Riverstone International School Newsletter
October 17, 2013
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Dear Riverstone Community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I encourage you to attend the State of the School Address this coming Tuesday, October 22, at 6:30 PM in the Elementary School Atrium.
The strength of our community and school lies in a shared understanding of our past, present, and future. This presentation by Bob Carignan, Head of School, will focus on our strengths, opportunities, and Goals and Priorities for this year. We also will be honoring our Riverstone Rock Stars, which is a special recognition for an individual's impact on our school.
The Annual Goals and Priorities are developed with several factors in mind:
- Progress on the school's 2009-2014 Strategic Plan;
- Progress on goals from last year;
- Feedback on our recent re-authorizations by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) and International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and
- Feedback from parents, staff, and students, including the R Factor survey, exit surveys, and other sources during the past year.
By combining each of these sources of information, and integrating feedback from the Board of Trustees and staff, Bob develops the school's Goals and Priorities. As a Board, we are in full support of these goals and the staff whose responsibility it is to implement them.
In order to make this event as accessible as possible, childcare will be offered and Bob has promised to keep this presentation to an hour or less.
By being united in our vision, we continue to strengthen our school and our students' experiences that form the foundation of their academic and personal journeys. We appreciate your time and look forward to seeing you.
Warm regards,
Kurt Liebich
Chairman, Board of Trustees
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PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
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 Use the links below if you need to schedule your conference, or need to remind yourself when you scheduled your conference.
Link to the Elementary School Conference Sign Up Sheet here.
Link to the Middle & High School Conference Sign Up Sheet here.
We will be offering one complimentary hour of child care during conferences on Thursday and Friday, October 17 & 18; full day childcare will also be available for $30/day per day.
Contact Director of Elementary Education, James Hamilton Vail, to ensure a spot for your child or if you have questions.
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 Dear Parents, Student success is dependent on parental involvement. Parent Teacher conferences are an excellent opportunity to gather information and input from the teacher about your child, as well as give you an opportunity to collaborate with the teacher. How to make the most of Parent Teacher conferences: - Be prepared for the conference by checking your child's progress and work in advance. Ask your child if the or she has any questions or concerns about school.
- Be ready to listen to what the teacher has to say regarding their experience with your student.
- If you have a specific question or concern, address it first. Write down your questions if need be.
- Find out how you can work together with the teacher on concerns that you both agree need to be addressed with your student.
- If follow up is needed, ask how to best stay in contact with the teacher.
Remember that the success of your student is the prime concern at Riverstone. It is an important part of the philosophy of the school that parents, teachers, and students all work together. If you have any questions or concerns that I may be of assistance, please feel free to contact me at soneil@riverstoneschool.org Warmly, Shirley O'Neil Riverstone School Counselor |
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ANNUAL REPORT IS IN THE MAIL
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 Riverstone's Annual Report is in the mail and heading to your homes!
Please look for this important magazine that shares so much of what makes Riverstone a special place. The report includes photos, reflections on the many important events of the last school year, appreciation for our generous donors, demographic information, and more.
We hope you enjoy reading it. Please feel free to share it with a friend! We will also set up a pdf of the report online soon to share digitally as well.
Please contact Kathleen Gilton, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, if you have any questions or feedback on the report. |
 When you arrive at school on Monday, you'll immediately notice the giant thermometer signs out front which is a sure sign that it is Annual Fund time!
The Annual Fund Campaign, Riverstone's big fall fundraiser, kicks off on Monday, October 21 under the leadership of parents Rick and Ceci Bennett. You will be hearing more about the importance of this campaign over the next five weeks.
Help us ramp up the fun and grab a cup of coffee on Monday, October 21 after you drop off your child. No obligation for anything other than starting your day off on a good note! Our Annual Fund Class Ambassadors will be in the Elementary School Atrium for you to meet them and answer any questions you may have about why this is such an important element in our fundraising efforts.
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 Bob Carignan's annual message to the school community, the State of the School Address, will be held on Tuesday, October 22. All parents are encouraged to attend to hear what the goals for the upcoming year are and how we will continue to improve our school.
State of the School Address Tuesday, October 22 6:30 PM Elementary School Atrium Childcare will be provided. Please email James Hamilton Vail if you plan on utilizing childcare so we can plan accordingly. |
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HIGH SCHOOL CORN MAZE: GR 9-12
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 All students in Grades 9-12 are invited to an evening event at Linder Farms.
Cost: $10 entrance fee, additional costs for token activities, and possible snack purchases.
Please download the waiver giving permission for your student to participate.
