A Message from Principal Peterson
What a strong start to the 2026-2027 school year! Our kindergarten through sixth-grade students came back ready to learn, reconnect, and make Riverside the premier place to be.
We also welcomed our preschool students on Thursday, and it has been wonderful seeing so many smiling faces throughout the building. There is already such positive energy in our classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds, and we are off to an electrifying start!
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We are also excited to share that Riverside ES was highlighted in FCPS’ Back to School Video on their social media channels. Feel free to watch and share it with family and friends using this link. |
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As we head into next week, we will begin helping students build even more independence with their back-to-school routines. Parents will no longer be able to walk their children to class in the mornings.
We know this may feel like a big step, but our students are ready. Learning to enter school confidently, unpack, and get settled on their own is an important part of growing. Thank you for partnering with us as we help every student start the day feeling capable and ready to learn!
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COMMUN1TY+ Community Leadership Academy
Creating Opportunities. Thriving Together.
Facilitating Community Action — Building the skills to move communities from engagement to collective impact.
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Date & Time: August 29, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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Open to residents, grassroots leaders, nonprofit staff, faith leaders, public partners, and anyone ready to move community engagement toward collaborative action and equitable outcomes.
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Location: WISH Center, 7950 Audubon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22306
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Cost: FREE (Lunch provided)
- Morning Session: Facilitation as a Tool for Community Engagement
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Design conversations that encourage authentic participation.
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Move from information and resource sharing to collaborative action.
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Build trust, shared ownership, and equitable participation.
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Key Shift: Engagement + resource sharing = shared ownership + collaborative action.
- Afternoon Session: Facilitating Collective Action
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Application of skills learned in the morning session.
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Build shared understanding of the mission and desired outcomes.
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Clarify the call to action and the roles needed to move it forward.
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Practice creating alignment, accountability, and collective ownership.
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Practice + Feedback: Lead a conversation, then receive coaching to strengthen facilitation.
Scan the QR code on the flyer or register directly here.
Everything You Need to Do in SIS ParentVUE
Are you working your way through back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find important forms and updates.
- Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in ParentVUE. To update your contact information in ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
- Submit daylong absences by clicking “Report Absence.”
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Opt In or Out to Student Devices Being Sent Home for Grades 1-6
New this year, families can opt out of having student laptops sent home with their student.
- If you do not want your student to bring their FCPS-issued device home, please toggle the Opt Out button to a check mark and confirm by pressing Save Selection.
- If you would like your student to bring their FCPS device home, no toggle action is needed. Confirm by pressing Save Selection.
Students whose families opt out will continue to have access to an FCPS-issued device during the school day. Please reach out to your student’s teacher to understand expectations for homework and any learning activities that may require access to technology outside of the school day.
Transportation Patience and Safety
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your child’s bus.
If your child’s bus is delayed, you may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Please contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2150 with any additional questions. For concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact the FCPS Office of Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE to make sure you receive email messages about bus delays.
Have Children in Multiple FCPS Schools? | 
