Friday, Feb. 3  

Riverdale School District News

Gentrification Summit

Now in its 4th year, 8th graders and 12th grade Global City students came together for the annual Gentrification Summit. In small groups spread around the high school building, students discussed "The Air I Breathe," which is an essay that was published in the Oregon Humanities magazine. After sharing their perspectives and takeaways, they had a new activity this year - a Poem Explication and Image Collage Creation.  

Students were tasked with finding/creating poems about gentrification, and each group shared their different explications. They explained the poem's metaphors and why they chose their collage images. The beauty of this explication exercise is even if two groups had the same poem, they don't share the same perspectives, so each group’s presentation and collage is different. Some groups acted out their poems while others decided to write their own.

Each year the students gather in an incredible Fishbowl Discussion to talk about salient points from what they've learned over the course of their classes and during the day. Individual 8th and 12th graders took turns sharing their ideas to rectify gentrification and asked thoughtful questions of their peers. 

Following the Fishbowl, 8th graders got a taste of a RHS 4th period class and ended their day with a senior student panel to tell 8th graders what they can expect as high schoolers next year. 

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible and especially to our incredible teachers Ms. Light and Ms. Keldorf.

School Board Meetings Monday

The Riverdale School Board will hold a School Board Meeting on Monday, Feb. 6 in person in the grade school library. The meeting will also be available virtually via GoToWebinar. 

Public Comment Process

Community members who would like to speak on agenda topics will be given an opportunity to do so after the board discusses that particular topic. There is also an opportunity to speak to non-agenda topics. In either case, community members may use the “raise hand” feature to then be unmuted to speak to the board.

For members of the public who wish to submit written public comment:

• Submit an email to Chrisie Hessel before 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
• IMPORTANT: Please type “Written Public Comment” in the subject line.
• Include your full name in the body of the email.
• Names of patrons providing input will be read during the meeting and their written public comment will be posted online via the Board agenda.

Equity & Inclusion Corner

Holidays and Celebrations

Happy Tu B’Shvat to our Jewish community.

We hope all who celebrate have a Valentine’s Day full of love.

We hope our Buddhist community has a meaningful Nirvana Day.

February is Black History Month

Here are some resources and events where you can learn about and celebrate Black History Month.

• Black History Month Slideshow 2023 is a resource I developed for teachers and students.  It has been shared in K-8 classrooms at Riverdale Grade School.  Check out last year’s slideshow here: Black History Month Slideshow 2022
• Cozy up with a good book from this list of Books about Black Joy from Powell’s Books. There are books for elementary grades, middle grades, young adults, and adults.
• The Official Black History Month Website has a wealth of resources and online collections.

From Travel Portland:

Cascade Festival of African Films | Feb. 4–Mar. 5, 2023 | Free

Portland Community College – Cascade Campus

The Cascade Festival of African Films shows us Africa through the eyes of Africans, rather than a vision of Africa packaged for Western viewers. The films celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose its failures, and reveal possibilities for a hopeful future. Although the films cannot represent an entire continent, we hope to encourage American viewers to become…

Biamp Portland Jazz Festival | Feb. 16–25, 2023 | Cost Varies

Various Portland Venues

The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.

NW Black Comedy Festival | Feb. 16–19, 2023 | Cost Varies

Curious Comedy Theater

Bigger, blacker, and funnier with more showcases and live podcasts than ever before. eleven showcases, two live podcasts, and over sixty Black comics from all over the world will be in town for four days and hours of laughter. The NW Black Comedy Festival Was Recognized By The New York Times As One Of The Best Black History Month Events In The Country And The Company Was Awarded The 2020 Precipice Fund Through PICA From The Andy Warhol Foundation For Visual Arts.

Albina Black History Month Tree Talk | Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 | Free

June Key Delta Community Center

Albina Black History Month Tree Talk will uplift stories of the environmental efforts of a few Black Portlanders and celebrate the trees and history of the Albina neighborhood. In addition to the talk, there will be food, music, games, arts and crafts, and a tree walk.

Check out even more Black History Month events at PDX Parent.

- Abby Rotwein (she/her), Director of Equity & Inclusion

Job Openings

Are you or someone you know interested in coaching or working at the high school? The district currently has a couple open coaching positions at the high school for spring sports. There is an opening for an Instructional Assistant at the high school as well.

Sports Scores

Monday, January 30

HS Basketball @ De La Salle North Catholic

JV Boys (L 9-62)

Varsity Girls (W 61-44)

Varsity Boys (L 22-69)

GS Basketball vs. West Hills Christian

Girls B Team (W 27-21)

Girls A Team (W 45-8)

Boys B Team (L 27-38)

Boys A Team (L 40-59)

Wednesday, February 1

HS Basketball vs. Warrenton

JV Girls (L 15-27)

JV Boys (W 48-47 OT)

Varsity Girls (W 29-14)

Varsity Boys (W 63-53)

Thursday, February 2

GS Basketball vs. OES

Girls B Team (L26-34)

Girls A Team (L18-22)

Boys B Team (W 42-30)

Boys A Team (L 35-36)

Tell your friends!

Applications Due Feb. 24

Applications for our High School Enrollment Lottery close on February 24! There are openings in 9-12th grade for the 2023-24 school year. Shadow days for rising 8th graders are still available on our website.

Important Dates

• Monday, Feb. 6 - Board Meeting at 6 p.m. via GTW
• Monday, Feb. 20 - Presidents' Day (no school)
• Monday, March 6 - Inservice Day (no school)

View all athletic events here.