Riverside School PTA Newsletter | |
PTA Highlights
Dear Riverside families,
It was a delight to see so many families at Wednesday’s STEM Fair open house. For families who can recall the STEM Fairs of yore (i.e. pre-COVID), it was a comforting return to something familiar. For newer families, it was exciting to be in the building for a school-wide activity with their children. And for all families, it was a privilege to see the amazing work of so many Riverside students!
The Green Committee has been busy planning for Earth Week, and we can guarantee there is no dEarth of activities next week. Students will have the opportunity to unEarth and catalog different species of wildlife on school grounds during a scavenger hunt, hEar the facts about our local ecosystems and conservancy efforts in our community from local experts, wEar the colors blue and/or green to show their Earth Week spirit, and more! See our special Earth Week section below for all the details.
Your calendar reminders:
-
April 11-14 – Spring Afters classes begin (Friday classes begin April 29)
-
April 11-14 – Green Committee collections & drives continue (details below)
-
April 11-14 – Earth Week
-
April 12 – Your Child’s Digital Life: Getting to Know the Google Ecosystem
-
April 14 – Spirit Day, wear BLUE and/or GREEN
-
April 15 – No School (Good Friday)
-
April 18-22 – No School (Spring Recess)
Have a great weekend.
Carey Bisbee & Allison Maus
PTA Co-Presidents
| | | |
|
|
SPRING AFTERS START MONDAY
We are excited to have Spring Afters starting on Monday! Classes will run from April 11 to June 17, and further details are posted on the Riverside PTA Afters page. If your child is registered for Afters, please update School Dismissal Manager accordingly (go to Recurring Dismissal Instructions and select AFTERS from the pick list).
There are still a few spots available in some classes, so please reach out to info@flexacademies.com if you would like to enroll your child but missed the registration deadline. For any further questions, please contact Virginia Lockhart and Clare Johnson.
| | | |
|
|
RIVERSIDE RUN - REGISTER NOW!
The Riverside Run is coming up fast! Race Day is Saturday, May 7 at 8:30am. The Kids Fun Run begins at 9:30am.
TUESDAY, April 12 is the LAST chance to get your name printed on your race bib! Don't miss the chance to take home this unique keepsake.
Kids K-5 can participate in the Grade Level Challenge with a prize for the grade with the highest percentage of runners registered. At the moment Kindergarten is in the lead with 1st and 2nd Grades close behind!
Register for the Riverside Run and help your grade race to the finish line!
| | | |
|
|
STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK IS COMING UP (APRIL 25-29)!
The week we return from spring break, we will shower the staff with love and thanks! Mark your calendars! More information coming from your Class Parents shortly.
| | | |
|
|
PART 3 OF "YOUR CHILD'S DIGITAL LIFE" IS TUESDAY 4/12
Mrs. Browning is leading a four-part series of sessions for parents about digital citizenship, research tools, and the key apps used in school. This is 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.
Please mark your calendars and plan on attending any or all of the remaining virtual sessions from 9:00-10:00am:
-
April 12 - Getting to Know the Google Ecosystem
-
May 3 - Power Apps Used in School
| | | |
|
|
DON'T FORGET TO VISIT 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!
| | | |
|
|
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Virtual Visit from the Stepping Stones Museum!
On Monday and Tuesday, the Kindergarten students had a virtual visit from the Stepping Stones Museum for a "Build it Big" workshop as part of their engineering unit. The children explored how architects and engineers go through the process of designing and building a structure, investigated the challenges they come across, and explored possible solutions. The children had an opportunity to think like engineers and work together to use hands on materials to design a stable structure.
High Touch High Tech Visit!
Scientist Nina from High Touch High Tech visited our school for the last time this school year! She zoomed into our first and second grade classrooms to talk about plants and dirt. The first graders investigated the parts of the plant, how they produce energy and what materials they "breathe" in and out. The second graders looked closely at the properties of soil and how they help or hinder the growth of specific plants. All our students got their hands dirty with hands-on experiments sent to us by the High Touch High Tech team.
Upcoming Enrichment Programs
-
April 26: Animal Embassy (Grade 3)
-
April 29: Dirtmeister (Grade 4)
These programs are paid for by your generous donations to the PTA. Thank you!
| | | |
|
|
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.
| | | |
|
|
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.
| | |
Earth Week at Riverside: April 11-14 | | |
|
|
RIVERSIDE SCHOOL EARTH WEEK: APRIL 11-14, 2022
Monday, April 11
REDUCE: Meatless Monday & Waste Free Lunch
GPS Food Services is offering a meatless lunch option for students buying lunch. If packing from home, reduce and reuse with a WASTE FREE LUNCH! Please see Greenwich Public Schools: Reuse Revolution from Waste Free Greenwich for helpful tips and ideas.
Tuesday, April 12
NATURE: BioBlitz
Students will be encouraged to complete a BioBlitz, a school-based nature scavenger hunt, focusing on local wildlife and environment.
Wednesday, April 13
REUSE: The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion & No-Sew Tote Bag Activity
Following the Earth Day 2022 theme of "Invest in Our Planet", students will be encouraged to consider the impact of fast fashion and complete a recess-based no-sew tote bag project that REUSES old t-shirts.
RECYCLE: Cafeteria Recycling Refresher
During lunch, students will receive a recycling refresher to support their use of the newly reopened cafeteria recycling and composting station.
