Weekend WHIMS

September 2022 Whims | 2nd Edition

And we're off to a wonderful start!

Last week our youngest children got a couple of half days under their belts while the older children enjoyed the annual Tanglewood campout. It’s official: we’re back and it feels as good as we knew it would to have the campus alive with the children's energy again. Tomorrow kicks off our normal Monday - Friday schedule of full days and we’re eager to embrace the entire enrollment first thing tomorrow morning.

This year children will not need the daily waiver signed in at morning drop off but we will have a facilitator waiting in the driveway to greet families and check off children at 8:30 as they arrive. Please keep your child home if they feel unwell and we will ask them to mask if there are any symptoms.

Please take a moment to read the information in the sidebar of this email to ensure drop off and pick up are as safe and efficient as possible. Thank you!

We have a few upcoming community events we hope families will keep in mind.

Parent Coffee will on September 15th immediately after drop-off.

Join Becky in the gallery for coffee and conversation!

On September 27th we’ll be holding our Final Friday Campus Cleanup Day from 1:30-3:30. Parents are invited to join. Stay tuned for tool requests!

Get ready for Grandparents Day on October 6th! Grandparents will be invited for afternoon classes followed by a potluck and game of flashlight tag or manhunt!

Finally, as you all know: it takes a village and we’d be lost without ours. As the school year gets underway we could use a helping hand with a few things. Below is the current Riley wishlist. Please let us know if you can help with anything! Thank you!

WISH LIST

nesting bowls and measuring cups

counter top burner/ heater

cutting boards

electric kettle

brooms

mops

garden tools

microwave

string lights

We are also in need of referrals for cleaners, a bookkeeper, and a handyman.

Thank you again!

Tales of Tanglewood

And so begins the school year with the annual campout at Tanglewood for the middle and upper schoolers of The Riley School! What a wonderful way to bring us together. From icebreaking games to communal cooking, and of course, The Riley Song, the Tanglewood campout sets the stage for us to learn and care about one another. New friendships are forged, old friendships are recharged, and a foundation is laid for a connected and vibrant school year ahead.

The children spent their days playing capture the flag, basketball and soccer, swimming, nature walking, arts and crafting, and more! A big thank you to our wonderful facilitators and your lovely children. The campout was fantastic because of each and every one of them!

Pizza Party!

Join us at Flatbread in Rockport on September 27th for a Riley fundraising event. A portion of every small and large pizza ordered will go to The Riley School. We encourage you to invite your friends, families, and neighbors to join in on the fun. Share this even far and wide, friends, because the saying rings true- the more the merrier!

Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers to man the greeter table and talk about The Riley School as well as sell raffle tickets!

Raffle Prizes

Massage with Tina Kelly

Gift Basket from Farmacy at Cardinal Crossing

from Mary Nelson

Riley Gold

1/2 Riley Summer ’23 Camp

Piece of Riley Pottery

Important

Back to School Details

Requests for All Families

Regarding Your Children's Items

-Please make sure EVERYTHING is labeled with your child's name

-Please pack extra outfits in a separate bag to be left in each child's cubby

-Children's backpacks should have only their water bottle, lunch box, slippers and extra pairs of socks (3 or 4 pairs). This will keep them light and easy to carry around.

-Morning snacks should be packed separately and be easily accessible for children.

-Please make sure you send your child with a mask.

School Supplies

Most school supplies are provided at Riley. Additional supplies are appreciated but not required. Thank you!

Please provide (for Middle & Upper School):

2 - 1 ½” 3 ring binders w/attached pencil case

2 - packs of lined 3 hole reinforced paper

1 - eraser

1 - box of pencils

Outdoor Expeditions for the Fall

Looking for a fun and invigorating after school fall activity for your 5th-9th grader? Sundog Outdoor Expeditions builds character & skills by connecting youth with nature, peers & community. Financial aid available with no questions asked!

September at a Glance

September 15th

Parent Coffee

September 30th

Final Friday

Campus Cleanup

1:30 - 3:30

Parents

are encouraged

to attend!

October 6th

Grandparent's Day

Morning Drop Off:

Safety & Efficiency Are in the Details!

When dropping off in the morning, please enter the circle towards Wade Acres and wait in line. You will NOT need to sign in this year, but a facilitator will be checking children off as they arrive.

Please work with us to keep morning drop off safe for all of our children.

The speed limit at Riley is 10 mph. Please never pass vehicles on the driveway as children are exiting for drop off, this request includes Wade Acres parents who will park and walk their children in as well.

Unfortunately bypassing the drop off line can create unsafe situations and it’s in the interest of safety that everyone is asked to patiently wait in line.

If you are a Wade Acres parent, once you get to the head of the line you can pull up in front of Wade Acres to park and walk your child around on the right to the back play area.

Lower School children will go straight to the Lower School. Middle and Upper School children will go to their morning connections/reflection groups. Your child's reflection group facilitator will be reaching out to you soon!

Migration Alert!

It's going to be massive week for migration with an estimated 316 million to 400+ million migrating birds on the wing each night, according to BirdCast. Warmer colors on the map show where migration will be most intense. This should make for great birdwatching. It's also a good time to turn off nonessential indoor and outdoor lights to avoid disorienting birds. Sadly, light pollution and unsafe windows contribute to the hundreds of millions of avian deaths due to building collisions in the U.S. every year. Learn more about our Lights Out project and other ways to help keep birds safe at the link below.

Lights Out with BirdCast

After Care

After care will run Mondays - Thursdays beginning on September 26th 2022 and run until June 1st 2023.

WADE ACRES

is $25.00 a day or $2500 for the school year, if paid in full prior to September 8th (a $225.00 savings).

POTTERY

WITH LEITH

is 30.00 a day or $3100 for the school year, if paid in full prior to September 8th (a $220.00 savings).

A Note on Immunizations Records & Emergency Contacts

Please remember that your child may not be left at school until your immunization records and your emergency contact forms have been turned in to Tam in the office.

HOW TO

REACH US

Office

596-6405

Admin cell

691-4005

info@rileyschool.org

director@rileyschool.org

PO Box 159

Rockport ME 04856

Share your Riley love with t-shirts,

sweatshirts, mugs, and more!

Grab your gear HERE.

Follow Riley On Facebook

Visit The Riley School Website

Follow Riley On Instagram

Share This Email

Missed a recent Whim? Catch up with the links below!

April Whims, First Edition

March Whims, Second Edition

March Whims, First Edition

February Whims, Second Edition

February Whims, First Edition

January Whims, Second Edition

January Whims, First Edition

December Whims, Second Edition

December Whims, First Edition

The Riley School

www.rileyschool.org

207-596-6405

RILEY MISSION STATEMENT

The Riley School guides children to become independent, lifelong learners and innovative thinkers.

Founded as an intentionally small, Progressive, ungraded elementary school in 1972, Riley recognizes each child’s unique learning style. The innovative and personalized curriculum challenges children to express themselves and develop their own intellectual and creative capabilities through discovery, questioning and active engagement.

We foster a sense of responsibility towards our natural world, our community, and each other. We value cooperation and collaboration, while balancing the individual development of social, emotional and physical and academic growth.

At Riley we trust in children as learners. We honor and respect the uniqueness of the individual. We cherish and protect childhood.