Riverstone International School
August 18, 2016
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Hi All,
I am writing from a Riverstone finally awakening from a summer slumber. Finishing work is going on all around me, teachers are focusing on professional development and preparing their classrooms, and our facilities and grounds are being fine-tuned.
As you arrive for the first day, you will immediately notice new landscaping. This is our first step in a planned move to create a more sustainable footprint. We want the fields we use to be wonderful and lush, and our other areas to better reflect our dry desert climate.
We are welcoming our first residential students on Monday. Unfortunately, Riverstone House is not yet complete; we have a contingency plan that our developer will put our students up in a local hotel - not so bad at all. We anticipate moving in after our fall trips! There will be opportunities for our local High School students to meet our new students; please encourage your student to follow our Riverstone Facebook and Instagram pages for details.
I also need to ask for help. We may have the opportunity to place four more students in the dorm so they may attend Riverstone. However, in order to do so, we need to identify families who would be willing to host these students over winter and spring breaks (we may be arranging a trip for spring break but winter break hosting is necessary). If your family would be willing to host one (or more!) of these students for 10-12 days during these periods, we would greatly appreciate it. Please consider this opportunity and email Rachel Pusch no later than Monday, August 22 if you would be interested. This would be a great way to host an international student without a full year commitment! We look forward to seeing you at Meet the Teachers next Friday. Let the games begin!!!
Bob Carignan
Head of School
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT RIVERSTONE
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 We would appreciate your help spreading the word that we are looking for excellent candidates to join the Riverstone team!
We are currently seeking a dynamic individual to serve as our Student Activities and Service Coordinator, and seeking individuals interested in substitute teaching.
Please check the Employment page on the Riverstone website for more information.
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 Margaret Major
Please join us in welcoming Margaret Major as our new Junior Residential Coordinator for the Riverstone House.
The mother of two daughters, one currently a senior at Riverstone, Margaret brings to the position extensive experience as a former expatriate and program coordinator, with a long history of engagement in the Boise arts community. Margaret's professional experience includes almost seventeen years working for the University of Michigan Medical Center as a pediatric unit manager, staff trainer, and quality facilitator. She left the university to provide civilian medical support to the United States Military Training Mission in Saudi Arabia. She leaves a position with the Idaho Legislature, where she has spent the last few years facilitating the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and managing the office for the division of Budget and Policy Analysis.
She looks forward to supporting our new and returning international students, and to being a part of this exciting new chapter for Riverstone International School.
Tami Dougherty
Earlier this week, Tami accepted a teaching position at another school in Boise and will not be returning to Riverstone as a math teacher in the High School. We wish her well in the future.
We look forward to introducing our students and parents to our new and returning faculty at next Friday's Meet the Teachers! |
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS LISTS
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Elementary School class lists were emailed today from James Hamilton-Vail. If you did not receive an email with your child's classroom teaching assignment, please check your spam filter.
Please contact Kathleen Gilton if you are an Elementary School parent and did not receive this information. Thank you!
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RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS ARRIVING NEXT WEEK
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 Riverstone's residential students will be arriving next Monday! Our residential coordinators, Mary and Margaret, have activities planned to introduce our new students to each other, to Boise, and to Riverstone.
We will be posting dates, times, and locations for some of their activities on Riverstone's Facebook and Instagram pages so that our local High School students can join the fun and meet their new classmates.
Please encourage your High School student to stay tuned and follow our social media! |
 A note from Athletic Director, Pete Burton:SoccerIdaho Rush is in the process of sorting out all of the registrations and will be contacting those of you who registered sometime next week. The first game is September 10. Practices start next week, August 22, and will be held 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays and 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Fridays. Please email coach Mark Stilinovich and Athletic Director Pete Burton if your student is planning on playing soccer this year. Middle School Girls VolleyballPractices have started for the Middle School Volleyball team (Gr 6-8) and are being held Mondays - Thursdays from 4:15 PM - 5:45 PM until school starts. It is very important that athletes attend all practices to prepare for the upcoming 2016 season. The 2016 schedule will be finalized and sent out next week. Most games are on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you would like to volunteer to be a line judge or a scorekeeper for the volleyball games, please contact Athletic Director Pete Burton as soon as possible. These are very important roles and need to be filled immediately. Athletic HandbookThe Athletic Handbook is being revised and will be made available shortly to all community members and athletes. |
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BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
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Preschool - Grade 5 Before and After Care Program
We will be offering Before and After Care again this year and have extended our hours for After Care! Our fee-based Before and After Care Program for Preschool - Grade 5 students will take place in the new Mandarin classroom (Mrs. Walker's Gr 5 classroom from last year) Monday through Friday.
Before Care begins at 7:30 AM and will be supervised by Ms. Whittington After Care is offered after school until 6:00 PM and supervised by Ms. Butler
Parents will need to deliver and pick-up children directly to/from the Mandarin classroom hallway doors, rather than entering through the Elementary School. Doors to the Elementary School are locked until 8:00 AM and re-locked at 4:00 PM.