Thursday, April 14
STEWARDSHIP: Earth Day Recess Stations
Students will have the opportunity to learn about local trees, backyard ecosystems, oysters in the Long Island Sound and pollinators as they consider their role as active stewards. Recess-based stations will be hosted by the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, Quiet Yards Greenwich and Old Greenwich Honey.
Riverside Spirit Day
Wear BLUE and/or GREEN to show your Earth Week spirit!
| | | |
|
|
TREX PLASTIC FILM DRIVE: ROUND 3!
Join the Green Committee for Riverside School's third Trex Plastic Film Recycling Drive! A Trex collection bin will be outside the front doors April 8-14 for acceptable plastic film materials with additional off-site collection bins at 32 Hendrie Ave and 28 Chapel Lane. Since January Riverside has collected over 160 pounds of plastic film! Let's keep working together to keep these materials out of our landfills!
| | | |
|
|
UPCOMING TEXTILE DRIVE: SPRING CLEAN & GO GREEN!
Eager to spring clean? Ready to clear out closets and drawers? Go GREEN by recycling old textiles in Riverside School's TEXTILE DRIVE! Cosponsored by Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board (GRAB) and Fairco-Greentree Recycling, collection bins for clean, dry textiles will be in front of the school April 8-14. Please do not donate wet or moldy items.
Accepted: Clean, dry textiles in good condition. Please do not donate textiles that are wet or moldy. All clothing items including footwear, hats, coats and jackets; linens & bedding including sheets, towels, pillowcases & cotton blankets; extra fabric & bolts (no small scraps), tablecloths, drapes & curtains; backpacks, lunch bags, pocketbooks, wallets & belts.
NOT Accepted: Pillows, mattresses, rugs, scrap fabric & material cuttings, foam stuffing, plush toys & stuffed animals.
| | | |
|
|
DONATE OLD T-SHIRTS FOR AN EARTH WEEK PROJECT
Need a reason to part with old t-shirts? Turn your rags into reusable riches by offering old t-shirts to the Green Committee! As part of Riverside School's Earth Week celebration April 11-14, the Green Committee will be assisting students in creating reusable bags out of old t-shirts. To ensure interested students are able to make a bag, please consider donating clean t-shirts with no large rips or holes (adult sizes preferred). Collection bins will be outside the front doors April 8-14. Thank you for your support!
| | | |
|
|
BATTERY DRIVE!
Start gathering your old/used batteries for Riverside School's Spring Battery Drive! As part of Earth Week, collection bins for old/used batteries will be outside the front doors April 8-14. Batteries collected will be properly recycled at Holly Hill.
| | |
|
ORDER 5TH GRADE YEARBOOKS - DEADLINE IS TODAY!
Today is the final day to order the yearbook for your 5th grader. Contact Heeyoon or Mercedes with questions.
| |
|
RAISE YOUR HAND TO JOIN PTA COUNCIL GREENWICH
PTA Council (PTAC) Greenwich is the umbrella organization formed by the fifteen PTAs of the Greenwich Public Schools. PTAC is still in search of volunteers and would love for you to get involved in any of the roles set forth below for the 2022-2023 school year. If interested, please contact Liane Tel at vp-nominating@greenwichptac.org by TODAY, April 8th, 2022.
Open Board positions include: First VP
Open Committee Chair roles include: Curriculum Enrichment, Digital Learning, Green Schools, and Health & Wellness
| |
|
UNDERSTANDING THE LINKIT DATA WAREHOUSE & ASSESSMENT PLATFORM
Presented by Marc D'Amico, Director of K-8 Curriculum & Head of K-8 Leadership, Jennifer Lau, GPS Research Manager, Michael Reid, Coordinator of Mathematics K-8 and Jennifer Bencivengo, Principal of Old Greenwich School. The presentation was recorded and can be accessed with these links: Replay (Passcode: 73GH6sD%) and Presentation.
| |
|
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
| |
|
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, April 28, 2022
- Thursday, May 19, 2022
- Thursday, June 2, 2022 (Retreat, no public comment)
- Thursday, June 16, 2022
| |
|
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.
| |
|
ISD PTA’s 5th Annual Greenwich Color Challenge Is Happening Tomorrow
The Greenwich Color Challenge is a color fun run that includes a 1.5 mile-run/walk and obstacle course including 10+ obstacle stations and 6 color powder stations where participants are dusted with color. It is a wonderful celebration of color, family, friends and fun where everyone gets decked out in their most colorful accessories and comes ready to run, walk, jump, climb, dodge, duck, laugh and have a great time! Come with friends and family and enjoy this fun morning! Find details at www.GreenwichColorChallenge.org.
| |
|
Community Holi Celebration
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.
| |
|
Tasty Tuesdays: Support BGCG by Visiting Local Restaurants
The Torch Club (Grades 5-8) and Keystone (Grades 9-12), leadership/community service groups at Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, are bringing back Tasty Tuesdays. On Tuesdays in April, you can visit a designated local restaurant which will make a donation to BGCG. In turn, the Torch and Keystone Clubs will use the funds raised to support local youth. See BGCG’s flyer for a list of participating restaurants. Participants can send photos of their meals to cferrara@bgcg.org.
| | |
|  |
SUBMISSIONS
Have something to add? Email us at: peekweekriv@gmail.com Deadline for submissions is 3pm on Wednesday of the school week
| | | | | |
