April 1, 2011

MESSAGE FROM THE SPIRIT CLUB

Greetings Parents of Mavericks,

Riverdale’s Prom is right around the corner (Saturday, May 7th). The Prom committee seeks parents to help organize this special event. Volunteer parents can help by organizing student volunteers, organizing setup, soliciting chaperones, and organizing clean-up. The student lead Spirit Committee will meet at school to discuss advertising for student volunteers, signing up volunteers, and of course to brainstorm the theme for this year’s Prom. Prom will take place at the Ecotrust building in nearby NW Portland. Parents who are interested in helping to organize this year’s prom should contact Susie Keeton via e-mail to find out more information about Prom and the goals of the Prom committee, including upcoming meeting dates. Susie Keeton’s e-mail address is susiekeeton@comcast.net

Best, Catherine Kernodle, Spirit Committee Advisor 2010-2011

GOLF

This is a first, Riverdale won the golf tourney.

Charlie shot the round of his life - 72

RIVERDALE - 336          
VALLEY CATHOLIC  - 337   

RAINEER - 344 
NEAH KAH NIE - 356
NKN   JV - 606 
VERNONIA - 594
CS LEWIS - 620 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 

Beginning with our current Junior class the Oregon Diploma graduation requirement of meeting the essential Skills component is in place.  Specifically this means passing the Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKS test).  This is the test that all 10th graders are “given” across the state.  The table below describes the graduation years and the phase in of which Essential Skill is required in addition to the transcript credits.  Currently we have no Juniors at risk of not graduating due to scores on the OAKS.  The OAKS test does “count”.

Teachers are beginning the process of reviewing several data points in order to identify students who may need additional support in order to meet the OAKS cut scores.  Any student who falls in this category will be notified along with parents.

Additionally, students may prove meeting the Essential Skills requirement in a variety of ways, through other approved standardized tests and in certain circumstances work samples.  Students are provided, if needed, access to the OAKS three times a year.

This message is meant to be informative, you may contact Michael Murray if you have further questions.

Beginning in 2012, students must demonstrate proficiency in identified essential skills. The revised Essential Skills timeline adopted by the State Board in August 2009 is as follows:

• 2012:  Read and comprehend a variety of text
• 2013:  Write clearly and accurately
  
• 2014:  Apply mathematics in a variety of settings 

The remaining Essential Skills will be phased-in over subsequent years, timeline to be determined.

• Listen actively and speak clearly and coherently
• Think critically and analytically
• Use technology to learn, live and work
• Demonstrate civic and community engagement
• Demonstrate global literacy
• Demonstrate personal management and teamwork skills

BALANCE RIGOR WITH REALITY:

Some students can take the hardest available classes and still do well, have fun, and sleep regularly.  But everyone has different abilities.  Part of being successful in high school means pushing towards, but not past, your academic limits.  

You should enjoy your activities.  You should get enough sleep.  You should see your friends, have fun and occasionally do things that have nothing to do with college admissions or improving yourself.  

There is nothing wrong with a course schedule that demands hard work.  Some stress and the occasional late night are OK, too.  But no college in the world would want you to make yourself unhappy or unhealthy because of your classes.  Even the highest achievers still need to be happy and well-adjusted teenagers.  
   

If you’re hoping to go to one of those schools that rejects most of the people who apply, you’re going to need to take the most demanding courses offered at your school and you’ll need to get A’s in just about all of them.  But most of the over 2000 colleges don’t demand that kind of perfection from their applicants.  

Work hard and take classes that challenge your academic limits.  But balance that rigor with reality so you can be a happy and well-rested teenager, too.