Riverside Parents Association

New Family Ambassadors
This committee serves as a liaison to newly enrolled families to help engage them in school life and connect them to other RPDS families. Ambassadors are assigned families that they partner with throughout the year, guiding our new families as they navigate their first year on campus.  Ambassadors are recruited in February/March prior to the new school year. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact chair Shannon Langley at shannonlangley86@gmail.com. 

RPDS Dad’s Group
The RPDS Dad’s Group, a new addition to the RPDS community, is an informal group intended to provide opportunities for fathers of RPDS students to get to know one another outside of the school setting.  Please contact Geoff Grosse at geoffry.l.gross@gmail.com to be added to the group email list for notifications of upcoming events and social gatherings.

Fall Festival
This event is a family-friendly carnival, complete with games, food and entertainment for the entire RPDS community. Volunteers are needed to coordinate, staff and facilitate the details of the festival. To volunteer or find out more, please contact co-chairs Amanda Davis at afrisbie06@gmail.com, Julia Davis at jhdavis@rpds.com, or Neely Thomas at neelybaker@gmail.com.
Date: November 15, 2024

Caring Tree
Caring Tree is an over 21 year partnership with Riverside Presbyterian Church to help families in need in our community. RPDS’ main focus is the refugee families served by Lutheran Social Services.  Volunteers assist with gift collection and distribution. To volunteer or find out more, please contact chair Kym Horstmanshof at kymhammer101@gmail.com 
Date: December 5, 2024

Capers
Capers is RPDS’s annual fundraising gala. Each year, a parent committee works alongside our Advancement team to select a theme and plan a wonderful evening for parents, alumni, and friends of RPDS to continue strengthening connections with one another and build awareness around RPDS’s commitment to our mission.  To volunteer or find out more, please contact co-chairs Emily Glober at emilyglober3@gmail.com or Alix Perry at aaperryiv@gmail.com.
Date: February 21, 2025

Run Riverside
This family-friendly event is an RPDS initiative that engages the broader community to promote health & wellness. Volunteers assist in planning, promoting and executing this event. For more information or if you would like to volunteer, please contact co-chairs Nadya Chandler at nadya601@aol.com or Jenna Gatlin at jenna@gatlindc.com.
Date: April 26, 2025

G3: God’s Grafted Girls/Guys
God's Grafted Girls & Guys (G3) are grade-specific Bible studies led by parent volunteers which typically meet on a monthly basis after school. This year, G3 will be doing a study called Majesty, based on the book of Nehemiah. As God's children, we are all a part of His royal family. Through lessons, crafts, games, and small group discussions, students will be learning more of what it means to live as daughters and sons of the King. Registration and meeting dates for each group will be available on the school portal in early fall. For more information or to inquire about leading a group, please contact Amanda Jackson at amandajackson5@gmail.com.
Dates: Determined by grade-level G3 leaders

Parents in Prayer
Parents in Prayer is an opportunity for any adult who loves RPDS to come and pray for the students, faculty and leadership of our school. Guided by different Bible verses and themes each month, we pray for RPDS and for the written requests of students and staff. There is power in joining together and praying (no need to pray out loud if that’s not your thing), so come join us the first Thursday of each month at 7:55am at the 6th grade lunch tables! For more information, please contact chair Nichole Mobley at nichole.mobley@yahoo.com. 
Dates: First Thursday of the month, September 5, 2024 - May 1, 2025. (No January event.)

All Pro Dad
Team up with other RPDS Dads and kids for a quick 30 minute program (7:30 a.m. in the Library - 2nd floor Williams Building) focusing on fatherhood and family topics.  Enjoy donuts and coffee and take away some great tips and resources to strengthen your relationships with your children. To find out more, contact Brian Harbin at brian@grit.org. To register to participate, please visit www.rpds.us. 
Dates: Last Thursday of the month, September 26 - April 24, 2025). (No November or December events.)

Homeroom Parents
Homeroom parents work closely with their homeroom teachers to plan and implement classroom and grade-level activities and serve as a point of contact for their class parents throughout the year.  Homeroom parents are selected in July/August prior to the start of the school year.  If you are interested in volunteering for this role, please contact Courtney Powers at cpowers@rpds.com. 

Library Committee
Volunteers assist Mrs. Lucas and Ms. Johnson to restock books monthly, support any needs during the annual author visit as well as staffing the fall and spring book fairs. To volunteer or find out more, please contact Stephanie Esties at thenewestes@gmail.com. 
Dates: Fall Book Fair (TBD), Author Visit (1/29), Spring Book Fair (3/22-28)

Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day
This joyous occasion celebrates our Grandparents’ and Special friends as we come together in fellowship on campus for a morning of special events. Volunteers are needed to staff and assist our guests on the day of the event.  A volunteer signup will be distributed prior to the event.
Date: October 17, 2025

Faculty & Staff Appreciation
Volunteers will assist RPDS in creating a week-long celebration to honor our faculty and staff. To volunteer or find out more, please contact co-chairs Kate Schemmel at katesschemmel@gmail.com.
Date: May 5-9, 2025.

End of Year Party
This on-campus event is an all day, fun-filled, themed event for RPDS students to celebrate the year.  Volunteers will assist co-chairs to help plan, coordinate and staff the event.  To volunteer or find out more, please contact Lauren Scheible at laurenscheible@gmail.com. 
Date: May 21, 2025

Busy Bees
The RPA always needs volunteers to provide on-campus support for various events and school projects, including faculty/classroom projects. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to engage on a smaller scale when we see an immediate need. Whether it’s to assist Mrs. Lucas in the library or volunteer on Grandparents’ Day or even straighten collars for school pictures, we need on-call helpers. If you are interested in being added to this list, please contact either Annie Roberts annie.roberts@me.com or Stephanie Taylor at stephanieleightaylor@gmail.com.