RIVERSIDE REVIEW
12.03.2021
Principal Message
Dear RSI Families,
This week the PTO was finally able to pull off the first Hawk Party since pre-COVID times and it was a seriously good time for all who attended. I want to thank your PTO leadership team, the MANY parent/family volunteers and RSI staff who joined up yesterday to allow over 300 young Hawks to enjoy a few hours of pure fun and socialization. I've been to my share of Hawk parties, but yesterday I noticed something very different. I noticed that our Hawks were filled with natural, age appropriate, tendencies. In short, they actually acted like kids! They smiled, they laughed, they played, they danced, and they ran. They ate way too much candy and snacks. It was simply awesome! I am so thankful to all of you who helped us support this event. Our PTO also appreciates the support in funding to further offer grants and funding to our RSI staff and students.
Next week we are sad to have to say goodbye to Rachel Underwood, 6th grade counselor, who has been offered a new adventure as a counselor at Fall Creek Junior High. Rachel has been a source of tremendous guidance and support for students, parents, and staff for many years at the River. We wish her the best on her journey! Next week we will greet Sera Satterly, who will be filling in the new position as 6th grade counselor. Sera was selected from a talented group of potential counselors and is beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to join us at RSI. Sera will join us for two days of shadowing next week and officially start on December 10th.
Next week all of our students will begin the Winter NWEA assessment window. All teachers will coordinate testing to be completed prior to the winter break. If you have any questions about NWEA, please reach out to your teachers.
Have a wonderful and safe weekend.
Sincerely,
Dana Kaminski
Principal Riverside Intermediate
Giving Tuesday...
Covid Info for Families
Please remember to send your student to school healthy. If a student is ill and has any of the symptoms of Covid listed below, we encourage you to get your student tested using a PCR test, which is available via Fishers Health Department (COVID Vaccine | Fishers, IN - Official Website) or the Indiana Department of Health (ISDH - Novel Coronavirus: COVID-19 Testing Information). PCR tests are the most accurate and provide less risk of a false positive or negative result. A visit to your physician is also suggested if you feel this is not Covid-related, then a doctor's note would be needed for your student to return to school. Please do not send your child to school ill or while waiting for Covid test results.
Symptoms to monitor for:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of Breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore Throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Student Handbooks
We encourage you to review it at your earliest convenience. Should you have any questions, please contact the RSI main office at 317.594.4320. Our staff is available to assist you. Have a great school year!
Counselor's Corner
Social Emotional Learning
5th Grade
Summary:
In this week’s lesson, your student took time to look at events from different perspectives and learned to mindfully consider different viewpoints other than their own.
Try This at Home:
Discuss with your student different perspectives you each have on things that could make you have differing opinion, such as; music you like, food you enjoy, or hobbies you each have.
6th Grade
Summary:
In this week’s lesson, your student and their peers created bullying awareness posters. The posters will be displayed around the school to educate others about bullying and how they can help stop it.
Question:
Ask to see your student’s poster. If they don’t have a picture, have them describe it. Ask your student to tell you about how their attitude toward bullying has changed as a result of what they've learned in the unit.
Holiday Light Recycling Program
This Holiday Season, HSE is asking you to give a gift to the Earth by making the choice to be more sustainable. HSE Schools will be hosting a district wide Holiday Light Recycling Program. Starting December 1st and going until January 14th each school will be collecting old, broken, tangled, or unwanted holiday lights. Technology Recyclers will take these unwanted/unusable lights and break them down into useable components that will be used to make new products. Last year, you helped prevent 3,519 pounds of e-waste from entering landfills and polluting the Earth. That is the roughly the weight of a Toyota Rav4.
Why Should People Recycle Old Holiday Lights?
- Holiday Lights are not bio-degradable and will spend hundreds of years in a landfill if thrown away.
- Holiday lights are known to get into waterways and oceans. This can lead to animals becoming entangled and dying.
- New ENERGY STAR LED holiday lights are up to 75% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs.
- LED holiday lights are not as fragile as the thin glass of incandescent bulbs.
- According to the National Fire Protection Association switching to LED holiday lights reduces the chance of Christmas tree fires.
- LED bulbs offer more colors and features while reducing the energy consumed.
- LED holiday lights have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs offering on average 25% longer life.
- Holiday lights are made from copper, glass, and plastic—valuable materials that can be recycled, reclaimed, and turned into new products helping preserve our environment!
