|
CALENDAR
WEEK OF 3/9 - 3/13
Monday, March 9
Spring Afters Begin
9:15a
Kindergarten Orientation
Tuesday, March 10
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal PT. 1
9:00a PTA Board of Directors
Wednesday, March 11
EARLY RELEASE
7:45a Adv. Orchestra - Gr 5 Only
8:30a Fluoride Rinse
Thursday, March 12
STEM Board Distribution
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal - PT. 2
Friday, March 13
STEM Board Distribution
7:50a Band Rehearsal - Gr 4 & 5
WEEK OF 3/16 - 3/20
Monday, March 16
LOCKDOWN DRILL
8:00a Student Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 17
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal - PT 1
9:00a EMS Parent Coffee - Gr 5
Wednesday, March 18
7:45a Adv. Orchestra - Gr 5 Only
8:30a Fluoride Rinse
8:45a ROPES Photos
Thursday, March 19
7:50a Chorus Rehearsal - PT. 2
Friday, March 20
Pizza Bingo
Spirit Wear Day
7:50a Band Rehearsal Gr 4 & 5
|
|
PEEK AT THE WEEK
MISSED AN ISSUE?
If you are not receiving an issue every Friday please email
constantcontactriv@gmail.com
SUBMISSIONS
Deadline for submissions is 3pm
on Wednesday of the school week
|
|
COMMUNITY NEWS
March 28, 9:30am, 2:00 & 6:30pm Essentially Ellington Regional Jazz Festival at Greenwich High School High Performing Arts Center. A $10 donation at the door is kindly suggested. Event free
for middle school band students.
Questions may be addressed to greenwich
band@gm
ail.com
April 4,
Boys Achieving More.The Junior League of Greenwich is now accepting applications for the Spring Boys Achieving More (BAM!), a program created and run by the Junior League of Greenwich to facilitate communication with fifth grade boys about concepts of respect, trust, communication and leadership.
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
Dear Riverside Parents,
We want to thank our teachers and staff for organizing a fun and interactive Family Science Night this past Wednesday. What a great event!
As we look to the week ahead, we are looking forward to holding our first
Wellness Week to focus on mental well-being and overall health. We will be sending reminders out about each day's theme -- Mindful Monday, Tech Free Tuesday, Wake Up Your Senses Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, and Feelings Friday -- and we invite all parents to join us on Thursday, March 12th at 2pm for a presentation on mindfulness by two local authors. There is a wealth of
information on our website, so please check it out.
Today is the last day to register for the STEM Fair, which will take place April 7th & 8th. Board pick up will take place this coming week on Thursday, March 12th.
In addition, our
Spring Afters begins on Monday, March 9th and we have an
Early Release day on Wednesday, March 11th
.
We have a busy month ahead so please review all the blurbs below for more details.
Enjoy your weekend...don't forget to spring ahead and change your clocks!
Kristin Duda and Heeyoon Slater
PTA Co-Presidents
|
|
STEM FAIR FORMS ARE DUE TODAY!
For registration and more information, visit RIVPTA.ORG.
Deadline for entries is today, Friday March 6.
Please come pick up your STEM fair board next Thursday, March 12th at the gym entrance 3-3:30pm.
Riverside's sixth annual STEM FAIR will be held on
April 7-8, 2020!
The FAIR gives students a chance to sharpen their STEM skills as they explore their world and/or create solutions to real-world problems. Participation is voluntary and all students in grades K-5 are welcome!
|
WELLNESS WEEK AT RIVERSIDE: MARCH 9-13 
Riverside will be celebrating Wellness Week next week. This new initiative recognizes mental well-being as part of our total body health. Students will participate in daily mindfulness activities at school and yoga during PE!
On
Thursday, March 12th at 2pm, parents are invited to hear Whitney Keyes and Laura White, authors of
Be Sensational
, an interactive collection of mindfulness activities specifically geared towards families and children. They will lead us through a few exercises we can do with our children at home to help us slow down and create peace-filled moments of pause as a family. Please join us!
