Riverside School Newsletter

CALENDAR

 

WEEK OF 2/9 - 2/13

 

WINTER RECESS - 

SCHOOL CLOSED

 

WEEK OF 2/16 - 2/20 

 

Monday, February 16

SCHOOL CLOSED - President's Day

 

Tuesday, February 17

7:55am Chorus Rehearsal PT. 1

3:30pm Play Auditions

 

Wednesday, February 18

Diversity Day - Wear Your Favorite Color

8:00am Student Council

8:30am Fluoride Rinse

8:45am ROPES Photos

9:15am Kindergarten Orientation

 

Thursday, February 19

Rochel Coleman Visit

7:55am Chorus Rehearsal PT. 2

 

Friday, February 20

Endangered Species - Gr. 3

7:45am Advanced Band

2:00pm Genius Hour

 

 

WEEK OF 2/23 - 2/27

 

Monday, February 23

7:45am Riverside Reporters

 

Tuesday, February 24

Animal Embassy - Gr K

7:55am Chorus Rehearsal PT. 1

 

Wednesday, February 25

7:45am Riverside Reporters

8:30am Fluoride Rinse

 

Thursday, February 26

7:55am Chorus Rehearsal PT. 2

 

Friday, February 27

2nd Marking Period Closes

7:45am Advanced Band

9:00am Eastern Network SES Coffee

From the Front Office

Weekly Column by Mr. Weiss

February 6, 2015

 

 

SBA Assessment Schedule (Grades 3-5)

 

This spring students in grades 3-5 will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) which has replaced the Connecticut Mastery Tests (CMTs). Grade 5 will still take the one day Science CMT as well. Most testing days will include one assessment, usually given in the morning. The schedule for the SBAs is below:

 

Grade 5

3/24 Science CMT

3/25-4/2 SBA Assessments

4/6-4/10 Make-ups

 

Grades 3 & 4:

4/21-5/1 SBA Assessments

5/4-5/8 Make-ups

 

 

Cell Phones in School - District Procedure

 

No student is to have a cell phone visible or powered on in school. We discourage any cell phones or personal wi-fi devices in school. If they are sent in with students they have to be completely powered off and must remain secure in backpacks for the entire day. Any phone heard or seen in school will be held for the parent to pick up at the end of the day. 

 

Change in Lunch Procedure - Early Dismissal Days

 

All students will be eating lunch on early dismissal days moving forward. This is a requirement from the district and the state. On days where there is a two hour (or three hour) early dismissal, either planned for teacher professional learning, a holiday release, or weather related, all grades will eat lunch in the cafe on an adjusted schedule. For a 3 hour ER, lunch will start at 10am in 20 minutes shifts, and for a 2 hour ER, lunch will start at 11am in 20 minutes shifts. 

 

The 2 hour release lunch schedule is as follows: 

11-11:20 Grade 2

11:20-11:40 Grade 3

11:40-12 Grade K

12-12:20 Grade 5

12:20-12:40 Grade 4

12:40-1 PM Grade 1

 

The 3 hour early release schedule (very rare) is as follows:

10-10:20 Grade 2

10:20-10:40 Grade 3

10:40-11 Grade 5

11-11:20  Grade 4

11:20-11:40 Grade 1

11:40-12:00 Grade K

 

Rescue Window Signs

 

You may notice bright orange "Rescue Window" signs in certain windows in the school. This is a requirement from the fire marshall for one window in classrooms to be designated as a "rescue window" if access through the building is blocked. These signs add to student and staff safety in the building. 

 

Walking your child into school?

 

Since we have passed our 100th day of school, we would ask that all students be dropped off at the school doors and that no parents enter the building to walk their child to the classroom. Also, parents should not walk to the classroom at the end of the day, instead, please meet your child outside. Please note: the side door is only for students and no parents should enter or exit through that door. Thank you.

 


Enjoy your Winter Vacation!

We will see everyone back on Tuesday, February 17 (After Presidents' Day)

 

DLE PHASE III INFORMATION

Colors of the Rainbow


 

 

Thank you to all of the students and teachers for helping to make the Colors of the Rainbow tasting week a huge success!  We hope you continue to enjoy more fruits and vegetables and continue to
 try new ones too!

Congratulations to the following students who's Fruit & Veggie Chart forms were randomly selected to win a prize...

