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!

Principal Newsletter -- August 28, 2009

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to opening week of the best show this side of I-5! Our three ring circus is nearly ready.

In the first tent -- the primary pod -- K-2 teachers busied themselves this last week putting name-cards on tables and prettying the place up. The five classrooms in this area, as well as the computer lab and resource room, surround the library.

In the second tent -- on the long hall -- each locker is adorned with the name of a 5-8 student, and the coat-hooks await our 3rd and 4th graders. Art and k-4 music are also located along this hall.

In the final tent, churning out registration paperwork like cotton candy, Betsy, Karen and I are ready to help anybody with just about anything. The place looks great, especially relative to a few weeks ago. (Tammy Sutter took it upon herself to adorn our front entrance with flower containers.)


What follows is a bit of last-minute logistical information.


Buses

• Bus routes are posted on the web here.
• Here in the office we do not know which bus your child is taking, or which stop on that route is most appropriate. In previous years we have known this information, but because the routes changed this year we do not. Our most critical role this week -- in terms of student safety -- is to compile an accurate list. We have two methods for tracking this information. One will take place here at school; the other is home-based. When children exit the bus they will be given a colored sticker, which will be handed to the teacher. It will be very helpful if you will also email Betsy with the route and stop information for your child, regardless of whether they ride during the first few days. (We anticipate that some families with younger kids will want to drive for the first few days. The neighborhood association folks know this and absolutely understand we will have more of an impact in the first week or so of school.

• The activity bus will leave Smith at 5:15 to accommodate our athletic teams. This is a change (from 5:00) and is reflected on the route schedule here.

Driving to Smith

The simple version of the parent driving directions are:

In:
Terwilliger across I-5
Left on Barbur
Veer Right on Taylor's Ferry
Right on 50th
Left on Marigold
Left on 52nd

(Now you'll be in "The Drop Zone." Pull all the way forward, up to the last sign, and unload your car. Airport rules apply here. If you'd like to stop and get out of the vehicle, please pull much farther forward.)

Out:
Left on Orchid (first left)
Left on 45th (at the T)
Right on Multnomah.


H1N1

We are very much aware of the potential this fall for global concerns around what has been termed "swine flu." In the coming weeks we will be issuing a series of reminders -- around the importance of hand-washing, making decisions about staying home vs. coming to school -- in order to keep our community informed and healthy. At school, our emphasis will be on healthy living habits most directly, especially for younger children.

I'd like to close by issuing a simple note of thanks to the faculty and support staff. It is no exaggeration to say that everybody pitched in to get us to this point, and the pride I feel around the amount of work they accomplished in a short period of time is unsurpassed in my experience. This group of professionals is truly exceptional, the best I've had the privilege to know.

Here we go! This is a grand adventure, and we're all feeling grateful that your children will be here soon to share it with us.