Falcon Flyer
September 2019
Riverview Elementary
Website: http://re.usd232.org/pages/re
Location: 21550 West 47th Street, Shawnee, KS, United States
Phone: 913-441-0808
Twitter: @riverviewfalcon
Principal's Message
"The man on top of the mountain did not fall there."
~Vince Lombardi
Dear Riverview Families,
Tonight kicks off the official start of the NFL season, and the Kansas City Chiefs will again go after a chance to win the Super Bowl! One legendary NFL coach was Vince Lomardi, for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named after, and he is known for being a great team leader. Lombardi is quoted as saying "The man on top of the mountain did not fall there." Part of the reason he was respected as a coach and leader was his ability to instill a sense of goal setting in his players; NFL teams don't become Super Bowl Champion by accident. Every practice, every play, every point scored is a measure of success toward the final goal, or an opportunity to learn from failure and make adjustments.
When setting a goal, simply put, you have to consider three things -- where you are currently, where you want to be, and effective strategies for how to get to where you want to be. If you want to increase your chances of meeting your goal, you will want to write your goal down, track your progress, and make adjustments if needed. This year at Riverview, our staff will dive deep with students on setting and reaching a goal, and not just any goal, but a Wildly Important Goal -- a WIG! It's an important endeavor that helps students apply the 7 Habits to how to make academic progress. For example, some students may have a WIG in improving their reading skills. By being more specific in helping students understand what skills go into reading, it becomes easier to determine where they want to be and chart the best course for which skills to develop to help them to achieve their goals.
If you've watched the Chiefs under the arm of Patrick Mahomes, you know that part of what makes them so exciting is their ability to score. Watching the Chiefs score so many touchdowns per game is thrilling, and the same thrill occurs in the classroom when students visually track their own 'score' and progress toward their goal. When we empower students with the knowledge of where they are and create a 'scoreboard,' to track gains, that frequent feedback and excitement will be motivating to help them focus in on how their practice and efforts are paying off toward reaching their WIG.
The Chiefs are also inspiring to watch because they take a team approach. Sure, Patrick Mahomes has talent, but without a cohesive team, there would be no one to catch the ball or give him time to throw the ball. In education, students also need a team to help develop their talent to reach their goals. Parents, you are a KEY part of your child's learning team! As we approach Parent-Teacher Conferences at the end of the month, be on the lookout for student and teacher goals, and students tracking progress toward their goals. Conferences are an opportunity for protected time to discuss what specific skills your child is working on toward their goal, how you as a parent can support their Wildly Important Goals, and help them stay motivated with their scoreboards!
So will the Chiefs win the Super Bowl this year? Their Wildly Important Goal is set. Together we will watch their scoreboards, cheer for their wins, and problem-solve through any losses. Together we will approach our children's Wildly Important Goals with the same time, attention, and enthusiasm, and our Falcons will be the true champions!
Sincerely,
Beth Mildren
Principal
On Deck: Upcoming September Events
SEPTEMBER:
September 6 - Tie Dye Day -- Thank you to all parents who sent in your t-shirt for your child(ren)! We appreciate the many donated white shirts as well! Students will take approximately an hour for tie-dying and team-building with their grade-level 'buddies.'
**RE Falcon spirit wear orders are due tomorrow, Sept. 6. Orders can be placed online www.refalconspta.org/shop
September 13 - DOT DAY! Send your child to school in dots -- September 15 is national Dot Day! Students will participate in a school-wide activity to explore how to be a leader and Make Your Mark!
September 17 - 7:30-8:30 am - PTA-sponsored All Pro Dads in the cafeteria. Parking is limited, please park around back and walk to the front of the building to enter. All dads and/or grandparents welcome. This event is for current Falcons and their dads only, please leave future-falcons at home.
Sept. 18 - LATE START! School will start at 10:45; Arrival will run 10:30-10:45. See below for more information.
Sept. 25 - HALF-DAY; 8:45-12:10 pm. Lunch will not be served on Sept. 25. Book Fair Kick Off Spirit Day-- Snuggle Up with a Good Book -- Wear PJs to school! Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held the evening of Sept. 25 and all day Sept. 26.
Sept. 25-26: Book Fair in the library; look for additional information from the PTA in Monday folders. When you purchase items at the school's Book Fair, a portion of the proceeds will be used to support the school! Wednesday hours are 11 am -1 pm and 4-7 pm. Thursday hours are 10 am - 2 pm and 4-7 pm.
Sept. 26 - NO SCHOOL; Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Sept. 27 - NO SCHOOL; Offices Closed.
DELAYED START: September 18
Delayed Starts
For the first time, the school district is scheduling two delayed starts for Wednesday, September 18 and Wednesday, November 6. The start of school will be delayed by two (2) hours.
Delayed Start Times
- High School - 9:50 a.m.
- Middle School - 9:55 a.m.
- Elementary - 10:45 a.m.
The district is conducting a delayed start to help prepare our schools should a delayed start be necessary due to inclement weather. This will allow the district to consider the logistics involved in postponing the start of the school day and help prepare families should this action occur.
The district is testing this plan based on the number of school closures caused by inclement weather during the last school year. The school day will end at its regular time on September 18 and November 6. Families are encouraged to make plans now to accommodate these scheduled delayed starts.
School bus transportation will take place on our delayed-start days. Pick up times will be adjusted by two (2) hours. If you have questions about transportation, please contact First Student at 913-422-8501.
JCPRD – Johnson County Parks & Recreation District will offer its Before School program as normal on delayed start days. Children must be enrolled in the Before School program in order to participate.
Schools will not offer breakfast on our delayed-start days. Lunch options will be narrowed on delayed start days based upon level:
- Elementary – only Choice B and C offered;
- Middle School – only Choice A and Cold Daily Alternates offered; and
- High School – Only Daily Dish, Hot Sandwiches, and Cold Daily Alternates offered.
Staff
Teachers and support staff will report as normal on September 18 and November 6 for two hours of professional training.
Team Up: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held the evening of Sept. 25 and all day Sept. 26. Thank you for taking the time to arrange a conference time with your child’s teacher(s). This time is set aside to provide an opportunity to share current progress on your child and to collaborate on how to best support each of our students. If your family is unable to attend during the provided days, please know that it can be difficult to reschedule conferences outside of the allotted times. Thanks for making every effort possible to attend conferences during the provided times.
Electronic links to Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Ups will be emailed to parents at 6:00 pm on Friday, September 6 on a first-come, first-serve basis to sign up.
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