Please save the date for Riverside School's Annual Fall Fundraiser which will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 7:00pm. This year we will be celebrating "Go Red for Riverside" in the private indoor/outdoor event space at The Village in Stamford, overlooking the marina. Tickets will go on sale soon. 

We need help with donations! Please contact Alston Calabrese or Allie Hilton with any donation-experiences (boat outings, concert or play tickets, workout memberships, trips, wine, etc.)! 

As an extension of our 2022 Summer Read program, R. J. Palacio, New York Times bestselling author of the books Wonder and We’re All Wonders paid our 1st-5th grade students a virtual visit today.  

Her debut novel, Wonder, has been on the New York Times bestseller list since March 2012, and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The book’s message of kindness has inspired the Choose Kind movement, and has been embraced by readers, young and old, around the world. She is also the author and illustrator of We’re All Wonders, as well as other “spin-off” books including the calendar book 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts, Auggie and Me, and White Bird, which like Wonder has recently been adapted to a major motion picture. 

During the visit R. J. shared: “The message of Wonder is about kindness. In any given situation, if you respond from a point of kindness, you can never be wrong. It’s not hard to be the kid who congratulates your opponents after a tough game. It’s not hard to give someone a kind word. And that is what Wonder is about. The little acts of kindness that make others feel good and spreading kindness makes everyone feel better.”

If you are interested in a copy of R. J.’s graphic novel, White Bird, please email Betsy McIntyre for a complimentary copy, while supplies last. 

Upcoming Enrichment Programming

• September 19-20: Play-in-a-Day with CT Storyteller Center (Grade 3)
• September 29: Author Visit with Victoria Coe (Grades 2-3)

These programs are paid for by your generous donations to the PTA. Thank you!

This year, we hope to spark some conversations amongst parents, with teachers, and most of all with our children about how we use technology as a tool, and how we protect ourselves from the dangers inherent in it. We will also attempt to bring tools and conversation about our mental wellbeing in an effort to reduce stigmas and help each other find ways to reach out and reduce feelings of shame, isolation, and anxiety.

Here you will find some resources to help you get started. Please reach out to Harriet Gilmer or Alessandra Okay with ideas, suggestions and how to get more involved or even just to have a conversation!

We are excited to have a full slate of Fall Afters offerings starting on Monday, September 19!  Classes will each run for 8 weeks, and specific dates and further details are posted on the Riverside PTA Afters page. If your child is registered for Afters, please update School Dismissal Manager accordingly (go to Recurring Dismissal Instructions and select AFTERS from the pick list). For any questions, you can contact Virginia Lockhart or Luisa Lander.

The brand new Community Service Club will meet after school Friday, September 30 from 3:15pm - 4:15pm. Students will discuss how to assist and engage with the seniors in our community through arts and crafts and other fun activities. If you have a student in 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th grade who is interested in attending, please email Wendy Browning-Lynch by Tuesday, September 27 for additional details. For your child to participate, you must email Wendy before this date. There is no cost or commitment to attend this meeting...just interest, participation and good behavior!

Mark your calendar for Picture Day on Wednesday, September 28! Individual and class photos will be taken outdoors; however, photos may be moved indoors in the event of inclement weather.  

Like last year, families will receive a proof sheet approximately 3 weeks after Picture Day with 3 images to choose from. These proof sheets will be sent home with your child along with online ordering instructions and paper order forms for those who wish to pay by check or money order. We no longer order photos prior to Picture Day.

In order to make this day as seamless as possible, we would appreciate any volunteers who could assist us. If you are interested, please contact Janet Delosor Emily Trammell by Friday, September 23.  

Please login to School Dismissal Manager to manage your child(ren)'s attendance and dismissal information by going to the SDM website or by using the SDM app. All parents (new and returning) must login to update the dismissal information for your children for this school year. Please also note a recent change to the SDM format: to report Late Arrivals, there is now a separate green button on the main dismissal screen. Late arrivals are no longer included under the Add Exceptions button. For more specific details, please reference the communication from Riverside School sent on Wednesday, August 31.

The first Spirit Day of the school year is coming up on Friday, September 23. Be sure to visit the Spirit Wear shop to order ROPES shirts and to stock up on Riverside apparel to show your school spirit. All orders placed by Wednesday at 9:00am will be sent home from school with your oldest Riverside student on Wednesday afternoon.

GO RED HAWKS!

For any questions, please contact Jackie Dowling and Yvonne Ormerod.  

Please go to RIVPTA.ORG and follow the steps provided to update/enter your information, including your child(ren)’s new teacher, for the online family directory. If you are not prompted to do this, please click “LOGIN” at the top right of your screen. If you have moved or have new phone or email information, please let the school office know as well.

Once your directory information is up to date, be sure to join the PTA to gain unlimited access to the directory. The PTA relies on the generosity of Riverside School families via our annual Membership Drive. Funds raised go toward student enrichment programs, classroom and building needs, and teacher support. We aim for 100% participation in our Membership Drive.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed a donation to join the PTA so far – this is an important fundraiser to help us get up and running for the year.

Safety Duty is an important part of keeping our children safe at Riverside School. Volunteers make the morning drop-off process more efficient and secure. Volunteers assist children as they exit their vehicles in the front driveway from 8:30am - 8:45am daily and help to enforce the “Rules of the Road.”  Sign up online.

For more information, contact Sean Sullivan.

The Early Morning Program at Riverside School provides a fun, familiar place for students to go before school starts from 7:15-8:30am. You may enroll your child for a semester or pay by the day on an as-needed basis. Please visit the Early Morning Program page for more information and to enroll your child.  We ask that you register and make payment before your child uses the program.