The Roadrunner Reader - Welcome to Our 2026 Newsletter!

Posted Date: 10/04/26 (06:00 PM)

The Roadrunner Reader

A NEWSLETTER FOR THE RIVERSIDE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Principal Message

As we continue our work toward a successful school year, I want to encourage every family to make reading a daily priority at home. One of the most effective ways to support your child's academic growth is by establishing a consistent reading routine. Even 20 minutes of reading each day can strengthen vocabulary, improve comprehension, and build confidence across all subject areas.

Creating a reading routine does not have to be complicated. Find a time that works best for your family, whether it is before school, after dinner, or at bedtime. The key is consistency. When reading becomes a regular part of the day, children begin to see it as a habit rather than a task.

Family read-alouds are another wonderful way to support literacy. As you read together, pause occasionally to discuss the story. Ask your child what they think might happen next, how a character is feeling, or what lesson can be learned from the text. These simple conversations help students think more deeply about what they are reading while creating meaningful family experiences.

When selecting books, encourage your child to choose "just-right" books. A good book should be interesting, engaging, and provide an appropriate level of challenge. If a book is too difficult, it can become frustrating. If it is too easy, it may not promote growth. Your child's teacher and our media center staff can provide recommendations to help you find books that are a great fit.

I also want to encourage all students to participate in our Beanstack reading program. Beanstack allows students to track the minutes they spend reading and celebrate their progress throughout the year. Please help us promote a culture of reading by encouraging your child to log their reading minutes regularly. Every minute counts, and those minutes add up to stronger readers and greater academic success.

Thank you for partnering with us to foster a love of reading at home. Together, we can help every Riverside student grow as a reader and discover the joy that comes from opening a great book.

Charles Jackson

Principal, Riverside Elementary School

The Power of Possibility

A child sits on the floor with their head down against a brick wall, next to a backpack, with text reading 'OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH'.

A graphic celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with colorful folk art flowers on a dark purple background.

Visit Our Website

A smiling student peeks from behind a teal panel next to text reading "Orange County Public Schools Magnet Schools & Programs and Scholastic Academies."

A dark blue graphic for National First Responders Day on October 28, featuring icons for police, medical, fire, and emergency services.

Important Dates

SAC/PTA Meetings Tuesday 10/6 @ 5:00 PM
PTA Spirit Night – Chuck E Cheeses Altamonte Springs – 5:00 PM
Youth Family and Community Night – 10/14 @ 5:30 PM
Conference Night – 10/21 – 3:30 PM-6:00 PM
Trunk or Treat – 10/28 – 5:00 PM-7:00 PM

A promotional graphic for National School Lunch Week, featuring the theme 'Cafeteria Circus' by Orange County Public Schools.

Attendance Matters

A bar chart titled 'Absence Occurrences Broken Down by Day of the Week' displays student absences from Monday to Friday.

This week's attendance showed improvement, and we appreciate everyone who helped get students to school each day. However, our absences remain higher than we'd like. Daily absences ranged from 49 to 66 students this week, and our goal is to have no more than 30 absences each day. Every day matters. Thank you for partnering with us to make attendance a priority and ensure our students are present, engaged, and ready to learn.

Read and Write for Google Video

A graphic promoting Disability History and Awareness Weeks from Oct. 1-15 by Orange County Public Schools, featuring icons for sign language, mobility, vision, and cognition against a puzzle background.

An illustration for Dyslexia Awareness Day featuring a child reading with colorful letters floating around.

FREE Brainfuse Homework Help Tutoring

This FREE service is provided through the Orange County Library System! Tutors are available every day from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Using Brainfuse, you can connect with a qualified tutor for expert help in Math (through Precalculus), Science, Social Studies, English, English as a Second Language, Computer Literacy, Test Preparation and Writing Assistance. To connect, students can click on the Virtual Library Card icon on their LaunchPad - OCPS and click on "Access Information to Help You Study" and then "Tutoring- Brainfuse."

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