5th grader Russell Desjardins is testing the pH of different household liquids by using red cabbage as a universal indicator. This effort helps the 5th graders make sense of their regular testing of the pH level of the water in their trout tank, where they are raising fish to be released in the spring.
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Greetings!
Happy Valentine's Day, and between eating chocolate and other acts of love and friendship, learn a few things about this holiday on its Wikipedia Entry!
Happy Monday,
Nelia
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We are happy to welcome a new family to Riverside: 7th grader Patrick Tester and his parents Loralee (former teacher) and Shawn (class of 1985). The Testers live in Lyndonville and look forward to getting to know the Riverside community better. Please introduce yourself when you see them! |
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Artwork by a number of Riverside students was selected to be in the annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. Click here to see pieces by Preschooler Wyett Goodwin, Kindergartener Emily Reed, 1st grader Grace Johnson, 2nd grader Dalton Wood, 3rd graders Audrey Desjardins and Alice Keller, 4th grader Lily Patoine, the entire 5th grade class, 5th grader Cora Adams, 6th graders Sawyer Daffinrud and Clint Heinrich, 7th graders Molly Aeberhard and Lila MacKenzie, and 8th graders Izzy Butler, Charleigh Moriarty, Colin Randall, and Bryn Waring. Unfortunately the show is not open to the public, but a video of all the work by local students is here.
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FROM ROY, RE POTENTIAL COVID GUIDELINE CHANGES |
As you may have heard, many states (Vermont included) are looking at making changes to their COVID guidelines as they begin to consider COVID-19 to be endemic. We do not know what changes in COVID guidelines might be proposed as a result of this determination, and we do not know what the timelines would be for such potential changes.
I very much want to stay ahead of this, but at the same time, it is important to know we are dealing entirely with hypotheticals at this point. I spoke with the faculty and the PAG last week about how I plan to approach any new guidance. I think it’s important to demonstrate flexibility and listen to the most current evidence and guidelines. But I also need to factor in input from the providers and experts that I’ve been consulting all along, as well as Riverside families. Most importantly, I need to listen to the staff.
At the end of the day, I will have to do my best to balance those constituencies and my own conscience as a leader. I recognize that finding a perfect compromise may be impossible, but I will do my best to make sure everyone is heard. To that end, please take a moment to give your feedback on Riverside’s current COVID guidelines as well as your thoughts on potential changes to those by taking this survey (STILL DRAFTING, TO BE ADDED).
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Note in other places throughout this week's Memo that we have a few early dismissals in the weeks ahead:
- This Friday, February 18 @ 12:30 for all PreK-8th Graders after Winter Carnival.
- Wednesday, March 9 @12:30 for K-8th graders for Conferences
- Thursday, March 10 @ 12:30 for k-8th grades for Conferences
On each of these afternoons the K-8 Extended Day Program will run until 5:00 pm, and the Preschool After School Program will run on February 18. Please let Heather or Sean know specifically if your child will be attending and what time you anticipate picking them up.
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MORNING DROP OFF REMINDER |
Teachers need early morning time to prepare lessons and their classrooms. We want to respect that uninterrupted time that they need to get ready for the day. Please remember that teachers are not scheduled to provide supervision for students until 7:45 in the morning, and keep that in mind when dropping off your child(ren), who may have to wait outdoors until then. |
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Middle school students in the Service Elective would like to thank everyone who donated to the Lyndon Food Shelf and enjoyed a hot chocolate last Wednesday. They now have $89.25 to donate! They are going to be doing this every Wednesday for the next few weeks, with new toppings next week as well. So stop by their table in front of the barn and enjoy a sweet treat.
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Friday's half day will be a chance for us to play together after working so hard together for so many weeks. Students will enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in mixed-age house groups. After lunch, all PreK-8th graders will be dismissed at 12:30.
The Preschool After School and K-8 Extended Day Programs will run until their usual end times at 4:15 and 5:00. Please let Heather or Sean know specifically if your child will be attending and what time you anticipate picking them up.
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We will not be skiing or riding this week because of the half day on Friday before the vacation. |
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PARENT TEACHER STUDENT CONFERENCES |
Spring conferences are coming up in the month of March. We hope all parents will take advantage of this opportunity to meet with teachers and discuss student strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Older students are encouraged to participate in the conferences, as part of practicing active learning and engaged citizenship.
