Riverside School PTA Newsletter
Friday, March 12th, 2021
PTA News
SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK STARTS SUNDAY
This month’s message in our Wellness Wednesday series highlights Sleep Awareness Week, observed March 14-20. Sleep Awareness Week coincides with Daylight Savings on March 14 when clocks will “Spring Forward” one hour. Getting a good night’s sleep is an essential part of overall health, especially for children. It is recommended that elementary school students get 10-11 hours of sleep each night and follow a healthy bedtime routine, including a quiet, dark, screen-free bedroom.

One fun way for children to pay more attention to their bedtime habits is by keeping a sleep diary. You can use this kid-friendly example of a sleep diary, which includes some helpful tips and activities. Have a restful weekend!
DONATE YOUR OLD CLEATS
Calling all athletes! Do you have any cleats that are starting to feel a little small? Give your old cleats a new lease on life by donating them in the box outside the school starting on Monday, March 15. Your cleats will be taken to Venezuela over the summer and donated to kids in need as part of the Same Cleats/New Feet project.
STUDENT WORK ON DISPLAY IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
The photo to the left gives us a little peek inside the school for just some of the great work being done by our students in honor of Women's History Month! Ms. Moody's ALP 4th, 3rd and 2nd grade students used Epic Books and Resources at Riverside to delve deep and write profiles on influential women and their contributions to society. The students' work is on display on a bulletin board for the whole school to see. They are being encouraged to continue their work by independently reading about a woman they may have never heard of before.
GET YOUR DONATIONS READY FOR THE TEXTILE DRIVE
As we all work to clean and prepare our houses for warmer months, please consider donating unwanted textiles to Riverside PTA's Textile Drive! For the week of March 22-26, the Green Committee will place collection bins outside the school each day. A final off-site collection day will follow on Wednesday March 31 (rain date: Thursday, April 1) from 8am-12pm ONLY at 32 Hendrie Ave. Information about which items are accepted is listed below. Still have questions? Email riversidegreencommittee@gmail.com

Accepted: Clean, dry textiles in good condition. Please do not donate textiles that are wet or moldy. All clothing items including footwear, hats, coats and jackets; linens & bedding including sheets, towels, pillowcases & cotton blankets; extra fabric & bolts (no small scraps), tablecloths, drapes & curtains; backpacks, lunch bags, pocketbooks, wallets & belts 

NOT Accepted: Pillows, mattresses, rugs, scrap fabric & material cuttings, foam stuffing, plush toys & stuffed animals
GPS WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK ON PPT MEETINGS
GPS has initiated a new internal feedback process (that is separate from the review being conducted by PCG) to improve their PPT meeting process. To that end, please make sure to fill out the new special education survey AFTER your Annual PPT Meeting. The survey link is in blue and can be found on the PPT Summary Page. The PPT Summary is delivered virtually, five school days after your annual PPT. It is included with your finalized IEP.

This survey is in response to the many inconsistencies that Key2Ed found regarding how PPTs are run throughout the district. These surveys are anonymous and cannot be traced back to families. If you do not receive a survey link please reach out to the PTAC Special Education Support Committee at ses@greenwichptac.org.
SUBMIT FEEDBACK FOR THE SPED REVIEW BY MARCH 31
PCG continues to work on its independent review of the district’s special education program. The survey has closed, but PCG is still gathering information from those who want to provide feedback via email. Email PCG with anonymous feedback at programreviewfeedback@pcgus.com. This is for all parents, not just parents of those with IEPs. This email address will remain available until March 31, 2021.
CALLING ALL SES FAMILIES
Calling all families of students with IEPs and 504 plans. Please sign up for the SES Message Board to stay informed and up to date on district meetings and special events that impact special education and related services. We look forward to connecting and collaborating. 
UPCOMING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
March 17: Bash the Trash assembly (Grade 2)
March 19: Storyteller Lot Therrio (Kindergarten)
March 22 & 24: Bash the Trash workshops (Grade 2)
March 22: Eli Whitney Museum Magnetic Pendulum Ecosystems (Grade 4)
From the Office
PROTOCOL FOR FAMILIES TRAVELING "OUT OF CONNECTICUT"
Families traveling "Out of Connecticut" for more than 24 hours (current exceptions are the states of New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and the USVI), must complete the State of Connecticut Travel Health Form. If you are traveling to one of the states or countries with a travel advisory, it is mandatory to fill out the Connecticut form or face a fine from the state.
 
The following is only in effect if your child is in-person at Riverside School:

Anyone who is traveling (and meets the criteria above) should:
  1. Let the teacher and nurse know
  2. Provide a "Negative" PCR test that has been performed not more than 72 hours prior to your arriving back in CT (or after your arrival back in CT). All PCR tests, rapid or regular, are now accepted as of 1/11/21, however, subject to change per Governor Lamont. 

Addendum per CT State Travel Advisory has been noted:
According to #19, the travelers "may" get tested WITHIN 72 hours of their arrival back to CT but NO MORE than 72 hours. This means, if they are arriving Sunday night, the test results should state 72 hours from the actual swab being performed, not the Test results themselves. 

