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

Friday, May 20, 2011

Scheduling and Development of Course Descriptions

You may have noticed things are quite busy at the High School this spring.  Our students are working very hard in their courses and on final projects.  Seniors are engaging in conversations and planning for graduation.  Our teachers are spending many hours with Sue Teeter and Michael Murray deliberating with and struggling through the development of the best schedule and offerings for our students.  I am sharing this to be sure you understand why communication may be slower than you are used to.

I am sure the students and our parents will be pleased with the outcomes of these efforts.  Some highlights for next year include, year-long Math during most of the four years, titles in humanities courses that respond to your requests, Foreign language year long, Senior Exhibition third trimester, high level elective options, retention of Music, P.E. and Art. 

Forecasting for new students is next Wednesday, May 25th, and returning student forecasting sheets will be delivered to students prior to the end of this school year.

 

Message from College Counselor

Our seniors are committing to colleges this week, and our juniors are just beginning to think about what colleges they might apply to.  Thus, one college counseling season closes and another begins.  Our senior class was very successful with their college applications, and most were accepted by the majority of schools to which they applied.  We are happy to see that competitive schools like Smith, Occidental, New York University, Bates, Carnegie Mellon, Oberlin, Mills and Boston University have accepted our students.  What's most important, however, is that Riverdale families feel that their graduates are going off to colleges that are appropriate for individual students.  Our goal is to help students find "the right fit," whatever it might be. 

Our faculty wrote hundreds of college recommendations, on top of all the work they do preparing for classes and responding to student work.  Laurie Lepore, for example, wrote more than 40 letters this year!  Michael Murray wrote detailed School Report letters for almost all of our seniors, and made sure that a huge number of polished and complete envelopes of application materials were sent out in a timely fashion. Pat Dannen did an excellent job, as always, preparing this class to make the best possible college choices. 

All of this work by Riverdale staff simply allows colleges to see the strengths of this outstanding senior class.  

Summer Opportunity

Shakespeare revealed!

Unpack the weighty contents of Shakespearean text by demystifying the language through drama-based activities and performance.  We will explore the language of Shakespeare in a way that is real, down-to-earth and accessible to all.  We will approach the works academically while drawing from the experience of the teacher who is a local actor and director and has performed in multiple Shakespearean productions.  Please come to class prepared to move, use your voice, and be amazed.  This course can qualify as either an Art credit or an English credit.  

Contact Ms. Drogosch for details

Message from our Riverdale Donors Resource Interns

Riverdale high school interns stepped up

Over the past couple of months, the nonprofit DonorsResource.org has taken on an internship with nine high school students from Riverdale High School in Portland, Oregon. By taking on specific roles from development officer to program coordinator the students are experiencing learning in real-time.

Head first, the Interns took on the challenge of re-designing the “look” and “feel” of DonorsResource’s website by making it simpler and easier.  The mission of the interns is to make an impact in our community.  “People think because we are teens we don’t care, we’re too lazy -- Well, we the students of Riverdale, disagree. We care. We care about the 300,000 people in our region that live in poverty. We care about the 10,000 people who are homeless every night in Portland. We care about our community” said Kelsey West, Riverdale Intern.  

What: An online launch of the new web face of DonorsResource.org

Where: www.DonorsResource.org

When: May 25, 2011

You can follow them on facebook.

Thank you!

Upcoming Events

May 25th - New Student Forecasting Night

May 26th - Bella Voci Concert - 7:00 pm

May 27th - Open MIC Night - 7:00 pm

Friday, May 13, 2011

“Tristan’s Trees” a tree dedication memory event

June 9th at 6:00 Riverdale High School will celebrate the dedication of thirty indigenous trees which will be planted at Riverdale High School in late May.  The trees are a gift to Riverdale High School through the Grey to Green Grant. The dedication event will be a celebration of life for our former student Tristan S.  Among our guests will be Christine and Jerry S.  The Food for Thought Class will provide catering services. Everyone who would like to participate with us in the dedication of our trees and the celebration of Tristan’s life are welcome to join us.

Graduation Update

Graduation announcements have gone home this week, I noticed there are five orders in Sam’s office that require payment in order to be picked up. 

Caps and gowns are here and will be held until graduation.  Individuals have been contacted about late orders if one did not arrive for a student.

Tickets: Each graduate is allotted 8 tickets.  Sam will have the tickets available for pick up May 27th.  If you do not require all 8 tickets please inform Sam when you pick yours up.  If you hope for more than 8 tickets have Sam place your name and number of tickets on the wait list in order to possibly acquire the additional tickets.

Another Time Another Place 

I was one of the lucky ones that was able to experience the Student Cooking and Performance "Another Time Another Place" to benefit the Riverdale Foundation.  Riverdale's Food for Thought student chefs led by Santha Cassell, and the Bella Voci Choir directed by Michelle Horgen designed the evening.

