Riverside School PTA Newsletter


Friday, April 29th, 2016
CALENDAR

WEEK OF 5/2 - 5/6

Tuesday, May 3
7:45a Chorus Rehearsal - ALL MEMBERS
7:50a Riverside Reporters
3:15p Innovation Space Open Lab

Wednesday, May 4
7:40a Advanced Orchestra - Gr. 4 & 5
8:30a Fluoride Rinse
9:00a Bartlett Arboretum - Gr. 2

Thursday, May 5
7:45a Chorus Rehearsal - ALL MEMBERS
3:15a Innovation Space Open Lab
6:00p Family Circus Night - Gr. 3

Friday, May 6
Poetry Picnic
7:45a Beginning & Advanced Band

WEEK OF 5/9 - 5/13

Monday, May 9
8:00a Student Council
9:00a Health Lesson Parent Meeting - Gr. 5

Tuesday, May 10
7:45a Chorus Rehearsal - ALL MEMBERS
7:50a Riverside Reporters
9:00a PTA Executive Meeting
3:15p Innovation Space Open Lab

Wednesday, May 11
EARLY RELEASE - 1:15p
7:40a Advanced Orchestra Gr. 4 & 5
8:30a Fluoride Rinse
8:45a ROPES Photos
9:00a Bartlett Arboretum - Gr. 2

Thursday, May 12
7:45a Chorus Rehearsal - ALL MEMBERS
3:15 Innovation Space Open Lab

Friday, May 13
SoundWaters - Gr. 4
Dragoons - Gr. 5
7:45a Beginning & Advanced Band
QUICK LINKS

Sign up for lunch duty here

Sign up for safety duty here

Join the PTA here

View the Safety First memo here
PEEK AT THE WEEK

MISSED AN ISSUE?
Access our Peek Archive for past issues

SUBMISSIONS
Have something to add? Email us at: [email protected]

Deadline for submissions is 3pm
on Wednesday of the school week
COMMUNITY

Click here for the 2016 Camp & Program Guide for Children in Greenwich

NMS Pow Wow is April 29th from 3-10pm and April 30th noon to 10pm at North Mianus School Fields.

Westport Mini Maker Faire will be held on Saturday, April 30th from 10am-4pm.  Click here to see the flyer.

Greenwich Alliance for Education Trivia Challenge, Dinner, Drinks on May 7th. For more information, click here.

Emsway Walk for Safety Sunday, June 5th 9am to noon at Tod's Point. Click here for more information.

Curiosity Concerts has two free family concerts on Sunday, May 15th and Saturday, June 11th. For more information and to reserve your free tickets, click here.

Click here for DLE presentations

Click here to view the community calendar
 From the Office
Dear Parents,

A reminder to parents of 3rd-5th grade students, SBA assessments in Math for students will be this next week in the mornings, May 3rd through 5th. The following week will be for SBA make-ups. 

Letters to Mr. Weiss - Parents are invited to write a letter, addressed to me, regarding class placements for next year. I ask that you focus on your child's needs, both academic and social. You may not request a specific teacher. The information you provide will be shared with staff and will be one of several criteria considered as we develop class lists for the new school year. Please note that email will not be accepted for this purpose. The deadline, no exceptions, for this letter will be Monday, May 9th.

Please make sure to participate in the School Start Time survey that was recently sent out by Cynthia Womack from the district.

Please consider signing up to use the Innovation Space with your child any Tuesday or Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15pm. It is FREE and lots of fun. Please see the link below to sign up. 

Save the date - Friday, May 6th for "Poem in your Pocket Day" when we also hold our annual Poetry Picnic during your child's lunch shift on the front lawn. Students should find a great poem to read or write one of their own. Parents are welcome to join their child during his/her lunch shift on May 6th.  If it rains or the ground is too wet, we will reschedule the Poetry Picnic. 

Sincerely,
Christopher Weiss
Riverside School Principal
 School News
SCHOOL START TIME UPDATE AND SURVEY
All families should have received a school start time survey by email, to be completed by April 30th.  It is important that you complete the survey to share your family's views on the start and end time options that are currently under consideration.

