Dear Riverside Families, Hard to believe that we are one month away from the last day of school! Thank you to everyone who joined us last Saturday to volunteer for and/or participate in the Riverside Run. The weather was beautiful, the turnout was great, and the race was a big success! Earlier this week, we hosted our annual Arts Field Day for third, fourth & fifth graders. Students participated in workshops – some of which were taught by Riverside teachers and parents – that exposed them to a variety of visual and performing arts outside the usual curriculum. A huge thanks to our Arts Field Day committee for making this wonderful afternoon possible. Looking ahead, Wednesday, May 31st is our annual PTA Parent Recognition and Volunteer Tea at 9:15am in the cafe. It's a time to reflect and celebrate another successful school year, recognize our graduating Riverside families (some of whom have been at Riverside for over a decade!) and present some special awards to outstanding volunteers. We hope you all can make it! Calendar reminders for the next several weeks include: May 22 – Spring PTA General Meeting
May 26 – Early Release
May 29 – Schools Closed, Memorial Day
May 31 – Volunteer Tea & Recognition
June 6 – Deadline for Ordering School Supplies
June 8 – School Art Show
June 12 – Field Day (Rain Date is June 15)
June 19 – Early Release, Last Day of School! Have a great weekend! Allison Maus & Clare Johnson
PTA Co-Presidents |
| ANNOUNCING THE 2023 RIVERSIDE SUMMER READ! This summer, Riverside School has chosen "Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear" (a picture book for K-2nd grade readers) and the accompanying "Winnie's Great War" (a chapter book for 3rd-5th grade readers), both by Lindsay Mattick. Pre-order your books online through Athena Books with a 10% discount by Friday, May 26th, or purchase your discounted copy at the store (228 Sound Beach Ave) and mention "Riverside Summer Read." For more information, please see the Summer Read page. |
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| FARE'S FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK Food allergies are a serious and potentially life-threatening condition impacting 1 in every 13 children in America. There are also autoimmune diseases that can only be managed with adherence to a strict diet. For example, celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder affecting 1% of the population. People with celiac disease cannot eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, because it damages their small intestine and causes them to be malnourished. Please click here for more information about celiac disease in children. We hope you had a chance to check out FARE's (Food Allergy Research & Education) website and participate in some of the suggested activities this past week for FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK 2023. If not, there's still one day left! Please click here for more information. Also, thanks to all the Food Allergy Allies that wore their Riverside Red today to help raise awareness about the dangers of food allergies and anaphylaxis. |
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| THANK YOU FROM THE RIVERSIDE RUN! This year's Riverside Run was a huge success, with clear skies and great attendance!!! Congratulations to 1st Grade for winning the grade level registration challenge. We hope you enjoy your Ada's gift cards! Thank you to everyone who participated in the run and also to those volunteers who helped make it such an amazing day! Check out the overall and age group results. |
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| ARTS FIELD DAY WAS A SUCCESS! Arts Field Day was held on Tuesday, May 16th from 1-3pm for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. This one-day event allowed students to pick from a variety of visual and performing arts workshops distinct from the regular school curriculum. This year, students could participate in: Hip Hop Dance, iPad Photography, Acrylic Paint Pouring, Improv, Chinese Brush Painting, Magic and more. Thanks to the PTA and parent volunteers for supporting this opportunity for our kids to explore the arts! Check out photos from the event on the Riverside Reel. |
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| STUDENT COUNCIL & LUCKY DOG REFUGE On May 24th at pick-up time, Student Council members will be hosting a BAKE SALE for Lucky Dog Refuge, a safe haven for dogs from dire backgrounds, located in Stamford, CT. Please note: we ask that only parents or other adults purchase the baked goods. Along with the bake sale, Student Council will be accepting donations needed for the refuge. Please view the flyer for a list of needed materials. A donation bin will be outside the front of the school from until May 25th, and donations can be dropped off at any time. Please feel free to reach out to Cristina Fioravanti or Jessica Rosa, Student Council Co-Advisors, if you have any questions. Thank you for your support! |
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| VOLUNTEER TEA & PARENT RECOGNITION - SAVE THE DATE! The PTA's Annual Volunteer Tea will be held on Wednesday, May, 31st at 9:15am in the cafe. Please join us as we celebrate the PTA's accomplishments and recognize all our wonderful volunteers from the 2022-2023 school year. We will also be presenting some special awards to outstanding volunteers and honoring our graduating parents. If your youngest child is graduating from Riverside School this year, please stay tuned for a paperless post invitation which you will receive later today. You won't want to miss this special event! |
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| SPRING PTA MEETING ON MONDAY, MAY 22 Please join us on Monday, May 22nd from 9:15-10:30am in the Media Center for the Spring PTA Meeting. We will begin with a brief review of PTA business items before welcoming our featured speaker, Dr. Fabian Boie. Dr. Boie will lead a parent workshop on Fostering Executive Function Skills and Responsibility in Children for those who submitted an RSVP. If there is additional interest, Dr. Boie offered to work with us to schedule another workshop. Please email Riversideschoolpta@gmail.com if you would be interested in joining a future workshop. |
