Originally delivered on 3/31/2023 1:02 pm

SUBJECT: Riverside School Peek at the Week 3/31/2023

Riverside School PTA Newsletter
PTA Logo
Friday, March 31, 2023
PTA Highlights

Dear Riverside Families, 

On Monday morning, Riverside School kicked off this week's Hip Hop Fundamentals Dance Residency with a wonderful school-wide assembly.  The gym was filled with great energy and some very impressive moves, and we loved having the opportunity to bring all of the grades together.  Huge thanks to our Enrichment volunteers and the whole school community for making this program possible and so much fun!  

We are also excited about next week’s STEM Fair.  As a reminder, all families (whether your child has done a project or not) are invited to attend the Open House on Tuesday, April 4th.  Please check below for additional details and project drop-off information.

Lastly, MLB's Opening Day has us thinking about baseball, and we are already looking forward to this year’s Family Outing at Citi Field.  We hope you'll be able to join us on June 17th to see the Mets and Cardinals in action.  Ticket Information is included below.

Calendar reminders for the next few weeks include:

March 31 – Spring Afters Registration closes at 5pm today
April 3 – CSC Meeting (for students who have RSVP'd)
April 4-5 – STEM Fair
April 7-14 – Spring Recess, Schools Closed
April 17-21 – Staff Appreciation Week
April 24-28 – Earth Week

Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you at the Plunge for Elodie on Sunday morning!

Allison Maus & Clare Johnson
PTA Co-Presidents

PTA News
SPRING AFTERS REGISTRATION CLOSES TODAY AT 5PM!

Today is the last day to register for Spring Afters! No late registrations will be accepted. The Spring session will begin on April 17th and run through June 9th. There are still a few spots available, so if you haven't already, please head to Eleyo to create a profile and register for the Spring session. The schedule, dates, course descriptions, and other important information are also available on the Riverside PTA Afters Page. For technical questions, please contact info@flexacademies.com. For any other questions, or to provide feedback about your Afters experience, please reach out to Luisa Lander or Virginia Lockhart

REMINDERFor any students that are registered for the Spring Afters session, please be sure to update Dismissal Manager (click on the 3 lines at the top left of the screen and select "Recurring Dismissal," then "AFTERS," then enter the name of the Afters course and the weekly dates). Please also remember to let the office know or update Dismissal Manager if your child is unable to attend his or her Afters session on a given day.

THE STEM FAIR STARTS TUESDAY, APRIL 4TH!

More than 250 students will present their innovative experiments, inventions, and projects!  Participating students should drop off their display boards (with the label filled out on the back) after school on Tuesday, April 4th from 3:00-4:00 pm

All families are welcome to attend the evening Open House on Tuesday, April 4th from 6:00-7:30 pm.  K-2 students should visit between 6:00-6:45pm, 3-5 students should visit between 6:45-7:30pm, and families with children in both groups can overlap.

Students will also present their projects to classmates during the school day on April 5th.  Display boards should be picked up after school on April 5th. Any boards that are not picked up will be discarded.

Please email Lauren Law or Kelly Kessler with any questions, and we hope to see you at the Open House!

REGISTER NOW FOR THE RIVERSIDE RUN!

Calling all runners! Race Day is Saturday, May 13th. The 3-Mile Run begins at 8:30am, followed by the Kids Fun Run at 9:30am. Register before April 21st to have your name printed on your race bib. Students in K-5 can participate in the Grade Level Challenge with a prize for the grade with the highest percentage of runners registered! Register here for the Riverside Run!

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!

Calling all Riverside Families and Staff to come together for a NY Mets game on Saturday, June 17th at 4:10pmSeats are limited. Be sure to get your tickets! Tickets this year include a Darryl Strawberry replica “shirsey” and a memorable on-field experience.

Plunge for Elodie
PLUNGE FOR ELODIE THIS SUNDAY!

