Riverside Report
April 2023
Dates to Remember
April
Monday April 3, 2023 Culture Club 3:50-4:45
Wednesday April 5, 2023 Team Blue Jay 3:45-4:45
Thursday April 6, 2023 School Of Rock 3:50-4:45
Sign-Language Club 3:50-4:45
Friday April 7, 2023 NO SCHOOL
Monday April 10, 2023 Mrs. Wendorf & Mr. Lekie Twin Oaks
Culture Club 3:50-4:45
Be Amazing Club 3:45-4:40
PTO Meeting 6:15 in Riverside Conference Room or via Webex https://dce.webex.com/dce/j.php?MTID=mae0ba0e62778b94aef26d9b9032c4ce8
Tuesday April 11, 2023 Mrs. Gauger & Mr. Podeweltz to Twin Oaks
Wednesday April 12, 2023 Fishing Club 3:45-4:45
Thursday April 13, 2023 5th Grade Wonders of Wausau Field Trip
4th & 5th Grade to Grand Theater
Team Blue Jay 3:45-4:45
Sign-Language Club 3:50-4:45
5th Grade Variety Show Try-Out Night
Monday April 17, 2023 Culture Club 3:50-4:45
Advance Learner Parent Information Meeting 5:00-6:00 in Riverside Library or via Webex https://dce.webex.com/dce/j.php?MTID=m82e2dd6b2dd142e747cf88b387aed42f
Advanced Learner Parent Night 6:00-7:00
Thursday April 20, 2023 Team Blue Jay 3:45-4:45
Sign-Language Club 3:50-4:45
Friday April 21, 2023 Spelling Bee
Monday April 24, 2023 Be Amazing Club 3:45-4:40
Monday April 24-Friday April 28, 2023 National Library Week
Be Amazing Club 3:45-4:40
Thursday April 27, 2023 2nd Grade to Leigh Yawkey Art Museum
Team Blue Jay 3:45-4:45
Sign-Language Club 3:50-4:45
May & June
Monday May 1, 2023 Kindergarten to Monk Gardens and JoJo's Jungle
Wednesday May 3, 2023 1st Grade to Planetarium
Team Blue Jay 3:45-4:45
Thursday May 4, 2023 Science Fair 9:00-10:30
Sign-Language Club 3:50-4:45
Monday May 8, 2023 PTO Meeting 6:15 in Riverside Conference Room or via Webex
https://dce.webex.com/dce/j.php?MTID=mae0ba0e62778b94aef26d9b9032c4ce8
Be Amazing Club 3:45-4:40
Wednesday May 10, 2023 Fishing Club 3:45-4:45
Team Blue Jay 3:45-4:45
Thursday May 11, 2023 Ice Cream Social 4:00-7:00
Friday May 12, 2023 NO SCHOOL
Thursday May 18, 2023 Kindergarten to Twin Oaks
Friday May 19, 2023 Kindergarten to Twin Oaks
4th Grade to Madison
Monday May 22, 2023 K/1/2 Field Day
Be Amazing Club 3:45-4:40
Wednesday May 24, 2023 3/4 Field Day
Thursday May 25, 2023 1st Grade to Monk Gardens
Friday May 26, 2023 5th Grade to Jay Seiler Track Meet
Monday May 29, 2023 NO SCHOOL
Tuesday May 30, 2023 Variety Show Dress Rehearsal
Wednesday May 31, 2023 Variety Show
Thursday June 1, 2023 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Julia Cook Parent Night Event
Parent Survey Results
The areas that we are going to focus our efforts to improve all relate to increased communication. Parents indicated that they would like more positive phone calls, emails, messages or written notes from the school about their child. Parents also indicated a desire for more frequent communication on how well their child is learning, especially from staff members who may work with their child but are not their direct classroom teacher. Our Riverside leadership team will continue to identify ways to improve in these areas.
Forward Exams
WISCONSIN FORWARD EXAMS
Wisconsin students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 will be participating in the Wisconsin
Forward Exam during the Wisconsin state testing window. Riverside is scheduled to take the Wisconsin Forward Exam as follows:
Grade 3– April 10-14
Grade 4 – April 12-14 & April 17-20
Grade 5 –April 17-21
The Wisconsin Forward Exam tests students in the areas of Literacy (grades 3-5), Math (grades 3-5), Science (grade 4), and Social Studies (grade 4). One or more subtests may be administered daily during the identified time frame and it is very important that students be in school during this time. Students not in school on the scheduled testing days will be scheduled for a make-up test prior to the close of the testing window.