My table dined on a Mediterranean Vegetarian Feast while others enjoyed Tex-Mex, Indian and Asian specialties.  The food was accompanied by the talents of the Bella Voci Choir and Riverdale student musicians  (Henry L, Collin S and his sister Gillian S).  Our own Dan Palma and Michelle Horgen set the mood while we dined on our appetizer.  In addition to the beautiful music and food, this event raised $1200.  If you want to experience the love:

Another Time Another Place Slide Show

Practice SAT for High School Students
A free fully-proctored practice SAT will show students what to expect in a test-like environment. Students will receive a comprehensive analysis of their performance on the test, detailing individual strengths and weaknesses. Provided by Kaplan. Held in the US Bank Room.
Saturday, July 16, 2011   1-5:30 p.m.       (Session 1 of 2) 
Tuesday, July 26, 2011   6:30-7:45 p.m.   (Session 2 of 2) 

Session 1: Practice Test
Session 2: Exam Follow-up  

Central Library 
801 S.W. 10th Ave.
Portland, OR 97205 
503.988.5123

Preregistration is required.  Registration opens on June 25th.
See the the event page on the library's EventFinder website

May 6, 2011

Our daily schedule will not change: 

Parents and students were alarmed by an announcement, during the Budget Meeting of April 27th, that schedule changes were being considered for the High School next year.  After the faculty worked hard to consider every possible option, it has been determined that we will not have a different schedule next year.

However, because of the reduction in teaching staff, other changes in the structure of how-we-do-business must be considered.  We are discussing the viability of targeted all year math and foreign language instruction, fewer single-grade classes, and ways to introduce a wider range of activities, independent and group study projects, service projects and community building.  Our goal is for students, faculty and parents to feel that Riverdale is a vibrant place to spend time, offering meaningful challenge and bountiful opportunity for academic, social and individual growth.   We welcome creative ideas from everyone in the community, and will keep you informed about our discussions.  

While functioning with fewer teachers is always more challenging, we expect that our program can be preserved and even improved.  

A parent survey about the schedule was promised at the April 27th meeting.  Because the scheduling decision was made efficiently, to allow us enough time to create a schedule for next year and start the schedule forecasting process, we will not be sending out a survey specifically about the schedule.  Look for a survey about a wide range of topics at the end of the year. 

Graduation update: 

Announcements, caps and gowns targeted arrival is May 11^th.  

We are assured that there will be back up (extra) caps and gowns in the event someone may not be prepared.  Dan from Royal-T Herf Jones planned to call anyone without a cap and gown.  Sam has emergency late forms for order if you know that you have not ordered.

Service hours are culminating.  Becky Kennedy and Michael Murray are working with students to wrap up their projects and hours.  If your child is at risk for not graduating due to their lack of service hours you would have received a letter (twice) and a call from Ms. Kennedy.  Diplomas cannot be awarded without this completed requirement.

Very important: Please notify Sue Teeter or Michael Murray about all grants, scholarships, awards and acceptances your child has been awarded.  I hope to provide your child with mention on the graduation program and we would like to document their cumulative successes.  

We look forward to seeing you all June 7^th at 7:00 pm, Agnes Flanagan Chapel at Lewis and Clark College.  Tickets are limited.

Lastly, I am new to this class, I acknowledge that they are graduating with a new principal and might be missing Ms. Higgins at this time.  It is also true that I have not known them for their first three years at RHS.  I would appreciate any stories, accomplishments or experiences you see as highlights that you might share with me as I begin to think about what to include in my address to this amazing class of young men and women.

A Book Store in the Library?  Yes! -- Book swap is coming... 

The RHS Book Swap is only a few weeks away!  Be part of It.  Here is how it works:

1.  Clean out your bookshelves:  Most wanted items include: appropriate adult and YA fiction, mysteries, historical fiction, sci-fi, graphic novels, non-fiction such as history, current events, cookbooks, travel, art, pets, psychology, sports, essays, philosophy, biography, CDs, & DVDs.

2. Bag it! Bring in your donations (starting now) in a bag or box that is clearly marked with your name.

3.  3=1: We give you one book credit for every three items you donate. So, if you donate 12 items, you earn enough points to “buy” 4 books/cds/dvds at the sale. The more you bring in, the better the choices for everyone.

4.   On the first day of the sale, only those who donated items are allowed to select items.* If you run out of points, you may purchase a title for $.50 for paperback, $1 for hardback/cd/dvd.  On the second and third days, everyone is welcome and all titles will for available for sale at these great prices.
 

This sale is not designed to raise money, but we sometimes make enough to purchase a nice assortment of popular paperbacks to loan for Summer Reading.

Important Dates:

May 7 - Prom at EcoTrust Building

May 9 - School Board meeting 6:00 at the grade school

May 10 - Spring Sports awards at 7:00 at Lewis and Clark Stadium

May 12 - Red Cross Blood Drive at RHS 

May 25 - Forcasting Night for new 2011-2012 RHS students