Dear Woodside Parents:

I continue to be excited to be the Principal of Woodside Elementary School and a member of the River Vale Schools community.  As a graduate of the River Vale Public Schools and, subsequently, Pascack Valley High School, I am a strong believer in the role our local public schools play, and the positive impact they have in setting our students up for success both in school and beyond. 

The River Vale Schools mission statement alludes to our goals in “promoting self-discipline, motivation, and academic excellence in all children.”  There are numerous ways to do this, and it often varies from student to student.   Our outstanding staff prides themselves on providing a classroom environment that allows for these goals to be achieved successfully. 

We are always on a quest for student growth and this takes on many forms.  While the baseline academic skills are always at the forefront of our educational learning, the importance of students' character development, resiliency, and self-awareness, are equally as crucial at this young age.   You will see clear steps and focus on all these areas, as we strive to address the needs of the whole child during their years here at Woodside. 

We are very fortunate to have such fabulous resources at our disposal, both for our students and our staff to utilize, in this quest to best prepare our students.   Many thanks to our Board of Education, the River Vale Education Fund, and the River Vale Parent Teacher Association, who are all partners in securing these resources that benefit our students and staff. 

Communication is key as we go down this road, and the home/school relationship is a vital cog in a student having a successful school experience.  I look forward to working with you as we watch students learn and grow in a variety of ways here at Woodside!

Sincerely,
Chris Kirkby