Parent Testimonials

Meet Laura

An education with a family-friendly focus 

“From the moment you walk into Riverside Magnet School, you feel at home. There is plenty of artwork plastered on the walls, and my children always love showing me where their artwork is on display.  

My children attended both the before-school and after-school Studio, as well as a couple of summer Studio sessions. The enrichment program was flexible, fit my family’s needs, and was exactly what my kids needed after a long day of school. Choosing to put your kids in an after-school program is difficult, but I am thankful the transition from school to Studio was so easy.

The teachers are also wonderful and kind. They are responsive to inquiries and genuinely care about every student. RMS does a great job fostering excellent school-home connections.”

An early academic atmosphere that advances

“I didn’t know much about the Reggio Emilia approach before I toured RMS, but now I am so thankful that my children have been immersed in the Reggio culture. It fosters independence, self-guided learning, and self-reflection. This approach allows my children to learn the importance of asking questions and forming their own opinion. I am grateful that my children are receiving an excellent foundational education and learning to be inquisitive and innovative. 

RMS challenges my children academically and nurtures them socially and emotionally. The teachers’ level of attention to developing the whole student is second to none.” 

How Riverside Magnet School makes a difference 

“Since my children started attending RMS four years ago, they have grown so much. They have become so curious and genuinely enjoy understanding new concepts. The RMS teachers have encouraged them since day one.

I truly believe that it takes a village to raise a child. I am so grateful to have the RMS village helping to educate my children and help them grow into kind, caring, empathetic people.

I enjoy that RMS thrives on family partnerships and engages parents in their child’s learning. The communication between the RMS teachers and parents is above and beyond my expectations. I am thankful that I can have honest, open, and informative conversations at home with my children about their school day with these strong communications.

Instead of just asking, “How was school today?” I can ask them specifics about their day and share in their excitement about their activities.

I will be forever grateful for the patience and support RMS have given my children.” 

Meet John

An early academic atmosphere that advances

"Through the years, RMS has challenged my son academically. He continues to grasp new learning methods while being challenged to think on a broader level. He enjoys discovering new things and applying them to his day to day life. 

I've been lucky to work directly with some of the RMS staff through various events. The staff is energetic, caring, and creative. They allow the students to explore a variety of different programs and options. If they see a need for something in the school, they find a way to incorporate it."

An education with a family-friendly focus 

"My son has participated in the Studio before-and-after-school enrichment program for the last four years. As an educator, it allows flexibility for drop off and pick-ups. He enjoys going to school early and staying late because of the engaging activities. The Studio program is often the highlight of his day.

The Watch Dogs program at RMS has allowed my child and me to connect on a different level. We can effectively communicate and take part in activities together that we wouldn't have been able to do."

How Riverside Magnet School makes a difference 

"RMS allows my son to be around a diverse population of students and staff. He has the opportunity to learn from and teach peers in a way that he wouldn't be able to do in a traditional school setting.

The growth my child has shown since attending RMS is incredible. He has become more vocal in his ability to advocate for himself and has learned strategies that allow him to be more productive at school and home."

Meet Kristen

An early academic atmosphere that advances

“I wanted my kids to get a different type of education than a traditional public school. When the Riverside Magnet School announced the Reggio Emilia curriculum (student-centered and self-guided), I knew this was the home I was looking for.

A classroom with a student-centered approach is amazing. I’ll never forget the year our girls were in Pre-K, and they started learning and asking all about doors. Suddenly, there was a field trip to a home improvement store and they saw doors being built, read about doors, and discussed them. It was such a fun section of their year for our family to participate in.” 

An education with a family-friendly focus

“The philosophy at RMS is family first, and I appreciate that. My children know that I work together with their teachers to make sure they are in the best place possible.” 

How Riverside Magnet School makes a difference 

“My son is thriving in middle school because of the foundation laid at RMS. He is a confident student who knows how to self-advocate and work hard even in the toughest of classrooms. His current teachers often describe him as a thoughtful student who asks great questions and contributes to his classmates’ learning.

