Riverside Monday Memo

MONDAY MEMO

The 5th grade girls (Zoë, Anika, Emily, Aubriella, and Amelie) enjoyed a snowy picnic lunch in the warm sunshine recently. Spring is coming!

Greetings!

Here is this week's Memo.

Please give a careful read to the notes below about all that's coming up at Riverside: swimming, conferences, Play Week, standardized testing, and much more.

Happy Monday,

Nelia

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NOTES

SKIING

Thank you so much to all of the faculty and parents who give their time and energy to assist with these programs, they would quite literally not be possible without your carpooling, helping to solve equipment problems, teaching students to keep track of their stuff; helping students focus on skill improvement, and being aware of their goals and helping them to meet them. We hope that you will help us again next year!

PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

Please remember that Riverside will be closed on March 28th for Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences for grades K-8. Please call Krystal to schedule your conference time that day.

We will also close the preschool on that day for two reasons: to align with the entire school's schedule, and for our preschool teachers do professional development on that day.

MUSIC & THE BRAIN

Karson will be doing his 8th grade presentation on Thursday morning in assembly on how music impacts the brain. We welcome anyone who wants to stay after drop off and hear what he has to say.

ELEMENTARY SWIMMING

K-3rd graders will begin swim lessons this Friday, March 16 at the St. Johnsbury Academy. Students should bring their suits and towels to school. They will take a bus at 1:30 and be in the pool with Nelia (who is a certified instructor and lifeguard), SJA staff member Sandy Lazerick, as well as other rotating Riverside staff. Thank you to parents Nate Killam and David LaRocque for volunteering to help as well.

Mark your calendars: pick up for K-3 students is at 3:15 at the back door of the SJA pool on March 16, 30, April 6, 27, and May 4, 11.

WILLY WONKA

We need some help from our supportive community to bring this show to life. If you can assist with one of these items or tasks, please let Nelia know:

loaning black or dark colored flashlights for props
loaning an old fashioned style radio for a prop
loaning tall, striped colorful socks for 6 Oompa Loompa costumes
donating used long sleeved white shirts that will get tie-dyed, as many as 12 in sizes youth M - adult XL
sharing skills in painting or constructing with the sets elective during the day during play week
helping with all-school pancake breakfast, Friday, March 23, 7:30-9:30 am
helping with make-up Friday, March 23 5:00-7:00 pm and/or Saturday, March 24, 12:30-2:30 pm
helping with hair Friday, March 23 5:00-7:00 pm and/or Saturday, March 24, 12:30-2:30 pm
helping run the bake sale during intermission at each performance
trucks and drivers to help take sets and costumes to LI on Thursday at 10:30 am.
trucks and drivers to help take sets and costumes back to Riverside on Saturday afternoon

Play Week is quite unusual! 6th-8th graders will not have any academic classes, but will work on rehearsals and production electives throughout the week. We welcome parents to come and observe or assist at any time during the week. Other notes about Play Week:

Thursday's pick up will be at 3:30 at the LI Auditorium. If your 6-8th grade child will be in any Clubs or the After School Program on Thursday please let us know in advance so that we can be sure to organize carpools to get him/her back to Riverside.
Friday breakfast will be a pancake party hosted by the faculty for all students.
Friday lunch will be hosted by Lyndon Institute in their cafeteria.
Friday's pick up will be at 3:30 at the LI Auditorium. There will be no After School Program on Friday for 6-8th graders so that they can get a sufficient break before their performance.
All 6-8th graders should be at the auditorium at 5:00 pm on Friday for a 7:00 pm performance.
Students should be at the auditorium at 12:30 pm on Saturday for a 2:30 pm matinee.
There will be quite a lot of clean up and trucking back to Riverside to do after Saturday afternoon's performance. Please plan to help, many hands will make light work.

K-3 and WILLY WONKA

K-3rd grade students will be invited to our pancake breakfast on Friday, March 23 and will then go to LI on the afternoon to see the dress rehearsal of Willy Wonka. Pick up on that day will be at 3:00 pm at the back of the LI Auditorium. If your child will be in the After School Program that day please let us know in advance so that we can try to coordinate carpooling those students back to Riverside.

PUBLIC FORUM: LEARNING CHALLENGES

The Parent Community requested a discussion of learning challenges, and Michelle has made it happen! We hope to see all parents and any interested middle school students in the barn on March 15 at 5:30. This is an important topic for us, in light of recent State Board claims that independent schools do not meet the needs of children who have learning difficulties. See more information about the event and a link to the bios of our expert panel here .

MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE

On March 16, from 6:30-9:00, student council will hold a middle school dance in the barn. We’re calling it the Blue and White Ball, and attendees are encouraged - but by no means required! - to dress up a little. As always, we’d be very grateful for any help with snacks, drinks, and chaperoning! Please let Peter know if you can lend a hand.

SCIENCE CLUB

Science Club will meet today from 3:45-5:00.

CRAZY 8s

Crazy 8s Math Club will meet Tuesday from 4:15-5:00.

CHESS CLUB

There is no Chess Club this week.

DESTINATION IMAGINATION

DI will meet Wednesday from 4:00-5:15 pm. Note that for the next two weeks the club will be extended by 15 minutes to prepare for the competition.

KARATE

Karate for purple belts and higher will meet Wednesday from 3:45-5:00. Karate for all students below purple belt will be Thursdays, also from 3:45-5:00. Contact Mr. G directly with questions.

GIRLS WHO CODE CLUB

Girls Who Code will meet Wednesday from 3:45-5:00.

LATIN CLUB

Latin Club will meet Thursday from 3:45-4:45.

FILM MAKING CLUB

Film Making Club will meet on Thursday, from 3:45-4:45. Students will be wrapping up shooting; please remind your filmmakers to bring the props/costumes they used last time so they have everything they need. If anyone has any questions please direct them to Matt Sullivan at [email protected].

OPEN HOUSE FOR INTERESTED FAMILIES

Please help us to spread the word to friends and neighbors who might be interested in Riverside for their children next year. We will be hosting an Open House event with tours and presentations about our program on April 5 at 6:00 pm.

PRESCHOOL DIAPER DRIVE

The Preschool class invites all of us to participate in a Community Diaper Drive from March 12 - 16. This effort is part of a new initiative started in our region: the NEK Diaper Bank “A Change for The Better." The hope is to create a resource bank of diapers of all sizes (including adult sizes) that can be accessed by anyone in need. Please drop off diaper donations in the preschool classroom.

RELAY FOR LIFE

This annual event is a raises funds for cancer research and awareness of the struggles endured by survivors and caregivers. Our team, The Riverside School Herons, is looking for participants for the event at St. J Academy on June 16th, Noon to Midnight. More info can be found here.