Why should you recycle unwanted or unusable Holiday lights? Because you care about the environment! If you want to keep your lights from going to a landfill and do your part to look after the Earth, recycling your lights is a great way to do it!
No matter what the reason, resist the urge to throw old holiday lights in the trash. Please participate in HSE district wide Holiday Light Recycling Program this year!
PLEASE DO NOT:
- Please do not include any packing material.
- Please do not include any apparatus used to wind up or store the lights.
- Please do not include lights wrapped in garland.
PLEASE DO:
- Please place your lights in the recycling box (many will be stored in the front office, media centers, or science classrooms).
- Ask your friends, neighbors, social groups, and family members if they also have lights that need to be recycled.
- Do your part to be more sustainable this year.
Additional Information & Resources for Teachers.
- Duke Energy Holiday light calculator: https://www.duke-energy.com/energy-education/energy-savings-and-efficiency/holiday-lighting-calculator
- Energ.Gov – LED lighting Information: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/led-lighting#349182-tab-1
- Energy Star Decorative Light String: https://www.energystar.gov/products/lighting_fans/decorative_light_strings
Notes from the Clinic
As we start experiencing colder weather, the clinic is in dire need of sweatpants/ joggers/ bottoms for students who need a change of clothes during school hours. Please donate your used, easy to wear pants in all sizes to the clinic.
Holiday Assistance
The Good Samaritan Network will be providing holiday assistance again this year to Hamilton county families. Please access the included link if you are interested in receiving holiday assistance. The application due date for holiday assistance is 12/5.
Snack Attack Program
Dear RSI families,
RSI is pleased to announce the return of the Snack Attack program for students in need. This program, supported by the Fishers Youth Assistance Program, is designed to provide students a little extra nourishment for the weekend until they can receive a meal at school on Monday.
Students enrolled in the program will receive their snack bag on Friday to be taken home over the weekend. Included in the snack bag are individually wrapped snacks such as granola bars, fruit cups, Pop-tarts, peanut butter/crackers, Goldfish crackers, etc. The type of snacks will vary each week. Please let us know if your child has a peanut allergy as he/she will receive a special bag of peanut-free snacks.
There is no cost to you or the school. If you are interested in having your student participate in FYAP's Snack Attack Program or have questions, please contact Nancy Logue, RSI 5th Grade School Counselor, nlogue@hse.k12.in.us
Late Arrival
Early Dismissal
Dismissal Changes
Paws for Parker
During the week of November 15th – November 19th, Riverside Intermediate’s Student Council hosted our 1st semester service project. We set our school goal at $1000! All funds were donated to help the Hamilton County Humane Society in honor of Parker LaCross, who lost his life in an automobile accident. Parker is the son, of retired Riverside teacher Laura LaCross, and had an immense love for animals.
WOW! We were completely blown away by the generosity and spirit of our Riverside community. Please watch the video to learn how much we raised. Again, THANK YOU to all who participated.
Best Buddies
Our December Best Buddies event will be on Wednesday, December 8th from 4:00-5:00 in the Riverside Intermediate Cafeteria. We will have a winter celebration with games, crafts, snacks, and a movie! 5th/6th grade students need a permission slip to attend. Permission slips are due to Miss James in room 537 by Monday, December 6th. Late permission slips will not be accepted. Please email Miss James or Miss Emkow with any questions.
HSE Job Opportunity Fair
HSE Job Opportunity Fair – Thursday, December 9 from 4pm – 7pm at FHS.
Looking for a rewarding career that you can grow in and give back to your local community at the same time? Hamilton Southeastern Schools is HIRING several full- and part-time positions. Learn more and apply for a job that meets your needs during the HSE Job Opportunity Fair. If you have a resume and list of references, bring it, but not required. Your future career is waiting to be unwrapped!
Safe Visitor
Anyone interested in chaperoning a field trip must have a SafeVisitor ID badge. If you have not yet completed the background check, please click below to get started.
YMCA 2021-22 Information
The YMCA is currently hiring for our Before & After School programs in HSE schools so we can safely serve more kids and families in our community! Programs are located in all HSE Elementary and Intermediate schools, and all employees receive free school age child care, a free YMCA membership that can be used at any location across the city, AND an employee discount on all YMCA programs (like swim lessons, preschool, and camp). Click below to apply, and reach out if you have any questions! https://ymcayouthdevelopment.wufoo.com/forms/w116et1t14ktt90/
Food Service Employees Needed!
