Riverside School PTA Newsletter


Friday, May 6th, 2016
CALENDAR

WEEK OF 5/9 - 5/13

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

Tuesday, May 10
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
7:30a Strings Rehearsal - Gr. 3
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

WEEK OF 5/16 - 5/20

Tuesday, May 17
Maritime Center - Gr. K
Yale Art Gallery - Gr. 4
7:45a Chorus Rehearsal - ALL MEMBERS
3:15p Innovation Space Open Lab

Wednesday, May 18
STEM Fair
7:40a Advanced Orchestra Gr. 4 & 5
8:30a Fluoride Rinse

Thursday, May 19
Be Honest - Keep It Real - Wear Orange
7:45a Chorus Rehearsal - ALL MEMBERS
3:15p Innovation Space Open Lab

Friday, May 20
Field Day
7:45a Beginning & Advanced Band
QUICK LINKS

Sign up for Innovation Space Open Lab here. View the flyer here

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

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.

The 14th Annual Greenwich Kids Triathlon will be held on Sunday, June 19.  See the flyer here for more information.

Click here for DLE presentations

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

Letters to Mr. Weiss -- DEADLINE IS THIS MONDAY.  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 for this letter, no exceptions, is this Monday, May 9.

See you in September?  As we organize our classes for next year, it is very important that we hear from you if your child/children will NOT be returning for the 2016-17 school year.  This is also important for grade 5 students who will not be attending EMS.  Please email or tell Mrs. DiAngelo in our front office ([email protected]) by Friday, May 13 if your child is NOT returning.

This Monday is our "Poetry Picnic" during your child's lunch shift on the front lawn. Students should find a great short poem to read or write one of their own. Parents are welcome to join during your child's lunch shift on Monday.

You should have received an email from Kim Eves, Director of Communications, telling you about the options for our DLE Summer Release Program.  Students completing grades 3-5 may opt in to borrow a school iPad over the summer.  The deadline to apply for this is May 15.  See below for more information.

Wishing all the moms a very Happy Mother's Day on Sunday!

Sincerely,
Christopher Weiss
Riverside School Principal
 School News
SCHOOL START TIME UPDATE
Dr. McKersie will present a recommendation to the Board of Education on Thursday, May 12th, at 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.
DLE TIPS AND INFORMATION
The final deadline for borrowing a school iPad for the summer is May 15th.  Click here for instructions and to find the link to the liability form which much be completed for each child borrowing an iPad.  Only families with students currently in grades 3-5 who plan to continue in GPS next year are eligible to keep their iPads over the summer.  Please note, borrowing the iPad is optional.

 PTA News
THE 33RD ANNUAL RIVERSIDE RUN IS ALMOST HERE!
With 50 registrations, SECOND GRADE has taken the lead for the Riverside Run Challenge, with FIRST GRADE just behind in second place!  There's still time to register if you want to put your grade on top. Each student in the winning grade will receive a $5 gift card from Ada's. 

Absolutely NO rollerblades, bicycles, or dogs allowed at the Run. Children under
10 should be accompanied on the 3-mile run.

Registration/Bib Pick-Up:
- Cash/Check/Credit Cards accepted for in-person registration
- Friday in front of Riverside Elementary School from 2:30-4pm
- Saturday in front of Riverside Elementary School from 7-8am

Race Start/Finish:
- 3-mile race begins at Eastern Middle School (8:30am) and finishes at Riverside Elementary School
- Fun Run begins (9:30) and ends at Riverside Elementary School

Parking will be limited due to road closures along the race course.  We recommend walking if possible, parking at Eastern Middle School, or parking on roads that are not on the race route.

Award Ceremony immediately following the completion of the Kids Fun Run.

If you are able to work a volunteer shift at the race, please sign up here.  Thank you for your time!  It takes a lot of people to make this fun community event happen.

Please email Lauren Jones [email protected] or Amy Golden [email protected] with any questions.
A FEW GREAT PTA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE!
PTA
The following are open 2016-2017 roles for the PTA: Website Coordinator, Beautification, 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 nominating site where forms can be filled out and submitted online.  Questions?  Contact [email protected] 
CIRCUS NIGHT
The Third Grade Family Circus Night was a great success! The kids showcased some of the skills they are learning in PE and everyone enjoyed attempting the circus arts challenges. Some students enjoyed it so much, they tried to teach the skills to their parents!

We had over 120 people from over 50 families attend. Thank you to all who made this event a success!
RIVERSIDE CELEBRATES POETRY WEEK
The Arts in Education committee helped our students celebrate Poetry Week by bringing a poetry-related program to each grade throughout the week. The Kindergarteners wrote a poem with Aly Sunshine who set it to music. First, Second and Third Grades honed their poetry-writing skills with perennial favorite Ted Scheu, "The Poetry Guy."  Fourth and Fifth Graders were treated to a visual interpretation by Hampstead Stage of "The Jabberwocky," the poem from "Through the Looking Glass."  Please ask your child(ren) about the program(s) they participated in.  These programs are made possible by your generous support of the PTA, thank you.
RIVERSIDE SCHOOL FITNESS CHALLENGE
The Fitness Challenge wrapped up today!  Hopefully, many of you submitted completed forms.  If you forgot, don't worry -- we'll collect them on Monday, May 9, as well.  The Wellness Committee will randomly choose 1-2 students per grade to win a prize.

Special thanks to Bill Bogardus for leading the school through a morning warm-up each day this week.  He really helped the children and teachers to have some fun and get moving!
REVOLUTIONARY WAR DEMONSTRATION
On Friday, May 13th, Sheldon's Horse, the Second Continental Light Dragoons, a Revolutionary War reenactment group, will illustrate different aspects of colonial life to the fifth graders. From approximately 1-2pm, the Dragoons will perform a "Crossed Sabers" demonstration outside the front of the school.  Parents may enjoy stopping by to observe some of the event.
AFTERS
kids exercise
All classes for the spring session have ended.  Thank you for your participation!

Questions?  Email: [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