Art Week is Here!

October 17th-21st

12:30-3:30

This year’s Art Week is arriving with a stunning mix of classes for the children of Riley to explore. From pit firing to metal smithing, textile collage to felting, art walking to scarecrow building- this Art Week has something for every little creative. 

Earlier this past week the children picked their areas of interest and will be ready to dive in tomorrow! To read more about what’s going on during Art Week click the link below to explore the daily schedule and class descriptions. And don’t forget- there’s still time to volunteer a helping hand for Art Week. 

A Lunchtime Pickle

Food Waste & Single Use Plastics

We can ignore it no longer: our school has a bit of a lunchtime problem and we humbly ask your help in solving it. 

Our beloved campus is littered with single use plastics from prepackaged food, oftentimes barely eaten, and even with encouragement from facilitators to reduce food waste and regular trash pick up efforts from our children, the issue remains on the rise.

At Riley we aim to be responsible stewards of the environment and strive to impart the same sensibility to our thoughtful and caring youth. We utilize solar energy, tend chickens and compost piles, grow gardens, and more! It’s central to our school’s ethos that we take an active part in reducing our food waste and the prevalence of single use plastics. Please join us in these efforts by implementing some of the ideas below!

***Parents please keep in mind that despite our policy of sending all uneaten food back home, many single use plastic prepackaged foods have liquid components and are unable to be resealed, think yogurt tubes and fruit cups, and are therefor unable to be returned home. If we notice a particular food item is being opened but regularly left uneaten, we will try to send a note home to make you aware.***

Ideas to Reduce Food Waste & Single Use Plastics in School Lunches

Buy in bulk vs. individually

wrapped serving sizes

Use reusable or compostable

sandwich bags

Use compartmentalized lunch boxes or containers to cut down on single use packaging like sandwich bags

Use reusable silicone squeeze pouches

to pack purees and yogurts

Send your child with compostable

cutlery and/or cloth napkins

Encourage your child to compost their food leftovers at school, bring their trash back home with them, and to let you know when certain items are going uneaten.

Wish List Thank Yous from The Lower School

Thank you..

Caroline Saxe-Cobaugh for the gardening gloves, tea cups, snacks and help in Fortville..

The Macdonalds for dress up clothes..

Tom Sturk for putting up the tunnel slide in Fortville..

Mary Nelson for the swings..

Craig Letowski for setting up the barn cat housing..

I hope I’m not forgetting anyone!

-Hattie



If you're looking for more ways to support our wonderful facilitators and their vibrant classrooms, please visit the Family Corner on The Riley School's website. The password is Riley2223 (please only share this with Riley families!).

Community Care

Amidst the Pandemic

The beginning of the 22/23 school year has been marked with the joyful return of all the in person events we’ve been unable to safely and responsibly hold over the past two years of the pandemic. We are so thrilled to resume a more regular rhythm of gathering and socializing this school year and would like to do all that we can to preserve this privilege.

Please..

GET the covid and flu boosters and vaccines if you’re able..

CONTINUE using caution, masking, and testing to limit the spreading of germs..

SELF-MONITOR and stay home with any symptoms..

MASK at school for 5 full days while symptomatic..

Orange You Glad The Kids Were Safe During Hunting Season?

As the leaves turn, so do our clothes! Please ensure your children have a layer of blaze orange packed in their backpacks this fall. For those needing to restock their orange this year, might we suggest Riley merch in orange?