MONDAY MEMO
The "cross country ski" group enjoyed a sunny, wet hike along the CCC road at Burke Mountain last Friday.
Hello Riverside,

Play Week is an intensely focused time for the middle school team, and a wonderful example of our holistic mission in practice. We also love the intentional ways that the elementary school community takes part in witnessing, supporting, and celebrating the hard work of their older friends. Besides coming to our performances on Friday, we hope you'll tune into social media, the Caledonian Record and local radio stations, and what your children are sharing about their time at school this week so you can see and hear all about it.

Happy Monday,
Nelia
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NOTES
8th GR PRESENTATIONS
As one of many culminating efforts, 8th graders are challenged to present to the school on a topic about which they are passionate, and can apply their individual skiils and passions to community improvement in that area. We encourage Riverside parents and mentors to attend these assembly presentations and to be a part of the supportive audience that celebrates their efforts.
  • Wednesday, March 20: The Foster Care System by Kellan Bristol
  • Monday, March 25: Making Riverside More Wildlife-Friendly by Ignacio Montague
  • Wednesday, March 27: Preserving Ecosystems by Julian Garvin
We will continue the updated schedule in future Monday Memos.
FRIDAYS IN MARCH
Middle School teachers are excited for full weeks of regular class schedules; we missed one ski day due to bad weather; and there is no good option for our swim program with K-2nd graders. All that being considered, here's how we plan to move forward with Friday afternoons in March:
  • March 15: K-5th attend dress rehearsal of Beauty and the Beast at LI (pick up 3:00)
  • March 22 if conditions allow: K-2nd grade downhill program at Burke (pick up 3:00)
  • March 29 if conditions allow: K-2nd grade downhill program at Burke (pick up 3:00)
Please note the 3:00, pick up times at Burke Mountain. On days when there may be a conflict for families with pick up times in two locations, we will offer EDP at no charge for siblings for 30 minutes.
PLAY WEEK: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Play Week, a tradition developed by the faculty, embraces our mission to learn actively, lead patiently, and build community. If you stop by school this week you’ll see 6-8th grade students working together on a huge art project, while focusing on the life skills of problem solving, management and organization. A somewhat loosely scheduled week like this would not be as successful in the fall, but after building skills in similar, smaller tasks all year, we think departing from academic classes to engage in them on a deeper level this entire week is well worth it. And come Friday night, we’ll all be impressed with how much pride and ownership our students have in the process and its result. Like so many of our special events, Play Week requires a lot of communication, flexibility, and help from parents.

COSTUME & MAKE-UP NOTES
  • Each actor should bring in their own mascara and eye liner in a labeled ziplock bag and turn it in to Nelia;
  • Actors who have a mid-show costume change should plan to wear black leggings and tops.
  • Some individual actors have made plans with the costume elective to bring particular items from home. Parents, please ask your children if that's the case for their costume. All these items should be brought on Monday of play week and left at school until the end of the final performance.

PARENT HELP
Please email the specific people below if you can lend a hand with any of these tasks:
  • sharing skills in painting or constructing with the sets elective during the day during play week -- email Joel
  • donations to the bake sale, which can be dropped off at Riverside any time during the week or brought to the performances
  • trucks and drivers to help costumes to LI on Thursday, March 14 late morning -- email Caroline
  • helping with all-school pancake breakfast, (hosted by the elementary school!) Friday, March 15, 7:30-10:00 am (or any part of that time frame) -- email Jamie
  • helping with hair and make-up Saturday, March 16, 12:00-2:00 pm -- email parent Carrie Stahler
  • helping run the bake sale during intermission at each performance -- email Nelia
  • trucks and drivers to help take costumes back to Riverside on Saturday afternoon, March 16 -- email Caroline
  • help and donations to the Cast Party - sign up there and/or email parent Kim Adams

DAILY SCHEDULE
MONDAY - WEDNESDAY: Tech Work, Electives, Scene Rehearsals, Run-Through Rehearsals
THURSDAY: Electives, Scene Rehearsals, 6-8 Bus to LI, Tech Rehearsal 
*Note*
  • 6-8 Pick up at LI auditorium at 3:30
  • No Extended Day Program for 6-8th graders
FRIDAY: PreK-8 Pancake Breakfast mid morning at school, 6-8 Bus to LI, Scene Work, K-5 Bus to LI, Full Dress Rehearsal
*Note*
  • K-5 will go to LI by bus at 1:00 pm to watch the dress rehearsal
  • K-5 Pick Up at LI at 3:00
  • 6-8 (and younger sibling) pick up at LI at 3:30
  • no Extended Day Program for K-8th graders

PERFORMANCES
Admission is by donation; this will be an engaging show for young people of all ages; please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend!
FRIDAY: 6-8th grade students should be at LI at 5:00 pm to get in to costume and warm up. Performance is at 7:00 pm.
SATURDAY: 6-8th grade students should be at LI at 12:00 pm; performance is at 2:00 pm. We hope families can plan to stay and lend a hand with clean up and loading trucks with costumes, props, and sets.

