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Riverview's Cedarcrest High School Continues Building Paths of Opportunity Towards Future-Ready Success
As Riverview School District continues planning for the 2025-2026 school year, Cedarcrest High School (CHS) is looking forward to an array of new learning opportunities for students. Starting next year, CHS will broaden its Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum by introducing two new Pre-AP English courses aimed at freshmen and sophomores. These courses are designed to cultivate critical thinking and writing skills essential for high school and beyond. This early exposure to advanced coursework will prepare CHS Red Wolves for a seamless transition into higher-level AP classes, ensuring a robust foundation as students move forward on their educational journey. Another highlight will be the addition of AP Human Geography to the 9th-grade curriculum, a significant enhancement, offering students a global perspective on human cultures and the geographical factors that shape societies. This course, unique in its accessibility to freshmen, will provide an opportunity for CHS students to earn college credits early in their high school career. Further enriching CHS academic offerings, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program will allow students to gain both high school and college credits. The program covers a diverse range of fields from health sciences to business and technology, offering important hands-on learning experiences that help prepare students for a multitude of careers. Another exciting opportunity for the new school year, and in collaboration with several Washington state colleges and universities, will be the debut of the CHS "College in the High School" program. To provide students with an accessible, cost-free method for earning college credits, CHS will initially introduce a select number of courses. These offerings will expand gradually, ensuring as faculty collaborate closely with students, their curriculum evolves to best match student needs and interests. The program joins a growing trend recently highlighted in an "Education Lab" article in the Seattle Times, discussing the surge in popularity of such programs across the state of Washington. Cedarcrest High School is not only planning for the new school year, but also looking beyond. Among programs being considered is further expansion of its AP offerings to include AP Seminar and AP Research courses, which are part of the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma program. Recognized by colleges nationwide, these courses emphasize independent research, critical thinking, and collaborative skills, equipping students with the tools they need to excel in higher education. As CHS continues to plan for an exciting 2025-2026 school year, it aims to continue offering a full array of opportunities for post-graduation success, including the Running Start program, which enables students to take college courses while finishing high school. Committed to academic excellence and workforce readiness, the school's enhanced curriculum also allows students to earn college credits.
First-Graders Transform Schoolyard into Outdoor Science Lab
First-grade students at Cherry Valley Elementary have transformed their schoolyard into a living science lab as part of their "Plants and Insects" Life Science curriculum, highlighting the growing emphasis on outdoor education in the Riverview School District. Collaborating with the Pacific Education Institute, teachers developed engaging FieldSTEM activities designed to enrich the students' understanding of plants and insects through hands-on observations and interactions within their natural environment. FieldSTEM integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with outdoor education, giving students real-world scientific experiences. Guided by their teachers, the budding young scientists have been exploring plant growth both inside their classrooms and in the schoolyard. The student scientists observed seeds, sketched plants and documented their findings around flowerbeds and playground areas. These outdoor expeditions have enabled students to connect directly with local resources, including nearby farms and nurseries, further enhancing their community ties and understanding of regional ecosystems. Beyond the academic enrichment, the outdoor lessons provide additional benefits, including increased physical activity, enhanced observational skills, and a deeper appreciation for the environment. As Cherry Valley first-graders continue to explore and document their findings, the schoolyard habitat remains a vibrant classroom, nurturing not just plants and insects, but the next generation of local scientists and environmental stewards.
Cherry Valley Celebrates Super Readers!
Excitement filled the air this week at Cherry Valley Elementary School. Students, staff, and administrators lined the hallways to celebrate a festive parade honoring the school's newest class of Kindergarten Super Readers. This special event, a vibrant showcase of early literacy achievements, marked an important milestone for the young students at the heart of the celebration. The Super Reader parade not only celebrates the achievements of its students but also reinforces Riverview's commitment to academic excellence and community spirit.
