Riverside Monday Memo

MONDAY MEMO

2nd graders Quinn and Sawyer sang "Witches Brew" with their class and the 1st graders in Assembly on Halloween last week.

Greetings!

Here is this week's Monday Memo, in our new format thanks to Constant Contact's platform! There should be multiple images within, if you're not seeing them, please check the settings of your email program.

Let me know what you think!

Happy Monday,

Nelia

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NOTES

FLATWARE

Please remember to pack the necessary utensils along with student lunches. All of the forks from the bin of flatware we have at school are missing. Please look through your own kitchen drawers for any irregular forks that you could return or donate to us.

SKI CHOICES

Nelia is beginning to plan the logistics and sort the paperwork for our K-8th grade Friday afternoon ski programs in January and February. First she needs to know whether each family will be choosing to cross country skiing and snowshoeing on Kingdom Trails OR downhill skiing or snowboarding at Burke Mountain OR participating in a separate program from Riverside. If you are a new family and would like more information, this overview document may help. Please let your child's teacher/advisory know your choice before the end of this week.

BOARD MEETINGS

Riverside's Board of Trustees meets this Wednesday evening at 5:00 pm in the Library, and again on December 6. These meetings are open, and the agenda is available in Krystal's office.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

On Friday morning we will be preparing our semi-annual mailing of the Heron News. If anyone is available for even 30 minutes to help fold, stick, and label 700 newsletters, the work would go much faster. We'll likely work from 8:30, please stop in to help, have some coffee, and chat!

SKATING

K-8th graders will be skating again this Friday, please remember to pack the necessary gear (long sleeves, hat, mittens or gloves, optional helmet) and to pick up at the Fenton Chester Arena at 3:15 (sorry this time was confused in last week's Memo ). Skates can be rented, and the cost will be charged to your school store account. Please make sure that students who rent know their shoe size. $5 cash is required for sharpening skates; we learned of a change in this system last week . We will be skating again November 17 (pick up that day at 1:30 due to early dismissal for vacation), December 1, 8, 15.

Ice Skate Trade: Parent Mel Finn (3 ^rd graders Molly and Pearl) has set up a bin on the porch for outgrown skates that families may like to donate and share with other families in need. Feel free to take a look!

VETERAN'S DAY PLANS

Ed Jarosak and Wayne Marshia from the Lyndon post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be speaking in assembly on Friday morning about their experiences in the service. 1st and 2nd graders will also be performing a song in honor of veterans. Please plan to attend assembly that morning if your schedule allows.

Nelia was asked by the organizers of the Lyndonville Veterans Day celebrations to be the speaker at Saturday's ceremony, at 11:00 am in the park across from Green Mountain Books. Please consider bringing your family to honor the veterans and to support Nelia.

BOX TOPS

Thank you for cutting, collecting, and bringing in Box Tops for Education labels! Because you did, and parent Heather Counter (5th grader Emily and 7th grader Alexa) counted and submitted them, we earned $60.90 to help with the cost of Riverside's dynamic programs. Please continue collecting them this winter, we will be submitting a pile again in April for funding.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

We have such a skilled community of teachers, parents, and friends who want to enhance the expeirence of our students. Check it out, and start making necessary plans now. Note the Clubs that begin next week!

Regarding the After School Program: If the relevant club doesn’t start immediately after dismissal, families who want to use the ASP will be charged and then the student will be sent to the club at the appropriate time. It’s important that students know their family plans for the afternoon in order to take ownership of this process. Students should not be returning to the ASP after the club ends, but should be supervised by the adult in charge and picked up by parents in a timely manner.

