4th graders Emmett, Alice, and Sophia had art class on top of the new yurt mural, designed by art teacher Elly and prepped by her and Marie, and painted by 8th graders Lyric and Molly. |
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Greetings!
We hope that students enjoyed their first three days back at school and that families made sense of the huge amount of information we presented you in that short time, it's already time for more new info about soccer, clubs, the field trip, and more.
Happy Monday,
Nelia
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Are the parents and middle schoolers in your family receiving the Monday Memo? If not, please email Nelia to clarify and find the problem.
Today we also include many new grandparents, welcome! Your children passed on your contact info to us, thinking you might like to be aware of all the goings on at Riverside. And beginning next week, you'll find green buttons at the very bottom that link to specific information about learning goals and activities in your grandchildren's grade levels.
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Please be sure to review the booklet that was sent home last week with your child as is appropriate to his/her age (a 7-8th grader might read it entirely, a 4-5th grader might read sections you recommend, you might talk with your 1-2nd grader about items you feel are important) and sign and return the acknowledgment form in the front pocket so that we know that students are familiar with the information.
Don’t miss additional information and forms in the front pocket, including a cover letter from Roy, the form to confirm that you've read/reviewed the handbook, and various other items.
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We hope you received this morning's earlier email with all of the varied opportunities to sign up to volunteer at Riverside. Choosing to become a Riverside family means making it a priority to take an active role in the life of our school. The success of our mission depends greatly on the commitment of parents to make our program a real part of your family’s time, energy, and resources. Parents participate in a variety of ways, meeting many of our needs.
If you can help finish the pavilion roof this weekend, read below.
Signing the form does not mean you're making a commitment, just that you're willing to be asked when the need arises.
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PAVILION ROOF WORK SATURDAY |
Roy hopes to be able to finish the roof of the Teachers Pavilion on Saturday! He’ll be working on it all day and volunteers would be appreciated. With enough help, we can do this in a day. Reach out to him directly if you are able to help so that he knows when people are coming. Most of the helpers will need to be on the roof, but there will be some help needed handing up materials for those who can lend hands that way. |
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INSTRUMENT LESSONS & BAND |
In an effort to expand our music program, middle schoolers will be required this year to take either band or chorus (or both!) as one of their electives. Ellis Music has great options for renting instruments and makes weekly stops at Riverside for drop-offs/repairs/supplies. Here is the link to their rental information. As part of the commitment to band, students will be encouraged to take lessons either with Marie during the school day, or outside of school. If rental costs are prohibitive for your family, please talk to Marie or Krystal; we have some school-owned instruments that are available. Elementary students are also encouraged to play an instrument and take lessons and can work toward joining the middle school band. Please reach out to Marie with any questions!
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Our 2nd biggest parent-led annual fundraiser is already upon us! Riverside's Annual Yard Sale will be Saturday, October 1. This is a well known event in the broader community, organized by Riverside parents, that raises needed funds for our programs here at school.
The event is being led by Carrie Stahler - advertising (4th grader Victor and 8th grader Moxie); Heather Linehan - volunteers (kindergartener Marta, 3rd grader Cedric, 6th grader Louisa); Ellen Moore - donations (alumni parent); Claudia Lechuga - set up and sale (preschooler Lazlo, 1st grader Weldon, 4th grader Eula); and Arcelie Newell - set up, sale, and clean up (1st grader Cassius, 5th grader Phoenix, 8th grader Kingston).
DONATIONS
We hope you are cleaning out your attics, basements, cupboards and closets to donate items. Here is some guidance for donations:
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We CAN take: linens, books, toys, sports gear, shoes, bags, yard stuff, artwork, office, housewares, antiques, jewelry, tools, pet supplies, holiday decor & crafts, and clothing. Clothing should be washed, wearable, and pre-sorted by size and youth vs mens vs womens; please no tears/rips/stains/broken zippers. We ask that each family limit their daily-wear clothing donations to 2 bags.
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We CANNOT take: electronics, particle board furniture, magazines, video or audio cassettes, encyclopedias, car seats
All donations must be brought before noon on Friday, September 30. Presorting your donations into the categories above is essential to supporting the volunteers, who will also be sorting and setting up the sale. Please help us all by doing that at home, or when you bring your donations. Volunteers will be on campus to help accept donations on:
- Sunday, September 25: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Monday-Thursday, September 26-29: 2:45 - 4:00 pm
- Friday, September 30: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
VOLUNTEERS
We need you! In anticipation of a successful Yard Sale, our goal is that most parents will volunteer to work a shift or two for the event. Thank you in advance for any help you can give. You can sign up to volunteer here.
