Riverside "History Corner"
(Highlights of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s)
1960 - PTA honors faculty who have been at Riverside School for twenty years or more. Those honored include Faith Lee, Ruth Calderwood, Margaret Mahan and Mildred Evans.
1961 - Robert J. Simpkins Scholarship Bridge Series begins.
- PTA Annual Spring Dance is held at the Riverside Yacht Club. Charge is $4.00 Per couple.
1962 - Robert J. Simpkins celebrates 25th year as principal of Riverside School.
1968 - Dance classes for fifth and sixth graders continue and include instruction "in the cha cha, mambo, foxtrot, waltz and discotheque dances, which can be done in good taste."
1970 - Family Fair Day is held on Saturday, May 23 with the school band on hand to open the festivities. This "new event" includes games and races for all grade levels, a bake and beverage sale and a family egg toss.
1971 - The school is featured on the cover of a new educational magazine "Early Years," designed for primary grade teachers.
1974 - Cultural Enrichment program is initiated.
1975 - PTA co-hosts Spring House tour with OG PTA. Event included house tours, lunch and a silver sale. Tickets were $5.00 per person.
1976 - A Bicentennial Crafts Fair is held featuring Early American Craft demonstrations.
- Robert J. Simpkins, principal for 39 ˝ years, retires. He is feted at a reception in his honor held in an enormous tent on the school grounds to hold the multitudes on hand to honor him.
- Riverside's new principal, Joan Wrenn, is welcomed at an evening reception held at the school in September. She is the first female principal to serve in the Greenwich Schools.
- Riverside charm bracelet given to Dorothy Hamill who had been a student at the school in the 1960's.
1977 - PTA Newsletter revised and renamed the Riverside Current.
1980 - Eight Riverside teachers are honored at Back-To-School Night for twenty or more years of service to Riverside. BOB GORE, LOIS HEBERT, BARBARA HOLMES, SALLY ISLAN, BARBARA KOS, WALTER THOMPSON and JOANNE TRAUTWEIN.)
1981 - The cafeteria undergoes a transformation with the addition of curtains, tablecloths and a "gallery" wall for the exhibition of student artwork. It is christened the "Rainbow Café."
- The fourth grade takes a Nature's Classroom trip.
1982 - Principal Joan Wrenn leaves Riverside in June to take a policy-making position with the Board of Education.
- In September, DR. BETTY EHIK assumes position as Riverside's fourth principal. Previously, Dr. Ehik had been at the Dundee School for eight years. Dundee School was closed due to declining enrollment in June, 1982 and 42 students transferred to Riverside.
- 50th Anniversary Committee is formed in anticipation of the school's 50th Birthday.
- Students vote the "Riverside Raccoon" into office as the school's mascot.
1983 - Local artist, Vella Shimura, begins work on a mural in the Rainbow Café.
- Bobby Littlefield, a Kindergarten teacher, retires.
- First Riverside Run held.
- Many celebrations took place throughout the year to celebrate the school's 50th Anniversary.
- Happy Birthday, Riverside !!!
1984-85 - First full year of full day kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers were Judy Rowan, Lois Hebert and Leila Murphy !
1985 - School lunch prices announced. - $1.10 plus .25 for milk only.
- Cindy Lindemeyer becomes school secretary - served as PTA President in 1984/85. Her youngest child, Sarah was in fifth grade at the time !
- Proceeds from the Spring auction were used to purchase the first Apple computers in the school - four of the model Apple II E for this school year.
- The Student Council is initiated.
1986 - The Afters Program is started.
1987 - Third graders have Indian Day with Carol Hart.
1988 - Literacy figures are displayed.
1989 - Nunzie Pagliaro, the school custodian, retires.