The Riverside Community will once again be plunging on Sunday, April 2nd in Old Greenwich (Lucas Point) to find a cure for kindergartener Elodie Kubik who suffers from a rare disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa ("EB"). Children who suffer from EB are often called butterfly children because their skin is as fragile as butterfly wings. There are no approved treatments for this disease, and EB patients currently have a life expectancy of 30.

Please join Elodie's friends and family to fund important research, change the treatment paradigm for this disease and save lives. Visit plungeforelodie.org to learn more about the event and to find Riverside School's grade level donation pages. You can also check out this cute video featuring Emma Watson and Greenwich residents, Kermit the Frog & Elodie.

There will be a few other opportunities to support the Plunge for Elodie fundraising efforts. Riverside's Student Council will be selling bracelets designed by Elodie herself on the day of the Plunge, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting EB research. Additionally, The Big Picture is offering two "Elodie's Craft Kits" chosen by Elodie, with 100% of the proceeds going toward EB research. Take these kits home, or create them at the store!

Please reach out to Emily Kubik or Jessica Dunne if you have any questions about the Plunge! See you on the beach!

THE DRY PLUNGE ARTY PARTY WAS A SUCCESS!

A big shout out to all who participated in the Dry Arty Party for EB on Wednesday, March 29th!  More than 60 beautiful butterfly masterpieces were created in honor of Riverside kindergartener, Elodie! The artwork will be displayed around the school over the next few weeks and then will be returned to students.  

We would like to extend a special thanks to the Rangers who helped with the event (Adeline, Adriano, Beatriz, Charlotte, Niamh, Scarlett, and Sirjanhar), in addition to Mrs. Theile, Ms. Kelly, Ms. Rizzi, Ms. Donahue, Mrs. Morganti, Mrs. Gonzalez, Ms. Tepper, Mrs. Mertz, and Mrs. Kubik. Thank you to Mrs. O'Regan for collecting the funds. And, a huge thanks to Ms. Roth for guiding a large group of enthusiastic artists!

The event raised $1,527.75 in support of the Plunge for Elodie!! We look forward to building on our fundraising momentum on Sunday! 

COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB ON GRATITUDE

The next Community Service Club meeting is after school on Monday, April 3rd.  We have a great meeting planned, including a discussion on gratitude, some fun games and a special project to surprise the Riverside staff during Staff Appreciation Week. CSC is open to all 2nd through 5th graders who have been marked on the RSVP form as Attending. If you need a link to the RSVP form, please email Wendy Browning-Lynch. All RSVPs must be completed by today, March 31st at 5pm.  

Veggies
CALLING ALL PLASTICS FOR EARTH WEEK!

The Green Team needs your help for Earth Week in collecting as many colorful plastics from home as possible!  We will be working with students to create a large ‘Keep Our Sea Plastic Free’ art mural for our Earth Week celebration. Students will showcase their creativity, collaboration and love for the environment by attaching collected plastics to our large, Earth-themed collage throughout the week. Please help us create this mural by donating your CLEAN plastics in all colors, shapes and sizes throughout March and April in designated bins in front of the school! No bags (i.e., plastic film) or clear plastics please! Thank you for going Green! 

THE TEXTILE DRIVE RETURNS!
THE TEXTILE DRIVE RETURNS!

Eager to spring clean? Ready to clear out closets and drawers? Go GREEN by recycling old textiles in Riverside School's TEXTILE DRIVE! Co-sponsored by Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board (GRAB) and Fairco-Greentree Recycling, the Green Committee will be hosting their annual textile drive in April. Stay tuned for exact dates and collection details. 

Accepted: Clean, dry textiles in good condition. Please do not donate textiles that are wet or moldy. All clothing items including footwear, hats, coats and jackets; linens & bedding including sheets, towels, pillowcases & cotton blankets; extra fabric & bolts (no small scraps), tablecloths, drapes & curtains; backpacks, lunch bags, pocketbooks, wallets & belts.

