The 5th graders showed off an impressive set of costumes at the start of Mythology Day. |
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Greetings!
Happy New Year! We hope everyone enjoyed restful and fun times with families over the vacation. Teachers used that time to restore their energy and reflect on and refresh their classroom plans.
Happy Monday,
Nelia
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This week we welcome the Patoine family back to Riverside, as their daughter Lilyahna has joined the 5th grade class. Annie and Paul Patoine live in Kirby with their 4 children, please welcome them if you see them at Riverside.
We also hope that you saw Roy's email in December about the staffing changes in 1st grade, we welcome Emily Spring back to teaching and mentoring on campus, and Monica Schultheis to her transition to a dedicated position in 1st grade.
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SKIING & SNOWBOARDING FRIDAYS |
This Friday K-8th graders will all be sliding on snow! Note that we do sometimes cancel our plans based on the weather, and try to make those decisions mid-week.
Downhill at Burke Mountain
If you haven't yet: Please get out your child's personal equipment and check it for fit and safety ASAP. Burke Mountain will no longer let us rent equipment to quickly solve problems, as we typically have to do a lot on the first day. Rental equipment is only available to those who completed the forms and were fitted in December. If your child doesn't have functioning equipment on Friday, they will not be able to ski/ride.
Thursday Night: Please be sure that students have all the equipment and clothing they need to enjoy the afternoon outdoors, as well as their season pass if they have one. Help them take charge of what they pack and develop awareness of how to organize and care for those items. These life lessons are a big part of why we venture out on Friday afternoons. Snacks will be provided, and money for the snack bar is also acceptable.
Friday Morning: There will be a truck parked in front of the barn for skis, poles, and snowboards. Students should keep the rest of their gear on their hook/in their cubby. Please communicate any changes to your plans with Nelia as soon as possible, before she sends rosters and orders tickets for the afternoon.
Friday Afternoon: 5-8th graders will depart at 11:15 by bus/by pod for 12:15 lessons and then have about two hours to free ski after that. K-4th graders will depart at 12:15 by bus/by pod for 1:30 lessons and then have about an hour to free ski after that. K-2nd graders will be directly supervised by an adult all afternoon in groups of 2-3. 3-8th graders are allowed to ski where they'd like without an adult, as long as they are not alone.
Cost: There is no cost to families to participate in this program, except for rentals ($9-14/day) and chaperone tickets for non-pass holders ($10), those will be charged directly to your school store account.
Pick Up: Please pick up students by 3:30 in the Brown Bag Area of the Sherburne Base Lodge (entrance on the same level as and just beyond the ticket windows).
Cross Country at Dashney Trails
Student Preparation: Please be sure that students have all the equipment and clothing they need to enjoy the afternoon outdoors. Help them take charge of what they pack and develop awareness of how to organize and care for those items. These life lessons are a big part of why we venture out on Friday afternoons. Snacks will be provided.
Schedule: Students will depart at 12:15 by carpool, will organize themselves in small groups at the trails, and will ski and take breaks as appropriate until 3:15.
Cost: There is no cost to families to participate in this program, except for rentals ($10/day), which will be charged to your school store account.
Pick Up: Please pick up those students at the at the Dashney Nordic Center (70-838 Dashney Rd, East Burke) at 3:15.
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This Thursday, January 5 we encourage alumni who are home for the holidays to come visit us at school. We will share a schedule of classes they might enjoy attending and participating in, will host them for lunch, and will have them meet with Roy and the 8th graders to discuss the rite of passage that is graduation and the transition to our alumni community. If you know alumni who plan to attend, please share this link for RSVP.
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Note that we DO have school on Monday, January 16, the national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We believe it's important to use that day as a teachable one about issues of identity, civil rights, and social justice. Some activities will happen in individual classrooms, and others in mixed age groups during morning assembly. |
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SEX ED CURRICULUM PARENT DISCUSSION |
We are beginning the process of implementing a new sex-education curriculum, "Our Whole Lives," integrated into Riverside's broader K-8 wellness curriculum. We invite 5-8th grade families to learn more about it at a Parent/Guardian Orientation Workshop meeting on Wednesday, January 11, from 5:00-6:00 pm.
