Riverside School District 96

It was the first day for teachers and staff! Today’s Institute Day at Brookfield Zoo included introductions, shared goals for the year, and a World Cafe workshop facilitated by 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year Rachael Mahmood. We are ready for a great year ahead!

First week reminders: drop off school supplies and meet your teacher on Tuesday from 8:15-9. The first day for elementary and Hauser students is Wednesday!

It’s not just a new year for students—we also welcomed 26 new teachers and staff! At New Teacher Orientation this week, new teachers met one another, got acquainted with district resources, and won prizes! We are so excited to have everyone on the D96 team to start the school year.

One week to go until the first day of school! We hope you had a safe, happy, and relaxing summer. We’ll see everyone on Wednesday, August 20.

The Blythe Park prairie, butterfly, and sensory gardens are thriving thanks to our volunteer waterers. Earlier this spring, second and third graders in Blythe’s Garden Club spent time learning about local plant species, how to take care of them, and planting the garden. This is a great example of how education can be fun, engaging, and environmentally conscious. Stop by the Blythe Park Amphitheater to see the garden as you enjoy this last full week of summer!

Our District Leadership Team met this week for their annual retreat—a time to connect, reflect, and plan for the year ahead. With some new faces, several familiar leaders stepping into new roles, and returning staff, the commitment to supporting our students and schools has never been stronger. A special thank you to the Brookfield Zoo for hosting us in the Great Bear Wilderness Classroom!

School Leadership:

Todd Gierman (Ames)

Casimira Gorman (Blythe)

Pete Gatz (Central)

Erin Dwyer (Hollywood)

Chris Harvalis & Katie Kayastha (Hauser)

Nikki Mazza (Elementary Schools)

District Administrators:

Martha Ryan-Toye

Nora Geraghty

Angela Dolezal

Molly Marquardt

Our incoming kindergarten students met with teachers last week for their kindergarten assessment. These one-on-one screenings help teacher’s understand a child’s strengths and areas where they may need support. While students are with a teacher, caregivers are asked to fill out a questionnaire to help create a more complete picture of a child’s readiness. Congratulations and welcome to our newest D96 “recruits!”

Teacher meet & greets for all 5 schools are on Tuesday, August 19 from 8:15 am-9:00 am. Elementary students can drop off their school supplies and meet their classroom teacher. Hauser students can walk their schedule, meet their teachers, and set up their locker. Teacher assignments and Hauser schedules will be emailed prior to that.

School supply lists can be found here: https://www.district96.org/page/school-supplies.

Building principals will send a welcome email with school-specific information this week. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Welcome to our two newest district leaders who started earlier this summer. Dr. Erin Dwyer is taking over as principal at Hollywood School while Molly Marquardt steps in as the district’s director of technology. They each bring over 15 years of experience to their respective roles. We are excited to have them on our team!

Thank you to the Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity for generously donating over $3,000 to pay off remaining food balances for district students in need. The Juniors (Philanthropy Committee pictured here) are dedicated to fundraising efforts throughout the year to support a variety of local initiatives. We are so grateful to our community partners and their positive impact on D96 students.

So many Ames Dolphins have been spotted reading this summer! Thanks to the families who have shared their photos and favorite books with Mrs. Collins (pictured here with her little one!).

Whether you’re reading outside, in bed, at the library or wherever, we know cozying up with a book is a great way to reduce the “summer slide” and prepare for the next grade level. Summer reading programs at our local libraries are also a great way to keep kids engaged!

Summer school classes are off to a great first week! Students are taking skills building courses, drama & improv, art, science, math, and more. Thank you to our D96 staff who are leading these classes!

Elementary students will have slightly adjusted school hours with the 2025/26 school year. The elementary school day will begin at 8:10 AM and end at 3:00 PM.

Supervised drop off begins at 7:50 am; students should be in their classroom when the bell rings at 8:10 am. Dismissal is promptly at 3:00 pm. If needed, before and after care is available through Riverside Parks and Recreation (link in bio).

This change allows us more instructional time for reading, writing, and physical education throughout the week, while also improving lunch, recess, and transition times. The updated elementary lunch hour is 11:20 AM–12:20 PM.

Building principals will send a more detailed welcome email the first week of August. Early Learner and Hauser schedules remain the same.

The district office is open 8:00 am-3:30 pm Monday through Friday during the summer. Visit us at 3340 S. Harlem Avenue or call 708.447.5007. The office will be closed on June 19 and July 4. School offices are now closed and will reopen Monday, August 4.

The Central playground will be closed this summer as tuckpointing work takes place at Hauser. With dust, noise, and construction traffic, this area will remain closed for safety until the project is completed in August. We appreciate your patience.

The Strategic Plan Committee met twice this school year to review goals, strategies, and successes. We are proud of many highlights from improved playground spaces to curriculum updates. Our 2024/25 community report will be arriving in your mailbox soon which shares more district-wide and school-level achievements. Take a look here: https://5il.co/2t9j7

Congratulations to our 2025 Hauser graduates! We know you are ready for your next adventure – high school awaits! Thank you to D96 teachers, staff, and families for your support along the way.

The Early Learners moved and grooved to Tunes with Tim for a special interactive performance last month. Our district preschoolers at Ames learn the value of play, cultivate friendships, and develop a sense of self throughout the year. We are so proud of our littlest learners! If you have a preschooler who will be five years old on or before September 1, please register them for the 2025-26 school year by May 31 so we can best plan for the upcoming year. School assignments for new students will be sent by June 30. Students with older siblings already in attendance will be assigned to the same school. Register at district96.org or call 708.447.7089.

May is a busy month and our students and staff are working harder than ever. Congratulations to the talented fourth and fifth graders at each of our elementary schools on their wonderful spring concerts this week! And a big thank you to our music teachers for directing these fabulous performances.

At tonight’s meeting, we recognized outgoing Board of Education member Joel Marhoul for his 8 years of service. We also had the pleasure of welcoming Matt Olech as a newly elected member. David Barsotti, Stephanie Gunn, and Dan Hunt were sworn in for new 4-year terms, as well. We sincerely appreciate these community members for their service to the district. New officers were also nominated for two-year terms at this biennial organizational meeting. Congratulations to President Wesley Muirheid, Vice President David Barsotti, and Secretary Stephanie Gunn. We look forward this Board’s guidance and leadership for the continued success of Riverside School District 96.

We are so grateful to our incredible D96 educators for their dedication and commitment to our students! Thank you for your patience, passion, and inspiration. We encourage everyone to thank a teacher this week as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5-9.