Friday, December 9th, 2012

Dear Families:

Amazing to think it is December already -- the days are rolling by -- especially for our senior families.  Here we are in winter, time to begin listening to the school closure news, enjoying gatherings and time with our children at a slower pace (hopefully).  Please accept a kind and thoughtful “well wish” from all of us here at Riverdale.

Kindly,

Paula

News

Building Security

Student safety and security is of the utmost importance to us, at the same time, it is understood that we are a community and our school is our community center.  Many of you travel distances to be a part of our community and students need a safe warm place to wait.  The entire building will be locked at 5:00 pm every day beginning after winter break.  Students do not need to leave the building at 5:00 pm, but the doors will be locked to provide safety.

Please note that security gates have been installed and are being utilized during basketball games.  The gym area is blocked from the classroom section of the building.  The main lobby area is being locked after 5:00 pm.  Please use the gym lobby entrance for basketball games.

School Resource Officer

Riverdale High School has engaged in a different level of relationship with the Portland Police Department.  Students may have mentioned higher visibility of late.  I am partnering with them on some Police Department goals (not related to school district business) and they are, in return providing more visibility, access and relationship building with students as a support to them and our goals.

State Assessment and Graduation

Currently, and for some time now our children have been assessed by the State using the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) testing tool.  I am writing to share that the State has been working to increase the standards required for students to pass the State assessment.  In 2014 we will transition to an assessment called Smarter Balance, which will replace the OAKS.  There will be assessment in all core subjects.  The assessment tool, Smarter Balance, is currently in design.

Students are required to pass the State assessment OAKS and eventually Smarter Balance for diploma acquisition.  Remember this is being phased in, our current seniors must pass the Reading OAKS (everyone has), next year’s graduates must pass in Reading and Writing, current sophomores must pass Reading, Writing and Math and all classes after that continue the expectation.  Of interest, the developers of Smarter Balance are working to design measures for creativity, problem solving skills and higher level thinking skills.

Feel free to inquire with your student’s teachers about their progress toward passing the above mentioned benchmarks that are required for graduation.

Land Use Agreement “Trouble in Paradise”

The Collins View Neighborhood Association has expressed concern regarding student drop off in neighborhood streets.  Again, this serves as a reminder that in accordance with the land use agreement that provides us the opportunity to use this building site as Riverdale High School it is a violation to use neighborhood streets (adding traffic).  We are clearly required to use our parking lot and driveway only.  I acknowledge that our driveway entrance and egress is not optimal.  It is what it is; we are being held to the limitations of the legal agreement in place.

Homework and Projects

We have developed a communication system for staff to collaborate regarding projects and homework expectations.  Our goal is to protect students and families from too heavy a load at any given time.  Our hope is that the expectations are manageable.  By manageable we mean they continue to love learning and are able to get enough sleep at night.  The system is new, we invite you to email individual teachers when you and your child might need to negotiate or communicate workload concerns.

Senior News

Senior representatives have been working to design the graduation announcement.  Next week the class will be voting on their class motto.  Before winter break we will submit our announcement and class motto, this will open online ordering for cap and gowns, announcements and rings.  You should be able to place your orders during or after the break.

Student Communication Systems

All students have Riverdale High School email addresses; I have sent a few messages via email blasts to students.  The students were taught how to use the student designed communication system on two occasions during third period. This communication serves to let you know there is a system in place and you may submit, to me, messages and notices you want to go to the student body.

A team of students and staff are working to develop a social networking solution to our need for a communication system that works for students.  The thought is that it will morph into something that parents can “watch” as well.

Deputy Consul General Hirofumi Murabayashi visits Riverdale

This year the Riverdale High School Model United Nations (MUN) team will represent two countries at the state conference at University of Oregon in April:  Japan and Malaysia.  In order to prepare for the conference, we requested help from the Consulate of Japan in Portland.  On Wednesday, December 7, the MUN team of 20 students welcomed Deputy Consul General Hirofumi Murabayashi.  Students brought refreshments and circled round to hear Mr. Murabayashi speak about the consulate itself, the foreign policy of Japan, the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and Japan's economic challenges.  We were particularly moved by Mr. Murabayashi's emphasis on the importance of working for peace in the world.  Mr. Murabayashi also said that he loves being in Portland and hopes to see more of the Northwest.  He told us that his own daughter had been active in MUN when she was in high school.  Mr. Murabayashi left with our best wishes and a Riverdale t-shirt.

