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Yesterday, 6th grade students visited the Cummer Museum, to take a close look at Hughie Lee-Smith's painting titled "End of the Festival" in order to analyze it and compare its thematic and atmospheric elements to “Okay for Now”, a coming of age novel that deals with themes of possibility, belonging, and finding one's true and complete self.

Today RPDS 4th grade students celebrated a publishing party in Language Arts! Students brought in treats and took turns reading their favorite part of their recently 'published' fictional narratives.

Our 2021 Spelling Bee champion is 6th grade student Kate Brice. Congratulations also to our runner-up, 6th grade student, Evelyn Leddy. Thank you to all our students who participated in the Spelling Bee!

Last week, to wrap up their Thanksgiving studies, Kindergarten students took a field trip to JCA to watch "Welcome to America :The First Thanksgiving".

Our 5th grade students dedicated a lot of time, care, and attention in order to win the St.Johns Riverkeepers “River Friendly Challenge”.

Throughout the month of November, the RPDS community collected food donations to be given to Downtown Ecumenical Services Council (D.E.S.C.). Prior to Thanksgiving break our 6th Grade Leadership Council worked hard to sort, organize, and deliver the donations.

This week our 6th grade students celebrated the kick-off of Project LEADS! 

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.

It was a bright and festive day here at RPDS as we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month as a school community.

Today we were thrilled to welcome acclaimed author, Carmen Agra Deedy to campus as our 2021 Author-In-Residence. Ms. Deedy is the author of 12 books for children, including The Library Dragon, The Cheshire Cheese Cat, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, and 14 Cows for America, a New York Times Bestseller. Her book The Rooster Who Would Not be Quiet! was a Florida Sunshine State Young Reader Award nominee. Her personal stories first appeared on NPR's All Things Considered. Funny and insightful, Ms. Deedy's narratives are culled from her childhood as a Cuban refugee living in Decatur, Georgia. She is host of the four-time Emmy-winning children's program Love That Book!

Ms. Deedy spent time with students in Kindergarten through 6th grade, sharing vibrant and animated stories, as well as inspiring our students to create their own stories.

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!

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!

Recently, our 2nd grade students worked to create tools in STEAM class to then test in their Science lab. We love to see our teachers create cross-curricular lesson plans that spark student engagement and creativity. 

RPDS Maker of the Month goes to 4th grade students, Win Branch, Olivia Davis, & Owen Villano!

Our PreK 3 students have had fun this week with their special Halloween sensory kits made by our very own, Mrs. Lovelace.