RPDS Admissions Packet

Admissions

Champions of childhood since 1948.

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RPDS Admissions Team Tavia Mullen, Director of Admissions tmullen@rpds.com Stephanie Milne ‘81, Admissions Associate smilne@rpds.com Admissions Phone 904-353-3459 830 Oak Street • Jacksonville, FL • 32204

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“At RPDS, children grow in knowledge and faith respecting the differences of others in preparation for life in a global community.”

- Ben Ketchum Head of School

About Riverside Mission

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

Philosophy Riverside Presbyterian Day School provides students with a carefully planned academic program within a supportive environment where respect for the individual, community, and Christian values are promoted. Riverside recognizes that each child is an individual and gears teaching strategies to ensure that children will experience success at their level of learning. Students are challenged to rise to higher goals and achievement through the use of curriculum that addresses a variety of learning styles and exposes children to rich literature, problem solving opportunities, and cooperative learning experiences.

Different levels of academic ability, social development, and learning styles are respected and used to design and implement curriculum. A comprehensive curriculum guide built around a challenging academic program includes subject matter in the academic areas, the arts, physical education, STEAM, guidance, Bible instruction, and technology. The curriculum inspires children to become life-long learners and equips them with the skills and dispositions necessary to adapt to an ever-changing world.

The Riverside Way The Riverside Way is composed of traits that can be heard 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.

About Riverside At-a-Glance • Founded in 1948 • PreK 3 - 6th Grade • 390+ Students • NAIS & FCIS School • 14-18 Average Class Size • Need-based Tuition Assistance • Step Up for Students scholarships accepted

• 34 Zip Codes • 22% Students of Color • Weekly Chapel, Leadership Development, and Service Learning • Riverside in the Afternoon (RITA) and Afternoon Academies

Diverse & Inclusive Community At Riverside Presbyterian Day School we believe that embracing inclusivity and belonging enriches our school community and prepares our children for a global, multicultural world. The RPDS community loves and respects all human beings in a manner consistent with our school mission. Each family completes and contributes to the body of Riverside. We strive to foster relationships by encouraging our school community to appreciate, understand and learn from others, thus demonstrating God’s unconditional love.

Questions about our diverse and inclusive community?

Jan Reeder, Director of Diversity & Inclusion at jreeder@rpds.com

Curriculum Core Curriculum Riverside provides a broad and enriching curriculum to which children respond with the highest academic achievement.

Our curriculum intentionally spirals, and our experts in early childhood & elementary education deliver this learning to our students.

• Amplify Science • Differentiated math instruction • Singapore Math, Dimensions • Differentiated reading instruction • Fountas & Pinnell • Global Studies • Grammar instruction • Handwriting Without Tears • History • Interactive read alouds • Orton Gillingham • Spelling and creative expression

Enriched Curriculum Riverside provides an enriched curriculum designed to deepen and broaden children’s thinking in ways that foster leadership, creativity, physicality, lifelong learning, and happiness, thus supporting the development of the whole child. RPDS 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.

• Music & Performance • Physical Education (K-6th Grade) • Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) • Spiritual Formation

• Bible Class (1st - 6th Grade), Chapel, & Rinse N’ Shine (PreK 3 - K) • Visual Arts • World Language

• Spanish (PreK 3 - 6th Grade)

• Chinese (Option for 4th - 6th Grade)

Questions about our curriculum?

Peggy Campbell-Rush, Director of Curriculum at pcampbellrush@rpds.com

Riverside in the Afternoon (RITA) RITA Before and after an academic school day, RPDS is here for your child with Riverside in the Afternoon; often referred to as its acronym, RITA. We value every moment we have to equip students with the foundations of academic and lifelong success, and our extended day program is no exception. RITA opens its doors at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. in the evening on regular school days. Activities include art, crafts, outdoor play, homework time, and more. RITA is available to students from PreK 3 - 6th Grade at an additional cost.

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, tumbling, soccer, chess, and music lead the way. Older students enjoy exciting activities ranging from creating LEGO worlds, playing musical instruments, cooking, painting, exploring technology, and sports!

A special highlight each year is our school wide musical open to students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade. Opportunities abound for performing, set design, lighting, and more!

Questions about Riverside in the Afternoon and fees?

Julia Davis, Director of Riverside in the Afternoon at jhdavis@rpds.com

6th Grade Experience The 6th Grade Experience is a culmination of an RPDS education. This final year is multi-faceted and uniquely balanced, preparing students to rise to the unique challenges of Middle School. RPDS graduates transition to the next level with a solid academic foundation, strong self confidence, and comprehensive social and emotional skills.

Hallmark Opportunities • Health & Wellness Project-Based Learning • Leadership Council • Project Leads • Servant Leadership • Service Rotations • Trip to Southwind • Trip to Washington, DC Our PreK 3 - 6th grade model prepares children for independence and propels them forward academically, personally, and spiritually.

