Riverside School PTA Newsletter
Friday, June 4th, 2021
PTA News
SUMMER READ BOOK PICKUP ON JUNE 9
Riverside’s Annual Summer Book Read, with a theme of “Adventures in Engineering”, is offering five books to choose from. Read one or read them all!  Summer Read books purchased online through the PTA will be available for pickup outside school Wednesday, June 9 from 9:00-9:45am and 2:15-3:00pm (Rain Date: June 10).  Masks and social distancing required.

Missed the deadline to order Summer Read books online through the PTA? No problem! Additional copies of Summer Read books will be available to purchase (with cash or credit card) during the book pickup.
RIVERSIDE BOOK SWAP
Looking for summer reading? Need motivation to clean out books your kids no longer read? Join the Green Committee for the Riverside Summer Book Swap! Collection bins will be in front of the school June 7-11 from 8:15-9:30am and 2:30-3:15pm daily for those wishing to donate books (children's books in excellent to fair condition only, please) for the swap. 

The book swap will then take place Thursday, June 17 from 8:45-10:30am and 1:30-3:00pm outside the main school doors. All unclaimed books will be donated. Email riversidegreencommittee@gmail.com with questions.
FIT FOR FARE: LAST CHANCE TO DONATE!
Thank you to all who have donated to Riverside’s Get Fit for FARE. Great news–it’s not too late! Donations were extended through today (Friday, June 4). Please join us in supporting this important cause.

Last week, Riverside students participated in fun fitness stations during gym class while learning facts about food allergies. FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) funds new treatments to improve the quality of life, hope and health for people with food allergies.
FIFTH GRADE GAGA NIGHT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Fifth Graders, come join friends and classmates for an evening of Gaga Ball (no experience necessary) on Friday, June 11 immediately following school from 3:30- 5pm. This will be held in Riverside's new Gaga Ball Pit on the playground! 

Students will be dismissed from school directly to the event and parents can pick up at 5pm. The rain date will be Thursday, June 17. We are hoping this will be a fun night for our 5th grade students to enjoy before graduating! The cost is $15/ kid and you can sign up on RIVPTA.ORG (click on MyAccount>MyPage).
New Rivpta Logo
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION TEA RECAP
Thanks to everyone who was able to join our annual Volunteer Recognition Tea, which we were able to hold this past Wednesday in person, outdoors on the school blacktop. The weather sustained, we were surrounded by the newly re-built garden on one side, students using the new outdoor gaga ball pit on the other, and the Peaceful Playground stencils in process served a beautiful carpet below! In addition: 

  • We honored Jim Charling and Aaron Charling (grandfather and father, respectively, of 2nd grader Eric Charling) for their above-and-beyond dedication to the school by rebuilding our teaching garden, and 

  • We thanked all volunteers and gave special recognition to: 
  • Volunteer of the Year – Brett Kroeger 
  • Citizen of the Year – Emily Brown 
  • Safety Award – Renata L.C. De Freitas & Hillary Harper 

Teachers and staff, represented by Staff Liaison to the PTA Fionnuala Browning, prepared take-home treats for attendees. Ms. Browning sent a charming video after the meeting. If you have not yet had a chance to, please check out this 

As always, we thank all our volunteers for their time and efforts in carrying out our PTA mission at Riverside School throughout the year!
A THANK YOU FROM DR. JONES TO RIVERSIDE FAMILIES
Thank you to everyone who submitted cards and drawings from Riverside School children for Dr. Jones and her staff last month.  As you can see from her response below, she was most appreciative!
THE NEW GAGA BALL PIT IS HERE!
Come check out Riverside School’s new gaga ball pit, next to the Grades 3-5 playground! Designated as this year’s Fifth Grade Class Gift (with supplemental funding provided by the PTA), it will be a permanent installation on school grounds.

A big thank you to the parent volunteers who assembled it earlier last week. You can check out a 90-second time lapse video of the build here.  
New Rivpta Logo
VOLUNTEER FOR THE RIVERSIDE PTA NEXT YEAR! 
Opportunities big and small need to be filled for the 2021-2022 school year. Whether you have little time or a lot, consider investing time to benefit your child’s elementary school and our community—we need you! Here are a few of the high-priority roles we need filled
 
  • Pizza Bingo Co-Chair  
  • Various roles on our Communications Team (no web or coding experience necessary!)

