Riverstone International School
March 10, 2016
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Howdy Pardners,
As I have mentioned before, there has never been a more exciting time to be at Riverstone. I presented our plans for the new Middle and High School to the Barber Valley Neighborhood Association last night and the buildings felt so real. Because of our improved finances, we are able to move ahead without a capital campaign, which we needed when we built the Elementary School. Finally, we will begin to create the facility that we had dreamed of when we moved the modulars here in 2000. I look forward to watching the decking that I helped to build as the new parent of a first grader get torn away!
We will take care of the building finances, but we need your help with what our students will use in the new science and music classrooms. I still remember when our current furniture pulled up in a truck to the Broadway campus unassembled. The faculty and I still joke about spending the weekend before school started assembling those desks, scrambling for wrenches and parts. We didn't have enough of either as we bought the desks on deep discount.
While they have served us well and what's on the chairs is always more important than what's on the table; it's time to upgrade.
This year's Fund A Need: "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" will help us furnish the classrooms in our soon-to-be-built Phase One of the new Middle and High School building. You can help us create dynamic learning environments with standardized furnishings that are flexible for a variety of needs and enhance our students' abilities to investigate, create, and collaborate. We will also invest in laboratory science workstations and demonstration tables. Not only will new furnishings improve our students' and teachers' academic environment, the building and furnishings will compliment each other and will look great!
The Fund A Need is always the last item of the evening (before the dancing begins!). Watching the paddles go up in the air fast and furious is always an exciting time. If you are not attending the auction but would like to contribute, please email Kevin Richmond.
I look forward to seeing you all in your cowboy best on Saturday as we get the chance to relax and enjoy some time together as a community.
Call for anything,
Bob Carignan
Head of School
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FRIDAY MORNING MUSIC: TOMORROW!
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 Start your day off on a good note and join us in the Elementary School Atrium tomorrow morning at 7:45 AM - 8:20 AM for this month's installation of Friday Morning Music!This is a wonderful opportunity for students who study music privately to participate in a supportive recital setting. If your child would like to perform in future events, please email Nicole Golay or Damon Brown.
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PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE SIGN-UPS AND CHILDCARE
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Conference Schedule and Sign-Ups
Parent Teacher Conferences are an important opportunity to learn about your child's progress.
Student-led Elementary conferences will be held Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18.
Sign up for Elementary School conferences here.
Middle and High School conferences will be held Wednesday (afternoon only), Thursday, and Friday, March 16, 17 and 18. Sign up for Middle & High School conferences here.
Conference Childcare
As a convenience, we will offer childcare for siblings during your conference times in the Multi-purpose Room. If you need additional childcare, please email Tarrah Elam by Monday, Mar 14. We will be offering all-day childcare from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM on Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18, for $30/child. Your student will need to bring a lunch and snack with them for the day.
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COWGENTS AND COWLADIES: SEE Y'ALL SATURDAY!
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 Can't wait to see y'all at the Auction this Saturday! Couple of reminders:
- Dessert Auction - please deliver your desserts to the loading dock at the Boise Centre on the morning of Saturday, Mar 12.
Call or find Michelle when you arrive.
- It's not too late to make a donation. Fill out your donation form today!
- Order your Koenig Wine Magnum for the big event. Only 96 bottles are available and will feature labels made from this year's student artwork.
Please contact Amy Bava or Kris Ball with any questions.
We would also like to give a huge thank-you to our sponsors: Petra, Erstad Architects and DL Evans Bank.
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Parents' Association Meeting
Please join us at our next PA Meeting during the evening of Thursday, Apr 7 at 6:30 PM at the Liebich home ( 1650 E Holly St, Boise, ID 83702). This is the opportunity for any working families who are unable to make our standard morning meetings each month but want to be involved to join in on the fun. See you there! Volunteers Needed
Calling all volunteers! The PA is looking for willing hands to help support PA activities and events. Please read more here about positions that are available (second page) and about the process of getting involved. We apologize for not including the correct link in last week's newsletter.
There are jobs that take no more than a couple of hours per month, some that are seasonal and a few that require a routine commitment. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Geffros. International Committee Meeting - Japanese Festival
All parents are invited to join the International Committee at their next meeting on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 8:45 AM at Full Steam Bistro (920 E Park Blvd, Boise, ID 83716).
We will discuss about the Japanese Festival on April 6 and plan for next school year. If you would like more information or you would like to be involved, please contact Sumiko Gomi.
Merci Lunch Next Week  Next Wednesday, Mar 16 will be this month's Merci Lunch for our faculty and staff! The food theme is Europe (keep in mind St. Patty's Day is also next week!). Hosted by the Grades 1 and 2 and sponsored by the Middle and High School.
Please sign up on the Community Opportunities Merci Lunch sheet for the Elementary School or for the Middle and High Schools with a dish you are willing to bring in. Please email Anne-Claire Depuydt with any questions.
