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.

4th Graders at Nate Creek Camp -- Field Studies!

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