Riverstone International School Newsletter
August 8, 2013
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 Dear Riverstone Community, We are busy preparing for our students' arrival! Our teachers are setting up their classrooms, carpets are being cleaned, textbooks and supplies are being distributed, the library is being organized, and more. We are also busy planning activities such as Meet the Teachers on August 21, the Riverstone Convocation on the first day of school, and outdoor activities like rafting and fall trips. A few reminders: - Supply lists for all grades may be found on the website under the About tab/Forms and Downloads.
- Elementary students may order milk to have with their lunch. Please download the Milk Order form here.
- Before- and after-care is available for families. Before-school care is 7:30 - 8:15 AM for a fee of $3. After-school care is available from 3:30 - 5:30 PM for a fee of $6. A signed release form is required before students may attend. Please download more information here.
Watch for after-school activities and lunch orders in an upcoming newsletter. In the meantime, enjoy these last few weeks of summer vacation. We look forward to seeing everyone soon! Best regards, 
James Hamilton Director of Elementary Education jhamilton@riverstoneschool.org |
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OUTDOOR INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE
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 Ben Brock, our Outdoor Education Director, has also been sending information to parents via email regarding the Elementary School Rafting Trips, Grade 7 Main Salmon, and Grade 8-12 Fall Trips.
These letters and packing lists may also be downloaded under the Forms and Supply Lists page on the website.
Additional information about our outdoor education program may be found on the school website under the Outdoor Program and Athletics tab.
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GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TRYOUTS
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Tryout Schedule
Girls High School Volleyball team tryouts for Grades 9-12 are going to be held at the following times in the Kennedy Gymnasium:
Friday, Aug 16: 8:00 - 10:00 AM and 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Saturday, Aug 17: 8:00 - 10:00 AM
Girls must attend ALL THREE sessions.
Also, students entering Grades 9 and 11 are required to have a Idaho Health Examination and Consent Form completed and signed by your doctor prior to tryouts. Download a form here.
You may also pick up a blank form from Lisa Armstrong in the Elementary School or Robyn Olnes in the Middle School.
Meet our High School Girls Volleyball Coach: Demi Dlouhy 
Demi graduated from Skyline High School in Idaho Falls where she played both basketball and volleyball (2003-2007). Demi continued playing volleyball at Montana State University as a middle blocker and right side hitter. She transferred to Lewis-Clark State College in 2009, winning two straight Frontier Conference regular season and tournament titles, and advancing to the NAIA National Tournament. Demi coached the Junior Varsity team at Lewiston High School in 2011, and was the assistant varsity coach at Eagle High School in 2012. She joined Riverstone's staff in January 2013 as our Elementary School PE teacher!
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REGISTER NOW FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
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Register now for Fall Middle and High School Soccer!
Riverstone's co-ed Middle and High School teams compete in the Select Division of Idaho Rush soccer.
Our Middle School team (Gr 6-8) plays in the U-14 division.
Our High School team (Gr 9-12) plays in the U-19 division.
Register at the Idaho Rush offices, via phone, or online at http://idahorush.com. Look for Riverstone as a team option.
 Meet our High School Co-Ed Soccer Coach: Katie Stauffer
Katie Stauffer, is a 2009 graduate of Capital High School, and recent graduate of Western Washington University. Katie played four years of collegiate Division II soccer and majored in Spanish.
Katie has several years of experience coaching swim teams and is looking forward to coaching the Otters!
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HELP NEEDED IN THE LIBRARY TO PREPARE FOR SCHOOL
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 Our librarian, Susan Tabb, is looking for volunteers to help prepare the library for the start of school. There is a lot to do!
Please call Susan Tabb at (925) 640-1518 if you have a few hours to spare.
We would love it if you would help us: - Shelve and straighten books
- Catalogue books
- Record reading levels in books
- Label books
- Repair damaged books
- Organize book sale for old textbooks and books that are no longer used in the the library.
We also need help with re-painting the map on the playground asphalt. |
Our final summer travel opportunity for students is the Monterey, CA destination trip for students. Touring Mono Lake, hiking up to Nevada Falls in Yosemite, and exploring the Monterey Aquarium and nearby tide pools have been on the itinerary thus far. Students will also be learning more about literature from that area of the country as well. Reports back from trip leader, Samantha Cole, indicate that the travellers are having a great time.
We hope to have photos posted on the facebook page soon!
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Have you started making links for our 2nd Annual Riverstone Summer Reading Challenge, "Links to Adventure?" We hope to surround the library with links showing how many books our students, staff, and parents have read this summer!
Please contact Librarian Susan Tabb with any questions. |
 Get a jump on the new school year by bringing your student to meet his or her teachers and new classmates at Meet the Teachers.
Meet the Teachers
Wednesday, August 21
Elementary School
Preschool - Kindergarten only
| 1:00 - 2:00 PM in the ES classrooms
| Middle and High School
Grades 6-12
| 1:00 - 2:00 PM in the HS Quad
| Elementary School
Grades 1-5 only
| 2:30 - 3:30 PM in the ES classroom |
Looking forward to see you! |
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CONVOCATION ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
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 Last year, we held our first Riverstone Convocation, with students, staff, and parents in attendance. The intent was to start the school year celebrating what we know to be one of Riverstone's unique qualities, our strong sense of community.
Convocation will last approximately 30-45 minutes. Afterwards, parents will have the chance to meet with our PA leadership and learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Riverstone International School Convocation
Monday, August 26
9:00 AM
Kennedy Gymnasium
**All welcome** |
The school day is as follows:
Elementary School (Preschool - Grade 5)
| 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
| Middle School (Grades 6 - 9)
| 8:20 AM - 3:20 PM
| High School (Grades 10 - 12)
| 8:20 AM - 3:05 PM
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On the first day of school, Elementary students should go directly to their classrooms.
