Happy New Year!

This is the 56th post of 2010. My goal for the next calendar year is to use this tool more broadly, and possibly to open up the comments section...

Principal Newsletter -- December 10, 2010

Last night we paid tribute to somebody incredibly important to life at Riverdale for the last eight years. At the K-4 Winter Music Concert a group of parents and teachers, spearheaded by Leslie Mahler, presented our head custodian Dennis Wiley with a brand new set of custom golf clubs and a sum of money for his use chasing the white ball around the Northwest's numerous courses. In addition, many parents who are members of various clubs and courses donated passes for his use in the years to come.

Dennis is retiring, effective the New Year. We couldn't be happier for him, but he will be sorely missed.

Every morning when I arrive to get set for the day, Dennis is there to greet me with a rundown of the night's goings-on (hopefully none) and the day's work schedule (always full). At the day's close he is there to check that there is nothing else needed before he heads home. In between, he is nothing short of a one-man-fix-it machine.

Truth be told, Dennis is far more than that; he is a fix-it, clean-it, open-it, smile-for-the-kids, move-this-please, supply-ordering, big-picture-thinking machine.

It has been said that he is a man with forty-plus wives. That's because at any given point he is liable to encounter one of forty-plus volunteers with a great idea for a quick fix or who need a hand with something. I personally rely on Dennis' abilities every single day.

Here are a few more things that we will miss about Dennis. The list could go on for pages, so I've combed it for a few nuggets, hoping you might learn something about our fantastic head custodian of the last eight years.

• He is an organic gardener who grows and appreciates some super-hot peppers.
• He used to walk across the Sellwood Bridge to get to work every day, even in the snow!
• His last two summers have been consumed with our two moves. Nobody contributed more to these efforts than he.
• He is about to be a grandfather, again, for the 9th time!
• He wears (literally) two hats -- a Yankee's hat and a Red Sox hat, because they were gifts from students and he wants to give equal time.

Please take advantage of the next week to say goodbye to an incredible man, and also to encourage him to come back and tell us how his handicap is going.

Godspeed, Dennis. Thanks for your hard work and unwavering dedication.


Cabaret News:

Our first "Cabaret Work Session" will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 16th in the Grade School Commons. This session is not only for those who signed up to help, but for ALL 7th and 8th grade parents, to get to know more about Cabaret, your committee members, what your job entails, ask questions and brainstorm.

There are still quite a few slots open and in need of parent sign up. If you have NOT already signed up for a volunteer position, you will have the opporutnity to do so at this work session. Everyone with a child participating in Cabaret will be called upon to help in some capacity. Therefore, we would like to have ALL parents with a child involved in Cabaret attending on the 16th.

If you are unable to attend, or would like to know what jobs are available prior to the meeting, please contact Elisa Klein at elisaklein@comcast.net or Deb Burchiel at tova4@mac.com. Ongoing information about Cabaret will be in Jeremiah's weekly newsletter, so please review weekly to see the latest updates.

Coming Soon:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Principal's Newsletter 12/3/10

Please join us for the Winter primary music concert this Thursday evening at 7:00. It promises to be a lovely evening.

This is the first year we've been able to order the full Book Fair! It will be available all week for students before and during school, in the library. Our PTC is hosting a Book Fair Coffee in the foyer on Wednesday between 8:30-10:00. (SCRIP cards will be available for purchase too.)


The second grade Brownies (pictured here) exemplify the spirit of our focus on community service. They are busily gathering books for their new secret pals at a local hospital!



Coming Up:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Principal's Newsletter November 12, 2010

It's difficult to believe we are approaching the end of the first trimester in our new building. As a celebration, please plan on joining us for Thursday's grade 6-8 music concert, starting @ 7:00 in the gym!

Last year we began honoring our outstanding 7th & 8th grade students with two designations based on grade point average; upon our return from the Thanksgiving holiday you can look for a display honoring students whose hard work and dedication to academic success earns a place on the Honor Roll (all A's, with one B) or Principal's List (all A's).

Coming Up:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Help to “Cover” Portland’s Homeless Blanket and Tarp Drive

Help to “Cover” Portland’s Homeless
Blanket and Tarp Drive

Riverdale Grade School
November 8th – November 12th

Dear Riverdale Parents, Teachers, and Students,
As students in the Leadership elective, there are
many things we hope to accomplish for our school
and community. We’ve chosen to devote our time to 4
organizations throughout this trimester that need our
help. Our second organization we have chosen to
support is St. Francis Dining Hall, a non-denominational
nonprofit agency that provides meals and clean clothes
to Portland’s homeless. The group of student leaders
in charge of this project have contacted the Hall and
found out, because of the season, rather than canned
food they are in desperate need of blankets and
tarps. Starting November 8th Riverdale Grade School
will begin collecting the above items. We are asking
everyone to bring in any new or used blankets or tarps.
There will be donation bins in all classroom breakout
areas and also in the Grade school’s entrance.

We thank you very much for your time,
The Leadership Elective

Principal Newsletter -- November 8, 2010

We have our K-4 Open House this week, on Wednesday from 9:30-11:30. We have a more aggressive get-the-word-out effort in lace than in prior years, and we are also separating the K-4 and 5-8 programs (5-8 is on the 17th, same time frame) in order to speak more meaningfully to those two groups. We could use your help!

• Please forward the e-communication you receive to any friends or acquaintances thinking of relocating or currently looking for a school.
• Please take a flier or postcard from the office counter and distribute it to a location you frequent.

It's fixing to be a great event. We really appreciate your help in spreading the word!

Two quick reminders: adjust your clock this weekend, and Veterans Day is Thursday. And, of course, thank you voters!


Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday -- No School, Veterans Day

Friday

Principal's Newsletter 10/28/10

Halloween Parade Friday -- 2:15

• Gather in the covered play area.
• A reminder -- no weapons please, and students should change into their costumes at 2:00 rather than wear them all day.
  

Morning and Afternoon Logistics

We continue to make minor changes as we experience the new building, settle into patterns of use, and rethink early assumptions. Please note these changes:

AM:

• All doors will open at 8:25. At that point, students are welcome to come in out of the cold. Classroom doors will open by 8:35; until they do students should gather in the breakout spaces, and/or access their locker.
• At 8:40, the South and North entrances will re-lock for security purposes. At this point the East and West entries will be the available doors.
• When leaving the South parking lot in a time of heavy use, please avoid making a left-hand turn. An alternative is to turn right, and loop around on 43.
• *I have spoken with the contractor doing work on Military. They have agreed to stop work and allow free traffic flow between 8:30-8:40. (This is not work related to the bond, but a community-related water improvement.)

PM:

• When leaving the South parking lot in a time of heavy use, please avoid making a left-hand turn. An alternative is to turn right, and loop around on 43.
• The heaviest traffic in the afternoon comes at 3:30-3:35. If your schedule allows, please consider arriving five minutes later; the flow-through experience will be more enjoyable.
  

Athletics Updates

• I want to congratulate the Lady Falcons Volleyball Team for a great season. The girls -- each of them -- improved this season, and had a wonderful time doing so!
• Our girls soccer teams (blue and white) were incredibly patient as we experienced what can only be described as 'growing pains.' The blue team made the first round of playoffs, losing Monday night in the rain to OES 2-1. The white team nearly made the playoffs as well! (They were in a three-way tie for the last remaining playoff spot and ultimately did not make it.) I am proud of the way our girls played -- they very often had few substitutes.
• The boys division II team also completed its season last week. They too nearly made the playoffs.
  
• Our boys division I team plays at home tonight, against OES. With a win, they will advance to the finals, next Monday at Catlin Gabel at 6:15 (opponent TBA).
• Speaking of playoffs, the RHS boys team is surely advancing. I know that it was a great time last Friday night at the Lewis & Clark stadium -- especially great to see so many community members and Grade School students cheering them on. Well, you're in luck...they play again this Friday night at 6:30 against Catlin at the L&C stadium, their last league game of the regular season.
  

