Riverside School PTA Newsletter | |
PTA Highlights
Dear Riverside families,
Many of you are likely following the harrowing situation in Ukraine right now, and like us, are learning how to speak with your children about it. See the newsletter below for one way your family can help those fleeing their homes in Ukraine. If you know other ways Riverside families can help those impacted by the crisis in Ukraine, please contact the PTA Community Service Co-Chairs, Angela Kilcullen (akilcullen@gmail.com) and Wendy Browning-Lynch (wendygbrowning@yahoo.com).
For the past two years, our STEM Fair has been digital due to COVID. This year, we’re returning to our traditional STEM Fair format…in-person! So, let’s all give a cheer for STEM Fair this year. Be there or be square. We can’t wait to see what participating students share.
Nutrition Week is happening next week. All school cafeteria lunches will incorporate foods from across the color spectrum. Your children will hear fun facts about foods of a certain color each day during morning announcements, encouraging them to “Taste the Rainbow”…but get that Skittles slogan out of your head, we’re actually talking about fruits, vegetables and other wholesome foods! Roy G. Biv would approve.
Your calendar reminders for the next two weeks:
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Monday, March 7 – STEM Fair registration opens
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March 7-11 – Nutrition Week
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March 14-18 – Pajama Drive
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Tuesday, March 15 – STEM Fair board handout (1 of 3)
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Friday, March 18 – March School Spirit Day
Enjoy your weekend.
Carey Bisbee & Allison Maus
PTA Co-Presidents
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LOOKING FOR A DRONE FOR GROUP PHOTO
We are planning to take a grade-wide picture of our 5th graders, and we are looking for a drone enthusiast who could help us take this picture from above. If you have a drone and could help out on Monday, March 7th, please let us know by getting in touch with Mercedes and Heeyoon.
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THE STEM FAIR IS RETURNING TO THE GYM!
Riverside's 8th annual STEM FAIR will be held April 4-6, 2022! The Fair gives students a chance to work individually or with a group to sharpen their STEM skills, choosing a project that explores their world or creates a solution to a real-world problem. Students will have the opportunity to present their projects to their class during the school day, and at an evening Fair where all families are welcome. Each participant will receive a certificate and a medal. STEM Fair is voluntary but all students K-5 are encouraged to participate!
For more info, visit RIVPTA.ORG. Registration will be open March 7-29.
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TASTE THE RAINBOW FOR NUTRITION WEEK MARCH 7-11
Riverside School will join the entire Greenwich Public School District in celebrating Nutrition Week from March 7-11, a week to remind students to eat a balanced diet that will give them the energy and nutrients they need as they grow.
During Nutrition Week, all school cafeteria lunches will incorporate specific fresh fruits and vegetables in the menu as part of a “Taste the Rainbow” initiative. These items will also be available to students who bring lunch from home.
Please take part in Nutrition Week by making sure your children start their day with a healthy breakfast and eat a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. We encourage you to print out this “Eat 5 Fruits and Veggies Everyday” pledge sheet as a way to help remind students to eat nutritious foods at home. For more details including the fruits and vegetables to be featured, check out the event flyer. Happy eating!
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SEND MESSAGES OF HOPE TO UKRANIAN REFUGEES
Riverside’s own Stefanie Morin, local friends & businesses are organizing a cargo plane to send donated clothing and necessities to the Polish border for Ukrainian refugees. While they have received more than enough donations for now, it would be impactful to have our own children write letters of care and support to be enclosed in each donation bag for displaced families.
This outreach also presents an opportunity for those who choose to discuss what is happening in Ukraine with our children (this NYT article is a great resource for parents). Bins will be outside of Riverside School to deposit cards during school hours on Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11.
Ukrainian phrases that can be used (for older kids up for the challenge):
Wishing for peace – Молимося за мир
Thinking of you and your country – Думаємо і підтримуємо Україну
Sending love – Шлемо підтримку і любов
Let’s shower these families with hope and love! Thank you in advance for your support. Questions? Contact wendybrowning@yahoo.com or akilcullen@gmail.com.