Middle and High School students will report to their homerooms. An email will be sent closer to the start of school with homeroom assignments. |
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HAVE YOU COMPLETED YOUR STUDENT FORMS?
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Have you returned your family forms, health statements with appropriate signatures, and provided proof of current immunizations?
Many of our families have already sent us your information -- thank you!
But some families have not...and students who do not have their family forms, health statements signed by the proper parties, and proof of current immunizations will be unable to attend school on August 26.
Do not delay! We want all of our students here on the first day!
Immunization Records
- Idaho state law requires that every student has up-to-date immunizations, or parents provide a physician-signed waiver, each year.
- We will need copies of immunization records for all students.
What is required for health statements?
- Students entering Preschool and Grade 7, require a physical exam and physician-signed health statement.
- All other grades will be required to provide a parent-signed health statement.
- Riverstone high school athletes will have to comply with athletic regulations (see athletics page on the website).
Contact information and permissions on the family forms
- Please write legibly; and
- Sign and initial each section.
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JOIN RIVERSTONE'S FitOne TEAM
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 Join the Riverstone International School team and register for FitOne, formerly the Women's Fitness Celebration, that will be held on Saturday, September 21.
Sign up for whatever wave suits you (walking, running, strolling). You'll save money by joining our team! Look for "Riverstone International School" under the team names when you register.
New this year is a 9K run that starts at the Idaho Botanical Garden and is limited to 2,000 participants. Register and learn more about the fun changes to the event at fitoneboise.org
Register early to save money!
Extra bonus 'til August 9: RIS folks who sign up by August 9 can get a 2-for-1 deal on registration with code FIT1BUDDY.
Contact Riverstone parent and team captain, Lisa Hecht, if you have questions.
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Two more weeks of Summer Activities!
If you encounter any difficulties with online registration, contact Kevin Richmond, Business Director.
Geared for Elementary students or up to age 12
- Plein aire painting taught by RIS teacher, Jay Nelson
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Young Chef's Cooking taught by RIS teacher, Kathie Stilinovich
Geared for Middle & High School students. Excellent preparation for the new school year!
- Crash Course for the SAT taught by Riverstone alumni, Paul Martin (Brown University) and Nat Steven (Cooper Union)
- Math Concepts for Middle & High School students taught by Riverstone alumni, Nat Steven and Paul Martin
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 The following is a note from the class instructors offering a a special incentive for students.
On Saturday, August 10 at 8:45 AM, we are offering a free proctored SAT practice exam at Riverstone. This will give students an important chance to familiarize themselves with the test or gain further practice.
This opportunity is in conjunction with the 4th annual Crash Course for the SAT summer program offered at Riverstone from August 12 -16. The camp will be run by Riverstone alumni Paul Martin (Brown University) and Nathanael Steven (Cooper Union). In the past, graduates of this course have boasted score increase of 200-300 points.
The week-long intensive course will offer comprehensive lectures and practice sessions covering every SAT question type. The SAT is already on the mind of all high school students thinking about college admissions, and this course provides the tools necessary to optimize any student's scores. We are happy to offer this course again, and hope many of you take advantage of this opportunity.
You can sign up on the Summer Activities page. Look for "Crash Course for the SAT."
The schedule for this course is 9:00 am to 4:00 PM Monday-Friday. For those enrolled in the course, a second SAT Practice exam will be held on Saturday. August 17.
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 School supplies and book lists for the 2013-2014 school year have been posted on the school website under the About/Forms and Supplies tabs.
Link here to lists for school supplies.
**Parents are welcome to purchase books or supplies at a vendor of their choosing. However, Rediscovered Bookshop is offering a one-stop shopping and delivery to school for students entering Grades 6-12. They have grouped the books together in packages and guarantee the correct ISBN number that the school requires. Last year, parents appreciated this service as a way to ensure that the correct book was ready and waiting for their student on the first day of school.
Link to Rediscovered Book's Riverstone book package ordering here. Riverstone book packages must be ordered by August 18. |
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SUMMER ENRICHMENT FOR YOUR CHILD
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Summer Enrichment
Our teachers have ideas to keep your child's mind engaged and connected to their school-year learning.
Link to the Summer Enrichment lists and activities here.
Please encourage your children to read, practice their second language, explore science, and review mathematics over the summer. This will help ensure they are ready to begin learning new concepts and skills as soon as school begins.
If you have questions, please contact James Hamilton for the Elementary School or Andy Johnson for Middle and High School.
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Here are a few of the important dates for the upcoming school year!
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August 26
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First day of school + All-School Convocation
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August 28-30
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Fall trips for grades 8-12
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October 3-4
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No School: Staff in-service
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October 17-18
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No School: Parent-teacher conferences
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October 21
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Annual Fund Kick Off
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October 22
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State of the School Address
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November 27-29
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No School: Thanksgiving Break
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December 21 - January 5
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No School: Winter Break
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January 6
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No School: Staff in-service
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January 7
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School resumes
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March 1
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Annual Auction
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March 20-21
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No School: Parent-teacher conferences
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March 22 - April 6
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No School: Spring Break
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April 7
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No School: Staff in-service
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April 8
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School resumes
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May 22
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Commencement
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June 5
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Last Day of School
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Athletic practices and outdoor trips are posted on the school calendar. Be sure to check it out!
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