From the 7-8 Leadership Elective:

Baby it’s cold outside!
Sock, shoe and coat drive benefiting the Janus Youth Organization

Riverdale Grade School
November 1st – November 5th

Dear Riverdale Parents, Teachers, and Students,

As students in the Leadership elective, there are many things we hope to accomplish for our school and community. We’ve chosen to devote our time to 4 organizations throughout this trimester that need our help. The first organization is the Janus Youth Organization, a nonprofit agency that provides short-term housing for Portland’s homeless youth. Janus provides comfort and resources for homeless teens ages 13-20 when they need it most. The group of student leaders in charge of this project have contacted Janus and found out, because of the season, they are in desperate need of new socks and gently used coats and shoes in all sizes. The week of November 1st Riverdale Grade School will begin collecting the above items. We are asking everyone to bring in a package of new socks - any type or size. We are also asking everyone to look through their closet for coats and/or shoes they no longer use. There will be donation bins in all classroom breakout areas and also in the Grade school’s entrance.

Thank you very much for your time,

The Leadership Elective


Winners of the PTC Fundraiser!

Top School Seller and winner of the IPod Nano Multi-Touch is 8th-grader, Brendan Edelson, who sold over $600 worth of gifts & cookie dough!

Top Classroom and winners of a Krispy Kreme Donut party is Mrs. Sager's 2nd-grade class

2nd place seller and winner of a $50 ITunes Gift Card = 3rd-grader Eli Davies

3rd" "" $25 ITunes Gift Card = 6th-grader Lindsey Stern

4th" " $20 Borders Gift Card = 3rd-grader Caroline Cohen

5th-8th place sellers and winners of UU Yogurt and Jamba Juice gift cards are KINDERGARTENER Scott Weiss, 4th-grader Carmen Quintos, 2nd-grader Isabelle Dawson and 1st-grader Tyler Griffith.


Coming Soon:

Monday

Tuesday (It's worth noting that picture retakes are on Tuesday.)

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Math Competitions Opportunities

From Mr. Hershman, a number of math-related opportunities for students in grades 6-8:

Hi Parents! The year is off to a great start, and I wanted to add some Math Contest dates to your calendars. Please continue reading if you are interested in having your child compete in Math Contests this year, and let me know if you would like to help coordinate local contests for Riverdale students in addition to the dates below.

• Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The AMC 8 (in class for all Algebra, Geometry students. Other interested students should get in touch with me and are invited to participate)
• Week of January 13th. School Mathcounts Contest to determine school team for ...
• Sometime in February, Regional Mathcounts Contest (10 Riverdale Students can compete).
• Friday, April 29th, 2001: Pentagames. (9 students can participate, we will need a few parents to help drive students to and from the event)
• Thursday, December 9th, 2010: Riverdale Winter

Our first contest, the AMC8, is an in-class multiple choice test. All Algebra and Geometry students will take it on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010. Students from other sections are welcome to take it as well. If they are interested, they will need to find a free period on the 16th to take the test. Please email me if your student would like to participate. Students from all over the world participate in the AMC 8; students who place in the top two percent have their names published in a book of recognition distributed across the world.

The next major contest is Mathcounts, a very rigorous, national contest. Mathcounts has not yet published the dates for the "Chapter" (Regional) contest. The Chapter contest must take place in February, and the State contest takes place in March. Students interested in Participating in the Mathcounts contest must compete in the School Contest which will take place the week of January 13th. We will conduct an Individual Sprint (40 minutes), Target (40 minutes) and Team Round (20 minutes). Students not enrolled in the Mathletics elective should seek permission of their elective teacher to attend Mathletics during that week.The top four students from this competition will invited to form the RGS team at the Chapter contest. The next six students will be invited as individuals to the Chapter contest. Individuals get to compete in all the same events as those on the school team. Only the students on the school team have scores which count towards our school total. The top team from the Chapter contest will advance to the State Contest in March. The top students at the state event will be invited to the National Contest to take place in May. Mathcounts is widely recognized as the premiere math contest for students at the Middle School level. Watch a video of the top students, and you'll be very impressed.

Pentagames is the last math contest of the year and this year, will be held on Friday, April 29th, 2011. Only current 7th and 8th graders are eligible to compete. The school team will consist of three seventh graders in Pre-Algebra, three eighth graders in Algebra, and three students who do not fit in either of the other categories make up the Open squad. Interested students will take a test and the top three qualifiers eligible at each level will form the Riverdale Team.

Pentagames often requires parent assistance to drive students to the event which is held on Friday. Students will miss one day of school, do lots of math, eat pizza, and have a great time!

We are looking to add a few more contests to the agenda. If you would like to help with the logistics, it would be great to host a Riverdale Fall and Winter Math Contest. It would be great to offer prizes and snacks. If you would be interested in helping coordinate a contest, please get a hold of me.

Principal Newsletter -- October 15, 2010

RGS 3rd graders making architectural sketches of the new building with Ms. Helmsworth. Many early art projects will be on display for the State of the District even on Tuesday evening.

A few big upcoming events merit extra space here:

On Tuesday evening, in the Grade School Commons, Dr. MacNamara, Mr. Schofield and the School Board will host a "State of the District" presentation and dialogue. This is a tradition of the neighborhood that has fallen by the wayside in recent years, and is being revitalized. I encourage you to attend.

The RHS Homecoming soccer game at Lewis & Clark College is Friday night at 6:30. I want to encourage RGS students to attend and cheer on the Mavericks.

The RHS Open House will be Sunday afternoon from 1:00-3:00. This is not just an event for 8th graders -- though it certainly is very timely -- but many 7th graders rightly begin their high school thought process about now.

As usual, we will hold our Halloween parade on the last Friday of the month -- the 29th. Costume prep is already underway, I am sure. Students will change into, rather than come dressed in, their costumes. Please help us reinforce the guidelines: "appropriate for school" and "no weapons."

Also, a reminder for dog owners of our "leash laws" focused on keeping children safe:

1. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times while on any portion of the school campus (includes commons, sidewalks, covered play areas.) *Please note: in this context, "campus" is separate from the field area.

2. Dogs must remain on a leash on the field when school is in session and children are present, and during any practices, school events, and sports events.

3. Dogs may not be left unattended on campus or tied up on campus for any reason.

4. Dogs are not allowed on the chipped area of the playground or near the play structures at any time.


Coming Soon:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Monday, 10/18
Volleyball @ Life Christian - excused - 2:40, bus - 2:50, game - 4:00

Tuesday, 10/19
Girls (White) Soccer @Meadowglade - excused - 2:25, bus - 2:35, game - 4:15
Boys (D1) Soccer @TVJA - excused - 2:50, bus - 3:00, game - 4:15
Girls (Blue) Soccer vs Kingsway @ 4:00
Boys (D2) Soccer vs Gilkey @ 5:15

Wednesday, 10/20
Boys (D2) @CS Lewis - bus - 2:50, game - 4:15
Girls (White) Soccer vs PAE @4:15

Thursday, 10/21
Boys (D1) Soccer @ PAE - excused - 2:50, bus 3:00, game - 4:15
Boys (D2) Soccer @ Forest Hills Lutheran - bus @4:30, game @6:00
Girls (Blue) Soccer vs OES Green @ 4:15

Friday, 10/22
Volleyball @Forest Hills Lutheran, excused - 2:40, bus - 2:50, game - 4:00

Principal Newsletter -- October 8, 2010

What if we could reduce our landfill-bound waste by half?

It's perhaps a bit ambitious, but that's our new goal.

We've thrown our collective hat over the wall by asking Waste Management to remove one of our four cubic yard garbage receptacles, and to replace it with a new hot compost container.

