1. Rivera Middle School opened on September 3rd, 1968 to ease overcrowding at Hoover and Tenaya.

2. The school's original name was to be Tioga. When the school Superintendent Rudolph Rivera suddenly passed away earlier in 1968, the school's name was immediately changed in his honor. We were known as Rivera Junior High in those earlier days.

3. Our first principal was Mr. Bill Beith, who came to us from Hoover, where he had been Vice Principal. For some reason, we don't remember having a vice principal that first year, although Don Stowell probably helped out when needed, as he became our vice principal the following year. The faculty consisted of 19 teachers: Four 6th grade and fifteen 7th/8th.

4. Our school colors were yellow and green, and we were known as the Rivera Roadrunners. Colors and mascot were changed sometime in the 1980s at the request of the sports coaches

5. Rivera stands on what was part of the once massive Bellevue Ranch. On at least one occasion, ranch cowboys---- on horseback---- ran a small herd of cattle through Don Stowell's P.E. class in the east field, causing Don to flail his cap and arms in alarm and scattering his students in all directions.

6. The school was designed by local architect Paul Shattuck, husband of Virginia Shattuck, who joined the first Rivera faculty to teach art and 8th grade Core. Mr. Shattuck had also designed Chenoweth School previously.

7. We began with only three permanent classroom buildings and a small office building, which is where the current middle school student office stands. The current main office and elementary library housed classrooms 1-6 in 1968.

8. There was no library building attached to the student office, as it is now. 

Our first library was housed in what was then classroom 4, which is now the east end of---- ironically--- the current elementary school library. There were not enough book shelves in room 4. Books were placed on carts that were regularly rolled to classrooms for checkout.

9. There was no gym that first year. On rainy days, P.E. classes were held under the eves of the buildings or in the empty classroom of any teacher who had a prep period. It rained a lot that first year! P.E. in 1968 was not co-ed, as it is today. There was girls' P.E. and there was boys' P.E.

10. There was no cafeteria. Teachers and students brought their own lunch and ate together in the classroom. First thing in the morning, teachers collected milk money, and the milk was delivered to the class rooms at the beginning of lunch. On rainy days, students remained in their classrooms for lunch recess, or they were released to stay under the eaves of the buildings on lightly rainy days.

11. That first year, the school stood alone, unfenced, perched up on raised sandy ground. There were few houses around, and no mall. We could see for long distances in almost all directions. Buena Vista Drive was a dirt road that abruptly ended right in front of where the current main office sits. The field surrounding the school was bare of grass. On windy days, sand would pile up in front of the classroom doors.

12. The student body consisted of about 120 sixth graders in four classes and around 360 seventh and eighth graders.

13. The four 6th grade classes were self-contained, including a period of Spanish, taught once a week by Mrs. Betty Stewart, who often used her handmade puppets in her lessons. Besides the basic subjects of English/ social studies, math, science, and P.E, all 7th grade students took Spanish for half a year and then were placed in either art or music for the other half. All 8th graders took Spanish for half a year and home economics for girls and wood shop for boys for the other half.

14. For extracurricular activities, we had a chorus, and a small uniformed marching band, directed by Mr. Richard Lewis. For sports teams, we had boys' wrestling, flag football, and the basketball team won a trophy that year. I believe there was also a baseball team. The Rivera Girls Athletic Assoc. played inter-school basketball and volleyball. We had student government. Representatives were elected from each Core class. Eighth grader Mike Kahl was elected Rivera's first ever student body president. Overseen by Mrs. Virginia Shattuck, Yearbook students put out the first Rivera yearbook, Flashbacks, and the student newspaper staff regularly produced the Rivera Roadrunner newspaper.