Corn Maze
for Grades 9-12
Friday, October 18 Meet at Riverstone at 6:00 PM with pickup at Riverstone at 10:00 PM
Bus service to and from school
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PARENT MEETING FOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL
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 There will be an informational meeting on Monday, October 21 for parents of students interested in playing High School Boys Basketball. Coach Eric Chapman will be handing out practice and game schedules along with addressing expectations of the student athletes during the season.
The High School Boys Basketball season runs from November 15 - February 22. Boys in Grades 9-12 are eligible.
Parent Meeting for Students Interested in Playing High School Boys Basketball
Monday, October 31
3:30 PM
Kennedy Gymnasium
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HELP US PLAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CELEBRATION OF LIGHT
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 International Understanding and Community and Service are two of our Five Pillars, We are looking to combine both our strong community and international understanding as we celebrate "Festivals of Light" in the coming months.
Last year, we had an amazing Chanukah and Diwali celebration in the Elementary School thanks to the involvement of parents and local community members. This year's "Festival of Light" is just around the corner.
If you celebrate Chanukah or Diwali, or would just like to be a part of the planning team for these events, please attend a meeting on Thursday, October 24 at 3:30 PM in the Elementary School.
Please contact James Hamilton Vail, Director of Elementary Education, with questions or to volunteer! |
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REGISTER NOW FOR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
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 Sign up now for Session 2 of the Elementary School Activities that begins on Monday, November 4.
Download a listing of all the Elementary School Activities here.
Registration due by Friday, October 25. First come, first serve! Contact Tarrah Elam, Student Life Coordinator, with questions.
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 Passport Club testing for our Elementary School students is just around the corner on Tuesday, October 22.
Don't forget to study! Thanks to our parents who help with the testing!
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PLASTIC FREE DAY AT RIVERSTONE
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Plastic Free Day at Riverstone will take place on October 22!
Grade 8 students are challenging the school to go the whole day without using disposable plastics. These include plastic bottles, plastic wrappers, and plastic bags. We hope everyone will participate. According to our Grade 8 students, there are many reasons not to use plastic. Plastic is terrible for the environment because if it gets into water ways where animals think it is food and they consume it. Also plastic is made with petroleum which in a non-renewable fuel.
If you would like to learn more about the Grade 8 service project, ask a Grade 8 student or teacher Eleri Roberts.
Community and Service is one of our Five Pillars.
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARADE
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 Come and join our Elementary School on Thursday, October 31 at 2:30 PM for the Annual Halloween Parade!
Class parties with freaky fun and frightening food will be scheduled by class teachers.
Download a flyer here and contact James Hamilton Vail with any questions.
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It's been a long time in the works but the new Riverstone display at the airport in Concourse B has been installed and is ready for you to stop by and check out! The slide show is going to really showcase the wonderful school (and community!) that we are all thankful for. This new display will also make it much easier for us to share news of upcoming open houses, scholarships, and more.
Send Kathleen a picture of your student by the new display!
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 Just a reminder that the Elementary School front doors will be locked at 4:00 PM daily. If you need to pick up your child after 4:00 PM, please use the Multi-Purpose Room entrance.
Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining our students' safety! |
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TAKE YOUR PARENTS TO LUNCH
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 Save the date to have lunch with your child and try our new school menu! Tuesday, November 5!
Parents can order lunch from Create Common Good using our soon-to-be-released lunch order form. We will also be asking for your feedback following the lunch as we look to make the most of our lunch program.
Exact lunch times will be included in the next newsletter but they are approximately 11:20 AM - 12:05 PM with variance for specific grades.
Take Your Parent to Lunch
Riverstone International School
Tuesday, November 5
This event is an example of our Community & Service Pillar.
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The Elementary, Middle and High School Student Councils met collectively for the first time Tuesday during lunch. The councils are organized into smaller groups based on our Five Pillars. One group for each division focuses on Academic Excellence, one on Community and Service, etc.
The groups discussed possible projects, events and areas of focus for the semester.
It was great seeing this all-school Student Council meeting!
 
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 Join Team Riverstone and continue the tradition of helping our community during Rake Up Boise on Saturday, November 16.
For questions, please contact Tarrah Elam, Student Life Coordinator. |
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BAKE SALE & PUMPKIN PATCH
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 Thank you to parents Barbara Henderson and Amy Bava for organizing this year's Pumpkin Patch and Bake Sale! Both were huge hits!
Thank you also to everyone who donated goodies to the bake sale and took a shift selling pumpkins or treats! We love our Parents' Association!
Check out more photos on the school Facebook page! |
 The Otters are 1-1 in district tournament play at Columbia High School in Nampa. Rumor has it that the cheering section on Tuesday was spectacular!
