Riverdale School District
Home of the Rams
At Fall Fest, Laurel Dykema won the opportunity to be an assistant principal for the day! She's doing a great job!
Wellness Day: More Than a Break
by Inara Garcia
On Thursday, October 22, Riverdale High School students took a break from the regular routine to focus on mental health activities. Between keeping up with assignments, studying for tests, and balancing extracurriculars, school can feel nonstop; that is why Riverdale hosts Wellness Day once a year. Wellness Day is a day when students participate in a variety of fun activities to slow down and take a mental reset.
Throughout the day, a typical classroom is used to host an activity for students to enjoy. Just a few of this year's activities included bedazzling, cake decorating, pancake making, video games, and an escape room. Sadie Endresak shared, “I really enjoyed Wellness Day! My favorite parts about Wellness Day would probably be bedazzling, cake decorating, and keychains. I enjoy Wellness Day because it is fun and relaxing at the same time.”
Nurse Powers said, “Hosting an activity was fun because I was able to see students in a different setting, and it gave me an opportunity to connect with students outside of the nurse's office. As a school nurse, I spend so much time seeing students when they aren't feeling their best, so it was especially rewarding to see them in a different light and build connections beyond their health needs.”
Beyond the wide variety of activities, the day provided a way to connect with classmates and teachers in a low-pressure environment. Taking the time and opportunity to set a day aside to refresh our minds helps us continue the school year with a clearer mindset.
by Inara Garcia
On Thursday, October 22, Riverdale High School students took a break from the regular routine to focus on mental health activities. Between keeping up with assignments, studying for tests, and balancing extracurriculars, school can feel nonstop; that is why Riverdale hosts Wellness Day once a year. Wellness Day is a day when students participate in a variety of fun activities to slow down and take a mental reset.
Throughout the day, a typical classroom is used to host an activity for students to enjoy. Just a few of this year's activities included bedazzling, cake decorating, pancake making, video games, and an escape room. Sadie Endresak shared, “I really enjoyed Wellness Day! My favorite parts about Wellness Day would probably be bedazzling, cake decorating, and keychains. I enjoy Wellness Day because it is fun and relaxing at the same time.”
Nurse Powers said, “Hosting an activity was fun because I was able to see students in a different setting, and it gave me an opportunity to connect with students outside of the nurse's office. As a school nurse, I spend so much time seeing students when they aren't feeling their best, so it was especially rewarding to see them in a different light and build connections beyond their health needs.”
Beyond the wide variety of activities, the day provided a way to connect with classmates and teachers in a low-pressure environment. Taking the time and opportunity to set a day aside to refresh our minds helps us continue the school year with a clearer mindset.
RHS Students and Families,
Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for Parent-Teacher Conferences and the Financial Aid & Dual Credit Informational meetings. We will post recordings of the BHC meetings to our RHS Counseling page.
This coming week is shaping up to be a full one, so I wanted to share some important information with you…
MONDAY – Our fall semester Parent/Teacher Advisory Committee meeting will be tomorrow, Oct. 26 @ 5:30pm in the RHS Cafeteria. This meeting is open to all parents to discuss HS policies. Tomorrow’s meeting will be focused on GPA and grading scale.
TUES/THURS – Our volleyball team travels to Byron for the IHSA Regional. You can follow the IHSA State Series volleyball bracket here.
SATURDAY – Congratulations to our girls cross country team for advancing to IHSA Sectionals this Saturday! The girls will run at 10:00 AM Saturday, October 31 at Oregon Park West in Oregon, IL. More information on the cross country IHSA State Series is available here.
SATURDAY – We will also be hosting our home football playoff game this Saturday, October 31 at 1:00pm vs. the Eastland-Pearl City Wildcats. PLEASE NOTE: Passes will not be accepted. Admission is set by the IHSA at $8 per person at the gate, cash only. Again, Riverdale District Passes and Three Rivers Conference Passes are not accepted at IHSA state series events. Please be aware of this and help spread the word. You can follow the IHSA football state series bracket here.
As we mark the mid-point of the semester with beautiful fall weather, it’s a great time of year to be a Ram, with so many of our students showing academic success, and so many of our athletic programs continuing their post-season runs!
Please reach out if you have any questions.
GO RAMS!
Two Years of Making a Difference at Riverdale
Tralee and I walked through the doors of Riverdale High School two years ago, and she has been making a difference one wag, occasional bark, and comforting cuddle at a time! As her handler, I have had the joy of watching her bring comfort, encouragement, and love to students and staff throughout the schools.
Tralee has helped students enter school on difficult mornings, offered comfort during grief and anxiety, and created countless memories. To continue her services to students and staff, Tralee and I attend therapy dog events in the community and group training sessions often.