India Update

Welcome home, students arriving today!

Our students who are visiting and working in India are posting to a blog you can access by clicking on the link below.

India Blog

You may also look forward to an update from them during the January School Board meeting scheduled January 9th at 6:00 at Riverdale grade School library.

College Acceptance Logo Bulletin Board

Please notice the college bulletin board and watch the logos being added as the acceptance letters come in.  Each logo represents one acceptance into college. This is an exciting time for our seniors!

Peanut Butter and Music

December 15th at 7:00 pm in the Maverick Room

This coming Thursday, December 15th, there will be a causal winter concert

shared by Bella Voci women's ensemble, The Choir Dance Combo and the RHS

Jazz Band. Bella Voci will be singing a number of seasonal solos and group

songs, the choir dance combo will perform the Hallelujah Chorus in a new

and exciting way (not to be missed!) and the concert will close with the

Jazz Band.

This event will also be the culmination of a week-long drive to collect

peanut butter for the Oregon Food Bank. Peanut butter has been specifically

requested by food banks around the state.  Help the music department reach its goal to provide at least 100 jars.  This is also a school wide competiton

between classes, with points toward the end of the year "sprit award

booster trip" to the winning class.

RHS Library Donation Program 2011-2012

We hope that you will be part of the RHS Library Donation Program. Here is how it works:

1.Honor a student or other special person on their birthday or other occasion with your gift of a title (book or media) for the library. 

2.Fill out the form with name and interests of your honoree.* 

3.Add a message, if you wish. 

4.Return the form with your check and a note of appreciation will be mailed to you.

We will purchase an appropriate title, affix a bookplate with your message, and inform your honoree(s). They will have the first opportunity to check out the title.

Thank you for your help to create a wonderful library collection for our students.

November 6, 2011 - College, National Honor Society, High School Musical, and more...

Message from College Counselor

College application season is underway, and we have recently sent out transcripts, school reports and teacher recommendations for the November 1st deadlines.  Mr. Preacher and Mr. Brown have given up class time for the college application to be discussed with seniors.  Parents, please check Naviance to be certain that all of the colleges listed are the ones that you want your child applying to!   If you have questions or concerns, please contact Michael Murray at mmurray@riverdale.k12.or.us

College Financial Aid Information Night - November 9 at 7:00 pm

Last year our graduating seniors were awarded a total of 2.5 million dollars in financial aide. Learn about the financial aid process from an expert on November 9, at 7pm in the Maverick Room.  Senior parents are especially encouraged to attend. Presentor Mike Johnson is the Director of Financial Aide at Pacific University.  He has worked at a number of colleges, presents financial aid information at the Portland College Fair, and has helped Riverdale parents with financial aid for a number of years.  Please attend even if you have been through the process before, since there is new and important information every year. 

National Honor Society

Students were notified of their acceptance into National Honor Society this week.  Advisor Mark Wechter planned a kidnap breakfast for Monday and an induction ceremony Thursday.  The students began their service and conducted a successful food drive this week. Congratulations to our NHS students.

Legally Blonde, the High School Musical

Riverdale High School Musical is off and running. We had a tremendous turnout on Wednesday, November 2; over 50 high school and 7th and 8th grade students auditioned for Legally Blonde the Musical. We are so excited to be showcasing the Northwest premiere of this story about Elle Woods, a young woman who leaves her California sorority to enroll at Harvard Law School.

We are thrilled to have an absolutely fabulous production team. John Monteverde is an award-winning director with over 15 years of experience. John is the founding artistic director of the Blue Monkey Theater Company and the co-founder and producing artistic director of Northwest Children’s Theater.  Many people will remember Tyler Evans, our musical director for last year’s production of “Return to the Forbidden Planet.” Tyler is an accomplished musician, currently performing in Portland Center Stage’s production of Oklahoma! And we are fortunate to have Stephanie Anderson, a very passionate and talented dancer and choreographer. She is the founder and director of Northwest Dance Academy and a Blazer dancer.  We know we can count on Stephanie to bring both precision and excitement to the dance numbers.

