Riverstone International School Newsletter
November 21, 2013
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 Dear Riverstone Community,
As we head into the final 36 hours of the Annual Fund campaign, the Board of Trustees would like to express their appreciation to everyone who has supported this important endeavor. Thank you to:
- Our campaign leaders, Rick and Ceci Bennett, who have created an atmosphere of inclusiveness and gratitude;
- Our Class Ambassadors who have enthusiastically championed our cause;
- Our staff, 100% of whom contributed to the Annual Fund, all the while inspiring our students in and out of the classroom;
- Our current families who have endorsed our school's philosophy through their gifts; and
- The alumni, past parents, grandparents, and friends who extend the circle of supporters for our students.
Together, we have made steady progress during the last five weeks. However, we still need your help in order to meet our financial and participation goals. Why?
- The Annual Fund is a critical component of the overall revenue stream for the school.
- In the short term, meeting our financial goal allows us to proceed through this year with planned expenditures for activities, field trips, and facilities maintenance.
- In the long term, your contributions aid our organizational journey towards financial sustainability.
- Participation is critical, because strong support and high participation rates are analyzed when we apply for grants from outside foundations.
For those of you that are still considering a gift or considering an additional gift, we have a matching grant that was just received. The grant will match new and additional gifts, up to a total of $10,000, that are/were given between Tuesday, November 19 and end of day on Friday, November 22. Please take advantage of this extra incentive.
We have the potential to posively impact our students through our gifts, large or small. Every dollar makes a difference. And together, we can ensure that our children receive the benefits of the educational philosophy that is unique to Riverstone.
Thank you for supporting our Annual Fund campaign, "A River Runs Through Us."
Warm Regards,
Kurt Liebich
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Make a gift to the Annual Fund online here. Thank you!
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DECEMBER LUNCH ORDER DUE NOV 22
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 New menu for December with more kid-pleasing entrees!
New selections include Pasta with Meat Sauce, Teriyaki Chicken with Rice, Orange-Honey Chicken with Rice, Pulled Pork Sandwich
Please return all lunch orders to the Elementary and Middle School Front Desks by Friday, November 22.
Download an Elementary School lunch form here.
Download a Middle & High School lunch form here.
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GR 6-9 IDAHO ICE WORLD ACTIVITY
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All students in Grades 6-8 are welcome to join us for an evening of fun.
Friday, November 22 from 6:00 - 10:00 PM Please have your students RSVP with the waivers above. We will start the evening with a trip to Blue Cow and head to Idaho Ice World for fun in the arcade and skating which starts at 8:00 PM. Contact Tarrah Elam, Student Life Coordinator, with questions. |
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RAKE UP BOISE RESCHEDULED TO THIS SATURDAY
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 Due to the snow this past Saturday, Rake Up Boise is now taking place on Saturday, November 23. We will meet at the school at 9:00 AM. Please dress warmly and bring your rakes and gloves. We will depart from the school to our designated yards. Please update the Community Opportunity Sign Up Sheet as to whether you will be joining us on the new date. Thanks so much for volunteering and we hope you can make it! Donuts and warm beverages for all who attend!
Contact Eleri Roberts, Social Change Leadership Advisor, with questions. |
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MANAGEBAC TRAINING FOR MS-HS PARENTS
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Middle and High School parents have been sent invitations to Managebac, our online resource for curriculum, student progress, and classroom information.
If you did not receive an email, please contact Alex Ide, Director of Secondary Education.
Join us for the following information sessions in the library. These sessions will focus on questions and answers. Riverstone computers will be available for parents to use when working in these information sessions.
- Friday, Nov 22 8:30-9:00 AM in the Library
- Friday, Nov 22 3:00-3:30 PM in the Library
- Tuesday, Nov 26 8:30-9:00 AM in the Library
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School is closed Wednesday, Nov 27 through Sunday, December 1 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for you! |
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ADVICE FROM OUR COUNSELOR
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 As the holiday season approaches, it is important to take some time to decide how you and your family want to navigate the busyness and craziness that often comes with it. It is fun and often important to participate in festivities, however, it is equally important to set aside time that allows you to re-connect with your family.
Children and adults need down time in order to regenerate. This down time can be part of how you connect with each other, whether over hot cider, a game, or a shared movie. You can connect and create some of your own traditions: baking cookies, setting up decorations, or reading a family book together. The important thing is that you are spending time together.
One of my family's favorite traditions occurred because I was too tired to cook, and needed some down time, so now, every year we order Chinese food and sit on the floor and watch "The Little Drummer Boy." There is no significance to what we do, it is simply something that we do together and enjoy.
The simplicity of re-connecting and relaxing together is often the most meaningful thing you can do this season. Happy Thanksgiving!
~Shirley O'Neil
Riverstone School Counselor |
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EMPTY BOWLS AT RIVERSTONE: JOIN US
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 Parents are encouraged to join us for Riverstone's version of Empty Bowls that our Grade 5 Student Council reps have renamed "Otter Bowls." This event will take place on Tuesday, November 26, at 2:15 PM in the Elementary School atrium.