That being said, not every measure of success in school comes from a classroom, a grade, or a test score. Sometimes, it’s a student finding the courage to walk through the doors or a smile on a difficult day. And sometimes, it comes with four paws and a wagging tail.
Tralee may never understand the difference she makes, but the Riverdale community gets to see it every day.
Thank you for welcoming Tralee and I hope she has made a positive impact on you or your student/s.
Haley Bugos
Tralee and I walked through the doors of Riverdale High School two years ago, and she has been making a difference one wag, occasional bark, and comforting cuddle at a time! As her handler, I have had the joy of watching her bring comfort, encouragement, and love to students and staff throughout the schools.
Tralee has helped students enter school on difficult mornings, offered comfort during grief and anxiety, and created countless memories. To continue her services to students and staff, Tralee and I attend therapy dog events in the community and group training sessions often.
That being said, not every measure of success in school comes from a classroom, a grade, or a test score. Sometimes, it’s a student finding the courage to walk through the doors or a smile on a difficult day. And sometimes, it comes with four paws and a wagging tail.
Tralee may never understand the difference she makes, but the Riverdale community gets to see it every day.
Thank you for welcoming Tralee and I hope she has made a positive impact on you or your student/s.
Haley Bugos
It's not too late to join the PTO! Please consider supporting our students and staff!
Swinging Into Success
By Abigail Sweeney
The Riverdale Rams girls golf team had a successful 2026 season, finishing in 6th place at both the Conference Meet and Regional Tournament. This is their best finish in the past 8 years! The Rams showed growth throughout the season and finished 9-10. Isla Baldwin was recognized for her efforts this season by being selected 2nd Team All-Conference.
When I asked how they felt their season went, Isla Baldwin told me, "I'm so proud of how our season went this year! It’s been such an amazing experience to see how much everyone has improved and the growth of the program in general!” With dedicated practice and hard work throughout the fall, the team demonstrated remarkable progress and development overall.
Coach Hatch said, “This year was our third year of having a complete team. We showed tremendous improvement in all areas. Our team scores have improved; our individual scores have improved. In the Conference and Regional tournaments, we placed 6th, which was a major improvement over the last few years.” The coach added, “Our record of 9-10 is more wins than we have had in the previous two years combined. The girls did a great job this year!”
With improved scores, a successful record, and high morale, the Rams have plenty of momentum to carry into the 2027 season. We look forward to seeing what that season will bring!
By Abigail Sweeney
The Riverdale Rams girls golf team had a successful 2026 season, finishing in 6th place at both the Conference Meet and Regional Tournament. This is their best finish in the past 8 years! The Rams showed growth throughout the season and finished 9-10. Isla Baldwin was recognized for her efforts this season by being selected 2nd Team All-Conference.
When I asked how they felt their season went, Isla Baldwin told me, "I'm so proud of how our season went this year! It’s been such an amazing experience to see how much everyone has improved and the growth of the program in general!” With dedicated practice and hard work throughout the fall, the team demonstrated remarkable progress and development overall.
Coach Hatch said, “This year was our third year of having a complete team. We showed tremendous improvement in all areas. Our team scores have improved; our individual scores have improved. In the Conference and Regional tournaments, we placed 6th, which was a major improvement over the last few years.” The coach added, “Our record of 9-10 is more wins than we have had in the previous two years combined. The girls did a great job this year!”
With improved scores, a successful record, and high morale, the Rams have plenty of momentum to carry into the 2027 season. We look forward to seeing what that season will bring!
Huge congratulations to the Riverdale Trap Team on taking 2nd place at the Geneseo Invitational Tournament last weekend!
Our season wraps up this week, and official conference standings will be released shortly after.
#GORAMS #RiverdaleTrap #RamPride #TrapShooting
Our season wraps up this week, and official conference standings will be released shortly after.
#GORAMS #RiverdaleTrap #RamPride #TrapShooting
RHS Students and Families,
We wanted to share three important upcoming opportunities with you:
- Financial Aid Night - Weds, Oct 21 @ 6pm, RHS Library
- Dual Credit Info. Night (for sophomores & juniors) - Thurs, Oct 22 @ 6pm, RHS Library
- BHC College Night (for seniors) - Thurs, Oct 22 @ 5:30pm, BHC Building 3 Gym, Moline
An informational flyer is attached.
Also, don't forget...
- Weds and Thurs are half-days (11:35am dismissal) with parent/teacher conferences from 1:00-6:30pm.
- Thursday is WELLNESS DAY!
- NO SCHOOL FRIDAY (Oct. 23)!
Please let us know if you have any questions about this week.
GO RAMS!
The Riverdale Booster Club is counting on you to help them reach their goal! Thanks for your support! GO RAMS!!
