Kindergarteners Sofia and Bodhi enjoyed celebrating classmate Hannah's birthday today. |
|
Hello {First Name},
We hope you enjoyed a happy and relaxing spring vacation. Here we are in the final stretch of the school year!
Happy Monday,
Nelia
|
|
|
HEAD OF SCHOOL CONSTITUENT SURVEY |
Every year the Board of Trustees is responsible for evaluating the Head of School. In order to broaden our understanding of the Head’s performance during the school year, we are asking parents, staff, and students to complete this survey before Friday.
The questions are related to the Head of School's specific areas of responsibility--general duties, curriculum and program development, interpersonal relations, communication and management style, and lastly, loyalty to and support of the Riverside community. At the end of each section there will be an opportunity to add comments related to that section and additional comments may be provided at the end of the survey. Parents/guardians of younger children, if your child was not sent a link directly and you wish to include their feedback you are encouraged to do so in the space provided
Please take a few minutes to reflect on and answer the questions within, and provide as much information as you wish in the comments. Your responses will go directly to the President of the Board of Trustees and individual responses will be kept confidential.
|
|
WELCOME TO THE NEAS&C VISITING TEAM! |
This week we welcome peer educators on our Visiting Team to help us finalize our self study work for re-accreditation. They are:
- Matthew Hicks, Principal, Shaker Road School
- Sara Primo, Head of School, Friends School of Portland
- Ryan Chappuis, 5th Gr, Crossroads Academy
- Mason Hendershott, Lower School Science, Bancroft School
- Rachel Stevens, Reading Specialist, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
Parents who would like to meet them and share any thoughts about your celebrations and hopes for Riverside are welcome to do so today between 2:30-3:30 in the library. The team may also have questions to ask of parents.
|
|
ANNUAL STATE STANDARDIZED TESTING |
6-8th graders continue with VCAP testing this week in math: 6th grade today and tomorrow, 7th grade tomorrow and Wednesday, and 8th grade on Wednesday and Thursday. Some testing will likely continue next week for those who were absent or need additional time.
For that reason, we ask students to do their best work, with genuine effort, so that we are accurately informed about what they are able to show about their skills and knowledge in these content areas. Parents, you can support them at home be being sure they are on a healthy schedule of eating, resting, and playing, and reminding students that their best work is what's most helpful to us as teachers.
3-5th graders will begin testing with their teachers next week.
|
|
Please remember to pick up K-2nd graders at the back door of the SJA pool at 3:30 this Thursday, and again on May 11.
If you have to pick up a middle school student at Riverside as well, siblings can stay in the EDP at no charge until 3:45.
|
|
LOVE RIVERSIDE CLEAN UP DAY |
We hope you'll join us this Saturday, May 6th for as much time as you can between 9:00-12:00. 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 (5th 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, and stay as long as you like (or ask Nelia about a chore you can do at another more convenient time).
|
|
We have many additional tickets if anyone would like to purchase more, or knows someone who would want to. They are $50 each, email Claudia and Tonia if you'd like to claim any of them.
Mark your calendars to attend the drawing event: Saturday, May 13 at 3:00 pm in the cedars. There will be food and entertainment, and you are welcome to bring your own beverage of choice. The drawing is exciting because there are numerous prizes awarded throughout, and it's the last three tickets drawn that win the cash prizes of $250, $750, and $1500!
Help Needed: we would welcome help from parents who can help set up and clean up, email Claudia and Tonia if you can lend a hand.
|
|
Many 6-8th grade Latin students are attending an event at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH on Sunday. Nathan is sending an email today to parents of any students who expressed interest. Please be on the lookout for that. This event is a “forum,” so it has opportunities for learning, competition, fellowship, and fun. All are encouraged to attend.
|
|
May is the season of culminating Spring Field Trip experiences for most of our students!
-
K-2nd Grade will be going to The Montshire Museum on Wednesday, May 24. If you can help drive and chaperone please email Deandra.
- 3rd Grade will be going to the Fairbanks Museum on Tuesday, May 9. Parents should plan to drop off and pick up students there, as you should have seen in emails from Natalie or can find in the Lesson Plan doc below.
- 3rd Grade will be going to the Old Stone House Museum on Thursday, May 25 by bus, no chaperones will be able to join.
- 4-5th Grades will be going overnight to the Ecology School of Maine on Monday, May 22-Wednesday, May 24. Chaperones have already volunteered and we are grateful for their help driving and supervising students. Teachers will be sharing packing lists and other detailed info in their Lesson Plan docs below and in direct emails. Please remember to complete the health form that was already emailed to you.
- 5th Grade will be going to the Fish Hatchery in Newark on Tuesday, May 9. Thank you to the chaperones who have already volunteered to help drive and supervise students.