How to Help Your Student Prepare for the State Assessment
General Preparation
- When possible, it is beneficial to establish a daily routine for meals, homework, chores, bedtime, and family time
- Provide students with a designated study area at home
- Encourage students to practice good study habits and set aside time every day for homework
- Ensure students get a good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast before taking a test
- Offer praise and encouragement for achievement and improvement
- Share your enthusiasm and interest in reading, mathematics, and science with your children.
General Test Preparation
- Make sure students have and opportunity to become familiar with the format of the test.
- There is a link to practice tests and sample items on the Assessment Information for Families Webpage.
- Remind students to listen to and read all directions and to tackle the test one question at a time instead of thinking about the entire test
- Review Test-Taking Strategies. There are strategies that will help your child do their best on an exam
- Arrives on time and stay relaxed
- Encourage students to answer all test questions
- Guessing is alright – it is best to eliminate any answers they know are incorrect first and they chose the best answer from what is left
- Skip a question – better to skip a question that they are stuck on, flag it, and come back to it later than to spend lots of time on something they don’t understand or is causing stress
- Leave time at the end to look over your work. Did you answer every question?
- Remind students to think positively. Being in the right mindset can make all the difference. Encourage your child to think positively when heading into an exam
- Remind your student a test is not a race. Don't worry if others finish before first. They should focus on the test in front of them.
English Language Arts (ELA) Test Preparation
- Read to students and encourage them to read to you
- Have students try crossword puzzles
- Encourage students to read the newspaper, magazines, and recreational books; and to discuss what they have read
- Discuss the events and stories you read about
- Play games that involve spelling and vocabulary (scrabble, apples to apples, boggle, balderdash, etc.)
Mathematics Test Preparation
- Play games that involve numbers and/or computation
- Encourage students to make connections between their everyday lives and what they are learning in math class
- Encourage the use of math everyday through measuring recipes, adding prices at the store, creating a budget, explaining graphs and charts in the newspaper or magazine articles, and taking measurements while doing home projects or sewing
Science Test Preparation
- Encourage participation in science competitions, fairs, and other activities
- Explore nature centers, zoos, and science museums
- Watch programming that shows the wide variety and interesting things going on in science. (Comos, Modern-Marvels, Myth-Busters, Shark-Week, etc.)
Science Fair
If you still need to sign up, you can find out additional information, and watch a short video, by using the following link- https://www.dce.k12.wi.us/domain/1607.
Please use the following link if you need the Science Fair Registration Form, or ask your teacher for a form.
If you would like to purchase science fair display boards, they are $8.00.
****COLORS AVAILABLE UPDATE*****
We have Red, Blue, Green And Yellow still available for purchase in the office.
Spelling Bee
5th Grade Variety Show
The Variety show will be held in the Multipurpose room on Wednesday ay 31, 2023. More information will be provided closer to the event.
Happy St. PAWtrick's Day!
Riverside Humane Society Supply Drive
The Kindergarten classrooms organized a donation drive called "St. PAWtrick's Day" where the students (grades K-5) were encouraged to bring in donations for the Humane Society of Marathon County. The treats, toys, animal supplies, and paper products that were donated were taken to the Humane Society of Marathon County over spring break!
Thank you Riverside students and families for your generous donations!
Fishing Club
Sheldon's Inc.- Mepps/Mister Twister, based out of Antigo, visited Riverside's Fishing Club, to give a brief history of the Wisconsin founded company. Students then learned about the various materials used to make spinners. The most exciting part was that they were able to choose their own colors/materials to create their own lures using a patented jig. Good luck on the water!
Thank you Dan Bastle and CJ Kemp for stopping by Riverside!
Battle of the Books
The statewide Battle of the Books program is designed to promote a love of reading among our students. It encourages students to read a variety of books and remember information about the plots, characters, and settings of the books.
Summer School Registration Reminder
The D.C. Everest School District is offering summer school classes for students entering Kindergarten through those currently in 9th grade. This year, summer school is from Wednesday, June 7 and ending July 13, 2023. There are no classes on Fridays, nor July 3 and 4, 2023.