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
by Lauren Tiesman
The Riverdale Interact Club hosted a Blood Drive on Thursday, October 8th, 2026. The club had a great turnout of donors, with a total of 33! They reached their goal of 25 whole blood donations and received 3 double blood donations! One of the double blood donors was Brayden Geigle! The Interact board members stayed by the donors' sides the whole day to keep them distracted and entertained; the students included Jillian Murray, Lauren Tiesman, Tiffany Noel, Lola Wainwright, Cole Barrett, Colton Heim, Alice Schmidt, and Celia Arnold. Mrs. Stuart, the Interact Advisor, says, “One of the most rewarding parts of our Interact blood drive was watching students step outside their comfort zones to become lifesavers by donating, while other students stepped up to support and encourage them throughout the donation process. There was such a positive, uplifting energy in the room, and it was a wonderful reminder of what can happen when students come together for a common purpose. We’re proud to have met all of our goals—not only helping strengthen the blood supply in our local community, but also qualifying to apply for the LifeSavings grant, which would help cover the cost of meals for our annual spring Kids Against Hunger food-packing event. Our students made a difference in more ways than one, and that’s what Service Above Self is all about!” Mrs. Stuart gave great context on how the day went, but as a board member myself it was so nice to get to be there for all my friends while they did such a selfless thing! Serving others is so amazing and is my favorite! The other board members and I all had such a great time getting to know our classmates better and helping keep their minds off the donating! Not only was it an exciting day to support our community but also an opportunity to learn more about each other and the heart behind service!
By Sadie Endresak
Last Friday, the high school parking lot came alive with Halloween spirit at the annual PTO Fall Fest! The students and families came to enjoy a night full of candy, excitement, and decorated trunks. The parking lot was filled with colorful decorations, and excited kids walked from trunk to trunk, making it an unforgettable night for everyone. As Morgan Rutledge, one of our Riverdale cheerleaders, says, “Trunk or Treat was an amazing experience! It was so nice to see all of the younger kids so excited to see the trunks and costumes.” This event gave all of the students a chance to help create a fun and welcoming experience for the younger kids at each school.
Trunk or Treat was not only about the candy, but also about bringing everyone together and creating lasting memories. The students got to show off their creativity through their costumes and decorated trunks, making the night special for the younger kids who attended. As Tayah Erickson, another one of our Riverdale cheerleaders, says, “Trunk or Treat was such a fun experience! Seeing all of the younger kids’ faces light up as they walked around to see the creative trunks and costumes made the event so special!” Filled with bright smiles, creative costumes, and plenty of sweet treats, this year’s Fall Fest was a great opportunity to kick off the Halloween festivities and build lasting community connections across the district.
Last Friday, the high school parking lot came alive with Halloween spirit at the annual PTO Fall Fest! The students and families came to enjoy a night full of candy, excitement, and decorated trunks. The parking lot was filled with colorful decorations, and excited kids walked from trunk to trunk, making it an unforgettable night for everyone. As Morgan Rutledge, one of our Riverdale cheerleaders, says, “Trunk or Treat was an amazing experience! It was so nice to see all of the younger kids so excited to see the trunks and costumes.” This event gave all of the students a chance to help create a fun and welcoming experience for the younger kids at each school.
Trunk or Treat was not only about the candy, but also about bringing everyone together and creating lasting memories. The students got to show off their creativity through their costumes and decorated trunks, making the night special for the younger kids who attended. As Tayah Erickson, another one of our Riverdale cheerleaders, says, “Trunk or Treat was such a fun experience! Seeing all of the younger kids’ faces light up as they walked around to see the creative trunks and costumes made the event so special!” Filled with bright smiles, creative costumes, and plenty of sweet treats, this year’s Fall Fest was a great opportunity to kick off the Halloween festivities and build lasting community connections across the district.
Riverdale High School is gearing up for our annual Wellness Day. If you can, please consider donating an item from our wish list to make this year a success.
RHS Wellness Day Amazon Wish List
At tonight's Riverdale-EP football game, fans and families will have the opportunity to stand together in supporting Riverdale grad and EP coach Thad Jacobs as he continues to makes a medical recovery. Please follow this link or scan the attached QR code to learn more and show your support!
Mrs. Saddoris' students recently read “Buried Beneath” which is a NonFiction text about Pompeii. Her daughter, Emily, zoomed in today to show and tell us about her recent college experience at Pompeii. She shared many interesting facts and information with us!!
This week, we are collecting donations to Fill the Boot at Riverdale Elementary School to support our local volunteer firefighters!
Please consider bringing in any change you may have to help us...Fill the Boot!
Please consider bringing in any change you may have to help us...Fill the Boot!
