Thank you to all of you who showed up on a chilly Saturday morning to help us show our school a little love. Whether you were cleaning Chromebooks, walls, floors, sinks or windows, or weeding and mulching gardens, or clearing stones and sticks from the lawns and fields, painting panels in the bathrooms, or completing building projects, every person mattered. More than that though, the big picture was unmistakable. We were working side by side, for a shared purpose. It was yet another reminder of what makes Riverside such a special place, our community that shows up for one another and for something larger than itself. Thank you for your time, your thoughtfulness and your willingness to help. 

Please remember that Riversiders are outside much of the day learning and exploring, and likely to encounter ticks. We teach them about the importance of tick-checks at school, and hope their grownups can reinforce that at home. If we find an embedded tick on the skin at school we will notify parents/guardians.

As one of many culminating efforts, our 8th graders are challenged to present to the school on a topic about which they are passionate, and can apply their individual skiils and passions to community improvement in that area. We encourage any interested Riverside parents and project mentors to attend these assembly presentations and to be a part of the supportive audience that celebrates their efforts. Last week Oden presented on the three styles of downhill skiing and Amos on "To the Moon and Mars," they set excellent examples for demonstrating knowledge, engaging and inspiring their audience, and showing off their individual skills and interests.

• Tuesday, May 5 - Lily will present on Volunteerism
• Thursday, May 7 - Jasper will present on Musical Theater
• Friday, May 8 - Liam will present on Investing
• Tuesday, May 12 - Julian will present.
• Tuesday, May 19 - Anders will present on Golf.
• Wednesday, May 20 - Victor will present on World Cuisine
• Thursday, May 21 - Raleigh will present on High School Track.

We will continue the updated schedule in future Monday Memos.

As part of a personal finance unit with Ty in math class, the 8th graders will be traveling to Fenton Chester Arena to attend The NEK Workforce Partners' Spring Job Fest this Friday, May 8. We will leave Riverside at 12:45 and return by 2:00 pm. Ty Hartshorn, Joel Gilbert, Caroline Thompson and Marie Vaine will be the drivers & chaperones while away from Riverside. Students will be required to engage and gather information from potential employers as part of a project they'll complete upon their return. 

We're not yet sure whether the college pool will be repaired for our last scheduled swim date for 3-5th graders. We will confirm with families by email as soon as we can.

Come to Mac and Cheese night on Friday, May 8 at 5:00 to 7:00. Come and taste the entries or bring a mac and cheese you made! We will vote on the best mac and cheese and the winner gets a prize. There is also open-mic entertainment at the event. All ages are welcome! If you are interested in bringing a mac and cheese (Great chance to show off your best family recipe) or participating in open mic night email 7th grader Antonia. We can’t wait to see you!

Thank you to the families who've volunteered to help organize our remote Aid Station for this Saturday's Ride for Mo, a major fundraiser for the Moriah Wilson Foundation, which supports youth and athletics in the NEK in an effort to preserve her legacy. If anyone wants to come join us at our station to cheer on the riders, including Sean and Marie and other Riverside alumni and friends, we'd love to have you. You can find us here between about 10:30-1:30 on Saturday morning.

4-8th graders will be going to Montreal, Quebec, CA May 13-15 by carpools, Thank you to the parents who signed up to go with us last August, and confirmed in January that they can support this trip as drivers and chaperones! You should've gotten an email from Caroline this weekend about scheduling a chaperone orientation meeting. Chaperones will need passports or enhanced licenses, and if possible, cell phone data that works in Canada. Students will need either passports or birth certificates to cross the border as part of a school trip. Please start sending those documents in to Nelia now, who will keep them in her office, until handing them over to one specific chaperone who will care for them throughout the trip.

4-8th Grade will be going to Montreal, Quebec, May 13-15 by carpools, staying . We will be departing from Riverside on Wednesday morning after assembly, and returning Friday approximately 3:30 pm. We are excited to have plans that include:

• Wednesday: traveling with a break at a park in Magog, setting in where we're staying at the Centre Fatima, visiting the Old Port neighborhood of the city with a walking tour and a program at Chateau Ramezay, and (6-8th only), attending a CF Montreal pro soccer game.
• Thursday: exploring and learning at the Biodome; going on choice outings to various places in small groups (Botanical Garden at the Biodome, Museum of Science, Chinatown, and Mont Royal).
• Friday: We'll all travel back toward the border, and 4-5th graders will visit the Bombardier Museum of Inegenuity and 6-8th graders will visit the Haskell Free Library and Opera House

Parents: Please begin talking at home about these topics, in an effort to team with us on the broad learning opportunities and goals for our maturing students with an experience like this. Our teachers know these are important things to explain and discuss in advance; hearing them at home from a different voice will deepen and reinforce them.

