Thursday, December 8, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 12/8/11

What an incredible success this evening's K-4 Concert was!

Yes, those are the kinders whose bar on the graph stretches around the corner and across the bathroom wall!

Tonight I was able to announce that the One for Books drive has already raised about $800 (whereas we usually raise somewhere on the order of $40). I neglected, though, to properly thank all of the gracious volunteers for their efforts, along with Mrs. Becker, and Ms. Evans' 2nd graders who have counted every donated coin!

The best part is...the Book Fair is still open until noon on Friday! Come get your holiday shop-on.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Friday, December 2, 2011

Scholastic Book Fair (One for Books)

The Scholastic Book Fair is next week, Monday-Friday, and each student will have the chance to earn books for the library with the One for Books fundraiser. Every dollar donated will go directly to the school library. In addition, Scholastic will match every dollar and donate that to a charity nationwide.

Starting on Monday, December 5th, each student can bring in the designated coins and earn books throughout the week. Each classroom or homeroom will participate in a class coin challenge, and coins will be collected and counted on a daily basis.

Each day a student can bring in:
  1. pennies on Monday
  2. nickels on Tuesday
  3. dimes on Wednesday
  4. quarters on Thursday
  5. any coin on Friday
In addition, each class will be rewarded directly with a new book from the fair for every $10 in class donations.

Starting the morning of Monday, December 5th, each classroom or homeroom will be given a One for Books donation jar to deposit their change and watch their donations grow. The jars will be picked up daily by 9am and given to the 2nd grade class for a coin count. If possible, please ask for student donations first thing in the morning. The 2nd graders will graph the donations, and the totals will be displayed in the hallway. The jars will be returned at the end of the day, for the next day's collection.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 11/14/11

Quotes from participants in the wildly successful UNICEF drive organized by Megan G. and our Leadership students:
"Working with UNICEF made me grow up and recognize how fortunate I am."

"Being part of UNICEF makes me see how much a small public school can do for less fortunate kids."
They are following it up with a "Be Thankful" canned food drive benefitting the Oregon Food Bank. Please join me in supporting our Leadership students in their service work.

And, in a related topic, we will soon be donating some very lovely coats and sweaters (and shoes, and pants, etc.) currently decorating the hallway between the Commons and Gym. We will pull anything with a name this week, but please do encourage your child to claim a Lost & Found item prior to Friday afternoon.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 11/6/11

This is the logistics and safety reminder edition -- not the most exciting reading in the world, but I urge you please read on and participate in making a number of concerns run more smoothly.

Primarily, the afternoon pick-up situation is currently less effective than the morning drop-off. There are a number of reasons for this, and it really is only an untenable situation for a period of about 10 minutes.
  • When picking students up in the afternoon please consider parking alongside the field if there is space.
  • Please remind your child to keep a lookout for your vehicle so that the line-up can move along. (The line-up element is actually working quite well -- many thanks for not leaving your car!)
  • At approximately 3:28 vehicles begin backing up into the street, in both directions. This presents the most potential for a dangerous situation. There is a solution which would assist: if you are driving Northbound on Breyman, please continue on and use the triangle intersection to come back to the Southbound direction, so that you can turn right into the lot. This way we will not have both lanes of traffic blocked.
  • I have been out there quite a bit lately and our parents are showing a tremendous amount of patience -- I thank you for that!

A number of times I have seen our Boompa parking street-side because another vehicle is in the reserved spot. Of course, by definition she is far too gracious to say anything to me about it. Please honor the winner of this award (given to our classroom volunteer of the year annually, and named for ever-present ubervolunteer Dave Carlo -- "Boompa") by passing on this one spot, precious though it may be in the moment.

Finally, the driveway on the South side of the field has been blocked multiple times recently. This is disturbing to our neighbors, who are always so gracious about our heavy use of the field and for whom the construction year was not so fun.

I appreciate your assistance with these matters! Next time, back to celebrating our kids and teachers.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 10/30/11

The Lady Falcons have returned to their championship form! Our girls' soccer team will play for the league championship this coming Tuesday evening at 5:00 on the pitch at Catlin Gabel. Please join me in supporting them in person! I know it's the night after Halloween, but the weather should be gorgeous and these girls really deserve our support!

All of our Fall athletes, and their coaches, deserve congratulations for seasons well played. The boys lost an extremely close thriller last week (in penalty kicks) to end their successful season, and volleyball concluded as well.

Basketball practices for 7th and 8th graders will begin following the Thanksgiving holiday; sixth graders begin later in the Winter. All interested athletes should contact Leslie Charuhas as soon as possible.

Halloween

For those families new to our district, the annual Halloween parade is a lot of fun. On Monday the students should arrive to school without costumes -- they will have time to prepare and change prior to festivities. At 2:15 our Leadership students will pick up the pre-K through 2nd grade students to begin the parade. They will pick up more students as they head North down the hall, exiting the building near the 4th grade classrooms and looping around the front of the building. Parents will form a parade route extending from the main parking lot to the covered play area.

A few reminders about Halloween:
  • Costumes should not include weapons of any kind
  • The "Pio Patrol" -- Lewis & Clark student athletes will be on duty during the evening, watching for safety.
  • This year our leadership class, with sophomore Megan G., have planned a UNICEF drive -- please consider participating in this worthy effort!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 10/23/11

The following short narrative, written by third grader Ava W., in my eyes epitomizes two critical aspects of the Riverdale experience. Please enjoy.



Goldfish Toss
I was standing in line for the goldfish toss at the carnival with Ava S. We were talking about if we won a goldfish what were we going to name it.
When it was my turn I bounced the ball. The first try I bounced it way too hard. All the rest were the same.
As I walked away I started to cry. Then, a nice eighth grader named Isabel walked over to me and asked me why I was crying. Then I told her. Isabel smiled and handed me her fish.
With my hand trembling I took it. After that I said thank you about one billion times.
Next thing I knew I was walking proudly with my new fish to the photo booth to show Zoe. After I showed her we did the photo booth together.
I finally named my fish Tigger, because he's orange with the tip of his fins black.
He's the best fish in the world.

The third graders in Mrs. Sager's classroom have been studying personal narrative. Often, young writers attempt fantastical stories based on cartoons they've seen or the like -- they come off jumbled and scattered. Focusing on personal narrative is powerful because it opens their eyes to the value and power of their own experiences recorded. I loved having the opportunity to visit the third grade classroom as the students read aloud their selected published narratives. The value of sharing beautiful work is an important aspect of student life here. I was reminded of this as I walked past stunning artwork displayed in the halls, and snuck in to hear presentations by eighth graders in Mr. Robinson's room this afternoon.

