Dear Students and Families,
Monday, August 18th kicks off the 2025-26 school year! As your Superintendent, I am honored to welcome back every student and family. I hope you’ve had a restful summer as we prepare for the year ahead.
Academic & Professional Growth
We remain committed to delivering a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Our students have demonstrated strong academic growth over the last 2 years—an excellent foundation for the new year! We’ll continue robust professional development across the district to maintain this momentum and foster effective and meaningful student engagement.
Restorative Practices
We are excited to further our emphasis on Restorative Practices—a positive, relationship-based approach to conflict resolution. These methods foster stronger interpersonal skills, community-building, responsibility-taking, and accountability. The Student Behavior Guide outlines expectations for conduct, explains our Restorative Practices, and details traditional disciplinary measures. Our goal is to strike a balance that promotes positive behavior and supports learning, ensuring students are fully present and prepared to grow.
Attendance Matters: The Importance of Showing Up
Regular student attendance is not only important—it’s foundational to both academic and personal success.
Consistent attendance improves academic achievement: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform better academically. Even missing just two days a month can make it much harder to keep up and understand key concepts
Early absences can have long-term outcomes: Constant absences (17 days during the school year, including half-day absences) are connected to lower reading and math scores and increase the risk of falling behind or dropping out by middle school
Absences affect more than grades: It disrupts the classroom learning environment and decreases your students’ sense of belonging, which is essential for their well-being and classroom participation
District Impact: School districts with good attendance see better academic outcomes and receive more funding. More funding provides more opportunities for extra-curricular activities for our students
What We Expect & Encourage
We need every student present from day one to build momentum and prevent learning gaps. Here’s how families and staff can partner:
Prevent avoidable absences: Call your school in advance for minor illnesses or scheduling needs.
Address barriers early: If transportation, health, or emotional issues come up, reach out—we're here to help
Celebrate good attendance: Students who are regularly present will receive recognition and attendance incentives.
Let’s work together to ensure every student benefits from the full learning experience. RGSD’s history demonstrates that students who start with us, and maintain good attendance, successfully graduate on time!
New & Updated Policies
No‑Cell‑Phone Policy
Missouri has recently enacted a law banning cell phone use in K-12 schools during the school day, including class time, passing periods, lunch, and study halls. With this in mind, RGSD has implemented a district-wide “no‑cell‑phone” policy during the school day. Research shows such policies improve focus, classroom engagement, reduce disciplinary incidents, and boost mental well-being. To ensure smooth transitions in emergencies, each classroom is equipped with a phone and students may use office landlines.Clear Book Bags Required District‑Wide
Beginning this school year, all students must use clear book bags. This policy enhances visibility of contents, supports safety protocols, and acts as a deterrent to dangerous and prohibited items.What’s allowed: fully clear book bags with clear visibility on all sides. Colored or tinted transparent bags, padded/internal linings, and obstructive designs are not allowed.
Why this matters: Clear backpacks streamline visual inspections and support quicker, more efficient safety screenings—guarding against concealed items while placing the safety of students and staff at the forefront.
Metal Detectors in All Schools
To further enhance campus safety, all of our schools will utilize metal detectors for everyone entering. This measure is designed to help prevent potential safety threats and reinforce our commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment for students, staff, and families. Please check your students’ book bags for items that will set off the metal detectors.
Recent Budget Reductions
Due to recent budget constraints, we’ve had to make difficult decisions impacting staffing and reducing budgets at all levels. Despite these reductions, our priority remains to maintain core academic programs, student services, and supports. We deeply appreciate your understanding and partnership, and want to reassure you that every effort is being made to safeguard the quality of education and extracurricular opportunities for our students.
Together—with our staff, Board of Education and partners—we welcome you to the 2025-26 school year! We are committed to ensuring that all students are provided a welcoming environment, where teaching and learning is required. Let’s work together to make this school year one of tremendous learning, meaningful connections, and positive transformation.
Respectfully,
Dr. Tanya Patton
Superintendent of Schools
Riverview Gardens School District