-
6-8th Grades will be going to Boston Wednesday, May 17-Friday, May 19. Thank you to the chaperones who have already agreed to help drive and supervise students. Thanks to a generous donor, we are able to attend a Red Sox game on the first night of the field trip! At $25 per ticket, the cost is significant to the donor, and if any parents would be willing contribute, it would be appreciated. The easiest way to make that happen would be to email Krystal and let her know an amount she can charge to your student’s school store account. Schedule, packing list, and other details will be in future Monday Memos.
|
|
SPRING PERFORMANCE EVENTS |
Stay tuned for more detailed information on several performance events between now and graduation. For now, please mark your calendars with the following:
-
Wednesday, May 31st: Spring Concert in the Pavilion: rain or shine, including students in grades PreK-K, 1-2nd grade, 3-4th grade, select 5-6th grade students in the ensemble, and the 6-8th grade band. Other 5-8th graders who are not performing at this concert may be showing off their projects in assembly or with digital recordings. There will also be some awards given at this event (parents of recipients will be notified in advance).
-
Friday, June 9: End-of-Year Talent Show: As usual, this will happen after lunch on the last day of school, with students who choose to participate by communication with Peter and/or Marie.
|
|
2nd ANNUAL RIVERSIDE AGAINST CANCER RECESS RELAY |
Mark your calendars for May 26th and plan to join us on the soccer field for this year's Recess Relay to honor those fighting, support caregivers, and show families they're not alone. Bring your lunch and share a picnic with your children and their relay team at noon. The opening ceremony will start at 12:30 with some words of encouragement and the survivor's lap. Wear your walking shoes and bring your cape, this year's theme is SUPERHEROS. Stay tuned for more details about this event and fundraising information for The American Cancer Society. Stay tuned for more details. Contact Caroline with any questions.
|
|
HAND-ME-DOWNS FOR INCOMING FACULTY CHILDREN (A NOTE FROM ROY) |
As we announced last week, both Carrie and Will Albritton have accepted our offers and, along with their sons Devin (currently in 3rd) and Liam (currently in 5th), will be moving from Florida to Vermont this summer. As a former Floridian myself, I was shocked at how many things we needed to purchase for the kids and ourselves to prepare for winter in Vermont. If, as your children are growing and you are doing spring cleaning, you have extra winter gear for their kids (they will be 4th and 6th graders next winter) and want to bring those in so that we can provide them a "welcome to Vermont" gift when they move up, I’m sure they will appreciate it greatly. You can give donations to Roy. Any gear that is the wrong size or extra will go to the yard sale. |
|
-
3-5 Coding Club will meet Wednesday from 3:00-4:00.
-
6-8 Latin Club will meet this Thursday until 4:30 as we prepare for our event this weekend, which is Sunday, May 7th. Parents, look for an email from Nathan about details for that trip. This will be the final week of Latin Club.
-
3-8 Chess Club will meet Thursday after school as usual, until 4:30 for elementary students and 5:00 for middle schoolers
-
Dungeons and Dragons Club will meet Tuesday from 3:30 - 5:00, there is currently no space for new members.
|
|
STUDENT ART SHOW AT SATELLITE GALLERY |
Elly has been busily preparing a cross section of Riverside's artwork from this year to be included in the student art show during the month of May at The Satellite Gallery (71 Depot Street in Lyndonville). Additional submissions are welcome. Come check out what your students and other area youth are artistically up to! The opening parties for the show are Friday, May 12th from 4:00-7:00 and Saturday May 13th from 12:00-4:00. There will be light refreshments served. This is an image of the 4'x4' compilation piece entitled MLK made by the 6th and 7th grades that is included in the show to help whet your appetite!
|
|
This annual 72-hour weekend competition challenges teams to write, shoot, edit, and submit an edited film. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories in two competition brackets: Family Fun or Competitive.
This year's event begins May 11th with an in-person (virtual options will also be available) kickoff event at the main Catamount Arts building on Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. After the event, participants will have access to a Wildlife Filmmaking Workshop where judges will field questions and brainstorm ideas. Like last year, the final screening and awards ceremony (where scholarships and cash prizes will be awarded) will take place at the new 24,000-square-foot ArtPort venue at the Green Mountain Mall, on Sunday, May 14th. Register your team here.
We're excited to announce that we'll be partnering with wildlife filmmaker (and Riverside parent) Matt Aeberhard, film producer/award-winning novelist (and Riverside parent) Melanie Finn, and local naturalist/State Representative Bobby Farlice-Rubio. Check out this exceptional video from Matt himself telling you about the event his year.
|
|
We will continue to list summer opportunities for students that are shared with us for most of the rest of the school year. If you know of any to share, please email Nelia.
|
|
30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