Thank You! We'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated their used Riverstone Gear to the PA 2016 Auction project. We're so excited for everyone to see the final product during the Live Auction this weekend!
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GR 9-12 EVENING SOCIAL: NEXT WEDNESDAY!
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 High School Student Council Members invite all students in Grades 9 - 12 to celebrate the beginning of Spring Break at Wahooz!
Wednesday, Mar 16 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM students in Grades 9 - 12 are welcome to load the Riverstone bus with our Student Life Coordinator and Staff chaperones to Wahooz. Go-karts, lazor tag, games and more will fill the evening with fun.
Download the field trip permission slip here and return it to Tarrah Elam before the bus departs next Wednesday.
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GR 6-12 MORNING OF SERVICE: NEXT WEEK!
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 Next Thursday, Mar 17 all Grade 6-12 students in their Riverstone Advisory Rivercamps will go out into the community from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Advisories will be helping a variety of organizations such as The Cabin, The Botanical Gardens, Boise City Parks Department, Idaho Youth Ranch and more. Would you like to be part of this year's Day of Service? Parent volunteers are welcome! Please contact Tarrah Elam with questions or your interest in volunteering. |
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JUMP ROPE FOR HEART DONATIONS
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 Riverstone International School is proud to partner with the American Heart Association through Jump Rope for Heart! Last year our school raised $4,596 and our goal is to raise $6,000 for lifesaving research this year. We've raised $2,730.00 just in online donations thus far!Donations are due Monday, Mar 14 to classroom teachers.This community service project teaches our students the importance of heart health (exercise, nutrition and living tobacco free), while having a great time jumping rope! Students also have the opportunity to raise funds for the American Heart Association to provide education in our community, and fund research & development, all in an effort to lower the risks of America's #1 and #4 killers, heart disease and stroke.Why participate? When your child talks about his/her reason for participating in Jump Rope For Heart (such as a lost loved one or a family history of heart disease), it helps them to connect the dots to a healthier life and might even inspire a few other family members to live heart healthy too! Please contact Demi Dlouhy with questions.
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HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE BOWL RESULTS
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 This past Monday, our High School Science Bowl team competed in the Western Idaho Regional Science Bowl (WIRSB) at Boise State University. The event is sponsored by the Micron Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, Boise State College of Engineering, Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard.
Included below is a note from the team's coach and Riverstone parent, Stefan Uhlenbrock:
"Both teams fought hard in the morning rounds. RIS Team #1 missed the qualification for the final double elimination in the afternoon only by a slim margin. In the end, the team won 5 rounds and got 2nd place in their respective consolation bracket. Riverstone 2 never lost "to zero" (meaning the team always answered at least one question per round) in the morning and in the afternoon won first place their consolation bracket with a total of 2 wins. Most importantly though, Riverstone won the Sportsmanship Award. The reward for this honor is a new buzzer system for the school which should help the growing team to prepare for next year."
Congratulations to our Science Bowl team members: Gwen D (Gr 12), Ash S (Gr 12), Arald S (Gr 12), Jerry L (Gr 12), Christina U (Gr 10), Javin S (Gr 10), James E (Gr 10), Olivia L (Gr 10), Jessica A (Gr 10), Jordan L (Gr), Avery P (Gr 9), and Kana T (Gr 9).
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 Last weekend, students in grades 5-10 participated in the National History Day Regional Competition at Sacred Heart School. We will share results of the competition in next week's newsletter. Stay tuned! |
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HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL HONORS
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Congratulations to our High School Boys Basketball team! Not only did Coach Eric Chapman win Coach of the Year in the 1A Western Athletic Conference, but Dedi S (Gr 11) won placement on the Conference's First Team list and Andres G (Gr 11) received placement on the Honorable Mention Team list. You can read the full list here.
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|  | | Dedi S (Gr 11) | |
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| | Andres G (Gr 11) |
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| High School Boys Basketball Coach
Eric Chapman
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MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WINTER TRIPS A SUCCESS!
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 A message from Outdoor Education Director, Ben Brock, about the recent winter trips:
"Spring is in the air but last week students in Grades 8 and 10 snowshoed to Banner Ridge near Lowman and Idaho City for one last winter hurrah. With snowpacks pushing 6 feet, and winter weather blowing through, students had ample opportunities to develop their winter backpacking and self-care skills.
For Grade 8 students, it was their first overnight snowshoeing experience and they shared the responsibilities of carrying all their food and supplies in backpacks and sleds. Based out of Banner Ridge and Elkhorn Yurts they spent time examining characteristics of the snowpack including density and temperature profiles, calculating the snow water equivalent (SWE) of the snowpack, and assessing the stability of the snowpack. Joining the group to help assist trip leaders was Jack J (Gr 11 student in the Outdoor Leadership Program who has completed a Level I Avalanche Awareness course and is a certified Wilderness First Aid provider). As a leader in training, Jack was responsible for trailhead and yurt orientation talks, helping students along the trail and in camp and generally passing on his extensive knowledge about staying safe and having fun in the snow.
