Riverside School PTA Newsletter |
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THE STEM AT HOME CHALLENGE WINNERS
Congratulations to the Phase II winner, Marta Diaz Fernandez (2G), and Phase I winner, Winnie McIntyre (1D), for participating and winning an Echo Dot 4th Generation!
STEM at Home gave students a chance to sharpen their STEM skills as they explore their world or create solutions to real-world problems. Thank you to all who participated! Visit the STEM at Home page to see some project photos. The STEM Fair will return in April 2022. Until then, happy exploring!
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THANK YOU EARTH WEEK 2021 PARTICIPANTS
Thank you to all who helped make Riverside's Earth Week 2021: Restore Our Earth a success! Our amazing teachers, staff, families, PTA and Riverside community, including the Riverside Garden Club and Joel Dawson (with Old Greenwich Honey), all worked together to help students think more about their role in protecting and restoring our Earth!
For continued access to Earth Week information and materials, check the Green Committee's web page and remember to send photos of your family celebrating Earth Week to the Riverside Reel! Let's continue to do our part and STAY GREEN!
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ORDER YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2021-22
The PTA is once again sponsoring a school supply fundraiser for the upcoming school year. Order now and your child's box of supplies will be delivered directly to the classroom by the first day of school.
Starting May 1, please go to www.shopttkits.com and enter account number 83285. The site will close on May 31. Once again, earbuds and headphones, as well as PPE kits, will be available to purchase separately if new ones are required. Please note that it is strongly advised that Kindergarteners have headphones rather than earbuds. Please email Virginia Lockhart with any questions.
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VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE TO SUPPORT FILLING IN THE BLANKS
The Riverside School Community Service Committee is hosting a virtual food drive for the month of April to support Filling in the Blanks, which helps to fight childhood hunger by providing children in need with meals on the weekend. Since the onset of COVID-19, Connecticut's food insecurity rate has risen from 13.4% to 22.8%. Now more than ever, we need to give back and help provide 3,600 children with the nutrition they need.
Donations can be made by simply clicking on this link. Just $6 provides one complete weekend bag of food. What a great way for our school community to continue giving back! We hope you will make a donation!
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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.
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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.
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AUTHOR VISITS KINDERGARTEN CLASSES
Today, the award-winning author of the Biscuit series, Alyssa Capucilli, visited each of our Kindergarten classes. Ms. Capucilli shared her personal writing process including the inspiration for her stories. She discussed developing characters and settings with the children and helped them understand how using action words can make a story come to life. Be sure to ask them about the visit with the Biscuit author!
This program was organized by the Arts Enrichment Committee and made possible by your generous donations to the Riverside School PTA.
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UPCOMING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
April 26 & 28: Animal Embassy's Endangered Species program (Grade 3)
May 3-4: HTHT's Dig It (Grade 3)
May 4-5: Animal Embassy's Animal Adaptations (Grade 1)
May 10-11: Animal Embassy's Reptiles and Amphibians (Grade 2)
May 10-11: Stepping Stones virtual field trip - Innovation Station Super Skyscrapers (Kindergarten)
May 11: Arts Field Day (Grade 5)
May 13-14: Journeys to American Indian Territory's Eastern Woodlands program (Grade 3)
May 17-20: Poetry Week workshops with Ted Scheu (Grades K-4)
May 21: Dragoons (Grade 5)
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2ND, 3RD & 4TH GRADE HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
As per the Connecticut Department of Health, all current 3rd graders need to submit a CT State Health Assessment form for the 2020-2021 school year. These assessments should be based on health exams performed during the 2020 through 2021 calendar years.
Parents of current 4th graders who were notified of needing to submit the 3rd/4th grade Health Assessments must submit their form by today (April 23, 2021). These assessments should be based on health exams performed during the 2020 through 2021 calendar years.
Current 2nd graders will also need to submit a Heath Assessment based on a health exam performed during the 2021 through 2022 calendar years for 3rd grade "entry". These forms can be submitted during the 3rd grade year (2021-22 school year).
In addition, the School will need Dental Forms to be fully completed by either your Pediatrician or Dentist, as per CT Department of Health requirements.
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FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE COVID TESTING
As a reminder, GPS is asking that students stay home if a member of their immediate family is being tested due to exposure or symptoms. It will limit teachers and students from possible exposures, causing individuals to be quarantined. Quarantining is a great safety measure, but it can be disruptive for staff and families. We understand we have many families who regularly test as a proactive measure; staying home while awaiting results of proactive, regular testing is not necessary.
