Riverstone International School Newsletter
December 4, 2014
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 Hi All,
What matters to us most here at Riverstone are our students. We want to ensure that they are finding purpose in what they do. In many ways that is the great benefit of conducting a well-practiced, inquiry-based educational program. We strive to create a community "network where students are challenged and engaged" (stolen from parent Scott P).
Examples of this are everywhere. Preschool students entered a classroom where their meeting area was covered with class trash; they were asked what to do with the boxes, papers, and containers. Asking students to take ownership of a project, understand and solve problems, and work together to create solutions is how our students learn and how we live out our mission - even with our youngest students.
Last spring, we measured our high school students' engagement by using an external survey, High School Survey of Student Engagement, in conjunction with our National Association of Independent School (NAIS) peers. The survey looked at a student's level of cognitive, social, behavioral, participatory, emotional, and academic engagement. It looked at attitudes towards learning and level of effort, as well as emotional engagement with the school, and positive relationships with adults, and other students. In all areas, our average ranking for student engagement was far above public schools responses, but also above the NAIS averages.
There are certainly times that are more stressful than others (right now for the seniors for example), and not every day will be a student's best day. But our students enjoy coming to school here, have meaningful relationships with their teachers and peers, and find their work engaging and purposeful on average more than other students at the excellent independent schools surveyed. This is a great sign for our most important community.
I would be glad to share the survey results - just stop by.
Call for anything,
Bob Carignan
Head of School
bcarignan@riverstoneschool.org
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PARENT PRESENTATION FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR
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 Shirley O'Neil, School Counselor, will be sharing information about our Elementary School Character Building and Middle School Student Wellness Programs that have been introduced this year. There will be an opportunity for questions. All parents are invited.
Parent Information Session with Shirley O'Neil, School Counselor, on Friday, Dec 5 at 2:45 PM in the library.
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VARIETY SHOW + DINNER + BOOK FAIR
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 Bring your family to Riverstone on Friday, Dec 5 for an evening of family fun!
Book Fair Opening Night (4:30 - 6:15 PM in Elementary School atrium)
Pizza Dinner (5:30 - 6:15 PM) Make it easy on your family by having pizza dinner with friends at the school before the Variety Show.
- $5ish Pizza, Caesar Salad, and Treat
- Beverages by donation
Variety Show (6:30 PM start in the Kennedy Gymnasium) The Variety Show includes entertaining performances from our Riverstone community. There is always something unexpected and wonderful about this event. Invite family and friends -- all ages welcome! |
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RIVERSTONE'S RAKE UP BOISE TEAM
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 We have three more homeowners to help! Please join us and help our neighbors in need.
The Riverstone Rake Up Boise team will be raking Saturday, Dec 6 at 9:00 AM. Please meet at 3402 S Apple St with rakes and gloves.
The Student Council organizers will contact everyone on the Community Opportunities sheet. Thanks for your partipation.
Contact Kathleen Gilton with questions. |
 Riverstone's Book Fair starts tomorrow! Volunteers are needed!
Proceeds from our Book Fair benefit Riverstone!
Last year, the proceeds from the Book Fair were use to purchase Mimeo technology that allows teachers to use whiteboards interactively. This year, we hope to purchase document readers for our Elementary School teachers with the proceeds.
Give the gift of reading! Round up your purchase or add a few dollars so that we can share the love of reading with a local non-profit, Book it Forward! Idaho. All funds raised are used to purchase books for Book it Forward! Idaho who will share the books with children who need them to be successful readers. Additionally, for every dollar contributed, Scholastic will donate one book to their national charities. To learn more about Book it Forward! Idaho, click here.
Book Fair schedule
Friday, Dec 5 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM and Monday, Dec 8 to Friday, Dec 12 from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM daily.
Online ordering If you can't make it to the fair itself or have family members who would like to do some online shopping, please share this link to the online book fair. Online ordering will be available from Friday, Nov 21 - Tuesday, Dec 9. For more information or to get involved, please contact Kim Fall.
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WINTER CONCERT + GRANDFRIENDS DAY
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 The Elementary School Winter Concert and Grandfriends Day will be held Wednesday, Dec 10.
Invite your Elementary Student's grandparents or special grand friend to join us for Grandfriends Day!
