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

 

Photo Retakes Day – October 30 

Remembrance Day assemblies (families and caregivers welcome) - November 8 

Non-Instruction Day (office open typical hours) - November 9 

Fall Break (school closed) - November 10-14 

 

Athletics - See updates on our Athletics Page   

 

What an abrupt change in our weather over the last few days! Our whole community has been adjusting to changing into and out of winter gear, and I expect we will be well-practiced at it in no time. Please encourage your children to come prepared for the weather each day, whether attending field study or not. Riverside students have outdoor recess and lunch breaks in temperatures as low as –20. Being prepared and bundled up in layers will help! 

 

Halloween – October 31 

I have received many queries from staff, students, and families regarding plans for Halloween on October 31. First, I want to thank everyone for their patience with me in navigating this. In short, for this school year, we will be continuing as usual, with expectations for students wearing uniforms in place.  

 

On reflecting about this matter, it is important for me to say that I do not think such a decision is one that I can make on my own. There are community expectations, school history, and many other considerations involved; given this, I feel it is best to continue with the status quo from past years while working on a broader plan to address the matter of “how we celebrate events” at Riverside. I will gather voices from the community – again, students, staff and families – to gather their perspectives on a timely matter (Halloween) that is actually connected to a much larger conversation.  

 

As with all things, I welcome your feedback and questions on this.  

 

Grade 7 Food Drive for the Calgary Food Bank 

The grade 7 Leadership Team is organizing a food drive for the Calgary Food Bank. The school will start accepting non-perishable items starting on Monday, October 30^th up to and including Wednesday, November 8^th. The food bank appreciates donations such as: canned fruits, vegetables, proteins and soups. They also need pasta, rice, cereals, pasta sauces (plastic jars preferred), peanut butter, baby food/formula and even unopened dog food! Cash donations are also accepted. If you wish to donate, your child can bring donations to their classrooms starting on Monday. 

 

STEAM Lab/Makerspace update and request 

We are currently in the process of turning Room 206 (adjacent to the Learning Commons) into a Makerspace.  If you have any craft materials at home that you would be willing to donate, we would be very appreciative!  Examples include: 

 

·         Fabrics 

·         Glue guns and glue sticks 

·         Popsicle sticks 

·         Craft paper 

·         Packing tape, duct tape 

 

Please send any materials to the office care of Danielle Miles. 

  

Thank you in advance for your contributions to what will be an excellent student learning space. 

 

Back to School Yearbook Special 

From now until October 27th, yearbooks are priced at $30.00. After this date, the price will increase. Don't miss out on the opportunity to save by purchasing your yearbook early!  Capture and cherish your student's memories by ordering a yearbook today at www.jostens.com/2024yearbook.  

 

Uniforms update – Purchasing window closing soon! 

The current purchasing window from McCarthy Uniforms will close on October 27.  I am thankful to both McCarthy Uniforms and the CBE Purchasing team for supporting us in ensuring this ‘window’ was open over these last few months.  The next purchasing window will open from December 15-January 26.  I know that there was a great deal of flexibility offered over the last while, but I urge families to expect the dates for this window to be very firm. 

 

Upcoming casino fundraiser 

Attention, folks! It's that time once more, and our most significant fundraising event of the year is just around the corner - our Casino Fundraiser. When we volunteer our time for this event, we not only give back to our community but also receive a share of the proceeds. Typically, each Casino fundraiser brings in approximately $80,000, which goes directly to Riverside for the betterment of our school. 
 
Mark your calendars for this year's Casino extravaganza, taking place on January 19th and 20th at The Ace Casino near the airport (40 Aero Cres NE). To get involved as a volunteer, all you need to do is fill out the Google Form provided at this link: https://forms.gle/fNyfRhnxUoZu.... Please note that we must finalize our volunteer roster no later than November 1st. 

 
Let's not forget that our volunteers play a pivotal role in making this fundraising opportunity a success for our school. So, don't hesitate to sign up and be part of something special. Together, we can make a significant difference in our educational community. 

 

Wishing you all a tremendous week, 

 

Steve Radder, Principal 

Riverside School