Students in grades 4K through 4 will attend either Rothschild Elementary or Weston Elementary based on the school boundary for their home address. If your child is in grades 4K-4 and needs to attend the other summer school location (than what is shown in the portal) due to daycare, busing, etc., please email SummerSchool@dce.k12.wi.usto have your child switched to the other school. Students who are picked up in the morning from Adventure Care at Mountain Bay will attend Weston Elementary for summer learning. Once your child's enrollment has been changed, you will be able to register them online at the correct school. Students in grades 5-9 will attend the Junior High.
Note:
* Students must register for the grade level they are currently in /just completed, not the grade level they are entering for the 2023-24 school year.
* Online bus registration is completed separately from course registration.
Registration for Summer Learning courses and bus registration is strongly encouraged to be completed online through the Infinite Campus Student or Parent Portal.
If using the Infinite Campus Parent Portal - Use your Parent Portal account username and password. Email PortalAccount@dce.k12.wi.us if you need help with your parent portal account.
- Or for the Infinite Campus Student Portal - Use your student's computer username (first initial of first name, first initial of last name and student ID/lunch pin) and computer/Canvas password. You can contact your student's school if your student doesn't know their password.
Instructions to register for courses using the Infinite Campus Portal
Paper copies can be printed from the Summer Learning website or found in your student's school office and returned to your student's teacher or mailed to/dropped off at: Summer Learning, D.C. Everest School District, 1699 Schofield Ave, Suite 300, Weston, WI 54476.
Registration will open March 13 at 7:00 am and close April 19 at midnight. Students who require credit recovery can be placed in courses after April 19 by a school counselor.
Direct questions to the Summer Program Office, 715-359-4221 ext. 1800 or email SummerSchool@dce.k12.wi.us
Hmoob: Xia Yang, 715-359-4221, ext. 5522
Español: Libby Plamann, 715-241-9700, ext. 2236
Hmong Enrichment Program
Interested in learning about the Hmong Language, Culture, and History?
If so, we have an opportunity for you!!!
July 24 – August 4, 2023 • 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Weston Elementary School
- A summer experience opened to students of ALL cultural backgrounds from grades kindergarten through high school.
- Focused on enriching the lives of young students through the exploration of Hmong culture, tradition, and history.
- Free busing, breakfast and lunch.
- Held at Weston Elementary School.
Registration is open until May 6th, 2023.
Paper copies of registration materials are online here or available in the main office of all DCE school buildings.
For questions, please email Xia Yang (xyang2@dce.k12.wi.us).
For technical problems or questions, please email the developer.
Planning For Next Year
PTO
https://dce.webex.com/dce/j.php?MTID=mae0ba0e62778b94aef26d9b9032c4ce8
The Ice Cream Social is coming soon, and there will be a lot to discuss! Please join us if you can, we appreciate your input.
Ice Cream Social Parent Volunteers Needed!
Parent Volunteer forms will be sent home soon. To make this a success, we need your help and support! Without parent volunteers, we are not able to hold this event on Thursday May 11th 2023, from 4pm-7pm.
The following are time slots needed for volunteers.
_______ 2:00-4:00 Set-up _______ 5:00-6:00
________ 6:00-7:00 _______ 7:00 Clean-up
Please return the Volunteer form by Monday April 24th, 2023, so that we have enough time to provide you notification of your time slot and information entered within the DCE Volunteer required page. If you need another form please let us know and we can get one sent home with your child or you may reach out to us via email to RiversidePTO12@gmail.com
Ice Cream Social Classroom Basket Donations
Classroom baskets letters have been sent home. We will be collecting the Ice Cream Social classroom basket items from Friday March 31st thru Wednesday May 3rd, 2023. All items donated will be placed in baskets to be raffled off at Ice Cream Social.
Classroom Themes
Kindergarten – Arts & Crafts
1st Grade – Squishmallow, Mini Brands, Fidgets
2nd Grade – Lego Mania
3rd Grade – Board Games
4th Grade – Backyard Fun Action
5th Grade – Camping (No Weapons please)
**If you do not like to shop, but still want to contribute, you may send a monetary donation/gift card to classroom teacher and shopping will be done by the Ice Cream Social Committee.
Raffle Tickets
Ice Cream Social Raffle tickets were sent home before spring break with all students.
