Dear Rivermont Family,

What a remarkable community we have! It has been a joy to visit classrooms, sit with kids at lunch and watch volleyball/track practices. The work our teachers are doing with your children is nothing short of inspirational. I've seen Band-Aids placed on skinned knees, tears dried, parents partnered with to address concerns, teachers already tracking students' strengths and areas of need, not to mention fantastic conversations among the faculty about individualizing instruction to meet specific students' needs.  

Unfortunately, I was unable to join the trip to camp Manito-wish. Thankfully though, my schedule had been cleared, so when I wasn't able to go camping, I did get to visit the Figge Art Museum with Mrs. Ashby's 4th-grade class. The kids had a chance to recreate stained glass landscapes (in marker and paint) inspired by Louis Tiffany's River of Life. We learned about cubism by enjoying a real Picasso original, how paintings are restored, the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, and more!  

The Upper School students are off, without me, enjoying Manito-wish. If you haven't seen the Facebook photos, please be sure to like us on Facebook and join the Parents' Council page as well. The pictures certainly speak a thousand words. Those kids are bonding, developing leadership skills, and having a ball doing it!

And speaking of community, one of our goals is to strengthen the parent community.  New families will receive more outreach this year than in years past. Parents' Council is hosting events for you and your kids, along with some that are just for the adults.  One such parent social is scheduled for next Friday, at the Mansion. Be on the lookout for more information.

In the words of Dr. Seuss:

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.

We're off and on our way into a great year! Exciting things are happening and I'm seeing more good news and inspiration every day! I look forward to a year of collaborating with students, parents, faculty, staff, and the Board. We have brains in our head and feet in our shoes. We can steer ourselves in any direction we choose! We are off to great places and well on our way, indeed.
Max