Riverside School PTA Newsletter |
Friday, September 10th, 2021 |
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UPDATE YOUR DIRECTORY INFORMATION & JOIN THE PTA
Please go to RIVPTA.ORG and follow the steps provided to update/enter your information, including your child(ren)’s new teacher, for the online family directory. If you have moved or have new phone or email information, please let the school office know as well.
Once your directory information is up to date, be sure to join the PTA to gain unlimited access to the directory. The PTA relies on the generosity of Riverside School families via our annual Membership Drive. Funds raised go towards student enrichment programs, classroom and building needs, as well as teacher support. We do aim for 100% participation in our Membership Drive.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed a donation to join the PTA so far – this is an important fundraiser to help us get up and running for the year.
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FALL AFTERS REGISTRATION OPENING SOON
Fall Afters enrichment is back! The PTA plans to offer the following outdoor only sports-based classes. The 8-week session kicks off the week of September 20th:
Mondays – Sports Spectacular (Grades 2-5)
Tuesdays – GaGa Ball (Grades 1-5)
Thursdays – Gameday! (Grades K-5)
Fridays – Tag You're It! (Grades K-3)
Registration details will be communicated shortly. In the meantime, please refer to the Afters homepage for program details and other important information.
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SAFETY DUTY IS BACK! WE ARE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
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 efficient and secure. Please consider helping us out if you can. Volunteers assist from 8:30-8:45am daily and must wear a mask at all times during a shift. Sign up online. For more info, contact Brielle Goldfaden at brielleg@gmail.com.
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ANNUAL FALL FUNDRAISER: SAVE THE DATE
Please save the date for Riverside School's Annual Fall Fundraiser which will be held on Saturday, October 23 at 7pm. This year we will be celebrating that "It Takes a Village" in the private indoor / outdoor event space at The Village, in Stamford, overlooking the marina. Tickets will go on sale soon. To volunteer for the event, please contact Alston Calabrese at frazier.alston@gmail.com or Lindsay Dalton at lsdalton1@gmail.com.
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CHORUS WITH MS. PUNCHATZ
Calling all 4th and 5th graders! We will be having chorus this year. Please read through the information sheet and calendar carefully and send back the form no later than Friday, September 10. I am looking forward to singing with all of you!
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4th AND 5th GRADERS- SIGN UP FOR RIVERSIDE BAND
If your child is interested in learning how to play a band instrument, please complete the sign-up form and return it to your child’s teacher or to Mr. Chew by Friday, September 17. For more information, see Mr. Chew’s letter to parents. Join us for an exciting year of great music!
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PICTURE DAY: SAVE THE DATE
Mark your calendar for Picture Day on Wednesday, September 29. Like last year, we expect photos to be taken outside (Rain date is Monday, October 4). More information will be communicated soon.
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INTERESTED IN OUR EARLY MORNING PROGRAM?
The Early Morning Program at Riverside School provides a fun, familiar place for students to go before school starts from 7:15-8:30am. You may enroll your child for a semester or pay by the day on an as-needed basis. Visit the Early Morning Program page for more information and to enroll your child. All registration and payment forms are now digital, so please use the EMP webpage to register and pay before your child uses the program.
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THE VOLUNTEER FAIR IS NOW ONLINE!
If you didn’t make it to last week's in-person PTA Volunteer Fair, or did but didn’t quite make it to all the tables, we’ve got you covered. The Volunteer Fair is now online!
The PTA is looking forward to another year of supporting Riverside School students and staff – which can’t be done without the help of our parent volunteers. Take a look and sign up for any volunteer opportunities that interest you. Please note: To submit areas of interest, you must have an updated profile on rivpta.org. Thanks in advance for volunteering!
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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.
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ORDERING LUNCH
PLEASE NOTE: School lunches continue to be FREE this school year. All orders MUST be submitted at least TWO full school days in advance (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.
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SCHOOL DISMISSAL MANAGER (SDM): ACTION REQUIRED
Please login to School Dismissal Manager to manage your child(ren)'s attendance and dismissal information by going to the SDM website. All parents (new and returning) must login to update the dismissal information for your children for this school year. For more specific details, please reference the communication from Riverside School sent on Wednesday, September 1.
