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Riverdale teachers and schools ranked high, report says
We’ve always been impressed by our teaching staff, and it seems we’re not the only ones. According to the 2018 ratings report by consumer research site Niche, Riverdale is No. 1 for having the best teachers and for being best place to teach in Oregon. We also have the best public elementary and middle school in the state. Our high school and school district were also among the top three. Way to go, Riverdale! Learn more.
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High school transcripts
Final senior year transcripts will be sent to colleges by June 23. Each student's transcript goes to the college that they have listed in Naviance as their final choice. See what to do if a college says it hasn't been received.
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Meet four senior awards recipients
Among the seniors recognized during the 2017 Senior Awards Assembly were the recipients of the Nathan Sibell Memorial Scholarship, the Maverick Award and two Principal's Honorable Mentions. Take a look.
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Senior Exhibitions reach final stage
On Monday, our seniors delivered their Senior Exhibition presentations to audiences of their peers, teachers, parents and community members.
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Top finishes and records set by track and field teams
Mavericks had top finishes with two athletes moving on to state championships. Falcons set eight new school records and won the Sub-District meet for the first time ever.
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Where will you find the class of 2017 next year?
This year’s class received 269 acceptances to 135 colleges/programs in the United States, Canada and even Europe, and was offered more than $10 million in scholarships. Click to find out where.
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A look back at District Arts Night 2017
We’re delighted so many of your could join us to celebrate our students’ art last week at our annual District Arts Night. Check out these photos and local newspaper article.
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2017 Oregonian Cup: RHS finishes 11th out of 41 schools
The Oregonian Cup recognizes overall excellence by schools in academics, activities and athletics, and honors a school's students, teachers, coaches and the entire school community. Riverdale sports teams finishing this year with a combined ranking of 11th out of 41 3A schools shows that we have well-rounded athletic programs and athletes.
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2017-18 School Year Calendar released
At the April 17 board meeting, the Riverdale School Board adopted the high school and grade school academic calendars for 2017-18. Here are the key dates.
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Another international bridge building win for Riverdale
Riverdale High School has once again claimed bridge-building victory! Congratulations to sophomore Glenn Sutter for earning 1st place in the 2017 International Bridge Building Competition and kudos also to junior Fisher Ng, who placed 17th.
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Seven Riverdale students selected for Young Historians Conference
Riverdale’s acceptance rate for this year’s Young Historians Conference established a new school record. Seven of the 10 students who submitted historical research papers were selected to present at this annual PSU conference. And senior Dimitra Fellman won second place for her paper.
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School Board: Winding down and the complexities of budgeting for next year
On April 24, the Riverdale School Board sent a letter addressing what’s still to come this school year, including how our district’s budgeting process for next year is complicated by several factors out of our control – such as legislative delays in setting the State School Fund and a 45 percent increase in PERS contributions.
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Riverdale 7th grader wins writing award
Congratulations to Max J. for winning third place in the middle school category for the 2017 Sala Kryszek Art & Writing Competition. Learn more and read Max's winning poem.
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My Field Studies, sailing in the San Juans
To illustrate just how valuable this program is for our students, we share this testimonial of one student’s rewarding experience during this year’s Field Studies.
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First days of school announced for 2017-18
Similar to this year, there are three start dates for the 2017-18 school year, depending on grade level. Take a look.
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Marimba melodies are catching on
The success of Riverdale's marimba program has led to its expansion from the grade school to high school. And now high school students have even more reason to celebrate. Read more.
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Riverdale now has its own weather station
Riverdale has installed its own weather station atop the Commons at Riverdale Grade School. Now, the Riverdale school community can monitor real-time weather conditions at the school using www.weatherunderground.com or the corresponding mobile app. Learn how to access Riverdale's weather data.
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Riverdale senior is political activist looking to improve education
A recent article in the Southwest Portland Post illustrates how Riverdale senior Gabe Abdellatif is working with elected officials and community organizations to address urgent concerns impacting young people in Portland. Read more.
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Logan Bundy nominated for Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders
Logan was nominated by Dr. John C. Mather, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Science, to represent Oregon based on his academic achievement, leadership potential and passion for science and technology. Read more.
