’s monthly e-newsletter. Unlike Riverside Reminders, The Ram Report is focused on delivering interesting stories and updates on how RPDS is living out our mission to educate the mind, nurture the spirit, and foster the development of the whole child.

The Riverside Review

At the end of the summer RPDS publishes The Riverside Review, our annual report for the previous school year. This publication features school year highlights, academic stories, alumni news, and much more.

Emergency In case of

In the event of a weather-related closing, delayed opening, or other emergency event, RPDS will send important information to our school community via email and our text alert system.

All new parents are automatically added to email and text lists at the start of the school year. Please check that your best phone number and email are listed in your myRPDS profile to ensure you do not miss any emergency communications.

Meet Riverside’s

Leadership

Ben Ketchum

Head of School, Ben Ketchum

Ben Ketchum joined RPDS as the Head of School in July 2017. Demonstrating a lifelong passion for teaching and a commitment to faith-based education, Ben has spent time serving schools in many different areas, from homeroom teacher to prinicipal, to his previous position as the Director of the Upper Division and Outplacement at National Presbyterian School (NPS) in Washington, D.C. Ben is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned his B.A. in Economics, as well as his M.A. in Educational Administration. He also holds an M.A. in Teaching from the University of Portland. Ben and his wife Jennifer reside in Avondale with their two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Winston and Kiki.

Laura Bayer

Assistant Head of School, Laura Bayer

Laura Bayer joined RPDS as the Assistant Head of School in 2022 bringing her 27 years of educational experience and six years of experience as a school head at St. Nicholas School in Brazil. Laura has served schools in several capacities. She began her career as a PreK 3 - PreK 4 teacher and later served as the Department Head. In 2004, Laura’s role was expanded, and she led the school’s Infant/Primary School (Ages 2 - 1st Grade) before taking on her most recent role as the Head of School. Laura received her M.S. in Educational Administration from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Kansas University and her B.A. in History from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. Laura also received her K-8 Elementary Education certification through Ottawa University. Laura is a mother of four and has enjoyed exploring the Riverside neighborhood in her first year.

RPDS At-A-Glance

Things that mean a lot to us!

Mission Statement

To educate the mind, nurture the spirit, and foster the development of the whole child.

The Riverside Way

The Riverside Way is composed of traits that can be experienced daily throughout our campus. They are used by our faculty, staff, students, and parents. Using the RPDS acronym, The Riverside Way stands for respectful, responsible, persevere, praise, dependable, dedicated, seek and serve

The Riverside Way is more than eight words. It’s about the way we carry ourselves in the classrooms, the hallway, in Chapel, on the playground and in the community. It’s the way we care about those inside and outside our campus. And it’s the way we want others to care about us. The Riverside Way is about showing God’s love through our actions and putting others before ourselves.

School Mascot

We are the RPDS RAMS! Fun fact: The RPDS Rams came to be through a student-led mascot campaign. The RPDS Class of 2021 met with members of the school administration about the need for a school mascot. After a year-long, student-led campaign with multiple mascot candidates and a full school election process, Rams came out on top. We love our mascot origin story and hope, as the RPDS Rams our students continue to confidently charge forward!

Campus Traditions

Our Kindergarten students dress up as centenarians on the 100th day of school, the school honors our graduating 6th Grade students with a Gratitude Walk at the last school assembly, and we bring characters to life during our literary dress day and parade held during the Book Fair. These annual traditions and more are some of the most joyous moments at Riverside!

RPDS Dictionary

What are we talking about?

Afternoon Academies

As the school day concludes, more than 40 Afternoon Academies begin! Read more about Academies on page 28.

Capers

Caper (v.) to skip or dance about in a lively way. Capers (n.) is RPDS’s annual fundraising gala. It’s a big party to celebrate and support our school community.

Free Dress Days

If you see a free dress day on the school calendar or in Riverside Reminders, it means students are invited to wear clothes normally outside of dress code. Bust out the jeans, shorts, and t-shirts. Some free dress days even have special themes!

ELC (Newton Early Learning Center)

Did they say your child’s classroom is “in the ELC”? ELC is simply an abbreviation for the Newton Early Learning Center. The ELC is homebase for our PreK 4 and Kindergarten classes, and Riverside in the Afternoon, too.

Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day

A cherished half-day event during which grandparents or special friends join students at school.