The organizational committee will be meeting again on Monday, September 19 at 8:15 in the library, all parents are welcome to join us if you want to learn more about how the yard sale works and what assistance may be needed beyond working shifts.
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This year’s Fall Field Trip will be to Copper Cannon Camp in Franconia, NH, see specific dates below depending on grade level.
FOR 4-8TH GRADE FAMILIES
We expect all 4th-8th grade students to be in attendance Wednesday, September 14 – Friday, September 16. We have a bus to take the students from Riverside to Copper Cannon on Wednesday morning and will return by bus on Friday in time for pizza lunch and the early dismissal at 12:30. We will be staying in cabins with beds and mattresses, and there are bathrooms nearby.
Parents/Chaperones: Anyone is welcome to join us for part of any day we are there, no need to let us know in advance, just show up and join in the meal or activity that's going on. Such a visit, no matter how short, will help you build more relationships with students, teachers, and other parents. Overnight chaperones: thank you to those who have let me know you'd like to spend a night or two, we are looking for one more male to spend Thursday night with us, please email Nelia if you can. For those staying overnight, Nelia will have detailed schedule and lists for you on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning, as well as opportunities to sign up to help with specific tasks.
That Friday Afternoon: The EDP will run for 4th-8th grade students from the 12:30 dismissal until 5:00 pm. Please let Sean know in advance if your child will be attending so that he can plan for the unusually long afternoon.
Packing List: (in addition to what will be worn Wednesday) Remember, it will very likely rain during our Field Trip, and we will continue to learn, play, and bond in the outdoors. Raincoats are non-negotiable, spare socks and shoes are encouraged!
- 2-3 pairs underwear
- 3-4 pairs socks
- 2 short sleeve tshirts
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of long pants
- 1 long sleeve shirt
- 1 fleece or hoodie
- warm pajamas
- bathing suit and towel
- sleeping bag/bedding and pillow
- warm hat for sleeping
- flashlight
- toiletries (including sunscreen)
- water bottle
- extra comfortable shoes
- raincoat
- rainboots (optional)
- book, camera, deck of cards (optional)
- Wednesday lunch
- ** please do not bring a cell phone, personal MP3 or video player, video games, or other personal electronic devices. The purpose of this trip is to have positive and high quality personal interactions with each other.
FOR K-3RD GRADE FAMILIES
These students will join us on Thursday, September 15 via organized carpools from Riverside with their teachers, and volunteer drivers (please let PAG leader Deandra Early know directly if you'd like to join us and can help drive.) They will depart soon after 8:00 am and return to Riverside before usual pick up at 3:00 pm.
Chaperones: We are still looking for a few chaperones/drivers from 1st and 3rd grades. Please email Deandra if you are available and let her know how many children in carseats you are able to transport.
Packing List: sturdy shoes, water bottle, sweatshirt, raincoat. Lunch will be provided.
That Friday Afternoon: Students will be dismissed at 12:30. The EDP will run for K-3 students as usual, please email Sean if your child will be there so that he can plan accordingly for the long afternoon.
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Soccer this year will consist of a 5-6th grade team and a 7-8th grade team. With KESD combining many of our former opponents, the schedule is looking lighter than in years past. That said, we will still have a handful of games, and will definitely be bringing back the popular parents and faculty vs kids game near the end of the season. We hope to share a full schedule in next week's Memo, but we know so far:
- Monday, Sept 19: 5-6th @ Barnet at 4:00 pm; 7-8th at 5:00 pm.
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Over the next few weeks, Sean will be collecting ideas about after school clubs from students, teachers, and most importantly, parent volunteers. If you have an idea of an activity you might like to lead with students after school, even if it's only for a few sessions, please email him with the following information:
- activity topic
- preferred season (all year, winter, spring, etc)
- preferred day and time
- suggested age range
- cost or materials potentially needed
These club activities are an important way that we build community between parents and students, they provide extended learning and collaboration opportunities for students, and provide needed structure to our Extended Day Program. Most clubs are free to participants, and thus save parents the cost of staffing supervision for the EDP.