Science Club with Mr G, parents John McCarty (7^th grader Ezra) and Alan Giese (5^th grader Anika, 7^th grader Maren) for 4-8^th grade - Mondays, November 6 - May, 3:45-5:00. Students will be working toward a project for a Science Fair in May.
Crazy 8s Math Club with parent Kim Adams (1^st grader Cora and 2^nd grader Gabe) for 2-3rd grade - Tuesdays, November 7 - May, 4:15-5:00. Students will explore mathematical concepts with creative activities.
Chess Club with Nathan for K-8^th grade - 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays, November 7-February 27, 3:45-4:45. All levels welcome. Students should be focused and dedicated to playing during the entire hour.
Destination Imagination with parents Courtney Daffinrud (Kindergartener Anders, 2^nd grader Sawyer, 4^th grader Lennon), Alison Kennedy (1^st grader Conall), and Tricia Bunnel (kindergartener Zoe and 3^rd grader Sofia) for K-5^th graders - Wednesday, November 8 - March, 4:00-5:00. Students will be problem solving and collaborating in preparation for a statewide competition in March. $20 fee to participate, please sign up in advance.
Latin Club with Nathan for 6-8^th grade - Thursdays, November 9 - May, 3:45-4:45. Students will be preparing for various weekend competitions around New England.
Karate with Mr G. Students will learn introduction to Shotokan Karate, belts are provided, gis are optional until a commitment has been made to the sport. All classes are from 3:45-5:00. There is a fee of $8/week.
For purple belts and above - Wednesdays all year
For younger beginning students - Thursdays in November
For older beginner and younger intermediate students - Thursdays
Girls Who Code with parent Stephanie Giese (5^th grader Anika an 7^th grader Maren) for girls in 6-8^th grade, Wednesdays, January 10-April 25. Girls will learn to code software with an online curriculum.
Film Making with Catamount Arts & SOCAPA Staff Member Matt Sullivan for 3-8^th grade, days TBD in February and March. Students will work in small groups to learn filming and editing skills in preparation for CA’s 2018 Film Slam event. Costs of the program have been donated by the Riverside students who won last year’s Film Slam! Limited to 12 students, please sign up in advance with Nelia.
Fitness with Krystal and a parent volunteer for parents and 5-8^th graders - Mondays and Wednesdays in February and March, 4:00-5:00 pm. Participants will get active following workout videos, no extra equipment necessary.
Mountain Biking with parent Westerly Miller (5^th grader Simon, 7^th grader Riley) and staff from Kingdom Experiences for K-8^th grade, bike-owning, KTA pass-holers - Fridays, April and May, 4:00-6:00 pm. There will be a fee to offset the cost of programming, which will include both riding skill and bike maintenance clinics and riding the trails with experienced guides. Parents will need to transport students from school to the trails.

PUBLIC FORUM ON INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Our community discussion topic of this school year will be open to the public and about “The Elements, Benefits, and Challenges of the Independent School,” on Tuesday, November 14 ^, from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Definitions, differences, governance, missions, financial management, hiring, admissions, programming, assessment, and state mandates will all be discussed. Presenters will include Michelle Ralston, Miles Etter (chair of the NEK Choice School District governance study committee), Julie Hansen (Director of the Thaddeus Stevens School), Laurie Hurd, Director of Independent School Association for Northern New England), Tom Lovett (Headmaster at St. Johnsbury Academy), Mill Moore (Director of the Vermont Independent School Association), Twiladawn Perry (Interim Head of School at Lyndon Institute), and Jay Stroud (Director of the Commission of Independent Schools for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. We will offer childcare, for Riverside students only.

COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY

On Friday, November 17 students will be working in mixed age groups in service of others. We will be taking on a variety of projects to support the Lyndon Food Shelf, H.O.P.E., the Riverside Life Enrichment Center, and more. We rely on the assistance of parent volunteers for the day to be effective. Please let Nelia know if you can help to supervise and/or transport students between approximately 8:30-11:30.

We will go skating, and then there will be an early dismissal from the ice rink at 1:30 pm for Thanksgiving Vacation.

BASKETBALL

The Good Shepherd School is looking for additional players for their 5-6th basketball grade team. Most of the current players are boys, although there is one girl and the coach would welcome more. Practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00-6:00. Interested families should get in touch with Lynn Cartularo at [email protected].

The Riverside Annual Fund

With continued encouragement from donors, our students participate in a dynamic learning environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and individuality. We value and rely on the deep involvement and partnerships of our community, friends, and family. Please consider a gift to the Annual Fund. No matter what amount you give, your gift makes us stronger. Thank you.