SPRING AFTERS: RIGHT AFTER BREAK
SESSION BEGINS APRIL 13
 

 

Spring Afters begin on April 13, right after break! Please update School Dismissal Manager (SDM) with your child’s Afters schedule before classes start.

• WHAT: Spring Afters start after break - don’t forget to update SDM!
• WHEN: April 13 - June 12
• WHERE: Riverside School

To Update SDM: 

1. Go to "Recurring Dismissals" in the top left drop-down menu. 
2. Select the student and select AFTERS for the Dismissal Instruction. 
3. Write the name of the Afters Class and select the Day of the Week. 
4. Then pick "Every Week" with an end date of June 12.

Please Note: If your child has an EpiPen and you would like them to have access to it at Afters, please send it to school in a small bag clearly labeled with your child’s name and give it to the Afters Site Coordinator, Amy Spaeth. Please note that the Afters program does not have access to the School Nurse after school hours. 

Please contact the Afters team, Liz Shaw, Suzy Roth or Jaclyn Glazer, with any questions.

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RIVERSIDE MATH TEAM:
EVENT: NOETIC CONTEST ON APRIL 14
 

 

Contest Date: Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30am (Note this is FREE for all students thanks to your generous support of the Riverside PTA)

 

Morning Noetic Prep Sessions: Register today on myPage! (See page for dates and details - please look carefully at the dates if your 4th/5th grader is also participating in before-school WordMasters with Mrs. Ciafone)

• Mondays 7:45am for 4th and 5th graders
• Tuesdays 7:45am for 2nd and 3rd graders

Questions? Email Math Team Co-Chairs Betsy McIntyre and Sandy Yong at riversideschoolpta@gmail.com.

 

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POSTER CONTEST:
SUBMISSIONS DUE: APRIL 15
 

 

Calling all student artists! Show us how you help protect our local environment.

• WHAT: Create a poster showing how you care for the planet in Greenwich.
• WHO: All Greenwich students.
• WHEN: Submissions are due by Wednesday, April 15.
• HOW:
  • Email: Send a digital copy to conservation@greenwichct.org.
  • In Person: Drop off a hard copy at the Town Hall Land Use Office (2nd Floor).

Check the flyer for more details.

 

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WORDMASTERS:
SESSION: MARCH 2 - APRIL 13; CHALLENGE: APRIL 20

 

 

ALP ELA Teacher Mrs. Ciafone is leading an early-morning WordMasters Spring session for 4th and 5th graders. 

• WHAT: WordMasters Spring Session for Grades 4-5
• WHEN: The Spring session will take place on Monday mornings: March 2, 16, 23, and 30, April 13 and 20 (challenge test day). 
• COST: $175 for the session

Reach out to Jimena Castro with any questions.  Stay tuned for further information on registration!

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RIVERSIDE RUN:
REGISTER BY APRIL 17; EVENT: MAY 9
 

Spring is here! Time to swap your snow boots for your running shoes and start training for the 41st Annual Riverside Run! 

• WHAT: Riverside Run!
• WHERE: Riverside School - REGISTER HERE. Register by April 17 to have your name printed on your bib!
• WHEN: 
  • Race Day: Saturday, May 9
    • 8:30am for the 3-mile Run/Walk ($30 registration fee) 
    • 9:30am for the Kids Fun Run ($15 registration fee) 
  • Bib Pick Up: 
    • Early: Friday, May 8 - 2:30-4pm at Riverside School.
    • Day of: 7:30am at Riverside School.

Proceeds of the event benefit Riverside School PTA programs that enrich classroom curriculum, support teachers and staff, and strengthen the school community. 

 

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EARTH WEEK:
EVENT: APRIL 20 - 24

Join us for a week of action, education, and celebration. Let’s show our planet some love!

 

Earth Day Recess 

• WHAT: "Green" games and interactive sustainability stations.
• WHERE: The school field.
• WHEN: Wednesday, April 22 during recess (Rain date: Friday, April 24).