RSVP Here
|
PIZZA BINGO - BUY TICKETS & VOLUNTEER!
Pizza Bingo will be on
Friday, March 20th
at Greenwich High School!
Check-in begins at 6:00pm
Bingo begins at 6:30pm
Looking forward to another great event!
|
|
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT PTAC 2E ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION!
The PTAC 2E Committee
Roundtable
provides an opportunity for
parents
/guardians to share information and resources to help each child realize his/her fullest potential. Twice Exceptional (2E) refers to students who are both advanced or "gifted" and have a learning disability/difference (SES).
The r
oundtable
will be in a private home on Thursday, March 19 from 9:30am-11:30am. Please email 2e@greenwichptac.org. for location.
The final date for the PTAC Roundtable for the 2019/2020 school year is
Tuesday, May 5th
from
9:30am-11:30am.
|
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE WORKSHOP
The Academic Excellence Committee of PTA Council invites you to attend our upcoming workshop:
What's new in STEM at GPS?
Taking a look at new curriculum and changes in Science and Math.
March 17th at 10:30am at the Board of Education building at 290 Greenwich Avenue. Please submit questions in advance to
|
FITNESS WEEK AT RIVERSIDE SCHOOL
Fitness Week was a success at Riverside! Classes participated in a "Riverside Fit 5 Challenge" encouraging the children to be active throughout the day. The winning classes were Anstey, Crawford, Longo, K-Cullen, Muscat and Hirshfield. Congratulations and enjoy your extra recess! The week concluded with a night of Riverside roller skating fun - thank you to all the families that came out and got moving!!
|
1st GRADE SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
First grade students had a visit from High Touch - High Tech this week to participate in the Biome Sweet Home program. Each class spent 90 minutes exploring Earth's climate zones and biomes. Students matched animals to their habitats and saw how they interact with their environment and each other. They discovered how animals have adapted to survive and even got to use their imagination to build an "alien" that can adapt to an exotic planet.
|
UPCOMING PTA ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS 2020 
March 10: Bash the Trash (2nd grade)
March 13: Storyteller Lot Therrio (Kindergarten)
March 13: Riverside Rhythms - The Grace Notes
Ask your children about what they learned! These programs are all run thanks to the generous donations and sponsored by the Riverside School
PTA.
|
TREX CHALLENGE! - UPDATE
Riverside is making great progress in the
Trex Challenge
to recycle the most plastic bags, film and wrap in the Northeast! Since November we've collected over
220
of plastic, which will be recycled into composite decking and other products! Remember - we can only collect (clean and dry) plastic bags, film and wrap according to these
guidelines
.
Please NO food (cheese, salad mix or frozen food bags) or snack packaging
, except for bread or cereal bags. Keep up the great work!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
|
FLU SEASON REMINDERS!
Flu Season has arrived with a vengeance and our school is getting hit hard right now.
It is imperative that anyone having symptoms be checked immediately. The State mandates that flu cases are reported. In the event your child is diagnosed, please contact the school nurse IMMEDIATELY, as well as provide written confirmation by your Medical Provider.
In order to prevent continued spread of the flu, please adhere to our district's "Five Day Rule Policy," by keeping a child diagnosed with the flu at home for five days. We recognize it's difficult to do so, but it really is necessary to prevent an outbreak.
Please do not hesitate to call or email should you have concerns or questions. We want to keep everyone healthy and it starts with You.
Thank you on behalf of the Nurse and Entire Staff at Riverside for your compliance.
|
5
TH GRADE GAGA BALL PARTY (KIDS ONLY) - FRIDAY MARCH 6TH 
Come join friends and classmates on Friday March 6th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm for an evening of GaGa ball (no experience necessary), dinner, snacks, music, prizes and fun!
