Riverside School PTA Newsletter


Friday, September 9th, 2016
CALENDAR



WEEK OF 9/12 - 9/16

Tuesday, September 13
8:00a Chorus Rehearsal - PT. 1

Thursday, September 15
Middle School Open House
8:00a Chorus Rehearsal - PT. 2
9:00a Class Parent Orientation


WEEK OF 9/19 - 9/23

Tuesday, September 20
GHS Open House 9 & 12
8:00a Chorus Rehearsal - PT 1

Wednesday, September 21
EARLY RELEASE

Thursday, September 22
8:00a Chorus Rehearsal - PT 2


QUICK LINKS

Sign up for lunch duty here

Sign up for safety duty here

Join the PTA here

View the Rules of the Road 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

Interested in having your son join Cub Scouts?  Come learn more at the Informational & Sign-Up Night Thursday, September 15th from 6-8pm at OGRCC.  Pack 3 (Cub Scouts in grades K-5 at Riverside and OG) will be there with information and applications, which cannot be found online.  

International School of Dundee is hosting its second annual 5K Fun Run Saturday, September 24th at 9am.  Register before September 21st here.

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

We have a very special event planned for September 19th and 20th as part of our Innovation theme and as an extension of Genius Hour and our Innovation Space. On that Monday and Tuesday, students will take part in the Global Cardboard Challenge where classes and groups of students will use their imagination, creativity, problem solving, teamwork, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills to design and build an arcade-type game or other creation that they will demonstrate to many other students, classes, and teachers that Tuesday afternoon.

In preparation for this Cardboard Challenge, we would like families to consider gathering materials you may have around your house (list below) to be sent in to school with your child on Monday, September 19th. Please don't send in anything before that date because we don't have room to store the items ahead of time. Donations needed are: flattened cardboard boxes, straws, packing tape, pipe cleaners, glue, staples, duct tape, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, markers, and construction paper. 

Just a reminder that the new Riverside School website can be viewed here and it provides you with key information about the district and the school (including all the back to school materials). 
  
Starting this Monday, we ask that all students enter the building by themselves between 8:30 and 8:45am to allow the teachers to focus on getting students started right away with their learning. 

Also please note that rehearsal times for this year for chorus, band and orchestra
will be from 8-8:40am. This is a change from last year. Please mark your calendars. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Christopher Weiss
Riverside School Principal
 School News
CONGRATULATIONS RIVERSIDE SCHOOL!
Congratulations
As you may have seen in the Greenwich Time
the results for the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) for grade 3-5 from last spring have been announced along with the results from the 5th Grade Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) Science Assessment. 
 
In the area of English-Language Arts 90% of our 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded standards. In the area of Math 85.6% of our 3rd-5th grade students met or exceeded standards. In addition, 90% of our 5th grade students from last spring met or exceeded goal in the CMT Science assessment.
 
Special congratulations go to our teachers, support staff, parents, and especially our students for achieving these high levels of success. I will be holding an informational meeting for parents near the end of September to review the scores in more detail. That date will be announced next week. Individual student scores have not yet arrived. Once they do (for current 4th and 5th grade students), we will be sending them home to parents.
EARLY MORNING PROGRAM
The Early Morning Program at Riverside School provides a childcare option for Riverside students prior to the start of the regular school day.  A staff member from the school, Mr. Bill Bogardus, supervises the children in the cafeteria and gym while they engage in physical activities, play games, read, and/or catch up on homework.  Please click here for registration information.
STRIKE UP THE BAND!
Band lessons for fifth grade students who were scheduled to continue their musical studies began Friday, September 9th. Fourth grade students who signed up last June and any new students will start on Thursday, September 15th.  Please make rental arrangements at the music venue of your choice before the above dates. 

Enrollment forms will be available for any new 4th or 5th grade students, so please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. There are still openings in several band sections!

Band rehearsals for advanced students only will begin on Friday, September 30th from 8:00 - 8:40 am on the gym stage.  All students who were members of the band last year are encouraged to attend these Friday morning rehearsals in preparation for our winter concert.
BEGINNING STRING STUDENTS
There will be a mandatory orientation meeting for parents of beginning string students on Wednesday, September 14th at 8:00am or 7:00pm -- please choose one time -- in the cafe.  

Adults only, please.
PLAY IN A DAY
On Tuesday, September 13th and Wednesday, September 14th, our third graders will collaborate to create and perform a "Play in a Day".  Each third grade class will spend a day with professional storytellers from the CT Storytelling Center to create, produce, and perform a play.  Students take on the roles of actor, musician, singer, and writer.

Parents are invited to watch your child's class perform in the gymnasium at 2:15pm.  Mrs. Mozer and Mrs. Goodbody's classes will perform on Tuesday, September 13th.  Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Hirschfield's classes will perform on Wednesday, September 14th.  Please mark your calendars for this exciting third grade event!

DENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
The Dental Health Program, run by the Town of Greenwich, begins September 26th.  This includes both an educational portion and dental screening for all students at Riverside Elementary. This program is beneficial in continuing to maintain the health and well being of the students.  Thank you for promoting good dental health.  Parents can help by providing good, nutritious snacks and lunches for their children.  It is a team effort from all of us to combat decay and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

Thank you, Jeannie Schnakenberg, RDH, BS
 PTA News
SAFETY
Please look for the  "Rules of the Road" memo in today's Friday folders.  If you did not receive it, please click here.  We need everyone to carefully read and understand these very Riverside-specific rules so that we can ensure a safe and smooth drop off and pick up process.  Please be sure to sign and return the form to the birdhouse bin labeled "Safety" or to your child's teacher by September 16th. School directories will not be released to families who have not signed the memo (and joined the PTA).  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this important matter.  

GARDEN HARVEST!
Save the date for the Riverside Garden Harvest Sale next Friday, September 16th after school.  Next week, students will have an opportunity to guess the weight of vegetables from the garden.  The winners will be announced at the Garden sale and win the vegetable they guessed! Come and support our garden!
JOIN THE PTA!
PTA
Become a member of the PTA and help to fund the amazing enrichment programs that the PTA supports. Please help us reach our goal of 100% family and teacher participation.  All donors of $25 or more will receive a school directory (provided they have signed the school safety memo).  Click here to join online today!

VOLUNTEER!
You can sign up for any of our available committees online here in the volunteer fair section.  We have lots of ways to get involved!
PAINT THE TOWN RED
Save the date for Riverside School's Annual Fundraiser, which will be held on Saturday, October 15th, 7:30-9:30pm at J House.  Watch for invitations and information on how to purchase tickets, coming soon!

PICTURE DAY -- SAVE THE DATE!
camera
Class and individual photos will be taken outside, weather permitting, on Tuesday, September 27th.  Please look for order forms and more information in your child's Friday Folder today. Online ordering is also available at www.coffeepond.com.

Please click here for more information.  If you have any questions, please contact Coffee Pond at 1-800-632-2323 extension "0" or [email protected].  If you have a question that you think Coffee Pond can not answer, please contact Paula at Pizqdo@hotmail.com or Wayne at waynezabel@yahoo.com.

AFTERS
Our fall after-school enrichment program begins on Monday, September 26th.  Registration opens on Monday, September 12th at 7am and closes on Wednesday, September 14th at 10pm.  Sign up on time, no late registrations can be accepted!

Click here for class offerings and more information.

Click here to be taken to the online registration site.

Questions? Email [email protected].

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

Sincerely,
Dina Murphy and Jenn Wolfe
Co-Presidents Riverside School PTA

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