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The Riley School
September 2021
Please refer to this link for updates
Riley Covid/ Delta Policy Handbook September 21
Dear Families,
We have a few brief weeks to enjoy summer and to prepare ourselves for a return to campus. Now is the time to be building your immune system, to be practicing the norms for distancing and thorough hand-washing, to be gathering the supplies we need to return to campus, to help make modifications to the classrooms and outdoor spaces, to be getting your back to school medical exams and any needed vaccinations, and to review and return the volumes of attached paperwork.
Please carefully review all the material included here and return all paperwork to us, either at PO Box 159 Rockport ME 04856 or plan to bring it to the
All School Picnic at 4:30-6 pm on Tuesday Sept. 7th.
For Wade Acres and the Lower School classes will begin on campus
Thursday September 9th.
For Wade and Lower School first Thursday and Friday will be NOON pick up days.
Middle and Upper School will return to the tradition of a campout at TANGLEWOOD ( not Blueberry Cove. ) Thursday September 9th/10th.
The permission slip and information is in the mailed packet.
The Calendar and Family Directories are linked here:
2021-2022 School Calendar
2021-2022 Family Directory
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Our plan for safe, on-campus programming requires the commitment of all in the community to act as a family dedicated to the health and welfare of all our families and extended families. It requires honest and timely communication to uphold the specific protocols and safety requirements in order for it to be effective.
UNIVERSAL MASKING WILL REMAIN IN PLACE INDOORS
We are again asking that you “stay at home” beginning September 6th so that we can begin our year with greater confidence that we are a “pod” committed to the health and safety of the entire school community.*
We are trusting all returning members of the Riley Community recognize the importance of putting the health and safety of our children as the top priority. While we cannot guarantee zero transmission of the COVID 19 virus, we have developed plans that will serve to reduce, as much as possible, the risk of exposure or transmission of the virus.
The enclosed “Waiver and Agreement of Participation” must be reviewed, printed, signed, and returned. Please call or write to me with any questions. A hard copy will be sent as well.
click here for the
Waiver and Agreement
and
This was sent with your contracts but if you have not returned it, it must be in by September 9th
2021-2022 Child Information Sheet
We look forward to strengthening our sense of community and engaging once again in the joy of teaching and learning together.
There is a lot more information below for your review. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
With appreciation for your partnership,
Becky and the faculty
Rebecca Greenleaf Clapp, Head of School
The Riley School
PO Box 159
Glen Cove Maine 04856
207-596-6405
OR 207-691-4005 ( new admin line for drop off and pick up texts)
Creativity Critical Thinking
Curiosity Composure
Collaboration Compassion
Citizenship
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR REVIEW
Prior to the Start of School
Riley families will need to make sure that all health and medical forms are updated prior to the start of school. In addition, families need to review the safety protocols listed below and sign the waiver and commitment letter (see attached). Upholding these protocols to the best of our abilities is a prerequisite to returning to campus in the fall.
- Complete and update all medical forms and vaccination records
- Return Student Profile/ emergency contact forms
- Pay Student Activity Fee ( $175 M/U and $150 LowerSchool)
- Sign the waiver and affidavit
- Review the Health and Safety Protocols listed below together as family, and sign your commitment to uphold these protocols while on campus.
- Upon receipt of Handbooks at the picnic or from the office, you will be asked to review and sign the Acknowledgment. You will receive notification of any changes electronically.
Arrival: : Between 8:30 -8:45 am. ( NOTE TIME CHANGE)
Unless special arrangements have been made in advance, children will not be admitted before 8:30 or after 8:55. After 8:45 am children must check in through the office.
Calls or texts re late arrival / pick up or last minute plan changes can be sent to
207-691-4005 ( new admin line for drop off and pick up texts)
Health screening and sign in will be required carside prior to getting out of cars. Wade Acres families will be screened at the gate.
Children should be dressed and prepared to spend the entire day outdoors. A change of clothes and shoes is essential. Spare masks required.
Afternoon Pick Up: Pick up time is at 3:30pm.
After 3:40 children must be picked up at the office - late fee applied at 3;45.
Parking in front is restricted for Wade & Lower School only. Stay in the car line and wait for your child to be dismissed to the car. If you want to park, please proceed to the faculty parking area.
Mask Requirements:
Parents, children and staff must be masked whenever indoors on campus. Children age 5 and older must wear face coverings within the school buildings . Face coverings are recommended, but not required, by Maine Department of Health and Human Services for children ages 2-4. We commit to practice maintaining the recommended 3 feet of allowable distance between children when combined with the other measures outlined in the list of safety requirements when indoors. When combined with other protocol, masks may periodically be removed. When outdoors and physical distancing can be maintained, masks or face coverings may be removed. Plenty of mask breaks will be incorporated into our days. Please practice and reinforce this as the norm for our days together.
You are asked to bring 10 masks to school at the beginning of each week (or at minimum 3 a day) to be sent home at the end of the week for laundering. If you prefer to have just 3 they need to go home daily. We will require that it be changed after lunch and stored in a bag for you to launder.
Please send 2 bags: One with clean masks.. One for used masks. A lanyard is highly recommended
Great masks are available at
Kids Masks – Rafi Nova https://rafinova.com/collections/elementary-school
Days at Riley
Faculty + staff: Please check the website for the bios of our new faculty.