RITA (Riverside in the Afternoon)

Before and after an academic school day, RPDS is here for your child with Riverside in the Afternoon, usually referred to as its acronym, RITA. The extended day program opens its doors at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. in the evening on regular school days.

RPA (Riverside Parents Association)

RPA stands for the Riverside Parents Association. This group of parent volunteers helps with special happenings throughout the year. Learn more on page 31.

Sundae Monday

Sundae Monday is a back-to-school celebration held the Monday before the first day of school. Students can meet their teachers, check out their classrooms, and enjoy an ice cream sundae while catching up with friends and meeting new friends. It’s a sweet way to kick off the school year!

Team RPDS

The Team RPDS Program was created to motivate and encourage students and their families to enjoy a more active lifestyle outside of the school and work day. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a lifelong love of play and exercise! Every year students are given a special Team RPDS t-shirt, which they are allowed to wear every Friday throughout the school year.

Lunch at Riverside

Lunch for Riverside students is an outdoor event! We take advantage of the beautiful Florida weather, a children’s love for the outdoors, the fun and excitement of a picnic lunch with friends, and the sheer joy of free play. Our campus location also provides convenience to parents who wish to stop by and join their children for lunch. Riverside’s four playgrounds provide generous outdoor space for outdoor lunch and recess.

Most students bring their morning snack and lunch to school; however, a lunch order option is available five days per week. Lunch orders run in cycles. Check your school calendar to view when lunch order cycles begin and end. You will receive reminders of when lunch cycle registrations are opening and closing.

Lunch order sign-ups are done through the myRPDS parent portal.

Student Dress Code

RPDS has a dress code for students in 1st - 6th Grade. The complete dress code policy can be found in the Parent/Student handbook. In short:

Boys may wear navy or khaki shorts or slacks with any solid color collared polo or Oxford shirt.

Girls may wear navy or khaki skirts, shorts, or slacks with any solid color polo or Oxford shirt. Girls may wear dresses as long as they are a single color and have a collar. Jumpers must be worn with a collared shirt.

RPDS Spirit Wear Get Your Gear!

You have school spirit, yes you do; and we have school spirit wear just for you! Below we have listed places where you can shop dress-code approved tops and bottoms and Rams gear, too!

RPDS School Store

The most comprehensive selection of school spirit wear can be found on RPDS’s online school store. The school store allows you to select your favorite brand and choose the color and which RPDS logo you want (school logo, Rams, Team RPDS). Keep your eyes peeled for school store sales and pop-up shops where you can purchase limited edition school gear. Visit rpds.com/store to browse gear for children and adults, too.

Lands’ End

Looking for dress code-approved tops, bottoms, and dresses?

Visit landsend.com and click on the “School” tab at the top. To view items with RPDS embroidery click on “shop by school.” You can find RPDS’s Lands’ End store by searching our school name or entering our school number, 900103789.

Kennedi’s Closet

RPDS enjoys supporting our community and shopping local!

Another great option for dress code-approved shirts, dresses, and jumpers is Kennedi’s Closet. Parents may purchase clothes directly from Kennedi’s or drop off clothes purchased from other stores for RPDS embroidery. Kennedi’s Closet is located 4212 Beverly Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32210.

The first Tuesday of each month is Spirit Day! Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by rocking the blue and green and their favorite RPDS gear!

Campus Map

Great things come with a little dust. Please note this year the RPDS campus will undergo some construction as part of the Cornerstone Campaign. We will keep you apprised of any impacts to daily traffic flow & operations.

Riverside Presbyterian Day School Campus Map School

First Grade Center

Kissling Building

Kissling Hall

ELC

Zone

Visitor

Key Places Explore these dynamic learning spaces!

Steve and Dotty Risley Media Center

Students enjoy diving into literature of all types during their library time in the Steve and Dotty Risley Media Center. To support and nurture our students, we provide access to 18,000 print books and multiple online research tools. In our commitment to support our students wherever they may be, our online catalog and research resources are available to students 24/7, wherever there is internet access.

Kissling Hall

Kissling Hall is the hub of RPDS! A multi-purpose space, Kissling Hall is where you will watch spectacular school plays, view your child’s State Fair display, listen to a speaker at a Coffee & Conversation, and even do some book fair shopping.