There are so many more roles open to suit your time availability and interests. Please review our openings and complete an interest form to express interest in one or many of our volunteer opportunities! Questions? Email Heeyoon Slater. 
GPS WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK ON PPT MEETINGS
GPS has initiated a new internal feedback process (that is separate from the review being conducted by PCG) to improve their PPT meeting process. To that end, please make sure to fill out the new special education survey AFTER your Annual PPT Meeting. The survey link is in blue and can be found on the PPT Summary Page. The PPT Summary is delivered virtually, five school days after your annual PPT. It is included with your finalized IEP.

This survey is in response to the many inconsistencies that Key2Ed found regarding how PPTs are run throughout the district. These surveys are anonymous and cannot be traced back to families. If you do not receive a survey link please reach out to the PTAC Special Education Support Committee at ses@greenwichptac.org.
CALLING ALL SES FAMILIES
Calling all families of students with IEPs and 504 plans. Please sign up for the SES Message Board to stay informed and up to date on district meetings and special events that impact special education and related services. We look forward to connecting and collaborating. 
BIRD BEAK VARIATIONS PRESENTATION IN THIRD GRADE
On Tuesday, Eli Whitney Museum facilitated a virtual program for the 3rd grade on "Bird Beak Variations." Ever wonder why different birds look the way they do? Why are some bird's beaks pointy? curved? long? short? With this program, combining engineering concepts with biology, students built an 'arm' with the beak of a bird at the end, activated it, and discovered why it's shaped the way it is, learning that adaptation happens with the need for survival.

This program was made possible by your generous support of the PTA, thank you.  
UPCOMING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
June 15: Mariachi Band (Grade 2 fiesta)
From the Office
2ND, 3RD & 4TH GRADE HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS 
As per the Connecticut Department of Health, all current 3rd graders need to submit a CT State Health Assessment form for the 2020-2021 school year. These assessments should be based on health exams performed during the 2020 through 2021 calendar years. 

Parents of current 4th graders who were notified of needing to submit the 3rd/4th grade Health Assessments must submit their form by April 23, 2021. These assessments should be based on health exams performed during the 2020 through 2021 calendar years. 

Current 2nd graders will also need to submit a Heath Assessment based on a health exam performed during the 2021 through 2022 calendar years for 3rd grade "entry". These forms can be submitted during the 3rd grade year (2021-22 school year). 

In addition, the School will need Dental Forms to be fully completed by either your Pediatrician or Dentist, as per CT Department of Health requirements. 

Thank you so much for your help and time. Please let Nurse Luiso know if you have any questions: Melissa_Luiso@greenwich.k12.ct.us
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE COVID TESTING
As a reminder, GPS is asking that students stay home if a member of their immediate family is being tested due to exposure or symptoms. It will limit teachers and students from possible exposures, causing individuals to be quarantined. Quarantining is a great safety measure, but it can be disruptive for staff and families. We understand we have many families who regularly test as a proactive measure; staying home while awaiting results of proactive, regular testing is not necessary.
ORDERING LUNCH (IN-PERSON STUDENTS)
PLEASE NOTE: All orders MUST be submitted prior to the date ordering for (and up to five days in advance).  Orders entered for same day lunch may not be seen, and cafeteria staff don't want students missing out. Please visit the Lunch Page on rivpta.org for information on submitting lunch orders and a link to the school's order form.

District News
DON’T MISS DR. ROSS GREENE’S FINAL WEBINAR ON TUESDAY, JUNE 8
Dr. Ross Greene will be hosting the last of his four-part webinar series that expands on the strategies he described in his initial presentation in December 2020. Learn about Dr. Greene’s Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, which provides practical, research-based tools for assessment and intervention. Participants in the workshop series will gain a further understanding of the underpinnings of the model, its refinements over the past 8-10 years, and practical assessment and intervention tools that can be brought back to and used in these diverse settings.

