Riverside School PTA Newsletter | |
PTA Highlights
Dear Riverside families,
This week, it’s all about opening up. We’re starting to see early signs of spring, having spotted a few opening crocuses. The days are lasting a little longer and we are eager for our lawns to start coming out of hibernation. Major League Baseball’s even gotten on the bandwagon, with stadiums now expected to open next month after a lengthy lockout!
While we continue to enjoy this manageable COVID climate, it sure does feel like everything is opening up. While the changes at Riverside School may not feel immediate, we do have a number of in-person activities in the pipeline such as STEM Fair, Riverside Run and enrichment sessions, among other possible grade/classroom-specific opportunities. All told, as per Dr. Jones’s plan to take a measured pace, Riverside School is opening up bit by bit!
The Riverside School community is opening its hearts to support Ukrainian families and refugees with messages of hope in the cards so many of our children made this week. We hope this spirit of giving continues with next week's pajama drive (details below). What’s more, we’ve opened up a new webpage called “Hawks Who Help”, which will serve as a repository of information about how your family can support a variety of causes. Check it out.
Finally, a reminder that our spring-themed Spirit Day is next Friday, so open your children’s closets to dig up some of their favorite spring-themed apparel. And don’t forget to open up your culinary repertoire to include some Riverside family favorite recipes by pre-ordering a copy of the Riverside School cookbook (staff can order here).
Calendar reminders for the rest of March:
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March 14-18 – Pajama Drive
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Tuesday, March 15 – STEM Fair board handout
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Friday, March 18 – Spring-themed Spirit Day
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March 21-24 – Poetry Week with Ted Scheu
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Tuesday, March 22 – STEM Fair board handout
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Friday, March 25 – No School (Teacher Professional Learning Day)
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Tuesday, March 29 – STEM Fair registration closes & board handout
Have a great weekend.
Carey Bisbee & Allison Maus
PTA Co-Presidents
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PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE RIVERSIDE COOKBOOK!
The Wellness team is thrilled to announce that they are accepting pre-orders for the Riverside School Cookbook from March 11-31. This cookbook is a memorable keepsake filled with family recipes and original artwork from our school community. Order yours today (staff can order here)!
NOTE: A portion of the proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen, a non-profit on the frontlines of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, serving thousands of fresh meals to refugees as well as those who remain in the country.
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SPRING SPIRIT DAY IS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 18
"The first blooms of Spring always make my heart sing!" With Spring right around the corner, let's show our love and excitement for this beautiful season by wearing our favorite spring attire (think florals, pastels, tie dye)! Look for the signs of Spring near our school. Can you find any new buds or sprouting bulbs? Maybe you will see a Red Hawk returning north after a long winter.
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REGISTRATION FOR (IN-PERSON) STEM FAIR IS OPEN!
Register now for Riverside's annual STEM Fair and pick up display boards next Tuesday, March 15!
The STEM FAIR will be held April 5-6, 2022. The Fair gives students a chance to work individually or with a group to sharpen their STEM skills. 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 is open until March 29.
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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.
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INTRODUCING OUR "HAWKS WHO HELP" WEBPAGE!
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. This week, we have added 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.
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STUDENT COUNCIL & LUCKY DOG REFUGE
The Student Council members have worked diligently to identify their first fundraising event for 2021-2022 school year: spread animal awareness!
On March 23, Student Council members will be hosting a BAKE SALE for Lucky Dog Refuge, a safe haven for dogs from dire backgrounds, located in Stamford, CT. Note: we ask that only parents or other adults should purchase the baked goods.
Along with a bake sale, Student Council will be accepting donations needed for the refuge (please scan the QR code to see a list of needed materials) until March 30. A donation bin will be left outside the front of the school, and donations can be dropped off at any time.
Please feel free to reach out to Mary Victor or Jessica Rosa, Student Council Co-Advisors, if you have any questions.
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RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY MINI PERFORMANCE
Please join Riverside Rhapsody on Monday, March 14 from 3:45-4:00pm for an a cappella mini performance. The performance will take place outside in front of Riverside School, weather permitting.
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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 info 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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Date TBD - Getting to Know Schoology and Google Drive
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May 3 - Power Apps Used in School
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ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Our third grade students transformed into mini-geologists this week as they sorted and tested rocks and gems under the guidance of High Touch High Tech scientist Nina. They learned about different properties of the material in the earth's crust and what lies underneath. The students were then introduced to tectonic plates and how their movement impacts our world.
Upcoming Enrichment Programs
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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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VISION / HEARING / SCOLIOSIS ASSESSMENTS BEGINNING MARCH 14
Beginning Monday, March 14, Nurse Luiso will begin performing vision/hearing tests for Grades 1, 2 (for students who have not had their 2022 Health Assessment submitted for the 3rd grade entry), 3, 4 and 5. She will also perform postural checks on 5th grade girls for scoliosis.
Parents who wish to opt out should email Nurse Melissa Luiso with their student's updated Health Assessment in 2021/2022 and/or a letter stating they wish to have their child removed from the assessments.
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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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HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Join district psychologists Dr. Fabian Boie and Dr. Alina Boie for an interactive workshop on Thursday, March 17 from 12-1pm that will provide effective ways to discuss sensitive topics with your child in response to the current international crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
Meeting Link: meet.google.com/wwn-kaym-mdu
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UNDERSTAND THE LINKIT DATA WAREHOUSE & ASSESSMENT PLATFORM
Have questions about LinkIt and want to spend some more time understanding it? Please join members of GPS Administration for "Understand the LinkIt Data Warehouse and Assessment Platform" on March 29 at 9am. Please see the flyer for more detailed information and the link to join. If you can't make it live, the session will be recorded.
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RECORDINGS FROM THE GRADES 2, 3 & 4 ALP INFO SESSION
Bonnie O’Regan and the ALP Leadership Team hosted zoom webinars about the ALP placement process for students in grades 2, 3 and 4. Recordings from those sessions, including question & answer segments, are now available. Recordings from both Session 1 (March 9 at 7pm) and Session 2 (March 10 at 9:30am) are available. Accompanying presentation slides can be found on the ALP website (Informational Meetings section).
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RECORDING & SLIDES OF "UNDERSTANDING ADVANCED SCIENCE"
Did you miss the March 8 session? During the presentation, Tara Fogel discussed the advanced science pathway as it exists this year, what the advanced science program will look like next year and beyond, showcased samples of current Middle School Advanced Science Pathway projects and answered parents' questions. Access the recording here (passcode: +!UK742B) and the slides here.
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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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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 34 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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