Hello Rideau Families!

Volunteer Orientation – Thank you for coming!

It was our pleasure to welcome a small yet mighty group of parents to our inaugural volunteer orientation. We are happy to work with you as partners in your child’s education and part of that role includes having the opportunity to volunteer.

Teachers will reach out to parents for support with activities such as field trips, in-class events and reading practice. We ask that you connect with your child’s teacher if you are interested in volunteering in the school. Our Rideau Park Parents Association (RPPA) has many opportunities available as well.

You can learn more about how you can engage and connect with our school community by joining us at our September RPPA this Wednesday at 7:00pm here at school.

Please ensure that you have taken a moment to review our Volunteer page on our school website for more information and guidance.

The presentation shared during today’s Volunteer Orientation will be uploaded on Monday.

REMINDER - Meet Your Teacher – Thursday Sept 18, 5:00pm – 7:30pm

Teachers are getting ready to open their classrooms to you for a casual evening of connection and community-building. Our team has worked quite diligently to create spaces that are flexible and supportive of our learners. We appreciate you taking the time to visit and connect with us.

Families of students with Individual Program Plans will be communicated with separately, as there will not be an opportunity to discuss this with teachers during our open house event. Goals for this first learning cycle must be reviewed with you within the first 6 weeks of school. Teachers will offer some Teams meeting options with you, including meeting blocks on the Sept. 29 Non-Instruction Day. Please connect with your child’s teacher if you have any questions about developing initial IPP targets.

Welcome Assembly and Terry Fox Run – Friday Sept 19, 9:30 (assembly) and 10:00am (run)

Please join us for our first whole-school community event on Friday Sept 19!

We are excited to introduce our 2025-2026 staff to our community followed by our annual Terry Fox Run. The event will take place as follows:

• - 9:30am – 10:00am (approx.): Welcome Assembly and Terry Fox Sharing
• - 10:00am – 10:20am: Gr K -2 run around the school field
• - 10:00am – 10:30am: Gr 3-9 run to Stanley Park (see map)

Parents are welcome to join us for the assembly and for the run! You can either station yourselves along the pathway or our school field to cheer on our runners OR, run/walk alongside.

For the safety and security of our students, several school staff members will position themselves along the pathway ahead of students starting their runs.

At 10:30, grades 3-9 students will meet their homeroom teachers at our fire drill muster point in the school field and we will return to our regular schedule. Please note that K-2 will only run in the school field and will return to classes at 10:20am.

Birthday Treats at School

We kindly ask that families refrain from bringing treats (food items) to school for their children to distribute on their birthdays. While we appreciate the kindness and generosity of this gesture, celebratory food items create distraction from learning and may negatively impact students with food allergies or sensitivities. Teachers do find other ways to help your child feel special on their birthday. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Reminder – Off-Campus Lunch Privileges (Grades 7-9)

Over these initial days of school, I have already worked with several groups of students to reinforce expectations for personal safety and citizenship while off school property during the lunch period.

Our team appreciates families taking the time to review the following:

• The Elbow River is off limits for students. Students must remain on pathways and sit in designated areas to eat lunch or visit each other.
• • Students may lose off-campus privileges if they continue to disregard this expectation.
• Lunch litter must be put in garbage bins or packed in lunch kits to go home.
• • Several neighbours have already expressed concern about an increase in litter in the community now that school is back in session.
• Respect private property.
• • Stay off neighbour's lawns and find seating in designated areas
• Be courteous and polite when visiting businesses in our community.
• • If purchasing food off site, you will be asked to store items that are not suitable for consumption at school in your locker (large bottles of pop, "family-sized" packaging of chips, treats, etc)

We appreciate your support in working with us to develop our future leaders, from small to tall!

Sincerely,

Andrea Riquelme, Principal

Rideau Park School

Key Dates