This is an easy, casual event where students can spend some special time with Grandfriends showing them their school, classrooms, friends and teachers. We finish it with a fabulous Winter Concert, Face of Peace.
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Time
| Activity | 12:30-12:45 PM
| Greeting of Grandparents
| 12:45-12:55 PM
| Welcome by Head of School and short presentation for grandfriends
| 12:55-1:40 PM
| Students and grandkids enjoy cookies and milk, visit classrooms, enjoy our mini-inside orienteering event (optional!), take photos, or visit the Book Fair
| 1:40-2:00 PM
| Students return to classrooms and Grandfriends head to the gym (or shop a little more for surprise books!) | | 2:00-3:00 PM | Winter Concert: Faces of Peace |
If your child's Grandfriend or Grandparent(s) will be joining us, please RSVP to Kathleen Gilton, Director of Community Engagement and Communications.
Concert dress for Elementary students is jeans, dark pants or skirt and a white shirt. |
 Next Parents' Association (PA) Meeting
The next Parents' Association Meeting will be held Thursday, Dec 11 at 8:45 AM in the library. All parents are invited!
Merci Holiday Lunch for Staff Needs Your Help
The holidays are rapidly approaching! Let's express our appreciation for our entire staff with a Merci Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, Dec 18.
All of our Riverstone families are welcomed and encouraged to participate in providing the food for this lunch. A link to the menu and opportunity to sign up to contribute with food, decor, set up or clean up can be found on the Merci Sign Up Sheet here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Heather Webster, Merci Coordinator. |
 Middle School students in Gr 6-9 are invited to a dance on Friday, Dec 12! - The theme: Famous Duos and Stars.
- Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM**
- Location: Gym Foyer
- Cost: $3 in advance to Kendra Dixon; $5 at the door
If your student would like to invite a guest who is not a Riverstone student, please see Jen Coffey or Kendra Dixon to request a permission/contact form that must be signed by the guest's parent.
**Parents, please do not drop off students earlier than 6:30 PM. We do not have chaperones available prior to the 6:30 PM start. Thank you!
Middle School Dance (Gr 6-9) on Friday, Dec 12 from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM in the Gym Foyer.
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 We've had our first tastes of winter and it won't be long until we're all frolicking in the white stuff every weekend! With Winter Break rapidly approaching (and Holiday Shopping Season in full swing), many of you are likely on the prowl for good gift ideas.
Consider glancing at the Equipment Lists for upcoming Winter Outdoor Program activities! As growth spurts taper off, maybe it's time for a nice warm, light sleeping bag, or a backpacking pack that will fit for years to come. Headlamps, camping mugs, wool socks, a compass, and even sleeping pads these days tuck nicely into small packages.
If you're feeling particularly ambitious, a water filter, stove or tent are great for the kid looking to head for the mountains more often, and mom and dad can probably borrow them every once in a while too!
If you have any questions about particular gear or the upcoming trips/activities themselves, please contact Ben Brock, Director of Outdoor Education. |
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MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL FINALS WEEK
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 In the Middle and High School, December 15-18 (Mon-Thurs) will follow a typical "Block" week schedule. Teachers will be administering final exams, grading presentations, assessing projects, etc. during the normally scheduled class times. Each teacher/class will have their own requirements for students; see Managebac for specifics.
The schedule for Dec 19 (Fri) is as follows:
8:20 AM - 11:20 AM
| Condensed schedule of 30 min class periods in morning. Students will go to all 6 classes. This will be opportunity for teachers to provide feedback from end of year assignments/exams and to give a primer for what to expect in beginning of Spring semester. To also include grade level community clean up around campus, locker clean out for Middle School, and classroom cleanup.
| 11:20 AM - 12:15 PM
| Lunch
| 12:15 PM - 3:05/3:20 PM
Regular release times for MS/HS | The Winter Bash will kick off with student music in the Gym. Students will then break off into groups and will rotate through 3 stations to include gym activity, holiday sitcoms, and board games.
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*Please make sure your student in Gr 6-9 is wearing comfortable clothes with shoes to accommodate gym play and clean up outside.
**Seniors will be off campus for the Group 4 Project at the Urban Ascent facility with science teachers.
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 This year, Riverstone's Senior Diploma Programme (DP) students will engage in a Group 4 collaborative science project at Urban Ascent in Boise on Friday, Dec 19.