The venue for this production is The World Trade Center, used by many professional theater companies.  The World Trade Center has a limited space.  There is a smaller stage, back stage, dressing rooms etc…   This has limited our ability to “enlarge” our cast and create additional ensemble roles for all interested high school students as we have had luxury to do so for some previous shows.

There are 12 leading roles in this production and callbacks (for the lead parts only) were held on Friday. Ensemble parts are still being considered and final casting for the show will occur this weekend. Everyone who auditioned for the play will be notified by Sunday evening. We have a very strong cadre of students who will be providing technical support. However, we are in need of more accomplished musicians. If interested please contact Ms. Horgan for more information.

If you are familiar with the story, dogs play an important role-- We currently are casting two dogs -- Elle’s small Chihuahua and Paulette’s canine companion a bulldog.  If you have a dog that fits the part we want to talk to you! 

Are you a Harvard Graduate? We are also looking for Harvard memorabilia to use as props. For more information-Please contact John Monteverde at  johnmonteverde@hotmail.com.

Now is the time to mark your calendars. Performances will be held the last two weekends in January (see district calendar) at the World Trade Center’s lovely and intimate 220-seat theater in downtown Portland.

Stay tuned for more information.

Lost and Found Overflow

If your child is missing any new tennis shoes, coats, lunch bags, old tennis etc.… lost and found is on “overflow”.  The locker rooms are randomly being cleaned and many students are not using their locker room lockers and are using the floor, benches and tops of lockers.  If you know of clothing articles missing it is likely they are in lost and found.

Field Studies

Students will be receiving their Field Studies sign up form in the very near future.  Field Studies week seems a long way away, but we will begin our preparation very soon. 

Appreciation

Parents, thank you for agreeing to turn right during congested times and for refraining from neighborhood drop offs.  Your support of the high school is appreciated.  Thank you again.

Senior Exhibition News

Senior Exhibition planning has begun and proposals must be emailed to senior_exhibitions@riverdale.12.or.us by November 14th.  Students must propose three topics that they might explore, brainstorm five essential questions, imagine three projects related to their exhibition topics, and list 3-4 people who might be in a position to help their research efforts.  

Riverdale alumni consistently say that Senior Exhibition is a formative and essential college preparatory experience.  During second trimester students will research and begin their projects in the community.  

October News

Student School Communication Plan

Although many students are thrilled about their Wednesday Elective option they have voiced concern about missing the opportunities to communicate to one another for the purpose of sharing news, recruiting for clubs and sports, sharing service learning opportunities and other things they simply just want to share.  After working with a team of students and consulting with several others a plan was developed to address these concerns.  The following message went out to students on both Thursday and Friday of this week:

Dear Students:

Many of you have voiced a need for a forum for communication to one another.  I have consulted with several of you and I am ready to share the RHS Communication Plan.

1. There is a clipboard outside the principals’ office with a number of sign up slots available.  You may sign up to spend a 15 minute walk with the Principal while you share your thought, idea, opinion, need or just get acquainted.

2. There is a message board outside the office (West side) where you may post items and view things of interest.  Your Principal is purchasing more bulletin boards in order to provide more space for general postings, for example, the Aids Walk Fundraiser outcome.  More boards are coming for various walls through the building, as we are moving toward refraining from posting directly on the walls.  There will be no posting on windows please.

3. This Friday the first ONLINE student email blast will be sent out.  The first posting will be small, simply because it will only post what the Principal wants to share.  Here is how it works.   First, everyone here has a Riverdale student email account.  This is where the email blast will be sent.  You can do one of two things, check your Riverdale email account or go into your Riverdale email account and forward the mail from there to an account you use regularly.  If you find you do not have a Riverdale email account, check with Sam, he will help you.  Secondly, this is set up for you to communicate to one another about school related things.  You can use it to recruit for teams, clubs and events.  You can advertise fundraisers.  You can share news.  Use it the way we used to use Community Meeting.  Send an email to your Principal at probinson@riverdale.k12.or.us and if appropriate it will be posted.  You may include photos if you like. 

