Want to check out YOUR school’s accomplishments?

From your school website, click on the first tab Our School > Awards, Accolades and Special Programs.

Have brags to submit for this school year?

ANYONE can submit a brag about their school: principals, teachers, support staff, parents, general public… anyone!  All you have to do is to click on the BRAG about our school link wherever you see it (on the Recent Accomplishments page in the Choice is Yours section or in every school’s Accomplishments page, for instance) or visit the friendly, easy to remember address: www.cusd80.com/brag.  

Let's tell the world about Riggs Elementary School!  Go Roadrunners.

Our BRAGS! 
Honors, Awards and Special Programs

---

See ALL Brags | Choose a School or Brag Category | BRAG about your school!

Riggs Elementary - (2019-2020) Riggs 3rd graders started a gardening project to promote healthy choices. Research shows school gardens have a positive impact on student learning, health, and nutrition. They teach good eating habits, science, math, and business skills. They also introduce students to new and healthy foods -- and get students moving and outside. A hydroponic garden tower was donated by Benita Riesgraf, a Chandler mom, thanks to a grant she received from Changex.org and the Arizona Sustainability Alliance. The program, "Sow It Forward," empowers teachers and students to learn about food growth and the importance of having access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We will have the tower until Thanksgiving, at which time the seedlings will be transplanted into our community garden. Students planted the following plants in the Tower Garden: Sweet Basil, Arugula, Bib Lettuce, Gourmet Lettuce, Black Magic Dino Kale.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2019-2020) Congratulations to Mrs. Wendy Dafoe, 1st Grade Teacher at Riggs Elementary. She was selected as one of the winners of an SRP Touchdowns for Teachers Grant, in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals. She received $500 to be used to benefit her classroom, to purchase hands-on materials to improve lessons and class engagement. Way to go, Mrs. Dafoe! SRP Touchdowns for Teachers website 
   Riggs Elementary - (2019-2020) Congratulations to Preston Brooke who was honored as Gilbert Citizen of the Month for September 2019.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2019-2020) In the recent Riggs PTO Read-a-Thon, students read a total of 196,585 minutes -- surpassing last year's total by 33,690 minutes! In addition, the total amount raised was $18,646.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2019-2020) Congratulations (and thank you) to our outstanding custodial staff! Riggs Elementary was presented the Clean school award for the 12th year in a row!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to the Riggs Elementary Battle of the Books team of Nadia Harris, Hailey Merrill and Ethan Mireles, coached by Kim Reininga, 3rd place winners of the district competion on April 24. They will head to the regional competition at Highland High in Gilbert in May.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) The Riggs Relay for Life team was able to fundraise all year with all their donations going toward the American Cancer Society.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to our Riggs Roadrunners who lived up to their name capturing the girls and boys team titles at the third annual Chandler Unified School District Elementary Track and Field meet at Perry High's John Wrenn Stadium. Thank you to Boosterthon and the Chandler Education Foundation for sponsoring the event.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Saira Urbina's Preschool classroom at Riggs Elementary recently hosted the Arizona Science Center for a lesson on Bugs and Blooms. The students discovered the important relationship between insects and plants, learned about the parts of a plant, and why insects are so important to plants.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to the Riggs Elementary boys and girls track teams, placing 1st at the district elementary track meet on April 1!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Riggs Elementary staff recently participated in the "I Ran 4 Ira" event at Seville Country Club. This fun 5K walk/run and pancake breakfast event supports 3rd grade Riggs' student Ira Hamilton. The funds help to pay for Ira's intense 3-4 week therapy camp at the VIP Neurorehabilitation Center in California. The Riggs community is "Ira Strong."