"Pledge to the Earth"

• WHAT: Pick up recycled paper and write down your personal promise to the planet!
• WHERE: Paper pickup at morning drop-off; finished pledges go in bins in front of the school.
• When: Tuesday, April 21 & Thursday, April 23 (8:30-8:45am).

The Great Community Clean-Out

• WHAT: Collection drives for batteries, plastic film, school supplies, and textiles.
• WHERE: Collection bins located directly in front of the school.
• WHEN: Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24.

Please stay tuned for further details!

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RIVERSIDE SCHOOL SPELLING BEE 
EVENT: JUNE 5 (NEW DATE)

  

This year, Riverside will join several other GPS elementary schools in hosting its very own Scripps Spelling Bee.

• WHAT: Spelling Bee for Grades 3-5. Winners and their homerooms will receive prizes!
• WHEN: Grade-level word lists are available here: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade. (NOTE: you must be logged into your RIVPTA.org account to view them.) Written spelling tests will be administered in homerooms to participating students. Top scorers from each homeroom will compete in the Spelling Bee on Friday, June 5 (Please notice the date change - moved from April 17 due to conflicts with other academic activities.). 
• WHERE: Riverside School
• CONTACT: Reach out to Ariel Ramchandani or the Riverside School PTA with any questions or ideas.  

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VOLUNTEER FOR OPEN PTA ROLES!

The Riverside PTA is a vibrant, volunteer-led organization dedicated to supporting our students and school community. As we plan for the year ahead, we’re seeking volunteers for open PTA roles—big or small, there’s a way for everyone to get involved!

 

Open PTA volunteer roles for the 2026-2027 school year include:  

• Riverside Run Co-Chair
• Math Marathon Co-Chairs
• Science Enrichment Co-Chair
• Lost & Found Co-Chair
• Garden Co-Chair
• Treasury Committee
• Digital Communications
• RIVPTA.org Website Updates
• PTA Registration Forms

..and much more!

Please complete the volunteer interest form to review all the open roles and express interest in one (or more) of our volunteer opportunities!

Volunteering is a great way to engage with the school and community.  Whatever your interests or availability, we have many ways for you to contribute and make a positive impact. 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about PTA roles, please contact this year's Nominating Committee, Morgan Gilbert, Jaclyn Glazer, and Kimberly Ball. We look forward to talking to you!

 

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VOLUNTEER TO BE A FOOD RESCUE DRIVER

Join the Riverside Green Committee in reducing food waste and supporting our neighbors in need.

• WHAT: Collect surplus food from the cafeteria fridge, deliver it to local partners, and log the donation in the Food Rescue US app
• WHERE: Deliveries go to Kids in Crisis in Cos Cob
• WHEN: Fridays from 1:50pm to 2:15pm. Sign up for one slot or many!

Make an Impact in Under an Hour. Your help ensures surplus food reaches families, not the landfill. Every delivery counts! Sign up here.

Please contact Silvia Romano or Emily Gildersleeve for any further info.

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SUPPORT THE RIVERSIDE PTA BY JOINING TODAY!

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 INTERESTED IN THE EARLY MORNING PROGRAM?
Sign-up Now!

The Early Morning Program (EMP) at Riverside School is a before school enrichment program that provides a fun, familiar place for Riverside students before the start of the school day and is staffed by a Riverside teacher.

The program runs every Monday through Friday from 7:15-8:30am, and students could be dropped off at any point during that timeframe. Visit the Early Morning Program page for more details.

 

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THE NEW GPS REPORT CARD

Follow-up Note (session held on October 21, 2025)

 

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Principal Martín and Assistant Principal Collette provided parents with an overview of the new GPS Elementary School Report Cards. You can find the explanation for making the changes in this GPS District Video.

Although details are still being finalized, rather than assessing students' skills on a scale of 1-5, teachers will now assess students' skills as either ES (Emerging Skill), DS (Developing Skill) or SS (Secure Skill). 

The skills being assessed remain the same as in prior years for the applicable grade level, as they are tied to the CT Common Core standards. 

Please note that the first marking period will end at the end of November.