Riverside School PTA Newsletter | |
PTA Highlights
Dear Riverside families,
Now that we’re into M-A-Y (and wondering where the S-U-N has been much of this week?!) we’ve got 3-letter words on our mind...
We hope to see everyone at tomorrow’s 37th annual Riverside R-U-N. We acknowledge that tomorrow’s weather forecast leaves much to be desired, but a little rain can’t get us down because this event is so much F-U-N! Even if you’re not planning to race, stop by any part of the course to cheer on participants.
While tomorrow’s course only measures about 3 miles, we would like to extend a marathon-length thank you to Heather DeVries and Lindsay Melcher, and everyone who helped as part of the Run committees, for bringing this time-honored event back to the community!
Do you have questions for Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones? Now’s your time to A-S-K them. We are so pleased that Dr. Jones is taking the time to answer pre-submitted questions from Riverside School parents at our PTA general meeting on Wednesday, May 18 (via Zoom). Email your questions to riversideschoolpta@gmail.com by next Friday, May 13.
Lastly, we want to extend an early Mother’s Day greeting to every M-O-M in our school community. We hope you enjoy your day, however you plan to spend it!
Your May calendar reminders:
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May 7 – Riverside Run
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May 13 – Deadline to submit questions for Dr. Jones
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May 18 – Spring General Meeting
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May 27 – Early Release (Teacher Professional Learning)
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May 31 – Deadline to order 2022-23 school supplies
See you at tomorrow’s Run.
Carey Bisbee & Allison Maus
PTA Co-Presidents
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RIVERSIDE RUN: ON YOUR MARK...GET SET...GO!!!
The Run is tomorrow! Join us this Saturday, May 7! The 3-Mile Run will begin at 8:30am. The Kids Fun Run will begin at 9:30am.
Registration & Packet Pick-Up is:
- TODAY, (Friday, May 6) from 2:30-4:00pm in the foyer area by the entrance to the school gym
- RACE DAY (Saturday, May 7) from 7:30-8:15am
**Cash, check, and credit cards will be accepted for in-person registration.
Please Note: The Riverside Run will go on RAIN OR SHINE.
No roller blades, bicycles, or dogs are allowed in the Riverside Run.
The parking lot at Riverside is not open as this is part of the Kids Fun Run course. There is also NO parking along the sidewalk in front of the school. Please consider parking at Eastern Middle School, where the 3-mile race starts.
Please email riversideruncommittee@gmail.com with any questions.
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ORDER 2022-2023 SCHOOL SUPPLIES BY MAY 31
The PTA is once again sponsoring a school supply fundraiser for the upcoming school year. Order now and your child's box of supplies will be delivered directly to the classroom by the first day of school.
Please visit the SchoolKidz Teacher Tailored website and enter account number 83285. The site will be open from May 1- May 31. Once again earbuds, headphones and PPE kits will be available to purchase separately if new ones are required. Please note that it is strongly advised that Kindergarteners have headphones rather than earbuds.
Questions? Email Virginia Lockhart at virginia.b.lockhart@gmail.com.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR: MAY 18 SPRING PTA MEETING
Please join us on Wednesday, May 18 from 9:30-10:30am via Zoom for the Spring PTA Meeting. We will begin with a brief review of PTA business items before welcoming our featured speaker, Dr. Toni Jones, Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools. Through Dr. Jones' answers to questions from Riverside families, we expect to gain insight into her vision and priorities as we look toward a new school year and think beyond the pandemic.
**Please submit questions for Dr. Jones ahead of time**
Your questions will help Dr. Jones identify the topics most important to Riverside families. Send your questions to riversideschoolpta@gmail.com by Friday, May 13.
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WE’RE FILLING PTA ROLES FOR NEXT YEAR, FIND YOURS!
A wide range of PTA volunteer roles are now being filled for the 2022-2023 school year. Still trying to fully understand everything the PTA does, particularly due to limited in-person touchpoints during the pandemic? Volunteering is the best way to learn!
Whether you have a little time or a lot, consider volunteering in a way that benefits your child’s school and our community, and increases your level of engagement with the school (particularly as in-person programming returns).
There are many positions available to suit your available time and interests. Please review all our open roles and complete the volunteer interest form to express interest in one (or many) of our volunteer opportunities! Questions? Email Carey Bisbee at carey.starno@gmail.com.
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FROM THE ALLERGY COMMITTEE: ALLERGY AWARENESS
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. More than 65 million Americans overall have asthma and allergies, including 5.6 million children with food allergies. FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) will be hosting daily events online next week, 5/8 through 5/14, for their “Living Teal FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK 2022”. Please visit their website here to learn more about food allergies and the events next week. Students are also encouraged to help raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies and anaphylaxis by wearing red for Red Sneaker Day on May 20th. Click here for more information about Red Sneaker Day.
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PART 4 OF "YOUR CHILD'S DIGITAL LIFE"
** PLEASE NOTE - NEW DATE TO COME** The last part of Mrs. Browning’s four-part “Your Child’s Digital Life” series for parents has been postponed. Stay tuned for the new date for this in-person presentation in the school's media center.
The last session will focus on the key apps students use in school. These sessions are a terrific opportunity for parents with kids in all grade levels to see how their children and their teachers use digital tools not only for occasional remote learning but also for instruction in the classroom and for homework assignments.
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ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
On Monday, May 2nd, Grade 3 students participated in a cultural arts program by Journeys Into American Indian Territory to learn about the culture of the Native Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands and Plains. During this live program, students participated in hands-on workshops exploring how Native Americans of our region met their three basic needs of food, clothing and shelter by using natural resources. Students also learned about traditional games and stories, government, and the use of symbols in communication.
