Riverstone International School Newsletter
October 31, 2013
|
 Hi All, Next week on November 7 and 8, a small team of experienced International Baccalaureate teachers from the United States and Canada will visit our school to evaluate our Middle Years Programme. We have been preparing for this evaluation visit for more than 18 months. As part of the evaluation process, our faculty and staff worked together to conduct self evaluations of our mission, programs, curriculum, and implementation of the Middle Years Programme. We submitted unit planning materials, assessment tasks, and examples of student work to be evaluated by subject area experts at other International Baccalaureate schools. We have learned a great deal from each other and from the feedback we've already received. We are looking forward to this next event in the evaluation of our program. During the 7th and 8th, our faculty will meet with this team to discuss their subject areas and other aspects of our school's operation. Some of our students will also meet with the team to discuss the Personal Project. Still others will get the chance to ask and answer questions when members of the team visit classrooms to see our kids and teachers in action. At the end of the evaluation visit, the school's leadership will meet with the team for initial feedback. The official results of the evaluation will be sent separately and will likely contain commendations and some recommendations for continued focus. This will be our fourth and final evaluation visit until 2017. I want to wholeheartedly thank our faculty and staff for their incredible hard work. The drive that they have for self improvement, by any measure, makes me proud to be the Head of School and even more so as a parent. Please take a moment to thank our faculty and staff. Happy Halloween!  Bob Carignan Head of School bcarignan@riverstoneschool.org |
|
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARADE
|
|
If you ever wondered what Community and Leadership look like in combination, you needn't have looked any further than our Elementary School Halloween Parade this afternoon.
Our Preschool class led the annual parade, starting in their classroom and winding through the other Elementary classes. The parade grew as each class joined the procession.The parade travelled through the Middle School and into the High School Quad.
Smiles, cheers, high-fives and clapping welcomed the Preschoolers and entire Elementary School. This was a treat for everyone.
Thank you to the Elementary School parents who organized class parties and thank you to everyone who cheered our Elementary students on during the parade!
For more pictures, check our school Facebook page.
 
|
|
VARIETY SHOW: SIGN UP TO AUDITION NOW
|
 The Riverstone Variety Show is one of our favorite community events. Whether you like to sing, dance, act, jump rope, or do magic tricks, everyone is welcome to audition for this crowd-please night! We want you to share your talent! Solos, duets, or groups welcome.
All acts must audition next week! Groups get priority.
Click here to sign up online for auditions from Monday, November 4 - Friday, November 8. Contact Music teacher, Damon Brown, with questions.
If you are just planning on enjoying the show, mark your calendar for Friday, December 6 at 6:30 PM.
More details about the Pre-Show Pizza Dinner and Book Fair Preview will be forthcoming. |
|
CLEANING OUT THE LIBRARY: COME AND SHOP
|
 In an effort to make room for the large number of new and gently used books that have been added to the school library, the library is selling books that are duplicate copies, older, or no longer used.
These books are available for 50 cents each. Books will be available from now until Tuesday, November 5. Unsold books will be donated to the Boise Public Library for their annual book sale.
Shop now until Tuesday, November 5 between 8:20 AM and 4:00 PM on school days. Cash or check only.
Contact Susan Tabb, School Librarian, with questions. |
|
GRADE 8 AT SATURDAY MARKET
|
 Grade 8 will be at the Capital City Public Market in downtown Boise this Saturday representing their service learning campaign against single-use plastic. We would love your support so please stop by to learn more and take part in their recycle quiz. You could even win a prize!
Come out and enjoy the brisk weather! Hope to see you there! |
|
WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH THE PASSPORT CLUB
|
 The Elementary School Passport Club parent leaders are looking for more parents to get involved in the monthly testing of students. Typically, the Passport Club test falls on the last Tuesday of the month.
Time involved is brief: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM. Getting to know our students is a bonus!
|
Riverstone is an incredibly active place that is special because of the involvement in our school by parents, grandparents, staff, students, and friends.