UPDATE: The Ira Run this year raised over $20,000! We were able to raise enough funds for Ira to attend her specialized therapy AND have enough funds to fulfill special grant requests to help other kids as well!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Riggs Elementary sixth grade students studied, with their families, where their families originated and made a quilt piece to represent their heritage. They were asked to tell a story from their family that has been passed down through the generations. History really came to life when they realized that the U.S. is their home, but they all come from rich cultures and traditions from around the world. They have had rich conversations when looking at the quilt and seeing that other students' families came from the same countries. "Together, We Are One!"  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Riggs Elementary School hosted a VEX IQ Robotics tournament with guests Auxier Elementary and Tarwater Elementary. Students worked collaboratively with other schools to show off Robotics skills to gain points as they drove and completed tasks on the VEX IQ Next Level playing field. For fun, the groups also did some drag racing in the main hallway and showed off programming skills in a maze.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) A Riggs Elementary parent anonymously donates 40 gift cards just before winter break every year. Principal Jan Weyenberg places staff members' names into a hat and pulls out a name every day in December. Winners are given two gift cards, one to keep and one to pay forward. Corey Swint was one of the recipients and was recently at ASU on a sixth grade field trip. She decided to pay it forward to an officer covering the game to thank him for his service. He was touched and shocked, to say the least!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to Riggs Elementary 5th grader Christopher Berra who was recognized as Gilbert Citizen of the Month for January 2019.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to Riggs Elementary 6th Grader Faith Glynn who was honored as the Gilbert Citizen of the Month.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to Riggs Elementary 5th grader Kassandra Schmidt in Ms. Weiand's class who was named Gilbert Citizen of the Month.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2018-2019) Congratulations to Enoch Follett, 4th Grader in Ms. Agostini's class, Gilbert Citizen of the Month for October 2018.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to Riggs girls who won the title this year and Riggs boys who took 2nd place at the District Track Meet Finals in April.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Comment submitted to Riggs Elementary: "Thanks, Principal Weinberg, teachers and staff for another wonderful Grandparent's Breakfast Day!"  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to 5th Grade award winners Matthew Hansen and Alexander Drakatos who won 2nd Place in Chemistry at the 2018 Hamilton Invitational Science and Engineering Fair (HISEF) for the project titled Blinding Biochemicals. HISEF 2018 Award Winners 
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to 5th Grade award winners Merrik Kubacki, Lindsi Ramsey and Addison Stevens who won 2nd Place in Physics & Astronomy at the 2018 Hamilton Invitational Science and Engineering Fair (HISEF) for the project titled Fruitastic Batteries. HISEF 2018 Award Winners 
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Riggs Elementary staff's Relay for Life team raised the most they have ever collected for the American Cancer Society, and over $1,000 more than last year! The yearly event is held at Basha High School.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to Riggs Elementary student Zeko Malouk, Gilbert Citizen of the Month.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) From the American Heart Association: "On behalf of the American Heart Association and the millions of Americans we serve, thank you very much for your school's donation of $9,749.25." Way to go, Roadrunners!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) An anonymous company donated $10 gift cards from Target and Starbucks. The names of all Riggs staff members have gone into a drawing of one name each day this month. Each winner will receive a little "Token of Appreciation" that can be passed on to someone else who is appreciated, and two gift cards -- one to keep, and one to pay forward! Staff are asked to pay one card forward to someone outside of school, spreading the joy of kindness to someone who could use a little lift!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Principal Jan Weyenberg was recently featured in a Boosterthon Blog. Why This One Arizona Principal is Boosterthon's "Biggest Cheerleader" 
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Riggs Elementary and student council are proud to report our Food Drive Success: 3,000 items and 50 turkeys donated to Chandler CARE Center! Chandler CARE Center 
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Thank you to everyone who participated and donated, and to Stacey Torres and Sarah Wagoner (PE) who organized Jump Rope for Heart at Riggs this year, raising more than double from last year, over $6,200! American Heart Association: Jump Rope For Heart webpage 