The Group 4 project is an interdisciplinary activity in which all Senior DP science students must participate.The intent is that students from Chemistry, Biology, and Physics work collaboratively to analyze a common topic or problem. The emphasis is on the processes involved in scientific investigation rather than the products of such investigation.
Students under the age of 18 need a signed waiver from Urban Ascent. Parents can download the Urban Ascent waiver form here.
Parents also need to email Andy Johnson granting permission for their child to drive to Urban Ascent. If parents do not give permission, the school will transport your student in RIS transportation. Students needing transportation need to meet at the school gym on Friday, Dec 19 at 8:30 AM.
Students should bring a sack lunch, comfortable clothes in which they can be active and a bottle of water. The activity will end at 3:00 PM.
This project will be supervised by Science teachers Samantha Cole, Brad Nelson and Qibo Jing. Contact Andy Johnson, High School Director, with questions.
Senior Biology students are pictured above.
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Also, please consider helping in the library while Susan Tabb, our librarian, is away.
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 Thank you to Drs. Rick and Shauna Williams, who purchased Riverstone's entry to the Festival of Trees and donated it to the school. The William's are parents of Chris, Riverstone Class of 2013.
The tree is on display in the Elementary School Atrium. Stop by to enjoy it!
The tree design was inspired by the Leadership by Example pillar and is aptly titled, "See the Leader in You!" Photos taken while setting up the tree at the Festival are posted on Riverstone's Facebook page.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
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 Note from Middle School Girls Basketball Coach Abby Fereday:
Middle School Girls Basketball won their game against Garden Valley earlier this week. The JV score was 20-6 and Varsity 38-4! Wow!
Next week begins their tournament. Riverstone will likely host the first round game next week so keep an eye out for details on game time so we can cheer on our team!
Contact Demi Dlouhy, PE teacher and Athletic Coordinator, with any questions.
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We enjoy including news from student activities outside of school. If your child has news to share, please email Kathleen Gilton, Director of Community Engagement and Communications.
Edie J (Gr 7), Gwyneth W (Gr 7), Tess E (Gr 7), Niko N (Gr 5) and Ben K (Gr 8) swam in the Boise Y Thanksgiving Invitational Swim Meet the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was a great swim meet for all! Here are some highlights:
Ben K had personal best times for the 50 and 100 free, and 100- and 200-yard breast. Edie J was first in her heat for 50 fly, 50 free and 100 IM. Tess E was first in her heat for 50 breaststroke and 50 fly. Gwyneth W had a personal best in 100 free. Niko N placed in the top 5 in every heat he swam and won his 50 yard free heat. Well-done all!
Photos below feature Ben K (left) and Niko N (right) during their butterfly events.
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There is a lot going on next week at Riverstone! Although not a complete list of all things happening, here are some highlights for the week.
For the most current athletic game times and locations, please view the school calendar here.
| Friday, Dec 5 | Parent Info Session with Shirley O'Neil at 2:45 PM in the library
Book Fair Grand Opening from 4:30 PM - 6:15 PM in the atrium
Variety Show Pizza Dinner from 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM in the Multi- Purpose Room
Variety Show at 6:30 PM in Kennedy Gymnasium
| | Saturday, Dec 6 | Rake Up Boise at 9:00 AM starting at 3330 S Apple St
| | Monday, Dec 8 | Book Fair from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM in Atrium
| | Tuesday, Dec 9 | Book Fair from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM in Atrium
| Wednesday, Dec 10
| Book Fair from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM in Atrium
Grandfriends Day from 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM in Elementary School
Winter Concert from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM in Kennedy Gym
Middle School Girls Basketball Tournament
| | Thursday, Dec 11 | Book Fair from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM in Atrium
PA Meeting at 8:45 AM in the library
High School Girls Basketball at Wilder
| | Friday, Dec 12 | Book Fair from 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM in Atrium
High School Girls Basketball Game at Compass
Middle School Dance from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM in Gym Foyer
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FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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This week's Facebook photo of the week featured Lisa Armstong, Rachel Pusch, and James Hamilton-Vail celebrating Rachel's birthday. Happy birthday!
The Facebook photo of the week is the photo that receives the most likes in the previous week. So be sure to like your favorite photos!
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