The teachers at RMS are what makes this community so special. They really love and care about my children’s education and their well-being as little humans. I strongly believe these teachers are helping us raise the next generation of leaders!”

Meet Jennifer & Sean

... and let's not forget about Sahara, their furry family member. Woof!

An education with a family-friendly focus

“As parents, we are at ease knowing that the RMS teachers really care about our children the same way we do. Teachers take an active interest in our family’s life, and the staff seems to know all of the kids by name, even if they haven’t had them in class before.

We like that the school teaches students to take care of themselves, others, and the environment. At an early age, RMS helps kids realize that they are an essential part of a community.

Our daughters participate in the Studio after-school program, and we have also sent our girls to summer Studio, a summer camp facilitated by the school. Our kids love Studio! They get to spend time with friends in a familiar setting with staff members they know. It’s extremely helpful to have this service available.

As RMS parents, it’s also easy to get involved. We find that our relationships with the educators at the school are really collaborative, and this helps us so that we can best support our children.”

An early academic atmosphere that advances

“We were drawn to RMS because of the Reggio Emilia theme and its focus on respect, responsibility, and community. The RMS curriculum is based on student interests and promotes curiosity. Our children have taken an active role in their education and have been excited to show us their projects.

There is a good balance between teaching and exploring topics of interest at Riverside Magnet School. The atmosphere is also a huge part of student learning — whether it be the setting in the classroom, the larger building, or the outdoors, there is a greater focus on the environment and its role in learning.”

How Riverside Magnet School makes a difference 

“As students at RMS, our kids have access to technology and resources that they might not have had if they were at our hometown school.

Being a magnet school, we liked the idea that our children would be going to school with children from other communities all across Connecticut, providing our children a more rich and diverse experience than they would be exposed to in our hometown.

Also, now that there is a pathway from preschool to college with RMS, CTRA, and Goodwin University, we think it makes the school even more appealing to families.

Through RMS, our children have learned more about being respectful toward others and their environment and what it means to be a good citizen at school and within the greater community. They are open to learning about all different things, and we often see an extension of that at home. Our children now identify projects and communicate when they want to learn something new, not because they have to, but because they want to.”

Meet Sarah

An early academic atmosphere that advances

“I would say much if not all of my children’s academic success has to do with Reggio Emilia philosophy from a very young age. My children have a proactive, positive outlook on schoolwork. They love school, and I know this stems from their PK3 and PK4 experience at RMS. 

They approach school with curiosity and are empowered to solve problems, discuss their approach, and they don’t see setbacks as failures. My children try, ask questions, work together, and they discuss their assignments. Because of RMS, they are now solutions-oriented, which has made all the difference.”

An education with a family-friendly focus

“My children learn a whole new language while attending RMS. “Growth mindset,” “calm body,” “best self,” and “mathematicians” are all words and phrases my children did not learn from me, but they are empowered to remind me about these expressions at home.

I feel much more engaged with my children’s schools than my parents were. I attend the Riverside Community Council (RCC) meetings. I volunteer to read to the classroom, chaperone field trips, and our family attends extracurricular community outings — the return on investment has been well worth it.

Even our experience with Studio and summer Studio — RMS’ before-and-after program have been helpful as well. The local field trips provide great experiences and memories.”

How Riverside Magnet School makes a difference 

“The atmosphere at Riverside Magnet School is very welcoming. The teachers know our family and greet each of our children with big smiles and curiosity. 

I have had wonderful experiences with each of our teachers over the years. Teachers are engaged, responsive, and I receive a lot of feedback from them on how my children have performed. 

One constant theme has been that my children are “good role models’. They respond so positively to that praise from their teachers, and it is a goal they strive for and maintain year over year.

My middle child is a confident student. She looks forward to school (remote and in-person). She is very independent in completing her work online, and she engages with her friends when she is attending in person. 

Her favorite subject is Math, and she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. The exposure to Connecticut River Academy and Goodwin University has positively impacted her academic goals.

I love Riverside Magnet School and feel very privileged that all of my children will have an opportunity to learn and grow in the RMS community.”