I've been thinking for a few years about a worm bin or compost system here on site -- and we may yet be able to utilize a modest worm bin for educational purposes -- but this new system will allow us to take advantage of economies of scale and will enable us to divert far more waste. The rule of thumb for the compost is simple: if it rots, it'll do. We can include meats, dairy products, bone, soiled napkins, brown paper bags, even pizza boxes and waxed paper. The leadership class, with Sara Brounstein, is busy training (after attending a training themselves) each class on how to separate and compost their food.

You will notice new green cans in the Commons and in the staff lounge, lined with compostable bags. Please help us out by encouraging children to fill them. (Then, on the weekends, you can buy it back as garden mulch;) Other ways to help us reach this goal are to minimize pre-packaged snack foods and to use re-usable lunch containers.

Reducing our waste by 50% is a big goal, but I know we can do it!


Thank You PTC!

Thank you for a great couple of days conferring about your children. We are so well cared for by the PTC -- the food they provide keeps us all going during conference days!


Coming Soon:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Next week's athletic calendar:

Monday, 10/11
Volleyball vs Gilkey - 4:00
Girls Soccer - White @OES - Release Time - 2:40, Bus - 2:50, Game - 4:00

Tuesday, 10/12
Volleyball @CS Lewis - Release Time - 2:30, Bus - 2:40, Game - 4:00
Boys Soccer - D2 vs SW Christian - 4:00
Boys Soccer - D1 vs Meadowglade - 5:15
Girls Soccer - Blue @Meadowglade - Release Time - 2:35, Bus - 2:45, Game - 4:15

Wednesday, 10/13
Girls Soccer - White vs OES - 4:00

Thursday, 10/14
Boys Soccer - D1 vs OES - 4:00
Boys Soccer - D2@ Catlin - Release Time - 2:50, Bus - 3:00, Game - 4:00
Girls Soccer - Blue vs PAA - 5:15

Friday, 10/15
Volleyball vs Faith Bible @4:00

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences

With some new families, I thought it appropriate to review our conference procedures, as well as give a refresher/reminder about the format.

Parent-teacher conferences are a great way to connect and discuss your child's learning. However, our format at grades 5-8 does not lend itself to long and meaningful conversations. Please help us by limiting conversations with any one particular teacher to less than ten minutes. This can be difficult to remember, but, at the end of the day, when one conversation goes over time, another parent is frustrated with less teacher contact time. Any serious concerns requiring more in-depth focus should take place in a separately scheduled meeting.

5/6 will be in the Commons. 7/8 will be in the gym.

Also, in the past we have experienced a small number of parents arriving at a time other than the one for which they signed up. In a case like this I will politely ask that the parent return at the designated time. (Of course, there is some cross-over because of math placement, and that is absolutely okay.)

We all appreciate your help with this, as the conversation I would much rather be having is about the great start to the new year.

Lost and Found

We have a lovely collection already, and will spread it as neatly as possible in the vestibule between the gym and commons. Please, stop by and look for your favorite items from the Autumn Collection!

Principal's Newsletter October 4, 2010

We experienced, in the past week, disparate emotions. To tell the truth, the joy of the grand opening, while real and wonderful, is drowned out by the loss of one of our former students, RHS sophomore Tristan Schlesser.

None of us parents can imagine the grief his parents know, and there is nothing to say here that will assuage it in the slightest. I am, however, pulled to make two notes.

First, the incredible show of support evident at Thursday's memorial is a clear indication of the kind of community we hope will be ever-present in our schools. I was blown away by the number of students, families, and teachers who came to honor Tristan's life.

Second, a golden reminder to us all: Tristan's older brother spoke near the end of his memorial of our obligation to cherish each other -- not only one another's presence, but the time we share together. I was personally humbled by his words, and encouraged by his message.

We will miss Tristan very much.


Coming Soon:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday


*Parent conferences are just around the corner -- if you have not yet signed up, please swing by the office or call Betsy and Karen.

Principal's Newsletter -- September 24, 2010

Thank you for bearing with us as we manage and improve the parking lot situation. It's truly getting better every single day! Today I was out there and we had a somewhat congested situation for only two minutes.

• One minor tweak which will make a great deal of difference is this: parents driving from North to South on Breyman may use the yellow-curbed area adjacent to the cross-walk for drop-off. Beth Marchi is out there everyday with the crossing flag, and is able to help students safely exit their vehicles (on the right-hand side) onto the curb. They should then walk through or around the school to the back side. Pick-up in this same location is possible in the same manner.
• From the South side, driving North, it is okay to drop students at the crosswalk as well. They should cross in front of your car; the crossing guard will assist in ensuring oncoming traffic stops as well. This is not as convenient as the other direction, but it's nice to have another option if things are congested.
• Wednesday, an officer of the law has informed me he will be ticketing folks parked in the "triangle."
  
• I'll throw in one more quick note: while speeding drivers is not a huge issue here, all it takes is once. Please be thoughtful in driving, especially as the roads get wet for the first time. We have so many children riding bikes and we want to ensure their safety.
  

You may have noticed a fence being installed on the perimeter of the field. There are many purposes the fence will serve, but one important purpose is to help us respect the property of our neighbors who have been so gracious throughout this building process. Until it is constructed -- and after -- it is important for us to be cognizant of our neighbors' property, and to remind children that safe play needs to remain on the field.

Our attention now turns to the Grand Opening on October 3rd. This promises to be a wonderful event, with multi-generational participants in families celebrating the opening of the new school. Stay tuned for more details from the school district.

• I am putting out an "RFP" for 7th and 8th graders who would like to be hosts at the event. Requirements would be (a) dressing nicely and acting as docents, (b) meeting with me on Wednesday next during school to discuss their role, and (c) be here from 2:45-5:15 on the 3rd. Please email me with your son or daughter's desire to participate.

Coming Soon:
(Trying a new format -- follow the links to see the events listed on the district calendar.)

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Our Wonderful Community!

Principal's Newsletter 9/17/20 (part II)

If you're interested in reading about all of the norms, expectations, lines, staircases, bell times, etc., scroll down to Part I or click this link.

Otherwise, if you'd rather read about our fantastic student athletes, mathletes, and coming events like Back-to-School Night, read on.

Math Team to Hold Two Morning Practices Each Week
The RGS Math Team has recently hired Heather Kitada, a talented and enthusiastic junior majoring in Math at Lewis and Clark, to run two practice sessions each week. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30 to 8:30, Heather will work with students to develop their math abilities and prepare them to compete both as individuals and as a team on a variety of in-house, local, and national contests. Students will have opportunities to receive recognition for their successes in competition, and to grow their interest and love for math! In addition to the AMC 8 competition in November and the Mathcounts competition in late February, there will be a variety of events and contests open to students throughout the year. This is a great way to help your student foster a love of math and the skills to excel! Register through the PTC Community School page.

Soccer/Volleyball season is upon us. The boys Division II team with coaches Paine and Morton played yesterday against SW Christian to kick off their season. The Lady Falcon Volleyball team, under Coach Brounstein, started their season in our gym against Forest Hills Lutheran last night. They lost in a very competitive match. Upcoming games are posted below.


I am thrilled to announce that we have a second girls soccer team. The schedule is being posted as I write to the district and district athletic calendars -- the two girls' schedules will be denoted by color, a "blue" team and a "white" team. The job is posted, and if interested, please contact Rob Pridemore, district athletic director. We were able to pull this off because of behind-the-scenes work by Lori Peterson and Rob Pridemore, as well as the incredible turnout of our female athletes -- 30 girls are out for soccer this season. Coupled with a very healthy roster of 12 for volleyball, these are truly impressive numbers.

Back-to-School Night is this coming Tuesday evening. We will return to our regular format, which is a tight time-line but allows us to see as many people as possible without impinging anyone's evening schedule too badly. I encourage those of you close by to walk, if possible, as parking will be at a premium. It is a parent-only event.

