January 28, 2011

College Counseling Update

Pat Dannon and Michael Murray continue to be our college advising team. Pat is available for consultation on Wednesday afternoons and is now working with the juniors to familiarize them with the college application process and help them think about college goals.

Save the Date - February 16, 2011 from 7:00 - 8:30 in the Maverick Room - 

Junior Parent College Night

Parents will receive information about the college application process. Interested parents from all grades are welcome. 

Most of our seniors require recommendation letters from two teachers, as well as a lengthy School Report letter from Ms. Dannon or Mr. Murray summarizing the student's academic skills, service experiences, athletic involvements, travels and other "bragging points." Envelopes containing this material, as well as a student's transcript, are sent to each college that a senior applies to. Over 250 envelopes have been sent out this year. 

This year's graduating class is applying to many selective colleges, and we are excited to hear about acceptances and decisions.

Graduation Reminder 

Graduation is June 7th at 7:30 at Lewis and Clark chapel.


Don't miss The PTC Annual Winter Party:

Here's how to sign up for the party (Tickets are $75/person, $150/couple): 

By check: Download and print the RSVP form, fill it out and return it with a check to either school. 

Online: Click here to go to the PTC STORE on the Grade School website.

Please consider paying by check to allow the PTCs to avoid credit card fees. Every dollar makes a difference. Thank you! If you're a patron and have already paid, you do not need to sign up.

Parking 

Parking has become problematic for guests and parents who need to access the high school. Many students who do not have parking permits are disregarding the fact that we have no excess parking on site. I agree it is unfortunate parking is limited. 

Please do not allow your child to drive to school if they do not have a parking permit. It is our hope to avoid having to provide parking lot supervision as students come to school.

February 25th is Winter Formal

Winter Formal will be held in the Maverick Room, the theme is Hollywood. Students are looking forward to the dance! Catherine Kernodle has provided the supervision of students as they plan the event. Thank you Catherine, the students report their appreciation for you.

Families please have a conversation with your child about dancing styles. The new dancing trend commonly referred to as “grinding” has been a hot issue at schools locally and nationally. Many school administrators have engaged in conversations about this dance style and looked for ways to reconcile conflicting opinions. In these conversations, students, faculty, staff, and parents have all weighed in on the complex array of issues surrounding dances. A perception amongst some students is that “grinding” is not an issue at all, and the prevalence of this dance style in society at large has made it particularly difficult to respond to. In the end, however, “grinding” and similar forms of dancing are not consistent with our values as a community. In particular, this style of dance is overly sexual, emphasizes gender-based power inequities, and excludes members of the student body. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that “grinding” and similar forms of dancing are not appropriate for school sponsored events and will not be allowed at the upcoming Winter Formal or at future RHS dances. Students will be allowed to dance and encouraged to get their groove on - just without grinding.

Conferences

Thank you all for making second trimester conferences a success. There was a great turnout and we had many meaningful conversations. You have wonderful children, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to serve them. 

Congrats on an out-of-this-world performance -- RHS Players in  

The Return to the Forbidden Planet! 

 

For your calendar, spring conferences will be scheduled April 28 & 29.

January 21, 2011

Theater News

Congratulations RHS on a “smashing” opening night of Return to the Forbidden Planet!  I had a great time personally and heard gasps and laughs all around me during the entire performance.  If you have not planned to go, rethink your plans; you will not be disappointed.  There are two shows remaining tonight, Friday at 7:30 and tomorrow, Saturday at 2:00 pm.

To buy tickets click here

Robotics News

The US FIRST International Robotics kickoff has come and gone, but the season is just beginning, and the Riverdale team needs YOU!  I was able to spend a little time with the “crew” after they were provided their “task”.  The robot this year will need to accomplish multitude tasks, such as grasping, reaching and hanging objects.  This challenge is being embraced by the team with various groups, all accomplishing different aspects of the “puzzle”.

The team needs students who want to learn Marketing (e.g., writing, photography, business planning, finance,) and Technical skills (electronics, machining, programming,) in a hands-on, student friendly, team environment but most of all have FUN!

They need your energy, drive and enthusiasm to round out the team.

Learn more about the Riverdale US FIRST team, click here.

  

Contact Rachael B. for more information.  To access contact info use your directory or contact Sam.

Rachael B/Marketing

Jay Gilbert/Lead Mentor

US FIRST Team #2915

College Admissions Tips

The college admissions process seems to have gotten so complicated.  But here's a straightforward, uncomplicated, just-plain-factual assertion that will help you get into college.

Earning "Bs" in hard classes is better than earning "As" in easy ones.  

The best way to show a college that you can handle work is to challenge yourself in high school.  Padding your GPA with easy courses in the hopes of impressing colleges is like trying to get an athletic scholarship by choosing to play against only the weakest competition you can find.  No coach wants the wrestler who managed to beat a long list of the worst wrestlers in the history of the sport.  And no college wants a student who backs away from an academic challenge in pursuit of the easy "A."

Students should take on the most difficult academic load they can personally handle without sacrificing activities, sleep or sanity.  That's the rule.  Taken from Collegewise website. 

Graduation announcement late order forms can be acquired from Sam.

Senior Panels

Senior Panels are scheduled for next week; Mr. Oldani has us all tightly scheduled and ready to go.  The students are excited to share, I know this because many have come to me telling of their work or providing me a paper to read at home.