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| BIKE RODEO CONCLUDES FITNESS WEEK! To conclude Fitness Week, Riverside's Health & Wellness Committee in partnership with Pedal Greenwich hosted a Bike Rodeo after school on Wednesday, May 10th. Offered for the first time for all K-5 students, the Bike Rodeo had over 75 bikers participating! Students engaged in fun, skill-based stations that focused on signaling, stopping, turning, balancing and gearing up/down hills. Special guests included Nick Carl with GPD, John Baxendale of BAX Cycles and other certified Pedal Greenwich cycling instructors. Thank you to ALL who made this event a success! Feel free to email Kim McConnell or Harriet Gilmer to learn more about Pedal Greenwich and other supporters that make biking safer in Greenwich. |
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| ORDER YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2023-2024 The PTA is once again sponsoring a school supply fundraiser for the upcoming school year. Order now and your child's box of supplies will be delivered directly to the classroom by the first day of school. Please visit the SchoolKidz Teacher Tailored website and enter account number 83285. The site will close on June 6th. Once again earbuds and headphones will be available to purchase separately if new ones are required. It is strongly advised that Kindergarteners have headphones rather than earbuds. Please email Jenn Lacovara or Sharon Elkayam with any questions. |
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| SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 8 RIVERSIDE SCHOOL ART SHOW! We are excited to announce the Riverside School Art Show is scheduled for Thursday, June 8th! Please keep your eyes out for the official invitation! With hundreds of pieces to mount and hang, we will need many helping hands. Kindly reach out to Amiee Merrinsand Kate Jamieson if you would like to volunteer to help between May 22nd and June 8th. Thank you in advance for making this year's Art Show a success! |
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| RIVERSIDE FIELD DAY: JUNE 12! Field Day will take place on Monday, June 12th (with a rain date of June 15th). Students will be divided into color groups and will compete against each other to see which color will be this year’s champion! Your child(ren)’s color assignment was emailed to you on May 5th. Please remember to send your child(ren) to school on June 12th wearing a shirt in that color or their Field Day T-shirt. |
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| ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS Riverside Rhythms During their lunch periods on Wednesday, students were treated to A Taste of Opera—a mini opera crash course with classically trained singers including former Riverside mom Brett Kroeger, Miran Robarts, Stephanie Rodousakis and Bob Scrofani. The kids were introduced to arias and duets from Lakme, Carmen, Gianni Schicchi, among others. It was a wonderful day! Revolutionary War Program The 5th graders traveled back in time today as the 6th Connecticut Regiment visited Riverside School to help conclude the 5th graders' year-long study of the American Revolution. Connecticut's 6th Regiment presented demonstrations on military and civilian life from the perspective of soldiers, surgeons, women on the homefront and on the frontlines. Presenters engaged the students by dressing in period attire and showcasing artifacts from the Colonial Period. Upcoming Enrichment Programs - May 23: Virtual Author Visit with Kelly Yang (Grades 3 & 4)
- May 24: Endangered Species with Animal Embassy (Grade 3)
- May 25: Town of Greenwich’s Watersheds (Grade 4)
- May 25: Reptiles & Amphibians with Animal Embassy (Grade 2)
- May 30 - June 2: Virtual Poetry Week with Ted Scheu (Grades K-4)
These programs are paid for by your generous donations to the PTA. Thank you! |
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| THE RIVERSIDE REEL IS BACK! After a temporary hiatus, the Reel has moved to a new digital platform. All existing albums have been moved to the new site, and we will continue to create new albums as we receive photos & videos from recent and upcoming PTA events and programs! Please see the email from May 18th for information on how to access the new site.
Do you have photos from recent PTA events and programs – such as Pizza Bingo, STEM Fair, or Riverside Run – that you’d like to post to the Reel? Send them to riversidereel@gmail.com any time! If you have any questions, please email riversidereel@gmail.com or visit the Riverside Reel page. |
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| WE’RE FILLING PTA ROLES FOR NEXT YEAR, FIND YOURS! PTA volunteer roles are now being filled for the 2023-2024 school year. Whatever your interests or availability, we have many ways for you to contribute and make a positive impact. Our goal is to engage as many people as we can with the school. Please review our open roles and complete the volunteer interest form to express interest in one (or more) volunteer opportunities! If you have any questions or would like to learn more about PTA roles, please contact this year's nominating committee - Allison Maus, Hillary Harper and Betsy McIntrye. We look forward to hearing from you! |
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| 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. |
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GAGA BALL NIGHT IS TONIGHT FROM 6-7:30pm! Please drop off and pick up your 5th grader at the gym doors. We will have pizza, waters and fun competitions led by Bill Bogardus and Jay D'Andrea. |
PARENT PARTY - SATURDAY, JUNE 10TH at 7pm! Join 5th grade parents to celebrate the end of the year at the Kilcullen's! Check out the invite and purchase your tickets on RIVPTA.org > My Page.