*Parents, feel free to utilize this tool as well.  Also, when your student shares with you that they wish they could tell the school about something, remind them to use the “Community Blast”.

School Improvement Review & Planning

Thank you to the students, parents, and teachers who contributed to the collection of information data for the purpose of school improvement.  Some students contributed by sharing their thoughts and feelings about their school.  Some parents and teachers were interviewed using specific interview questions.  Some teachers participated through observation of a class session.  Teachers and parents were invited to participate in a survey last week.  

If you did not have the opportunity to provide your input and have a desire to do so please contact me.

The information data collected will be compiled and shared with us.  We will review it, think about it, talk about it, analyze it and decide what action to take in regard to it.

This work will be accomplished via Teacher work teams, the Site Council and District work teams.

Cap and Gown Orders

If you have a senior it is time to order your cap and gown for graduation.  That’s right, time to be thinking about graduation preparations.  Really. 

Sam has cap and gown order forms at his desk in case you missed senior parent night.

Essential Skills Graduation Requirements

During our grade level parent meetings we briefly discussed the Oregon Diploma and graduation requirements around the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS).  Depending on the grade of your student the requirements differ, as this is a phased in requirement for graduation.

Below is the link for information regarding The Essential Skills Requirement

http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1670

Below is the link for information regarding The Oregon Diploma

http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1684

Dropping students off in Neighborhood/Land Use Agreement

This message is a reminder of the land use agreement Riverdale is bound to.  We are required to refrain from parking on neighborhood streets.  Parents may not drop off students in neighborhood streets or lots.  Unfortunately, some disgruntled neighbors are taking license plate numbers.  At the last Collins View Neighborhood Association meeting they were assured by the principal that we would comply with the stipulations outlined in the land use agreement.

To those of you who may not have known about the “rule” to use only our lot for pick up and drop off, thank you in advance for refraining from using the neighborhood streets.

Upcoming Events:

Variety Show Auditions

“All Together Now”

Riverdale School District Variety Show

It is not too late to audition!  Auditions are today 4:00 to 6:00.    Please sign up at Sam’s desk.  You may also contact the variety show coordinator at Rdalevarietyshow@gmail.com for more information.  Time is ticking – sign up for yourself, with a friend or your family! 

Auditions for the High School Musical Coming your way…

The first week in November auditions are planned.  The announcement of the show and dates for auditions will be posted soon!  Keep your eyes out for posters in the building and the next email blast.

Riverdale High School Blood Drive - Friday, October 28, 2011 - 9:00 - 2:00 pm -- All are welcome, parents, students - 16 years or older (with a permission slip), family, friends, neighbors.  Please spread the word.

Open House October 30 1:00-3:00 pm

Invite your friends to the Riverdale High School Open House. This is your opportunity to build your daily friendship circle.

Monster Mash

Students are planning a dance to be held October 22nd at the High School.  This is a costume affair.  It will be staffed and supervised by RHS teachers and staff.  Drop off is 7:00 p.m. and pick up is 10:00 p.m.  It is greatly appreciated that you remind your students of two things: one is that although it is a costume affair, school dress code applies, secondly, the dance style “grinding” will not be allowed (student will be subject to dismissal).

 

Sports News

The Riverdale Girls Cross-Country Team - Northwest League 
2011 Cross Country Champions!

Fall Senior Sports Night

October 28th is Fall Senior Sports Night.  Come celebrate and congratulate our senior athletes at the home soccer game!

Parent Volunteer Opportunity
Service Learning Project Coordinator.  This volunteer position as Service Coordinator will arrange service projects with teachers for student participation.  Some projects will be curricular related and some will not.  Most are past projects with contact information in place. It is possible to create a student team to work with on this project.  Please call the Principal 503-262-4844 if you are willing to help in this way. 

