Riverside School District 96

We look forward to our Illinois Report Card results every year to celebrate student growth and find ways to continue improving. In this annual assessment, each IL school receives one of five designations.

This year, two of our schools were rated exemplary and three commendable according to the state’s performance levels. Blythe Park and Hauser are our exemplary schools, ranked in the top 10% of all Illinois schools. Ames, Central, and Hollywood received the next best designation of commendable. The difference in designations is not cause for concern, as the student experience in an exemplary and commendable school is very similar.

To learn more about these ratings and student testing data, tune in to our November 5 Committee of the Whole meeting to hear from Dr. Angela Dolezal, Director of Teaching & Learning. Join us in person at Ames at 7:00pm or watch it live or recorded on YouTube.

We are wrapping up our first two full months of school! Here’s some highlights from across the district in October.

In the staff vs. student volleyball game, Hauser teachers tried their best, but the 8th grade girls volleyball team remained undefeated!

Former Central student and current author, Abby Regan visited students to read her book, ‘Not Your Average Oatmeal.’

Ames students learned fire safety from the Riverside Fire Department. Firefighter Aiden is a former Dolphin himself!

Hollywood kindergarteners tasted different apples and made homemade applesauce for some hands-on learning.

Mrs. Allen explored the hydroponics station with Blythe kindergarteners and encouraged them to whisper positive thoughts to help the plants grow.

As October wraps up, we are all looking forward to Halloween. Please take a minute to speak with your student about making safe and responsible choices while at school and in the community.

Thanks to Mrs. Valaisa's Hollywood and Blythe third grade art students for brightening the district office! Don't forget, Ames art is on display at the Riverside Public Library through the end of the month, and Central artwork will be there in November.

At last night’s Board of Education Meeting, we recognized our district principals in celebration of National Principals Month and Principal Appreciation Week! Our incredible D96 principals lead their schools with dedication and inspire teachers, staff, and students every day.

Take a moment to appreciate and thank our D96 principals when you see them:

Todd Gierman (Ames)

Casimira Gorman (Blythe)

Pete Gatz (Central)

Erin Dwyer (Hollywood)

Chris Harvalis & Katie Kayastha (Hauser)
Also pictured is Nikki Mazza, our Elementary Intervention & Support Coordinator.

🚧 The Cowley Road railroad crossing will be closed starting October 14 for approximately 3 weeks. 🚗 Detour signs will direct traffic to the Delaplaine Road crossing. 🚲 Pedestrians, students, and cyclists are encouraged to cross at Longcommon Road.

What to do with no school? Drop by the Riverside Public Library to see some one-of-a-kind work by Ames Dolphins! Mrs. Kinkin's and Mrs. Ditsworth's kindergarten classes have original artwork on display through November 3 on the library’s lower level. Stay for a spooky movie, or two, or three, or four on October 13! Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Visit riversidelibrary.org for more info.

Back to the art — we love sharing our young artists’ talents with the community! More D96 artwork will be on display during Riverside’s Holiday Stroll on Friday, December 5 at Village Hall. Stay tuned for more displays from our other schools at the library, as well. 

Monday, October 13 and Tuesday, October 14 are non-attendance days for students. At Tuesday’s Institute Day, staff will be collaborating with their teams and departments to discuss standards-based grading, common assessments, and more.

See everyone back at school on Wednesday!

For the second consecutive year, our Board of Education has been awarded the Illinois Association of School Boards 2025 School Board Governance Recognition. As one of only 42 Illinois school boards to earn this designation, we are honored to be acknowledged for exceptional school governance practices in support of quality public education.

Serving on a school board is a lot of work and we are so grateful for the leadership, dedication, and commitment of our BOE members. Thank you to Board President Wesley Muirheid, Vice President David Barsotti, Secretary Stephanie Gunn, and Board Members Salina Claps, Dan Hunt, Marlowe Kachlic, and Matt Olech. Congratulations on this well-deserved award!

It’s been a great first month of school! Here’s a look at what’s been happening across the district.

Hauser sixth graders enjoyed their outdoor adventure at White Pines Ranch.
Ames Dolphins celebrated school spirit.
Blythe Park brought their silly smiles to picture day.
Central kindergarteners had some fun learning all about apples.
Hollywood first graders learned about digestive systems with a spooky twist.

We love to see you working hard, having fun, and learning new things!

Last night, district administration hosted a dinner for new D96 teachers. This was a chance for new staff to meet our Board of Education members and celebrate their first month in the district. Dr. Ryan-Toye later introduced all new teachers at the board meeting, as well. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us! 

We are thrilled that three of our schools were ranked in the top 50 of best public elementary and junior high schools in Cook County by Chicago Magazine! Students and staff work hard to make District 96 a great place to learn and grow. Congratulations to Blythe (14), Central (41), and Ames (49)!

According to Chicago Magazine, performance measures were based on 2023-24 data which included IAR growth, attendance, and the 5Essentials survey. The list is featured in the September 2025 issue. Way to go, D96!

Blythe students, parents, and community members recently met with district architects to begin the planning process for a new Blythe Park playground. Student representatives shared their ideas and those of their classmates in an interactive visioning session where they designed their dream playground.

This is a collaborative project between the Village of Riverside and District 96 to create a playground that will serve Blythe Park students and the Riverside community for years to come. It is scheduled for construction and completion in summer 2026.

Did you know that a student who is regularly absent two days a month loses over a year of instructional time by the time they graduate from high school? September is Attendance Awareness Month, a time to remind students and families that good attendance builds strong learning habits, keeps students on track with their classmates, and helps them feel more connected to their school community.

Building principals are sharing these reminders in their weekly emails and recently at fall parent night. We appreciate everyone’s partnership and commitment in helping your child arrive at school on time and ready to learn each day.

There is no school on Monday, September 1. Enjoy your long weekend to rest and recharge as we get back into the school routine. See you Tuesday, D96!

You'll find them behind-the-scenes and often behind screens, but our tech team plays a huge part in district, staff, and student success. A big thanks to Jonathan, Luis, and Charles who helped clean and reset over 1,700 student iPads and Chromebooks this summer to get them ready for the first day of school. To learn more about how we integrate technology into our classrooms, visit Departments > Technology & Innovation at district96.org.

Blythe Park parents and community members are invited to meet with district architects to learn more about Blythe Park’s upcoming playground project. Chat and connect with DLA Architects about potential designs on Monday, September 8 at 8:15 am or Tuesday, September 9 at 6:30 pm. Students will discuss the project during the school day.

All visitors must check in at the front office with an ID during school hours using Door A (south doors) at 735 Leesley Road. Check in at Door B (north doors) for the Tuesday evening session. Both sessions will take place in Blythe Park’s Library on the lower level.

We are excited to work with families, neighbors, and the community to envision a new Blythe Park playground for summer 2026!

From sidewalk chalk to yard signs, our elementary schools welcomed students and staff back with fun messages! We hope everyone in D96 has a great school year!

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.