Riverside School PTA Newsletter


Friday, November 22nd , 2019
CALENDAR



WEEK OF 11/25- 11/29


Tuesday, November 26
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal - All Members

Wednesday, November 27
EARLY RELEASE
Spirit Wear Day
7:45a Adv. Orchestra Rehearsal - Gr 5
8:30a Fluoride Rinse

Thursday, November 28
NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Day

Friday, November 29
NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Recess



WEEK OF 12/02 12/06


Monday, December 2
8:00a Rangers Meeting

Tuesday, December 3
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal - All members
Book Fair Ice Cream Social 

Wednesday, December 4
Book Fair
7:45a Adv. Orchestra Rehearsal - Gr 5
8:30a Fluoride Rinse

Thursday, December 5
EARLY RELEASE - Conferences
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal - All Members

Friday, December 6
7:50a Band Rehearsal - Gr 4 & 5

QUICK LINKS











PEEK AT THE WEEK

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Access our Peek Archive for past issues

If you are not receiving an issue every Friday please email
constantcontactriv@gmail.com 

SUBMISSIONS
Have something to add? Email us at:  peekweekriv@gmail.com

Deadline for submissions is 3pm
on Wednesday of the school week

COMMUNITY NEWS

Review th e RTM News and  BOE News

November - The Greenwich Conservation Commission's free 
Environmental L ecture Series  partnered with many community organizations.

Dec 3, 4 pm: Young Strings Workshop at the Perrot Library.
Darwin Shen, professional violinist and conductor of the Young Artists Philharmonic Strings Ensemble, will lead a workshop to help young strings students become confident strings players. The workshop will review basic skills such as how to tune your instrument, how to take care of your instrument, how to hold and rosin your bow, plus tips on practicing.  For grades 4 to 8, limited to 20. To register, please call the Youth Services at the Perrot at 203-637-8802.

Dec 2 & 3 : Boys & Girls Club Theater  Program will hold auditions for  Willie Wonka Jr at the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich  6:30 - 8:00pm. Rehearsals  for the shows will be held: Tuesdays & Saturday ; Saturdays beginning January 4, 2020.
Performances: Friday, May 1 - Saturday, May 2. 
Come prepared to dance, read for a character, sing a song of your choosing  (acapella!) and HAVE FUN!
For more information, contact Don Palmer at (203) 869-3224 or dpalmer@bgcg.org

Dec 4, 5 & 6  Auditions for Mary Poppins Jr. at YMCA of Greenwich. Performances will take place on April 24, 25, and 26, 2020 at the Western Middle School Auditorium. Children 8 to 18 years old are encouraged to audition and registration can
be completed at 
www.OpenArtsAlliance.com or call  (203) 869-1630 Ext. 304. 

Dec 8, 3pm Songs of the Seasons Featuring the Greenwich Public School Honor Choir at the The Palace Theater. 

Check out the Community Calendar  
PTA Highlights
Dear Riverside Parents,

Today we had a very special school assembly with  Grammy award-winning recording artist and local Greenwich resident Rob Mathes  who wrote the original Riverside School song.  In celebration of our new Red Hawk mascot and the design contest, Mr. Mathes sang and played the school song on the piano for us.  And, our Red Hawk Mascot also made an appearance and had all our students cheering and clapping.  It was the ultimate display of school spirit!

We want to thank all the Riverside families that attended our Community Service "Holidays for Haiti" event last Friday to support Danita's Children Orphanage.  Riverside students  and families came together to bring some holiday cheer to kids in need in Haiti by making 330 cards and raising $5,800 for gifts and necessities!  An enormous thank you to the PTA community service committee along with the Riverside School's Student Council and Rangers groups for their help and involvement. 

When we return from Thanksgiving break, we are looking forward to our annual book fair, themed " Winter Wonderland of Books" on Tuesday, December 3rd (evening ice cream social 5:30-7pm) and Wednesday, December 4th (Classroom Visits and Book Fair open 9am-4:30pm).  

We will be sending a Peek-at-the-Week Ahead the Sunday following Thanksgiving with some helpful reminders and key dates.

We hope everyone has a wonderful, safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

Kristin Duda & Heeyoon Slater
PTA Co- Presidents
 PTA News
RIVERSIDE SCHOOL BOOK FAIR!
Riverside's Book Fair "Winter Wonderland of Books" is around the corner, on December 3rd and December 4th. 

For class visitation schedule, volunteer sign ups and information on Book Fair Bucks, please visit  www.rivpta.org.
 
Parents are invited to come during their child's class visit.  If you are unable to attend, you have the option to purchase Book Fair Bucks for your children so that they may purchase books independently. 
 