The format is as follows:

• 6:30-7:05 -- Primary (K-4) classroom presentations.
• 7:10-7:25 -- All parents and staff meet in the commons for brief remarks from the principal, the PTC, and the Foundation.
• 7:25-8:00 -- Upper (5-8) classroom presentations.
  

Coming Soon:

Monday:

• 4th grade to Tryon Creek
  
• home volleyball game vs. Life Christian
• away division I boys soccer game vs. Catlin Gabel
  

Tuesday:

• home division II boys soccer game vs. Catlin Gabel
  
• away girls soccer "blue" vs. Portland Adventist
• home girls soccer "white" vs. OES
  
• Back to School Night

Wednesday:

• Picture Day
• PTC General Meeting in the commons

Thursday:

• away division II boys soccer game vs. Life Christian
• home volleyball game vs. Emmaus Christian
• away girls soccer "blue" vs. Kingsway
• away girls soccer "white" vs. OES
• home division I boys soccer game vs. Horizon Christian

Principal's Newsletter 9/17/20 (part I)

Let the tweaking begin!

We thought it smart to share with the parent community the plans we are making with students for the use of this lovely new building. There are an incredible number of norms that need to be addressed in a new space. These may evolve over time. That said, the intent of posting them here is to inform, as opposed to elicit feedback;)

For your reading pleasure, I've structured this post in FAQ format:

I tried to get into the building, but the door was locked. Why?
We have programmed the building's electronically scheduled locking doors in order to allow maximum security and visibility while still keeping functionality. In short, the north and south entrances on the west side are locked 24 hours a day. They can be opened from inside, but never will anyone without a master key be able to open these doors from the outside. The front and back main door unlocked schedule is weekdays from 8:35 am to 5:00 pm. These are the hours we are able to provide reliably consistent supervision of the two entrances. Entry to the front and rear doors is entirely by electronic card "fob" during locked hours. The same is true for the vestibule and gym entrances. Card fobs can be issued for special events and regularly recurring events, and under very specific conditions.

What other measures are we taking to ensure student safety?
The tragic events of last Spring heightened everyone's attention on the education world. I personally think about poor Kyron and his family every day. We have digital video cameras on site -- twelve in all, that can be monitored from a distance. They cover entrances, play areas, drop-off areas, and other critical areas. In addition, we had been lax in attendance practices, inexcusably so. This is no longer the case. Every day, by 9:00, every student is accounted for, and we begin calling all students for whom we have no information. (It's VERY helpful to have an email or call alerting us of an absence or planned tardiness!)

Which staircase is which?
No this isn't Macy's, but yes, we do have up and down staircases. In the foyer the staircase pointing toward the front door is the "up," while the one pointing out toward the courtyard is "down." 7th and 8th graders use the North staircase almost exclusively; 5th and 6th graders use the South staircase. We are working on what it means to walk on stairs, rather than scamper. We also have school-wide agreements about walking on the right side of halls, and deferring to adults and younger students.

What's up with drop-off and pick-up?
Great question! Drop-off and pick-up both happen on the South side. The big idea is to come into the lot, stay right, and pull as far forward as you are able. Then slowly pull to the left and around the cars. It is critical that we drive slowly in the lot. Students should all exit and enter on the right side of a vehicle. Please never wave a child to cross the lot toward you, nor drop them off when you are still in the pass lane. School parking lots can be like the airport -- if you don't make eye contact, you're not breaking the rules is the attitude that often prevails. I'll not mince words here: I take this very seriously. We cannot afford to rush through the lot; our kids need to trust that this is a safe environment. Please do me the favor of turning off your cell phone in the parking lot while driving.

It seems like we have less parking now, yes?
Yes and no. We lost a total of two spots in the lots, but gained many more on the street-side in what had been reserved for buses only. Please remember that for evening events we are able to use the interior of the two parking lot loops, with notable exception of the cut-aways which are the fire entrances. When parallel parking on Breyman, it helps to leave a small but practical space for another driver to leave. There is no legal parking on the East side of Breyman at all.

Bells?
On their way -- 8:35 and 8:40. That's all. First bell means line up; the second means it's time to take attendance.

What is the idea behind lining up to enter the building?
We have much better potential for supervision outside, rather than inside in the morning. K-4 teachers will meet their classes under the covered play area each morning. 5-6 and 7-8 teachers will meet their students at the South and North entrances, respectively. Outside supervision begins at 8:25. In severe weather it, and the morning lines, may shift to the indoor Commons area.

What happened to the third microwave at lunch?
With three microwaves on a single circuit, we threw a switch. We will relocate the third microwave to an outlet on another circuit.

Remind us why exactly we decided to flip-flop recess and lunch times?
The inspiration behind the switch came from this NY Times article, as well as the anecdotal success stories of several schools. The concept is two-fold. Often, children would rush through or not eat their whole lunch in order to get outside to play earlier. As well, coming in from recess, they were quite wound up. Eating first ostensibly works at both of these concerns. And, in terms of more settled learners settling back into class, it's been a success. However, there has still been a sense of rush. We're reviewing the decision, but need time to get the lunch line logistics ironed out before throwing out the bath water.

I've seen big blue lunch bins. How are they supposed to be used?
K-4 classes bring their lunch bins to and from the commons at lunch time. Older students will retrieve lunch bags from their lockers and place them in the (covered) bins outside the commons until recess is over.

Should kids be walking in the ball-catching swale?
Nope. But occasionally one will need to retrieve an errant ball.

How's the punch-list coming?
We have a long list of finish work to be completed, and are making steady progress on it. There are a couple of projects worth noting, as they are high-impact in nature. The rest of the list consists of dripping faucets and the like.

• We were required to put plantings and bark up to the roadway on Military, just above the school. This eliminated a few favorite parking spots, put sprinkler heads very close to the roadway, and made walking along that stretch of Military less safe. The fix will be a series of rocks off the road that will demonstrate to folks looking for a space that this is not a spot, keep our sprinkler heads from breaking constantly, and provide a safe place for neighbors to walk. We are working to try to provide a path on the soft side of the rocks for walkers. It is worth noting that Dr. MacNamara identified this as a key issue immediately after the plantings went in. It can be a bit of a maze navigating City and County requirements in our unincorporated area.
  
• A similar project is complete in the wooded portion of the property; the path that neighbors have used for decades is now more explicit and safer, with natural steps installed in the steepest portions.
• The bollards along Breyman and Military will receive an adjustment so that they are neither as distracting to drivers and walkers (for whom they are at eye level) nor as bright. We are waiting on a part internal to the bollards. The exterior and interior lighting schedules are controllable and will continue to be adjusted.
  

Are dogs allowed on the field?
Luckily, our dog owners are a responsible lot. A group of them, in fact, has researched signage and "stations" which will be posted strategically around the entrances to the field. The longer we are careful with our new lawn, the better it will serve us in the years to come. A dog digging furiously would severely damage the field; that kind of repair would not fall under our warranty. But a dog well supervised will not do damage to the space. Our dog owners have always been very gracious about keeping their pets on leash when children are on the field, and we will continue to ask that they do so.

When does the field open?
It opens on Monday afternoon! It has been "pinned" for soccer, in two directions, marking the field in an East-West orientain on the far South side for games to go on while another team practices on the North side, and also down the middle of the North-South axis for once playoffs have begun.

Riverdale in the News

Check out the first-day-of-school article in the Portland Tribune.

Principal's Newsletter September 10, 2010

What a week!

We started off with a first day that felt more like October than the day after Labor Day. Apparently, just as early Spring lasted through the last day of school, Autumn began last weekend. In the end, it is just as well, as it allows us to focus on the learning and growing we get to do with your children.

