Family / Community Engagement Committee

Community at RGS

Th​e Community Engagement ​Committee was created in 2022 by the Rio Grande School Board of Trustees with the understanding that solid community connections create a strong school.

As society becomes more fragmented and grows increasingly polarized, at RGS, we believe in centering our shared humanity. We believe that in order to disrupt the ideology of separation, we have to make space for coming together in real and meaningful ways. 

We encourage our students to engage intentionally in their classrooms, actively listening to and learning from perspectives different from their own. Likewise, we strive to create spaces where families can connect, share stories, and deepen their understanding of one another.

At Rio Grande School (RGS), families are an integral part of the community. But in recent years, it became increasingly clear to school leaders and parents that not all families felt equally seen or included. While some parents were deeply connected to the school’s rhythms and traditions, others remained on the periphery, unsure how to engage or where they belonged.

With a strong desire to bridge the gap between an "inner circle" and an "outer circle", RGS leadership approached Roots ConnectED. From this momentum, a partnership with Roots ConnectED was formed—one designed to foster a more intentional, inclusive, and connected community.

Through monthly coaching, collaborative planning, and the use of equity-centered frameworks, Roots ConnectED guided a committee of parents and leadership in reflecting on current practices, building capacity for change, and redesigning family engagement with belonging at the center.

We have used the INTENT Framework to help families come together, share perspectives, and engage in community-building activities that allow them to connect to their child’s school experience and develop deep relationships with one another.

2023-24 Peace Crane Project

Our first family workshop activity was The Peace Crane Project. We enjoyed dinner together, used guiding norms to engage in conversations, and began making a mobile of hand-folded origami paper cranes carrying messages of peace on their wings. New groups gathered monthly to partake in this initiative forging friendships along the way.  We added to this mobile throughout the year to symbolize coming together to build peace. 

2024-25 Cookie Decorating, Black Jack, Bike Maintenance, Pickleball and Wine Tasting