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SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY NIGHT |
On Friday, September 23, from 5:00-7:00 pm, all families are encouraged to attend this informative, community-building evening. We are still sorting out the details, but it will definitely include time in classrooms with teachers sharing specific needs and information, time to socialize specifically with other parents from the same town and/or classroom, and time to share food. |
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Our PAG, which supports communications, mentorship, and participation at Riverside, will have its first meeting (to which all parents are welcome) on Tuesday, September 20 at 5:00 pm, we will discuss the group's goals, updates and plans for this year, and share how things are going so far for students and families. If you'd like to suggest a specific agenda item, please email leaders Kim Adams (6th grader Cora and 7th grader Gabe) or Deandra Early (kindergartener June and 2nd grader Henry).
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REMOTE LEARNING FOR 22-23 |
As you read in our COVID Guidelines for the 22-23 year, remote learning will only be an option for students who have tested positive for COVID and are well enough to be at school. At all levels there will be no work or participation expected on the day of the positive test, or until the student feels well enough to participate. As is described in our handbook for all absences due to illness, students are expected to complete the work in as many days after returning to school as they were absent. Beyond that, the systems for remote learning are unique to students' developmental stages:
Kindergarten-2nd Grade: Reading and possible math games will be shared by communication with the parents, they may be either online or in print.
3rd-5th Grade: Lessons will be assigned via Google Classroom to include links to math, reading, and writing assignments (stay tuned for invitations to that platform soon). Interventionists will be included in such planning in order to meet the needs of their students specifically. Teachers will provide feedback on the work within a week of the student's return to school.
- Math will include an online lesson and an assignment in the student's book.
- Reading will be either a current novel study or a link to a recorded lesson or Readworks.
- Writing will vary according to what is happening in the classroom.
6th-8th Grade: The advisor will identify exactly which classes the following day should be joined remotely by conferring with all teachers on the schedule (never study hall or PE, rarely electives or music, sometimes not science or writers workshop, for example), and a class buddy to bring a dedicated chromebook to each class throughout the day. The advisor will send a link and schedule to the student, the parent, the buddy, and all the relevant teachers. If internet is limited at home, the absent student should contact teachers to explain and ask what they should do instead.
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The following are a few easy ways to help support Riverside throughout the year.
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Price Chopper Tools for Schools: This simple fund-raiser benefits the school each time you shop all year long. If you shop at Price Chopper, sign up to support Riverside on the sheet in the front pocket of your Family Handbook. In the past our Price Chopper rewards have earned us much needed sports equipment, a digital projector, and a wireless microphone set.
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Box Tops for Education: Download the Box Tops app and use it to scan your grocery receipts. Numerous products offer 10cents to your designated school for each purchase.
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Good Search and Good Shop: When you use www.goodsearch.com as your search engine and select The Riverside School (in Lyndonville, VT) as your charity, we get one cent for each search conducted. Set your browsers now! From that site you can link to goodshop.com, which then links to all your favorite on line shopping sites (Amazon, Borders, Staples, Marriott), United Airlines, QVC, eBay). Following that link to complete your shopping, and having the Riverside School (in Lyndonville, VT) set as your charity, will result in a portion of the sale being donated to our school.
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Amazon Smile: Start at smile.amazon.com and select "Riverside School Inc" in Lyndonville, VT. Once you choose us the first time, all you have to do is start your shopping at that url in the future, and .05% of the price of eligible purchases will be donated to us!
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BURKE FALL FEST AND PARADE |
We traditionally show off our school pride at the East Burke Fall Festival and Parade and are so excited to return to this event for the first time since 2019!. Mark your calendars for September 24, when we will meet at 9:00 am to ride/walk in the parade. There may be some help needed in getting our float and giant heron puppet ready the week before, any info about that will be in future Monday Memos. The Burke Chamber of Commerce is also requesting volunteers for this event. If you can lend a hand for a few hours, it would be much appreciated, please email Laura Maliewski.
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Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 13th, from 3:00-7:00 pm (we won't schedule soccer games for that day). We hope students, teachers, and parents alike will register to participate solo, or as a team. The money raised by your pledges will go directly to Riverside's scholarship program. You'll keep track of points earned by completing laps and fun stations, on foot or on wheels! Stay tuned for links to register and print a pledge form. Start talking to your friends, neighbors, and extended family about why you think more students should be able to attend Riverside and why they should pledge money toward your success in the race. |
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After the Fall Field Trip in this space you will find links to google docs for each grade level, with brief information about learning activities in each subject area and announcements unique to their class for the week. For this week and next, teachers are establishing routines and relationships in their classes. |
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30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
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