In this case the real power comes from the interaction between one of our thoughtful, compassionate middle school students and our young author.
____________________

This next week we will celebrate our student athletes!
  • Wednesday the girls play their semifinal game here at 3:00 vs. OES
  • Thursday the boys play their semifinal game here at 4:00 vs. Catlin Gabel

Friday, October 14, 2011

LEED Plaque Mounted

Principal's Newsletter -- All Together Now

Many Riverdale students study the performing arts, both in and outside of school; we will celebrate and encourage those artistic endeavors on November 5th at the inaugural District Variety Show, "All Together Now." Students in grades K-12 are invited to audition and perform on our grade school stage. The audition swill be held on Thursday, October 20th from 3:45-6:00. Questions can be referred to this email address: rdalevarietyshow@gmail.com

I want to thank the entire parent community for partnering with us for such a productive two days of conferences. We couldn't help but notice how many varietals of the cold are out there right now. We will speak with the kids at school next week about the importance of hand-washing, but if you could address it at home as well we will all be able to keep distance from the sniffles. Too, our PTC provided amazing meals to keep the teachers going these past two days -- thank you very much!

Finally, I'd like to encourage participation in the week's Superintendent's State of the District Briefing, scheduled for 7:00 on Wednesday evening. Dr. MacNamara began (or reinvigorated) this tradition last year and it is an important part of our community engagement process.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 10/2/11

The Brand New* (Again) Fall Carnival was a hoot. Such a wonderful community event, and impeccably planned, as always. I got a bit wet, but the dunk tank crew was kind and blessed me with warm water. Once again, props to our fabulous PTC who, last week, brought us anti-bullying crusader and author Trudy Ludwig.

This Wednesday is Walk/Bike/Bus to School Day. I'd like to encourage everybody to participate as they are able. On Wednesday morning we will tabulate which grade level had the most participants and that class will receive a (TBD) age-appropriate activity-based reward.

Don't forget that Friday is a half day for students.

Likewise, Teen Read Week is approaching, and the West Linn library is rolling out some incredibly talented authors on Friday evening. Check it out.

Friday, October 7, 6:30 p.m.
Rain Boots Required YA Author Tour
In celebration of Teen Read Week, the library is hosting a panel of 5 (yes, 5!) authors of books for middle- and high-schoolers. After their presentations there will be a Q & A session, a book giveaway and signing. Books will be available for sale.

Stacey Wallace Benefiel--YA voice/ believable dialogue
Angela Carlie--the importance of place
Lisa Nowak--life experience as research
Rebecca Knight--writing flawed fantasy characters
Laura Elliot--TBA
Parental sign-in / sign-out required

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 10/2/11


The Brand New* (Again) Fall Carnival was a hoot. Such a wonderful community event, and impeccably planned, as always.

I got a bit wet, but the dunk tank crew was kind and blessed me with warm water.

Once again, props to our fabulous PTC who, last week, brought us anti-bullying crusader and author Trudy Ludwig.

This Wednesday is Walk/Bike/Bus to School Day. I'd like to encourage everybody to participate as they are able. On Wednesday morning we will tabulate which grade level had the most participants and that class will receive a (TBD) age-appropriate activity-based reward.


Likewise, Teen Read Week is approaching, and the West Linn library is rolling out some incredibly talented authors on Friday evening. Check it out.

Friday, October 7, 6:30 p.m.
Rain Boots Required YA Author Tour
In celebration of Teen Read Week, the library is hosting a panel of 5 (yes, 5!) authors of books for middle- and high-schoolers. After their presentations there will be a Q & A session, a book giveaway and signing. Books will be available for sale.

Stacey Wallace Benefiel--YA voice/ believable dialogue
Angela Carlie--the importance of place
Lisa Nowak--life experience as research
Rebecca Knight--writing flawed fantasy characters
Laura Elliot--TBA
Parental sign-in / sign-out required

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

L&C International Opportunity

Volunteer with Lewis & Clark College’s International Students with the

Friendship Family & Community of Friends Program

The Lewis & Clark College’s Friendship Family & Community of Friends Program is looking for
local families or individuals (with or without children) to help international students practice their English skills and learn more about US culture and our way of life. Most of the students live on campus, where they spend much of their time with other students. You can help them experience American culture outside a campus environment and increase their real-world language skills.

We match English-language learners with Portlanders for occasional social interaction, friendship, and wider cultural understanding. Volunteers will learn something about a different culture and gain some new perspectives on our own culture.

What do the Volunteers and Students have to say about the program?
  • The program is full of new experiences and great people.
  • We have had a wonderful time…and hope to share Portland with more amazing students.
  • They want to show us the values and traditions Americans have and help us accommodate more easily here.
  • We volunteered to be a friendship family because we were excited for the opportunity to expose our children to other cultures. It has been fun for them. Our student became like
  • a big brother to them and our family plans to visit him in his home country some day.
  • It’s easy for me to spend the time with them like a true family.

The Friendship Family & Community of Friends Program is:

  • Fun for you and your student. Any activity may become a lifelong memory.
  • Inexpensive. You don’t need to spend money unless you choose to. Any activity will be new, different and interesting to your student.
  • Enlightening. You will learn more about cultural similarities and differences than you expected and you'll help a young person get to know the US as we really are.
  • A short-term commitment. Most students are here for one or two semesters.
  • Not time-consuming. You and your student set the guidelines. A couple of hours once or twice a month is fine. You lead a busy life and so will your student.

For more information, please contact:

Laura Mundt, Friendship Family & Community of Friends Coordinator
Academic English Studies
Lewis & Clark College, MSC 125
Portland, OR 97219

e-mail: lmundt@lclark.edu
phone: 503-380-1778

Friday, September 23, 2011

Some Photos -- Life at RGS




Thursday, September 22, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 9/23/11

What's in a photograph?

Plenty, if you're Mr. Black. Much less, if you're me.

I was reminded of this when, the day I returned from spelunking the lava tubes and Ape Caves with our fifth graders, I compared my iPhone pics of the day with Brian's well-framed shots from a year before. The comparison is laughable, really, as those of you who've experienced a year or two with Brian's lens know.

So I've been playing with Instagram, an app that -- if it does nothing else -- makes me feel somewhat creative. I've placed a few shots in the post above.

My real purpose here is to highlight what many of you have noted as you walk into the school in the past weeks. The "History Wall" is a tribute to three eras of Riverdale schools. Brenda Bonnell, initially roped into the design process for her immaculate taste, was asked to curate the dozens of archive boxes full of our community's history. In the end, she created three panels, emblematic of, respectively, the roots of public schooling in Dunthorpe, the rich period in which many of our traditions began, and new beginnings. If you have a moment to appreciate the panels in the front entry hall, please do.

Additionally, our wall of class photos expanded dramatically, thanks to Brenda's efforts to identify hundreds of faces from our past.

And if you have the opportunity to thank Brenda, please do.

Reminders:

  • The playground was updated this weekend.
  • Picture Day is Wednesday the 28th. Order forms will be sent home on Monday. Alternatively, you can go to www.AisAphotography.com and pre-order, using the code "RIVERDALE."
  • Many families have forms missing from our front office. Please help us ensure student safety and smooth operations by responding to a request from Betsy and Karen for any missing pieces.