We are busily calibrating, and re-calibrating, to to the new building. Children have a wonderful way of letting us see the hidden uses, nooks, and to-do list items in a new setting. As I write we are already miles ahead of where we were on Tuesday morning in terms of logistical concerns. And, by the close of next week, we will be much further yet. In fact, as our families are users of the building as well, I plan on sharing a long string of practices, rules, and standards we are developing and refining in next week's edition of this newsletter. We spent a great deal of time in the Spring and this summer, refining our rules and expectations. I hesitated to share these prior to wading into the year, lest we share something that changes as a result of a new-found circumstance. In most cases, what we have done is to simplify written rules, and to make them more consistent with our practice. Aligning practice to published expectation is a big part of our faculty-led movement toward polishing our school culture this year. We want it to match the magnificent new facility we have been given! So, you can look out for a rather dry -- but important -- post next week.

If you brought a can to the Sneak Peek, thank you. Better yet, thank 6th grader Derek Song! He organized and facilitated the food drive, which generated enough food to feed 25 families for a month. Derek's thoughtfulness and ingenuity is a great example of the kind of intentionality we want to foster.

How about our new lunch program? I snapped this picture the other day as I salivated over the grilled chicken and veggies. Many thanks to Allison and Mary -- and the dozens of parent volunteers -- for making this a reality. Of course, there are tweaks we need to make as each day unfolds, but this is true each year.

Many of you have inquired if we are exhausted this week. In a sense, the obvious answer is clearly yes. But, the energy the children brought to school this year is both thrilling and contagious. We are thrilled to be teaching and learning alongside your children. And I, selfishly, am humbled and proud to be associated with this outstanding faculty. Now, we have a building to match their talents. Time to go to work...

Coming Soon:

Monday:

• Kinder first day!
• School Board Meeting

Thursday:

• First home volleyball game.
• First DII boys soccer game (away)

Friday:

• Newcomer's Coffee
  

Sneak Peek Tomorrow!

I want to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day weekend!

As well, here are a few details about the Sneak Peek event and the first day of school.

First, parking. A map is posted here, also on this blog. It shows areas that are available for parking, and highlights those which are not legal parking areas. (The East side of Breyman, for instance, is not parking-friendly; we have gained street parking in areas that had previously been reserved for buses, along Military and Breyman.) For big evening events, like the Sneak Peek, parking in the drop-off areas is allowed, so long as we leave the fire-lane ramp access open -- it will be marked with cones. Traffic will flow on school mornings and afternoons, with pass-through still possible even with drop-off and pick-up happening in the South lot. The North lot, meanwhile, is for buses. Vehicles may turn left or right into and when exiting both lots.

On the morning of the 7th we will gather outside first thing in the morning. At 8:35 we will begin to line up by grade level in the covered play area. Teachers will come to escort their classes into the building for the first time; parents assisting with supplies and materials are welcome to follow, and then come outside for the PTC coffee.

Please make sure to bring a can of food (per person) as admittance to the Sneak Peek on Monday afternoon at 4:00. Collected donations will be given to the Oregon Food Bank -- this is very much in the spirit of the year the faculty has planned for 2010-20111. It is critically important to us that, at the time we recognize just how blessed we are with this wonderful new facility, we also remember to give back to the larger community. I am especially proud that this particular initiative was the brainchild of a student -- Derek Song.

Finally, in terms of coming events, the PTC back-to-School Coffee is at 8:30 on Tuesday; and the Fall Sports Night is Tuesday at 7:00 in the Commons.

Parking and Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations

Let the Countdown Begin

And then there were ten (days)...

It strikes me that it is time for another update.


Moving In

The fence is down (but for the field) and the playground has definitely been field-tested. Though it appears the work is winding down -- and it surely is -- there is still an enormous amount of last-minute-detail work to be done. I know the temptation is there to knock on the door and ask for a quick peek, but it would be very helpful if folks can refrain; we have asked for assistance moving the library on Tuesday and Wednesday (Nicole Grayson is organizing -- thank you Nicole!)

Here's a bit of info about what's being done currently:

• Striping will happen Sunday on the playground, including directional arrows on the parking lot. (Buses will enter the North lot -- corner of Military and Breyman -- from either direction, and will depart on the Breyman exit. Parent drop-off will be in the South lot -- by the field -- with traffic flowing in one direction.)
• Bus routes are posted here.
• Stop by the front entrance to pick up a back-to-school packet this week. They are in bins just outside.
  
• The named bricks will be installed just outside of the main back doors early in the week.
• The gym floor has been refinished (thanks to generous paddle raise donors!) and is curing.
  
• The job site trailer has been removed; Bremik now has a temporary office upstairs.
• The Giving Tree is installed and looking fantastic!
  
• Teachers are busy unpacking boxes, breaking them down, and arranging the rooms. The last of the furniture came in today and is being constructed as I write.
  
• We are being trained on the various systems integral to the operation of the physical plant and struggling to keep it all straight amidst the hubbub.

Above all, the energy level in the building has grown to a steady crescendo -- your teachers make this place come alive unlike anything short of the kids themselves. We are all so excited to see them at the Sneak Peek on the 6th, and on the first day of school on the 7th!


Sneak Peek

The Sneak Peek is turning out to be a wonderfully well-organized event. One recent development I am thrilled to announce is that, thanks to a thoughtful student, our celebratory event will be leveraged to help those less fortunate. I am grateful to Derek Song for his suggestion, as two major themes of this coming school year will be service leadership and culture. (Stay tuned for more details, but plan on bringing a few cans of food to the Sneak Peek on Labor Day!)


Soccer Practice Begins Monday

We are proud to announce that we have a new ladies' soccer coach. Coach Emma Triplett will be starting practice on Monday at Riverdale High School at 12:30-2:00. The boys, coached by Nels Paine and Gavin Morton, will practice from 2:00-4:00. (Yes, we are practicing this week on the RHS field during school.)


I can't wait to see you all. (Okay, I can, but only because of the finish work we need to complete so that the building is ready for our kids.) Enjoy the last week of summer.

Summer Update

This is one long and crazy ride we’ve been on together these last two years. And, now, with four short weeks until the first day of school, the crescendo is definitely building.

I’d like to take the opportunity to give some updates on the activities around the end of construction, plans for the opening of our school year, and some important dates for your calendar.

First, though, for those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Dr. MacNamara, our new Superintendent, you are in for a treat. She is a true CEO (Chief Educational Officer) and has truly refocused our leadership team with a steady emphasis on children first. We are very lucky to have her. On a personal level, I am thrilled to have such a dynamic mentor and guide.

In a similar vein, Paula Robinson, new RHS Principal, hit the ground running with remarkable ease. She is a brilliant problem solver, and has expertise in some critically important areas. Please join me in welcoming her to our family.

Construction Related:

The regular construction updates are extremely informative, but it’s a whole different experience to walk the grounds and see the place come to life day-by-day. We are in the process of “punch-listing” the building and grounds, meaning that we identify any defect or glitch for fixing up prior to the handover. It’s an exhaustive process, but critically important to the completion of the build-out. More than anything, seeing plants go in makes the biggest difference for me; the only thing more exciting is the notion of children and teachers in the space.

It is absolutely critical that we all stay off of the field -- any delay will impinge our Fall sports seasons dramatically. Please help remind our kids (and dogs!) that, even as the fences are slowly removed, it is still a construction site, complete with all the inherent dangers and risks.