Graduate Traits • Appreciate the importance of physical wellness • Confidently embrace their individual gifts and talents • Demonstrate an appreciation for different perspectives • Demonstrate a curiosity about life • Demonstrate faith in God • Display a positive self image • Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of forms of expression • Embrace a love of learning

Questions about the RPDS 6th Grade Experience?

Laura Bayer, Assistant Head of School at lbayer@rpds.com

Tuition and Fees Riverside is an investment in your child’s present and future. Students happily enter into each day where they engage in a transformative educational experience.

Riverside Presbyterian Day School accepts Florida Choice Scholarships. Step Up for Students is a state-approved, nonprofit scholarship funding organization that empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children. For more information and to apply, please visit StepUpForStudents.org.

Annual, semi-annual, and ten month plans are available.

There is a new student enrollment fee of $800 or a re-enrollment fee of $600, due at contract signing.

Tuition Includes

Additional Costs Include

• Books • iPad ownership (4th-6th Grade) • Select field trips • Supplies • TEAM RPDS shirt • Technology • Yearbook

• Afternoon Academies • Extended Day Program (Riverside in the Afternoon - RITA) • Lunch program • Off campus educational experiences for 5th & 6th Grade

Questions about Tuition & Fees?

Marye Edenfield, Director of Finance & Operations at medenfield@rpds.com

Financial Assistance Financial Assistance

RPDS is dedicated to providing students with a transformative education; therefore, we welcome families to apply annually for Financial Assistance. Approximately 20% of our students receive need-based financial assistance.

Financial Assistance Eligibility The Financial Assistance Committee relies upon information supplied by families to FAST, our need analysis provider. In computing the amount of the award, RPDS considers factors such as family size, income, expenses, assets, liabilities & spending priorities. Understanding financial pictures can be complex; therefore, we encourage the online submission of a Family Letter within FAST. A Family Letter can provide further information that may be helpful to the Financial Assistance Committee.

Key Dates Families applying for financial assistance must submit all required information, including tax documentation for the most recently closed tax year. Following the timeline below is a critical step in the process.

Failure to meet deadlines and complete the application in full jeopardizes your opportunity for Financial Assistance as there is not a guarantee surrounding the availability of funds. Families seeking assistance after February 9, 2024 will receive consideration based upon available funds.

Steps 1. Submit an online FAST Financial Assistance Application and non-refundable $53.00 fee 2. Upload all required tax documentation to FAST • Signed copies of Federal Income Tax Return (1040), including all schedules for the most recently closed tax year • W-2s and 1099 Forms

Policy Riverside Presbyterian Day School admits students of any race, creed, color, sex, or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. The distribution of awards will adhere to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid with special attention to fairness, equity and confidentiality.

Grants from outside funding sources (for example, Step Up for Students) will be considered part of the student’s Financial Assistance award and must be disclosed to RPDS. Please note that if you have already been awarded financial assistance, and you receive a Step Up award later, no additional award will be made. We will reduce your financial assistance award by the amount of your Step Up award, which allows more families who are not eligible to receive Step Up to receive financial assistance.

Questions about Financial Assistance?

Tavia Mullen, Director of Admissions at tmullen@rpds.com

Admissions Checklist Create a myRPDS Account (First Step to Begin) Visit rpds.com to create a username and password within our online admissions portal, myRPDS; this is the hub to register for events, submit an online application, and complete steps in the admissions process.

Parent Tour (September - February) Visit campus to explore teaching and learning at Riverside; register via myRPDS.

Admissions Application (Due January 26) Apply via myRPDS • New prospective families are asked to complete the Riverside Admissions Application and submit a non-refundable $100 application fee (per applicant).

• Current RPDS families are asked to complete the Riverside Sibling Application and submit a non-refundable $50 application fee (per applicant).

On-Campus Assessment (December-February) Coordinated by the Admissions Team upon submission of the online admissions application.

• PreK 3: No On-Campus Assessment required; however, children must be school ready and potty trained.

• PreK 4: On Campus Assessment for overall readiness and maturity.

• K-6th Grade: On-Campus Visit and Assessment

Supplemental Materials (Due February 9) Confidential FCIS Teacher Recommendation Form (PreK 4-6th grade applicants) • Completed and submitted directly by your child’s current teacher (email smilne@rpds.com).

Transcripts (1st-6th grade applicants) • Current school records must be requested by parents via the Transcript Release Form and sent directly from your child’s current School.

Financial Assistance Application (Due February 9) Apply via rpds.com through FAST • Awards are based upon demonstrated financial need.

• Admissions decisions are made without regard to whether a family has applied for financial assistance.

Key Dates September 1

March 6

Online application opens

Online decision notification

January 26

March 22

Application deadline (first round)

Enrollment deadline

February 9 Supplemental Materials & Financial Assistance deadline