2nd Annual Whole-School Photo (B. Black)

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 9/18/11

The school year is off and running, and we all are seemingly running to keep up with it! In fact this has been the smoothest start to a school year in my four years, and I look forward to working to make that momentum continue.

For many families, this is the first month *officially* as members of the Riverdale community. But, in truth, because of the Herculean efforts of our PTC, they became an integral part of it long ago. I have never witnessed such an effort to be invitational, informative, and welcoming as is the norm for our new families. And this transitional period keeps getting more and more smooth each year, thanks in large part to Minnie Cooper and Nicole Grayson (neither of whom will be happy to see their names here.) Nonetheless, they, along with all of those who volunteered to "captain" the welcome wagon at each grade level this year, make all the difference in the world for our new families.

But the PTC doesn't stop there. Buzz is building for the "new" (remastered) Riverdale Fall Carnival, scheduled for October 2nd. Look for details soon!

I'd like to share a few details about an upcoming event -- Back-to-School Night is this week, on Tuesday night. We will hold two separate sessions this year, making it easier for families with children in multiple grade levels to hear from their respective teachers. The schedule is listed below. You'll notice that the sessions are very much intended to be a kind of curriculum orientation as opposed to a conference time. Questions about individual children should be reserved for conferences or an appointment in order to share all the relevant information.

One more quick note: out of respect for our neighbors, please refrain from parking on the East side of Breyman, and from using driveways to turn around.

The BTS schedule:

6:30-7:05 Session I
7:25-8:00 Session II
In between the sessions, I welcome you to join us in the Commons for a quick get-together.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- September 5, 2011

Having experienced the "night-before-the-first-day-of-a-school-year jitters/excitement" every single year of my life (my folks were both teachers too) it has transformed in me into a comforting, calming feeling.

The school is ready -- floors gleaming, supplies organized and sorted. The teachers are ready -- far too many of them were in this weekend to add those critical finishing touches. The kids are ready -- or so they graciously tell me. And, I'm pretty sure you are ready.

So let's have a tremendous year!

I will touch on these rather broad themes in more detail in the weeks to come, but I want to outline some of the thoughts percolating in our heads as we launch the school year.

School Culture and Character Education will continue to be an area of focus. We started this effort last year and we have even more work to do this year. The Leadership elective is a really strong element of this effort. Teams of teachers at each level have been engaged in dialogue about how we can do a better job of reaching out to children, noticing them, and supporting their personal efforts.

Innovation is a word bandied about quite a bit lately, but its relevance for our kids has never been more clear to me after hearing Dr. Yong Zhao speak to faculty and community last week. Apropos, then, that this Fall sees the advent of Destination Imagination and Lego Robotics teams.

Curriculum is another key ingredient. Adoption of new standards for English language arts and math over the course of these next several years -- beginning in earnest this year -- and our configuration changes toward multi-age grouping, are catalysts for a full review of our curricular offering.

We'll be gathering under the covered play area tomorrow morning to greet the children. Posters are up marking their gathering points. we really enjoyed walking into the building together last year on the first day of school, and will be repeating that experience on the first morning this year.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Welcome Back!

I've been putting off writing this note for a few days now, knowing that it means the inevitable has come to be -- summer's unofficial end is here.

In the last few weeks children have been spotted in our hallways, helping us all to remember just why it is we are here.

I would like to encourage you to consider attending the keynote speakers Dr. MacNamara has lined up for the first day of faculty orientation. You all know and love Sylvia Gaes who will be kicking off our year in the morning. Dr. Yong Zhao will be speaking at 3:30 this Tuesday afternoon in the Commons. His book, Catching Up or Leading the Way has been on my bedside table all summer.

I'll write next week with a more substantive theme in terms of where our focus will be for the school year, but today's post is mostly logistical updates. The following are updates on a number of key housekeeping items.

Registration Paperwork

We held the first ever Registration Fair last week in an effort to capture as much of the beginning-of-the-year paperwork as possible. It was a success, and will be better next year based on what we've learned. If you have not yet dropped off registration paperwork, and would like to do so prior to the first day, you can find everything on the website and can drop off with Betsy any day this week.

Warranty Work

We're at the one-year mark, and the building has been alive with sub-contractors working to tweak our systems and fix any errors we discovered through the first year. Some of that work will continue through the next week, including some additional shelving in the library.

Playground Closure

The playground will be closed this week, from Tuesday through Friday, as we are repairing some items and raising the height of others. New specialized chips will be blown in on Friday making it as safe as possible.

7-8 Elective Selections

7th and 8th graders will receive elective selection forms on the first day of school. They will bring them home to be signed before returning on Wednesday.

5-6 Back to School and St. Helens Field Study Info

The fifth grade field study to St. Helens will be on September 20-23 this year. This means we will have to hold the Back-to-School curriculum event on September 15 for 5th and 6th grade only, ahead of time. It will begin at 3:45 and go until about 4:30. Following, there will be an informational session for 5th grade parents regarding St. Helens trip details.

Athletics

Interested in playing soccer or volleyball this Fall? All the forms are available online here. Contact your coaches ASAP:

6-8 Boys: Gavin Morton and Chad McHenry
6-8 Girls Soccer: Leslie Charuhas and Denise Gooding
6-8 Girls Volleyball: Sara Brounstein

New Clubs at Riverdale

We have two new opportunities for Riverdale students beginning this Fall: Destination Imagination (contact Michelle Janke) and Lego Robotics Competition Team (contact Don Volonte at donvolonte@comcast.net).

Other Dates to Remember:
  • PTC back to School Coffee will be at 8:30 in the Commons
  • Ice Cream Social is September 8th on the playground.
  • Pre-K and Kinder First Day is September 12!
  • Jazz Under the Stars is September 14th at 6:00.
  • Back to School Night (for all but 5-6) on September 20.
  • Picture Day is Wednesday the 28th.
I'm sure I missed something, but that should cover most of what you need to know for the first days of school. Honestly, I had a wonderful summer but I can't wait to have the kids back!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- June 10, 2011

Wow. What a year!

Bless you all for sending us your precious children, and for the love and support you give so freely.

Strangely, today did not at all feel like a last day of school, but rather some random Friday in the Spring. I hope to write a more thorough cap to this year, but need some time to digest and reflect.

Two important notes I think are worth mentioning.

Your child's sweatshirt? It's here in the lobby on a hanger -- stop by next week to grab it. We'll donate the leftovers on Friday.

And the field -- it was repaired today. To help with the much-needed grow-back period, we will be watering very aggressively for two weeks. Please help us by staying off the areas marked with stakes, and yourselves stay dry by running when you hear the sprinklers sputter to life every few hours or so.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- June 3, 2011

According to my in-box, the chances are ... I owe you an email.

And my aim is to deliver on that by the end of the weekend, via a personal note back or an "faq2.o" sort of update.

In the meantime, magical things keep on going on in this community.

