Please click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of this email to view clipped content. | |
The Elam family showed how excited they were for a new year at the Community Meet-Up on Tuesday. | |
A Message from our Head of School | |
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Dear Riverstone Parents,
After the relative quiet of summer, I am really looking forward to welcoming our students (and you!) back to school on Monday, August 22. It’s my hope to start the school year with clear guidance and relieve some of the back-to-school unknowns as we communicate safety protocols for the upcoming school year.
If you were part of our Riverstone community last school year (and in past years during COVID), I would like to thank you for your trust and flexibility. For those who are new to Riverstone, we were fortunate to keep school open (albeit with virtual and blended learning options) and did not lose a single day of instruction. Our journey over the past few years has been consistent with the school’s mission and offered fellow schools a blueprint to navigate their in-person reopening plans. We partnered with local public health agencies - including the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Boise State University’s COVID Testing Center, Central District Health (CDH), as well as other local hospitals and medical professionals - to keep our students, faculty, staff, and families safe with layered safety recommendations and to provide high-quality educational learning opportunities. We were also fortunate to have and leverage our institutional advantages of small class sizes, outdoor classroom spaces, and an army of parents who were ready and able to pitch in when we needed help.
We learned that it is critical for our students to be in school for in-person learning. While our community was not entirely spared from positive cases, rates remained low as we were able to quickly identify those impacted, recommend quarantining or isolation, and limit exposure among the community while keeping teaching, learning, and safe socialization intact.
While it was my hope we would be able to return to school this August to pre-pandemic norms, the most recent guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), recommend that schools continue to provide safeguards to keep school communities safe. Our priorities continue for Riverstone to provide quality educational opportunities in a healthy and safe learning environment.
To make this as manageable as possible, we will implement the following safety protocols for the 2022-23 school year. Riverstone’s plan will continue to be flexible as we will monitor local transmission rates and key data points from public health agencies and adapt to changing circumstances as appropriate.
Please enjoy the remaining time before school starts and I look forward to welcoming you back to school on Monday, August 22.
Warm regards,
Jeff Paulson, Ed.D.
Head of School
[email protected]
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Boise State COVID Testing Program | |
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We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Boise State University (BSU) COVID Testing Center as a way to continue to keep our community safe. Testing this year will be similar to the testing program in the 2021-22 school year and is made possible by our grant sponsored by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW).
Please take a moment to review this document which details policy changes, dropbox usage, and more.
If you would like to sign up for our COVID testing program, register at this link and be sure to fill out the forms below.
Important: Summary of forms to print and sign before testing starts:
Everyone must fill out forms 1-3 regardless of if they tested last year.
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Idaho HIPAA Medical Records Release Form - Authorizes the testing lab to release the results of the tests directly to the school's COVID response director.
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Collection instructions, CARES questions, and Insurance - Forms to print off for the drop box.
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Informed Consent - Consent to test the provided sample. This needs to be updated every year before school starts.
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Blank Idaho HIPAA Medical Records Release Form (same as form #1--but blank). This form is for 18-year-olds in addition to the above one to release the test results to parents as well as the school.
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Boise State COVID Testing Program | |
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Riverstone’s top priority is to provide the highest quality education in a safe environment. We continue to learn more about the spread of variants related to the COVID virus. The start of the school year necessitates an update in health and safety protocols as new variant characteristics and high local community transmission continues to keep us on our toes. Our goal remains the same—to minimize disruption to teaching and learning and keep our school open throughout the year, especially given the social-emotional importance of keeping children in school. We will continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), starting the first day of school on Monday, August 22. Public conditions will continue to be monitored and safety protocols adjusted as appropriate.
Please review this document which details updates, mitigation measures, protocols, and more.
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NEW! ParentSquare Communication Platform | |
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Beginning this school year we will be implementing a new communication platform/parent portal for our Riverstone community called ParentSquare! Within this platform you will be able to chat with your fellow parents, see exciting updates from around the school, join groups, receive urgent alerts, volunteer for events, and so much more!
You will be receiving login information on Wednesday, August 17th through your provided email so please keep a lookout for that.
Elementary Parents: Class rosters will be posted in ParentSquare on August 17th. Please login and click on your students name to see which class your student will be in this upcoming year. You will also automatically be enrolled in your child's class group.
If you would like support or help setting up or navigating ParentSquare please email or schedule an appointment with Ashley Dugovich, Director of Marketing and Communications.
In the meantime, please check out this helpful video to learn a little more about ParentSquare:
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Please check the chart below for the correct arrival time for your child's grade level on Monday, August 22. At 8:30 AM, we invite parents to attend our outdoor Convocation ceremony on the soccer field behind the Elementary School.* After Convocation, parents are invited to attend the Parents' Association-hosted Boohoo/Yahoo! Coffee outside the gym foyer. For questions, please contact Alexis Bennett, Director of Development.
*Preschool and Pre-K students should attend Convocation with their parents before being dropped off at class.
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Pick-Up & Drop-Off Procedures | |
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We strive to implement an efficient process that creates as little congestion as possible. Please:
- Drive slowly.