STEAM Lab - Newton Early Learning Center

Cardboard tubes, green screens, and everything inbetween is what you will find in the Newton Early Learning Center’s STEAM Lab. This STEAM Lab is focused on cultivating creativity, collaboration, and innovation with our youngest learners in PreK 3, PreK 4 and Kindergarten. There is no shortage of fun in this lab!

STEAM Lab - Williams Building

The Williams Building STEAM Lab is where 1st through 6th Grade students have the tools to dream, create, and collaborate. Students learn across the spectrum of design-thinking, computing, coding, and more! With a LEGO wall, 3D printer, Ozobots, and a wall of materials for students to explore, the possibilities are endless in this lab. Parents can catch a glimpse of our students’ STEAM creations, often displayed in the front hallway of the Williams Building.

You’re Ram Ready!

Monthly Happenings

Traditions we cherish throughout the year.

Thursday Morning Chapel

On Thursday mornings, the Riverside family gathers in the sanctuary of Riverside Presbyterian Church to celebrate God’s love through music, verse and lesson. Our Chapel services are welcoming to children and parents of all faiths. With imagination and inspiration, each Chapel program nurtures the spiritual growth of the Riverside children and assures each one of their special place in God’s world.

Assemblies & Flag Raisings

The first Tuesday of each month is RPDS Spirit Day and either a flag raising or school assembly. We enjoy this time to connect as a full school community, celebrate the previous month’s events and accomplishments, and charge into a new month. Assemblies and flag raisings are led by our 6th Grade class.

Rise N’ Shine

Rise N’ Shine is a mini-chapel service specifically designed for our PreK 3 through Kindergarten students. Kindergarten students begin to build their leadership skills by helping present the Bible story and leading the classes as they move, sing, and pray.

Annual Events Building community & sweet memories, too.

Sundae Monday (Aug. 14)

Sundae Monday is the annual opportunity for RPDS students to meet their homeroom teachers, explore their new classrooms or a new campus location, and enjoy an ice cream sundae served by faculty and staff while they reunite with friends and connect with their new classmates. Sundae Monday is a time-honored RPDS tradition that kicks off the excitement of the new school year!

Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day (Oct. 12)

Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day is a special morning at RPDS in which students have the opportunity to invite their grandparents or special friends to visit campus, get a peak at their classroom experience and resource spaces, and enjoy a special Chapel service, complete with student performances.

Fall Festival (Nov. 11)

Every year we look forward to a traditional fall festival on the Rice Sports Zone, complete with cake walk, face painting, inflatables, treats, and more!

Christmas Sing-A-Long (Dec. 21)

The Friday before Christmas break, we invite families to join us on campus for a special morning singing Christmas carols and celebrating the season as a school community.

Family Open House (Jan. 25)

Every January, parents are invited to our Family Open House night. During Open House, students give their parents an inside look at all that goes on in their wonderful classroom and resource areas, and get to take a sneak peek at their classrooms for the upcoming year!

School Plays & Musicals

RPDS is proud to showcase our students’ musical and dramatic talents in grade-level productions throughout the year. Check out the school calendar to view dates for various grade-level performances. Students typically conduct two performances, one for fellow students and faculty to enjoy and a second showing for parents to attend. Typically, plays and musicals are hosted in Kissling Hall.

Bike Week

Bike Week is a tradition at RPDS for our 4th and 5th Grade students. During Bike Week, students have the opportunity to ride their bicycles during PE, where they focus on riding skills, safety, and etiquette. This is always a fun and memorable week for our students!

Capers

Capers is RPDS’s annual fundraising event, typically held in late winter. Each year, a parent committee works alongside our Advancement team to select a theme and plan a wonderful evening for parents, alumni, and friends of RPDS to continue strengthening connections with one another and build awareness around RPDS’s commitment to remain a strong corporate citizen. This school year, our traditional Capers gala will take a pause as we host our 75th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 13th.

Camp Riverside

A summer program for our early learners.

We know finding quality summer programming, especially for our youngest learners, can be challenging. RPDS has a summer program for rising PreK 4, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students. Camp Riverside includes fun weekly themes that incorporate many of the elements used during the academic portion of the school day. Throughout the summer, students have opportunities to build their social and emotional skills through morning Care & Connect, reading rich literature, engaging in play time with friends, and expressing their creative side with various arts and crafts. The afternoon portion of the day includes summer fun on the playground with water play and free play, too.