The music concert last evening was tremendous. An electric-guitar-accompanied version of Stairway to Heaven with a trio of 8th grade soloists -- tuba, french horn, sax -- need I say more? Great choral presentations. RHS Jazz Band. By far, the best concert I've seen here in three years.

Tonight the third graders open their part in the Zimbabwean Art Project. They've put in a spectacular amount of work with their teachers and Ms. Helmsworth, and it shows.

The talent show today was punctuated by Graham J. bringing down the house with his version of Free Falling and Trevor's drum solo finale.

The 8th graders pulled off a clean sweep in the tug-of-war today. Everyone is looking forward to Field Day tomorrow.

And, guess what? I have another survey for you. We are currently planning for two ladies soccer teams, two for the fellows as well, and one Lady Falcon volleyball team. We need to verify that interest through this survey. It will also go out to parents of new-to-us students in the rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Please click through to indicate interest in a Fall sport for athletic director Rob Pridemore.

Cheers and I'll see you on the green!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- June 1, 2011

These ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ speak to the current reduction in force and the ongoing planning for Riverdale’s continued development. I hope they are helpful and informative.


Can you please outline the effects of the 3.3 FTE reduction at the Grade School?

The reductions are as follows:

  • 2.0 classroom teachers (Holly Westphal and Tod Johnston)
  • 0.2 music
  • 0.2 art
  • 0.2 counselor
  • 0.5 pe
  • 0.2 library* (This portion of the librarian position was funded by Federal stimulus dollars, and was previously reduced.)

What was the process of arriving at these decisions?

This process has been incredibly thorough. I realize one of the side effects is that it has been difficult to wait for information. However, making sound decisions was the top priority, followed by sharing personally the difficult news for our wonderful faculty members most directly impacted by the reduction.

I applied a triple lens to this process, with each stemming from a core component of our school identity -- Class Size, Arts Integration, & Strong Academics. The School Board’s recommended class size caps have been honored to align with our sense of what is academically and socially possible for students and the strength of the relationships they engender between students, families, and teachers. I wanted to protect program wherever possible and was able to do so around the visual and performing arts, which are a lynch-pin of our identity. Both of these contribute to the strength of our academic program. Bolstering that program even further, was the final lens. Moving toward a more defined school-wide literacy program, including making use of our literacy specialist to greater degree is an example of the outcome of my decisions.

The process was undertaken very seriously, with full awareness that our reduction impacts the lives and livelihoods of some amazing teachers. I remained focused, too, on ensuring that our students would be least impacted.


What are the impacts on the specials? Will my child still have art, music, and PE?

The reduction of classrooms of students in the primary and intermediate levels results in a reduction of time we need specialists; thus, the reduction in FTE. Students will still have these specials, though – in the case of PE – the classroom teacher will deliver one-half of the instruction.


Can you outline the configuration changes including multi-age classrooms?

Kindergarten:
  • Students in the “full day” option will now remain in the same classroom rather than transitioning classrooms at mid-day.
First & Second Grades:
  • Single first grade section (class size of ~21)
  • Single second grade section (class size of ~21)
  • One multi-age classroom (class size of ~18)
Third & Fourth Grades:
  • Single third grade section (class size of ~20)
  • Single fourth grade section (class size of ~20)
  • Two multi-age classrooms (class sizes of ~18)
Fifth & Sixth Grades:
  • Three multi-age sections (class sizes of 24)
Seventh & Eighth Grades:
  • Same staffing configuration
  • Potential move to 6th period day, lengthening academic time, reducing study halls

What supports will be available to teachers working in muti-age environments?

Our staff development time in the next year will be extremely tightly focused on curriculum and configuration. Faculty will be allowed time to plan collaboratively and specialists will be provided to assist with and enhance the Language Arts program. In addition, I have experience teaching in a multi-graded classroom, as does our superintendent, and I will be assisting in mentoring and providing leadership in operating multi-age classrooms as smoothly as our single-age classrooms. I’ve asked the PTC to support us in our configuration changes, and they’ve set aside budget to do so. (Thank you, PTC Board!)


Will we be able to give input into the placement of our children?

Yes. You will shortly receive an email link to a survey designed to capture all of the information we customarily collect with the addition of a simplified Likert scale focused on multi-age classroom placement for students at 1-2 and 3-4. We will work diligently to place students in accord with your wishes in this regard, keeping in mind that there are multiple aspects to arranging healthy classes. I anticipate this survey to go out Wednesday, with a due date of Monday.

The survey for rising 1st-4th grade students (in 2011-2012) can be found here.
The survey for rising 5th-8th grade students (in 2011-2012) can be found here.


When will you post class lists?

We plan on posting class lists, as usual, on the afternoon of the last teacher work day, Tuesday June 14th.


How will decisions be made about what students will be in multi-age vs. single-grade classrooms?

The class placement process will follow the same procedure we typically employ, with an added layer. We will send the surveys out next week. One change is that the survey will now be electronic. The other is that it now includes a query regarding your feelings related to multi-age classrooms, including a deferral option (wherein you may select to defer to the judgment of the teaching team). As per usual, this is critical input, and we will do our very best to make balanced classrooms that reflect family input. However, given our few economies of scale, it may be impossible to honor 100% of your requests.


When will we know the staff configuration for next year?

The staffing of homerooms will be as follows for the 2011-2012 school year:

K - Sara Brounstein
1- Pam Anderson
2- Lynn Evans
1-2 Multi-Age - Debbie Gorenstein
3- Jennifer Schulz
4- Sharon Whitehill
3-4 Multi-Age A – Todd Migchelbrink
3-4 Multi-Age B - Michelle Sager
5-6 Team: Larissa Reece, Dietrich Nebert, Brian Black
7-8 Team: Jeff Robinson, Angela Dawes, Jill Leve, Nick Hershman, Bill Mandis


How will the curriculum be taught in multi-age classrooms? Will the units of study for each grade be taught separately, combined into a multi-age curriculum, or somewhere in between?

Teachers are in the process of working collaboratively to address teaching in a multi-age classroom. We already group students according to ability to some extent in language arts and mathematics. New standards are being implemented State-wide in the next year, increasing academic expectations and providing our school with an opportunity for growth and development in these areas. We will be providing a 90 minute common language arts block and utilizing our resident Reading Specialist and a consultant to build this program.

Specifically, and more to the question, there are aspects of our curriculum that lend themselves to grade-level-specific grouping, while for more thematic units of study will, in some cases, be taught on an A-B cycle.


Are there effects on the 5-6 curriculum?

For some aspects of the curriculum at 5-6 students will be grouped by grade. Molly Scholz, for instance, needs to see the 5th graders alone as they discover their instruments for the first time. The three teachers, then, will retain their primary identities as subject-specific specialists, teaching multi-age groups of students for some subjects, while grouping by grade level for others.


I’ve heard we may be able to accommodate enough students at the 5/6 level to warrant adding back a staff member. Is there a possibility of adding back a 5/6 classroom?

This is a very remote possibility that we are currently monitoring. Currently, it does not appear financially feasible. However, we are keeping this option open.


