Riverview Elementary - Educating Our Future

A huge thank you to the Big Rapids Walmart team for generously donating their time and beautiful flowers for our 1st and 2nd grade students at Riverview Elementary! Students had such a wonderful experience planting flowers to take home and share with their moms and special loved ones. It was a fun hands-on activity that brought lots of smiles and helped create special memories. We truly appreciate Walmart’s kindness and support for our Riverview students and families!

A heartfelt thank you to Trinity Fellowship for the wonderful staff appreciation basket! Your generosity and support brought smiles to so many faces and made our staff feel truly appreciated. We are so thankful for the kindness and encouragement from our community!

Happy Nurses Day to our amazing school nurse, Laura! Your kindness, compassion, and dedication make such a difference in the lives of our students and staff every single day. Thank you for always being there with a caring heart, comforting words, and endless patience. Riverview is so lucky to have you — we hope your day is as wonderful as you are! 💙🩺

The Community Pool Schedule is out! Check it out at www.brps.org/flyers.

Check out this opportunity for Summer Camp this summer at www.brps.org/flyers.

🍎✨ 100 Shout-Outs and Counting! ✨🍎

In just a day and a half, we’ve already received 100 messages of appreciation for our incredible teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week!

Let’s keep them coming! Every message is shared directly with the staff member—it truly makes their day.

Send your shout-out here now through Friday:
👉 https://forms.gle/sAi94p8decyaWoiS8

Huge thank you to Dr. Rummel’s office for the incredibly thoughtful cart full of goodies for Teacher Appreciation Week! Your kindness and generosity truly made our teachers feel valued and celebrated. We are so grateful for the support you continue to show our school staff!

We’re excited to celebrate Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week again this year at BRPS! 🎉

Join us May 4–8, 2026, as we recognize the incredible individuals who make a difference in our schools every single day — from teachers to food service, front office, maintenance, transportation, administration, and paraprofessionals.

We invite students, families, and community members to submit shout-outs to any BRPS staff member who has made an impact. There’s no limit — share as many messages of appreciation as you’d like!

Your kind words will be shared throughout the week. The form will remain open through May 8th, but notes of encouragement are always welcome.

Submit your shout-outs here: https://forms.gle/sAi94p8decyaWoiS8

Let’s come together to show our Cardinal appreciation! ❤️
We are BR!

Teacher Appreciation Week starts Monday May, 4th! PTO is celebrating Our First Class Teachers next week during teacher appreciation. Riverview has the best teachers around!

Happy Principal’s Day to Miss Kent — a principal who truly ROCKS! Thank you for your leadership, kindness, encouragement, and the positive energy you bring to Riverview each and every day. Your dedication to students, staff, and families does not go unnoticed, and we are so grateful for all you do to make our school such a wonderful place to learn and grow! 🎸⭐

The 1st graders had an unforgettable day exploring the zoo, learning about amazing animals, and making wonderful memories together! From exciting exhibits to lots of smiles and laughter, it was a fun-filled adventure for all. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the PTO through fundraising efforts. Your generosity and support helped make this special field trip possible for our students!

✨ Make a Difference Award Celebration ✨

Each year, the Mecosta-Osceola ISD hosts the Make a Difference Award Ceremony, honoring staff members who go above and beyond for students.

