Hi All,

On behalf of our students and staff, thank you for your generous support at our auction, a Rock'n Rollin' Evening. The costumes (and wigs!) were fantastic, the event organization was superb, and everyone had a great time. Thank you again to our auction co-chairs, Mary Jane Murphy and Amy Bava, and their committee for making this event special.

As I noted previously, this year we used teacher input to identify our Fund A Need priorities. The campaign, It's a Beautiful Day, raised funds specifically for a new preschool and pre-kindergarten playground, a second outside basketball court, and computers and technology for our teachers. To learn more, please watch our Fund A Need video here. 

We were honored and thrilled by your generosity when we raised $60,550 for the Fund A Need. If you did not attend the auction but would still like to contribute, every additional $1000 means we can purchase another computer for a teacher and $700 translates to a new projector. One hundred percent of contributions to our Fund A Need are tax deductible. Please contribute by emailing our Business Director, Kevin Richmond.

With the opportunity to sign up for a few more items below, and expenses still being submitted, net proceeds have not been calculated yet but we cannot say thank you enough for being generous and celebrating our school. 

On a different topic, in February, Riverstone's Grade 10 students participated in a pilot science assessment developed by the Australian Council of Educational Research. This is the same company that developed the International School's Assessment (ISA) tests that our Grades 3, 7 and 9 take each year in reading, writing, and mathematics. These standardized tests are correlated with internationally recognized PISA standards. Our students have typically performed very well on these exams. 

We are pleased to share that Riverstone's average score on the Grade 10 ISA Science test exceeded the average score for all students taking the test (727 RIS versus 646 Mean Score). The average PISA Science score is 500. Parents of Grade 10 students will be receiving their individual scores in the next few days.

We have put a great deal of effort into strengthening our progression of science classes from Middle to High School through the Math and Science Initiative and will continue to use the results from this test and other assessments to enhance our science program. The outstanding results from this recent test is a testament to our teachers and our students ability to compete globally while learning locally. 

To learn more about the ISA and schools that utilize the ISA tests, visit acer.edu.au/tests/isa

Once again, we want our school to be the best by any measure that supports our mission. 

Call for anything,

• Benefits of our International Baccalaureate Programmes
• Small classes
• Amazing faculty
• Increasingly challenging outdoor education 
• Service and leadership opportunities

Please contact Rachel Pusch, Director of Admissions and Institutional Advancement, with questions or to RSVP.

Thank you for your amazing response to the initial survey for the strategic planning process - 139 parents participated!  The committee has been reviewing the results and has identified five areas that we feel represent the key strategic priorities that should be addressed in the 2014-19 Strategic Plan. 

Next week, we invite all parents to join us to provide additional input as members of the committee present the results of the survey and these priorities.

Join us for whichever meeting works with your schedule. Feel free to contact Strategic Planning Committee members Michele Drolet, Amy Duque, or Kipp Martell with questions.

Strategic Planning Discussions

Wednesday, March 12 at 6:00 PM

- AND - 

Friday, March 14 at 8:45 AM

Both in the School Library

Twenty-eight students from Riverstone International School qualified to advance to the state National History Day in Idaho competition that will take place on Saturday, April 12. Students qualified by placing first or second in their respective categories at the regional competition that took place this past Saturday, March 1, 2014.

An additional 23 Riverstone students received recognition in 3rd or 4th place. The regional competition included 397 participants and was held at Lowell Scott Middle School. The Idaho State Historical Society coordinates these competitions.

Please look to the bottom of the newsletter for a complete list of students who received awards. Congratulations!!!

The Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure", slated for Saturday, May 10 this year, is a 5K run whose proceeds support breast cancer care in our community, including services such as mammograms for women who cannot afford them.

Riverstone parents and students who'd like to get out for a fun run and support the cause can register for  Riverstone's team, "Otters for the Cure." Note that the "Non-Competitive" options are cheaper than the competitive ones.

If you are interested and have questions, please contact either Lisa Hecht or Caroline Sobota.

The Facebook photo of the week featured Hannah M (Gr 12) as she was interviewed for the Distinguished Student of the Week award.

Link to our school Facebook page here.

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