Additional Communication

March 14, 2020

• All buildings of the District will be open to students from 1:00-3:00 pm on Monday, March 16 to obtain their belongings.

• All libraries will be open to students from 1:00-3:00 pm on Monday, March 16 to check out books.

• We are working to increase our efforts in meal distribution for our students during this unprecedented time of need. The increase of distribution would be meals brought to specific sites throughout the District. We hope to have eight sites for food distribution in total: our three schools and five additional locations. In addition to meals, we hope to also provide learning materials for students at all locations. All of the details will be finalized and communicated within the next 48 hours.

March 15, 2020

• Attention Riverton Birth to Three Families: Our site at Parks’ Place Daycare will be open tomorrow from 1:00-3:00 pm for families to check out books, toys, or other supplies. Our Families First Team will reach out to our families individually soon.

• While our buildings are open to students tomorrow from 1:00-3:00 pm, any student who needs to pick up medication left at our buildings can do so at this time.

March 16, 2020

• Attention Riverton High School families: Riverton High School will be providing lessons for RHS students during our closure. Lessons will be provided online through our website at www.rivertonschools.org or in printed form. Printed lessons will be available to those who do not have internet access. If you need printed lessons, please either email Mr. Moore at mmoore@rivertonschools.org or call RHS at (217) 629-6003. Please provide the student's name and the food disbursement location you would like to pick up the lesson.

March 18, 2020

• Looking for more online learning opportunities? Click on the link from SASED for additional resources. Thank you SASED Director Mark Strawn for sharing!

March 19, 2020

• Attention Riverton Families: In addition to our meal service scheduled for March 23, 2020 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, we will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food items at Riverton Elementary School, Riverton Middle School, and Riverton High School. Donations can be dropped off where meals are being distributed. We will be sharing more information about our scheduled meal service for Monday, March 23 on Friday. As always, this is subject to change.

March 20, 2020

• We will be continuing our meal service for students on Monday, March 23.  Riverton Elementary School, Riverton Middle School, and Riverton High School will be distributing meals from 9:00 am-12:00 pm.  We will be distributing meals at Lincoln Place, Bissell Village, Lincoln Trails, Lucky Horseshoe, and Hilltop from 10:15-11:30 am, and at Riverview Apartments from 11:30 am-12:00 pm.  Any student (or family of a student) can pickup meals from any location.  All students receiving meals will get breakfast and lunch from March 23-March 27.  A School Reach call will be sent to remind our families on Sunday, March 22.

• We will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items at our buildings during these times.  The non-perishable food items will be donated to those in need during this time.  We will also be accepting donations of diapers for our families enrolled in the Birth to Three Program.  Diaper donations can be dropped off at our schools as well.

• Our meal distribution plan is subject to change based upon directives from the State of Illinois.  If there are any changes, communication will be sent to all families immediately.

• Attention Riverton Families: AT&T is offering deals for Internet access during the COVID-19 crisis to help connect students with online resources provided by our schools. For more information, click the link provided.

• Attention Spaulding Families: Xfinity is offering deals for Internet access during the COVID-19 crisis to help connect students with online resources provided by our schools. For more information, click the link provided.

• With the declaration of shelter in place from Governor Pritzker, we will be distributing our meals for students for next week this evening, Friday, March 20th, from 5:30-8:30 pm at all three of our schools. We will distribute to our additional locations (Lincoln Place, Bissell Village, Hilltop, Lincoln Trails, and Lucky Horseshoe) from 6:30-7:30 pm. And Riverview Apartments from 7:30-8:00 pm. Donations for non-perishable food items and diapers can still be dropped off at our schools. More details about the future of our meal distribution will be communicated next week. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

March 21, 2020

• As this is an ever-changing situation, we want to thank everyone for their cooperation yesterday evening with our meal distribution. Because we were able to distribute meals on Friday, March 20, we will not be distriubuting meals on Monday, March 23.

• We will still be providing meals to students throughout the duration of the school closure; however, changes may be made to our previously communicated meal distrubtion plan as a result of the Stay at Home directive. We will be communicating an updated plan next week.

• We are accepting donations for the following items: diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, infant and baby clothes, and baby food. Donations can be dropped off at the Riverton Christian Church from 3:00-6:00 pm Monday-Friday, the Riverton Party Store during normal hours, or the Riverton Familes First (Birth to Three) Program entrance at Parks' Place Daycare. All items will be distributed by the Riverton Families First Program.  For more information, contact Laura Pickrell at (217) 720-1219 or birthtothree@rivertonschools.org.

March 24, 2020

• Memorial Behavioral Health has begun an Emotional Support Hotline for children and families that is available seven days a week from 8:00 am-8:00 pm. Anyone can call the Hotline and there is no charge for calling. To reach the Hotline, call (217) 588-5509.

March 26, 2020

• Attention Riverton Families: In addition to our meal distribution scheduled for Monday, March 30, the Riverton Christian Church will be distributing addition produce for families from 9:00 am-12:00 pm at the Church on March 30. Anyone can access the produce at the Church. There may be a limited supply.

• The Illinois Coalition of Community Service (ICCS) has created a podcast for kids called ICCS Cares. The first two episodes of the podcast are entitled "Dealing with Stress and Anxiety" and "Having a Healthy Relationship with Yourself". Click on the link for more information and to access the podcast.

• We are looking into the possibility of providing WiFi Hotspots for students throughout our District, if the school closure continues and is extended. Please complete the linked online survey to provide us with input. We appreciate your feedback! Thank you!

March 31, 2020

• Attention Riverton Families: In Governor Pritzker's Press Conference today, it was announced the mandated school closure will not be through Thursday, April 30. At this time, we will plan to be back in session with our students on Friday, May 1. Our Remote Learning Plan will be in effect starting Monday, April 6. We will continue to maintain meal distribution for students on Mondays from 9:00 am-12:00 pm for the duration of the mandated school closure.

April 6, 2020

• Interested in getting additional support for your children during the mandated school closure? The Illinois Retired Teachers Association is providing volunteer mentor to students throughout the remainder of the closure. If interested, parents can sign up for a mentor by clicking the provided link. All mentors are subject to availability.

• Action for Healthy Kids and Kaiser Permanente have partnered to offer a webinar to any family or caregiver involved in remote learning. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 or Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 pm. Anyone can register by clicking the provided link.

April 16, 2020

• The Illinois Department of Human Services has launched a support line called Call4Calm. This service is reachable through text message. Individuals who wish to speak with a mental-health professional can text "TALK" to 552-020, and within 24 hours, the individual will receive a call from a mental-health professional employed by a local community health center. People can also text words, such as "food" or "shelter" to the same number to receive information on additional services. Additional information can be found by clicking the included link.