5th grader Eula, 3rd graders Henry and Landen, and 5th grader Asa showed off their jumping skills after swim lessons on Friday. |
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Greetings!
Enjoy the interesting details about programming below, as well as the events in the greater community in which our students can participate.
Happy Monday,
Nelia
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Thank you to everyone who turned out to Race Back to School last week! We know with busy family and sports schedules it can be tough to carve out time, and those who did definitely demonstrated our supportive community. If you are seeking pledges based on your participation, please turn those in by October 16 to Nelia. Please add mailing addresses for any donors who give more than $100, as we want to send them a thank you and tax-receipt. We look forward to seeing how many funds can be raised for tuition assistance to Riverside based on your efforts!
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Marie is hoping that there might be a parent piano player available on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays to accompany the middle school chorus rehearsal. Please email her if you might be able to help.
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November & December: We will take K-8th graders to the Fenton Chester Arena and to Kingdom Gymnastics with their mixed-age house groups. Stay tuned for a specific schedule that will clarify which location your child will be at on which dates.
January & February - Please read now! We will offer three choices to students on Friday afternoons in January-February this year: downhill skiing/riding, uphill touring (4-8th only), OR cross-country skiing. We encourage families to make one choice for the 2024 season for all children in their family, to make transportation and logistics easier. These outings will happen on January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, and 16. In order to prepare for all those programs, we need to know this week which one your family plans to choose, and whether or not you'll need to rent equipment. Please fill out this form to explain that before Monday, October 9.
We place a high value on the community and relationship-building that happens on the slopes and consider that time part of our school day. We also understand that some of our students who ski race may need a rest day on Fridays. Nevertheless, participating with Riverside can be an opportunity to try something new or develop a lesser skill: snowboarding, uphill touring, or cross-country skiing. This could also be a time to help younger students with everything from booting up to being a big buddy on the JBar. We'd appreciate our ski racers and other advanced skiers considering how they can develop and contribute by sticking with this program.
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This week: Today's 5-6th game against KESD was cancelled. Thursday's 7-8th game against KESD will take place at Lyndon Town School, at the other end of Lily Pond Road. Friday's 7-8th game against KESD will be home at Riverside.
Practices: The 5-6 team will have an optional practice after school on Tuesday and Thursday until 5:00 pm.
5-6th Game Schedule: Thank you to Madeleine Balcom (5th grader Azro), Caleb Creaven and Anna Crytzer (6th grader Fiona), and Arcelie Newell (6th grader Phoenix) for working together to lead this team during games!
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CANCELLED
Mon., 10/2 vs KESD location TBD, 4:30
- Tues, 10/10 with 7-8th team vs Monroe, 5:00
- Mon., 10/16 with 7-8th team vs Good Shepherd, 4:30
- Wed., 10/18 vs Barnet, 4:00
- Fri., 10/20 with 7-8th team @ Monroe, 5:00
7-8th Game Schedule:
- Thur., 10/5 @ KESD North, 4:30
- Fri, 10/6 vs KESD South, 4:30
- Tues, 10/10 with 5-6th team vs Monroe, 5:00
- Mon., 10/16 with 7-8th team vs Good Shepherd, 4:30
- Wed., 10/18 vs Barnet, 5:00
- Fri., 10/20 with 5-6th team @ Monroe, 5:00
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Roy will be working on the electric car after school on Thursday until 4:15 or 4:30. We have some new parts (including solar panels!) to install. The goal is to get it running within a week or two, and get it into the basement of the barn once yard sale merchandise is cleared out of that space. Student and parent volunteers welcome. This Thursday may serve as an orientation to electric circuits, depending on students’ background knowledge.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVISOR LETTERS |
6-8th grade teachers have been collating notes about students and their academic and social strengths and challenges so far. On Friday, advisors (Will for 6th grade, Mr. G for 7th grade, and Caroline for 8th grade) will be handing those paragraphs, which describe those observations so far, out to students during advisory. We hope these notes help initiate and continue strong communication between teachers-parents-students, and we believe they'll be a helpful start to our conference meetings next week. |
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The sale is this Saturday, October 7 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm! Managers and volunteers are hard at work with the final preparations and this is what we need you all to know at this point...
DONATIONS
Our Donations Manager, Anna Crytzer (6th grader Fiona) set up a very user-friendly self-sorting system for you when you drop off donations this week! Following the posted signs will make set up much easier for the huge team of volunteers starting their work on Friday morning, some of whom will still be at work after dark that day. Volunteers will be ready to help you during pick up times this week, but please don't block the flow of the traffic circle when unloading. You are welcome to drop off any time, during the school day may be easier, before Friday at noon.
If possible, we appreciate any more furniture donations being kept at home until that tent goes up next to the barn on Thursday afternoon.
SUPPLIES TO LEND
If you can loan us your pop tent, folding tables, milk crates, book shelves, or clip lights for inside dark tents, please label them clearly with your family's name and "NOT FOR SALE" and bring them along with your donations.
VOLUNTEERS
The following shifts still need some help. If you can lend a hand, please click here:
- Saturday 12:00-4:00
- Saturday 3:00-6:00, especially if you have a pick up truck to help haul unsold items to our free pile.
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The Student Council is practicing how to conduct its meetings through the specific roles of its officers. The first meeting was about setting norms for members during meetings, and about planning a bake sale at Saturday's yard sale. If you can bake something for them to sell, they'd be glad to have your help! Items can be dropped off at school (with ingredient lists, please) anytime this week. |
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MIDDLE SCHOOL CONFERENCES |
6-8th graders will have half days on Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12, with an early dismissal at 12:30. Parent-Teacher-Student conferences will happen during 15 minute appointments in the library, with all middle school teachers. We encourage students to attend and participate in those meetings, but it is not required. Please sign up for your appointment time ASAP here.