***NEW THIS YEAR***
The top 3 classrooms, with the highest percentage of tickets sold, will win a pizza party!
Ticket Details:
Raffle Tickets: Cost- $2 each or 6 for $10.00. Please complete student and buyer information on each ticket.
The tickets have two parts; the bottom part will need to be completed with the buyer and seller information on it and the top with the general Ice Cream Social Information. Please return ONLY the bottom portion with money collected. If contact information is not completed, the ticket(s) will not be included in the drawing. Due to the high number of tickets being sold, the ICS Committee is not able to complete this information.
Additional Raffle Ticket Requests: If you would like additional tickets, please send a note with your oldest child and the teacher's name along with tickets already sold and money. That information will be forwarded to the Ice Cream Social Committee. Your request will be filled with ONE to TWO school days. Please don’t contact the office for additional tickets.
*** Please note-- tickets sold and money must be received before any additional tickets will be issued. There will be NO exceptions made. Checks may be made payable to “Riverside PTO”
Last day for Ticket collection will be: Friday, May 5, 2023.
Mr. Kampmann will be pulling Raffle prizes on Tuesday May 9th 2023. Any Tickets Received after 3:30 on Tuesday May 9th, will not be eligible for the donated items. Raffle tickets will NOT be available to purchase the day of the Ice Cream Social.
Ice Cream Social Business Donations
Thank you to all of the following local business' for your donations:
Gold Level – Sponsors
- Rose Marie Inc.
- Creative Design Concrete & Masonry LLC
- Lake of the Torches
- Red Robin
Silver Level – Sponsors
- River View Construction
- J&D Tube Benders
Attendance
Attendance Reminder:
When your child has a medical appointment (doctor, dentist, counseling, therapies, etc), please remember to bring back a note from that doctor. This allows us to mark your child's absence as medically excused.
Counseling Connection with Mrs. Tatro
Importance of Slower, Deeper Breaths.
Breathing won’t make our stress magically disappear, but it can help us calm down, which can make us feel better and ultimately help us think more clearly about how to tackle some of the challenges we face. And that is what makes it a powerful place to start.
Importance of DECREASING Screen Time.
We know that screen time has a significant impact on today’s children. However, parents can follow these simple tips to ensure the most appropriate exposure to screens that will provide optimal outcomes for their children:
Be Consistent with Limits. Make sure to offer the same amount of screen usage every day for your child. For example, half an hour of screen time in the morning, another half an hour at night.
▪ Parents, You Set the Example. You can model good screen behavior for your children by putting down your tablets and cell phones during family time.
▪ Avoid Background TV. When not in use, turn off the television to avoid the distractions of TV and normalizing its use.
▪ Encourage Other Activities. As a parent, you can model and suggest healthy alternatives such as outdoor play, reading a book, crafts, or board games.
▪ Encourage Other Toys. Find toys that promote creativity and curiosity such as craft supplies, clay, blocks, or loose parts.
▪ Play with the Kids. Take a little bit of time each day to get down on the floor with your children and interact and communicate.
▪ Be a Good Observer, Listener, and Asker. Be more involved in your children’s lives by asking questions, listening to their stories, and observing and commenting on their non-screen time play activities.
▪ Maintain Daily Screen-Free Times. Make sure that parts of the day are completely screen-free. For example, family meals, family game nights, and bedtime.
▪ Become Media-Literate. Understand television show/tablet game ratings, educational vs. non-educational content, and high-quality vs. low-quality programming.
The growing human brain is constantly building neural connections while pruning away less-used ones, and, “Boredom is the space in which creativity and imagination happen,” he says.
▪ A good night’s sleep is also key to brain development.
▪ The lack of sleep interferes with our REM sleep, which is essential for processing and storing information from that day into memory.
“Virtually all games and social media work on what’s called a variable reward system, which causes an obsession / addiction in the way it stimulates the brain.”
A young person’s brain lacks a fully developed self-control system to help them with stopping this kind of obsessive behavior.
Benefits of teaching and practicing Coping Skills “Tools” with your child (and yourself too!) …
AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW REASONS!Why it is important to get out in NATURE!
Walking is something that feels approachable for anyone! To add in an extra layer of wellness factor, take your walk out in Nature! There are so many wonderful benefits to getting out of the natural elements in our world.