June 1 Riverdale Grade School News

Wednesday, June 1

Riverdale Grade School News

Dear RGS Community,

As we near the end of the year, (six days away) we have so much to be grateful for. At the grade school, we are celebrating the retirement of Sharon Whitehill, Jeff Bjorn, and Suzanne Bevier. Each one of these staff members has touched all of us in special ways and will be deeply missed.

We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Beaini as our new kindergarten teacher, Emily Erbin as our 3rd grade teacher, Kendra Hawkins as our new administrative assistant, and will sadly say goodbye to Peter Mullady as he pursues new endeavors. Change is difficult, but we have so many reasons to be excited as we enter next year with new energy and plans for expanded programming, especially around our STEM curriculum.

I want to thank the community for your positive and continued support as I complete my first full year as an administrator. It has been rewarding, challenging, and insightful, but your support and kindness has reassured me that I am in the right position and look forward to many more years in this community.

As always, thank you for your grace and support,

Jen McDonald, RGS Principal

Next Week

Online Safety Assembly

Next week on Tuesday, June 7, our 6th, 7th and 8th graders will have the opportunity to learn about how to stay safe online during an assembly with RGS parent Kristen Best. Kristen hosted a virtual meeting with parents about combating child exploitation and abuse and will present a version of her presentation that is tailored for middle school students.

Of course, if you are uncomfortable with your child participating, please send an email to tsteele@riverdale.k12.or.us to opt out.

Please contact Kristen Best (Kristen.Best@hq.dhs.gov) with any questions.

4th Grade Field Trip

4th graders recently traveled to Aurora, Oregon where they learned more about the history of the Aurora Colony and what life was like more than a hundred years ago. Students made their own candles, designed their own quilts, chopped wood and made bread in a wooden stove, all to show how pioneers shared their labor and worked together. This field trip emphasized a sense of community and the importance of teamwork, which has been a goal in 4th grade throughout the entire year.

REMINDER

RGS Library Update

Library Volunteers Needed

I am excited to have our community opening up again. Our library program is looking for volunteers willing to stamp and cover books over the summer. (Contact Lisa Becker at lbecker@riverdale.k12.or.us)

Next year I will be looking for library volunteers to help with library classes. In particular it is very helpful to have volunteers with the Kindergarten, first and second grade classes.

Book Swap Success

A big THANK YOU to our community for having such an enthusiastic level of participation. Children left our library with new books and are ready to read for the summer. Our library will be able to update favorite series and will add over $750 books to our collection. (In addition to supplying classroom libraries with “freshened series”) I am particularly pleased to add the lower leveled nonfiction readers to our collection.

More information on summer reading, library volunteering and Oregon Battle of the books can be found by clicking the button below.

Read the full library update here

REMINDER

Two Options for Buying School Supplies

If you don't purchase pre-packed supplies through the PTC before the deadline, you’ll need this 2022-23 school supply list by grade to start your shopping.

All 5th-8th graders should also click here to view the band supplies list. Band supplies were not included in PTC school supply packs.

Please note, in addition to the items listed on the grade list, each student needs to bring:

a backpack (or binder depending on grade: 5th-6th grades = 4" D-Ring Zipper Binder, 7th-8th grades = five 1-inch binders)
shoes suitable for PE
a personally labeled water bottle
6th graders will need a Scientific Dual Power Calculator
7th/8th grades will need a TI-84 graphing calculator and headphones with built-in microphone (must have compatible Chromebook jack; not iPhone 7 or higher model)

REMINDER

Claim Lost & Found

Please claim lost & found items before Wednesday, June 8. All L&F items can be found on the large coat rack located in the commons or grade school entryway. Anything not claimed before the end of the school year will be donated to charity.

Important Dates

Friday, June 3 - Field Day Dance, 6th, 7th & 8th Grades from 7 - 9 p.m. in RGS Gym
Saturday, June 4 - Field Day from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 5 - Music on the Field from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 5 - 8th Grade Promotion Brunch at 11:30 a.m. at Waverley Country Club
Wednesday, June 8 - Last day of school for 8th graders and Clap Out
Thursday, June 9 - 8th Grade Promotion at 7 p.m. at RGS Gymnasium
Thursday, June 9 - Last Day of School