Welcome to Riverside

A warm welcome to our students and families to the 2023–2024 school year. We are working hard behind the scenes to continue providing our students with a safe, healthy, and supportive school environment as we return to our traditional schedule.

The safety of students, faculty and staff continues to be our priority. R2 is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for our community, and we ask for your continued support to encourage your child to continue practicing proper handwashing and safety procedures and to make attendance and participation in our Riverside STEM2 programs a priority.

Be alert for important updates and prompt notification via our school and district websites.

STEM2 - This school year we will continue to focus on STEM2 (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine). We are fortunate to continue our partnership with Banner Health and Abrazo Hospitals to provide our students with opportunities for hands-on training at their facilities. This includes students participating in surgical procedures and interning at these hospitals. This will create a career path for our students in the medical field. The staff is transitioning to deeper implementation of the common core standards and of improved teaching strategies that motivate students to learn while keeping them fully engaged. We continue to assess the needs of our students and implement interventions that increase results where needed. We promote alternatives for those that need non-traditional opportunities such as virtual and project based learning. We offer an array of after school tutorial supports, as well as extracurricular opportunities for students at every grade level. We truly believe all students can learn, and continue to demonstrate a commitment of providing students with a private education in a public school setting. We are dedicated in ensuring that every student receives an education that will prepare them for college and beyond.

You will not find a more dedicated staff than those serving the students in the R2. With safety and security as a priority throughout the country, we continue to collaborate with the Phoenix Police Department on a regular basis. We ask that if you have any safety or security concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Riverside Traditional School Principal Mr. Jeremy St. Germain, Mrs. Rhoads-Harris, the principal at Kings Ridge Preparatory; Mr. Gandhi, the headmaster at MIT; Dr. Rivera, the superintendent at the district office, or the Phoenix Police Department immediately. We want our students and staff to remain safe at school and at home. We thank you for your support in this endeavor.

Let's continue to embrace the idea that R2 is the family school district and we work towards meeting the needs of the entire family. We are thankful for our parent support and want to continue to encourage all parents to get involved in the happenings of the schools today. All residents, businesses, and community members are also encouraged to do the same. It takes a village to raise a child, and we are raising more than 1,300 children, so we invite you to be a part of our journey and successes. Together, we can be the change we want see in the world, by working together to make certain our students understand the importance of an education and are provided opportunities and exposure that increase their individual expectations and achievements.

There is magical and insightful learning taking place at R2. We wish you all to take a part in creating a learning environment that will leave a legacy for you as a parent and to establish a foundation for your children to succeed. There is nothing more important than our children. Let us work together to make sure they get the best education possible and make sure they have the skills, academic background, and determination to reach their full potential. As parents, our children are our legacy!

Best wishes for an outstanding school year,