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PAJAMA DRIVE IS HAPPENING MARCH 14-18
Who loves cozy new PJs? Everybody, that’s who! Who loves donating new pajamas to those in need? The families of Riverside School of course! The Community Service Committee will have collection bins outside the main doors from March 14-18 for your kids to drop off their pajama donations. Pajamas should be NEW (with tags), come as a set (not just bottoms, just tops or nightgowns) and are needed in all sizes ranging from newborn to adult XXL (for teens). Donations will be given to the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Stamford. Please see link for more details.
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REMINDER ABOUT OUR EARLY MORNING PROGRAM
The Early Morning Program provides a fun, familiar place for students to go before school starts from 7:15-8:30am. You may enroll your child on a regular basis or pay by the day on an as-needed basis. Please visit the Early Morning Program page for more information and to register your child.
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"YOUR CHILD'S DIGITAL LIFE" SERIES
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:
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March 29 - Getting to Know Schoology and Google Drive
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May 3 - Power Apps Used in School
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ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Author Rajani LaRocca Virtual Visit 3/4
Today, grades 3-5 were visited virtually by acclaimed author Rajani LaRocca.
With our 4th and 5th grade students, she discussed her 2022 Newbery Honor Book, Red, White and Whole, a coming-of-age novel about an Indian American 5th grader set in the 1980s. Rajani described her inspiration and process for writing the book and her aspiration to help all children feel a sense of belonging.
With the 3rd grade, Rajani shared her fascination for math puzzles by introducing her award-winning books, Much Ado About Baseball and Seven Golden Rings. She shared that with those books, she hopes students will embrace the wonder and joy of math and science in literature.
Upcoming Enrichment Programs
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March 7, 9, 11: High Touch High Tech's Dig It (Grade 3)
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March 21-24: Poetry Week with Ted Scheu (Grades K-4)
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March 29, 30: High Touch High Tech's Give Me Dirt (Grade 2)
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March 31, April 1: High Touch High Tech's Smarty Plants (Grade 1)
These programs are paid for by your generous donations to the PTA. Thank you!
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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.
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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 and must wear a mask at all times during a shift. Sign up online. For more info, contact Brielle Goldfaden at brielleg@gmail.com.
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ADVANCED LEARNING PROGRAM (ALP) - DATES FOR GRADE 6 PLACEMENT
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March 31 or April 1 - Placement notifications will be emailed to parents.
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NOTIFYING THE SCHOOL IF YOUR CHILD RECEIVES THE COVID-19 VACCINE
If your child has received either dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and you choose to share this information with the school, kindly email Nurse Melissa Luiso evidence of your child's vaccination card so that the school's medical records can be updated accordingly. Thank you!
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NOTE FOR PARENTS: ITEM DROP-OFFS
As a reminder to parents, when dropping off items for children, please make sure the item is labeled with the child's name and teacher. Sometimes office personnel cannot immediately obtain items from the bins due to other obligations, and clear labeling will minimize confusion and inefficiency at the time of retrieval.
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ORDERING LUNCH
Thank you to everyone that has been so diligent in placing online lunch orders for their children. This information is truly helpful in planning for the amount of food needed each day. As a reminder, you may enter an order up to FIVE days in advance. We do ask that you do not exceed that timeline, and order for the weeks ahead. We have noticed a lot of duplication when this occurs, and also some date errors that are missed sometimes.
Please visit the Lunch Page on rivpta.org for information on submitting lunch orders and a link to the school's order form.
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"UNDERSTANDING ADVANCED SCIENCE" WITH TARA FOGEL ON MARCH 8
Want to learn more about the Middle School Advanced Science Pathway Projects? Please join speaker Tara Fogel, GPS Program Coordinator for K-8 Science on Tuesday, March 8 at 10:30am. Please see the flyer for more detailed information and the link to join.
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DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS AWARD: NOMINATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 18
Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond in his/her work with students? If so, we encourage you to nominate that teacher for a Distinguished Teachers Award! Visit the GPS Distinguished Teachers Awards website for information on eligibility, nomination procedures and forms, and key dates. Completed nomination forms must be submitted electronically in one email by Friday, March 18 at 5:00pm.