Also join us for an Ice Cream Social on December 3rd from 5:30 - 7:00pm which will include an allergy friendly ice cream treat and a fun raffle for each grade starting at 6:30pm.
JOURNALISTS VISIT 5TH GRADE
On Monday, Jo Kroeker, a reporter for the Greenwich Time met with the fifth graders to help kick off their journalism unit. Jo talked to the students about writing stories for the newspaper, the difference between a breaking news story and a feature, and walked them through the process of researching and writing an article.  Jo used the recent example of the context for our new school mascot to walk students through how to build a story.  You might even see a story about the Riverside Red Hawk in the Greenwich Time soon!  This program was organized by the PTA Arts Enrichment Committee.  
TREX CHALLENGE!
Did you know that plastic bags, wraps and film are not accepted in your recycling bin at home? These items CAN however be recycled at participating grocery stores and now conveniently at Riverside! Riverside will be competing in the TREX "Plastic Film Collection" Challenge against other elementary schools in the Northeast. The challenge kicks off on America Recycles Day (November 15) and winners are announced on Earth Day (April 22). 

We are collecting clean and dry produce, newspaper and dry cleaning bags, case and bubble wrap and other accepted items in the collection bin at the entrance of school and will encourage students to recycle these items in the cafeteria too! Each month, the plastic collected will be weighed and recorded, and then sent to Trex to become composite decking. See the PTA Green Schools site for a list of accepted materials and Trex challenge details.  Please help the environment and Riverside School by dropping off your plastic bags and film!
WINTER BOOT DRIVE - THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone that donated boots for our 2nd Annual Winter Boot Drive! We were able to collect 30 boots in a variety of children's sizes. Of those, 19 were picked up by Riverside families! The remainder were donated to Greenwich Hospital. Reduce, reuse & recycle!
AMERICAN RECYCLE DAY - THANK YOU!
Thank you for helping your children bring in a waste-free lunch and snack to celebrate America Recycles Day last Friday! Recycling saves money, valuable natural resources and energy, as well as reduces pollution. Reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place makes an even greater impact on our environment!  Let's strive to be waste-free everyday! Please visit our PTA Green site   for helpful tips and videos!   Reduce, reuse & recycle! 
SIGN UP FOR SAFETY DUTY
We encourage you to sign up for Safety Duty, which is the coverage to help kids get out of cars safely in the drop-off lane in front of school from 8:30-8:45am (only 15 minutes).  You can sign-up through this safety duty link on the Riverside School PTA Volunteer Homepage.
RIVERSIDE EARLY MORNING PROGRAM  elbow-children-line.jpg
The Early Morning Program at Riverside School provides a childcare option for Riverside students prior to the start of the regular school day. The program runs Monday through Friday from 7:15am until school opens at 8:30am. Any questions, contact Kristine Redlien at  kristine.redlien@gmail.com
UPCOMING PTA ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS - 2019

Dec 2: Dinosaur Rocks HTHT (2nd)
Dec 2 & 3: Green Machine HTHT (5th)

Ask your children about what they learned!  These programs are all run thanks to the generous donations and sponsored by the Riverside School PTA.
 5th Grade News
BOOK DONATION DRIVE- RIVERSIDE 5TH GRADERS GIVE BACK 
The 5th Grade will be taking part in a book drive/donation for the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich for this holiday season. We are hoping each 5th Grade family can donate one book aimed at 1st, 2nd and 3rd Graders. The choice of book is completely yours!  Each 5th Grade family can order a book on their own or purchase a book at the Book Fair on Dec 3rd and 4th. We will have a collection bin in the front hall of school and also at the Book Fair.  We are so excited to have our 5th Graders give back to our community during this holiday season!
District News 
RUN FOR YOUR SCHOOL COMPETITION
Turkey Trot - Saturday, November 30
5K Race/1 Mile Fun Run Benefits Greenwich Public Schools.
9am - 11am, 100 Arch Street

$35 adults/$15 youth (14 & under). $40 on race day.  For more information visit   www.greenwichalliance.org.
ALP INFORMATION SUBMISSION
Please note that the Middle School Advanced Studies meeting will take place  on Monday, December 2 at 9:00am and again  at 6:00pm at Greenwich Town Hall. Snow dates are  December 9 at 6:00pm and  December 13 at 9:00am.

Any questions? Please email Charlotte Weinberg at  charlottekaiser@gmail.com
UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS

Dec 5: BOE Budget Meeting w/Public Hearing; BOE Q&A/Discussion, 7pm, CCS

Dec 6: Council meeting, 9am-12pm (Cone room)

Dec19: BOE Business Meeting w/Public Hearing - Action on BOE Operating, Capital & Food Services Budget, 6:30pm, JCS

Jan 10: Council meeting, 9am-12pm (Cone Room)

Jan 16: BOE Business Meeting, 7pm, ISD

Jan 23: First Selectman's Presentation of Budget for Town Departments (other than BOE); BOE Presentation to BET Budget Committee on Budget (time and location TBA)

Jan 30: Public Hearing on Budget BET Operating & Capital Budget Review with BOE (time and location TBA)

Jan 30: BOE Retreat, 6pm, Havemeyer

GPS WEEKLY DISTRICT DIGEST
Subscribe  to receive the Greenwich Public School weekly "District Digest" e-newsletter  directly to your email inbox.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us at riversideschoolpta@gmail.com.

Sincerely,
Kristin Duda and Heeyoon Slater
Co-Presidents Riverside School PTA

 Office: 203-637-1440   -   www.greenwichschools.org/rs