WELCOME BACK MESSAGE FROM MR. ENOS AND MS. GRIM

On behalf of the entire staff at Riley, we are writing to tell you how excited we are about this school year. Almost 640 students are part of the Riley family, including 120 new kindergarteners. They are all part of our community of learners. We want our students to enjoy these special years in a nurturing atmosphere as they learn and grow. >Entire Message

Riley Avenue is one of four K-4 elementary schools in the district. Riley was recently renovated and expanded and now houses 600 students. It is located on Riley Avenue in the community of Calverton. Riley Avenue School is the most rural of the Riverhead schools--but no longer surrounded by fields. It's a short one mile hike from the L.I. Sound.

Riley has a full day kindergarten program, a self-contained special education class and a resource room.

A "high achieving school"
Once again, the NYS Education Department has recognized Riley as a “high achieving” school!

"Student achievement at Riley Avenue remains high due to our staff and our partnership with you," states Riley Avenue Principal David Enos.

Ms. Jeanne Grim is the Riley Avenue Assistant Principal. Ms. Grim's phone number is 369-6805. Her email address is jeanne.grim@riverhead.net.

School-wide Goals
The following areas are the major goals that students, staff and administrators will focus on in the 2009-10 school year:

-ALL ASPECTS OF A BALANCED LITERACY PROGRAM:
Reading, writing, listening, speaking and presenting
This includes the addition of the Fundations phonics program, as well as Reading Recovery in the first grade.
-CHARACTER EDUCATION:
An emphasis on community service: “Riley Ripples,” the future Blue Waves
-SAFETY
-FORGING MORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES

Riley Avenue Parent Association (RAPA)
Riley Avenue has a very active parent association (RAPA). Many of their parents volunteer in some capacity throughout the year. Riley's parents bring their expertise into the classroom to provide enrichment to the curriculum or work on projects like the new playground. (See the Activities page on this site for a list of RAPA officers.)

Innovative and Creative Programs for the Whole Child
Riley Avenue is an annual winner of the Suffolk Reading Council Honor School Award. It has unique and creative programming in all areas of the curriculum that celebrate student learning: social studies wax museums and Nigerian jamborees, class-to-class reading and math buddies, a schoolwide art show, publishing parties and celebrations, a school-wide science fair, and many, many community partnerships that provide safety programs and service learning experiences. But as Mr. Enos said in an interview, K-2 education is all about LITERACY, LITERACY LITERACY. Fundations, a phonics program, and Reading Recovery are programs that will help to ensure that all Riley's students are successful learners.

Riley is well known for its holiday celebrations. The Chinese New Year and St. Patrick's Day are favorites that provide students with a strong multicultural learning experience. Riley students are taught to respect diversity. In addition, there is a strong emphasis on Character Education. Riley students are given many opportunities throughout the year to help others.

More than Before School Child Care
“Riley’s Kids” come to school as early as 7:30 AM. It’s a family of between 30 and 40 kids (some of them come only two or three days a week). They are the kids who take advantage of the Riley’s Before School Child Care Program. By 8:45 AM, some of them have eaten breakfast there and all of them are getting ready to go to their classrooms, but they have not been sitting idly. These endearing youngsters are the backbone of Riley’s Community Service projects. They have come to be known as “Riley’s Kids.” Go to Special Programs or click HERE to read MORE.

Related Link: Interview with Mr. Enos