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Girl Up Club makes foster child’s dream come true
Riverdale’s Girl Up Club came through in a big way for a vulnerable child in Oregon’s foster care system by making her birthday wish for an American Girl doll come true. But they didn’t stop there. Read more.
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You did it! Thanks for surpassing 2016 Annual Campaign goal
Thank you to all the Riverdale families who contributed to the 2016-2017 Annual Campaign. The foundation tells us that 72 percent of families participated, and together you surpassed the goal, raising $1,150,000 for our students!
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RHS freshman to represent Oregon in Western Governors' Association Art Contest
Riverdale High School freshman Caleb Jacobson’s rustic pen and ink rendition of “Opal Creek Cabin, Jawbone Flats” has been selected to represent the State of Oregon and Governor Brown’s office in the Western Governors’ Association Celebrate the West themed art contest, where contestants are challenged to create pieces inspired by their state.
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Celebrating the success of 2015-16’s final drama production
Director Clara Hillier shared that this year’s Festival of One Act Plays was a great success. “The growth the 12 actors demonstrated over our short rehearsal process was tremendous,” she says. “It was a great way to mark the end of the 2015-16 Riverdale Drama season.” See what the student actors had to say.
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Celebrating 20 years of our high school
Riverdale's superintendent shares that the bond measure passed in 1996 to build a new high school is finally paid off. Read how our high school came to be, how it's been embraced by our community and how current students and graduates feel about Riverdale's high school program.
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Riverdale's mock election has very different result
Riverdale students got to experience a national election firsthand yesterday, when the 5th graders set up voting stations and invited all grades in to cast a ballot.
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Riverdale tops Oregon public schools, new report says
Riverdale is the No. 1 public school district in Oregon, according to a ratings report released in November 2014 by Niche, a Pittsburgh-based consumer research site. As a district, Riverdale also received the No. 1 spot for best academics in an Oregon public school. Riverdale High School was ranked the No. 1 public high school in the state, and Riverdale Grade School was listed as No. 1 public middle school and No. 2 public grade school. Learn more.
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Amazing Falcons Girls’ Soccer season ends
The Lady Falcons had a tremendous soccer season, showing remarkable improvement over last year. After making it to the Metro Christian League Championship, the team fought hard but fell 2-1 in its final game.
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Learning beyond the classroom
At Riverdale, learning isn’t confined to the classroom. Students are encouraged to stretch their wings and expand their minds through a variety of field studies. Two annual grade school trips perfectly illustrate this practice: Bull Run Watershed and Mount St. Helens.
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Bringing science to life
Hands-on, experiential learning can be found in every Riverdale Grade School classroom, and even outdoors. This is especially true for science, which comes alive for students through many engaging lessons. Read about two of those lessons here.
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A tale of two cities
It may take a village to raise a child, but at Riverdale Grade School it takes a 3rd grade class to create a city. “Classroom City” is a simulation giving 3rd graders a glimpse into the day-to-day workings of a small city. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn basic economic principles, along with the structure and responsibilities of local government.
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Riverdale launches Read to the Dogs program
Riverdale Grade School kicks off a new Read to the Dogs program on National Read Across America Day, in partnership with two other organizations. Learn more.
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Singing while you learn
It began with a reading comprehension lesson. To make the text exciting for those who struggle, and inspire them to dig a little deeper, 4th grade teacher Heidi Hutchinson turned to music lyrics. Read more.
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An art lesson in history
After studying trade and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road (including the art of batik), Mr. Robinson’s 7th grade classes had a special guest who turned social studies into an art class. Read more.
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Milkshake's summer adventures
Mrs. McDonald’s 1st/2nd grade classroom can’t stop talking about Milkshake. But it’s not the creamy, thick beverage you’re probably imagining. It’s a friendly guinea pig that has stolen hearts and had many adventures.
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Calming young minds
On Wednesdays, the 1st/2nd grade blended classrooms alternate through three mindfulness lessons: Yoga Calm, MindUP™ and Habits of Mind. Through lessons aligned with state standards, students learn to self-regulate behavior and mindfully engage in the type of concentration required for academic success.