There will be a bake sale during intermission and after each show.

CAST AND CREW PARTY
Riverside's middle school PAG parents are happy to organize a cast and crew party this year to celebrate a successful Play Week! All Riverside faculty, middle school students, and families are welcome to attend. This will be a brief gathering in the Riverside barn, approximately 4:15-5:00 Saturday afternoon. There will be cake and some small snacks to celebrate! If parents could sign up on the Beauty and the Beast Party doc to help set up, bring an item, or clean up that would be great! Thank you in advance for staying to help celebrate with us, as this is not a drop-your-child-off event. Reach out to Kim Adams (802 535-8532) with any questions, and see you all next week at the play! 

There will be more details next week related to our philosophy on this process, K-5 related information, hair, make up, and volunteers needed. Please plan to check this section carefully again next week!
PK-5th DURING PLAY WEEK
  • PreK-5th grade students will be hosting and enjoying our pancake breakfast this Friday, March 15.
  • K-5th graders will go to LI on the afternoon to see the dress rehearsal of Beauty and the Beast! 
  • Preschool Parents are welcome to pick up your students early (around 1:00 pm) on Friday to take them to the dress rehearsal (1:30, Lyndon Institute Auditorium) if you'd like.
  • K-5 Pick up on Friday will be at 3:00 pm at the back of the LI Auditorium, younger siblings are welcome to stay until 3:30. There will be no Extended Day Program on Friday, since students are dismissed from off-campus.
PARENT TRIVIA NIGHT
Parent Dee Royer (preschooler Will and 3rd grader Max), along her with her creative committee of volunteers, are planning a Trivia Night Fundraiser for Friday, March 29 at Hazels in East Burke. All adults are encouraged to attend, even if you don't want to play or aren't sure of a team to be on. The event is planned to be open to the public, and we hope you'll invite friends from outside our school community to join the fun or even to be on your team. If you have a team planned, or if you want to join a team, please email team coordinator Krystal. Stay tuned for more details in upcoming Memos.
HEAD OF SCHOOL EVALUATION
Every year Riverside's 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, faculty, and students to complete this survey. 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
  • 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 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, 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.
SING & SWING
Once again, Marie is encouraging students (particularly band students) to join her at the Sing & Swing: Hot Jazz from Lincoln Center performance presented by Kingdom County Productions on March 26, 7:00 pm at Fuller Hall. Student tickets are free, chaperone tickets will be covered by Riverside first come first serve until we reach a ratio of one adult for every 6 students. Please email Marie if you/your child(ren) are interested in joining.
GREEN UP DAY POSTER CONTEST
Abby's art classes worked on thematic projects at each grade level to submit to the Green Up Day poster contest. A photo of 1st grader Marta Linehan's sculpture was chosen as a winner in the elementary division, and will be used in digital media to promote this annual event around our state.
CLUBS
Note that a number of clubs are not meeting this week because of the energetic demands of middle school Play Week.
  • 6-8th Math Counts Club will not meet this week because of Play Week. Our next meeting will be March 18.
  • 4-5th Homework Club will meet Monday and Wednesday, 3:10-3:30. Please remember that students should have homework to do or
  • 4-8th MTG Club will meet today, 3:40-4:30.
  • 7-8th + Adults Pound Class will meet today and next Monday, 4:00-4:45, or Sign up here now for next week's class.
  • 5-8th D&D Club will not meet this week because of Play Week.
  • 6-8th Indoor Soccer Club will not meet this week because of Play Week.
  • 6-8 + Faculty Workout Club will not meet this week because of Play Week.
  • 7-8th + Adults Shine Dance will meet this Thursday, March 14, 4:00-5:00.
  • K-8 Chess Club will not meet this week because of Play Week. Saturday, March 23, is the VT State Scholastic Chess Championships tournament, at Craftsbury Academy. Please let Mr. G and Nathan know if you are interested, but you have to register on your own at this website, where you will find all relevant information, including that registration is supposedly open until March 17, but may close earlier if they fill up. If there is an option to list yourself as part of Riverside, please select that. This event is open to any VT students from K through 12, although 8th graders and older will need a current USCF membership before registering, available online at uschess.org . 
WHY WE GIVE
We give to Riverside because it feels like home, a place where our child is supported as they navigate educational and personal growth. (Kindergarten parent)

We give to the annual fund because we feel honored that our kids have had the opportunity to be educated at Riverside. (8th parent)

If you agree that Riverside has made a difference in your family, please make a $5 gift today.
VT ANIMATION FESTIVAL
The 9th annual Vermont Animation Festival is happening at VSU - Lyndon on Friday and Saturday March 22-23, with screenings, workshops, and artist talks. Check out this link for lots of opportunities for both beginner and advanced animators to learn. The event is produced in collaboration with Catamount Arts.
CALENDAR
LESSON PLANS
30 Lily Pond Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851
phone: 802.626.8552
fax: 802.626.4156
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