- Location: Riverside Elementary Gym
- Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm
- Dress: Casual
- Tickets: $15 online only (available until 4pm on Friday, March 6th)
- Email Lauren Jones (laurenodonnelljones@gmail.com) with any questions
|
PIZZA BINGO DONATIONS NEEDED!
We are in need of baked goods for the Pizza Bingo Bake Sale on
Friday, March 20th. The proceeds from this bake sale help cover the extra costs for some special 5th grade events this spring.
Details for the baked good donations...
- Baked good donations needed - including cookies, cupcakes, allergy friendly options or something else!
- All donations must be NUT FREE
- They do not have to be homemade...store bought is fine...just include the packaging so we have the ingredient labels
- For cookies it helps if they are wrapped either in a small group (maybe 2-3 per baggie) or one depending on the size
- Cupcakes, brownies, bars, etc don't have to be individually wrapped
- All donations can be brought with you on the night of Pizza Bingo (Friday, March 20th)
You can sign up online. You can also find it under volunteer opportunities on
My Page
|
5th GRADE YEARBOOK - INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PAGES DUE MARCH 16
It's time for the students to create their own pages (with your help)! Each 5th Grader will have his or her own page in our yearbook. These will be created using the PICTAVO software; it's easy to use and will create great results.
We have
detailed instructions on how to access the system and get started (including a few examples). Remember that everyone's page will look different and will reflect each individual student. These are NOT meant to be dedication pages from the parent to the child but instead for your child to create.
You can also access these instructions from the RIVPTA.ORG website - go to Parent Resources/ Fifth Grade Families/ Yearbook.
Please contact Sarah Morris with any questions.
|
|
NOMINATE A TEACHER TODAY - DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS AWARDS
Nominate your student's phenomenal teacher! Now is your chance to honor that special teacher who always goes the extra mile or makes a special contribution to you
r child's education. Please take the time to nominate a teacher - they deserve the recognition and it is an important honor in the Greenwich Public Schools.
Please review and begin the nomination process as soon as possible, as certain parts, such as recommendation letters, take time to request and complete.
Nominations are due March 12th. The awardees are selected based solely on the written information provided in each candidate's Nomination Packet.
|
|
ANTI-VAPING PARENT EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
The PTAC Health and Wellness Committee in coordination with the community group, Greenwich Together, will be starting a
parent education campaign
on the dangers and risks of vaping (e-cigarettes) by teens.
The committee will be distributing some fact-based information on vaping via school newsletters.
Parents can play an important role in preventing their kids' e-cigarette use by learning the facts of e-cigarettes and by setting expectations about substance use.
Click here
for a summary of a 2018 survey of Greenwich youths on the use of alcohol, tobacco (including vaping) and other drugs.
|
|
BIG CHANGES HAPPENING IN THE LUNCHROOM
The PTAC Health and Wellness Committee would like to inform parents and students of some notable and BIG changes in the lunchroom.
You will soon see simplified menus with healthier, less-processed items, with more items to come.
The Food Services Team is actively developing recipes based on the new guidelines
by increasing vegetable-based recipes and replacing meat products with meat alternatives and legumes.
See guideline
here
. See new changes and offerings to the menu
here
.
Unlimited fresh fruit and vegetable cups are offered every day in K - 8
th
grade. ALL students can help themselves even if they did not purchase a meal. Even children who bring their lunch can stop in the kitchen for some fresh produce.
|
UPCOMING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
Mar 26:
B
OE Business Meeting, 7pm, North Street School
Mar 30: BET Budget Public Hearing, 7pm, Town Hall Meeting Room
Apr 23: BOE Business Meeting, 6:30pm, Riverside
May 21: BOE Business Meeting, 7pm, Glenville
Jun 18: BOE Business Meeting, 6:30pm North Mianus
|
GPS WEEKLY DISTRICT DIGEST
Subscribe
to receive the Greenwich Public School weekly "District Digest" e-newsletter
directly to your email inbox.
|
|
|
