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Dec. 17 Riverdale School District News

Friday, Dec. 17

Riverdale School District News
 

From the Riverdale Foundation

Thank you to all Annual Campaign Donors

The Riverdale School Foundation extends a warm “thank you” to all Annual Campaign Donors. The Riverdale community has a long history of supporting its schools, and we are very fortunate so many families make exceptional education a priority in their homes and in their giving. Final information on funds raised and participation will be shared after the holiday break.   
For over 25 years, donors to the Annual Campaign have been the bedrock for Riverdale Schools by supplementing inadequate state school funding to pursue educational excellence. Education is the foundation for success, investing in our students’ education is the very best investment we can make.
Donations in any amount are appreciated; what is important is that every student family participates in supporting our schools. If you haven’t had a chance to pledge or donate, please do so today by midnight to participate in our Annual Campaign!  
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
 
E&I

Equity & Inclusion Corner

Holidays and Celebrations 

December 21st is the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Merry Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.
Kwanzaa is from December 26th to January 1st. We hope those who celebrate have a wonderful holiday.   
December 29th is Wounded Knee Day. The purpose of this day is to remember the more than 300 Lakota Sioux adults and children who were massacred by the U.S. Army in 1890. Learn more from National Geographic.
Happy New Year to all. See you in 2022.

Riverdale Grade School Food Drive - 3,001 Pounds of Food Collected!!

Thank you to all who contributed to our food drive and made it such a whopping success! We collected a school-wide total of 3,787 items! Congratulations to 4th grade and 8th grade for collecting the most items.
On a rainy Saturday morning, 8th Grade Leadership students and caregivers transported items into cars, to LiftUp Portland, and into their warehouse. After weighing the items in at 3,001 pounds, we sorted all the foods into categories.  It was hard work but well worth it! We learned more about LiftUp Portland’s work and process for distributing food.
A big “well done” to 8th Grade Leadership for their great work, and thanks to the whole community for helping to feed those in need! 
 

Inclement Weather and Emergency Closures

In the event of weather-related or emergency school closure or delay, information will be communicated as follows: 
School closure or delay:
 
  • The district instantly publishes the information through Flash Alert. The site is available 24 hours a day. Flash Alert distributes emergency information to news and media outlets.
  • The closure or delay will also be noted on the homepage of each website (www.riverdaleschool.com, www.RiverdaleHS.com and www.RiverdaleGS.com).
  • An email is sent to all parents.
  • An automated emergency phone call is sent to notify parents and staff, typically between 5:30-6 a.m. Phone numbers on record will be used, and parents will receive calls to all of their phones. NOTE: If a decision is made after 10 p.m., you will not receive a call until the next morning. Please check the other vehicles listed above.
  • You will not receive any notification if schools are opening on time. If no information is reported, it means that schools are opening on time.
  • What does a two-hour delay mean? A two hour delay would mean:
High School start time – 11 a.m.
Grade School start time – 10:30 a.m. 
 
Severe weather conditions that occur during the school day: 
In the event of severe weather conditions that begin during the school day, parents will be notified through local media as well as through our emergency phone system. If schools close early, students will be notified of the early dismissal time. Students who ride the buses will wait for their arrival and will be transported home as usual. Students, who walk, drive or bike to school, may leave at the time of dismissal. Please talk with your children and have a safety and a supervision plan in place in the event this course of action is required. It is critical that school phone lines remain clear for emergency situations.
In the event of any of these inclement weather situations, please refrain from calling the school, unless it is an emergency. It is imperative to keep our phone lines open during these times. 
This information and more can be found on the district website under Quicklinks > Emergencies and Closures. 
 
 

Special School Board Meeting

 
The Riverdale School Board will hold a Special Board Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. via GoToWebinar. Community members who would like to speak on items not on the agenda will have that opportunity at the beginning of the meeting. In addition, 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 are two options for submitting public comment: Use the “raise hand” feature to then be unmuted to read aloud your comment, or email your comment to Chrisie Patrick, and she will read it.  
 
 
 
Register here for the GTW Board Meeting
 

REMINDER

COVID-19 Screening Testing

RGS & RHS are still collecting COVID-19 saliva tests every Wednesday morning - when school is in session - for the screening program through OHSU. 
Please check the list below for issues related to the COVID-19 Weekly Screening Program, and email the school nurse Kory Darling at nurse@riverdale.k12.or.us IF:
  • You have leftover COVID-19 screening kits after December 15th. This is so we can reduce wasted kits and send home less than four on the next round.
  • You need additional name/grade/DOB labels for any leftover vials, or after kits are sent home January 3rd. There should be four labels in every bag of four kits. We are not supposed to be writing names on the vials.
  • You would like to withdraw from the program. Otherwise, we will continue sending kits home to you, and it is a waste if they are not being used. 
  • You are not yet registered for the program and would like to sign a consent form for your student to participate in it going forward.
  • You have any other issue happening in regards to your child's weekly screening tests.
Thank you to everyone who has signed up for the optional testing program and participated during these past few months.
 
 

Important Dates

  • Dec. 20-31 - Winter Break
  • Dec. 27 & 29 - Riverdale Basketball Tournament 
  • Tuesday, Jan. 4 - Special School Board Meeting at 7 p.m. via GTW
  • Monday, Jan. 10 - School Board Meeting at 6 p.m.
  • Friday, Jan. 14 - Teacher Inservice Day (No School)