Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We are thrilled to open our doors once again and welcome students back for what promises to be a year of growth, learning, and new opportunities. Whether you’re a returning family or new to our community, we are excited to partner with you on your student’s educational journey.

📚 A Stronger Focus on Academic Success

This year, we are making a bold commitment to academic excellence. Our dedicated staff has worked diligently to refine our curriculum and instructional strategies aimed at helping every student reach their full potential. We’re placing an emphasis on core academic skills this year—particularly in reading and math—while also continuing to foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving across all subjects. Through engaging lessons, targeted small group interventions, and data-informed teaching, we are committed to ensuring every student receives the support and challenge they need to grow. This year, you’ll notice increased communication from teachers about student progress, along with new ways to engage families and support learning at home.

📆 Attendance Matters More Than Ever

Regular attendance is crucial to academic achievement. This year, we are launching a school-wide attendance initiative with the theme: Every Day Counts! We’ll be recognizing students and classrooms with outstanding attendance and working closely with families to address barriers that may impact getting to school consistently. We ask for your partnership in making attendance a top priority—ensuring students arrive on time, ready to learn every day.

🗓️ Four-Day School Week Transition

This year marks an exciting transition as we move to a four-day school week—Monday through Thursday. Research and experience from other districts show that a shorter week can lead to improved student focus, increased instructional quality, and better work-life balance for both students and staff. Fridays will be reserved for teacher planning and professional development, allowing us to provide more engaging and targeted instruction during the week. We believe this shift will support student success while giving families more flexibility and new opportunities for learning. We understand that change can come with questions, and we’re here to support you through this transition.

This year will be filled with opportunities for growth, discovery, and connection. We can’t wait to partner with you to help your student shine. Let’s make it a great year—together!

Warmly,

Megan Keplinger

Principal

503.556.0196

megan_keplinger@rsd.k12.or.us