The Riverside Squawker
A Newsletter for our Riverside Community
March 1, 2021
In-Person Learning Update From Principal Anderson
Hello Riverside Families,
We are excited to welcome all of our AMAZING Riverside students back to full-time, in-person learning on Tuesday, March 9th. Our goal is to keep our students attending in-person FOREVER. To help guide our decisions in reopening, we are utilizing COVID Mitigation Strategies from the CDC to keep students and staff members as safe as possible. These five strategies include:
Consistent and Correct use of Masks
Social Distancing to the Largest Extent Possible (Learning Groups)
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Cleaning and Disinfection
Contact Tracing in Collaboration with CDH
Social Distancing and Learning Groups
Throughout the school building we have been planning the most effective ways to maintain social distancing and to prevent COVID spread, while lessening the need to quarantine should a member of our school community contract COVID. In doing so, we will continue to maintain 6 feet of social distancing wherever possible. Where this is not possible, we will be organizing students into learning groups, where students will have closer contact with no more than 4 other students while in classrooms, at specials, and while eating lunch. This strategy, recommended by the CDC and utilized by many neighboring school districts, has proven to be effective in achieving our goal of mitigating the risk of COVID transmission while providing in-person instruction 5 days a week to all students. Please read more below about additional in-person learning protocols and expectations.
Take care,
Mr. Anderson
In-Person Learning Expectations
Additional Information about In-Person Learning Protocols
In addition to our social distancing protocols mentioned above, we will continue to implement processes we utilized during our hybrid learning schedule. These proved to be very effective. Please review these with your student(s) as we prepare for March 9th.
The Riverside campus will open to students at 9:00 am each morning
No early drop-offs please
Students will utilize all normal methods of transportation (walk, bike, bus, parent transport)
The playground will be closed in the morning and students will report to the outside door of their classroom immediately upon arriving at school
Students will be allowed in their classrooms from 9:00 am - 9:15 am to alleviate congestion, etc
Face coverings will be required by everyone on school grounds during school hours
Please wear your mask as soon as you exit your vehicle and/or arrive on campus
Please label your child’s mask with a name and provide mask lanyard if possible
Face shields will be utilized only if needed for educational purposes and parents will be notified ahead of time
Mask breaks will be provided by classroom teachers in a way that allows for social distancing
School staff and students will be the only ones allowed in the building
Parent visits to the school will be allowed by appointment only
Dropping off supplies and picking up students early will take place outside the Main Entrance
Lunch and recess will be provided on a normal schedule
Students will remain in their learning groups and/or be socially distanced during lunch
Mask and mask free areas designated on the playground with limited physical activities
Please consider packing lunches from home in a disposable packaging
Water fountains are turned off
We have water bottle filling stations on campus
Please send a refillable water bottle from home with your child’s name on it
We will maintain our staggered dismissal schedule to reduce crowding outside after school
Kindergarten and 3rd grade dismissal - 3:35 pm
1st, 4th and 5th grade dismissal - 3:40 pm
2nd and 6 grade dismissal - 3:45 pm
Returning School Owned Technology Devices
Kindergarten Registration for 2021-2022 - Enroll online now!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084DAAAE23AAF94-kindergarten
Due to COVID restrictions, please limit ONE parent per child. We respectfully ask that you follow these restrictions.
Please begin planning now by making sure that you have the following documents required for enrollment:
- your child’s birth certificate
- updated immunization records
- proof of address (ie: purchase agreement, lease/rental agreement, utility bill)
Parents are able to pre-register their child for Kindergarten for the 2021 - 2022 school year NOW! You may enroll online. Again, It is important that you have all of your documents ready to upload for faster recording of your student's information. Please call the school office at 208-854-5980 if you have any questions.
Update from Nurse Courtney on Health Room Procedures
In these times of uncertainty, it is important to be practical, flexible, patient and kind. We are optimistic that the Treasure Valley community will keep the spread of COVID-19 at a low level so that our schools can continue to stay open. It is vital to continue to use all available mitigating strategies to keep our community transmission levels low. The Boise School District is dedicated to keeping all staff and students as safe as possible during this global pandemic.
We have aligned our school health and safety protocols with guidance from Central District Health and the Centers for Disease Control. We will be following CDH guidance and BSD protocols for your child’s return to school plan.
Please see the CDH Illness Decision Tree for Schools
During the school year, Nurse Courtney and Ms Mardi will continue seeing children for an array of issues, as they always have. Please do not send your children to school sick. If your child presents with COVID-19 symptoms while at school, you will be contacted and your child must be picked up immediately.
Guidelines for Keeping Sick Children Home
Please update your child’s Health History and Personal Summary in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. It is imperative that you have accurate contact information and health history in our student management system via the Parent Portal.
Please contact our school nurse at 208.472.3345 or courtney.mcfalls@boiseschools.org if you have questions or concerns.
Riverside Book Fair Is Here! March 1-14, 2021
Idaho State Dept. of Education Parent Survey
One of the pieces of Idaho’s new school accountability system is a parent survey. This survey asks for your input on several topics to help measure how our schools are doing in meeting your needs.
To access the survey, visit https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/149869/p30811
Then pick your student’s school from the drop-down menu. Please complete a survey for each school your child attends. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous. You can submit your survey from February 15 thru March 31, 2021.
Idaho SDE will use these survey responses to identify opportunities to maximize satisfaction, engagement, and communication. Additionally, the state will report the results and the number of responses on Idaho’s new school report card (https://idahoschools.org/).
Important Dates - 2nd Semester, Holidays, and Spring Break
Here are the currently published Boise School District calendar dates for 2nd semester, including Holidays and Spring Break:
- Monday, March 8, 2021 - Kindergarten Registration Screening
- Tuesday, March 9, 2021 - Return to 5 day a week in person learning for K-6
- Friday, March 19, 2021 - End of 3rd Quarter, Early Release K-6, No School PreK
- Monday, March 29, 2021 - All students, K-12, return to 5 day a week in person learning
- March 21, 2021 - Early Release K-6, No School PreK
- March 22-26, 2021 - Spring Break, No School Pre K -12
- May 27, 2021 - Last Day of School, Early Release K-6, No School PreK
Spring Lacrosse is fast approaching! Register at Treasure Valley Youth Lacrosse League

East Boise Youth Baseball and Softball - Socially Distanced fun this Spring!

Optimist Youth Spring FLEX League Football - Register Now!

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