Right now, the best way we can help the decision makers tasked with making sweeping changes to the education system understand what our kids need is by sharing our personal stories about why a school like Riverside works for your children. There are a few great ways to do that here:

• A group of NEK parents has created a simple survey to collect personal reasons or stories about why having independent schools among our choices is important to each of us. Answers will be used publicly to continue the advocacy work.
• This evening from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, there will be a community forum with the Deputy Secretary of Education Jill Briggs Campbell for the NEK Choice district at the Maidstone Town Hall. This is an excellent opportunity for parents in NEK Choice District towns to express the importance of school choice in our rural school district. In person attendance will make a stronger impact, but it is a long drive on a weeknight. The info for joining remotely is: phone 312-626-6799- Meeting ID: 871 8147 4795 Passcode: 3X2m1S- or online link here.
• Write your legislator - they don't know what we want or need unless we tell them! Here is a link to find your legislators - use the Town button and select the name of your town from the drop-down menu.

Whatever strategy you use, please review this talking points document created by the Vermont Independent School Association for independent school families.

Families: join in the fun! For the month of March, students will be participating in Disney March Madness in music class. In our Sweet 16 bracket Disney songs will go head-to-head to claim the title of "Best Disney Song." Each week, students will be exploring the musical elements, composers, and performers of each song. Every student gets a vote in each matchup. We encourage you to listen along at home and talk about why you like some more than others - here's Marie's Spotify Sweet 16 Playlist. 

The Head Search Committee wants your feedback! Please submit your thoughts via these forms:

• Please share your feedback for Sara Lewis here.
• Please share your feedback for Caroline Thompson here.

With this input on these two finalists the Head Search Committee will make its recommendation to the Board of Trustees at their meeting on March 11, at which point the trustees will make an offer to one of the candidates, and inform the community once it has been accepted.

Our last Friday afternoon of sliding on snow will be this Friday, March 6. Chaperones: please let Nelia or Joel know if you cannot attend. Thank you to the Bias, Finnegan, Lee (downhill), and Wheeler/Galinat (x-country) families for providing snacks for us!

There will be an early dismissal at 12:30 next Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13 for Family Conferences. We hope each family can login to the sign up links below to schedule your conference ASAP. Please note that PK-5th grade conferences are meant to be conversations just for adults and are different lengths depending on the specific teacher's plans and prefernces. 6-8th grade students, however, are encouraged to join their conferences, which meet as one group around the library table for 15 minutes.

• Preschool: McKenna will email you directly
• Kindergarten Conference Sign Up Link
• 1st Grade Conference Sign Up Link
• 2nd Grade Conference Sign Up Link
• 3rd Grade Conference Sign Up Link
• 4th Grade Conference Sign Up Link
• 5th Grade Conference Sign Up Link
• 6-8th Grade Conference Sign Up Link

The after school programs will run until their usual end times. Please email Sean or McKenna directly if your child will attend, even if they usually do, so that the staff can plan accordingly for the long afternoon.

PK-8 Movie Night will be this Friday, March 6, with a double feature: the premiere of the film elective's version of The Princess Bride at 5:30, followed by a celebration of the students who worked on that project, a short break, and Back to the Future (PG-13) at 6:30. Suggested pick up times would be 6:30 or 8:45 pm. Details about snacks and cost will be a future Memo.

We are intentional about not deleneating ages/grade levels for each movie; that is a choice for families to make based on your own preferences. As a support, here's a link to the review of Back to the Future on Common Sense Media, which summarizes the polot, highlights reviews from kids and adults, offers age suggestions, and includes both a list of mature features and positive lessons in the media.

We will be celebrating Pi Day on March 12, since the actual March 14 is a weekend. If you can lend a help with providing a pie to share with Riverside, please sign up here.

The restaurant at The Wildflower Inn, on Darling Hill in East Burke, is offering Riverside one of their Give Back Mondays, when 10% of net sales will be donated back to our school. Make reservations online or order take-out dinner on Monday night, March 16th, anytime from 5:00-9:00 pm. You can also reserve or order by calling 802-626-8310.