NOT Accepted: Pillows, mattresses, rugs, scrap fabric & material cuttings, foam stuffing, plush toys & stuffed animals.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Hip Hop Fundamentals: Dance Residency

This week, Riverside School welcomed the return of the Dance Residency program, featuring the talented hip hop dancers and certified teaching artists from Hip Hop Fundamentals. On Monday morning, the program kicked off with a spirited school-wide assembly about the principles of hip hop and breaking, its history, and the role young people play in this vibrant culture. The dancers showcased their impressive breaking skills before inviting students and teachers alike to the stage to share their own moves, to the great enthusiasm of the audience. Throughout the rest of the week, during gym periods, students explored the basics of breaking through dynamic drills, interactive games, and team-building exercises. It was a fun, memorable experience for the entire school community. Encourage your child to share their new moves with you! 

Upcoming Enrichment Programs

  • April 18: Journeys into American Indian Territory (Grade 3)
  • April 20: Visit and Workshop with Pat Schories, illustrator of the Biscuit series (Kindergarten)
  • April 25: Riverside Rhythms presents “A Taste of Opera” featuring former Riverside School parent Brett Kroeger (All Grades)
  • April 26: Stamford Museum and Nature Center’s Plants for Sprouts (Grade 1)

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

THE RIVERSIDE REEL IS MOVING TO A NEW PLATFORM

Please note that the Riverside Reel will be moving to a new online platform. As a result, it will be temporarily unavailable until the migration is complete. We will provide an update once the new site has launched. All existing albums have been preserved and will be posted to the new platform, and we will continue to create new albums as we receive photos & videos from upcoming PTA events and programs! If you have any questions, please email riversidereel@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB TOY DRIVE MEETING
EARLY MORNING PROGRAM: BACK IN THE CAFE ON FRIDAYS

The Early Morning Program is back in the cafeteria on Fridays. Additionally, the Early Morning Program now heads to the Gym at 8:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, giving students a bit more exercise. If dropping off after 8:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please bring your children to the front door. The EMP drop-in rate is $18 per day, and you may register your child and get more information here. Please contact Melissa Goldstein or Anne Akyuz with any questions.

SAFETY DUTY: MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN JUST 15 MINUTES!

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.

5th Grade News
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO ORDER YEARBOOKS!

It's time to order your child's yearbook! Click here for directions on how to submit your order.

Orders must be placed by end of day today, Friday, March 31st.

CHAPERONES NEEDED

If you would like to chaperone the 5th grade visit from the Dragoons on Friday, May 19th from 10:00am-12:00pm, please email Kelsey Mayhall. This colonial reenactment happens outside, on school grounds.  

SAVE THESE DATES!

Visit 5th Grade Families to learn about upcoming events from Gaga Ball Night on May 19th to the end-of-year parent party on June 10th. Mark your calendars!

Contact Kelsey Mayhall or Luisa Arevalo with any questions.

District News
PTAC Essence Awards 2023

The PTAC Essence Awards application deadline is April 19, 2023.

The awards recognize up to two outstanding PTA members of the Greenwich Public Schools PTA communities, who through exemplary achievement, have inspired others, demonstrated selfless spirit and made a significant difference in our school community (individual school or district wide). The Essence Award Committee will award one traditional Essence Award and may also award a Lifetime Essence Award. Parents, teachers, staff, students, principals, administrators or members of the Greenwich community may submit nominations. 

We are hoping to receive at least one nomination from every school! The application consists of an essay of no more than 500 words, and must be submitted through the online form or https://forms.gle/zJ88GVUKSHkxzZcP7.  

PTAC Nominating Period is Still Open!