Through powerful, testimonial-style messages, we heard firsthand how these individuals have made a lasting impact on the lives and learning of their students.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees, and especially those that we are fortunate enough to call Cardinals:
Aimee Sparks, 31N Social Worker - Brookside Elementary
Alex Breslav, 1:1 Paraprofessional - Big Rapids Middle School
Amber Smith, General Education Teacher - Brookside Elementary
Annie Garchow, Administrative Assistant - Big Rapids Public Schools
Brad Antcliff, Behavior Interventionist - Riverview Elementary
Carrie Beeney, Elementary Special Education Teacher - Riverview Elementary
Emily Westman, General Education Teacher - Brookside Elementary
Genaveve Root (Ms. Gena), Paraprofessional - Eastwood Elementary
Katie Underwood, Paraprofessional - Brookside Elementary
Ken Ranjel, Principal - Brookside Elementary
Leah Vandersloot, Paraprofessional - Riverview Elementary
Lenore Weaver, Special Education Consultant - Big Rapids Public Schools
Linda Lindsey, Paraprofessional - Big Rapids High School
Maggie Gager, 1:1 Paraprofessional - Eastwood Elementary
Mark Bongard, Behavioral Interventionist - Eastwood Elementary
Mary Gunn, Paraprofessional - Eastwood Elementary
Maureen Somsel, 5th grade math - Big Rapids Middle School
Megan O'Hara, General Education Teacher - Brookside Elementary
Micky Payton, Special Education Teacher - Big Rapids Middle School
Molly Galloway, PTO President - Riverview Elementary
Monika Repke, Middle School Special Education Teacher - Big Rapids Middle School
Olivia Hamlin, Second Grade Teacher - Brookside Elementary
Rachel Foster, First Grade teacher - Brookside Elementary
Shelly Selzer, High School Teacher - Big Rapids High School

Thank you for making a difference every day!

🚌 Happy Bus Driver Appreciation Day! 🚌
Today, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, we celebrate the incredible individuals who safely transport our students each and every day.

Our bus drivers are often the first and last friendly face our students see—greeting them with a smile in the morning and ensuring they return home safely in the afternoon. Their dedication, patience, and commitment to safety do not go unnoticed.

Thank you for all you do to keep our students safe and supported. We appreciate you today and every day!

Riverview Elementary was excited to host its “Calling All Dads” event, welcoming fathers and father figures into the school community. This special time gives students the chance to share their school day with the important men in their lives. From classroom visits to meaningful moments together, it’s a wonderful way to build connections and create lasting memories. We always look forward to seeing our Riverview dads show up, support, and enjoy this special event with their students!

Riverview Elementary would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ferris State Universities Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority for their generous gifts to our 2nd grade teachers. Their kindness and support help provide valuable resources that enhance classroom learning and student experiences. Acts of generosity like this make a meaningful difference and remind us of the strong partnerships within our community. We are truly grateful for their continued support of Riverview students and staff!

Celebrate Mother's Day by creating head wreaths for you and Mom! Learn more at www.brps.org/flyers.

🎶 We’re proud to share that Big Rapids Public Schools has once again been named one of the Best Communities in Music Education — marking our 9th consecutive year receiving this national honor!

This recognition celebrates more than music — it celebrates opportunity. Big Rapids Public Schools is proud to be a #BestCommunitiesforMusicEducation, ensuring access to music learning for every student.

As Middle School Band Director Albie Todd shared, “Earning this recognition for the ninth consecutive year reflects the strong support for music across our district and the meaningful opportunities our students experience every day.”

👏 Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive community, and talented students who make this possible!

🔗 Learn more: https://www.brps.org/article/2841396

Students took full advantage of the beautiful sunshine this Earth Day, bringing their learning outdoors and soaking in the fresh air. Classrooms transformed into outdoor spaces where curiosity grew just like the nature around them. Laughter and learning filled the air as students explored, observed, and appreciated the world right outside their doors. It was a perfect reminder of how special our planet is and how important it is to care for it every day.

Students from Riverview had an exciting opportunity to attend an acrobatic assembly today at Big Rapids High School. They were amazed by the performers’ strength, balance, and teamwork as they watched incredible stunts and routines. The energy in the room was contagious, with students cheering and fully engaged throughout the show. It was a fun and memorable experience that brought plenty of smiles and inspiration to everyone in attendance.

Riverview families — don’t forget! 📣

This Friday, April 24th is Calling All Dads! Join us at 8:30 AM for a special morning at school. We hope to see all of our Riverview dads and father figures there!