Anyone who has not received their PCR Tests prior to attending school must quarantine and remain home until test results have been received. Once you receive your results, please forward to the school nurse for clearance.

Note: some states are mandating Negative tests prior to traveling there (such as MA) and upon their return. These items are very important to follow and can result in penalties from each state. Please review the links above for more information.

Further questions can be directed to our school nurse, Sarah Flynn, who will be able to return parent phone calls and emails during the school day.

Thank you.

- Mr. Weiss, Ms. Key, Nurse Luiso
IN-SCHOOL COVID-19 SYMPTOM PROTOCOL
The Nurse’s Office has received many questions about how the school is making decisions about when the school is sending students home. Extra precautions are being taken in order to do our best to keep students in school. Unfortunately, there will be many students sent home this year even though they may have normally been allowed to stay in school and we hope all families will be understanding. 

Greenwich Public Schools COVID Symptom Protocol:  
  • If a student exhibits 1 low risk symptom (fever of 100.4 or greater, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, sore throat, headache, muscle aches) and has had no exposure to a COVID-19 positive person, the student may return to school 24 hours after symptom resolution (without medication for fevers) 
  • If a student exhibits 2 or more low risk symptoms (see above) or has 1 high-risk symptom (new cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste/smell) AND has had no exposure to a COVID-19 positive person, the student must be seen by a healthcare provider. 
  • If the student has a negative PCR swab test for COVID, the student may return to school 24 hours after symptom resolution (without medication for fevers). 
  • If the student has lab testing and evaluation, or an alternative diagnosis, the student may return to school 24 hours after symptom resolution (without medication for fevers). 
  • If a student has a positive PCR swab test for COVID, the student may return to school after 24 hours without fever (without medication) AND symptoms improving AND approval of local health department (10-14 days); AND release by the primary care provider will be required 
  • If a student is exposed to a COVID positive person, the student may return to school 14 days after last contact unless symptoms develop.  If symptoms develop, the student must obtain a swab. 

Please visit the district site to access the GPS COVID Checklist and the GPS COVID-19 resource page for more information. 

Please contact the School Nurse, Melissa Luiso (melissa_luiso@greenwich.k12.ct.us) with any questions. 
ORDERING LUNCH (IN-PERSON STUDENTS)
PLEASE NOTE: All orders MUST be submitted prior to the date ordering for (and up to five days in advance).  Orders entered for same day lunch may not be seen, and cafeteria staff don't want students missing out. Please visit the Lunch Page on rivpta.org for information on submitting lunch orders and a link to the school's order form.

District News
REPLAY OF GPS HUMANITIES CURRICULUM PRESENTATION NOW AVAILABLE
On Friday, March 5 Greenwich PTA Council hosted a live Zoom presentation with GPS administrators Lori Elliot (GPS Humanities Program Coordinator) and Brigid Barry (GHS Sheldon House Administrator / English Program Administrator). The presentation and Q&A session included information about the Humanities curriculum in the elementary, middle and high school, with an emphasis on writing. You can view a recording of the session by visiting the PTAC Resources page, clicking “Presentations and Resources” near the top of the page, and then clicking the first image.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH GREENWICH PTA COUNCIL
Greenwich PTA Council has several openings for Board and Chair positions for the 21-22 school year, and its nominating chair is considering volunteers. Learn more about the PTA Council, what it does, the time commitment etc...at a forum via Zoom on Tuesday, March 16 at 8pm. The session will be recorded and made available for those who can’t attend but have interest in learning more.
 
Meeting ID: 834 6203 0439
Passcode: ptac
REGISTER FOR THE MARCH 19 GREENWICH ALLIANCE TRIVIA CHALLENGE
Gather family and friends to test your trivia knowledge and raise critical dollars for the Greenwich Alliance for Education on Friday, March 19 from 7-9pm. The team competition includes six rounds of trivia, as well as an online silent auction and paddle raise. Visit the event page for additional information and registration.
NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE PTAC ESSENCE AWARD BY APRIL 30
The PTAC Essence Awards recognize up to two outstanding PTA members of the Greenwich Public Schools PTA communities, who through exemplary achievement, have inspired others, demonstrated selfless spirit and made a significant difference in our school community (individual school or district wide). Parents, teachers, staff, students, principals, administrators or members of the Greenwich community may submit nominations. It would be great to receive at least one nomination from every school! The application consists of an essay of no more than 500 words, and must be submitted through this online formThe awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 26 at 10am. Location to be determined based on COVID guidelines. Contact: essence@greenwichptac.org.
REPLAY OF 2021-2022 SCHOOL BUDGET FORUM NOW AVAILABLE
On February 24, PTA Council and LWV Greenwich co-hosted an hour-long virtual forum where info about next year’s school budget and the approval timeline were shared.  This was followed by a Q&A session with GPS Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones, BOE Chair Peter Bernstein, and First Selectman Fred Camillo, where there was much discussion around prioritizing improvements to aging school buildings in the district (including Riverside School). A second Q&A included a discussion of the issues involved in the budget approval process with members of the town’s Board of Estimate and Taxation and RTM Education Committee. A video replay is currently available to view.
PUBLIC MEETINGS INFO: NEW PAGE ADDED TO DISTRICT WEBSITE
A new page has been added to the district website that provides information on all public meetings (Board of Education, Board of Estimate & Taxation, etc.) in one place. You can find it at https://www.greenwichschools.org/district-information/public-meetings.
THE 2020-2021 GPS TUTOR BOOKLET
Need a tutor for your child? Each year, Greenwich Public Schools also compiles a list of GPS staff who are willing to tutor outside of school hours. Please see the 2020-2021 Tutor Booklet for teacher names and contact information.
GPS TEMPORARY POSITIONS AVAILABLE
GPS is circulating this flyer to broaden its search for substitutes to ensure they have a robust list of people who can help cover staffing needs throughout the year. GPS is in need of two types of substitutes: instructional and classroom monitors.