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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.
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JOIN THE APRIL 29 FORUM ABOUT FIXING GPS INFRASTRUCTURE
League of Women Voters Greenwich, Greenwich PTA Council & Greenwich Public Schools present Fixing Greenwich Public Schools’ Infrastructure: The Plan and the Costs. Join a discussion on Thursday, April 29 at 7pm on Zoom about future funding of improvements to the Greenwich Public Schools infrastructure. A study into the capital needs for the GPS facilities – the Facilities Master Plan – was completed in 2017 (and outlines extensive work to be done at Riverside School). Learn where the process for funding facilities improvement stands and what the options are for meeting future needs. Panelists include GPS administrators and BOE leaders.
Register here to receive a Zoom link. If you have questions for the panelists, you will be able to submit two questions through the registration process.
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ENTER THE NORTH MIANUS SCHOOL POW WOW RAFFLE BY MAY 1!
Unfortunately, due to COVID North Mianus School has had to cancel its Pow Wow Carnival for the second year in a row. However, this year the Pow Wow Raffle will return online! Top prizes include: a $2,000 Amazon Gift Card, a $1,000 Nordstrom Gift Card, an iPad Pro, and the all-in-one Virtual Reality Quest 2 by Oculus. To see all of the incredible prizes and buy tickets ($5/each) click here.
Please share this link with friends and family! Anyone is welcome to buy raffle tickets even if they aren't local, prizes will be shipped/delivered as needed. The raffle will be held Saturday, 5/1 at 3:30pm and all winners will be notified immediately after the drawing. For additional information, see this flyer or reach out to nmsptapowwow@gmail.com.
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iPAD SCREEN TIME AND PRINTING TIPS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
Curious about how your student uses their school-issued iPad? Learn how to set up screen time monitoring here. Is your home printer compatible? Look for AirPrint on the box or check out the list from Apple Support here. No home printer, but still need to print for school? Media Specialists can assist students in finding the closest printing location to your home! Every GPS School has its own Media Specialist.
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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 form. The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 26 at 10am. Location to be determined based on COVID guidelines. Contact: essence@greenwichptac.org.
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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, May 13, 2021(Retreat, no public comment)
- Thursday, May 20, 2021
- Thursday, June 3, 2021
- Thursday, June 17, 2021
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GPS WEEKLY DISTRICT DIGEST
Subscribe to receive the Greenwich Public Schools weekly "District Digest" e-newsletter directly to your email inbox.
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Virtual Science Event to Benefit a Former Riverside Student Battling Cancer
Gather the family for a virtual event via Zoom on Saturday, May 8 from 6-7:30pm with a real scientist! The event will benefit Julian McRandal, a second grader at Glenville School (and former Riverside School student), who is currently battling an aggressive brain tumor. He aspires to become a scientist and has been filling his time at home doing experiments.
Register at www.scienceexplorers.com/julian-strong by Tuesday, April 27 for access to the live event ($40 per participant). If you are unable to participate in the live event, you can complete the experiment via a pre-recorded video. Or donate a kit to a child in need. See flyer for additional information. All proceeds from this event will go to supporting the McRandal family.
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Greenwich Land Trust Plant Sale (May 7-8)
Join us for the Greenwich Land Trust's first ever native plant sale! Not only is all the inventory grown in house from seed collected on Greenwich Land Trust preserves, but all proceeds from the sale will support the growth of the Seed-to-Seed program. Seed-to-Seed operates with the goal of increasing the population of local, native plants on GLT properties as well as other properties in our community. The Greenwich Land Trust has donated plants to the Riverside School Native Plant Garden and several other GPS school gardens for the past two years. Help support this work and bring home some beautiful super-native plants for your garden! Please see flyer for more info.
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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 24
Turn in your unused or expired medication for National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24 from 10am-2pm at the Greenwich Public Safety Complex (11 Bruce Place). Greenwich Together will be at the event to provide information, resources and FREE safe medication lock boxes with their logo and website on them. Please spread the word by sharing this flyer!
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Greenwich Cardinals Youth Hockey Tryouts
Register now at GCYHA for the 2021-2022 season tryouts. There is an Early Bird registration fee discount until April 7. All sessions take place at Terry Connors Ice Rink. |
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COVID Resources from the School |
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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.
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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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