Class Schedules : Very unlike Riley’s tradition of mixing all ages and “ schools” this year, in order to minimize exposure, we will again be keeping children in smaller “pods”. Wade Acres, the Lower School, the 2 Middle School classes and the single Upper School class will have separate schedules. We will be reintroducing mixed age Morning Connection and Reflections Groups and all children will be able to mix during outdoor lunch and recess.
Classrooms: The original Lower School is now the Wade Acres 2 and 3 year old classroom with Susanna, Molly and Pat. The Wade space now houses the new 4 Year old classroom with Lindsay and Mia. The Lower School will all be in the “ big room” next to the office and last year’s Math room with Hattie and Ethan. Ginger’s Math classes will be in the Theatre with Deb. Michelle will be in the library facilitating ELA and Cultural Studies. Alicia will be in the Round room providing an integrated Humanities program for the Upper School as well as Science / Natural History for the Upper and older Middle School children.
Dress: We will spend most of our time outdoors in the woods and fields, on the decks and tents. Please make sure your child is dressed in layers and sent with the things they need to have a comfortable day (see list below.)
Snack + Lunch: Our microwaves will NOT be available this year so please make sure to pack your child lunches and snacks that do not need to be heated. Snacks and lunch will be outdoors weather permitting. If children need to eat inside, staff will encourage them to practice safe distancing. Masks must be stored in a sealable bag during lunch and will be changed after lunch.
Nourishment: WE ARE A PEANUT FREE CAMPUS
Pack lots of food! Use reusable containers where possible…
Your children are growing, learning, active, and hungry.
Lots of small hearty individual foods - and specifically ones that have some protein and substance…
Aim for current RDA goals for optimum growth and nourishment for 19 grams a day of protein for ages 4-8 and 34 for ages 8-12 .
ex:
Apple and some cheese Greek yogurt with some (non peanut) seed
Granola bars/ trail mix green beans with hummus
Sushi California rolls hard boiled eggs
Cheese sticks roasted chickpeas
Pumpkin seeds banana
Raisins edamame
Sun nut butter with apple,banana,celery, crackers
Children are encouraged to self monitor and get drinks of water or indicate a need for a snack whenever needed but we will encourage snacks upon arrival before the 9 am class, a quick snack at 10:50, and then have lunch after Reflections at 12:30 and a snack during class at 2:30 ish.
Supplies: We are requiring every child to have their own supply/pencil case that they can carry with them around campus. We will supply each child with a dry erase board, a notebook, dry erase markers, and a starter supply of pencils, crayons, scissors. Please make sure that your child has a small bottle of hand sanitizer inside their supply box.
What your child needs:
Backpack
Rain gear (jumpsuit or rain pants +rain jacket ,boots, )
Pencil Case
Extra clothes, socks and shoes
Snacks + Lunch (extra snacks)
Hand sanitizer
Water Bottle (must be labeled)
Masks and lanyard (min 3 - 10) and sealable bags
All supplies should be labeled and will be sent home on weekends for cleaning.
No other personal items.
All toys, stuffies, or electronics from home should stay at home.
Books are always welcome!
We recommend a tablet for each child (for minimal in school use but in preparation for “ Riley at Home” if needed.
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
All families are also asked to donate for general use:
A large container of hand sanitizer
A bottle of (deet free) tick/ insect repellent
A bottle of sunscreen
1 bottle of surface cleaner/disinfectant/spray or liquid
I pump bottle hand soap (NOT antibacterial)
Call for volunteers! The line from our founding principles - “we value community over self” has never resonated more strongly. It is a lot, but we can do this TOGETHER. We need your help more than ever. Dave Ernst is coordinating our volunteers and can be reached by phone or text at 207-691-2583.
Lindsay Powers, current parent and alumnus is our new
PARENT COMMUNITY COORDINATOR
She will be reaching out to find ways to engage you in the daily life of our campus and children. Please contact her with any ideas!
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THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
All questions are good ones! Please call the office at 596-6405 if you have anything on your mind. A mobile office number will be provided for texts or calls related to morning or late pick up, changes or other emergencies. Please DO NOT text or instant message faculty directly. If you need to communicate during the day, Tammy and I in the office will get messages to faculty and children promptly. Faculty emails are provided to communicate feedback or questions related to a specific class and to set up meetings but are not for daily communications. Please refer to Parent Handbook for more details.
COMMUNICTIONS
We ask that families follow these guidelines at all times, but particularly during any shut down.
- To reach a facilitator, please use e-mail.
- Firstname.lastname @rileyschool.org or subjectarea@rileyschool.org
- Please do not use any staff member’s personal phone number.
- We understand that texting is a quick and easy way to communicate, but we kindly ask the families not to text message to any staff member**.
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If you would like to speak over the phone with a facilitator, arrange a time over e-mail via director@rileyschool.org or the individual staff email and we will call you.
- Faculty is expected to check e-mail every school day and respond to all messages within 24 hours during the work week.
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Again, If there is an urgent need for communication and you can not reach the office at 596-6405 contact the director by text at 207-691-4005 or
“The aim of education—in fact, the aim of life—is to work joyfully and find happiness. Happiness means being interested in life, responding to it not just with one’s brain but with one’s whole personality.” — Erich Fromm
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