Riverdale High School Open House is Sunday!

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Principal Newsletter -- October 23, 2009

Congratulations to our athletes!

Both the boys' Division I team and the girls' soccer teams are eligible for the playoffs again this year. For this next week this means that:

• Our Division I Boy's Soccer will be hosting a semi-final game at the RGS field (Breyman Ave.) at 4:15 pm on TH 10/29 (they'll leave class at 3:10).
• Our Girl's Soccer team will either: (1) travel to OES Mon., depart at 2:30 p.m. (released from class at 2:20), to play a 3:30 against their Green team
  -or-
• (2) host OES Blue at 4:15 p.m. (release at 3:10) for RGS field (Breyman Ave.)

We are excited to root them on as they seek to continue competing at a very high level! Come join us.


Halloween Parade News

The Halloween Parade tradition continues. At 2:00 students will have a chance to change into costume for a 2:15 kick-off time for the parade.

The route begins at Mr. Sternberg's 2nd grade room, snaking around the primary pod, up the stairs, and through the main hall, picking classes up as it moves along. It then moves outside, returning through the big double doors near the cafeteria. At that point the primary kids return to their classrooms on the left, and everybody else returns to their classroom on the right. Depending on weather, the best place to view will be outside on the playground.

Please help us by reminding students of these guidelines for costumes:

• Save gory and revealing costumes for another venue please!
  
• Weapons, even fake ones, are not appropriate.

Upcoming events:

Monday

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM GS - 2nd Gr. Talk About Trees - Rm. 34

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM GS - 2nd Gr. Talk About Trees - Rm. 38

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM GS Site Council Mtg - Room 6 (Reece)
3:30 PM - Girls' Soccer @ OES* (or Thursday)

Tuesday
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM GS - 3rd & 6th Gr FT - Tryon Creek State Park

Wednesday
8:40 AM - 9:40 AM GS - 2nd Gr. MAD Science: Decomposers - Rm. 38
10:05 AM - 11:05 AM GS - 2nd Gr. MAD Science: Decomposers - Rm. 34

Thursday
4:15 PM GS Div I Boy's Soccer Playoffs Semifinals (RGS -- Opponent TBA)
4:15 PM GS Girls' Soccer @ OES* (or Monday)

Friday
9:00 AM District Athletic Committee Mtg @ HS
2:15 PM Halloween Parade @ Smith

* either/or, not both

Upcoming Events for the week of 10/19

Thank you for your help in making conferences run rather seamlessly. A particular thank you to the parents who spoiled us with meal after meal these two days!


Upcoming events:

Monday

4:15 PM GS Div II Boy's Soccer (away) v Southwest Christian
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM GS Girl's Soccer (home) v Catlin Gabel White

Tuesday
4:15 PM GS Girl's Soccer (home) v Meadowglade
4:50 PM GS Div I Boy's Soccer (away) v OES
4:15 PM GS Div I Boy's Soccer (home) v Portland Adventist

Wednesday


Thursday
4:15 PM GS Div I Boy's Soccer (away) v Meadowglade
4:15 PM GS Girl's Soccer (home) v Catlin Gabel Blue
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (HS) Raising Our Daughters Presentation (RHS Mav. Rm.)

Friday

Principal Newsletter -- October 9, 2009

Just a few notes this time around.

I'd like to introduce the newest member(s) of the Riverdale Grade School family!

Evan Charuhas was born early on Monday morning. In the picture he's holding up four fingers -- perhaps for the four more years until he's in kindergarten here? Karen Roney will be replacing Leslie whilst she is otherwise occupied. She has a wealth of pe experience and comes highly recommended. We couldn't be happier to have found her!


Conferences are coming, next Thursday and Friday.

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.


Update on Air Quality

Portland Public Schools performed air quality testing in and around the classrooms in which we found mold enclosed in walls. The mold was removed safely and disposed of by an abatement contractor. The testing results demonstrate that -- both before and after the abatement -- the air quality inside the school was superior to that outside. Obviously, this was a huge relief to us. We will continue to verify that mold is not in the walls, following the same procedures. Simultaneously, the root cause of this issue -- a failing (flat) roof -- will be fixed by PPS-hired contractors. You will not see drywall and insulation go up prior to the effective remediation of the roof problem. I really appreciate the trust families put in our dedication to maintaining a safe learning environment.

Upcoming events:

Monday

4:00 PM GS 6/7/8 Gr. Girls' VB (home) vs Rivergate
6:00 PM School Board Regular Meeting, HS Library
7:00 PM GS Div II Boy's Soccer (away) v Forest Hills Lutheran

Tuesday
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM GS Picture Retakes
3:30 PM GS Girls' Soccer (away) v OES Blue
4:15 PM GS Div I Boy's Soccer (home) v Portland Adventist

Wednesday
8:45 AM - 12:30 PM GS - Kinder FT - Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM GS - 3rd Gr. FT - Hoyt Arboretum
4:15 PM GS Div II Boy's Soccer game (home) v OES

Thursday
No School -- Conferences
4:00 PM GS - 6/7/8 Girls VB vs. Rivergate @ Home
4:15 PM GS Div I Boy's Soccer (away) v Corbett
5:15 PM GS 6/7/8 Gr. Girls' VB (away) vs Good Shepherd

Friday
No School -- Conferences