Looking for a fun and flexible career? Join the HSE Food and Nutrition Department. We’re hiring full and part-time positions with benefits. No experience necessary. This is an opportunity to make a difference in the community by working in the public schools. The HSE Food and Nutrition Department promotes a family-like work environment. You can work a schedule that fits with your child’s school hours. No evenings or weekends! Apply today to learn more! https://www.applitrack.com/hamiltonse/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Food+Service
Cafeteria Updates
Although we always aim to stay with the menu, our supply chains are having difficulties. We have been impacted greatly by this. We are having menu changes almost daily. Please follow us on Twitter @RSIcafeRJH, we will be posting the lunch menu daily.
Just a reminder, all meal deals are free this school year. All students can receive breakfast and lunch meal deal regardless of account balance. Please keep up with your student’s lunch account especially for the extras. Checks and cash are accepted for payment. You can also make payments on Efunds as well. Remember to include your student’s name and ID number on the check and envelopes so our cashiers can add deposits to the correct account. We will have a few of the student's favorite extras available i.e. chips, Izzes, etc.
Free and reduced applications are on Skyward Family Access, call Food Services Administration for help if needed or call 317-594-4100.
Stay connected! Follow us on Twitter @hsefoodservices, @RSICafeRJH
RSI PTO
2021-22 Board
Co-Vice President - Jessica Finn
Co-Vice President - Desiree Freedman
Treasurer - Sarah Arbuckle
Secretary - Liza Mathew
Member at Large - Amy Freytag
Member at Large - Michelle Touketto
Member at Large - Shalimar Wright
PTO Meeting Dates
1/11
2/8
3/8
4/12
5/10
Papa Johns - Support RSI!
Kroger Community Rewards
Link your Kroger Card to Riverside Intermediate.
1. Sign in to your digital account.
2. Select Riverside Intermediate.
Riverside Intermediate will earn rewards.
Any transactions moving forward using the Shopper’s Card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program, at no added cost to you. Kroger donates annually to participating organizations based on your percentage of spending as it relates to the total spending associated with all participating Kroger Community Rewards organizations.
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New Box Top Information
AMERICA'S SCHOOLS LOVE BOX TOPS!
For over 20 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn cash for their school, with products they already buy.
Now you can simply scan your store receipt with the Box Tops mobile app to identify participating products and instantly add cash to your school's earnings online.
Mudsock Youth Athletics Updates
Wear Your Youth Sport Jersey on Saturday, November 13th:
Help us celebrate National Youth Sports Day by dressing in your youth sport jersey next Saturday, November 13th! Thank you for spreading the word! We’re excited to show off the power of youth sports in the HSE School district community. Invite your teammates to participate and tag us on Facebook @Mudsock Youth Athletics or on Twitter @MudsockYouth with your photos!
Spring Program Registration:
Mark your calendars! Registration for spring baseball, softball, soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, rugby and track and field opens January 1st at myathletics.com. Season information including divisions and program fees will be updated on our site at the end of December. Need a refresher over our registration periods? Find them here.
HSE Community Insider
Child Find
What to do if you suspect a disability/Child Find:
If your child is age 2 ½ through 21, attends any school within the Hamilton Southeastern Schools boundaries or you live in our community, and you suspect your child may have a disability, you should contact us for more information.
· For children at least two and a half years of age, but not yet age-eligible for kindergarten, you should contact the Early Childhood Assessment Team at Brooks School Elementary School, 915-4250.
· For students who are eligible for kindergarten through age 21, you should contact your child’s teacher, school counselor or building administrator to discuss your concerns and explore the steps to be taken. If your child is not enrolled in public school, you should contact the counselor or building administrator in the building your child would attend if enrolled.
What to do if you suspect a disability/Child find
Response-to-Instruction (RtI)
Response to Instruction (RtI) is a general education initiative designed to provide high quality instruction and interventions matched to student needs and using learning rate over time and level of performance to make important educational decisions. The RtI model is based on a three-tiered model of service delivery with a focus on early intervention and prevention of academic and behavioral concerns. Data collected during this process provides valuable information regarding students’ educational progress and response to interventions. Students who do not demonstrate a response to well-implemented, scientifically-based interventions at the Tier 3 level would be referred for an educational evaluation to determine eligibility for special education. RtI is a component of HSE’s Child Find Process.
Contact information:
RIVERSIDE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
11014 Eller Road ♦ Fishers, IN ♦ 46038
317.594.4320 (phone)
317.594.4328 (attendance line)
317.594.4329 (fax)
Follow Us on Twitter: @RSIHawks
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