- Show up at the right time.
- Do not use a cell phone while driving on campus.
- Do not congregate or mingle during drop-off and pick-up.
- If you have multiple children across grade levels, you may drop off students at the earliest time available and pick up at the latest time available.
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View a printable pdf of the above map here.
Elementary Notes
At drop-off, parents will escort their students to the door of their classroom where their teacher will greet them. Please note: If your child exhibits any symptoms of the infectious illness listed in the Safety Protocols document, you must keep your child at home until the fever or other major symptoms have subsided for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
At afternoon pick-up, we have a “drive-through system,” much like the arrivals location at an airport.
- Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten parents park, walk to their child’s external classroom door and sign their children out.
- Kindergarten parents park and walk to their child’s meeting spot on the front lawn.
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Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 parents must drive around the service road to collect their children where they will be in class pods. Admin staff will be on hand to expedite and assist. Please pull all the way forward so that we can help multiple students get in their cars at the same time. Students with younger siblings in Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten will walk to their younger sibling’s pick-up location.
- Any student who is not collected by 3:45 PM will be brought to Aftercare in the Preschool classroom and billed accordingly.
Middle & High School Notes
All students may arrive between 8:00–8:05 AM; however, drop-off locations and times differ by grade (see table and map). Students must proceed immediately to their classroom and should not congregate in the hallways. Please do not arrive before 8:00 AM. The parking lot between the Elementary School and Middle & High School buildings (for Grades 6–8) can be accessed from Warm Springs Ave.; the Kennedy Gymnasium parking lot can be accessed from Lysted Ave.
Middle and High School students may not enter the Elementary building to await pickup. If you have a Middle or High School student and an Elementary student, you will need to pick each student up separately at their designated time.
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Elementary School Milk Orders | |
If you'd like to order milk or chocolate milk for your child, please visit your SchoolAdmin checklist for the Milk Order Form. For questions, please contact Christine Harms, Elementary School Front Desk. | |
Life's Kitchen will be unable to provide hot lunch to our community this year. Starting in September, we will be offering Hot Lunch on Fridays, provided by Panda Express. Keep your eye out for more information about the program and how to sign up. | |
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Mark Your Calendars: Fall Outdoor Education Trips | |
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Below are the dates for the upcoming Outdoor Education trips. These dates can also be found on the school calendar.
Elementary Rafting Trips
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Preschool–Pre-Kindergarten: Friday, September 9
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Kindergarten–Grade 2: Friday, September 2
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Grades 3–5: Thursday, September 1
Middle & High School Fall Trips
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Grade 6 Yellowstone Trip: Tuesday, September 13–Friday, September 16
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Grade 7 River Bike Trip: Tuesday, September 13–Friday, September 16
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Grade 8 Salmon River Rafting Trip: Sunday, September 11–Friday, September 16
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Grades 9–11 Central Idaho Lakes Backpacking Trip: Wednesday, September 14–Friday, September 16
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Grade 12 Eagle Cap Wilderness Backpacking Trip: Tuesday, September 13–Friday, September 16
Email Derek Wright, Outdoor Education Coordinator, with any questions.
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Upcoming Parent Group Hikes | |
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We've been having a blast on our parent hikes and have opted to complete the Boise Grand Slam as a group over the next several weeks. See photos from our Cervidae hike last Friday.
If you would like to join for all or some of the hikes, here is the schedule and start times. We will meet in the school parking lot at 8:30 AM each Friday and will carpool to the trailhead. If you're running late on hike day, please email Alexis Bennett.
Follow the link to the All Trails hike descriptions and then plan accordingly with snacks, water, footwear, and sun protection.
These outings are a great way to explore new trails, get some exercise, and mingle with fellow Riverstone parents. We hope to see you there!
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Meet the Teachers Events August 18 & 19 | |
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Meet the Elementary School Teachers
Friday, August 19
Elementary School Building
Preschool, Pre-K & Kindergarten families: 10:00 AM –11:00 AM
Grade 1–5 families: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM
Please join us to meet your child's new homeroom teacher and subject specialists. You'll also see their classrooms and meet other families. You may also drop off your classroom supplies during this time. For questions about this event, please contact Kari Boazman, Elementary School Director.
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Meet the Middle & High School Teachers
Thursday, August 18
Kennedy Gymnasium
Grades 6–12 families: 1:00–2:00 PM
Followed by New Student Orientation
Please join us in the Kennedy Gymnasium at 1:00 PM to meet administrators and teachers at their subject-specific stations in the gym. Between 1:30 and 2:00 PM, teachers will return to their main classroom, so that parents and students can familiarize themselves with the campus and classrooms.
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New student orientation for new Middle & High School students will begin at 2:00 PM in the High School quad, where students will learn more about their class schedules, how to access their email and ManageBac accounts, and more. Our newly formed student welcoming committee will be there to introduce themselves and answer student questions. While this hour-long orientation is geared toward students, parents are welcome to stay on campus. For questions please contact Damon Brown, Middle School Director, or Stacey Walker, High School Director. | |
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We are so excited that this year students have the opportunity to sign-up for elective classes which will meet 2 times per week. Elective courses include Sociology through Film, Computer Programming, Makerspace Lab, Expressive Arts (Drama and Dance), and an additional language course.
