2023-24 Riverside Calendar of Events2023-24 Riverside Calendar of Events 

 

Riverside Winter Solstice celebrations and last day of classes before Winter Break – December 22 

Classes resume after Winter Break – January 8, 2024 

Non-Instructional Day (no classes) January 15, 2024 

Kid Inventor Day – January 17, 2024 

School Council and Parent Society Meeting at 7:00PM – January 18, 2024 

 

Athletics - See updates on our Athletics Page   

 

As we approach the upcoming Winter Break, Ms. Yu and I thank you all for your support and partnership, our students for their Respect, Inclusion, Connection and Kindness (RICK) with each other this year, and our staff for their dedication to their work every day. We hope you all have a restful and restorative break and look forward to these upcoming days of celebration with you. 

 

Over the course of this school year, Riverside staff have been working with students in the classroom and in the Principal’s Student Advisory Council to begin the process of selecting a new team name for Riverside School. I shared information about this process with you all back in early October.  

 

Most recently, I discussed the initial brainstorming process and the process we used to narrow down over 200 brainstorming ideas to a more manageable number. We asked students and staff to consider four criteria when considering ideas, which state that potential names should: 

 

·         Align with CBE values and priorities of achievement, equity and well-being  

·         Promote a Safe and Welcoming community and be respectful of the school community 

·         Reflect our connection to science-based and land-based learning, such as local ecosystem, flora, and fauna  

·         Avoid duplication of existing Team Names of other CBE schools, when possible 

 

I am very pleased to share with you the four team names identified that we will vote upon as a school community (students, staff, and families) in the New Year. I will share more specific instructions for voting at that time.  

 

These four names were selected after a rigorous process, and both align well with student and staff interest and the above-stated priorities. The shortlisted team names are, in alphabetical order: 

 

·         Rangers 

·         Rapids 

·         Ravens 

·         Rockies 

 

Bake Sale tomorrow 

 

We are really proud of two students in homeroom 8C for their efforts to organize a bake sale to be held at lunch tomorrow (Thursday, December 21). They have decided to raise funds for humanitarian aid for children impacted by conflict worldwide and have selected UNICEF as their charity of choice. All items will cost $1.  

 

Winter Solstice Notes 

 

We are really looking forward to celebrating the Winter Solstice with students and our larger community on Friday of this week! Our schedule for Winter Solstice activities on December 22 will run as follows: 

 

8:10 – 9:00: Class time/locker cleanout 

9:00: Solstice Assembly (due to fire regulations, we cannot have any parents at our assembly) 

10:00: Snack/nutrition break 

10:15: Buddy STEM challenge work 

11:15 – 12:00: Lunch – Potluck lunch - Families are invited to bring and share food items and eat with students and staff (please watch for a sign up from your child’s homeroom teacher).  Students will share the performances they gave during the assembly at this time. 

12:00 – 12:25: Classroom cleanup time - Classrooms need to be fully cleaned, parents are requested to take home leftovers and to help with clean up 

 

As you may know, students have been raising funds for our partners at the Calgary Womens’ Emergency Shelter (CWES) during Spirit Week. If you wish to donate funds, you can also do so using this link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en... 

 

Kid Inventor Day updates 

 

On January 17, Riverside will host Kid Inventors Day, and students will be building with cardboard! Over the break, we ask that you keep and collect cardboard to be brought to school the first week in January. More information to come in the New Year. Thank you for your help! 

 

Riverside School Yearbook update 

 

From our Yearbook team: 'Yearbooks on sale! Save your student's cherished school memories with a 2023-2024 Riverside Yearbook. On sale now at jostens.com for only $35 for a limited time!' 

 

January School Council and Parent Society meeting 

 

During next month’s School Council meeting, I will be presenting our work with some foundational documents for Riverside School: our School Improvement Results Report and School Development Plan.  A copy of this document is available by clicking hereclicking here.  I really encourage as many families as possible to join for this discussion as this document reflects the commitments we are making as a staff to our students and describes the key areas we wish to focus on for this school year.  As our partners in education, we will value your thoughts, ideas, and questions. 

 

With kind regards, 

 

Steve Radder, Principal 

Riverside School