What is the plan for pre-K and K? Will they be full day programs? How will we ensure an outstanding curriculum at this important entry point?

Kindergarten will include the full-day option (assuming sufficient interest by the June 1st deadline), and those children will remain in the same classroom with Ms. B, allowing for far more continuity and meaningful learning opportunities as a result.

The goal with Pre-K was to have sufficient interest in all-day to make that a possibility. There is still hope that will be the case, but it is looking more likely that the “all-day” days will be Tuesday and Thursday, with the am portion available five days of the week. The morning option is nearly full! More detailed information on Pre-K will go out to those families directly in the coming days and weeks. we are also able to welcome young students from other districts, so please spread the word.


How will we continue to market Riverdale even after these decisions are made/announced?

We will continue to market our school as a place where strong academics, deep relationships, and arts integration are central to our school community. I can confidently say that these changes do not deteriorate the program we offer, and will enhance the academic program we offer. In fact, we have a real opportunity to grow professionally through this experience. I say this knowing the personal toll some faculty have experienced this week, and without any effort to dismiss that experience. And my approach is that change, approached correctly, breeds ingenuity and innovation. We need to be constantly seeking ways to improve and embrace innovation, creativity, and the cutting edge of what we know about how children learn and what will prepare them for the future. Our school is blessed to have unwavering community support, strong leadership, and talented faculty who are dedicated to the education of our children.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Aid for Japanese Schools in Ishinomaki, Japan

I want to post a big 'thank you' to Erica and Grover Naito-Campbell and the Nickerson family for providing opportunities for our students to contribute to the rebuilding efforts in Japan.

Erica left this weekend with thousands of origami hearts created by RGS students, designed to lift the spirits of Japanese students!


And the Nickersons are hosting a wonderful event, the details of which are shared below:


Aid for Japanese Schools in Ishinomaki, Japan


Experience the exciting Japanese Takohachi Drummers
&
Listen as Sanae Ito shares pictures & stories from her recent trip back to her devastated hometown of Ishinomaki, Japan.

Join us for a very special fundraiser
to aid in the rebuilding of
Inshinomaki schools damaged or destroyed by the recent earthquake and tsunami
in Japan.

June 5, 2011
4-6 pm
The Nickersons, 11175 SW Riverwood Road
Portland, OR 97219


Learn Japanese origami folding, discover your Asian zodiac sign, make and eat sushi and bid on wonderful silent auction items!

Please let us know you’re coming by emailing: chsnickerson@aol.com


This event was organized because a friend of ours is from Ishinomaki and recently returned to care for her parents who were injured in the Earthquake. They are quite elderly and were without electricity, heat, water and telephone reception for five days in the second story of their home before someone rescued them.

When Sanae returned to Japan she was shocked by the condition of the schools. Fifty-six of the 61 schools in her city were either destroyed or heavily damaged. Sanae took many photos and will share them with us on June 5th.

We are not professional party planners but couldn’t sit back and hear Sanae’s stories without being moved to action.

At this point we have the wonderful entertainment mentioned above and silent auction items such as a signed Blazer Basketball, McCormick and Schmick’s gift certificate, custom-made jewelry, to name a few. We welcome any items for the auction and donations large or small for the Ishinomaki schools.

Most importantly, we want all of our neighbors to join us on June 5th for a fun event for the whole family.
The Takohachi Drum group will play their drums plus do dances from the Ishinomaki area. They promise a fun program and will be bringing educational materials for school age kids.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 5/22/11

Last Thursday evening a dozen or so parents and their kids gathered in the commons to find out more about Destination Imagination, a competitive/creative design-focused program. We were blessed to have the State Champion team present a q&a accompanied by a demonstration of the program. They put our kids (and their parents) through the paces of a design challenge.

The picture above shows a team of Riverdale parents attempting to use the scant materials available to raise an apple as high off a table as possible. And, by 'attempting' I mean 'failing miserably.'

I strongly encourage families looking for after school activities for their children to check it out. Michelle Janke is happy to talk you through the steps necessary to start a team (painless), the costs associated (not much -- THANK YOU PTC!), and the benefits (many).

I am personally thrilled that this is taking off just now. Everything I read about the next twenty years in education suggests that what we need most of all is a sense of redirection in terms of allowing children access to creative outlets. To that end I believe Destination Imagination, LEGO Robotics, and the ilk, are precisely the kind of activity we need more of down the road.
____

Speaking of creativity...

Mrs. Molly Scholz will be presenting the Spring K-4 Music Concert in the gym this Thursday evening, and I encourage you attend! Molly's work with the entire scope of our student body is incredible, and I always leave the concerts knowing something new about the developmental process of music education.
____

It seems we are facing economic challenges the likes of which have rarely been seen here. The fact is, the world has been dealing with these challenges for three full years now. We have been buttressed by the more stable platform this community chooses to implement to support its children -- generous giving to the Foundation and PTC, a local option levy whose support never seems to waver, increasing numbers of families realizing the differences of the program and coming to us on a tuition basis. I appreciate your patience as we work through the finer points of the reduction in force that was announced in the last school board meeting and discussed at length in the budget process.

You can expect a great deal of forthcoming information about some programmatic changes, especially as it relates to the combination of "singleton" and "multi-age classrooms" in primary, and the adjustments of moving from four to three positions at the 5-6 level. I'd like to invite you to reply here with any and all questions you may have, in order that I might post responses to as many as possible in the short term. I realize there may be additional questions which come to mind once the reduction is formalized, and will post subsequent requests down the road.
_____

I would like to close by acknowledging the grace and poise our faculty continues to show through this process. I lead tours through the school at unprecedented levels and am constantly reminded of the professional dignity and capacity of this staff. I am blessed to work with them, and for your children. Looking forward to a dynamic and fun-filled last three weeks!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Deja Vu -- All Over Again

Last year, on May 16th, I wrote that:

"Patricia T. ... won the Multnomah County Spelling competition, and will be competing in the State event in Salem!"

Well, today is the 10th, but not much has changed. She went ahead and won again.

I'd also like to congratulate Peter B. for his participation in the Multnomah County Spelling Bee today -- thanks for representing us so well!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Coming Soon to RGS -- Destination Imagination

Parents,

I hope you will help me promote this opportunity to launch Destination Imagination, a design-based challenge for teams of children.

Do you want your child to develop creative problem solving skills? Are you looking for a way to unleash his or her imagination, develop teamwork skills, and nurture research and presentation skills? Come learn about Destination Imagination (DI), a project-based after-school activity like no other. Teams of up to 7 students solve mind-bending challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments.

Attend the Informational Meeting for parents and students grades K-8 on Thursday, May 19 at 6:00pm in the RGS Commons.


Members from the 2010 State Champion DI team as well as the DI Regional Director will share more about Destination Imagination and answer your questions about starting a team. Check out the DI website at www.oregondi.org or contact Michelle Janke at mhjanke@yahoo.com for more information.