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Riverview Receives New Guidance on Conjunctivitis Management
Riverview School District recently received new state guidance on managing conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, a common eye infection among children that causes inflammation of the thin, clear lining inside the eyelid and on the white area of the eye. With this new guidance, the district is taking steps to educate parents and staff on effective prevention and management strategies. Understanding Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis can be triggered by bacteria, viruses, allergens like pet dander and dust mites, or chemical irritants. Bacterial conjunctivitis is notably more prevalent from December through April and tends to affect older infants and children more frequently than its viral counterpart. Symptoms vary: bacterial infections often result in red or pink, itchy, and painful eyes with green or yellow discharge, whereas viral infections may cause pink, swollen, watery eyes and light sensitivity, often accompanied by cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, and earache. Transmission and Diagnosis The infection spreads through direct contact with contaminated hands or objects, or through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. Personal items like towels, makeup, and glasses that come into close contact with the eyes can also harbor the pathogens. Diagnosis is typically confirmed by a healthcare provider through a visual examination of the affected eyes. Preventative Measures To curb the spread of conjunctivitis within schools, the district recommends stringent hygiene practices. These include frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are unavailable. Additional recommendations involve covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, avoiding touching the face, and thoroughly cleaning frequently touched surfaces. The district also advises against the sharing of personal items that come in close contact with the eyes. Does my child need to stay home from school if they have conjunctivitis? No. Children who have been exposed to, or have been diagnosed with, conjunctivitis can continue to attend school unless: They have a fever (temperature of 100.4⁰F [38ºC] or higher) along with other viral conjunctivitis symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, earache). They do not feel well enough to participate in normal school activities The child cannot avoid close contact with others The local health jurisdiction or child’s health care provider recommends exclusion.
PSESD Sets Hearing Date for Boundary Postponed
The highly anticipated March 4th regional hearing between Riverview School District and Lake Washington School district has been postponed. The delay stems from recent changes within the regional committee overseeing the hearing, according to the Puget Sound Education Service District (PSESD).
The postponement was prompted by the resignation of the committee’s chair, who has left the committee for a new position with another school district. This departure not only leaves a crucial leadership gap but also increases the total number of vacancies on the committee to three.
In response, Riverview raised concerns that proceeding with the hearing under these circumstances could compromise the integrity of any decisions made, potentially leading to appeals and further delays in resolving the boundary issues.
A representative from PSESD confirmed that the process has been temporarily put on hold as they seek to fill these vacancies. "I will be working to fill the three vacancies on the committee in the next couple of weeks, said Justin Lanting, Director of School Finance with PSESD. “We want to ensure that the committee is fully staffed and prepared for the hearing.” Lanting added that after the successful appointment of new committee members, a new hearing date will be established and publicly communicated accordingly.
Riverview School District encourages community members to stay up to date on this very important issue, by visiting the district’s boundary issue webpage, located on the district website, for the latest updates, information and background.
A representative from PSESD confirmed that the process has been temporarily put on hold as they seek to fill these vacancies. "I will be working to fill the three vacancies on the committee in the next couple of weeks, said Justin Lanting, Director of School Finance with PSESD. “We want to ensure that the committee is fully staffed and prepared for the hearing.” Lanting added that after the successful appointment of new committee members, a new hearing date will be established and publicly communicated accordingly.
Riverview School District encourages community members to stay up to date on this very important issue, by visiting the district’s boundary issue webpage, located on the district website, for the latest updates, information and background.
Riverview School District Pilots New Reading and ELA Materials
Riverview School District has embarked on an exciting initiative this spring, piloting new reading and English Language Arts (ELA) materials for students in grades 3 through 5. The materials, developed by Benchmark Advance, are currently undergoing a field test that began in early March and will extend through late April.
Riverview Launches Major Network Overhaul to Boost Educational Technology
Riverview School District is forging ahead with a comprehensive network redesign project, an ambitious upgrade aimed at enhancing the educational technology framework across all its campuses. This major initiative is made possible through a blend of Federal E-Rate funding and the district's own Technology Levy funds.
Riverview Students Invited to Microsoft HQ for AI Deep Dive
As part of a growing collaboration between Microsoft and the Riverview School District, members of the district's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Student Advisory Committee were invited to Microsoft's global headquarters in Redmond, Washington, this week. The visit provided an invaluable opportunity for these students to engage directly with some of the world's leading AI and technology experts, as they delved into AI's complexities and vast potential.
Riverview Set to Launch New and Secure Photo Sharing Platform
Riverview School District’s IT department is making significant strides in enhancing student privacy and community engagement with the integration of Vidigami, a photo management system tailored for schools. The initiative aims to provide a secure platform for sharing and celebrating school memories.
