Friday, February 20, 2026

A Message from Principal Peterson

Even though this was a three-day week, you wouldn’t have known it by the energy and focus in our building! Our students showed up ready to learn, ready to participate, and ready to give their best. Short weeks can sometimes throw off routines, but our Rockets stayed on course. Classrooms were busy with meaningful learning, thoughtful discussions, and lots of problem-solving. Our teachers made every minute count (as they always do!), and our students rose to the occasion.

This week, our administrative team and reading coaches were in classrooms for literacy walkthroughs. It’s always energizing to see strong instruction in action. Students were engaged in meaningful reading tasks, teachers conferring with purpose, and classrooms focused on building strong literacy foundations. This is the daily work that moves achievement forward.

Our Multilingual Learners continued with WIDA testing this week. We are so proud of their hard work and perseverance. This assessment helps us understand their growth in English language development and ensures we continue providing the right supports so every student can thrive. We were also excited to welcome Region 3 Leadership into our building to observe fourth grade math. They had the opportunity to see students thinking deeply, explaining their reasoning, and engaging in rich mathematical discourse. Our fourth graders truly represented Riverside well!

All of this work connects directly to the FCPS Strategic Plan — especially our focus on strong instruction, academic growth, and ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and challenged. Whether through literacy, language development, or mathematics, we remain committed to high-quality teaching and equitable outcomes for all students. Three days. Full effort. Meaningful impact. We are finishing February strong!