Middle school students continue working not only in rehearsals, but on the production elements of costuming, choreography, props, sets, and publicity. Mark your calendars for performances on Friday, March 20 at 7:00 and Saturday, March 21 at 2:00 pm at the St. Johnsbury School, as well as for the complex Play Week experience that is our school week from March 16-20.

Volunteers: we will need help in the following ways, please be thinking about what you might be able to offer and stay tuned for details and contacts in upcoming Memos:

• working with students on production elements during Play Week
• transporting costumes and sets to St. Johnsbury
• doing hair and make up for dress rehearsals and performances
• baking goodies for the bake sale
• selling flowers, posters, and baked goods at the performances
• helping with our celebratory all-school pancake breakfast Friday morning

Schedule Changes:

• Thursday, March 19 - 6-8 pick up will be at St. Johnsbury School, elementary pick up as usual at Riverside
• Friday, March 20 - Elementary students will be bussed to St. Johnsbury School to see our final dress rehearsal in the afternoon, and K-8 pick up will be there.

Lots more details to follow, including costume and prop needs, stay tuned!

We are pleased to be offering our 3-5th grade swimming program this spring. It's been a challenge because of declining pool and lifeguard resources in the NEK, but this plan seems like a good one for our students this year! It is dependent on three certified lifeguards who become employees of VTSU to work with us. If you or someone you know might be able to help, even for just one week, please get in touch with Nelia.

We will take our 3-5th graders to the pool at VTSU-Lyndon on Fridays this spring for swim lessons with Renee, Sean, and Nelia. Students will ride a bus to the college 1:45, and we ask that parents pick up outside the pool at 3:15 on the following dates: Fridays, March 27, April 3, and May 1 and 8. Fridays that are skipped will be regular school days at Riverside.

There is no Extended Day Program available for students dismissed from off campus activities.

Eighth grade students will be visiting the Academy for a morning of informative program overviews and classes on Friday, March 13. This is a half day at Riverside for family conferences, so we will not see them here on campus that day at all. 8th graders will attend required 9th grade classes in group rotations, learn about elective opportunities, meet teachers and current students, and get to know campus. This will be the first time that the Class of 2030 meets as a group, and they can’t wait to welcome everyone. Students should dress neatly and appropriately. The schedule will be as follows:

• 8:15-8:30 a.m. Drop off 8th graders at South Church Hall
• 8:45-9:15 a.m. Welcome in South Church Hall
• 9:15-12:00 a.m. Rotations of Academic Classes and Electives
• 12:20 p.m. Lunch in the Dining Hall, Wrap-up from Admissions
• 1:00 p.m. Pick up in front of the SJA Field House

Please register to attend here. Attending this programming will not be considered an absence from school.

These are the after school clubs that are currently running. Please note that students should be picked up from the club leading adult at the time the club ends. If your schedule requires your child to return to the EDP program until 5:00, please email email Sean to confirm your child can return to EDP to confirm your child can return to EDP, it can get very confusing for the EDP staff to track students if they are coming and going at different times.

• 2-8 Sewing Club will meet today, 3:15-4:15.
• 5-8 Uphill Club will not meet this week.
• 6-8 Latin Club will meet today, 3:45-4:30, but not for the next two weeks because of a conflicting meeting and Play Week.

• She Jumps at Burke Mountain Junior Ski Patrol: March 8, 9:00-4:00, for girls in grades 3-8. Riversiders can take part in the scholarships available to KESD students.
• Science Day at Dartmouth will be held on Saturday April 25th, 2026, 10am - 3pm on the Dartmouth College campus in Hanover, NH! Come join us for a day filled with fun interactive experiments and demonstrations led by current Dartmouth students and staff, learn about their work, and find out about what they love to do. Students and families will have a chance to meet researchers training across various scientific areas including but not limited to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Math. Activities are geared towards students ranging from K-12, however all are welcome (note: all students must be accompanied by an adult). We look forward to an exciting day filled with scientific exploration with you all! Register here.

THANK YOU VIDEO

Your donations help Riverside go the extra mile in so many ways.

Watch this video from us to hear how.