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Home
For Parents
Parent Portal/Student Information
Middle School Student/Parent Handbook
Bell Schedule
2023-24 Riverside Prep Middle School Schedule
Calendars
2023-24 OG/RP Calendar
2024-25 OG/RP Calendar
Transportation
2023-24 Riverside Prep Middle School/High School Bus Routes
2023-24 Riverside Prep After School Late Bus Routes
Request for School Bus Transportation Form
Request for School Bus Transportation Form - Spanish
Contact Us
Nutrition Services
Student Websites
Lexile Testing
AR/AM
Naviance
School Site Council
Information
DELAC & School Site Council Meeting
LCAP Survey
Parent Volunteers
Parent Volunteer Form
Care Solace Mental Health Support
State Assessments
Attendance
Online Absence Reporting
Information
Directions
Accreditation
Official Reports
ELOs
EPA Reports
LCAPs
SARCs
ESSER III Expenditure Plans
Policies & Procedures
Employee Code of Conduct For Student Interaction
Bullying/Harassment
Sexual Harassment Complaint Form
Suicide Prevention
Title IX
Uniform Complaint Procedure
OGSD Uniform Complaint Procedure
Uniform Complaint Procedure Form - English
Uniform Complaint Procedure Form - Spanish
Uniform Complaint Procedures Pamphlet
Charter School Complaint Form
Integrated Pest Management Plan
Athletic Competition Participation Numbers 2022-23
Programs
Athletics
Athletics Website
Music
Choir
Band
California Cadet Corps
Faculty
District Administration
School Administration
Office Staff
Teachers
Counseling
Online Counseling Resources
Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Report
Personnel
2023-24 Benefits Enrollment
Personnel Info
OGSD Employee Handbook
Enrollment
Teacher
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Riverside Preparatory Middle School
»
Student/Teacher of the Month
»
March 2019
»
Teacher
Terence Murphy
Class:
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
1. How long have you been teaching at Riverside Prep and what do you like most about it?
This is my fifth year of teaching at Riverside Prep. I started in fifth grade and then in my second year I moved over to sixth grade, so I've been teaching sixth grade for four years. The reason why I love it here is we're a family. We make a very cohesive team and that's always been a building block for us. I know everybody in the district, even over on the elementary side and high school side, so it's nice to be able to share not only the issues that I have, but also the wins and successes. It just has that family feel to it where we're all working together and I really like that.
2. What got you into teaching?
It was a calling honestly. I worked for Target for 20 years and about midway through that my supervisors talked me into going back to school to become an executive and I realized that's not what I wanted to do and that what I really liked was teaching. And to be honest, what did it was I saw the movie "Dead Poets Society" in my early 20s and I think when you go back to it, that movie was the seed. And so, over time, it was a long process to go through the credentialing and here I am. I don't regret it one bit, because my worst day as a teacher is way above my best days at Target.
3. What do you like most about teaching sixth grade students?
The unique perspective is watching them go through that change. They're not top dog on campus, they're in kind of this quasi-confined place because we do sequester them in some ways. They do mesh with seventh and eighth graders when it comes to electives and P.E., but for the most part they're all together. So it's fun to really watch them go through this whole change they're going through, even though it can be difficult and frustrating at times. I tell my students that the way I look at teaching is they're history in the making and I've got this walk-on part, this guest-starring position in this story of yours. And what influence am I going to make on their story? And they're in a place where they're figuring out who their real friends are and you see the split-ups and them making new friends and we're not just tasked with getting them ready for seventh and eighth grade academically, but socially and psychologically as well. It's challenging but it's also a lot of fun to see them change and grow.
4. Favorite moment in teaching?
I really like when we go on a field trip because while you're there as their teacher, but for me it's kind of getting to know my group of kids in a different atmosphere. Even on the bus ride to and from, I have these highly interesting conversations that have nothing to do with school. Those are my favorite moments, when I get to talk to them one-on-one and get to know them better. It changes your focus and just helps you connect better with the students.
5. What does it mean to be selected as the Middle School Teacher of the Month?
It's always nice to get recognition. I think it's a good thing every once and a while to have something that says, 'Hey, I want to spotlight you.' But it's really just the cherry on the top. Whenever you get something like this, it's just a nice feeling and something you can look to during those times when things aren't going great.
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Riverside Preparatory Middle School
19900 National Trails Highway, P.O. Box 386, Oro Grande, CA 92368
(760) 245-1993
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760-243-5960