Having previously been on yurt trips in Middle School, Gr 10 students upped the ante and spent the entire trip outside! Near the yurts they set up a winter camp complete with an outdoor kitchen, "couches" and a "refrigerator." Four-season tents served as shelter for the first night, but over half the class spent the second night of the trip in snow shelters they constructed during the day. Grade 10 students did a great job taking care of themselves and of each other through some wet and wintry conditions - many even said they'd go out and do it again! All of them, however, have developed a new appreciation for their comfy beds and warm showers!
If you see them, say congratulations to the Gr 8 and 10 students and say thank you to trip leaders Jen Coffey, Alex McKinley, Andrea Kuenzli, and Robyn Olnes for their top-notch supervision and instruction!"
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 The following is a note from Andrea Kuenzli and Shirley O'Neil, our school counselors.
Spring Break is quickly approaching. It's a great time for relaxation but it can also lead to stress when it comes to filling up so much time. Here are some tips for a fun, relaxing, and smooth Spring Break.
- Make plans, but not too many. This should be a time for relaxation and family togetherness. Schedule some activities but not so many that you're rushing around.
- Familiarize your location. Traveling can cause anxiety for kids. Walk them through where you will be staying and what you will be doing during the days. It can be helpful to show them pictures, or maps of where they will be going.
- Always establish a meeting place for you and your children incase of emergencies. Walk them through the security precautions that are in place.
- Keep some routines. This might be having snack at the same time, having a consistent bedtime or keeping other reliable routines.
- Spring Break is a time to connect with your family. Plan fun games together and create time to connect with you kids.
- Remember to schedule some relaxation time for yourself. You've been busy planning a great trip for your kids, but remember this should be a break for you as well.
We hope that you have a wonderful, safe, and fun break! Please, feel free to email Andrea or Shirley or stop by anytime. We will be available during conferences for drop-ins. Our office is located in the Elementary School. |
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IDAHO YOUTH RANCH DONATIONS
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 Thanks to your donations throughout the year, our school community earns money that we use towards our service learning program. Last year, we raised enough funds to cover the cost of transporting advisory groups to their project sites for the Middle & High School Day of Service.
Please visit our donation bin in the Elementary School parking lot and drop off any clothing items you'd like to donate on Riverstone's behalf. |
 Riverstone is gaining a reputation around the world for being a great place to spend a year. The following four students have named Riverstone as their Top Choice school. Some students hear about Riverstone through other students who have been here, while others have read about what a great place it is and want to join our community. Please help us make their dreams come true. We must have confirmed host families for these students before we can accept them for enrollment.
Carlota - A 16 year-old girl from Spain. She is interested in basketball, soccer, and other sports. She likes music, movies, and shopping. Carlota has two sisters and a cat. She says she is very sociable. She wants to come to Riverstone to meet new people, try new experiences and learn more about America. Fin - A 17 year-old boy from Germany. Fin visited the US one time and has wanted to come back ever since. When he heard about Riverstone, he decided this was the place for him. Fin says his passion is tennis, but he likes skiing and spending time with friends, too. Fin is hoping that Riverstone will give him the chance to try all kinds of new things and to share his culture while learning about American culture. Josephin - A 16 year-old girl from Germany. Josephin likes swimming, cooking, working with younger students, music and drawing. She has a younger sister and enjoys spending time with her. Josephin likes to ski and has recently learned how to snowboard. In addition to enjoying social activities with friends and family, Josphin likes animals. She has a dog and two horses and wouldn't mind being in a house with pets. She is hoping to come to America to learn more about the culture, to meet new people and to share her culture with her host family and friends. Hugo - A 16 year-old boy from France. Hugo is very excited about the idea of coming to the US. Hugo is the oldest in his family of four boys. All of his family enjoys art; his father enjoys sculpting, his mother dances and all of the boys play music together. Hugo plays double bass and bass guitar. In addition to music, Hugo enjoys reading, movies, and sports. Hugo hopes to study politics or business and he hopes improving his English will help him in his future. In his own words, "I chose to go to the USA because I want to improve my English, to discover a new culture and a new land, to meet many people, to discover beautiful landscapes and to see the life in one of the best countries of the world." |
 There are many great hot and cold lunch options for this week, please look through the entire spring menu here. If you are planning to order pizza, please only select the number of slices you'd like to purchase (do not adjust the pizza size). |
This week's Facebook photo is of our amazing Riverstone musicians and an appreciative audience at The Terraces of Boise combined for a really wonderful Senior Recital on Tuesday evening!
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