Dr. McKersie will present a recommendation to the Board of Education on May 12th, 7pm at North Street School.  Following his recommendation, a second set of Community Engagement Sessions will be held on May 23rd and 24th.  Please follow the links for more information in English or Spanish.  If you missed the April sessions, you may view the SBC Options Presentation and find other documents and information here. To take the survey click here.
INNOVATION SPACE OPEN LAB
Innovation Space Open Labs are in full swing and will continue throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15pm.  Open Labs allow students to explore the different tools and components in the Innovation Space.  Students must be accompanied by their parent or their caregiver, who will work with the student to provide guidance and support.  Please see the flyer here for more information.  Parents must sign students up prior to the open lab session.  Please use the link here to sign up.

 PTA News
FITNESS CHALLENGE IS ON!
Spring has arrived so it's time for our "Fitness Challenge!" Please look for forms to record daily physical activity in your child's Friday Folder. The Challenge will run from Saturday, April 30th through Thursday, May 5th. Students should complete the form and submit it to their teacher on Friday, May 6th, and all forms will be entered in to a raffle. Depending on participation, one or two students per grade will be eligible to win a prize.

To get everyone in the fitness mood, there will be a quick "warm up activity" led by Bill Bogardus each day next week during the morning announcements.  We look forward to getting Riverside students moving!
A FEW GREAT PTA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE!
PTA
The following are open 2016-2017 roles for the PTA: Website Coordinator, Beautification, Directory, Garden, Fluoride Rinse, Photographer, and PTA Membership. Please consider giving some of your time to the PTA and investing in your child's elementary school experience. 

Click here to be taken to the online nominating site where forms can be filled out and submitted online.

Questions? Contact [email protected] 
AFTERS
kids exercise
This was the last week of regularly scheduled Spring AFTERS classes!  Thursday's Floor Hockey (K-2) class will have a makeup on Thursday, May 5th.  Friday's GarageBand class will have a makeup on Friday, May 6th.  Please contact us if your child cannot attend.  

Please remember to pick up any medication from the ROSCCO on-site coordinator either Thursday or Friday afternoon.

Thank you for your participation!
33RD ANNUAL RIVERSIDE RUN - SECOND GRADE IS IN THE LEAD!
Second grade is winning the Riverside Run registration challenge with 35 students, with first grade just a few runners behind! The grade with the most registrations (for the 3 mile or 
fun run) will receive a fun treat, so please register here now!

We encourage everyone to register online but we will also offer registration in person from 2:30 to 4pm on Friday, May 6th and on the morning of the run (Saturday, May 7th) from 7 to 8am.  

After registering for the race, please consider volunteering to help on the day of. If you are able to work a shift, please sign up here.  

Bib and t-shirt pick up is Friday, May 6th 2:30 to 4pm or Saturday, May 7th 7 to 8am.  Avoid the lines and come Friday!

For questions, please contact Lauren Jones at [email protected] or Amy Golden at [email protected].
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS A GREAT SUCCESS
Throughout the month of April, Riverside students and families generously contributed loose change and dollar bills to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.  The grand total this year was $2,776.46 - more than double last year's total. Mrs. Muscat's class had the highest overall total, with several other classes close behind.  Congratulations!  The Student Council would like to thank all students, parents and classroom teachers for helping to make this the most successful Pennies for Patients drive yet.  All money raised will go towards cancer research that helps save and improve the lives of so many people, especially children who are affected by blood cancers. Thank you Riverside School!
TWICE EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS (2E) DISCUSSION
Thursday, May 5th from 9:30am to 11am, there will be a 2E group discussion "Parent to Parent, Advocacy Including Sharing Information/Letter Draft Review".  We will review our 2E response letter and share strategies to support the combined needs of 2E students.  Bring anything to share.  Feel free to email co-chairs below any documents before for copying/distribution.  Meeting will be held at Town Hall - Mazza Room.  Hosted by PTAC 2E Committee, Elana Gershon ([email protected]) and Lydia Rouzeau ([email protected]).
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Sarah Fugelsang and Dina Murphy
Co-Presidents Riverside School PTA

 Office: 203-637-1440   -   www.greenwichschools.org/rs

Riverside School PTA | 90 Hendrie Avenue | Riverside | CT | 06878