Principal's Newsletter 5/8/11

The International Space Station landed on Friday. Congratulations fifth graders for docking it so deftly in the covered play area.

The last week was an absolute whirlwind, with school buses coming and going, taking our kids to fields studies and other learning opportunities off-site. And this next week will only see more. Just as 6th graders wrapped up their field study on Friday, our 7th graders depart for Numanu on Monday and the eighth graders on Tuesday for Ashland. 5th graders will explore the capitol this week, just as 2nd graders check out OMSI and 1st graders Jackson Bottom. The 6th grade choral students and instrumental soloists are performing at a senior care facility on Monday afternoon.

One thing that is relatively universal is that, when I visit a field study, one or more of the organizers, hosts, or counselors will want to talk about how polite and respectful the Riverdale kids are. It s a real pleasure to agree.

Last week Jeff Robinson complimented the eighth grade for the way they represented themselves and their school while they were at the Multnomah County Courthouse "trying" Dred Scott in front of a judge. The judge, too, earnestly complemented the composure and skill of our young lawyers.

I am grateful for the opportunities these kids have to extend the walls of our school into the community, but also to their parents and teachers for working with them to develop into such great ambassadors for their school and community.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- April 22, 2011


What an incredibly beautiful day! Our first ever Sustainability Fair was a huge success. The LEED Gold plaque is sitting on my desk, confirmation that this building is a remarkable space in which to learn and work every day.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 4/17/11

Friday is Earth Day.

We chose to schedule our inaugural Sustainability Fair on Earth Day for a variety of reasons.

  1. The construction of the new school was grounded, from the earliest days, in principles of sustainable design. The original goal was certification by the U.S. Green Building Council as meeting the LEED Silver level award. We met Gold instead, which is a metaphor for the success of the project overall. We will celebrate this achievement with an assembly Friday morning at 9:00, as we launch the Sustainability Fair.
  2. We have chosen to use the building itself as a teaching tool; the Fair is a way for students to share their learning with one another and the community.
  3. This week is also "Screen Free Week." We love the concept of minimizing screen-time, both at school and at home during the week.
  4. It's a great way to cross-promote the Bike Drive happening this Saturday on campus!

Here are some details about the Sustainability Fair this Friday. Please plan to join us for a walk-through with your child's class!
  • Friday the 22nd is a half-day for students. Dismissal is at noon.
  • 9:00 all-school assembly in the Commons to celebrate the LEED Gold award.
  • 9:30-10:00 -- K-2 Tours the Fair (in the gym)
  • 10:00-10:30 -- 3-4 Tours the Fair (in the gym)
  • 10:30-11:00 -- 5-6 Tours the Fair (in the gym)
  • 11:00-11:30 -- 7-8 Tours the Fair (in the gym)
  • 12:00 dismissal
See you on Friday!

THANK YOU!!!

If Springtime truly will not come, at least it pretended to do so within the walls of Riverdale Grade School last week.

  • On Tuesday we received flowers, which are still making our homes cheerier places.
  • On Wednesday it was a collection of home-made cards that filled our desk-tops. (Mine is still dusted with blue glitter -- thank you third graders!)
  • On Thursday a bag of delicious fruit arrived.
  • And, on Friday, we were treated to a wonderful luncheon. (I told folks on tours that we do this every week ;)

A simple "Thank you!" will have to suffice, but it can never quite pin down what it feels like to be so honored by the community. Thanks to all who participated in making our week so fantastically decadent.

-j

Friday, April 1, 2011

Principal's Newsletter April 1, 2011

Sometimes I wish you all could see what I see, hear what I hear, in our school.

Wednesday afternoon was one of those times. I think I've written before of our professional development model -- study teams focus on topics of interest and importance and then have the responsibility to lead the rest of the faculty through meaningful learning experiences. The model was designed to give faculty a voice and direction in their learning, and also accountability to one another. The other day, that is exactly what happened.

Four of our teachers, focused this year on School Culture, led us through an activity called "Small Moments that Matter." From the title you can likely infer that the work revolved around finding effective and appropriate responses to the dozens of potential "teachable moments" we encounter when working with children every week. Sometimes the trouble with character ed programs or speakers is that they don't go deeply enough into real, actionable, moments. But this was the antithesis. I was so energized by the thoughtful care put forward by every teacher as they struggled through tough situations -- real situations -- and carefully put together meaningful adult responses which leave children impacted and better able to navigate in the future. I just wish you could have been there!
______________

On the theme of caring, last time I wrote asking for suggestions for what our students could do to assist schoolchildren in Japan affected by the earthquake. We've zeroed in on a plan, thanks especially to Erica Naito-Campbell and Grover, Tammy Sutter, and Maya Klein.

The recent earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan have left many school children in need of not only physical items, such as basic supplies, but also emotional support. Riverdale Grade School students will be making origami hearts with messages of support and caring for school-age children in Japan, with a goal of sending thousands of Paper Hearts by the end of April. Seventh and eighth grade leadership students will teach other students how to make the hearts, and those messages will be given to a local nonprofit group to be sent to Japan.

In addition, Dr. MacNamara is working to establish a conduit for Riverdale families to support those devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.

___________

Coming Up Next Week

And, later in the month...author visit from RGS parent David Michael Slater!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Value of a Semicolon

I've just come home from the screening (presented along with Lewis & Clark's Graduate School of Education) of the acclaimed edu-documentary Race to Nowhere.

My mind is racing a bit, so I thought I'd knock out some thoughts to continue what was a vibrant, impassioned, and thoughtful dialogue begun after the closing credits. (The three Riverdale High School students who participated in the panel dialogue were especially impressive. I was also very proud to see at least four RGS-ers in the crowd.)

In sum, and before I begin, I should share that while about 60% of the film spoke to places deep within me, another 40% was troubling and turned me off.

The documentary begins and ends with the stirring story of a beautiful young lady whose life ended with her suicide, which her mother attributes to the pressures she felt associated with school. Clearly, listening to the anguish of this mother bemoan the meaninglessness of the anxieties her daughter faced is excruciating. I can think of no worse situation. Too, much of the research mentioned in the film is gratefully presented here, on the website. The professors featured, many of them out of Stanford University, were especially thoughtful in their critiques of American schooling. The film's final frames exhort the viewers to advocate for reforms in the way we approach education in our nation. These recommendations really resonated with me, especially because they rolled back some of the more rhetorically exasperated content sprinkled throughout. For these reasons I really recommend you find a showing and set aside the 90 minutes to watch the documentary.

But there are a few things I find disturbing about what is, at times, a reductionist view of an incredibly complex social issue -- that is to say, the film seems to simultaneously pit the viewer against the vagaries of: teachers, homework, conservatives, involved and motivated parents, etc., all in the name of highlighting the truism that our current model of educating children quite often exacerbates social ills like illegal drug use and cheating. Early on, for instance, an English teacher tosses out a comment about the relative lack of importance she places on the semicolon. It's in relation to something quite important, like knowing about her students' lives, but still, she throws the semicolon under the proverbial bus with surprisingly detached contempt.

