7th graders Jeremiah and Sam are working together on a bridge building challenge in science class. Despite their course of study this year being Earth Science, Mr. G saved time in the school year for them to engage in this favorite project that they missed out on last year in 6th grade Physical Science. They will be judged later this month in a variety of categories by local engineering experts. |
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Greetings!
What a busy, fun, and productive weekend! The yard sale was a great success (read more below), and we have another busy Saturday this weekend. We hope families are enjoying being together safely outdoors while supporting Riverside so thoroughly!
Happy Monday,
Nelia
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ACT NOW: SUPER CASH RAFFLE |
Tickets were to be returned by today, sold or unsold, we need to account for each ticket number and use this information to organize exactly how the event will run. Please contact Krystal directly to update her on your tickets, ask any questions, or ask for extra tickets to sell.
Thank you for supporting this additional fundraiser, which will help to ensure we bridge the gap between tuition income and program expenses. Although it's hard to have so many events at the same time, we are glad to be able to finally have them!
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THIS SATURDAY AT RIVERSIDE |
We have had few opportunities to socialize and build our supportive community this year. Those who appreciate Riverside for the relationships fostered here have been missing it dearly! Especially to welcome newer families who don't know many others, we hope everyone will join us at some point on Saturday, May 8:
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Spring Clean Up/Love Riverside Day, 9:00 am - approx 12:00 pm - Each year we ask staff and families to come together and share in taking on a variety of campus chores. It's fun to show your love for Riverside by contributing your energy and skills alongside other Riverside families. We do not have a full time facilities staff, and your help is greatly needed! Modeling your volunteer time for your children helps us meet our mission (engaged citizens, supportive community), so we hope you'll bring them along. Chores to choose from will be sorted as cleaning, gardening, fixing, and painting, bring along your favorite tools to use. Come to the front porch of the house and Parent and Trustee Polly Yerkes (4th grader Lila) and Nelia will help you find just the right task and everything you need to complete it. You can come early or late, stay as long as you like (or ask Nelia about a chore you can do at another more convenient time), but this year there is a bit of a party afterwards...read on:
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Stewarding Riverside Outside, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm - Our Board of Trustees would like to meet you and show their support for our Grow Riverside Outside initiative, and to that end they are hosting a fun event for us. Plan to head toward the lower field, be welcomed, and enjoy a short walk along new paths around the edge of campus and learn about how different special places are being or plan to be used by teachers as learning opportunities. Teachers and Board Members will usher you along the way, sharing punch and cookies as you go. The tour will end in the orchard, at the planned pavilion site, with more treats and information.
Optional: Bring a picnic lunch for your family, and enjoy it anywhere on campus at any time. Invite another family to join you!
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What have Riverside teachers meant to you? If it's something positive, we hope you will demonstrate that by honoring them with a gift to our Teachers Pavilion. You can even name a teacher with your gift, and that will lead to an extra feature about him or her in the pavilion. No gift is too small, it's the act of giving, even $10, that shows your support.
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GRATITUDE FOR THE YARD SALE |
Wow! The sale was a huge success and such an impressive display of community energy in all directions. We raised more than $7300 for Riverside!
Thank you to the families who so generously donated goods; lent tents, tables, tarps, and even barn space; and who took time out of their busy schedules to help sort, set up, and clean up over the last few weeks! Labeled tarps and storage bins can be collected this week. We also have pallets up for grabs, leaning up against the back corner of the Carriage House. Please reach out to Arcelie Reyes if you are having trouble locating loaned items.
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Sean is excited to announce that, given the rolled-back restrictions and with Kingdom Trails now open, we are able to get our mountain bike club up and running again! For now, we will plan to meet Thursday afternoons at 3:45, in the parking lot next to The Hub on Darling Hill. All ages and abilities are welcome, though students must have their own bikes. In order to get an idea of how many kids we might have, please email or speak with Sean directly if your child is interested in joining. Additionally, let him know if you're able to chaperone, having more adults can allow us to divide into groups based on ability and ensure everyone is comfortable.
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The next Parent Advisory Group meeting will be on Tuesday, May 11 at 5:00 pm. We look forward to seeing those who are comfortable and able in-person on campus, but will also provide a Google meet link for those who prefer. All Riverside parents are welcome to attend. The agenda will include discussions of fundraising status (toward the annual $25,000 goal for parents), end of year celebrations, and planning and goal setting for next year.
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4-8th graders are hard at work on research projects in connection with their social studies themes and look forward to presenting them on Friday, May 14. We are still working out how this event will be different this year than most, but do expect that students will be presenting at the usual high-level with speeches, props, and visual aids, and that they will have a combination of live and virtual audiences. Stay tuned for more information.
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Friday, June 4, our last day of school, will be a fun day full of celebration of a successful year. It is a full day, with regular dismissal times at 3:00/3:30, and the Afterschool/Extended Day programs will run. More details will be in future MMs. |
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As the state lifts COVID requirements between now and the end of the school year, we anticipate being able to host a graduation ceremony that is as close to normal as possible, though we have had to make some decisions for spacing that will limit attendance. Typically, Riverside's graduation is a PreK-8th community event that culminates the school year with traditions that have been practiced since 1981. With the audience appropriately spaced, this year we will only be able to host faculty, trustees, 8th-graders, and approximately 5 guests or family members per graduate. We’ll be sending an email to families of graduates soon with further details. As an 8th-grade family, if you need more information right away, please reach out to Roy.
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VACCINATED ADULTS ON CAMPUS |
If parents are on campus when st, and they are vaccinated, they do not need to wear a mask. If there is any chance of students being around, we should all be masked regardless of vaccination status.
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We are excited to announce that we have hired Emily Spring to be our third-grade teacher next year (Allee will be moving to 2nd grade). Emily graduated with a master’s in education from Antioch University, and has nine years of experience as a 3rd-grade teacher and team leader at Marin Country Day School in Corte Madera, California. We have also hired Marie Vaine to be our PreK-8 music teacher next year. Marie is a lifelong musician in a variety of instruments and has a background in outdoor education. Anyone who has spent much time on campus has seen what a gifted educator she is and we are all excited to welcome her to the team!
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An alumni family is downsizing their chicken coop and would like to offer 6 Plymouth Black Rock (a hardy variety well-suited to Vermont) hens and a rooster in exchange for a donation to the school. If you are interested, please email Nelia and she will put you in touch with the sellers.
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Keep an eye on this section of the Memo for summer opportunities for children that fit well with Riverside's mission:
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30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
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