This is just a to-the-point list of some of the ways you can get involved in the next couple of weeks. All of the items have more details listed elsewhere in the newsletter:
- Sign up online to audition for the Variety Show
- Purchase a book from the school library
- Volunteer for the Passport Club and help test students
- Sign up for After School Activities by Nov 1
- Order a lunch for parents by Nov 1 and join us for Take Your Parent to Lunch on Nov 5
- Visit our Grade 8 students' booth at the Capital City Market on Sat, Nov 2
- Return your daughter's athletic forms for High School Basketball
- Cheer on our MYP staff on Thursday and Friday, Nov 7 & 8 when the MYP evaluation team visits
- Attend the PA meeting on Tuesday, Nov 12
- Sign up for Rake Up Boise on Saturday, Nov 16
- Sign up to bring soup for Riverstone's Empty Otter Bowls on Tuesday, Nov 26
- Contribute to the Annual Fund
- Watch our Outdoor Education video
|
A message from our Annual Fund Chairs:
Our Annual Fund has kicked-off with a bang! Like streams feeding a river, your generosity is flowing in. Gifts from our Board of Trustees, staff, parents, grandparents and alumni in the first fundraising week pushed our campus thermometers up to 15% participation toward our 100% goal. Thank you to everyone who has impacted this effort already!
We cannot think of a more meaningful endorsement of everything Riverstone is and continues to be than with a gift to this Annual Fund. Your part in the 100% participation goal enables the school to vie for grants and open doors to opportunities that will not be possible otherwise.
Did you know? A Pledge Donation is an easy way to give your gift to the school. Please call our Business Director, Kevin Richmond at (208) 424-5000 #2 or email him to arrange an installment plan. It's that easy. Thank you for your kind and generous support!
|
|
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
|
 Important information for the High School Girls Basketball Team!
- There is no open gym for girls basketball this Saturday, November 2.
- First practice starts Monday, November 4 at 5:00 PM.
- All athletic forms need to be turned in. Rush soccer forms and physicals do not count as paper work for Riverstone sports. All Grade 9 and 11 students need updated physicals.
- Forms can be downloaded from the Athletics Forms page of the website.
If you have any questions, contact Demi Dlouhy, PE teacher.
|
|
LUNCH ORDERS & TAKE YOUR PARENTS TO LUNCH
|
 Reserve your spot 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 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. Lunch orders for parents are due no later than Friday, November 1. Student forms received on Friday, November 1 will be eligible to start lunch on Monday, November 11. Lunch times are as follows:
| Preschool - Gr 2 | 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM in ES Multi-Purpose Room | | Gr 3 - 5 | 12:05 PM - 12:30 PM in ES Multi-Purpose Room | | Gr 6 - 12 | 11:20 AM - 12:05 PM in Gym Foyer |
Take Your Parent to Lunch Tuesday, November 5 |
Congratulations to RSFC for their silver medal at the
Idaho Rush Fall Tournament this past Saturday! The score in the final game was 1-2 with the Boys and Girls Club team taking the gold medal.
Thank you to Katie Stauffer for coaching the team this season!
Check the school Facebook page for photos!
|
During the first 30 days of the 2013-14 school year, 325 students participated in 18 trips!
Check out this short video with a few great pics of smiling faces and beautiful places!
Click here to link to the Outdoor Education Fall 2013 video.
|
|
GR 6-12 IDAHO ICE WORLD ACTIVITY
|
 Save the date!
All students in Grades 6-12 are welcome to join us for an evening of fun at Idaho Ice World.
Grades 9-12: Friday, November 15 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM
Grades 6-8: Friday, November 22 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM
More information and RSVP form to come soon. Contact Tarrah Elam, Student Life Coordinator, with questions. |
 Back by popular demand! The student store is up and running in the Gym Foyer.
