Riverstone International School Newsletter
August 15, 2013
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 Dear Riverstone Community,
Summer is winding down and school is fast approaching!! Now is the perfect time to start preparing your student for the upcoming school year.
Preparing for the start of school not only includes supply shopping and clothes shopping, but also mentally, physically and emotionally preparing your student and family for the start of the year. Simply talking about the school year with your family is a good place to
start the preparation. This helps your student get into the mindset of the fast approaching first day. I always talk with my students about goals for the coming year: grades, friends, classes, trying new things. Talking about the goals and even writing them down for your student helps them to visualize what they want. Further conversations can revolve around how to achieve the goals they have set as well as how they are feeling about their progress towards the goals. The conversations you have now with your student help them both mentally and emotionally prepare.
Preparing physically is as easy as starting a sleep schedule that may have been forgotten over the summer. It will be an easier transition to school hours if you start now with a set bed time and an earlier wake time. It is not always easy to convince your student that it is
in their best interest to start a schedule, however, you can ease into it over the next week.
The advent of school may bring excitement, but it may also be a source of anxiety. Spending the time talking about what your student may be looking forward to as well as what they are dreading can be helpful in alleviating anxiety. Now is the time to give your student lots of reassurance about the upcoming year and the confidence you have in
them, as well as the support that you will provide.
As always, I am available to answer any questions or schedule time to talk with you in person should you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to seeing the students back in school soon!
Sincerely,
Shirley O'Neil, M.Ed., LPC
Riverstone School Counselor
soneil@riverstoneschool.org
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BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
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 Riverstone's activities are designed to enhance the life of your student outside of their daily classroom experience. By engaging with students in other grades and a variety of teachers, your student will have the chance to expand their horizons while getting to know the Riverstone community better.
We are offering a new activities and some past favorites for students in preschool through high school. Activities take place both before and after school.
New this year:
- Any Elementary School student who participates in an after school activity is welcome to attend after school care for free until 5:30PM on the day of the activity they are participating in.
- With exception of soccer, all Middle and High School activities and clubs are being offered at no cost.
Elementary Activities registration is due on Friday, September 6 and activities start on Monday, September 9.
Middle and High School students will learn more about individual clubs and activities at the start of the school year. Registration is not necessary at this time.
If you have questions, please contact Tarrah Elam.
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SCHOOL RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
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 There are many resources on the website under the About: Forms and Supplies tab to help you and your child organize yourselves for the new school year.
- 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. Download Before- and After-Care information.
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 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** |
 Sad to see your little ones head to class for the first time OR are you ready to shout "Yahoo" towards the sky? No matter your preference -- we will have the tissues and high-fives ready!
Plan to take a few moments immediately following the Convocation to stop by the Parents' Association table in the Gym Foyer. This year's chairpersons for the various PA activities will be available to talk with you about what PA programs are taking place this year and how your skill set will be most helpful! Being involved is good for you, your child, and the school. We're looking forward to meeting you! Contact Michelle Nenov, PA President, with questions. |
James Hamilton and Alex Ide, our Elementary and Secondary School Directors, are hosting informational coffees for parents to learn more about the school year, the curriculum, and helpful tips for navigating all the opportunities at Riverstone.
Please plan to join them on the appropriate day for your child's class!
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Tryout Schedule for High School Girls Volleyball (Gr 9-12)
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 in the Kennedy Gymnasium.
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.
Contact Demi Dlouhy, HS Volleyball Coach, with questions.
 Meet our Middle School Girls Volleyball Coach: Jessica Davidson-Almudever
Jessica Davidson-Almudever, the new middle school Spanish teacher, will be coaching the MS girls volleyball team this fall.
Please email Abby Grafft if you are interested in signing up for Middle School Girls Volleyball.
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MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER STARTS FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL
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Jersey Refund
Any parents who have been charged to purchase a new uniform set through Rush need to call and request a refund for that portion of their registration charge! Riverstone ordered all the jerseys for MS and HS for this upcoming year.
High School Practice
The High School season will begin with a practice/meeting on Tuesday, August 27 at 5:15 PM.
Middle School Team Meeting
The Middle School soccer team will begin the season with a short meeting after school
on Monday, August 26 at 3:30 PM! Please email Abby Grafft if you have signed up or plan to sign up to play Middle School soccer this fall!   Middle School Coaches
Alex McKinley and Abby Grafft, both Middle and High School teachers at Riverstone, will be teaming together to coach the Middle School soccer team. This dynamic duo would love for your incoming Grade 6-8 student to join the team!
Go Otters!
Players may still register for both teams at the Idaho Rush offices, via phone, or online at http://idahorush.com. Look for Riverstone as a team option.
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 Ready for an evening of fun for the whole family? The Fall Carnival will be held Friday, September 20. Plan to join us!
The Parents' Association Carnival Committee creates an evening of fun, games, treats, and socializing. Whether your kid's favorite is the cake walk or the dunk tank, everyone has a good time. Parents included!
Remember, Riverstone's Carnival is a community event so invite your friends outside of the school as well!
Planning is getting started and we would love your help and ideas. Please contact Julie Worthington at 208-353-9851 or wvsurf@outlook.com if you'd like to volunteer.
Riverstone Fall Carnival
Friday, September 20
5:00 - 8:30 PM
Kennedy Gymnasium area |
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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. |
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. |
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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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!
Contact Riverstone parent and team captain, Lisa Hecht, if you have questions.
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Last summer activities classes for 2013 are
Math Concepts for Middle & High School students taught by Riverstone alumni, Nat Steven and Paul Martin! Refresh your math skills before school starts!
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FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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 Facebook photo of the week is below and includes our students entering Grades 9-10 as they traveled to San Francisco as part of their Monterey, CA trip.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverstone-International-School/585822794765761?ref=hl
Follow the great things happening (or about to happen) at Riverstone!
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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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