Conferences

We are looking forward to seeing you and visiting with you about your child’s progress.  We are thrilled with the diverse achievements students have to talk about.  This is a reminder that conferences are scheduled for next Thursday 1/27/11 and Friday 1/28/11.  It will be good to see you all again, a personal goal is to learn more names and faces.

 

RHS Events & Announcements

Senior Parent Announcement:

Last weeks’ blog posting reminded of tomorrows due date for graduation orders.  To clarify, these are the graduation announcement orders.  Cap and gown order deadline was December 1^st.  Contact Sue Teeter if you have questions 829-0722.

Freshman* & Sophomore Parent Announcement:

January 13^th 7:00- 8:00 new changing State graduation requirement conversation (for sophomore and freshman parents only) will discuss the Essential Skills requirement.

*Freshman parents only:  8:00 to 8:30 Michael Murray will be talking about Wild Horse Canyon Field Studies.

All Parent Announcement: 

District-wide Internet Safety presentation January 19^th at RHS Maverick Room 7:00 to 9:00.  Our speaker is Linda Criddle of   iLookBothWays.com.  You will find her engaging and enlightening.  Linda will be addressing the students January 18^th, high school in the morning and grade school in the afternoon.  Staff will hear her in the afternoon of the 19^th.

January 7, 2011

Athletics News:

The fall standings have just been released by the OSAA for the annual Oregonian Cup.  Currently Riverdale is in first place with a total of 1033 points, and hold a 278 point lead over 2nd place Kennedy.  The Oregonian Cup began in 1999 as a way to recognize overall excellence by schools in academics, activities and athletics. The Oregonian began sponsoring the award in February 2002. The award honors a school's students, teachers, coaches and the entire school community. Schools earn points based on their participation and finish in OSAA State Championships and for Top 10 finishes in the OSAA Academic All-State Program, sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Oregon. A sportsmanship component, whereby schools are awarded points each season for having no ejections, is included as well. The points are updated and released at the end of Fall and Winter seasons and totaled at the end of the year. The school earning the highest points in each classification receives a commemorative trophy from The Oregonian and the OSAA.  Last year Riverdale finished 4th overall in the 2A standings.

http://osaa.org/awards/oregoniancup/10-11/Fall/2a.asp

Graduation Reminder:

Graduation cap and gown order forms were due Friday, January 7th, however the date has been extended to January 11th.  They will accept any order forms postmarked by January 11th.  Anything after that date they will need to be ordered on the late order form which will be sent to the school by the company soon.

Important Appreciation:

Thank you to Jody H. for organizing a spectacular event, and for the students that returned for The Grads Return Night.  The turnout was over 100 guests.  

There were 13 graduates who participated in the event (Sam B - USC, Dana M - Dickinson College, Cameron P-A - Whitman College, Oliver F - Occidental College, Shannon H. - University of San Francisco, Aspen M - University of Puget Sound, Viken D - Claremont-McKenna College, Parker H - Oberlin Conservatory, Illana W-B - Olin College of Engineering, Jamie F - Haverford, Eleanor J - Ursinus, Michael W - Manhattan College, and Jon H - Colgate University), all impressive men and women.  Michael M. supported the event by facilitating the panel discussion process.  I appreciate the work and effort that went into planning and organizing this opportunity.  It was great to see so many of our families attend and benefit from what our graduates had to offer.  Thank you Jody!

Please note change in schedule (January 20, 21 and 22) for Musical:

You don't want to miss William Shakespeare's long-lost 1960's rock musical: Return to the Forbidden Planet!   The Riverdale High School Players in keeping with fine Riverdale tradition present this year's awesome musical filled with singing and dancing to great 1960s tunes such as Good Vibrations.  Jam-packed with robots, spaceships, and witty Shakespearean repartee, there is good humor and amazing acting to entertain the entire family.  Dates:  Thursday, January 20, 7:30pm; Friday, January 21, 7:30pm and Saturday, January 22, 2:30pm.  Location:  Broadway Rose Theater, Tigard (same as last year).  Adults: $15, Students: $10.  Buy your tickets at riverdaledrama.com -- hurry, they are going fast!  Good luck-o-grams for cast and crew available before the show and during intermission:  You're Awesome Cards: $1, Sweet Treats: $3.  Live long and Prospero!  Buy Tickets

Model United Nations Fundraiser during January conferences!

RHS Model United Nations Representatives ready to serve you!

Remember to bring a few dollars to January conferences!  Your purchase of coffee and hot chocolate will help our RHS Model UN raise enough money to attend the annual conference in Eugene in April.  Model UN, a new RHS club, offers a unique opportunity for high school students from around the state to run their own United Nations Assembly.  Our coffee stand in the gym lobby will be open from 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM on Thursday, January 27 and 8:30 - 12:30 on Friday, January 28.   Come by and we will tell you more about this great opportunity!  Thanks!

"The idea of MUN is to increase student understanding of world affairs and to offer an opportunity for students to lead a model United Nations Assembly.  MUN is non-competitive.  Instead, it encourages students to learn about other countries, speak in public, write, discuss world issues, collaborate, negotiate, and develop new friendships."


January School Board Meeting - January 10th
**Please note that the January School Board Meeting time has changed from its' usual time 6:00 pm to 3:00 pm on January 10th.