K-8 Conferences will be on the afternoons of March 9 and 10, after an early dismissal:
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Riverside 8th graders (correction, not 6 or 7th graders) will be participating in the National Spanish Examination in early April. The NSE is an online, standardized assessment, given voluntarily by about 4,000 middle and high school teachers throughout the United States to measure performance (interpretive communication) and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language. Students with outstanding scores on the NSE will be featured on the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) website and recognized.
By participating in the NSE for three years in a row including 2022, one high-achieving student per teacher will be eligible for either on-site or virtual scholarship placement to the Concordia Language Villages Immersion Program for the Kevin Cessna-Buscemi Global Citizen Scholarships. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition for a one or two-week immersion program in Spanish or Portuguese with Concordia. Although this opportunity is not accessible to Riverside students at this moment, continued participation in the NSE in high school may make it possible.
How to Prepare at Home: Besides our regular classwork, it would be helpful for students to practice at home by accessing past examinations online, on the following links:
Achievement - Vocabulary and Grammar
Proficiency - Reading and Listening
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We are so grateful for all those in our community who have participated in giving to the Annual Fund, which bridges the gap between tuition income and program expenses. This year we hope our teachers, and their tireless commitment, creativity, and engagement, has inspired your donations.
It's not the amount of your gift that matters as much as the act of participation. If you haven't yet donated, please help us increase the percentages below by making a donation to Riverside today. While you can give online, you'll save us the cost of processing fees if you make a payment to Krystal directly with cash or check.
Parents: 32% (national average for independent schools 62%)
Alumni: 3% (national average for independent schools 8%)
Grandparents: 10% (national average for independent schools 13%)
Trustees: 75% (national average for independent schools 100%)
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COVID RELATED INFORMATION |
The COVID Related Information that's been in recent Memos remains the same, and can now be found on our website.
- Stay Home Policy
- COVID Isolation & Quarantine Guidelines
- Learning Support Due to COVID
- COVID Response Testing
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Parent Book Club will meet this Tuesday, February 15, from 5:00-6:00. All Riverside parents are welcome to attend, even if they haven't read the book. Please let Nelia know if you're willing to make some snacks to share.
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Chess Club will meet this Wednesday. K-2nd graders will be in Allee's room; and 3-5th graders will be in Hanna's room from 3:00-3:45. 6-8th graders will meet in Hanna's room from 3:45-4:45. |
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Math Counts Club for 6-8th graders will meet this Thursday from 3:45-4:30 pm. |
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LANTERN AND LIGHT FESTIVAL |
The fourth annual Lantern and Light Festival will be at Bandstand Park in Lyndonville this Friday, February 18th from 5:00-7:00pm. All Riverside students are making lanterns and are encouraged to attend the celebration. Kindergarten through 5th grade will be taking their lanterns home this week. If they bring their lanterns to the festival, Elly will have lights to hand out to them so they can light their lanterns and join in the festivities. Preschool will be able to pick their lantern up on site. Middle school students are making willow lanterns and those lanterns will help to light the festival. Middle school students will be able to collect their lanterns at the festival if they attend, and after break at school if not. There will be hot cocoa provided by REVAMP THE 'VILLE, Live Drumming by Shebang!, hotdogs from Rocky's and cookies and cupcakes. Come for a wondrous evening of lanterns, light, and levity! |
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SNOWFLAKE FESTIVAL AT THE LYNDON OUTING CLUB |
The Snowflake Festival events being held at the Lyndon Outing Club this week are all listed here.
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AFTER SCHOOL WINTER ADVENTURES |
Because we are located within the Kingdom East School District, Riverside 5-8th graders are welcome to participate in FREE XC-Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Fat Biking lessons and rentals at Kingdom Trails during the months of February & March. The program, thanks to generous participation by Kingdom Trails, Village Sportshop, Northwoods Stewardship Center, and Kingdom Cycling & Adventures, will run Mondays-Thursdays from 3:15-5:00 at the Village Sport Shop Trailside location on Darling Hill. More info is here and the link to register is here. Limited spots available.
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THEATER ARTS PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP AT CATAMOUNT ARTS |
5-8th grade students will rehearse and perform the short play Prestidigitation! while developing acting technique, including the expressive use of voice, body, and imagination. Mondays and Wednesdays, March 3 - May 23, 3:30-5:00 pm. Auditions next week. More information is here.
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As summer camps and programs for youth in the NEK are shared with us, we will link information here.
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30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
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