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Our 4th grade students enjoyed a special presentation from Tree Hill Nature Reserve filled with fun experiments on energy!

Recently, 6th grade students practiced the scientific process through plant growth. 

This week our 3rd grade students gave their "Book in a Bag" reports! A “Book in a Bag” is a book report contained in a paper bag.

Today we were delighted to have Emily Floore from St. Johns Riverkeeper visit campus and guide our 6th grade students through the process of conducting water health tests. Students learned how to test turbidity, ph, temperature, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and dissolved oxygen. Throughout the school year, 6th grade will take trips down to the St. Johns River to conduct tests and report their findings to Emily and her team at St. Johns Riverkeeper. We always enjoy when hands-on learning opportunities and lessons that connect us with our community and help the environment all at the same time!

Recently our Kindergarten students enjoyed time in the science lab creating and mixing colors. 

A few 5th grade students from Mrs. Baldwin's homeroom class decided they wanted to have a bake sale and lemonade stand to raise money in support of our friends at St. Johns Riverkeeper.

Servant leadership is at the very center of the Riverside Way and something we teach starting with our littlest learners all the way through 6th grade. The 6th grade year is so special here at RPDS, as we see those students step into leadership roles and truly model our values for all of the lower grades.

Last week our 6th grade students were hard at work with some of their Project LEADS service projects. The students did some gardening around campus, created dog and cat toys for the humane society, and also made paintings of animals that will be donated to the humane society and sold to help raise funds for the animals they shelter. We are so proud of this 6th grade class!

Our PreK 3 students have been hard at work preparing Valentine's treat bags for their elderly neighbors in the Meals on Wheels program! Back in December, our PreK 3 classes made gift bags for our neighbors and recently received a sweet note back.

Anyone notice our friendly helpers on the curb at morning drop off? Our 6th Grade students are stepping into some leadership roles at school and starting service projects this week including morning drop off patrol and campus-wide recycling. We love seeing our students care for their schoolmates and campus! 

Today, our 6th Grade students completed a routine river check as part of their St. Johns Riverkeepers partnership! RPDS 6th Grade scientists tested the water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity, pH, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia. The results from today's test will be reported to the Water Rangers- a group that monitors the health of water worldwide. Water Rangers' mission is to build the tools to help citizens and scientists easily record and analyze water data so that they can use the data to learn about problems, share discoveries and engage with their neighbors.

Great work 6th Grade!

RPDS incorporates global studies into our curriculum to help form a solid foundation of global understanding in our children that will continue to grow as they move into secondary schools. In 1st grade, students spend the year traveling around the world to learn all about different countries and cultures.

Today our 1st grade students embarked on their first trip to Brazil! After getting their passports stamped, going through security, listening closely to the safety instructions for their flight, and receiving a special greeting from their pilot, Captain Ketchum, our adventurous 1st grade class was ready for take-off. We can't wait to hear all about their time in Brazil and look forward to following their travels throughout the year!

Our 2nd Grade classes continued their studies of the three types of communities with a wonderful project called Flat Stanley. Over the summer students read Flat Stanley, written by Jeff Brown. In the book, Stanley is squashed flat by a fallen bulletin board. Stanley and his family quickly realize that being flat is not a bad thing at all! In fact, Stanley embarks on all sorts of amazing adventures including traveling in an envelope to visit friends in California. The premise of this book provides a reason for us to learn about communities all over the world.

Riverside Presbyterian Day School is committed to advancing our strategic goal of providing a rich educational experience in which diversity, global competencies, and deep thinking are interwoven in the fabric of our school. On November 6th, Riverside hosted classroom conversations over Zoom with Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee.

The Class of 2021 shared many of their favorite RPDS memories through original skits in our annual Flying Chapel this morning. Flying Chapel is a long-standing RPDS tradition. Hats off to our 6th Graders for a job well done in this celebratory Chapel!

Our annual Caring Tree Chapel was held this morning and honored the gifts collected for Lutheran Social Services. Over 300 presents were received for donation! This incredible generosity from our RPDS community will provide gifts to more than 20 Jacksonville families in need. Thank you to everyone for participating in this special cause!

This week our awesome 4th grade STEAM TEAM created projects with a partner to represent fun “little known facts” about them. Students were reminded that we all have special things about us that make us unique. Students had to talk to their partner and find out something new about one another! Following their conversations, students created a representation of the “little known something” they discovered about each other. It was a fun day in STEAM practicing creativity, collaborating with classmates, and learning more about one another

Kicking the week off at RPDS with our 6th Grade art exhibit, where students showcase the incredible pieces they worked on throughout the school year. We love seeing the uniqueness of each child's display. 

Our 5th grade students painted canvas boards in art class depicting pleasant emotions. On Friday the students watched the film Inside Out and then discussed the importance of emotions. We love their colorful paintings and the ways our students are growing socially and emotionally.