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.
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.