- New parents were issued a username and temporary password and need to use this to create a login. If you have misplaced the email with the username and temporary password that was sent to you, please contact the front office to get a new one set up.
- Returning parents can use their existing parent login credentials and update dismissal information.
- This system will be used in an Emergency Early Release to capture dismissal information for every student, so it's important that all families create a login now.
- A default dismissal of "Parent Pick-Up" has been assigned to your child. Please contact Gina Marino to change this default to another option.
- Advance notice is appreciated when creating an exception/change to your child's default dismissal plans. The cut-off time is 2:30pm on regular days and 12:30pm on early release days. After this time, you need to call the school office to make changes for the current day.
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The School Dismissal Manager (SDM) App is no longer available for download on the Apple or Google Store. To get quick access to SDM on your Apple or Android mobile device, watch this 90-second video. Please note that anyone with the prior version of the SDM app must remove it from their device before following the steps in the video.
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GPS ELEMENTARY PARENT MATH NIGHT: SEPTEMBER 14TH FROM 7-8 PM
Greenwich Public Schools is looking forward to giving families more insight into the district's Big Ideas Math program. Please join the district's virtual presentation for elementary school parents, which will cover: Big Ideas research and design, High impact strategies, Online portal, Dynamic classroom, Assignments and reports, Math tools, Help at home, and Q&A. The presentation will be recorded and made available for those unable to attend. Zoom Link: https://cengage.zoom.us/j/93969941484. |
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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, September 23, 2021
- Thursday, October 21, 2021
- Thursday, November 4, 2021 (Budget)
- Thursday, November 17, 2021
- Thursday, December 2, 2021 (Budget)
- Thursday, December 16, 2021
- Thursday, January 20, 2022
- Thursday, February 3, 2022 (Retreat, no public comment)
- Thursday, February 24, 2022
- Thursday, March 24, 2022
- Thursday, April 28, 2022
- Thursday, May 19, 2022
- Thursday, June 2, 2022 (Retreat, no public comment)
- Thursday, June 16, 2022
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GPS WEEKLY DISTRICT DIGEST
Subscribe to receive the Greenwich Public Schools weekly "District Digest" e-newsletter directly to your email inbox.
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School's Closed Thursday 9/16: Sign up for Mr. D’Andrea’s Sports Clinic!
Have your children come join Mr. D'Andrea and Mr. Bruni (North Street's PE teacher) on the school holiday for another fun clinic filled with a variety of sports and fitness games. The clinic will take place at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center on Thursday, September 16 from 10am-12pm. The cost is $50 per child, and all Riverside students (grades K-5) may participate. If you are interested in registering, please complete the Google Form (one form per child, please).
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View "The Disruptors" on 9/16 through the Greenwich International Film Festival
The Disruptors is the first definitive documentary film on ADHD – one of the most diagnosed, and most widely misunderstood neurological conditions in the world today. It's a global issue and affects nearly 10% of kids and adults nationally. The Disruptors takes an immersive look at our approach to ADHD that debunks the most harmful myths and examines the flip side of this trait in a way that will fundamentally reframe what we understand about this diagnosis, and offer real hope for millions of kids, families, and adults living with ADHD. Click here to find more information and purchase tickets.
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Cub Scouts Pack 23 Welcomes All Boys and Girls
Cub Scouts Pack 23 welcomes all Riverside School boys and girls to join in on the excitement and adventure that Cub Scouts has to offer! Just ask one of our 75 Pack 23 scouts about the fun, hands-on learning experiences they participate in like camping, hiking, fishing, archery, and bouldering. Pack 23 scouts also learn important life skills like emergency preparedness and wilderness survival. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a part of it!
Want to learn more? Stop in at Joining Night on Tuesday, September 14 between 5:30-7:30 pm at the Town Hall parking lot and meet your Cubmaster who will answer your questions about scouting in Pack 23.
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Join the Pedal Greenwich Community Bike Fest
Join the fun on Saturday, September 25 from 10:00am-12:30pm at Living Hope Community Church parking lot (38 West End Ave). Click here for more information. They are looking for more volunteers to help with the event. Please reach out to Stephanie at StephanieElise@gmail.com if you are interested.
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COVID Resources from the School |
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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.
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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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