• (If the no-cell-phone rule feels challenging) Your relationship with your personal technology and how it affects social learning experiences.
• The challenges of keeping track of your belongings (in a car, in a shared room, on a long day's adventure).
• How to budget their allotted spending money.
• The diversity of prior travel experiences and financial resources in our school community, and helpful way to demonstrate that, nor not.
• Having the eyes of a learner when exploring a new place, even outside of specific activities.
• Any knowledge of or prior experience you have with Montreal specifically.

Chaperones: 

• You will need either passports or enhanced licenses, and Nelia will be preparing a packet for you of the documents for students in your car.
• We've planned to have an optional chaperone meetings at 4:00 on Wednesday, May 6 or Monday, May 11, whichever is more convenient for you, in the barn. At this time we'll review the itinerary, your roles and responsibilities, and any questions you might have. If you can't attend, the chaperone packet we email you that day will have it all within.
• Navigation links will be provided within the packet we email you ASAP.
• Please do provide your child with their own money to carry, don't expect they'll always be with you.

Packing List: Next week’s Monday Memo will contain a packing list (nothing unusual), just a couple of notes:

• Students will need either passports or birth certificates, please bring these into Nelia ASAP so that she can organize them for carpool drivers.
• Students should not bring cell phones or wearble internet-connected devices on the trip. We want to encourage their in-person, synchronous interactions. We will take and share plenty of photos.
• Students will need CA$30 for their dinner out on Thursday evening at a restaurant. A little additional spending money is fine, but we ask that students please not have more than CA$50 total with them on the trip, as it can cause some stress and challenging social dynamics.
• Consider bringing an idea, a game, or an activity for carpools and rooms.

Any questions can be emailed to Nelia.

In honor of our loved ones lost, our community members fighting cancer, and the survivors and caregivers who support them, students at The Riverside School are hosting a walkathon to benefit The Burlington Hope Lodge and the American Cancer Society, Friday, May 22, 12:00-2:30pm.

At The Riverside School, our mission remains steadfast: to develop active learners, patient leaders and engaged citizens in a supportive community. This Relay Recess is an opportunity for our students to put that mission into action, coming together for a meaningful cause: to help save lives, celebrate survivors and lead the fight toward a world without cancer. By supporting our students in this Relay for Life event, you will play a vital role in encouraging their commitment to serving others.

This event is about more than just fundraising, it’s about offering support, inspiration and hope. We aim to unite the entire Riverside community under one common goal: joining the fight for a cure. Save the Date: Friday, May 22rd. Stay tuned to future Monday Memos for event details and fundraising information. For any questions or if you want to help, please contact Caroline Thompson.

Each year we enjoy celebrating the culmination of learning together with special off-campus adventures for each group of students. Keep a close eye on this section of the Memo for updates each week with specific transportation details, packing lists, and volunteer needs.

• K-2nd Grade is going to the Montshire Museum on Wednesday, June 3, by carpools, and will return by 3:00 pm. If you'd like to join as a driver and chaperone, please email Emily Spring before May 27 so that we can confirm with Montshire and organize our lists in time. In your email please also include how many students in/out of booster seats you can fit in your vehicle. Thank you!
• 3rd Grade is going to Squam Lake Science Center on Friday, May 29 and Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves on Tuesday, June 2 by carpools. Please email Natalie Dalpe if you'd like to join on either trip and can help with transportation, and include in your message the number of students you can carry.

Yearbooks are being printed to share with students for signing on the last day of school. $15 will be charged to your school store account for each student copy. If your children will be sharing a yearbook or if you don't want one, please let Krystal know. Parents: please work with any siblings who are sharing in advance to determine a strategy for getting it signed during that hour-long activity on the last day of school.

We are pleased to announce that our graduation speaker this year will be Nathaniel Gleicher, '95. Nathaniel is the Global Head of Counterfraud at Meta. He was formerly the Director of Cybersecurity Policy at the National Security Council and at Facebook. He says he developed his interest in classics, law, and engineering at Riverside, with teachers like Jim Newell and Topher Waring, who are both currently trustees.

Riverside's graduation is a school day for PK-8th graders. The ceremony will celebrate all grade levels on Saturday, June 6 will begin at 10:00 am and will be followed by a potluck lunch.

• K-5 Comics Club will meet on Tuesday, 3:15-4:15 and participants should bring an after-school snack.

• Spring Classes for Kids at Catamount Arts, taught by Abby! Two Saturday mornings for grades 3-6, and one Thursday afternoon for grades 6-8.
• Fairbanks Museum Discovery Camps for ages 4-7, there are different forest-themed camp weeks planned for this summer
• EPIC Music Camps - mornings in June, for ages 8+
• Lyndon Institute Summer Camps
• Summer Dance Camp at LI, for grades 7-12