School Opening Related:

In no particular order, here are a number of answers to this summer’s faq

• The wonderful new lunch program is up and running. (Our code is 213RGSOROR). You have until the 20th of the month to make an order, and lunch will be served on the first day of school, September 7th.
• PTC Back-to-School packets will be emailed directly; some "hard" copies will be available, both at the New Families Welcome and in the front office. (And if you see Minnie Cooper, hug her - she's done so much to get this ready.)
• RGS Back-to-School packets will be available, street-side, on August 25th. (We will be unpacking, but not allowed to have the public inside as of yet.) Betsy will set up a booth for distribution.
• Some folks have inquired about the size of our new lockers. They are standard-sized lockers, 34 1/2”(h); 8 3/8”(w); 16 7/8”(d). I found a good number of organizers and accessories here, at the Container Store website. In our experience, inserting a temporary shelf can make all the difference. Some items, like musical instruments, will not fit in the lockers; these can be stored in the homeroom teacher's classroom, or in the new music storage area (in the music house).
• Pick-up and drop-off locations will be as follows: the South parking lot will be for cars; the North lot will be for buses only. Both locations will be staffed in the morning and afternoons, as will a crossing location on Breyman. (More specific logistical details to follow nearer the start of the year.)
• We delayed the elective offerings for 7th and 8th grade students until now, in order to ensure that all incoming students had email addresses in our list-serve. Please see the attached (to the email) pdf version of the elective forms, and mail or email the forms to Betsy Biss at Smith (8935 SW 52nd Ave.; Portland, OR 97219). Electives are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, but there is no need to rush it too much -- we will hold them in blocks of forms returned (somewhat like Southwest Airlines -- "A," "B," & "C" groups, and assign electives accordingly.
• The new (again) bus routes are now posted online, here. For the most part, they are a return to prior routes, with some adjustments.
  
• As most know, because of an unusually wet spring, we will need to stay off the field well into September, and perhaps for the entire month. We have a contingency plan for athletics practices that includes (a) morning practices at RHS, and (b) practicing at RHS during the school day while the high school is in session the first week of September. More information will be forthcoming. We anticipated the field situation and scheduled accordingly, with soccer games away for most, or all, of September.
  

• Boys (6th-8th grade) interested in playing soccer should contact coach Nels Paine. There will once again be two teams.
• Girls (6th-8th grade) interested in playing soccer should contact coach Leslie Charuhas. It is likely that there will be one large team for the lady falcons this year. The schedule was set back in April around the assumption of one team. Athletic Director Lori Peterson submitted a request in May for a second team, and there remains an outside chance we will be able to assume a second team -- we just will not know until very late in August.
• Volleyball league game schedules have not been released yet. Any 6th-8th grade girl interested in playing volleyball should contact coach Sara Brounstein with that interest. There will be no conditioning camp or practice prior to the week of August 30^th.

• Of course, youth teams wishing to use the field will also need to wait until it is game-ready. Please make alternate arrangements, or use the fields provided by LO Youth Soccer.

Activities Calendar

• August 22nd -- New Family Welcome @ RHS 3:00-4:30 pm
• September 6 -- Sneak Peak @ RGS 4:00 pm
• September 7 -- 1st-8th, 1st Day of School
• September 7 -- RGS Back-to-School Coffee @ RGS 8:30-9:30 am
• September 13 -- Kinder/Pre-K 1st Day
• September 17 -- Newcomers' Coffee 9:00-11:00 am
• September 21 -- RGS Back-t0-School Night @ RGS 6:30-8:00 pm

End of the "Smitherdale" Era

And then there were four -- the "Smitherdale" crew has winnowed to just Betsy, Dale, Dennis, and myself.

The Riverdale Giving Tree leaves are going fast, and it is soon to be installed in the main entry area (second floor) of the new building! There are only 94 leaves remaining for sale -- they can be purchased at Riverdale High School or from Barbara Cohen by June 30th.

Report cards are being mailed Friday and Monday. Winners of awards and promoted 8th graders will find their certificates amongst the report cards.

Look for an update from the PTC regarding next year's exciting new lunch program.

Class lists will be posted late next week, likely Thursday, down street-side on Breyman. As usual, we will have two sections of each grade level (exceptions are three at 8th next year, and one kinder am session + the extended option).

There are a number of dates to pencil in.

• Construction site tours are in development. The first, for children and parents, will be at 9:00 on Saturday June 26th.
  
• Also look forward to another kid-focused opportunity and a Bremik-hosted barbecue in late July.
  
• September 6th (the afternoon before school begins) will be a "sneak preview" of the new building.
  
• A community ping-pong tournament will be the weekend of September 19th.
  
• The Grand Opening is slated for October 6th.

There are a few staffing changes to announce. A budget-driven reduction-in-force (RIF) triggers these changes:

• Elimination of the 3-6 Spanish "special" program
• Ms. Brounstein will teach the kindergarten class (Mrs. Lamb will continue to teach the extended day portion of the day, as well as our community schools pre-school.
• Mrs. Sager will teach second grade.

Last Friday night -- after the last day of school -- the School Board considered the RIF recommendation presented by the administration after the approval of next year's budget, which called for a reduction. The meeting was well-attended, and a number of parents spoke very eloquently about their difficulty in understanding the effects of the reduction. I think it is important to take a moment to describe in short detail the thinking behind the staffing changes listed above. Primarily, our school identity is founded on two major tenets, each of which rightly drives decision making in difficult economic conditions.

• Class size is critically important to the success of our program to date, and will be a catalyst for continued growth and improvement. It allows for individualized attention and fosters the development of relationships between teacher-and-student, and between teacher-and-family. We grow class size intentionally as students get older, and as the importance of academic and social peers increases. We believe it is incumbent upon us that we protect class size, especially at the primary level. (One option for dealing with a reduction, for instance, is to hold a single section where class size is otherwise especially small.We rejected this idea as it represents short-term thinking, and impinges our potential for intentional and appropriate growth.)
  
• Integrated Arts Curriculum -- we have what almost no public school is able to offer students at the k-8 level, a fully integrated arts curriculum. And, while it is impossible to entirely separate whether we are successful as a result of this arrangement, or whether we are fortunate to be able to offer it as a result of our successes, we believe it would be a mistake to begin carving into our most developed arts and support programs even when other districts do so. We determined that the 3-6 Spanish special was the least critical of these programs and made the difficult decision to cut it in lieu of other support programs or much larger class size.

The RIF conundrum was excruciatingly difficult, and I appreciate that our recommendations to the Board left some feeling unheard. Ultimately, I ask that you continue to place your trust in our school. We certainly have a lot of growth to do, and I am ready for the challenges inherent in that process.

Anyone who has had the pleasure to walk the grounds of the new building is bound to understand we will be moving into a world-class facility. Our challenge is to ensure that our program fits that bill as well. I am invigorated by the prospect of the work we have ahead of us -- teaching our children not only to be deep and critical thinkers, but also to be contributing citizens, and, most important of all, good and kind people.

On behalf of your faculty, I wish you all a restorative, adventure-filled summer.

There's Only One Way to Close the Show

And Tatum taught us what that is...

An Incredible Finish

Families,

Thank you.

Thank you for sending your children to us for the last nine months, for entrusting us with their education, and their emotional and physical safety. School is perhaps the ultimate human enterprise, and, as a result, we are far from perfect. What we seek to do, every day, is to personalize the educational experience your children receive.

These last four days of "Smitherdale" (as the t-shirt has dubbed it) will no doubt be a whirlwind, as have been the last two weeks.

First, how about Field Day?! Marne, Nicole, Laura, and Leslie deserve 100% of the credit for the sunshine, not to mention the seamlessly organized day. (Mr. Black's photos here.)

The fifth grade "Fractured Fairytales" (another youtube link) had me grinning ear to ear! (Again, marvelous photos here. What would we do without him?)

The music concerts were wonderful reminders of what we have to celebrate. (A previous post has embedded a youtube video of the 7-8 band performing at a band competition this Spring.) Here, as a complement, is a video of the jazz band performing last week:



There are a number of important events coming this week.

Tonight marks the graduation of the RHS senior class at Lewis & Clark.

Thursday morning at 10:00 is our awards assembly, held this year in the lovely gym at Smith. (8th graders traditionally depart after the awards assembly.)

And, Thursday night, we will promote an impressive group of 8th graders!