Please see the messages below for more information:
A Message to Grade 6 Families
A Message to Grade 7 & 8 Families
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Grade 9 and 10 will be offering more electives than any previous year. This will provide more diversity for students to take courses of interest to them.
Grade 9 is offering Social Issues in our Generation, Computer Science, and Journalistic Writing and Critical Media Analysis. Grade 10 is offering Psychology 101, Propositional Logic, and Outdoor Education and Leadership. Students were asked to sign up for their first and second choice by Friday, August 12 using this form, which includes 1-2 minute video introductions of the class by the instructor.
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A NOTE FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR | |
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Here are some tips to handle back-to-school anxiety from our school counselor, Andrea Kuenzli.
The start of a new school marks a time of transition. For many children, it’s a time for new teachers, new friends, and a changing support system. Even students who aren’t normally anxious or typically stressed may find themselves more "on edge" than they were before. Here's how you can help your child of any age manage their back-to-school anxiety:
Listen to their worries. You can begin by validating their emotions (i.e., "I know that’s hard."), then take their cue, whether they’d like your help solving the problem, or just need someone to listen to their concerns.
Let them lead the conversation. and try not to ask questions that might make your child suspect that you expect them to be anxious (i.e., "I’ve heard Mrs. Fox gives more homework, does that make you worried?").
Try a test run. Practice driving to school, show them where you’ll be dropping them off and picking them up.
Have a Routine. Children, especially younger ones, appreciate predictability. It helps to know that they always get a hug and a wave before they walk into their classroom. Get them used to their school bedtime routine and morning routine at least a week before school starts.
Emphasize Safety. Remind your child that our school is taking many steps to keep them safe, such as optional mask-wearing, weekly testing, reminders to wash their hands, and spending plenty of time outdoors in the fresh air.
If you think that your child would appreciate extra support, please let Andrea or any one of us on staff know. We’re all here to help!
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We are so excited for all of our upcoming seasons! If you or your child is looking forward to participating in Otter Athletics this year, follow the steps below.
Step 1 - Let us know that you are interested by filling out the new Athletic Interest Form so we can get more specific information to you.
Step 2 - Schedule your health physicals so you can get those completed before practice starts. Depending on your grade level, there are different forms required by the Idaho High School Activities Association.
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Grades 6-8 need a consent form
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Grade 9 & 11 students must have a physical examination by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse completed and dated after May 1, 2022. Upon completion, they must return this physical examination form.
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Grades 10 & 12 need to complete an interim questionnaire.
Step 3 - Be on the lookout for our season schedules. We will send them out to you by the end of the month as we fill out our rosters from the interest form.
Step 4 - Mark your calendars with the upcoming start dates! Follow the links for more details:
Start getting your shoes broken in and we will see you this fall!
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We are in search of a High School co-ed soccer coach, Mountain Biking coach, and an Elementary School running club leader. If you or someone you know is interested please reach out to Kim Liebich, Athletic Director. | |
Want to Know More About Athletics? | |
- Give Kim Liebich a shout if you have questions or if we’ve missed something.
- Get ready for the year by getting some RIS SWAG 🦦 on.
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Corporate sponsorships are now available for $1,000 at the gold level, and $500 at the silver level. Please contact Kim Liebich and Alexis Bennett. | |
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The Parents' Association (PA) Board is planning for the upcoming school year, with some key Riverstone traditions in mind that focus on connection and inclusivity.
- Calendar of Activities & Opportunities to Participate
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Back-to-School Merci Lunch for Staff during the week of August 22
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BooHoo/Yahoo! Coffee: Parent Social (to Mourn and/or Celebrate the Start of the School Year) after Convocation on Monday, August 22
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After-School Ice Cream Social for Parents and Students beginning at 3:05 PM, also on Monday, August 22. Plan to stick around after school.
Continue to enjoy your summer vacation! -The 2022-23 Parents' Association Board
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Refer-An-Otter Bonus Program | |
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As a parent, you know that Riverstone creates fantastic learning opportunities for children, and we want to encourage your friends to explore and choose Riverstone as well!
If you refer a family to us, you will receive a $500 tuition credit per referred child who fully enrolls and attends for the 2022-23 school year.
Contact Rachel Pusch, Director of Enrollment Management, with any questions.
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Support Riverstone As You Shop Using AmazonSmile | |
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Purchasing school supplies or back-to-school gear on Amazon? Give back to Riverstone every time you shop when you purchase through Amazon Smile! When you choose Riverstone as your preferred charity, Amazon willI donate 0.5% of eligible purchase at no extra fees, charges, or extra cost.
Search for and select Riverstone International School, Inc from the list of charities to begin giving.
Check out our Instagram Reel for a helpful how-to.
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SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE WEEK | |
Be sure to tag us and use #OneRiverstone and #riverstoneintlschool on Instagram in your Riverstone photos for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter!
to keep up with what's happening at Riverstone!
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