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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, March 24, 2022
- Thursday, April 28, 2022
- Thursday, May 19, 2022
- Thursday, June 2, 2022 (Retreat, no public comment)
- Thursday, June 16, 2022
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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.
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See Kal Penn as Part of The ICC Speaker Series
The India Cultural Center will welcome actor, writer and former Obama White House staffer Kal Penn on Tuesday, March 8 at the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center. He will give a talk to launch the new ICC Speaker Series that will showcase the impact of South Asian Americans in the U.S. and the world. Follow this link to purchase tickets.
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Donate Books to Support Greenwich After-School Programs at BGCG & BANC
The Greenwich United Way Sole Sisters are hosting a book drive through Friday, March 11 to benefit Greenwich after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich (BGCG) and the BANC Department of Human Services After School Program. Donors are asked to bring new and gently used books specifically for K-8 readers to the following locations: Athena Books in Old Greenwich, Cos Cob Library, Dogwood Books & Gifts at Christ Church, Perrot Library and the Greenwich United Way office. For more information on the book drive and Sole Sisters, visit greenwichunitedway.org.
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Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival at GHS Performing Arts Center on March 26
With the support of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the festival has been a GHS tradition for 35 years. Happening in the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 26 from 9:30am-6:30pm, nine outstanding high school jazz ensembles, including the GHS Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band, are scheduled to perform. At 1:00pm there will be masterclasses given on Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Bass, Guitar and Drum Set. At 2:00pm there will be a one-hour performance of favorite standards by a renowned group of jazz masters. A $10 donation at the door is kindly suggested. Questions may be addressed to greenwichband@gmail.com.
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Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of Broadway Hit Annie!
Join the St. Catherine's Players in celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Broadway hit Annie. Performances are on March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 with curtain times on Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm.
Tickets are $21 in advance and may be purchased at SCP.LUDUS.COM. Tickets are $25 the day of the performance both online and at the door. Please note, the online box office closes three hours before each performance.
Everyone must have a ticket, regardless of age. St. Catherine's Players welcomes adults with children who can sit quietly throughout the entire performance. All attendees are required to wear a mask while indoors.
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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 March & 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.
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COVID Resources from the School | |
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LATEST MASK & QUARANTINE GUIDANCE FROM THE DISTRICT
As per Dr. Jones’s February 27 family note, students and staff of Greenwich Public Schools have the option to wear masks in school buildings beginning March 1.
On February 25, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exercised its enforcement discretion to not require that individuals wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems. Therefore, mask wearing will also be optional on our school buses starting on Tuesday, March 1. Updated CDC mask orders can be found on its website.
In addition, GPS quarantine information for unvaccinated individuals who might have been exposed to COVID has been updated and provided below for your review:
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Five-day quarantine/with symptoms: An unvaccinated student or staff member who has had an exposure and has symptoms should test between Day 1-3 after symptoms start and quarantine for five days, returning on Day 6, with resolving symptoms and fever free for 24 hours, and are able to wear a well fitting mask for an additional five days.
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Five-day quarantine/asymptomatic: An unvaccinated student or staff member who has had an exposure and has no symptoms should stay home for five days, test on Day 3 and again 24 hours later, but no more than 48 hours, and if negative results, may return on Day 6. Masking is recommended.
- If symptoms should occur at any point during the five days, the student or staff member should immediately test and restart the quarantine.
- There are no changes for those that are vaccinated - they are not required to quarantine.
The CDC says that individuals that test positive can return on Day 6 if there is resolution of symptoms, but must wear a mask for an additional five days covering the full contagious period of the virus of 10 days.
Please contact the school nurse, Melissa Luiso (melissa_luiso@greenwich.k12.ct.us), if you have any questions.
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SUBMISSIONS
Have something to add? Email us at: peekweekriv@gmail.com Deadline for submissions is 3pm on Wednesday of the school week
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