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to Riggs fourth grader Ashley Dunlap who was named Gilbert Student Citizen of the Month!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to Riggs Elementary for earning an "A" rating from the Arizona Department of Education for the 2017-18 school year.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2017-2018) Congratulations to Riggs third grader Ashley Partusch, the September Student Citizen of the Month.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2016-2017) Riggs Elementary School received a school-wide grant from the Chandler Education Foundation (CEF) for $1,200 for Ozobots for students to learn about coding and robotics.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2016-2017) Riggs Elementary students, Landri Steenhard and Sophia Alexander were recipients of the Town of Gilbert Student Citizen of the Month Award.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2016-2017) Riggs Elementary School received the East Valley Tribune's Best of 2016 for Best Elementary School Award. East Valley Tribune - Best of Chandler 2016 
   Riggs Elementary - (2016-2017) Paula Jones, orchestra teacher at Riggs Elementary and Casteel High, was named Best Middle School and Best High School Teacher in the Best of Chandler 2016 issue of the East Valley Tribune. East Valley Tribune - Best of Chandler 2016 
   Riggs Elementary - (2016-2017) Riggs Elementary students participated in the Riggs Weekend Robotics Club.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Mark Anderson, Riggs third grade teacher, was one of 40 teachers selected as a Diamondbacks Most Valuable Teacher. Most Valuable Teacher - Arizona Diamondbacks website 
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Fourth grade Riggs student Terra Skaar won first place in Arizona and a $150 check in the "Letters About Literature" contest, Level 1. Letters About Literature is a reading and writing contest for students, grades 4-12. Tens of thousands of students from across the U.S. enter Letters About Literature each year -- reading a book, poem or speech and writing to the author (living or dead) about how the book affected them personally. Letters are judged on state and national levels. Letter About Literature Website - Library of Congress 
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) The students and staff at Riggs Elementary celebrated being named an A+ School of Excellence for 2016 by the Arizona Educational Foundation.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) After reviewing over 1,800 bookmark submissions from around the state for the Governor's #WhyILoveAZ Bookmark Design Contest, Governor Doug Ducey selected his Top Ten Favorite Bookmarks... and Riggs' student Brianna Zamora's bookmark landed at #8! Brianna's bookmark is posted on the Governor's social media accounts, and is shown here. (This "Ode to Larry Fitzgerald" is clutch!) Arizona Governor's Office of Education Facebook post 
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Kudos to those from CUSD who attended the recent Relay for Life of Chandler event hosted by Basha High School on April 29. Over 400 staff and students, represented by Basha Elementary, CTA Freedom, Patterson, Riggs, Ryan, Payne, Basha High, Chandler High, Hamilton High and Perry High, attended the 12 hour overnight event where teams committed to have members walk throughout the night. Over $162,000 has been raised by participants with funds supporting cancer research and patients. Relay for Life of Chandler 
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Our grand total for our Relay for Life Donations was $3,324. Our team also reached the BRONZE Level -- which means we raised over $2,500. (This is the highest donation amount we've raised in 4 years!) Thank you again, Riggs students and families, for your support! Relay for Life of Chandler 
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Congratulations to Mrs. Larson, Riggs Fourth Grade Teacher, who was named the Aspen Dental Educator of the Semester. She was nominated by her student, Kyah for being an outstanding teacher!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Three Chandler Unified schools have been named A+ Schools of Excellence! The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) announced that Andersen Junior High, Riggs Elementary and San Marcos Elementary have received the coveted A+ Schools of Excellence™ award for the 2015-2016 school year. Applicant schools are rigorously evaluated in the areas of student focus and support, school culture, active teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership, community and parent involvement, and assessment data. Arizona Educational Foundation 
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Congratulations to Jax Minnis, March's City of Gilbert Student Citizen of the Month!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) Congratulations to Riggs Elementary students Sydney Kinsinger and Alaina Meyers, who auditioned and were selected to participate in the CUSD Honors Band.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) PE Teachers Stacy Brasel and Sarah Wagoner made arrangements for the The Arizona Coyotes to come out and run a hockey clinic for all the kids at Riggs Elementary. They taught the kids about stick handling, safety and strategy. The kids ran drills which also enforced hand eye coordination. The Arizona Coyotes also got the students into real game play. The students had a blast as the Coyotes played with and against them in the Hockey games!  
   Riggs Elementary - (2015-2016) The Riggs Running Club won first place at the Casteel Running Club Invitational.  
   Riggs Elementary - (2014-2015) Twenty-two Riggs staff members participated in Chandler's Relay for Life event at Basha High School on Friday, May 1st. Riggs was able to raise over $2,300 with all donations going to the American Cancer Society.  
  

---

Click to: Jump to Top | BRAG about our school!