Service Opportunities

Do you need more service hours, but are having trouble finding service opportunities? The website below is designed to make finding and signing up for volunteering easy. Check it out!  This site was created by Megan G and Meianna O.

http://www.wix.com/rhs_servicelearning/mavericks-volunteer 

The Oregonian Cup and More (September 16, 2011)

The Oregonian Cup:

Riverdale High School has been awarded a great honor this fall.  The OSAA has honored Riverdale with the Oregonian Cup for 2011.

The OSAA writes to us:
“The Oregonian cup is truly about everything we stand for as a high school activities association.  The Oregonian cup began in 1999 and recognizes overall school excellence in academics, activities, athletics and sportsmanship. 

This is the first time Riverdale has received this honor. 

This year’s award was predominantly won in the classroom for the Mavericks.  Fourteen programs finished in the top ten in the Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Award, with several programs finishing in the top three of the classification.  On the activities side, Riverdale had exceptional state performances in Boys Soccer and Girls Basketball.  With the combination of success in the classroom and on the playing field, Riverdale personifies the term “student-athlete.”

            
While each of these accomplishments are outstanding and the aforementioned awards are important in their own right, the OSAA believes that the Oregonian Cup stands alone in its importance.

            
In its truest sense this is a community award.  It seems appropriate to recognize a community that obviously takes tremendous pride in their school and its students.  The pride that teachers have in seeing their students succeed.  The pride that coaches take in guiding students to fulfill their dreams and the pride parents have in wanting only the best for their children.  Most of all this is the pride that you, the student, have in yourselves and each other to work together towards a common goal of excellence.

           

On behalf of the OSAA and the 290 member schools we are proud to present the 2A Oregonian Cup to Riverdale High School.  Congratulations!” (OSAA September 2011).

School Traffic: 
It is true that our drop off and pick up situation is less than optimal.  I am writing to remind you of our courtesy rule for facilitating the movement of traffic as smoothly as possible.  The courtesy rule is this: “When more than one car is behind you as you leave the school lot, turn right”.  If you have to turn right head up Terwilliger Blvd. toward Lewis and Clark, loop through the traffic circle and swoop back down Terwilliger and be on your way.  This choice is much safer for you as well as being helpful.

News from the Counselor: 
The college application season has begun for seniors.  Parents and students have been informed again about our reliance on a widely used computer program called Naviance as a resource to explore college options and to transmit recommendations and transcripts. Seniors should be familiarizing themselves with this program, and check to be sure that the information in their profile is correct and complete.  

Juniors and seniors have been given written instructions about college application procedures, and we have gone over them in Mr. Brown's class.  Next week, they will engage in a college essay workshop to clarify the characteristics of a successful essay.  The college application process will be explained to senior parents during a meeting in the library on Wednesday, September 21 and to junior parents on Tuesday, September 27.  Freshman and sophomore parent meetings will include college information as well.  

The College Center will be open at lunch on Wednesdays, and parents are welcome to come in with questions for Mr. Murray and our parent volunteers.  College visits have begun, and the schedule is on Naviance and announced in the Daily Bulletin.  Most seniors have decided on the colleges that they will apply to.  They should meet the representatives of those colleges when they come on campus.  Juniors should be meeting with representatives in order to explore options.

Dress Code:

The transition from summer fashion to professional student attire has been a tough one for many of our students.  The teaching staffs appreciate your support in checking your child’s choices prior to leaving home for the day.  The length of shorts, shirts worn with no long pants and dresses must be as long as or longer than the longest finger length on an extended arm.  Thank you for managing this, by doing so teachers focus is to manage the business of learning.