If you or someone you know is interested in working to make the Greenwich Public Schools the best they can be as a PTAC Committee Chairs or as a PTAC Executive Board member for the 2023-24 term (or would like to learn more about the roles), please contact the PTAC VP of Nominating

Open PTAC Committee Chair positions include: Academic Excellence, ALP, Curriculum Enrichment, DC Middle School Trip Special Committee, Digital Communications, Directory, Facilities,  Scholarships, SES, Special Programs, 2E, Financial Review

Open PTAC Board positions include: First Vice President, Secretary, Vice President of Curriculum, VP of Enrichment, VP of Facilities, VP of Nominating, VP of Student Support

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Community News
Energize CT: Annual eesmarts Contest

Energize Connecticut is accepting submissions for the 18th Annual eesmarts contest! Open to all K-12 students in Connecticut, the contest showcases participants' knowledge of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability through various formats such as posters, narratives, and community-based projects. Prizes of $300, $200, or $100 will be awarded to grade-level finalists at a spring awards ceremony. Submissions are accepted until March 31st, with winners honored at an awards ceremony in May 2023. For more information, contact 877-514-2594 or visit Energize Connecticut

ReThink Waste Fair Returns!

The ReThink Waste Fair is back! Join the festivities on Saturday, April 1st from 11:00am-3:00pm at Christ Church Parish Hall. Bring your hard to recycle items like batteries, electronics and textiles, and stay for the fun! Eco-friendly vendors, children’s activities, composting & cooking demos, interactive exhibits and more! Visit www.wastefreegreenwich.org for more details. 

ISD 6th Annual Greenwich Color Challenge

The International School at Dundee PTA is proud to present the 6th Annual Greenwich Color Challenge on Saturday, April 1st at 9:00am at 55 Florence Road in Riverside, CT. The event is open to the public and the course, consisting of a 1.5 mile run/walk and 10+ obstacle stations, takes participants on a fun and colorful journey from ISD through Riverside and Old Greenwich. Online registration is now closed, but race day registration is available onsite for $50/person. Click here for more details.

Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich: ZAC Water Safety Camp

The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich is again partnering with the ZAC Foundation to provide the ZAC Water Safety Camp during the April vacation week. The ZAC Camp is designed to teach children in Grades 1-3 valuable information to keep them safe in any body of water through classroom activities, swimming instruction, and interaction with Greenwich first responders. There will be hands-on instruction from BGCG staff and members of Greenwich Police Department, Greenwich Fire Department, Greenwich EMS, and the American Red Cross.

The program will be held Tuesday, April 11 – Friday, April 14 from 8:30am-12:30pm. Lunch will be included each day of the program. The Boys & Girls Club invites any 1-3 graders in the Greenwich School District to participate - students do NOT have to be a Boys & Girls Club member. Space is limited! Register here.

Live Like Luke Beach Cleanup

Celebrate Earth Day by grabbing a bucket and heading to Greenwich Point on Saturday, April 22 from 10:00am-12:00pm to keep our shorelines clean and safe for wildlife and visitors. The event honors the legacy of Luke Meyers, an aspiring environmental activist who inspired so many in our community to action. Register to attend here.

Hope Day: A Greenwich Community Wellness Day

The 1st Annual Hope Day will be on Sunday, April 23rd from 1:00-4:00pm at the Arch Street Teen Center. Organized by the PTAC Health & Wellness Committee, Greenwich Together, and the Yellow Tulip Project, Hope Day is a Community Wellness Day celebrating the blooming of our Yellow Tulips around town. The Yellow Tulips were planted as part of the national Yellow Tulip Project to smash the stigma around mental health. The family-friendly event is a combination of youth speakers, athletic coaches, musicians, arts & craft tables, yoga & mindfulness, samples from local restaurants, resource tables, and other activities. More about the event can be found here.

GEMS Kids Triathlon Early Bird Registration

The third annual GEMS Kids Triathlon will be held on Sunday, June 11th. The event format will be pool swim, on-campus bike course, and on-campus run course and is open to children from 6 to 14 years of age. There will be participation awards, T-shirts, goody bags, and age-group awards. Click here for event details and to register!

QUICK LINKS
PEEK AT THE WEEK

Access the Peek Archive for past issues. If you are not receiving an issue every Friday please email riversideschoolpta@gmail.com.

SUBMISSIONS

Have something to add? Email us at: peekweekriv@gmail.com/ Deadline for submissions is 3pm on Wednesday of the school week

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