Principal's Newsletter -- April 16, 2009

This is the "Warmer Weather" themed newsletter.

As the weather improves, which it looks set to do, we encounter two issues. Both involve the shedding of clothing.

The lost and found containers are full now, and with the nicer days even more jackets will be shed every recess. Please claim missing clothing items this week as we will be donating items after the week is behind us. On Friday we will verify that anything with a name attached is distributed and will encourage classes to swing by a more organized array of items as we did in the Winter.

Other clothes are shed -- or rather never donned -- before school on warm weather days. This is one of the quirky parts of being a K-8 school: we have the same dress code expectations across the board. I'll paste in the text below and ask teachers to remind their class as a whole.

According to School Board Policy, "Responsibility for dress and grooming rests primarily with students and their parents. However, the District expects student dress and grooming to meet standards which meet the following conditions:

Midriff covered in all positions, i.e., bending, reaching, etc.

• Tops need to have shoulder straps at least 2” wide
• No cleavage or undergarments showing in all positions
• No clothing that depicts sex, drugs, alcohol, graphic violence or innuendos of such
• Skirts, skorts, shorts, or dress length must be longer than mid-thigh (average could be 4-6 inches above knee)
• Footwear must be worn at all times appropriate to activity
• No hats or hoods can be worn indoors and/or in classrooms
• No pajamas (exception would be Pajama Day)

I'll see everybody at the Children's Author Lecture on Monday night! Tickets are available at the door.

The Coming Week's Calendar

Monday
Budget Committee Meeting 6:00
Children's Author Lecture 7:00

Tuesday
6th Grade Choir Field Trip -- Eugene

Wednesday
Early Release 2:30

Thursday
RGS track meet @ Jackson MS

Friday
RGS track meet @ Catlin Gabel
Author in Residence Franny Billingsly

District homepage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/District/
Grade School homepage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/GradeSchool/
High School homepage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/HighSchool/
Athletics schedules & information: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/Athletics/
Foundation information: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/Foundation/
Grade School PTC webpage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/rgs_ptc/
High School PTC webpage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/rhs_ptc/

Grade 6 Rube Goldberg Project -- Riverdale Goes Viral

Check out what Mr. Nebert and his 6th grade scientists were able to accomplish at the end of their investigation into mechanics and simple machines.

They have begun a YouTube Channel, called 56riverdale. Stay tuned for more video entries!

Principal's Newsletter -- April 3, 2009

Congratulations are due to three outstanding 4th grade writers: Shannon Kehoe, Lindsey Stern, and Isabel Pereira have all received Honorable Mention in the Tall Tale Writing Competition for Tryon Creek State Park. Their winning entries on "How Beaver Helped Build Oregon" will be read on a live radio station, at the Earth Day Celebration at the park on April 26th, and rewarded with a gift certificate at the park Nature House. Please be sure to congratulate our winning writers when you see them.

We are beginning to gear up for a remarkably busy Spring. While this coming week's calendar may look rather empty, it promises to be the proverbial calm before the storm of important events. Personally, I was having a hard time tracking the bigger picture. I'll take this opportunity to ask you to mark your calendars for a number of them.

Children's Author Lecture -- This year's author, John Scieszka, author of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, will speak at the First Congregational Church downtown at 7:00 pm on Monday, April 20th.

District Art Show -- On May 4th, from 6:00-8:00 pm, visual artwork from every arts participating student in the district will e on display!

Cabaret -- The halls are alive with the sound of musical numbers in the late afternoons. Students and teachers are working hard to prepare for the big shows on May 14-16. The 14th will be a dress rehearsal, open to the public at a steeply discounted rate, the show on the evening of the 15th will be the traditional catered dinner theater for families, and the Saturday night show will again accommodate a larger audience. We are expecting a great turnout this year!

Music Concerts -- Our musicians are busily preparing for a number of events: the K-4 concert will be on May 28th and the 5-8 band and choral concert on June 4th. Additionally, the RGS/RHS Jazz Night will be held at the high school on June 1st.

Green-Up Day -- Set for Saturday, May 2nd, the efforts this year will focus on the south parking lot and the invasive ivy on the "back 40."

Field Studies -- 4th grade (May 7 & 8), 6th grade (week of May 10), 7th grade (week of May 18), and 8th grade (week of May 18).

Field Day -- May 30th is the big day!

PTC End of Year Coffee -- June 8.

Awards Assembly -- June 11.

Promotion Ceremony -- June 11.



The Coming Week's Calendar

Monday
PTC Executive Board Meeting 8:45
7th grad RHS Parent Perspective 7:00

Tuesday

Wednesday
3rd grade field trip -- OMSI
Early Release 2:30

Thursday
RGS track restoration 3:30

Friday

District homepage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/District/
Grade School homepage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/GradeSchool/
High School homepage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/HighSchool/
Athletics schedules & information: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/Athletics/
Foundation information: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/Foundation/
Grade School PTC webpage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/rgs_ptc/
High School PTC webpage: http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/rhs_ptc/

Happy Spring Break!