Riverside Reporter
Riverside Elementary School Newsletter - 1/19/18
Principal's Message
Our district has put together a series of workshops for parents at the request of our school community members who are looking to be more connected to what happens in school. I encourage parents of incoming kindergarten students to attend our next Pre-K Literacy Night scheduled for Wednesday, January 24th. It takes place at Community Park School beginning at 6pm. You may register online or call Laurie Oneto at the curriculum office for more information (609-806-4203).
In keeping with this theme, Riverside is presenting a workshop for our current families on Raising Resilient Kids. It is taking place on Friday, February 23rd at 9am in our cafeteria. Kristina Donovan, Supervisor of Guidance and our own, Ben Samara are leading the workshop and I encourage you to attend.
Virtual Backpack on Riverside's Webpage
A new and important feature of the Riverside Elementary School webpage is the Virtual Backpack section. The Virtual Backpack will contain important information including forms/letters, flyers and notices that every parent/guardian can access at anytime. The button below will link you to our Virtual Backpack on our website! January's Lunch Menu is posted in our Virtual Backpack!
Kindergarten/PreKindergarten Registration
Registration information and access to Registration Gateway is posted on the district webpage. You must register your child online. If you do not have access to a computer, computers will be provided at Riverside Elementary School on the following dates:
- Tuesday, February 6th, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 7th, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 8th, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please note that children registering for Kindergarten must be 5 years old by October 1, 2018, and children registering for PreKindergarten must be 4 years old by October 1, 2018.
Guidance Counselor's Corner
This week, I'd like to reprint a short article from author Jen Klein, who does a wonderful job illustrating the challenges parents face as our children navigate friendships during their primary school years:
As our kids grow, so do their friendships. From the early years of parallel play next to the neighbor's kids to really making friends on their own, learning about friendship is a long, windy path - with a few rollercoaster-like hills thrown in every now and again. Helping our kids learn to navigate the ins and outs and ups and downs of friendship during the elementary school years can be tricky.
In our children's early years, they have lots of supervision and guidance to teach them basic skills, such as sharing. But the older they get, the more time they are spending with friends out of direct ear shot, if not direct visual sight. At school, at sports, even a church, there is much that happens between and among friends that we do not see. It can be hard to make sure that what is happening with your child and his or her friends is appropriate. That said, we can continue to influence and affect our children's friendships.
GUIDING
While we may not be able to guide every friend interaction as our children move through the elementary school years, we can continue to talk to our children about their friendships, coach them through interactions, set up safe environments for our children to interact with their friends and get to know those friends (and the parents) ourselves. This level of involvement and communication allows us to see the dynamic of particular friendships - and see when friendships are really positive and when they may become problematic.
If a friendship does have a miscommunication or the dynamic becomes an issue for any number of reasons, choosing how to help your child deal with the issues can be tricky. Your child needs to learn how to handle many of these friend dynamics on their own. Letting Mom take care of everything isn't always the way to go. Coaching your child through situations, even role playing some responses, can help your child figure out the best way to manage their own friendships.
NOT EVERY FRIENDSHIP LASTS FOREVER
Adults know that not every friendship lasts forever, and it's sad and sometimes hard for us to accept that as adults. Imagine for a kid! Whether by natural attrition of attention and change of interests or a specific event, some friendships don't last. Helping your child through the end of a friendship can be one of the most heart-wrenching things a parent does. It's a kind of grief that must be processed, not dismissed; your child's hurt is real! "Oh, you'll find another friend," is as hollow sounding to your child as it would be to you. Letting the grief run it's natural course while trying to direct emotions constructively - and communicating to remind your child of the terrific friendship skills he or she does have - can help both of you get through it.
Friendships are a beautiful part of life, and learning about friendships and how to be a good friend can be a life-long process. Fostering healthy friendships in your children's lives, and helping them get through challenging periods with friends is part of parenting. It's not always easy, but if you and your child approach friendships with the idea of being the friend you want to have, the joys likely will far outweigh the challenges.
Raising a Resilient Child
Nurse's Bulletin
The single best way to protect yourself against the flu or colds are:
- Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.
PTO NEWS
After School Clubs
After School Clubs begin on Monday! If you have any questions, please email us at riverside.afterschoolclubs@gmail.com. Listed below is the schedule, and all clubs dates are posted on our school calendar too!
Monday: Ultimate Frisbee (Grs. 3-5)
Tuesday: Lego Club (Grs. PreK, K, 1), Computer Science w/Scratch (Grs. 2, 3), Firefly Tennis (Grs. K-5)
Wednesday: Lego Club (Grs. 2, 3), Theater Club (Grs. 4, 5), Soccer Shots (Grs. K-2)
Thursday: Board Games (Gr. K), Young Rembrandts (Grs. 1-3), Webpage Building (Grs. 4, 5)
Friday: Capoeira (Grs. K-2), Sports of all Sorts (Grs. 4, 5)
PTO Annual Pancake Breakfast
Author's Night
Riverside Garden Update
Our garden may look like it is asleep; but under those covers, it is hard at work laying the foundations for this spring. The Garden Committee is doing the same. Even in this quiet time, we are in need of some assistance. If you are looking for a way to help the school and keep the garden thriving, we have many opportunities and can work around your schedule. You can assistant by:
- Gather Coffee Grounds from Small World Coffee - Perfect opportunity to get your coffee and help the school. Small Worlds saves their grounds in buckets. Simply grab the bucket and bring it to Riverside to dump on the compost. Coffee grounds are a wonderful addition to the compost.
- Garden Communications Coordinator - This person will work with Louise to update the Garden Bulletin located at the garden entrance 3 or 4 times a season (fall and spring) and post these updates on the PTO Website and Facebook.
- Spring Work Day Coordinator - Each spring, we hold a work day on a Saturday to wake up the garden. The coordinator would work with Louise and Bonnie to help ensure the day runs smooth.
Please contact Bonnie Funiciello at bfuniciello@gmail.com if you are able to volunteer.
Spring Fling Committee
Bonnie Funiciello, Julie Cho, Louise Senior, and Beth Leman have formed a small committee to begin discussing the Annual Spring Fling Fundraiser, whose theme is focused on the Riverside Garden and more. If you are interested in participating on this committee, please email Bonnie at bfuniciello@gmail.com or Beth at bethhabsleman@gmail.com. While it's a pretty well organized event, it would be great to have a few more hands to help! Ideas are welcome too!
Party Boards
If you are still interested in participating in the remaining party boards, there are spots available! Sign-up at the Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, February 10th for the remaining party board activities. Please bring cash/check or sign-up and pay later. Please email Beth Leman at bethhabsleman@gmail.com with questions.
DISTRICT NEWS
Princeton Education Foundation
Did you know that the Princeton Education Foundation (PEF) provides funding to our schools beyond the normal operating budget and solely for student-centered programs and improvements?
PEF channels funds back into our schools through its grant program. The PEF Grant program serves as a catalyst to support and enhance school and curriculum improvements, and professional development that heighten learning opportunities for students in the Princeton Public Schools.
With your support, the Princeton Education Foundation has been able to give students access to innovative programs, new technology, and facilities upgrades that are not funded within the school district’s limited budget. Specifically in the elementary schools, PEF has supported enhancements to the science curriculum and STEM instruction, improvements to school libraries, sponsored various author and expert visits to the schools, funded professional development, and has upgraded and added essential technology.
PEF greatly depends on the support of our Annual Appeal donors. The need for grant funding remains strong and is growing as the District continues to grow and budgets grow tighter every year.
Give today. Invest in tomorrow. Visit our website at www.pefnj.org.