Spring is Here - April 11, 2012

Highlights from Freshman Parent Night

Ninth graders were asked to write down what their personal issues were; they are concerned about:

• How to navigate "cliques"

• Michael has worked with the class on the topic of "cliques", what they have learned at Wildhorse and the anxiety they experience about the social ladder. Our goal is to break down this way of thinking. It is good for you to have a conversation at home about "inclusion/exclusion of others".

• How to navigate "partying"

• How to navigate the "pressure to be super student"

• Our students are worried about, "am I going to please my parents"?

• It is not too soon to plan college resume so-to-speak. Summer opportunities are really an extension of school. They can add to student credentials. It is important to thoughtfully design in collaboration with your child a meaningful summer opportunity. Mr. Murray has plenty of suggestions if you need assistance. It is the resume building they need and a way to be engaged during summer in a fruitful manner.

Field Studies Highlights -- RHS week-long field studies gives students and teachers the chance to use their knowledge in real-world, experiential settings.  This year field studies experiences included Wildhorse, Drama at Wildhorse, Wildhorse Kitchen Crew, Facilities Crew, Movie making, Summer lake, Cadet Teaching and Ashland.  Here are a few personal insights...

Cadet Teaching --During the week prior to Spring Break seven RHS students descended upon the grade school to find out what it means to be a teacher.  They assisted with everything from working with small groups of students in literacy to teaching Spanish lessons to giving break-dancing instruction.  Rumor has it that even Mr. Patterson gave the break-dancing a shot!

My experience was amazing! I was at the grade school teaching dance to all grades all week long and each class was unique. Not once did I encounter the same thing twice. They all learned at different paces and they all learned different levels. I had to learn to adapt to each age and class so that they could be challenged but not get overwhelmed. It was such a great and fun experience! Chad N

Wildhorse - Before Wildhorse, a social hierarchy was present in the freshman class.  We were so afraid to escape the comfort of our friend circles and learn about others in our grade, so instead, we judged those we didn't know on the basis or rumor and gossip.  Wildhorse left our social hierarchy in ruins, and pushed everyone to explore friendships in the most unlikely of places, and appreciate old friendships with new gratitude and genuineness.  Sophie H

Summer Lake
One of the many perks of going to a small school like Riverdale, is having the opportunity each year to leave the classroom setting for a week and learn in the most natural environment of them all, nature. Since second grade I have been on field studies all over the Northwest. I have hiked the Ape Caves on Mount St. Helens, explored vacant Rajneeshee Villages in Antelope, Oregon, and most recently spent a week camping and hiking in Summer Lake. Field Studies are not only a great time to learn outside the traditional classroom setting, but they are the time when the community, that Riverdale thrives to have, develops. There is some inevitable bonding that happens when 28 students, teachers, parents, and a bus driver spend a week in a small ranch house with only each other as our source of entertainment. Whether we were soaking in the hot springs, playing a card game, or making music, building a sense of community was apparent.

Along with the student-student community that builds during Field Studies, the teacher-student dynamic changes. I have been at Riverdale for the past 12 years, because of that, my expectations in education are that teachers have more than just a teaching role in students lives. While in Summer Lake, Mr. Preacher nerded out and shared his love of rocks and geology and Ms. Cassell shared her passion for cooking. As students we have always heard that they liked rocks and food but getting to see this in action was mind-blowing. We have phenomenal teachers at Riverdale and Field Studies is another opportunity for us to see that.

Field studies is a vital week in the overall Riverdale experience. The inevitable community building and application of classroom learned knowledge is what makes this week so important. Jessica H

While at Summer Lake you are conquering windswept mountains, visiting a part of Oregon you've never seen before, playing music with classmates, eating great food, observing the Milky Way, talkin' geology with Papa Bear Preacher, enduring the elements with your best friend, and having one of the best weeks of your life . And after all of that you get to soak in the hot springs. What's not to like? Evan M

Ashland - I had a really great time in Ashland.  We saw two great plays:  The White Snake and Animal Crackers.  Both of them kept my interest until the end.  The other part that was really fun was hanging out with my friends – without them it would have been no fun at all.