Our students have been making ceramic bowls in exchange for a $10 donation. If we sell all of our ceramic bowls, parents or students may make a donation for soup only.
Proceeds will benefit the Idaho Foodbank.
If you have any questions, please email Mr. Nelson, Art teacher. Thank you!
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FAMILY NIGHT AT RIVERSTONE: FRIDAY, DEC 6
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 Bring your family to Riverstone on Friday, December 6 for an evening of family fun!
- Preview the Book Fair (4:30 - 6:15 PM)
- Take care of feeding the family at our PA-sponsored Pizza Dinner
- Head to the Variety Show -- a Riverstone tradition! (6:30 PM)
Watch the Community Opportunities sheet for the Pizza Dinner sign up.
Please mark your calendars for our Variety Show. It is always a night to remember filled with performers of all ages from our Riverstone community.
Preview the Book Fair + Pizza Dinner + Variety Show
Friday, December 6
Elementary School and Kennedy Gymnasium Preview at 4:30; Variety Show at 6:30 PM
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New this week:
An information packet will be sent home with all Elementary students on Friday, November 22. It will include dates and times for the book fair, as well as information about the book mark contest.
Books may also be previewed and purchased online from November 21 - December 11. Share the link with family and friends who might like to purchase gifts!
All orders will be delivered to the school prior to winter break. The link to shop online is
Please contact Kim Fall, Book Fair Coordinator, with questions or to volunteer.
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JOIN THE CULTURE & COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
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 The Riverstone community is an outstanding one. From our incredibly dedicated and talented faculty, staff and administration, to a wonderfully professional Board of Trustees, to a parent body whose commitment to their children and to the school is truly exceptional, to those wonderful kids...who all of this is about in the first place. The Culture & Community Committee will produce recommendations for students, teachers, administration and parents we hope will deepen and strengthen our already strong school community.
Come and join in our efforts to make the Riverstone community an even more special one.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, December 12 at 3:30 PM in Room 37 in the Middle School (Hayden Jared's English classroom). We would love to see you there!
Please contact Adam Kaplan at adam@campnebagamon.com with questions. |
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MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BBALL COACH NEEDED
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 We are in need of a Middle School Boys basketball coach! We have a great group of excited student-athletes who are looking forward to their basketball season that runs from January 11 - February 27. Practices and games are right after school with games starting at 4:00 PM. If anyone would be interested in coaching a very short season for a little bit of extra cash, please contact Demi Dlouhy, PE teacher. |
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RIVERSTONE AT FESTIVAL OF TREES
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 Riverstone's Festival of the Trees crew has been hard at work creating Riverstone's entry to the Festival of Trees, "Dashing to the Snow." If you would like to help decorate the tree on Sunday, November 24, please email Kim Liebich.
Riverstone's choirs will be performing at the Festival of Trees as well. Come down to the Boise Centre on Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 PM for their performance! Our students always love having friends and family to support them.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
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 The Middle School Girls Basketball A team is 5-1 going in to their last game against Idaho City this afternoon! The B team is 3-3 going into their final game today as well. Our players have done a fabulous job of representing our school! If you have any questions, contact Abby Fereday, Athletic Director.
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 Riverstone's winter weather policy is as follows:
- Riverstone will be closed if the Boise School District closes district-wide.
- In cases where only certain schools in the Boise School District are closed, Riverstone's administration will decide whether to cancel school on a case-by-case basis.
If school is cancelled, an all-school email and text will be sent. The information will also be posted on the school Facebook page and school calendar.
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MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LOST AND FOUND
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 All items left in the Middle and High School Lost and Found will be donated to the Idaho Youth Ranch during Thanksgiving vacation. The Lost and Found is located in the Gym Foyer.
Please check for coats, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc soon! |
 Please note that there will not be Passport Club testing in December because of the Winter Break. January's Passport information will be handed out the first week we return to school after the break.
During September, October, and November, the number of continents and countries learned by our students are:
Kindergarten and Grade 1: 17 Grade 2: 30
Grade 3: 45
Grade 4: 75
Grade 5: 90 (including capitals).
Passport is a Elementary School program facilitated by parent volunteers. Thank you to all our volunteers for making this happen each month. Passport could not happen with out you!
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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.
 Grant B (Gr 7) recently placed second in the Boise School District Tennis Championships for Grade 7 players! During the regular season, Grant had an amazing 20-1 record as a singles player. He would like to make sure his teachers and classmates know how much he appreciated their support through the tennis season. Congratulations!
Grant is pictured with Andy Roddick at right.
Darcy D (Gr 4) and Olivia D (Gr 7) auditioned and were selected to play violin and bass, respectively, in the Boise School District All-City Intermediate Honor Orchestra for 2013-2014. Well done!
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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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FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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The Facebook photo of the week was taken during our Mountain Bike club ride to the top of Kelton Ramp.
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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Please sign up to help with the fair on the 