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Pop goes the art
Grade school students are trying their hands at Pop Art this year as part of the Art Literacy program, a 25-year-old Riverdale tradition that provides an added art focus each year. Read more.
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A holistic approach to music
In our kindergarten through 4th grade music classes, children begin with what they do instinctively: play! Guided by the Orff Schulwerk approach to music instruction, speech, song, movement, drama and instrumental play are combined for active and creative music-making by all children, not just the musically talented.
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Exploration and empathy in preschool
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Riverdale’s preschool program honors children’s natural curiosity. “The children have just as much to teach others as I do,” says teacher Tammy Sutter. “We learn together and we follow what strikes the kids as exciting and interesting.” Learn more about Riverdale Preschool.
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Electives offer 7-8th graders new experiences
Our 7th and 8th graders relish the opportunity to self-select elective courses that pique their interest. From designing the yearbook and organizing school-wide activities to developing technology projects and exploring Russian culture, our upper middle schoolers have been busy this trimester.
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Native legends retold
While studying Native American history, Riverdale 1st and 2nd graders enjoyed lessons in capturing an audience's attention when master storyteller Will Hornyak helped prepare them to retell native legends.
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English lessons benefit from circles
Middle school English teacher Carrington Light is excited about circles. No, she hasn’t switched to teaching math lessons. She’s talking about the new Literature Circles she’s implemented in her 7th and 8th grade classes.
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Striking a deal, the Lewis and Clark way
Riverdale 4th graders learn many valuable lessons during their Lewis and Clark history unit – including how to strike a good deal. To help her students understand the aspects contributing to successful trade interactions between Lewis and Clark and the Chinook Indians, Sharon Whitehill led a barter activity in her classroom. Read more.
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Riverdale 8th grader wins writing award
Congratulations to Riverdale 8th grader Jordan M. for winning second place in the middle school category for the 2016 Sala Kryszek Art & Writing Competition. The competition encourages youth to evaluate history, foster an awareness of the Holocaust and broaden their minds in the areas of art, history, civics, sociology and literature.
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8th grade Mock Trial provides great learning opportunity
In late April, our 8th grade students tried the Dred Scott case during the Mock Trial experience with the Honorable Judge Michael McShane in the Federal Courthouse downtown. This experience highlights the extreme talents of our students, as for many this would align with a college environment of learning and rigor.
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Students share sailing highlights in short video
We encourage you to take time to see this short, student-made film, which encapsulates this year's new Sailing in the San Juan's trip beautifully.
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Field Studies: OHSU Pediatric Cardiology shadow
Field Studies has one student making rounds and viewing a surgery. Senior Sasha Pansky came back glowing after four days in OHSU’s Pediatric Cardiology Lab. Read her account of her job shadow experience.
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2016 HS Mock Trial team places third in state
This is the second consecutive year Riverdale has placed third at the state Mock Trial competition. While the students may not be going on to the national contest, they are proud of doing so well. See what two team members had to say after the competition.
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For juniors, science is a zoo
Winter trimester began with the building buzzing about the Zoology Phylum Project – comprehensive 70 to 140-minute student presentations on different invertebrate phyla, classes and even a few orders of the animal kingdom. It's an academic rite of passage at Riverdale High school. See why students look forward to it.
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Crafting a Mock Trial in high school
In addition to intense research and preparation, crafting a mock trial takes “a combination of acting, costuming and craftiness.” See how Riverdale High School students prepare for this year's competition.
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The economics of conflict… and peace
In a new class, Economics and Conflict, Riverdale High School students are learning to identify and analyze the intersection between economic scarcity and global conflict. Discover what they've been learning and how students are expanding their empathy for others.
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High schoolers on a hunt for history
In this year's new Portland History elective, students were challenged with a scavenger hunt was planned for historic sites and buildings in the original Portland land claim – roughly the area between the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges, bounded on the west by 4th Avenue. Take a look at their adventure.
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Embracing the Habits of Mind
Riverdale schools are committed to building upon the foundation of the Coalition of Essential Schools’ 10 Common Principles as a framework for shaping school culture. This year, with an eye on continued improvement, administration and staff have prioritized the integration of the Habits of Mind into the curriculum.