UPCOMING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
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May 10: Animal Embassy's Animal Adaptations (Grade 1)
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May 12: Animal Embassy’s Endangered Species (Grade 3)
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May 12-13: Bash the Trash's Experimental Orchestra (Grade 2)
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May 17: Arts Field Day (Grades 4 & 5)
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May 20: Visit from Biscuit author Alyssa Capucilli (Kindergarten)
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May 20: Dragoons (Grade 5)
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May 23: Riverside Rhythms (all grades)
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May 24: Animal Embassy's Reptiles and Amphibians (Grade 2)
These programs are paid for by your generous donations to the PTA. Thank you!
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STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE "HAWKS WHO HELP" PAGE
The Riverside Community Service Committee now has a page on the PTA website called “HAWKS WHO HELP” detailing local outreaches within the community, many in which our children can also get involved. There are two local drives supporting the efforts in Ukraine organized by Too Sparrows Gives and the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Stamford. We have also included drives for other local needs, including local Afghan refugees that Jewish Family Services of Greenwich is assisting in their acclimation into our community. Please check it out!
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VISIT THE ONLINE APPAREL STORE
Whether you're a returning Red Hawk or new to the nest, you can support Riverside School by showing your school spirit! Our online apparel store is open for business and stocked with lots of great items, including tees, shorts, sweatshirts, ROPES shirts, water bottles and more. Go to RIVPTA.ORG to shop now! Orders placed by noon on Thursdays can be picked up between 7am-7pm on Fridays at 41 Owenoke Way.
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SAFETY DUTY: MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN JUST 15 MINUTES!
In addition to making sure everyone is familiar with the drop-off/pick-up “Rules of the Road”, Safety Duty is an important part of keeping our children safe at Riverside School. Volunteers make the morning drop-off process more efficient and secure. Volunteers assist from 8:30-8:45am daily. Sign up online. For more info, contact Brielle Goldfaden at brielleg@gmail.com.
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SAVE THE DATE: 5TH GRADE GAGA PARTY ON MAY 20!
On Friday, May 20th, from 6-7:30 pm at Riverside School, 5th grade students are invited to attend a Gaga Ball Party that includes music, dinner, and of course...Gaga Ball. Be on the lookout for an e-mail in the next week which will include more details.
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SAVE THE DATE: 5TH GRADE PARENT SOCIAL ON JUNE 11!
Parents have the chance to celebrate their 5th graders with an event just for... parents. Save the date of June 11th for an evening to celebrate with other Riverside 5th grade parents at the home of Lois and Bryan Kelly from 7-10 pm. Be on the lookout for more details as the end of the year approaches and information about purchasing tickets.
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PTA COUNCIL ESSENCE AWARD 2022 – APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 11
The PTAC Essence Awards recognize up to two outstanding PTA members of the Greenwich Public Schools PTA communities, who through exemplary achievement, have inspired others, demonstrated selfless spirit and made a significant difference in our school community (individual school or district wide). Parents, teachers, staff, students, principals, administrators or members of the Greenwich community may submit nominations. The application consists of an essay of no more than 500 words, and must be submitted through the online form. The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 24 at 10am. Location to be determined based on COVID guidelines. Questions? Contact essence@greenwichptac.org.
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READ “ALL ABOUT ALP” FOR INFO ON THIS YEAR’S PLACEMENT PROCESS
For parents interested in learning more about ALP spring timelines and assessment protocols, please refer to the latest edition of the GPS ALP newsletter, All About ALP. https://www.smore.com/vznch-all-about-alp?ref=email
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GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS
Board of Education meetings are easier to attend now that they be viewed on Zoom--stay informed! Here is a list of 2021-2022 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 7:00pm unless otherwise noted.
- Thursday, May 19, 2022
- Thursday, June 2, 2022 (Retreat, no public comment)
- Thursday, June 16, 2022
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SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEWSLETTERS
Make sure you are receiving GPS e-newsletters directly to your inbox! To subscribe, select the relevant newsletters below and click the orange "Follow" button on the right side of the page.
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Re-think Waste Fair Tomorrow
Students and their families are invited to experience the #ReThink Waste Fair on Saturday, May 7 (11am-3pm) at Christ Church Parish Hall. This family-friendly event, which aims to promote waste free living in our community, will feature a recycling drive, exhibits and activities to rethink waste through the 6Rs - refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and rot. For more information including a list of items that can be recycled, click here.
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Sign Up for Greenwich Youth Cheer
Does your child love to jump, tumble, dance, perform and drive you nuts with their energy? Sign them up for Greenwich Youth Cheer! Registration for new athletes opens Sunday, May 8! Registration information can be found here. Riverside's own Elisabeth Miranowski runs the Putnam Generals Cheer program, and is happy to answer any and all questions! Contact her at emiranowski@gmail.com.
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Community Holi Celebration on May 14
The Greenwich Indian Cultural Center (ICC) will celebrate Holi at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich on Saturday, May 14 (rain date May 15) from 3-6pm. Join us for a community-wide celebration with DJ and dhol player, dancing, food vendors, children's crafts, and color throw. The first 1,000 people to register will receive a white t-shirt.
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GEMS Kids Triathlon on June 12
The Second annual GEMS Kids Triathlon will be held on Sunday, June 12 at 8am at Greenwich High. The event format will be pool swim, on-campus bike course, and on-campus run course. There will be four age groups from 6 to 14 years old. We will have participation awards, T-shirts, goody bags, and age-group awards. Sign up here.
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SUBMISSIONS
Have something to add? Email us at: peekweekriv@gmail.com Deadline for submissions is 3pm on Wednesday of the school week
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