I have a special fondness for the semicolon; it allows us to go in more than one direction nearly simultaneously, and to hold sometimes paradoxical thoughts together with grace.

Homework, especially, became a hot topic in the panel discussion period. But homework was not the central theme of the film at all. Getting rid of homework is not the message of the film. I personally believe in developing an ethos of practice and patient focus. At the same time, I freely acknowledge that we don't always assign practice work that is worthy of your family's precious time. We, like many school communities, need to work on that.

The value of a documentary like Race to Nowhere, much like Waiting for Superman, is not in the solutions it offers, but in the mirror it provides. I'm very grateful to Dr. MacNamara, Jody Haagenson, and the folks at L&C for giving us a forum for reflection. Practice, reflection, and improvement are what school ought to be, and what it most often is in our little school. And, thanks to our wonderful faculty, our kids know well how to use a semicolon.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sendai

The imagery of the devastation in Japan leaves me breathless.

While what we can do to help the people of Japan -- most especially the school children in Sendai -- will pale relative to the degree of the trauma, we need to do something.

We have three school days remaining before the break. I'd like to invite any suggestion for avenues we can use to be helpful, and simultaneously teach our own children about the ethics of empathy and responsible social action.

Please take a moment to email me with suggestions so that, when we return from the break, we can make a concerted, meaningful, focused effort.

Thank you.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- March 11, 2011


This week's newsletter is going out a bit early -- I know some folks are going out of town for the weekend and I wanted to reach out ahead of time. In writing this I'm reminded I used to send these out Friday afternoons rather than Sunday evenings. I'll try to switch back.

There are the usual notices:
  • Conference Sign-Up sheets are in the office -- Thursday and Friday are the dates.
  • Lost and Found will be donated (after we search for names) during the break.
  • The trimester ended today!
Some less usual announcements:

Spirit Week:
Monday, March 14th – Pajama Day!!

Tuesday, March 15th – Decade Day- Dress in your favorite decade or a mixture of a few- Poodle skirts, tied-died duds, disco wear etc.

Wednesday, March 16th– Wacky Day!!! - Wear your wackiest outfit!!

Please remember to respect the dress code
Pi-Day (or near-abouts): Next Tuesday (March 15th) There is an opportunity for 15 6-8th grade students to attend a Pi Day celebration at Lewis and Clark. Students in attendance will participate in the following events.

1) PROBLEM SOLVING: A traditional math competition set up with individual and team events. Hopefully, students in the math department with create new challenge questions in a similar format to the Math Counts competitions to facilitate problem solving rather than problem remembrance. We also hope to assign a Lewis and Clark student to each group to work with the students.

2) PI RECITATION: This will be for students to memorize digits of pi. There will be prizes for those who can remember the most.

3) PIE EATING: Timed pi eating contest. This will be for students and coaches.

4) PIE BAKING: Will be judged by L&C math professors

5) CIRCLE DRAWING: drawing a circle of a given diameter free-hand. Points will be given for accuracy.


The event is scheduled between noon and 2:30. We would need to leave school around 11:40 or so and will probably return by 2:45-3.

If you would like your student to participate please send me an email at nhershman@riverdale.k12.or.us.
Track & Field News from Mr. Nebert:

Informational Meeting (for parents and athletes):
Tuesday – March 15, 2011 - meet in Mr. Nebert's room (#209) @ 3:45 - 4:15

Jackson track clinic is this Saturday from 1:00 – 3:30 pm. This is just a chance for the kids to see what track is about, no serious training. There will be five rotations: distance running (all on the Jackson grounds), field events (shot, discus & turbo jav), long jump (and possibly high jump if it’s nice and dry), sprints and relays, and hurdles. At least two of the Wilson coaches will be helping out and they are bringing high school track kids to help out with the different events so we’ll have some extra help. Dietrich is bringing Wilson Obegeide (silver medalist in the 1992 Olympics in Atlanta) to work with sprinters. We’ll start setting up around noon and I expect kids around 12:45. Hope to see you and some of your track stars on Saturday.

And another thought...

Namely, the first signs of Spring are emerging here on campus. I took a moment to snap a badly framed shot from the North corner of our campus yesterday (Brian Black I am not). The moment gave me time to reflect on how quickly this year is flying by. And things here really get going in the Spring -- Field Studies, Field Day, Talent Show, Music Concerts, District Arts Night, Promotion...hang on tightly!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Principal's Newsletter March 7, 2011

I have the best job in the world.

OK, so there's some email involved, but on nights like this past Friday night, and this coming Thursday night, it's clear to me that I really do.

All that I can really say about Cabaret is that, when I wasn't grinning ear-to-ear I was wiping tears away. I imagine that I'll be experiencing similar emotions at the concert on Thursday night as well. The kids work so incredibly hard to perform for their parents and friends. I don't tell them enough how proud they make us all -- my goal for the week is to let them know.

The week's calendar is linked here, but don't miss the Speaker on Tuesday night (thank you PTC!) and the concert on Thursday (thank you Molly!)

Monday, February 28, 2011

*Update on Solo Contests from this Weekend*

From Molly Scholz:
Our students were FABULOUS at Solo Contest this weekend. With "I" being the highest rating - superior - out of our 6 entrants, four got "I+" and two got "I". The adjudicator was extremely complimentary about all of the singing and said "there must be something in the water at Riverdale" - she was so impressed with how they sounded and how professionally they carried themselves. We're all on cloud nine!
Wow!!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Hit Explosion was Just That

What a wonderful event the PTCs put together last night. It was record-setting in terms of turnout, and a brilliant experiment with a fun new model for supporting our schools.

Spelling Bee Winners!

Congratulations to our top three finishers in the K-5 Spelling Bee!

1st Place: Peter B.
2nd Place: Angus G.
3rd Place: Katherine B.

Peter will represent us at the next level of competition.

Principal's Newsletter 2/27/11

Early spring is the traditional time for school districts all over the nation to hold their annual Vocal and Instrumental Solo/Ensemble Festivals. These festivals are for students who participate in school music
programs and who are motivated to compete against other music
students in a District-wide festival.

Students prepare a solo or ensemble piece and perform it in front of a professional adjudicator. The adjudicator gives the student comments and a rating, from I (the highest) to V (the lowest). When entering at the high school level, students can compete for a State title.

This year Riverdale Grade School has six students entering the District 14 Vocal Solo/Ensemble Festival held at Wilsonville High School on Saturday, February 26th. Participating are 8th grader Jenna P. and 6th graders Michael F., Genevieve K., Lucie K., Lindsey S. and Isabel P.

The District 14 Instrumental Solo/Ensemble Festival will be at
Newberg High School on Saturday, March 5th. Riverdale Grade School has 14 students entered: 6th graders Simon C., Charlotte F., Timmy G., Wade K., Suzanna L., Eric P., Derek S.; 7th graders Brian G., Jack H. and Liam O.; and 8th graders Cole B., David H., PJ H. and Julia P.
________________________
Coming Events!