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H2O: To study, protect and provide
While the H2O for Life class is thankful for all of the attention and support for our fundraising efforts to bring water to a Nepalese school that suffered massive earthquake damage, there is also much to share about the curriculum.
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Choir: Community, not class
Ms. Schnizlein’s unique approach to teaching and devotion to forming a supportive atmosphere not only enhances the students’ love of music, but also creates a community where students aren’t afraid of taking personal risks and being vulnerable.
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New college credits available
Our students can now graduate with up to 53 college credits – provided on our campus by Riverdale teachers through partnerships with Portland State University, Portland Community College and, new this year, Western Oregon University.
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Building robots, and skills
The new high school robotics class is honing skills that will be instrumental during the Robotics Team’s “build season” and also provides a framework for students interested in this emerging field.
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Many fields of study
Annual Field Studies play an integral role in Riverdale’s experiential learning style. Students in grades 6-12 venture away from the confines of classrooms each spring for a chance to experience the world and bond with other students. Read on to see what our students look forward to each year.
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Field Studies: Ashland Spotlight
The annual Field Studies trip to Ashland is a favorite among Riverdale students. This year, one student captures the trip's magic in her article for the district newsletter. See what she has to share.
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Students run the class, build autonomous vehicles
Riverdale students are once again making headlines for running the class... this time leading Riverdale High School classmates through a hands-on engineering and coding class resulting in customized miniature autonomous vehicles.
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Young Historians Conference: An authentic college experience – in high school
The Young Historians Conference is an academic paper competition and conference hosted by Portland State University, and Riverdale's Western Civilization students submit papers and attend each year. They compete academically with top students, performing and researching at a level that in some cases exceeds college level.
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RHS students place third in engineering competition
Two Riverdale juniors placed third in the country during the finals of the 2016 Engineering Encounters Bridge Design Contest, a national online engineering competition.
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Riverdale student's winning recipe takes her to the White House
Riverdale Grade School student Hannah C. is Oregon's winner in this year's Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, which is part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign.
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Riverdale Girl Up club members attend 2016 global leadership summit
Three Riverdale Girl Up club members visited Washington, D.C., to participate in leadership trainings, learning from influential speakers, engage in skills-based workshops and lead an official lobby day on Capitol Hill. Learn more.
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Senior Simon Chuang earns national award
Simon Chuang won the Civil Air Patrol's Outstanding Cadet Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award this summer, and will soon be presented with the Civil Air Patrol’s Amelia Earhart Award by US Representative Suzanne Bonamici.
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Riverdale has three 2016 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Three Riverdale seniors are among the top 1,600 high performing Semifinalists advancing to the National Merit Scholarship Program. Additionally, Riverdale has three Commended students being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
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A look back at Banned Books Week 2016
Our library celebrated Banned Books Week by highlighting fiction and nonfiction books in the collection that have been the target of challenges in school and public libraries across the nation, inviting discussion about the first amendment and freedom of information, and hosting lunchtime events designed to promote a love of reading
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Riverdale celebrates International Day of the Girl
The event, hosted by Riverdale’s Girl Up club (affiliated with the United Nations), addressed the changing way girls are being treated all over the world, as well as their future global role.
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Art win for sophomore Caleb Jacobson
Sophomore Caleb Jacobson won first prize at the Oregon State Fair juried Fine Arts Division. See what the judges had to say about his winning piece.
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Scott Van Bergen (class of 2010) shows sculpture in PSU show
Our high school art teacher, David Schell, recently ran into alumnus Scott Van Bergen, class of 2010, at an art opening, in which he is showing a sculpture.
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Yonah Barany performs in university production of 'The Beggar's Opera'
Barany portrayed the central role of Lockit, the corrupt jailer of Newgate Prison.
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Eleanor Van Buren, class of 2013, talks college sports and embassy internship
Eleanor Van Buren, Riverdale High School class of 2013, is featured in an Oberlin College Athletic Department video.
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Yonah Barany, class of 2014, earned first place at state music competition
Yonah Barany, Riverdale High School class of 2014, earned first-place honors in the sophomore men's division at the recent Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition.
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Katherine Donaldson, class of 2008, named a 2016 ALA Emerging Leader
This leadership development program selects no more than 50 newer library workers each year.
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