Student clubs and groups have the opportunity to fund raise for their cause through the student store this year. Student groups will manage the store on a weekly basis during lunch and after school, to help with any funding needs of the club.
Please download the student store menu and begin a conversation with your child about the different choices and best options for your student and family.
We will also be opening the student store for concessions during High School boys and girls basketball games. If you have an interest in helping during games, please contact Tarrah Elam, Student Life Coordinator. |
 We are still working on a condensed audio segment for Bob Carignan's State of the School Address but you can download the slide deck here.
Check back next week for audio! |
 Many thanks to the Merci Committee for the Merci lunch this past Friday, October 25.
We thoroughly enjoyed your hospitality and are grateful for all you do for the staff! |
|
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION MEETING
|
 Join us for the November meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 in the Elementary School Multi-Purpose room.
Highlights of the meeting include: Treasurer's Report, Recap Halloween Parties with the ES Rep, Committee updates, 3rd Grade Pizza Party (part of the Pumpkin Patch/Bake Sale), and an update on PA grants.
There will be coffee and pastries. Please contact Michelle Nenov, PA President, if you have questions or would like to learn more about how you can get involved! |
|
LAST CALL FOR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
|
 Last call! Sign up for Session 2 of the After School Activities that are still available!
Download a listing of all the Elementary School Activities here. Activities start next week.
There are also openings in new Middle & High School Activities.
Download a listing of the Middle & High School Activities here.
All forms due Friday, November 1. Contact Tarrah Elam, Student Life Coordinator, with questions. |
 Picture retakes have been scheduled for Wednesday, November 13.
Please watch the newsletter for more details! |
 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. |
|
EMPTY BOWLS AT RIVERSTONE: SIGN UP TO BRING SOUP
|
|
 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)"
|
| One of the hallmarks of the Middle Years Programme for students in Grades 6-10 is a course called Design Technology.
During Design Technology, the focus is on teaching students the design cycle. The cycle is a great model for tackling any project or problem solving challenge and includes the following steps: Investigate, Design, Plan, Create and Evaluate.
To introduce the Design Cycle to Grade 6, they were challenged by DT teacher, Jim Harper, to make afghan fighter kites. See photos below!
|
|
VOLLEYBALL SEASON WRAP UP
|
|
Earlier this week, as a final celebration for the volleyball season, parents and siblings took on the players in a volleyball game.
The parents and siblings had a great time playing their daughters. Despite a tough battle, the volleyball team ended up winning both games. |
|
 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.
|
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.
Last Saturday, October 26, Riverstone students, parents and teachers donned headlamps and headed off into the dark with maps and compasses for the City of Trees Orienteering Club's annual Vampire O event. After all was said and done, ten of the top fourteen spots were filled by Riverstone, with senior Alex P posting the fastest overall time! Five Grade 8 students, who have been learning how to orienteer as part of their Outdoor PE class, came out to put their new skills to the test and helped pack the top of the results with Riverstone names. Interested in getting in on the fun? Make sure to mark you calendars for December 14 when Riverstone will host its first official CTOC orienteering event; Alex P and Outdoor Program Director Ben Brock have been mapping the school grounds and adjacent areas and the new map promises to be a great combination of park, neighborhood and off-trail terrain. |
|
Grade 3 students, Annie L and Amelia K, were members of the Blue Wolves, a U9 girls team that took gold at the Idaho Rush Fall Select Tournament. Congratulations!
|
|
RIVERSTONE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
|
 We are building a collection of videos on our school youtube channel. Subscribe so you can stay in the loop!
|
|
FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE WEEK
|
|
The Facebook photo of the week was taken by Design Technology teacher, Jim Harper, after Grade 9 students made sunglasses from found objects. "My future's so bright I gotta wear shades." What more can we say?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverstone-International-School/585822794765761?ref=hl
Follow the great things happening (or about to happen) at Riverstone!
|
|
