River Woods Elementary School

08/26/2026

We have had a great first 3 days of school! It has been so nice to have all of our students back in the building!

A few reminders when you are dropping your children off and picking them up:

1. Please do NOT walk across the car circle during drop-off and pick-up, as it stops traffic. Instead, please walk around to the sidewalks, so traffic does not stop.

2. Kindergartners should come in through the outside kindergarten door that connects to their teacher's classroom. They should not come into the building through the main entrance with 1st-5th grade students.

3. When you're picking your child up in the afternoon, if you are driving, please do not ask them to walk down to the road to meet you, as that slows down traffic on the street. Instead, come into the car circle and pull forward as you are directed; your child can then get in your car.

Thank you for your support in making sure all students get into and out of the building safely and as quickly as possible!

08/20/2026

Thank you so much to all of our students and families who came to our Meet the Teacher! It was great to see so many of you here today! And we are so excited to have all of our students back on Monday!

As a reminder, school hours are 7:40 a.m. - 2:35 p.m. We suggest students aim to arrive to school every day at 7:30 a.m. though. At 7:30, students can come into the building and get breakfast.

Outside supervision begins at 7:25 a.m. Please do not drop your child off before that time.

We're excited for the first day of school and a great year with you all! It will be a wonderful year of blue ribbon learning! Go Eagles!

08/11/2026

08/07/2026

Your voice matters.

Join us for the South Region Boundary Public Input Night to learn more about proposed attendance boundaries, Signature School enrollment opportunities, and the next phase of the Reimagining Education initiative.

These proposals will help shape the future of our schools, and your feedback is an important part of the process.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026
6:30–8:00 p.m.
Lincoln High School Commons
2600 SW 9th Street, Des Moines

At the meeting, you'll be able to:
Explore proposed boundary maps
Use an address locator tool to see which schools would serve your family
Share your ideas and feedback
We hope South Region families and community members will join us.

05/06/2026

What: Baby Gear Swap. You do NOT need to bring any items to take items. Items available include diapers, formula, clothing, toys, books, accessories, maternity care, cribs, car seats, strollers and more.
Who: Anyone caring for a child ages 0-5 years old who is need of baby items.
When: Saturday, May 9th (THIS Saturday), 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: Franklin Event Center Gymnasium: 4801 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines

If you have baby items you would like to donate, you may bring them with you and drop them off at the donation table near check-in.

For more information on the event, go to Monsoon’s 3rd Annual Baby Gear Swap! – Monsoon Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity. https://tinyurl.com/MonsoonBabyGear

If you still have questions, email [email protected].

Important things to note:
1. Bring your own bags.
2. Strollers are allowed.
3. You must park in the North Parking lot.
4. Doors will open at 10 a.m. to line up inside.
5. You must enter through the Northwest doors, and you must exit the event through the Northeast doors.
6. No re-entry is allowed. Once you leave, you may not come back inside.
7. Each family may only have one big ticket item (examples: car seats, cribs).
8. Some items will have limits posted. Please respect those limits.
​9. All items are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

05/04/2026

What: 2026 Des Moines Live Healthy Iowa Kids Track Meet
Who: Children 14 years old and younger
When: Wednesday, May 27th. Check-in is 3:30-4:30 p.m. Field events begin at 4 p.m. Running events begin at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Duke Williams Stadium at East High School (1591 E University Ave, Des Moines)
Cost: Free to all children 14 years old or younger
How to register: You can register online or in person the day of the track meet. Click here to register online. The deadline to register online is Monday, May 25th at 11:59 p.m.

The top two finishers in each event in the 7-14-year-old category will qualify for the state track meet in June.

04/08/2026

What: The River Woods food pantry is re-opening. Food items available include butter, eggs, cheese, chicken, beef, oil, rice, beans, tortillas, and more.

Who: Anyone in need.
When: Tuesday, April 14th from 1:30-3 p.m.

*Enter through the main office.

The food pantry will also be open on Tuesday, April 28th, May 12th, May 26th from 1:30-3 p.m. Information about summer dates and times is coming soon.

Email the River Woods Community School Coordinator at [email protected] with any questions.