Finally, Friday night is the final Board meeting of this school year. The Board's letter to the community elucidates far more clearly than I could the budgetary situation in which we find ourselves. Dealing with a shortage of funds is, ultimately, the most difficult part of my position. But, it is a critical element as well. I know that this school represents so much of our community's hopes for its children, and that the natural results are strong emotions and personal ties. We benefit from this everyday. I anticipate a full house Friday night, and welcome the opportunity to gather with our families to work through the situation for your children.

This year has been, for all of us, an exercise in patience. I'd like to thank you for yours. The result will be well worth it!

Best,

j

Our Amazing Band!

A note from Mrs. Scholz:

Hello everyone,

I have exciting news! You can now view 7/8 Band performing on YouTube. We videotaped on the day of the PPS Middle School Band Festival and my husband, Doug, made two films and posted them on YouTube. They are really fun to watch and the Band sounds absolutely wonderful. After you go to YouTube just type in: Riverdale Genius March and Riverdale Shackelford.

I hope you enjoy them! Molly S

Principal Newsletter -- May 25, 2010

Anybody who caught even a few minutes of our Student Council-run Talent Show last Friday knows it was the best excuse we've had all year for the buses running late! I continue to be blown away by the talents (and bravery) of our (your) children.

I thought it best to send out a notice with some updates on a number of programs, just to keep everybody up to speed as we prepare to close out the year.

• Calling all Site Councilors! We have two openings on Site Council for the next two years, and would love to have energetic parents involved. Please email me if you are interested in a two year membership.
  
• The athletic field at the Breyman site will be closed as of this Friday, the 28th. The fence will be moved to enclose the field, and work will commence on Tuesday the 1st of June. This is exciting news, even though our dog walkers will be displaced for a few months. The prospect of playing most of a soccer season (we likely will not have the field through September) on a properly draining/sprinkled field is pretty exciting.
• The kindergarten program for 2010-2011 has crystallized. We will have one section of kindergarten, beginning in the morning. All students enrolled in kindergarten will attend this section, from 8:40-11:40. Those students staying through the end of the day (electing Extended K for either 3 or 5 day options) will remain at school, but switch classrooms. These students will be with one teacher in the morning, and then Mrs. Lamb in the afternoon.
• We are hoping to offer Pre-K through Community Schools. Anybody interested in exploring the possibilities is invited to meet with Barbara Lamb and me this Thursday morning at 8:00 in the library at Smith. Obviously, a critical mass is necessary in order to make the program viable, but the change to offer the program in the morning half of the day is an attractive option to many families.
• Forecasting Night at RHS is tonight!
  
• Field Day fun will be part of the school day on Friday June 4. because of a scheduling conflict at Lewis & Clark, a handful of events will take place at school on the 4th in the afternoon, including the 7th/8th grade tug-of-war and class relays.
• Field Day proper begins VERY PROMPTLY at 8:30 at L&C on Saturday morning!
  
• Spring concerts. The primary concert is on Wednesday night, May 26th, at RHS! The 5-8 concert will be next Thursday, June 3rd, also at RHS.
• Math placement notices will go out this afternoon for rising 4th and 5th graders who qualify to test for advanced placement into "Math 3" and Pre-Algebra, respectively. These notices will go out by email today, May 25th.
• Parents of rising 1st graders are invited to a discussion on Wednesday, June 2nd, immediately after school, to collaborate on supporting next year's program.
  
• A rising 5th grade parent informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 8th, immediately after school. The purpose is to become familiar with the 5-6 program, and to get a sneak preview of what the following years will hold.
  
• The awards assembly will be held on Thursday, June 10th at 10:00. 8th graders depart directly thereafter. Promotion is that night, at 7:00 pm, at Mt. Park Church.
  

Principal's Newsletter

Just a quick note here. The calendar updates through the end of the year will be updated and re-posted weekly. This week's is here.

Celebrations:

Congratulations to Patricia Torvalds -- she won the Multnomah County Spelling competition, and will be competing in the State event in Salem!

In the Pentagames competition, we had a great deal of success. Zack Reid won the 8th grade competition outright, Ben Hutchings won third place in the open division, and our open division team also placed third.

Principal for the Day: Project Isabel

Isabel made a fine Principal last week!

Coming Attractions

This week:

May 17
Budget Committee Meeting -- RHS Library @ 6:00
May 18
5-8 Grade Field Trip to PGE Park for health fair & Timbers game
May 19
2nd Grade Field Trip to Cannon Beach
Talent Show Rehearsal -- 2:30
May 20
Talent Show Rehearsal -- 3:45
May 21
Talent Show -- 2:00-3:30

Week of May 24-28:

May 24
Site Council Mtg. -- 3:40
May 25
RHS Forecasting -- 7:00 @ RHS
May 26
2nd Grade MAD Science: Black and Blue Oceans
K-4 Spring Concert -- 7:00 @ RHS

Week of May 31-June 4:

June 2
PTC Exec. @ 9:00
Promotion Rehearsal
June 3
5-8 Band/Choral Concert -- 7:00 @ RHS
June 4
Field Day Registration @ Smith + some events
Promotion Rehearsal
June 5
Field Day @ LC, Griswold Stadium
Field day 6-8 Dance @ RHS
June 6
8th Grade Promotion Brunch -- 11:30 @ Waverly

Week of June 7-11:

June 7
Promotion Rehearsal
June 8
RHS Graduation -- 7:00 @ LC
June 9
PTC end of year Volunteer Coffee -- 8:30 @ Smith
Promotion Rehearsal @ Mt. Park Church
June 10
Awards Assembly --10:00-12:00
Promotion -- 7:00 @ Mt. Park Church
June 11
Last Day of School!

Events Calendar for Remainder of the Year

This Week:

May 11-14
7th and 8th grade Field Studies continue
May 12
GS PTC Meeting at 9:00 in foyer
2nd grade field trip to OMSI
Pre-K Storytime at 2:45 in Kinder room
May 14
1st Grade Field Trip to Jackson Bottom

Week of May 17-21:

May 17
Budget Committee Meeting -- RHS Library @ 6:00
May 18
5-8 Grade Field Trip to PGE Park
May 19
2nd Grade Field Trip to Cannon Beach
Talent Show Rehearsal -- 2:30
May 20
Talent Show Rehearsal -- 3:45
May 21
Talent Show -- 2:00-3:30

Week of May 24-28:

May 24
Site Council Mtg. -- 3:40
May 25
RHS Forecasting -- 7:00 @ RHS
May 26
2nd Grade MAD Science: Black and Blue Oceans
K-4 Spring Concert -- 7:00 @ RHS

Week of May 31-June 4:

June 2
PTC Exec. @ 9:00
Promotion Rehearsal
June 3
5-8 Band/Choral Concert -- 7:00 @ RHS
June 4
Field Day Registration @ Smith
Promotion Rehearsal
June 5
Field Day @ LC, Griswold Stadium
Field day 6-8 Dance @ RHS
June 6
8th Grade Promotion Brunch -- 11:30 @ Waverly

Week of June 7-11:

June 7
Promotion Rehearsal
June 8
RHS Graduation -- 7:00 @ LC
June 9
PTC end of year Volunteer Coffee -- 8:30 @ Smith
Promotion Rehearsal @ Mt. Park Church
June 10
Awards Assembly --10:00-12:00
Promotion -- 7:00 @ Mt. Park Church
June 11
Last Day of School!

Plant Sale and Swap, May 21st!

Plant Sale and Swap
Friday May 21st 2:45-3:45
Riverdale Grade School Greenhouse (At Smith)

Sale
Starts: Sale for 50 cents each.
Please plan on having transportation for the plants as, understandably, they will not be allowed on buses.

Swap one to one. Bring 1, take 1, bring 6 take 6.
Bring containers and bags Let's have some fun and get growing!