Parents Needed:

I am writing to recruit parent representatives for the School Site Council.  School Site Council is a requirement of the State of Oregon (OAR 329.704) designed for the purpose of improving professional growth for staff, improvement of instructional programs and implementation of programs.  The OAR’s require that the School Site Council is comprised of teachers, staff, administration, students and parents.  Currently we have no parents.  Our meetings are held monthly and are scheduled for the following dates:

Site Council - 4:00 pm. - 2nd Tuesday of each month

10/11/11, 11/8/11, 12/13/11, 1/10/12, 2/14/12, 3/13/12, 4/10/12, 5/8/12

2011-12 Senior Yearbook Portraits:

Deadline: end of Fall Term (November 18, 2011)

Students have received a goldenrod half-slip with specifications.  If you have questions that were not addressed on the “handout’ please email Ms. Finnerty at hfinnerty@riverdale.k12.or.us
  
School portraits will be used if you choose not to get pictures taken elsewhere, so do not worry; your student will be in the yearbook if your student received a student body card with a picture on it (by being present on picture day September 15^th).

We are off to a great year; many students have reported their excitement and happiness to be back to school.    Well, I have to go; the Green Club is at my door waiting to present a proposal…

Important Date Changes:  The District Calendar on the website is the most up-to-date calendar -- it reflects the changes that inevitably occur.
Wed. Sept. 21: Senior Parent Meeting in library

Mon. Sept 26: Frosh Meeting in library

Tues. Sept 27: Junior Meeting in library

Wed. Oct. 5: Sophomore Meeting in library

Registration Fair - Thursday, August 18 - 3:00 - 7:00pm

August 16, 2011

Dear Families,

I hope that the summer has been a refreshing distraction to the pace of the school year.  Next week I'll be posting a letter with information that responds to many questions, in the meantime let me share some thoughts about the Registration Fair this Thursday.

Registration Fair is a drop-in event that will inform you about what is available that you might otherwise overlook.  You will be able to ask questions and gain clarification.

ONLINE information was sent via email and is posted on the High School homepage.  We are trying to maximize our budget and reduce our impact on the environment and therefore will not be mailing the packets this year.  Please preview the information packets, print off required forms and sign with your child; drop them off at the event anytime between 3:00 and 7:00 pm.

See what's offered; we have a new Mandarin Chinese Class, and a new Japanese Teacher. Robotics will be there to answer questions.  First Student, our bus company, will be present to share information about routes and stop times.  Be sure to stop by the PTC table to see what our parent organization is all about and how you can be involed.

Athletics Paperwork; Athletic Director Rob Pridemore will be available to talk all things athletic.  The athletic forms must be complete before the first practice.

The registration process has been streamlined to save you time.  It is designed to give us a head start on the collection of information (forms), and signatures that are required to ensure we are best prepared for a smooth transition from summer to the school year.

For those of you who are unable to attend the Registration Fair, no worries, we realize this is late notice. Registration packets are sent electronically this year and will not be mailed (you should have received the links). Please review the materials, fill out your forms, sign your signature pages and bring in the documents to the school office as soon as you are able. We look forward to seeing you!

Best Regards,

Paula Robinson

WELCOME BACK!

Dear Riverdale Families and Students: 
 

WELCOME BACK!

It is exciting to be returning for another dynamic school year!  I look forward to meeting some of you and reconnecting with others during the first few days of this new year.    Families are of great importance to our school community.  I look forward to working together to build your student’s success in life.  Please feel comfortable approaching me in person and/or via email.  We have a great year ahead!

We encourage students to consider joining a fall sport to get to know new peers and represent our school. Sports sign up is August 18th, 3:00 to 7:00 pm (Registration Fair).

If you have any questions or need more information, please call or email us:  503-262-4844 (please note the new school number).

Summer is drawing to a close and with it new beginnings are in sight.  As we prepare for a new school year, please note the information below that will support a smooth transition from summer break.

With warm regards,

Paula Robinson,

RHS Principal

 

UPDATES:

District Registration Fair/Athletics Sign Ups

August 18, 2011 @ 3:00-7:00 pm

This will be our first Registration Fair.  Registration materials will not be mailed this year.  You will be receiving a District email on Monday, August 15th with instructions for printing and/or downloading the materials, as well as information on what to do if you are unable to attend.

You will want to attend the District Registration Fair/Athletics sign-up to turn in your registration materials, meet our food service providers, receive locker assignments, athletic clearance and sign-ups, etc.  

Food Service:

We are happy to welcome Jordan, Mike and Barry Massinger of Xpress Catering, as our food service providers and managers of The Maverick Café.   Plan to meet them at the Registration Fair, August 18.