The Extended Day Program will run that day from 12:30 until 5:00. Please email Sean directly if your middle school child will be joining at 12:30 so that he can plan the long afternoon accordingly.
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Whipples school picture order envelopes were sent home two weeks ago. Please return the envelope before picture day, which is Friday, October 13 . If you don't want pictures please indicate that on the envelope and return to school anyway. |
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3-5th grade will not be swimming this Friday, but will again on October 13, 20, and 27. Please remember to pick up on those dates at the college at 3:15.
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Four students who’ve elected to spend their time from 2:15-3:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays caring for gardens and grounds at Riverside, have set out on a mission to learn all they could about the trees that make up our beloved Cedar Circle. For the last few weeks, Celia Faherty (8th), Cora Adams (7th), Lucy Moriarty (7th), and Liam Albritton (6th) have been working together to edge around flower gardens and trees, move sod and spread mulch to share a little love with their school property. They now have the opportunity to extend their reach and help at-risk families in the Northeast Kingdom, through a collaboration with the area gleaning operation and community partners like Salvation Farms and Wilder Farms, but before they shifted their focus, they wanted to learn how to care for the trees in their cedar circle.
Did you know?
- The Northern White Cedar trees we have in the cedar circle are an American arborvitae.
- They are a symbol of everlasting friendship, purification and success.
- Arborvitae is the latin word for the french phrase, “l’arbre de vie” which translates to, “The Tree of Life”.
- The sap, bark and twigs have been used to treat fevers, coughs, headaches and many other ailments.
- Arborvitae can suffer stress from both underwatering and overwatering. If a tree isn’t getting enough water, the foliage will start to yellow or brown and the needles may drop. (In fall, some browning and needle drop is normal.) Overwatering may also cause needle discoloration and could lead to irreversible damage caused by root rot and fungal infection.
- Heavy snow and ice buildup can bend and break the branches of taller arborvitaes. So we should use a broom to gently brush off heavy, wet snow before it has a chance to accumulate.
- We can help them by keeping their roots moist but not soaked. They like compost mulch around their base in the Spring and even though deer love to chew on them, they don’t like that.
- They can live to be 800 - 1,000 years old
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Licensed mental health counselor Ellen Moore will be on campus on Tuesdays. Ellen is available situationally for emergent counseling needs, but for regular meetings or to have your child join her regular caseload, you should reach out to her about next steps.
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Parent Katie DesJardins (5th grader Audrey and 7th grader Russell) has stepped up to revive and coordinate earning funds for Riverside through the Box Tops for Education program. We're no-longer clipping labels with scissors, Box Tops has gone digital! Download the app and when you finish unpacking groceries, simply scan your receipt. Or, if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your digital or email receipt with the Box Tops app. Twice a year, our Riverside gets a check! Box Tops earnings really add up, and the more people that participate, the bigger the impact we can make. So let’s give our teachers the support they need and give more kids the opportunity to succeed.
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COSTUMING IN THE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM |
Starting tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Extended Day Program, Kate Murphy, a local artist who works in our EDP, will lead a costuming workshop sessions for students who are with her and the other EDP staff. This is a great opportunity for any student who wants to make their own Halloween costume or any student who enjoys crafts, textiles, papier mache, or art in general. The sessions will go from 4:00-5:00 for the month ahead, and participating students need to be there until at least 4:30 (leaving after just a few minutes would be disruptive). If your child is interested in this, please send them in with a bin to store their project in between sessions. EDP charges will apply. |
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3-5th Crazy 8's Math Club will meet today, October 2. Pick up is at 4:30 in front of the barn. If you have any questions please email Caroline for more information.
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6-8th Latin Club will be Wednesdays after school from 3:35 until 4:30. The focus of meetings between now and November will be entirely on certamen practice for the Yale Invitational Certamen, which is on Saturday, November 11th and will involve an overnight trip.
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4th Homework Club: Students who want extra help with Renee can come to her classroom on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10-3:30. When they are finished, if needed, they may go sign in to the EDP program directly.
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5-8th D&D Club will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00, beginning tomorrow, and possibly lasting all year. Any questions can be directed to 7th grade leader Russel DesJardins.
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5-8th Uphill Touring Club will happen after school in January-Feburary, in addition to the uphill touring option we will have for older students during the school day on Friday afternoons. As an extension, the club will meet one or two afternoons during the week to visit other backcountry zones in our area. VSS is also offering season leases of AT setups for kids, with the option to buy at the end of the season. This will hopefully open the door for more kids to try out this amazing sport. Furthermore, Sean is hoping to get kids who plan to join the club out for a work day or two in our local glades, partnering with the NEKBC (Northeast Kingdom Backcountry Coalition), to get a feel for the work that goes into creating some of our favorite ski zones. Please let Sean know if your child will be interested in joining the club this winter!
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St. Johnsbury's Halloween Parade Committee is organizing a costume swap this year. Do you have outgrown costumes and accessories you no longer need or want? Please consider donating costume items in the bin on our front porch at school until October 4. All are welcome to attend the Swap event and choose a new-to-you costume on Saturday, October 7 at Four Seasons Park on Main Street from 2:00-4:00 pm. |
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Registration is now open (until October 14) for the The Fenton Chester Skating School for this winter. There are options for both general lessons and for specific preparation for an exhibition performance. An in-person registration and skate swap will happen at the arena on October 15, from 4:00-6:00 pm. More details are here on their flyer about the program.
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30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
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