Riverdale Football Makes School History
This 2026 football season, our Varsity Football Rams are soaring through the conference, going 7-0! This season, they have already made Riverdale history, and they aren’t even finished yet! Our Varsity offensive tight end, Cullan Farrell, says, “This season has been wonderful so far. I love playing with my friends. Our school has never done this, and it feels amazing to be able to be the first team to do it. We all need each other to succeed. I can't have a good game without the rest of the team; we feed off each other to be good. This season, Coach D gave the lead to the players. In his words, "Bad teams no one leads, good teams are Coach led, but great teams are player-led." It has proven to be right this entire season, and we aren't done yet. This season made me realize that no one can make it through life with just themselves. They always need someone to help them up and keep pushing forward. I have also become very grateful this season, knowing I will never get this back, and I took it all for granted. Go Rams!”
Cullan gives great information about how this season has felt for him and what he personally has worked on, but also hearing it from our Head Coach, Coach Dierkx. “This has been an amazing season. Having the kids get a taste of playoffs last year really lit their fire and propelled them to their preparation for this season. The Seniors remained hungry and dedicated their offseason to raise the expectation level and take our program to new heights! The successes of the year are a result of them working hard in the dark when no one was watching to be able to shine under the lights!” We all can’t wait to see how the rest of this 2026 football season goes and what the boys have in store!
Written by Lauren Tiesman
This 2026 football season, our Varsity Football Rams are soaring through the conference, going 7-0! This season, they have already made Riverdale history, and they aren’t even finished yet! Our Varsity offensive tight end, Cullan Farrell, says, “This season has been wonderful so far. I love playing with my friends. Our school has never done this, and it feels amazing to be able to be the first team to do it. We all need each other to succeed. I can't have a good game without the rest of the team; we feed off each other to be good. This season, Coach D gave the lead to the players. In his words, "Bad teams no one leads, good teams are Coach led, but great teams are player-led." It has proven to be right this entire season, and we aren't done yet. This season made me realize that no one can make it through life with just themselves. They always need someone to help them up and keep pushing forward. I have also become very grateful this season, knowing I will never get this back, and I took it all for granted. Go Rams!”
Cullan gives great information about how this season has felt for him and what he personally has worked on, but also hearing it from our Head Coach, Coach Dierkx. “This has been an amazing season. Having the kids get a taste of playoffs last year really lit their fire and propelled them to their preparation for this season. The Seniors remained hungry and dedicated their offseason to raise the expectation level and take our program to new heights! The successes of the year are a result of them working hard in the dark when no one was watching to be able to shine under the lights!” We all can’t wait to see how the rest of this 2026 football season goes and what the boys have in store!
Written by Lauren Tiesman
Congratulations to Lorie McGeehon, who was named the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education employee of the month! Great Job, Mrs. McGeehon!
1st grade Pride of Wapsi had a beautiful fall day to enjoy the pumpkin patch and other fun opportunities.
We look forward to seeing everyone at Fall Fest tomorrow!
Come check out the amazing raffle baskets and experiences. The grand prize basket is now valued at over $500 dollars!
RHS Families and Students,
October is filled with opportunities! Please see below…
Oct. 2 – PTO Fall Fest @ RHS, 4:30-6:30pm
Oct. 5 – Fire drills with Hillsdale FPD
Oct. 6 – Jostens meeting with freshmen (class rings) and seniors (cap, gown, invite orders); Jostens will also be sending a direct email to freshman families and senior families
Oct. 8 – Interact Blood Drive @ RHS Library (contact nstuart@riverdaleschools.org)
Oct. 9 – senior night for band, cheer, dance, boys/girls golf, football, and soccer
Oct. 12 – college fair @ St. Ambrose, 5:30-7:30pm
Oct. 15 – MS/HS band & choir concert @ RHS gym, 7:00pm
Oct. 20 – senior night for cross country and volleyball
Oct. 21 – half-day (11:35am dismissal); parent/teacher conferences 1:00-6:30pm
Oct. 22 – Wellness Day (11:35am dismissal); parent/teacher conferences 1:00-6:30pm
Oct. 22 – college fair for SENIORS @ UTHS, 10:45am-1:30pm (seniors, this would be an excused absence)
Oct. 22 – Financial Aid and BHC Dual Credit Informational night @ RHS Library, 6:00-7:00pm
Oct. 23 – NO SCHOOL
Oct. 26 – Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee @ RHS cafeteria, 5:30-6:45pm (flyer attached)
Oct. 28 – PSAT/NMSQT for juniors (sign up in counseling office by Oct. 13)
**Please review the attached flyer for Parent/Student Manufacturing Tours across the QC region (Oct. 13, 22, 29).
As always, you can view our announcements here and our athletic calendar here.
GO RAMS!
Dr. Stewart