The Maverick Cafe

Barry Massinger 503-983-5100

Jordan Massinger 503-550-7519

Check out "The Maverick Cafe":

Website - Look for the Maverick Cafe on the left of the web page

Face Book

Email: xpresscatering@gmail.com 

Wednesday Electives:

On Wednesdays our students will be provided a yearlong elective that will earn a .25 credit.  Students will register for their Wednesday elective during the first week of school in Advisory.

Financial Aid Process:

The process for applying for student activity and athletic financial aid will be via submission of a confidential financial aid request form.  The paperwork will be available with the registration materials.  The determination of financial aid allocation will be made based on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, the same criteria for the federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

Please note that we will be transitioning to our new school phone number:

503-262-4844 (the old number will forward to this new number)

PTC Forms ON-LINE:

Please review and submit forms of interest by visiting the PTC web page, we greatly appreciate your support! 

May 27, 2011

Donors Resource Interns Message:

The Riverdale Interns of DonorsResource.org have started transitioning into the new website! It would be great if all you could check out the progress they've made at www.donorsresource.org. If you want to test out the new site, you can donate something that a nonprofit will come and pick up.  Hopefully you have a great time checking out the site and have a great day.  Please check out their work at www.donorsresource.org.

Message from the Principal:

Greetings!

During New Student Forecasting Night some questions came up and others have been posed since.  I am writing to clarify some of them and highlight some changes in our schedule.

Students will remain in their current Advisory Groups, and freshmen will be added to the existing groups.  Advisory and community meeting will continue for conducting school business, bonding and work that does not “fit’ elsewhere in our schedule via an assembly schedule as needed. 

Wednesday’s 50 minute session is changed to provide a .25 elective credit (1 credit over four years) for students.  We’ve named this “The Oldani Period”; teachers will be preparing course descriptions for these elective credits.  You will receive sign-up sheets for your son or daughter in the electronic registration packet in August.

Students will have access to World language level one and two all year.  Math for most students will be all year long.  History 12B will allow students to choose from a menu of three options and English 12B will be from a menu of four selections.

Freshman Seminar has been eliminated and Health will be offered as a single course.  Senior Seminar has been changed from three trimesters to one.  Senior Exhibition will be provided during third trimester.  The projects and skills of the seminar classes will be embedded in other courses throughout the school.

We are excited about the new schedule and eager to implement it in the fall. 

Grading for next year:

Weighted GPA has been eliminated for all graduates after the 2011 class.  

HONORS:

Honors coursework is available to qualified students in all core classes (English, Art, Science, History, Math, World Language) and some electives. It is not a separate class, but an extension of the regular course. Honors encourage deeper thinking and provide greater challenge for students who are interested in and capable of such work. Students who wish to take Honors must be self-directed, able to meet deadlines and work independently. Honors work might include research, reading and writing, leadership and presentation, problem solving, scientific experimentation and investigation, community service, or independent projects.  

Successful completion of Honors will be noted on student transcripts with an H next to the course grade. Honors students must earn a grade of no lower than B (the H will be dropped if the course grade falls below B). An H on the school transcript is valuable in college admissions, as it indicates that a student has taken the most rigorous route for that course. Also, the number of H’s on transcripts may be used to determine Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  

To be enrolled in Honors, a student must submit an Honors contract no later than two weeks into a course. Before that date, teachers will post their Honors Curricula on their Classroom Central sites and explain expectations. Counselors and teachers will encourage qualified students to sign up for Honors. Parents, teachers, and students must sign the Honors contract.

Students who continue to take Honors after parent conferences are expected to complete the Honors commitment. Given the natural period of adjustment to high school, ninth graders may elect Honors in no more than two courses in their first term.

Below is the grade point scale which will be implemented fall 2011:

A+ = 4.0

A = 4.0

A- = 3.7

B+ = 3.3

B = 3.0

B- = 2.7

C+ = 2.3

C = 2.0

C- = 1.7

D+ = 1.3

D = 1.0

D- = 0.7

F = 0.0