(Including 6th grade hoops, Cabaret, field trips, etc.)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- February 21, 2011

The buzz about the events of the next few weeks is really beginning to build. The other evening I had the opportunity to swing by a Cabaret rehearsal. The energy is absolutely breathtaking. The vast majority of 7th and 8th graders, as well as dozens of parent volunteers, are contributing to what will be an incredible series of performances.

The 7-8 boys have made the basketball playoffs and will meet OES this week in first round action.

Continuing in a line of great programming directed at Riverdale parents, the PTC is hosting Diane Gans this Thursday evening to speak about helping girls develop healthy relationships (Thursday night @ 7:00 in the Commons.) Each of the events has been successively better attended. I really urge our families to take advantage of this opportunity!

And, of course, Hit Explosion is just around the corner.

_____

A note about dogs on the field -- it is critically important that we maintain a high level of security for our children. When children are present, especially just as they arrive and are leaving campus, dogs must be on a leash. We have a great group of dog owners who are responsible for their pets and clean up after them, and I appreciate all they have done to keep our kids safe.

____

Bus #83 has been arriving at school just late enough in the mornings that I asked the bus company to adjust upwards by about five minutes. An adjustment like this can be difficult to calibrate exactly, so I'm hopeful that this notice will allow families to plan accordingly.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Principal's Newsletter -- February 13, 2011

This last week was a busy one, and one that gave plenty of opportunity for me to show off the wonderful things that are happening at our school.

At our Open House on Wednesday night I spoke with parents of prospective students about the things I believe make this a special place for learning.
  • Relationships -- the capacity of relationship-building here is as strong as at any school I've ever seen. Teacher-parent-student relationships are at the core of everything that makes us successful.
  • Purpose -- Injecting socially-relevant purpose into the curricula (both explicit and implicit) helps us extend the dialogue past content and into the wider world.
  • Arts Integration -- The arts are connected, not just available. As innovation and concept-development become even more important than they are today, this approach is hugely beneficial.
Here are a few examples from the week, each of which exemplifies exactly the spirit of these respective aspects of our school community.

Relationships




The third graders in Ms. G's room shared their progress in their Egyptian unit of study with the kinders. They proudly displayed cat mummies and personal artifacts, relating the curricular learning to the younger students.







Purpose

Two assemblies on Friday focused on teaching students strategies for identifying, reporting, and avoiding bullying. The actors were from a troupe called "The Power of One," but the most effective actors were our students.









Arts Integration

Second grade parents volunteered to help Ms. Helmsworth with fitting and applying facial masks, which students will use to further their Native American study in the coming weeks.

















Here's what's on tap for the coming week.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Principal's Newsletter 2/6/11 (Super Bowl Edition)

A Principal "Breakthrough"

We are now halfway through the academic year -- hard as it may be to believe. This time of year can be seemingly magical in a student's development of both skills and confidence, especially those in the primary years. For me, it's a thrilling time of year to be spending time in classrooms. I know I've spoken to many parents about the new leaf I've over-turned, but I'd like to share it with you all in this format as well. After attending a seminar (the Breakthrough Coach) for school leaders and administrative assistants, Betsy and I determined to make a few changes to the way we do business. The primary purpose of these changes is to make me a more effective advocate for students, teachers, and families. A few have come more easily than others. But, for me, I've not noticed another strategy that comes close to making the kind of difference we've seen thus far. The change is simple, really:
  • I spend at least two full days in a given week in classrooms, hallways, and the playground. I call them my "lock-out" days. This simple change makes all the difference in the world for me -- it allows me to be present rather than distracted when I'm doing the real work of a principal -- that is, interacting with children and teachers around learning. The other three days are reserved for the clerical, budgetary, and promotional sides of this work.
  • I no longer have a voice-mail. Or, rather, I do. Karen and Betsy are incredibly gracious and helpful in arranging calls and setting the calendar so that I can be more effective.
  • Paper does not pile up in my office. Again, because Betsy is so incredibly organized I am able to make sure the office is relatively immaculate before I head home for the evening.
The changes I am noticing are two-fold. I am more efficient and more reliably able to follow-through, and, at the same time, I am smiling more. There are 327 reasons for those smiles -- our kids are absolutely engaged in their own education, they are supportive friends for one another, and they love their school!


Adopt-a-Cause Efforts

Early in the year I wrote about the "Adopt-a-Cause" efforts I asked teachers to undertake with their classes. As we are halfway through the year, I thought it wise to update you on the decisions the grade levels have come to. Some of the projects are already underway, and others will be coming up soon as Spring emerges. In the meantime I am beginning to plan a "Sustainability Fair" to be held in conjunction with Earth Day on the half day April 22nd. many of the Adopt-a-cause projects will be on display at the fair, along with a number of additional student projects and professional displays. Here are details of the K-4 efforts; I will share the 5-8 projects next week.
  • Kindergarten Kompost demonstrations (Students will study the science of composting, and promote its use in the school and at home.)
  • 1st Grade Paper Towel Project (Students will divert all paper towel waste from the landfill-bound garbage receptacles toward our existing hot compost efforts.)
  • 2nd Grade Beach Clean-Up (As part of the existing Oceans Study in the science curriculum, students will participate in a beach clean-up project.)
  • 3rd Grade Zimbabwean Art Project (Last year was the first time our third graders took part in this great project, which was one of the inspirations for this effort school-wide. This year, the collaboration will continue.)
  • 4th Grade Native Plants vs. Invasive Species (Fourth graders have developed a wonderful project that has immediate impact on our ecosystem. They are removing English Ivy from the hillside, and replacing it with native plants they are grafting from cuttings taken in Tryon Creek State Park.)

Scholastic Art Award Winners!

Art teacher Nancy Helmsworth helps middle school students develop pieces for submission into the Scholastic Art Awards, and this year we have three winners:

PJ H. - plumber gnome - HONORABLE MENTION
Adele E.- Bee salt + pepper - HONORABLE MENTION

Ingrid M.- puppy- SILVER KEY


Science Bowl!

Congratulations to our middle school science bowl teams. Our A team was 3-1 in
the morning and was one of 16 teams that went on to compete in the afternoon double-
elimination rounds. After winning their first game, they lost the next two and were
eliminated. Team B was 2-2 in the morning and did not make it to the double-elimination
rounds in the afternoon. Team A consisted of Dagan B, Brendan E, David H, PJ H, and
Alec N. The B Team included Arthur J, Nate K, Brian L, Quinn M and Erica N. What a
fantastic accomplishment for our 7th and 8th grade students!

The Regional Science Bowl is sponsored by Bonnevile Power Administration
each year and had 57 middle school teams competing for a chance to go to the National
Science Bowl. The competition is a fast-paced question/answer format of science and
math questions, which get more difficult as the day progresses. Its goal is to encourage
interest and career options in science and math by secondary students.

Coming Events (link here to calendar)