Parents and Caregivers at The Rivers School form the backbone of our community. Throughout the year, there are many opportunities for families to get involved. On this page, you will find helpful resources that will keep you connected and informed during your student’s journey at Rivers. We encourage you to check back often.
Questions: contact Amy Dunne, director of special events and parent programs.
Current Parents and Caregivers should log in to RIVERSNET for secure information, including helpful documents, an online directory, important forms, and more.
We hope you become involved in the Parents’ League. Even if you only have a few hours to spare, there are ways to get involved, help with events, and connect with other parents/caregivers of your child’s friends and classmates.
Make sure your contact information is correct. A link to your child’s Health Information Forms will be emailed to you mid-summer. You will receive information in mid-August about your child’s schedule, books, orientation, and pre-season athletic events.
For parents new to the school, this is the Rivers version of “back-to-school” night. This important event provides information about curriculum and an opportunity to meet your children’s teachers. Each division holds its own Mini-School, typically at the end of September or beginning of October.
Advisors will be assigned at the beginning of the school year. Students meet with advisors at least two times a week. Don’t hesitate to call or email your child’s advisor with any questions or concerns.
Please read the Weekly Update, which is emailed every Thursday and includes events for the upcoming week. In addition, there are informative articles about school events and activities. A definite must-read!
Use the website, both the public and the password-protected RiversNet areas. Take some time to familiarize yourself with both. The “Parents” tab, handbook, and the calendar will be particularly valuable tools throughout your time at Rivers.
You will have to log in to access grades, student billing, the Wellness page, carpool lists, and other secure information.
Participate in the Rivers Fund. With every gift, you bolster The Rivers School’s commitment to its people, its programs, and its facilities, allowing the institution to deliver an education that meets the highest standards and prepares students for an ever-evolving future.
You will be assigned a parent grade representative in the fall and should hear from them in September. As new families transition into the school, grade reps replace new family hosts as a point of contact for questions and will email about upcoming school events and parent social events.
Whether it's a sporting event, musical performance, drama, or seeing your child's artistic creations, come and cheer them on. You will forge friendships with other parents on the sidelines, at concerts or performances, parent coffees, or speaker presentations. There are also grade-specific parent orientations, which are a wonderful way to get to know the parents in your child's grade. These are just a few of the many parent-related activities on campus throughout the year and a great way to meet new people and form connections with fellow parents and caregivers.
Homecoming and Fall Fest held in late October celebrates Rivers athletics with alumni, current students and families, as well members of the professional community. It is a chance to gather “under the lights” to cheer our incredible athletes. Saturday activities include a child-friendly Barn Babies petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, food trucks, a Rivers spirit wear pop-up shop, the Rivers fan zone, and a photo booth.
The State of the School
The State of the School is an annual event that takes place in February. It is an opportunity to bring together members of the Rivers community, including current families and alumni, and hear from Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem and senior administrative leaders who provide updates on Rivers’ academic, operational, financial, and strategic initiatives.
Friendsgiving
From its modest origins in 2019 as a lunchtime potluck held in a Campus Center classroom, Rivers’ annual Friendsgiving celebration has grown into one of the most beloved and anticipated dates on the school calendar. An evening of food and fun, Friendsgiving is co-sponsored by Middle School and Upper School BRIDGE. It is an evening about fun and food, but it’s also an occasion to give thanks.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day has traditionally been a school day at Rivers because we believe that the day is not a holiday but rather a time for community gathering, reflection, learning, and service. All-school assembly, led by Rivers' head of school, is a tradition that conveys the significance and solemnity of the day.
Community Golf Tournament
Golfers of all experience levels are most welcome. Gather your team (or register as a solo player, and we will match you with a foursome) to join us for a fun day of golf, camaraderie, and connections. We will complete the day with a reception with Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem in the clubhouse.
Annual Community Event
This community event provides an opportunity for the parents and caregivers and the professional community to gather before the end of the school year for a fun, casual evening. This year, the event will include a “Toss It Up” for Rivers Corn Hole Tournament in MacDowell Athletic Center.
Cookie Palooza
This beloved annual tradition is a chance for Rivers families to show gratitude and appreciation for members of the professional community as they near winter break. On this day, the conference room in lower Haynes Hall is open and members of the community fill a box (that will be provided) of a variety of delicious, sweet treats!
1/7
Campus News
List of 3 news stories.
Rivers Holds Second Annual State of the School Update: Imagine 2035
On Tuesday, February 11, The Rivers School held an evening event for parents, caregivers, and alumni titled “Imagine 2035: A State of the School Update.” The program provided an inside look at the current state of the school from various perspectives—strategy, governance, finance, development, and academics—along with a special focus on the past year’s strategic planning efforts aimed at shaping a bright future for Rivers.
Click here for an executive summary highlighting key information shared during the presentation.
Grade 7 Houses of Worship Field Trip: Learning and Connection Beyond the Classroom
On Tuesday, February 11, the entire Grade 7 class at Rivers ventured off-campus on an immersive field trip, visiting three houses of worship in the Boston area. These visits allowed students to connect their learning about the three Abrahamic religions–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–with first-hand experience, providing students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the topic beyond the classroom.
Drop by the Prince Building on a Thursday afternoon or a Friday morning, and you might catch some eager Middle School students buzzing with a shared excitement for math.
At least, that’s what’s happening during HIVE, a new initiative designed for Middle School students to discover a sense of curiosity and camaraderie around math.
Rivers admits academically qualified students and does not discriminate against students or families on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, and other school-administered programs.