For example: a teacher who is on maternity leave would have an instructional substitute who has at least a Bachelor’s Degree. However, GPS also expects to have secondary teachers who may be quarantined for two weeks due to an exposure at a personal event (grocery store visit, etc.). If the teacher is deemed to be the only one having been exposed, this would allow their students to still be in the classroom. A substitute for this type of situation would simply be a classroom monitor to make sure that the smartboard is on and that the teacher can be seen and heard from home by the students; the classroom monitor would not be providing academic instruction.
BOE MEETINGS NOW VIRTUAL
Board of Education meetings are easier to attend now that they take place over Zoom--stay informed! Here is a list of 2020-2021 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 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

  • Thursday, March 25, 2021
  • Thursday, April 8, 2021 (Retreat, no public comment)
  • Thursday, April, 22, 2021
  • Thursday, May 13, 2021(Retreat, no public comment)
  • Thursday, May 20, 2021
  • Thursday, June 3, 2021
  • Thursday, June 17, 2021
UPCOMING KEY BET BUDGET MEETINGS
Greenwich Public Schools accounts for a significant portion of the town’s annual budget. As the Town of Greenwich 2021-2022 budgeting process continues, residents can attend Board of Estimate & Taxation meetings that take place over Zoom--stay informed! Here is a list of upcoming key BET budget meetings. Information on how to access the meetings can be found on the Greenwich BET 2021-2022 Budget Meeting Calendar page. A full listing of this calendar year’s BET meetings can be found on the BET Everything Calendar.
 
  • Monday, March 29 at 7pm (Public Hearing)
  • Thursday, April 1 from 9am-9pm (Decision Day) 
GPS WEEKLY DISTRICT DIGEST
Subscribe to receive the Greenwich Public Schools weekly "District Digest" e-newsletter directly to your email inbox.

Community News
Review the RTM News , BOE News, and the Community Calendar 
Help the Family of a Former Riverside Student Battling Cancer
Julian McRandal, a second grader at Glenville School (and former Riverside School student), is currently battling a late-stage brain tumor. He dreams of growing up to be a scientist and father, just like his dad! The McRandal family is currently dealing with Julian’s diagnosis and treatment, as well as remote schooling Julian’s fourth grade sister – all without local family support. Friends have created a meal train so that friends, neighbors and members of the community can bring the family food or purchase a meal for delivery. If you’d like to help out, please sign up for a meal slot or purchase gift cards for the family via their dedicated GiveInKind page. No contribution is too small!
League of Women Voters Greenwich Student Essay Writing Contest
The LWV Greenwich second annual essay contest will be in honor of America’s first female vice president. This year’s theme is Dear Madam Vice President, where Greenwich students grades K-12 are invited to write a letter (up to 500 words) to Vice President Kamala Harris, sharing their stories, advice and wishes. Submissions are due Sunday, March 21. See flyer for additional information.
Learn More About the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting (RTM)
The Greenwich RTM is hosting a number of Zoom information sessions to help residents learn more about the RTM’s function within town government and how one could go about being elected to the RTM. To register, email rakhanna@optonline.net.  
 
Sunday, March 28 at 4:00pm
Monday, March 29 at 11:00am
Thursday, April 1 at 7:00pm
Free Online Tutoring at My STEM Help
My STEM Help is a local nonprofit aiming to provide free, high quality online tutoring sessions to students K-12 who are in need of after-school academic support. The support is especially needed during the time of pandemic. These help sessions are conducted like a teacher's "office hour" where students can drop in to ask homework questions or get help on test prep. The tutoring sessions are run by local high school volunteers. There are rigorous tutor selection and training processes in place to ensure the teaching quality (check out the "Meet the Tutors" page for more details). Each session is also monitored by a trained adult volunteer to safeguard online security.
Neighbor to Neighbor Food Donation Drive
Every Thursday at St. Paul's Riverside from 10-11:30am. The need right now is particularly high. Items of greatest need are proteins such as beans, peanut butter and canned tuna, but all non-perishables are gladly accepted and appreciated. Just drive up, pop open your trunk and St. Paul's will get your donations to N2N.
PEEK AT THE WEEK
Access Peek Archive for past issues
If you are not receiving an issue every Friday please email constantcontactriv@gmail.com 
SUBMISSIONS
Have something to add? Email us at: peekweekriv@gmail.com Deadline for submissions is 3pm on Wednesday of the school week