 

Noelle Bastek
Megan Geiger
Lila Getson
Jordan Goodman 
Griffy Harris
Anousha Joglekar 
Atsuto Kusaba 
Allie Laverge 
Nicolas Matoso 
Camila Meighorner 
Emily Phillipps 
Ami Saito

The Wellness Committee will also be awarding the following 11 classes with the strongest participation measured by form submission. 
K - Cullen
K - Fioravanti
K - Kelly
1 - Muscat
1 - Sturman
2 - Barrette
2 - Groeger
2 - Prieto
3 - Hirshfield
3 - Mozer
4 - McGuire
 Congratulations!

**All individual and class prizes will be delivered to the classrooms after February break**

 

Thank You and Eat Well!
  

Riverside Rhythms

 




Riverside Rhythms welcomed The Grace Notes: our local ladies acapella singing group during lunch in the cafe for all grades this past Wednesday. Children were mesmerized hearing the voices join together to create music without any accompaniment. The head of the group captured their attention by encouraging questions as well as explaining harmony, the four parts of a choral group, and vocal register. The children learned that the group typically plays for nursing homes and retirement communities to help stimulate our older population. Some of the songs they performed included Operator, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Java Jive, and Time After Time. While many of the children had never heard the songs before, the power of just voices as well as the animation of the women's faces proved to enthrall. Once the concert ended the children went outside to enjoy some outdoor time in the snow. 

The Riverside Rhythms lunchtime music series is made possible through your donations to the PTA. 

Enjoy the February break!

School closures & delays

 



Just a reminder that information about
 school closures and delays can, generally, be found on the GPS website by 5:30am for anyone interested in getting that information earlier.

5th Grade Parents




EMS is Calling All 5th Grade Parents!

Eastern Middle School is looking for parents of rising 6th graders to get involved in several PTA-sponsored events for next year. Specifically, 6th grade social dances, book fairs, and our new GatorWalk! These are just a few of the many ways you can get involved at Eastern. We welcome all volunteers and love to see new faces! For further information, please contact Elizabeth Butler or Tami Lopez, your Riverside School representatives on the EMS Nominating Committee ( [email protected] or [email protected]). 


SES Lecture - RESCHEDULED


The Eastern Block SES presents... 

An educational lecture featuring:

Suzanne Wind, GPS Parent, 
Award Winning Author of The SMART Playbook 

Friday, February 27, 2015, 9:00am
 Riverside School Cafe

"Aimed at teaching children confidence, integrity, and empathy, this book is chockfull of some awesome game-changing life skills that every child needs to know so as to truly understand the rules and know how to gracefully play the game of life in this modern world."

Parenting Lecture

North Mianus School PTA


 

Invites Parents from
North Mianus, Riverside and Old Greenwich Schools 

to Attend a Lecture


With Dr. Julia A. Trebing

 


 

POSITIVE PARENTING

 

Wednesday, April 8, 2015 7:00-8:30 pm

309 Palmer Hill Road, Riverside 



Distinguished Teachers Award




Do you know a teacher who

 

...inspires enthusiasm for learning and elicits a high level of achievement from students in relation to their individual abilities?

 

...expects students to take responsibility for their own learning?

 

...demonstrates and continues to pursue a high mastery of subject matter and best practices for instruction?

 

If so, then please nominate that teacher for a

 

DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS AWARD

  

For more information (including a presentation by Jennifer Dayton) please click below: 

 

DTA Flyer 

 

Informational Presentation

 

Nominating Packet 

 

ALP NEWS

S A V E      T H E      D A T E !!!


WHO :   MEETING FOR PARENTS OF 5th, 6th AND 7th GRADE
STUDENTS


WHAT :       MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVANCED STUDIES MEETING

WHEN :       WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015       9:00AM - 10:30AM
                                                                                                    &
                                                                                      6:30PM - 8:00PM


  (SNOW DATE - Monday, March 23, 2015 ... SAME TIMES & LOCATION)


WHERE :     TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM (1st Floor)
                      101 FIELD POINT ROAD

                    
PARKING ONLY IN NORTH LOT/GARAGE
(TO THE LEFT OF TOWN HALL)

Safety...we STILL need your help!!!

car safety

We still need volunteers for our Safety Committee.  There is an on-line 
sign-up allowing parents to volunteer only here and there and not have to commit to the whole year, much like lunch duty. A Safety Shift starts when the front doors open at 8:30a and ends when the bell rings at 8:45a. It's very easy and takes very little time, but helps to keep the kids safe. 

Please consider helping us with this important job of keeping all the children safe.

 

Community Calendar 

Don't forget to check the Community Calendar on the school website www.greenwichschools.org/rs


 Click here to go to the Community Calendar

If you have any questions or comments feel free to email us at [email protected].

 

Sincerely,

Lois Kelly & Sarah Fugelsang

Co-Presidents Riverside School PTA