Josh I

RHS 11th Grade Parents - ACT - Tuesday, April 24th

The test will take place during the school day at Riverdale High School beginning promptly at 9:00.  We will ask that students arrive between 8:30 and 8:45 on that day so that they can be seated and ready to begin on time.  We will register the students here at school.  I will be going into classrooms to talk to the students about the exam and at that time I will give them an information booklet.  In the meantime, I strongly encourage you to have your child go to the ACT website and look at some of the Test Prep information provided.  They should try some of the sample questions to get a feel for what the test will be like:

http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html

They should bring Number 2 pencils and an approved calculator.  http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/calculator.html

Donors Resource Project - New Riverdale Interns Make their Appearance on the Blog - Check it Out

Riverdale High School students to take on leadership roles from marketing and development to social media and program coordination. They operate our nonprofit, gain real time experience, while serving an unmet need, making a positive change in our community in a way that only youth can.

"Starry Starry Night" Prom - Wednesday, April 28th:

Prom is coming up! This year, Mrs. LePore’s H2O class is hosting prom, and

all funds made by the dance will be used to revamp the water systems at the

Ithithanam Higher Secondary School in Kerala, India and to bring water to the

Oldonyo Orasha community in Kenya. The dance will be held on April 28th at the

Ecotrust Building in the Pearl District. Tickets are being pre-sold for $25, and $30

at the door. We encourage all students to come and participate, whether they have

a date or not. Students are welcome to bring a guest from another school, but must

have a dance pass for their guest in to Sam Ziff at the front desk by Wednesday April

25th. It will be a fun “Starry Starry Night” for all, and we hope to see you there!

District Arts Show - April 25th

Rachel's Challenge - May 2nd

All Riverdale students, staff and administration will participate in a dynamic anti-bullying program on May 2nd with three assemblies (K-5th, 6th-8th, and High School), each specifically designed with age appropriate messages to motive students to take initiative to be caring and thoughtful in their interactions. The program also includes an interactive training session involving both adult and 100 student leaders. The training demonstrates ways to sustain the positive momentum created by the student assemblies.

During the evening event, the certified Rachel’s Challenge speaker will conduct a powerful session with parents and community members. The dynamic evening presentation ends with a specific challenge to parents and to community members showing them how they can reinforce the decisions our youth make daily. All Riverdale staff, students, parents and community members are invited to learn how they can help contribute to a healthier, safe neighborhood and school climate for all our children.

Please join us — it will change the way you think of community and bullying forever!

If you would like to learn more, click here the for Rachel's Challenge Intro Video

Parent/Teacher Conferences – April 26th and 27th
Call Now to Sign Up. 503-262-4844
April 26th: 8:30am – 12:30pm, 1:00pm – 5:00pm, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
April 27th: 8:30am – 12:30pm

Important Dates to Remember

April 16 - Regular School Board Meeting - Grade School Library - 6-8pm

April 17 - Sophomore Parent Info Night - High School Library - 7-8:30 pm

April 18 - Junior Parent Info Night - High School Library - 7-8:30 pm

April 24 - ACT Testing at RHS

April 25 - District Arts Night - Riverdale High School - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
April 28 - "Starry Starry Night" Prom - Ecotrust Building 7:00 - 10:00 pm

May 2 - Rachel's Challenge - Riverdale Grade School Gym - 7:00 pm

May 17 - New Student Forecasting Night - Maverick Room - 7:00 pm


High School Accolades (just to name a few)
Chess 3rd Place overall team finish at Regionals - Dmitri M and John N
Chess 1st Place Finish High School Division - Dmitri M
Bridge Building top 2 state finishers will travel to Las Vegas on May 5th - Mitch S, and Bret L
Basketball Top 8 Finish State Girls Basketball
Skiing State Qualifiers - Sam S and Anna E
Swimming State Qualifers - Meghan G, Andrew P, Garen M, Wila H

Snowboarding

Riverdale High School girls snowboarding team captured the 2012 Oregon Interscholastic Snowboarding Association (OISA) State Snowboard Championship — the Sato Cup — March 17. This is Riverdale’s first state championship and the first time (in memorable history) that a Metro League team has won this trophy. Riverdale High School, a 2A school competed against mostly 6A teams from across the State.

This was a great season for Riverdale’s snowboarding team with nine students qualifying for the State Championships at Mt. Bachelor this year. The nine qualifiers were Chase F, Will F, Colton S, Henry L, Tiffany P, Evy B, Lucy P, Taylor P-A and Ellie B.

Chad N (RHS student and cadet teacher) won the "Who's That Guy" award which is given to a male dancer at the ADA (American Dance Awards) Competition that stood out to the Special Awards Judge. To stand out you need to be a good performer and get the crowd into it. As well as never losing energy in your performance. Essentially it is the "Male Dancer of the Year".