Math -- Advanced Placement

During the 2008-2009 school year, a committee of teachers and parents partnered with me to examine our math curricula, as well as the structure of our mathematics instructional program. In the end, we adopted some new supplemental materials and reaffirmed the relatively recent curriculum adoption choices. As well, a number of structural changes were implemented as a result of this committee's work. A final aspect of our work was to review, during the 2009-2010 school year, the structural changes. Below is a review of the structural changes we adopted for this year, as well as detailed information about the revisions we are adopting after considering feedback and data gathered over the course of the year.

Advanced Math Placement for Primary Students

• The committee determined that, in cases of exceptionally advanced math students, it was desirable to allow 3rd and 4th grade students to "move up" for math instruction, this to minimize the problem of advanced students being taught "on the side" within the grade-level classroom. We have great confidence in our primary faculty to differentiate instruction sufficiently to meet a wide range of student needs. However, we feel there is a tipping point at which this model is less desirable than offering an advanced option. Thus, for the 2009-2010 school year, we implemented the change, recommending for some students at 3rd and 4th grade a placement in the grade level immediately above. After review, and a great deal of feedback from families at these grade levels, we will revise this model moving forward.
• In the 2010-2011 school year we will continue to offer advanced placement for students in 3rd grade, but only within the context of the 3rd grade classroom. That is to say, advanced 3rd graders will not "travel to math." Rather, 3rd grade teachers will offer advanced instruction in the regular math classroom. At the beginning of each unit, students scoring at 80% or higher on a unit pre-test will have the option of working at a 4th grade level for that unit. There are several reasons for this change, some philosophical, and some practical.
• We have no reliable standardized assessment for grade level math proficiency at the end of 2nd grade. We do give an assessment of cognitive abilities (COGAT) to all end-of-year 2nd graders for the purposes of identifying students with potential to perform in terms of Talented and Gifted (TAG) status. For the 2009-2010 school year, we used COGAT results (two of three sub-tests correlate with problem-solving and mathematical thinking) to identify students who qualified. However, the COGAT is essentially an intelligence test, and we believe using such a test for placement test falls short of our criteria for such a measure. In short, we believe we should be testing for performance in terms of discreet mathematical skills, as opposed to measuring students' intellectual capacity. We believe in a "growth" mindset rather than a "fixed" mindset; students will, given opportunities and encouragement, rise to the occasion.
• We do not believe it is in the best interest of teachers or families to base a decision about advanced placement primarily on anecdotal records or teacher recommendation. One of the hallmarks of a Riverdale education is that our faculty know their students deeply and well. However, another important factor to consider is the balance between a family's advocacy for their child's placement and keeping another critical relationship -- that between family and teacher -- relatively free of unnecessary pressures.
• In order to accommodate moving students between grade levels we must "lock up" the master schedule to a great degree by positioning math periods at a common time across multiple grade levels. Freeing up 3rd grade will go a significant distance toward making the schedule accommodate more diverse needs.
  
• There is significant evidence that the pre-test model of providing selective advanced math instruction works quite well at 3rd grade. (Pre-test before each unit; students who score >80% are presented with 4th grade instruction for the duration of the unit.)
  
• We will continue to offer advanced placement for students in 4th grade. Qualifying students will be placed in a 5th grade class for math (Math 3). We have developed a clearly defined procedure for identifying qualified students.
• Students performing at or above the 97th percentile on the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (OAKS) at the 3rd grade level (taken in Spring of 3rd grade) are considered eligible for consideration for advanced placement.
• Students eligible (97th percentile OAKS scores) will take an end-of-year assessment for the grade level they would ostensibly be passing over (in this case, 5th grade -- Math 2); students who achieve a score equal to, or greater than, the median score (of the grade level class) will be recommended for advanced placement. Eligible students who do not qualify will have a second opportunity to qualify for advanced placement in late August.
  
• Finally, we will have a conversation with the family of the student in order to verify that there is consensus regarding the next year's placement.

Advanced Placement Beyond Primary "Grade-Level" Math. *Beyond 4th grade, we offer a series of courses (Math 1, Math 2, Math 3, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, & Geometry) rather than grade-level-specific courses.

• We will continue to offer advanced placement for students in 5th grade. Qualifying students will be placed in a Pre-Algebra section. We have developed a clearly defined procedure for identifying qualified students.
• Students performing at or above the 97th percentile on the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (OAKS) at the 4th grade level (taken in the Spring of 4th grade year) are considered eligible for consideration for advanced placement.
• Students eligible (97th percentile OAKS scores) will take an end-of-year assessment for the course they would ostensibly be passing over (in this case, Math 3); students who achieve a score equal to, or greater than, the median score (of the current Math 3 class) will be recommended for advanced placement. Eligible students who do not qualify will have a second opportunity to qualify for advanced placement in late August.
  
• Finally, we will have a conversation with the family of the student in order to verify that there is consensus regarding the next year's placement.
• We will continue to offer advanced placement (into Pre-Algebra) for students in 6th grade. Qualifying students not yet already identified will be placed in a Pre-Algebra section. We have developed a clearly defined procedure for identifying qualified students. Placement will be based on a two-out-of three model, in which we utilize three distinct Spring-time assessments taken during the end of the 5th grade year. Students must meet two of three metrics in order to qualify.
  
• Students performing at or above the 97th percentile on the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (OAKS) at the 5th grade level (taken in the Spring of 5th grade year) are considered eligible for consideration for advanced placement. (1 of 3).
  
• Students performing at or above 85 % on the Stanford 10 are considered eligible for consideration for advanced placement. (2 of 3).
  
• Students who achieve a score equal to, or greater than, the median score (of the current Math 3 class) will be recommended for advanced placement. (3 of 3). Eligible students who do not qualify will have a second opportunity to qualify for advanced placement in late August.
  
• Finally, we will have a conversation with the family of the student in order to verify that there is consensus regarding the next year's placement.
• Qualification for entry into Algebra will be wholly dependent upon a placement test designed to assess readiness.
• This is a departure from relying on OAKS scores as one part of the placement decision because the Oregon benchmark test for 8th grade tests skills up through Pre-Algebra. Thus, while success on the OAKS math assessments is a solid indicator of academic achievement, it does not assess (until 8th grade) readiness for Algebra.
• Qualification for entry into Geometry will be wholly dependent upon a placement test designed to assess readiness.

Series of Math Courses after K-2:

The table illustrates the series of courses offered at Riverdale Grade School, the corresponding Oregon State benchmark year (illustrating "grade-level" benchmarks), and the corresponding eligibility.

Math Course:	Oregon Benchmark Year	Riverdale Students eligible
Grade 3	Grade 3	Grade 3
Grade 4	Grade 4	Grade 3* (w/in regular class), 4
Math 1	Grade 5	Grade 5
Math 2	Grade 6	Grade 5
Math 3	Grade 7	Grade 4, 5, 6
Pre-Algebra	Grade 8	Grade 5, 6, 7, 8
Algebra		Grade 5, 6, 7, 8
Geometry	Grade 10	Grade 6, 7, 8
RHS		by arrangement

Multiple Options for Students at Grades 5-8

Another change we adopted this last year is that, rather than limiting placement in the upper school to one of two main "tracks," we have committed to widening the possibilities for students at 5-8 such that they may be placed wherever appropriate. For instance, previously, 8th graders have been forced into one of two sections -- Algebra or Geometry (referring to the table above, note that this is either one or two years more advanced than Oregon's benchmark standards.) This year, we had 8th graders placed in five different courses, allowing the students to access more appropriate content and teachers to deliver content more fluidly.
This has major ramifications for our master schedule, and some spillover effect on class size. Specifically, in regards to class size, the effect of allowing appropriate placement is that some sections of math are very light, while others are heavy -- in some cases exceeding School Board recommended maximums. We made this decision intentionally, understanding the class size ramifications. We reaffirm it now, and simultaneously commit to minimizing, as much as is possible, the inherent downside.