Hi All,

The day has come to write about athletics at Riverstone! As the Girls High School Volleyball season concluded, it was amazing to reflect on the team's progress over the past three years. Founded by several girls from the Class of 2012, this year's team was competitive in almost all of its matches, including winning three games and a district playoff game. The team made our gym an exciting place for home games. After our loss in the district playoffs, the lead referee came over to our players to congratulate them on how much they had improved and told them to be proud of their accomplishments. Seniors Eleri C, Mary T, and Sarah C provided excellent leadership and exemplified "Leadership by Example." Congratulations, you made us proud!

Our High School co-ed soccer team, which plays through Idaho Rush, is having a great season as well. This was another team sport instigated by a student that has facilitated our international and local student connections as they compete together. Over time, our players have gained a reputation for both their sportsmanship and skill. They are currently in the midst of their end of season tournament and would love your support. Watch the calendar and facebook page for tonight's results.

Our interscholastic basketball season is beginning to ramp up which is sure to liven up our Kennedy Gymnasium in the next month. We also have a ski and snowboard team that competes in the Dotty Clark race series during the winter. Please watch the calendar for game days and come out and cheer on our athletes!

We also like seeing our younger students form Riverstone teams in other leagues and we offer the use of our soccer field for practice when possible. Additionally, our athletic leadership group is helping develop the next batch of Riverstone athletes which is truly exciting!

At Riverstone, we encourage all students to play for a school team. However, we also encourage them to look outside of Riverstone for more options if there is another sport they are interested in pursuing. If we do not offer a varsity sport, our students can play for their home Junior High or High School team. We have students currently playing soccer and football for Timberline High School, football and cross-country for East Junior High, and swimming at Boise High School. We have tennis players, wrestlers, and lacrosse players among others waiting for their seasons to begin. Our students have enjoyed these opportunities and in the past, Riverstone students have been honored as captains of several teams, including Timberline and Boise swimming and Boise Lacrosse. Riverstone alumni are competing, or have competed, at the collegiate level in softball, rugby, basketball, and crew.

Outside of school-based opportunities, many of our students have joined competitive clubs or compete individually in cycling, skiing, ice skating, fencing, volleyball, soccer, golf, and running, among others. Our students have been successful at the regional, national, and international level in many of these sports. 

If you have any questions about these opportunities for your student, please ask. We would love to help.

Go Otters,

Bob Carignan

Head of School

bcarignan@riverstoneschool.org

Please read the following information about staffing updates in Grades 9-12.

Trevor Engman has been hired to teach Grade 9 Physics and Grade 9 Math. He has a Bachelor of Science in Physics with minors in Applied Math and Computer Science. He currently teaches Physics lectures and labs as an adjunct instructor for Boise State University. In addition, Trevor has been a physics and math tutor, has led outdoor trips at BSU, and plays keyboard for a local band.

Alex McKinley, currently teaching Grade 9 Math and Grades 11-12 Higher Level Diploma Programme Math, will transition into teaching both Grade 11-12 DP Physics and Grades 11-12 HL DP Math.  Alex holds a Physics minor from his undergraduate schooling, and has a Masters degree in Renewable Energy. We are confident in his abilities to take on this new role.

To provide stronger support for our students who need additional English Language Learning, we have asked Christine Corbin, our MYP Art teacher, to assist in this capacity. Christine is an experienced ELL teacher with an ELL certificate. She will continue her primary duties of teaching art to our students in Grades 6-9.

Ian Rumpp will be joining our staff as an on site PE instructor for Grades 6-10. Ian is a Riverstone alumnus and has a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University. He coaches the Riverstone girls basketball team and other local basketball teams, as well as privately trains athletes. We are excited to have Ian help develop our MYP PE program in conjunction with Ben Brock, currently teaching the Outdoor Program PE portion of the curriculum.  

If you have any questions, please contact Alex Ide, Director of Secondary Education.

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.

Please read the following message from our Elementary School Student Council reps who focus on Community and Service.

"Dear Parents, 

We are taking part in the event called "Otter Bowls" that is a Riverstone version of the Idaho Foodbank Empty Bowls. This event will take place on Tuesday, November 26, at 2:15 PM.

This original Empty Bowls event is founded by the Foodbank. People make ceramic bowls and donate them to the Foodbank. Then, the Food Bank asks for a $10 donation for a ceramic bowl. The event takes place in downtown Boise at the Grove Plaza. After people make a donation for the bowl, they get soup to go with it!!! This money goes to the Idaho Foodbank and aids people that need help with their food situation. 

We will have the same type of event but at our school. Our students will be making ceramic bowls that we will offer in exchange for a $10 donation. 

In order to have soup with the bowls, we need your help!!! 

Please use the following link to the Community Opportunities Sign Up Sheet to volunteer to bring soup on November 26.

Please look carefully so that, you don't sign up for a type a soup that somebody else has signed up for. All kinds of soup are needed!!! Variety is great!!!   

More details will follow but if you have any questions, please email Mr. Nelson, our Art teacher. Thank you!

~London M and Aly G (Gr 5)"

A culminating aspect of the Middle Years Programme is the Personal Project, a student-initiated project that lasts throughout the school year. One of our students is requesting your participation in our short survey. 

"Hi, my name is Carly L and for my personal project, I am focusing on reusable water bottle use verses one time use water bottles. I ask you to please take this survey about the use of plastic water bottles in your everyday life. In March, I will conduct a follow up survey. 

Thank you for your time!"

To take this super short survey, click here.

The Facebook photo of the week was taken during our Middle and High School Advisory Day of Service.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverstone-International-School/585822794765761?ref=hl  

Follow the great things happening (or about to happen) at Riverstone!