If you are planning on regularly utilizing Elementary School After-Care services, please email Kayla Butler so that we may plan accordingly.
Study Hall: After School Supervision for Grades 6 - 12
Riverstone will continue its supervised after school "study hall" for students in Gr 6-12. Between 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Monday - Thursday, students will be supervised in the gym foyer. Students on campus after 4:00 PM must be in Study Hall unless in the direct supervision of a faculty member during an after-school activity or athletic program. If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Gilton.
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 If you need help with transportation to school, Riverstone currently provides morning-only bus service for a fee.
We will be sharing specific pick up times in next week's newsletter, but anticipate that we will offer pick up at the following locations starting on the first day of school:- Riverstone House (13th and River -- please note this pick up location will start in mid-September)
- Tennis courts at Camel's Back Park
- Dona Larsen Park Entrance on Warm Springs Avenue
We may be offering a limited afternoon route in mid- to late-September -- stay tuned! If you plan on utilizing Riverstone's bus service, please email Sarah Taylor. ValleyRide also provides bus service to the area via Route 18 Harris Ranch. There are three morning round trips and three afternoon round trips between the Harris Ranch area and downtown Boise. View the Route 18 Schedule here. |
Students and parents are invited to get a sneak peak into the next school year by joining us for Meet the Teachers on Friday, Aug 26.
Come and meet your child's teachers, check out the classrooms, reconnect with old friends, and meet our new families!
Meet the Teachers Schedule for Friday, Aug 26:
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Grades
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Time & Location
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Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten
& Kindergarten
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10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Elementary School
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Grades 1-5
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11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Elementary School
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Grades 6-12
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12:00 PM - 1:00 PM*
Gym Foyer
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*Please arrive by 12:15 PM for introductions and announcements.
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REVISED SCHOOL HOURS AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS/PARKING
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In keeping with our focus on the quality of students' lives and simplifying our parents' lives, we will be aligning our school start time for all three divisions. All students will begin school at 8:30 AM.
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Grades
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School Schedule
| Preschool - Grade 5
| 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
| Grades 6-9
| 8:30 AM - 3:20 PM
| Grades 10-12
| 8:30 AM - 3:05 PM
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We look forward to seeing everyone at 8:30 AM on Monday, August 29!
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FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EVENTS
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Please join us for the following traditional welcome back events on the first day of school, Monday, Aug 29. Thank you to our Parents' Association for hosting the Boohoo Yahoo Coffee and Ice Cream Social this year!
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Event
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Time & Location
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All-School Convocation
We start the school year celebrating what we know to be one of Riverstone's unique qualities and one of our Five Pillars, our strong sense of community. All parents are invited to join us!
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9:00 AM - 9:30 AM in the Kennedy Gymnasium | |
PA Boohoo Yahoo Coffee
Sad to see your little ones head to class for the first time OR are you ready to shout "Yahoo" towards the sky? No matter your preference -- we will have the tissues and high-fives ready! Join us immediately following the All-School Convocation in the Gym Foyer.
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Immediately following Convocation in the Kennedy Gymnasium Foyer | |
PA After-School Ice Cream Social
After the first day back at school, join us outside the Elementary School for our Ice Cream Social celebrating the start of the 2016-17 school year!
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3:30 PM at the Elementary School |
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 Any upcoming outdoor activities, holidays, and other events for the 2016-17 school year can be found on Riverstone's school calendar on our website. Please note that there are separate calendars (with unique color coding) for all-school events, outdoor program activities, and athletics. By clicking on the small arrow to the right of the calendar, you can ensure you are seeing all the calendars you are interested in. Please email Kathleen Gilton with any questions.
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FALL OUTDOOR TRIP INFORMATION
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 Thanks to everyone who has been downloading lists and permission forms in order to prepare for outdoor trips this fall!
Please visit our Resources page on the Riverstone website to access the informational letter, required permission form, and equipment list for your students' class.
Please return permission forms and waivers by the first day of school. You may bring them to Meet the Teachers next Friday.
Tip from Ben Brock: Take the outdoor equipment lists with you when you do your back to school shopping as outdoor stores start stocking for winter seasons and may remove fall gear soon!
Contact Ben Brock with any questions.
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 Book and Supply Lists for the 2016-17 academic year are ready for you to download from the Riverstone website. Please scroll two-thirds down the page and choose the list(s) you need under the "School Supplies and Book Lists" header.
For any questions regarding the Elementary School supply lists, please email James Hamilton-Vail and for any questions regarding the Middle and High School supply lists, please email Andy Johnson.
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This week's Facebook photo is of The Riverstone Plant Club checking out the school garden earlier this week to prepare for the upcoming year. They are looking forward to having more students join their club - look out for more details about after-school activities coming soon!
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