Final Webinar:
June 8 from 6-7:30pm – Zoom link (session 4 of 4)

Prior Session Recordings:
Session 1 from May 11 (Password: Greenwichno1)
Session 2 from May 18 (Password: Greenwichno2)
Session 3 from May 25 (Password: Greenwichno3)
REPLAY OF "READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL" WORKSHOP NOW AVAILABLE
The replay of the PTA Council Academic Excellence Committee’s May 11 “Ready for Middle School” workshop for parents is now available.  The workshop explored the skills taught in elementary and middle school to help students transition. Speakers include a 5th grade teacher from North Mianus School, WMS Principal Gordon Beinstein and CMS Principal Tom Healy. This Workshop is especially relevant for parents of current 4th and 5th graders.
BOE MEETINGS NOW VIRTUAL
Board of Education meetings are easier to attend now that they take place over Zoom--stay informed! Here is a list of 2020-2021 academic year Greenwich Board of Education meetings. Information on how to access the meetings can be found on the GPS Accessing Virtual BOE Meetings page. All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

  • Thursday, June 17, 2021
GPS WEEKLY DISTRICT DIGEST
Subscribe to receive the Greenwich Public Schools weekly "District Digest" e-newsletter directly to your email inbox.

Community News
Review the RTM News , BOE News, and the Community Calendar 
Participate in Today’s Greenwich Arts Day 2021 at the Boys & Girls Club
Come visit Arts Day 2021 TODAY (Friday, June 4) from 4:00-5:30pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. It is sponsored by the Developing Artist Program (funded in part through the Greenwich Alliance for Education) which aims to give students a broader understanding of what it means to be an artist and to expose young artists to the possibilities of pursuing a career in this field. 

The session will consist of professional studio artists creating and collaborating with students on open-ended projects using a variety of mediums, stationed around the BGCG building. Please note this is an in-person event. In the event of rain, activities will take place in the covered parking lot. Please view the event flyer for more information.
GOT (used) SNEAKERS?
Wondering what to do with those old sneakers now that summer is here? Drop them at St. Paul's Day School (200 Riverside Avenue)! The Day School has been collecting old sneakers to reuse and/or recycle with Got Sneakers, which will help reduce the amount of sneakers in landfills. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and get stinky stuff out of your house! The collection has been extended to Friday, June 4. Questions? Contact Elisabeth at emiranowski@gmail.com.
Greenwich Youth Cheerleading - Join the Fun!
Do you have a rising 3rd through 8th grader interested in cheerleading for this fall?  Have them join Greenwich Youth Cheerleading!  Registration information can be found here.

COVID Resources from the School
IN-SCHOOL COVID-19 SYMPTOM PROTOCOL
The Nurse’s Office has received many questions about how the school is making decisions about when the school is sending students home. Extra precautions are being taken in order to do our best to keep students in school. Unfortunately, there will be many students sent home this year even though they may have normally been allowed to stay in school and we hope all families will be understanding. 

Greenwich Public Schools COVID Symptom Protocol:  
  • If a student exhibits 1 low risk symptom (fever of 100.4 or greater, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, sore throat, headache, muscle aches) and has had no exposure to a COVID-19 positive person, the student may return to school 24 hours after symptom resolution (without medication for fevers) 
  • If a student exhibits 2 or more low risk symptoms (see above) or has 1 high-risk symptom (new cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste/smell) AND has had no exposure to a COVID-19 positive person, the student must be seen by a healthcare provider. 
  • If the student has a negative PCR swab test for COVID, the student may return to school 24 hours after symptom resolution (without medication for fevers). 
  • If the student has lab testing and evaluation, or an alternative diagnosis, the student may return to school 24 hours after symptom resolution (without medication for fevers). 
  • If a student has a positive PCR swab test for COVID, the student may return to school after 24 hours without fever (without medication) AND symptoms improving AND approval of local health department (10-14 days); AND release by the primary care provider will be required 
  • If a student is exposed to a COVID positive person, the student may return to school 14 days after last contact unless symptoms develop.  If symptoms develop, the student must obtain a swab. 

Please visit the district site to access the GPS COVID Checklist and the GPS COVID-19 resource page for more information. 

Please contact the School Nurse, Melissa Luiso (melissa_luiso@greenwich.k12.ct.us) with any questions. 
PEEK AT THE WEEK
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SUBMISSIONS
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