RPDS Athletics

Meet the Coaches

RPDS participates in the North Florida Independent Schools Athletic Conference (NFISAC) and has been a member since the 2015-2016 school year. Participating in the NFISAC allows our 5th and 6th Grade students to play sports with other Independent Schools in Northeast Florida. The RPDS Rams currently participate in Boys and Girls Basketball, Flag Football and Volleyball.

The primary goal of RPDS athletics is to provide students with an opportunity to play a school sport in which the focus is on enjoying the game, learning the sport and being part of a team. We believe the opportunity to play with classmates tremendously increases student comfort and confidence with sports.

Coach Mike Sullivan

Coach Gabe Clark

Extended Day

Register for extended day through myRPDS parent portal.

Early Morning Care

RITA programming opens its doors at 7:00 a.m. for Early Morning Care. Children are dismissed for school at 7:40 a.m.

Riverside in the Afternoon (RITA)

RITA programming begins for PreK 3 and PreK 4 at 12:00 p.m. and for Kindergarten through 6th Grade at 3:00 p.m., closing for all grades at 6:00 p.m. in the evening. At Riverside, we value every moment we have to equip young students with the foundations of academic and lifelong success, and our after-school program is no exception.

Many of our RITA employees are working towards becoming credentialed teachers or working towards a college degree, and some are experienced teachers. RITA employees maintain the same active learning and engaging activities with our students. The entire staff is First Aid and CPR trained.

As the school day concludes and the transition to RITA begins, students may also participate in our Afternoon Academies program.

Afternoon Academies

As the school day concludes, more than 40 Afternoon Academies begin! There are a variety of activities from which to choose, all tailored to delight, entertain, and enrich each child’s afternoon experience at RPDS.

For our younger students, ballet, art, and music lead the way. Older students enjoy exciting activities ranging from creating LEGO worlds, playing musical instruments, cooking, painting, exploring technology, acting and playing sports!

Have questions about Riverside in the Afternoon or Afternoon Academies? Our Director of Riverside in the Afternoon, Julia Davis, is happy to help!

Julia Davis, Director of Riverside

in the Afternoon jhdavis@rpds.com

Parent Community

Riverside Parents Association (RPA)

Through the Riverside Parents Association (RPA), RPDS encourages parents and grandparents to discover the joy of participating in the daily educational life of their children and grandchildren. Providing opportunities for our families to engage on campus fosters community, strengthens our partnership and demonstrates our commitment to educating the whole child. From joining together in fellowship to serving as a homeroom parent or Connector for new parents to chairing a committee, there are a variety of ways for our community to get involved.

Parents in Prayer

All parents are welcome and encouraged to join the Parents in Prayer group, which prays for all of the students, families, faculty, staff, and administration of RPDS. This group meets the first Thursday of each month before Chapel at the picnic tables between Kissling and the Rice Sports Zone. Parents, students, faculty, and friends of RPDS may submit prayer requests via a prayer box at Ms. Denise’s desk or to Parents in Prayer via email (parentsinprayer@rpds.com). Students have an opportunity to submit prayer requests via Mrs. Baldwin’s Bible class, as well.

Visit rpds.com/rpa to learn more about parent committees, calendar of events, volunteer links and more!

If you are interested in learning about parent volunteer opportunities throughout the year, contact our Assistant Director of Advancement and fellow RPDS parent, Courtney Powers.

Courtney

904.353.5511x127 • cpowers@rpds.com

The RPDS Fund is our school’s top fundraising priority. Every year, we invite parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends to participate in this annual giving campaign by making a charitable gift to our school.

Gifts to the RPDS Fund allow us to maintain the standard of excellence in our programs that is the hallmark of an RPDS education. This year’s RPDS Fund will also allow us to move forward with a greater emphasis on providing a safe environment for our students and faculty, strengthening our community through connectedness and inclusion, and sustaining our commitment to educational innovation.

We invite you to join us in supporting this important annual giving campaign. Your generosity keeps us moving forward in fulfilling our mission to educate the mind, nurture the spirit and foster the development of the whole child. We sincerely thank you!

Visit rpds.com/giving to learn more about the RPDS Fund and other advancement initiatives for the school.

Notes

Notes