Learn more about all upcoming events HERE |
Subscribe to Receive Greenwich Public Schools Newsletters Make sure you are receiving GPS e-newsletters directly to your inbox! To subscribe, select the relevant newsletters below and click the orange "Follow" button on the right side of the page. |
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month The U.S. government designed the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1990 to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States. Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the US, and have experienced a rise in bigoted attacks during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. May isn't the only time to learn about the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, but it does give us a chance to expand our understanding of different cultures and the multitude of contributions by AAPI people. For more information, go to: https://asianpacificheritage.gov/ or for local events celebrating AAPI Heritage Month, please go to: PTAC DEI Website and DEI Events Calendar. |
GHS Theater Arts Presents Fiddler on the Roof Join GHS Theater Arts for Fiddler on the Roof at 7:00pm on May 19th, and 20th. Order advanced tickets online here. Seating is assigned for this production, so order early for best seat selection! Tickets are $21.75, including a small service fee for the online platform only, and tickets purchased online should be printed out and brought to the theater for admission to the show. Tickets will be for sale each night at the door for $20. Cash, credit, debit or check accepted. |
Junior League of Greenwich Presents Touch-A-Truck Touch A Truck is returning on Sunday, May 21stfrom 10:30am-2:00pm at Greenwich Town Hall. Rain or shine, families can come and experience the thrill of sitting behind the wheel of their favorite trucks and vehicles. And for those who prefer a more sensory-friendly experience, there is a reduced sensory hour from 9:30-10:30am where families can explore the trucks without loud sounds or bright lights. At Touch A Truck, kids of all ages can let their imaginations run wild as they climb into fire trucks, dump trucks, police cars, motorcycles, ambulances, and even antique fire trucks from Greenwich’s Department of Public Works. There will also be plenty of construction equipment to explore, as well as kids’ activities and food trucks serving up delicious treats. It’s a day of excitement, adventure, and fun for the whole family! For more information, visit the Junior League's website. |
Fundraiser for St. Paul's Playground Renovation After decades of enjoyment, the playground at St. Paul's in Riverside is getting a complete makeover! This playground is one of the only privately owned and maintained playgrounds in all of Greenwich that is open to the community. To help fund an updated playground to be enjoyed by all, monetary donations are being accepted. A limited number of customizable bricks are also being sold as part of the fundraising efforts. The bricks will be placed alongside the existing customized bricks near the new playground. Click on this link to make a donation or purchase a brick today! |
Greenwich Youth Cheerleading League (GYCL) Does your child love to jump, tumble, dance, perform and drive you nuts with their energy? Sign them up for Greenwich Youth Cheer! Registration for new athletes is OPEN for Fall 2023! Registration information can be found here. Riverside's own Elisabeth Miranowski runs the Putnam Generals Cheer program and is happy to answer any and all questions! |
Greenwich Pride 2023 Kick off Pride month at Greenwich Town Hall on Sunday, June 4th from 1:00-3:00pm! LGBTQ+ neighbors, families, friends, and allies will join our elected officials and community leaders to raise the Pride flag at Town Hall. All are welcome for an afternoon of community and celebration. |
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GEMS Kids Triathlon 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! |
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Open Arts Alliance: Summer Stage! Registration for the summer program at Open Arts Alliance (OAA) is now open for students in grades 1 through 12! Productions include Finding Nemo Jr., Lion King Kids, and Cabaret. Summer at OAA is a great time to make new friends, try new things and "just keep swimming!" Register here. |
Unbound Innovations XR STEAM Camp In partnership with The Greenwich Alliance for Education, Unbound Innovations XR STEAM Camp is a series of week-long immersive experiences in a broad range of innovative disciplines using virtual and augmented reality. It is taught by a 25-year Greenwich Public Schools veteran teacher with extensive experience in XR technologies. Students entering grades 6 through 12 will engage in World Building with XR tools, Game Design, Immersive Music, and Art Production, compete in challenges coding Robots to perform tasks, and create Engineering Simulations to solve global problems. For more information and registration, please visit www.unboundinnovations.org. |
| 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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