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We are currently booking visits for prospective students for the 23-24 school year. As has been the case recently, we have a high number of potential applicants relative to the number of anticipated openings for next year. If you know a family who is interested in coming to Riverside next year, please let them know they should reach out to Krystal as soon as possible. Every year, we get calls after we have made our acceptances, and we'd like everyone who is interested to be able to be considered. |
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All PK-8 Families in the NEK Choice District should be on the lookout for email or postal mail that includes voucher forms from the Essex office for the second half of the school year. Please complete those ASAP and return them to Krystal OR to the office listed on the form. Riverside cannot get tuition payments until they are complete. |
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On Monday, February 6th there will be no middle school classes. Instead, we will resume our long-standing tradition of attending UVM’s Latin Day, which is a celebration of all things classical hosted by their Classics Department. If you responded to an earlier email from Roy that you could drive, you will be receiving an email from Roy about travel arrangements and carpools. Middle school students will need to arrive at 7:30 on that day. We should be back on campus by regular pick up time. More information to follow. |
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It's that time of year when students are wearing multiple layers, and our lost and found is full of fleeces, sweatshirts, hats, mittens, gloves, and (as always) water bottles. If you can please take the time to label clothing with your family's name, we would be so grateful and have an easier time returning it. |
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Northwoods Stewardship Center, who manages the winter season cross country ski trails on Dashney Road, is offering discount family season passes for Riverside families, for $75 (instead of $125). If you think your family would like one, please email ski@northwoodscenter.org and reference the code RIVERSIDEFAM.
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There's a new after school opportunity for middle school students at Riverside meeting on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-4:30, beginning January 11th. STEM Club will provide engaging activities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. This is a competition based club where students will select from a broad range of activities including leadership, biotechnology, inventions and innovations, forensic science, writing and illustrating children's stories, problem solving, and structural engineering to name a few. Students will work toward a conference on April 4th, where they will compete against other middle school students from New Hampshire and Vermont in their chosen field. Students will be required to keep a development portfolio of their project as they conceptualize, assess and materialize their vision either collaboratively or independently, depending on the requirements of the event. For more information email Caroline.
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6-8 Hip Hop Dance Club will meet Tuesday from 3:45-4:30. |
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K-2 Recorder Club will meet this Wednesday from 3:15-4:00. |
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K-8th grade Chess Club will meet this Thursday beginning at 3:30 for all grade and ability levels. Kids may be picked up whenever. Ideally, most of the elementary students would be picked up after 45 minutes to an hour of chess (4:15 - 4:30) as it is a long time to concentrate on things after a long day of school. Nathan will stay until 5:00 for those that want the extra time. If any parents want to contribute snacks to share, it would be appreciated.
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6-8 Indoor Soccer Club will meet on Thursday, from 3:30-5:00. There is space for three more students, please email Sean if your child is interested.
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WINTER VACATION CAMPS AT THE FAIRBANKS MUSEUM |
The Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury is offering camp programs during the Winter Vacation week: February 27 - March 3. They go from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, with an extended day option until 3:00 PM. Cost: $135 for members or $150 for non-members, the cost for extended day option is an additional $100 for members or $120 for non-members. More information and registration are here.
- Polar Opposites: (Ant)arctic Animals (Ages 5-8): Join us as we explore the different creatures that have found impressive ways to brave the extreme cold! Each day we will focus on a couple of creatures and their adaptations to brave the freezing temperatures of the North and South Poles through games, activities, and crafts. We will also enjoy time playing outside in the snow ourselves!
- Dinosaurs: The Past & the Curious (Ages 9-12): Are you ready to fly with the pterosaurs, walk with the dinosaurs, and swim with the mosasaurs? Go beyond fossils and travel back in time to explore the lives of prehistoric creatures! Campers will become paleontologists and learn about life in ancient environments throughout Earth's history.
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We rely on the support of many to Please consider participating in our annual appeal for gifts to Riverside. Although the average gift is $100, we welcome gifts of $10 and $25. It's not the size of your gift that matters, but the act of participating, which helps us leverage further grants and donations by showing off the strength of the support in our community. Our goal this year is to beat the national average of 60% parent participation in donating to their independent school.
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30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
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