Please contact coach Demi Dlouhy for a schedule if you'd like to come out and cheer on the Otters on Thursday, October 17!
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A huge thank you to chaperones Jen Coffey, Jami Whitmer, Tom Dempsey, and Alex Ide, as well as our fantastic DJ Jason Bennett for a great event last Friday evening. Special thanks to Tarrah Elam and Eleri Roberts for coordinating the event with our Middle School Student Council.
The Middle School HoeDown ShowDown was awesome!
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Representatives from Riverstone's Chess team just returned from a tournament that is part of the Western Idaho Scholastic Chess League (WISCL). There are six tournaments each year where students compete both individually and as a team.
This month in the Teen Division, there were seven teams competing and Riverstone's Teen team placed second with a record of winning 9 of 12 games. Congratulations to Benjamin J (Gr 10), Olivia D (Gr 7), Peter K (Gr 10), and Anna K Gr 10)!
This month in the Elementary Division (K-6), there were six teams and the Otters placed second! Their record was 7.5 wins out of 12 games. Congratulations to team members Reid P (Gr 6), Dennis D (Gr 4), Will B (Gr 4), and Josh D (Gr 3)!
Thanks to music teacher, Laura DeLaney, and parent Tony DeAngelis, for coordinating Riverstone's Chess team. For more information, download the After School Activities information or contact Laura.
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We always like to share news from our students, many of whom have interesting hobbies, passions, and accomplishments outside of school. Please forward any news that you or your child would like to share with our community to Kathleen Gilton.
Recently, Reagan W (Gr 5) and his partner were awarded the silver medal in the pairs skating at the Northwest Pacific Regional Ice Skating Championships in early October! Congratulations to Reagan!  |
As Riverstone isn't fielding a MS girl's soccer team this Fall, Zoe P (Gr 6) and Tess E (Gr 6) play on the Kickin' Coyotes Rush Select team. The Coyotes won both their games on Saturday to remain undefeated and atop the Under 14 Girl's Division. See photos below!
Also playing on Saturday in the Idaho Rush Recreation League Under 8 Boys was a team packed with Riverstone kids - The North End Thunderbolts! The Thunderbolts have had a tough season but finally coalesced as a team on Saturday and won convincingly against the Twin Falls Rapids, 4-2. Taking the field each week for the Thunderbolts are Riverstone Grade 2 students Cord G, Ethan M, Milo P and Xander S. The Thunderbolts are coached by Cord's dad, Mike.
As with the Co-ed High School Riverstone Otters, the regular season ends next Saturday for both the Coyotes and the Thunderbolts. Select Division (Otters and Coyotes) Tournaments begins on October 22. Good luck all!
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RIVERSTONE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
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 We are building a collection of videos on our school youtube channel. Subscribe so you can stay in the loop!
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The Otters took on the Wolves for the first time this season last Saturday morning. Although Riverstone created many scoring opportunities for themselves in the first half, the score remained 0-0 at half time. The Otters used half time to pump themselves up... and sure enough, Alex M (Gr 9) ripped a shot from about 18 yards out for a 1-0 lead against the Wolves.
Shortly after the goal, freshman Michael B subbed into the goal for Bayard B (Gr 12) as keeper and held off the Wolves for the remainder of the game. It was Michael's first time playing goalie for the Otters!
Saturday marked Riverstone's fifth win; their record is now 5-1-0. The Otters take on the Swag Mutts this Thursday at 6:00 PM. Their last two games of the season will be played this Saturday at Simplot's Sports Complex at 10:45 AM and 2:45 PM.
The Otters will participate in a league tournament after regular season play is finished; Details to follow!
The game schedule and info on fields is on the school calendar. Come on out!
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 Correction to last week's newsletter:
Thanks to Steve Strombeck from Safe Handles who has installed germ protectors for the door handles in our Elementary School at no charge. This film-like material will reduce transmissions of germs and hopefully improve our health during the winter months! Take a look next time you are in the Elementary School!
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 High School Basketball Coaches Ian Rumpp and Eric Chapman will be hosting one more open gym session for Middle & High School athletes to get some extra practice before basketball season starts. NO FEE!
Girls will play from 10:00-11:30 AM. Boys will play from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM.
Open Gym Sessions for Basketball Saturday, October 19 Kennedy Gymnasium See above times |
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FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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The Facebook photo of the week was one of the wonderful notes written by our Gr 5 class to decorate the table for the Merci lunch last Friday. Grades 9 & 12 provided the lunch for the Middle & High School teachers. Merci!!
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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