April 27th - Important Information

Prom is Saturday 8-11 Saturday April 28, 2012

Rachael’s Challenge:

Dear Parents and Community Members,

The Riverdale School District is bringing one of the most inspirational and life altering

Programs in the nation to our students next week. It’s called Rachel’s Challenge.

Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.

Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have

Become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America.

Powerful AND age-appropriate video/audio footage of Rachel’s life and the Columbine

Tragedy holds students spell-bound during a one-hour school presentation that

Motivates them to positive change in the way they treat others.

The assembly creates the “want to” or desire to make positive changes. The

Assembly is followed by a separate interactive 90-minute training session with adults

And student leaders to sustain the momentum created by this assembly.

The evening speaker conducts a powerful session with parents and community leaders.

It is similar to the day program and challenges all of us to help reinforce positive

Decisions our youth are making.

Positive words, attitudes, and actions.

It’s that simple.

Please go to: http://www.rachelschallenge.org/LearnMore/WhatIsRC.php for more

information.

Please be sure to attend this highly acclaimed, impactful program

Wednesday, May 2nd at  7:00 pm 

at the Riverdale Grade School Gym

Friends of Rachael (FOR) Clubs Training:

Some of you may have heard about the students who will be provided the opportunity to be Advisory leaders for the Friends of Rachael (FOR) clubs.  A group of 100 students will be receiving training on May 2nd.  I am writing to share that the process of selection was a lottery.  Included in the training are Riverdale Grade School students as well.   Everyone could not be included.  Our intent was not to exclude anyone.

Senior Parents:

As we are fast approaching the end of the school year, this is a message and reminder from the registrar:

Your senior very soon will be walking across the graduation stage and the RHS staff will be sad to see them leave, but also very happy for the new ventures that will be coming their way.

Before graduation can happen for each senior, the following must be completed:

1.  Complete and send in the order form for rental of caps and gowns. (ASAP)

2.  Have all service learning hours documented (total of 90 hours before graduation).

3.  All work turned into teachers and graded.

4.  All textbooks, and library books turned in by Friday, June 8th.  If the books are not turned in, the cost of the book must be paid in full.

5.  All other outstanding fees including transcript fees, sports fees, field studies fees, replacement costs for sports uniforms, and Xpress Catering

     Outstanding lunch monies.   (Transcript fee totals can be found in your Naviance account.) 

6.  Tuition (if applicable) paid in full.

Seniors will be given a senior check list next week.  Please help your student to complete this form so they may participate in the graduation ceremony.

Thank you for your prompt attention so that you and your student may enjoy the graduation events.

Sue Teeter

Junior Parent Night - Drug and Alcohol Use

At the Junior Parent Night the subject of drug and alcohol use was raised.  There is an impression, among students and some parents, that there is a "significant" amount of marijuana use at the school right now, as well as drinking.  Michael Murray cautioned us to not overreact, citing research that suggests how students can overestimate the amount of use in their school.  At the same time, he encouraged parents to be cautious and observant.   The school's role is to keep a clean environment in the building and to report any health related concerns to parents.  

DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE IN HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION – STUDENTS AND PARENTS with Dr. Alexander Stevens, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the Oregon Health Sciences University

STUDENT PRESENTATION – May 4^th – 10:00 – 11:00 am

PARENT GATHERING – Tuesday, May 8^th at 7:00pm

The Parent gathering will include helpful strategies about discussing the topic with students at home.

Students report that they don't know enough about the physical and psychological impact of drugs (especially marijuana) and alcohol.  Since the consequences of drug and alcohol use are not immediate and dramatic, it is easy for students to be in denial about their seriousness.  To address this set of problems, we have invited Dr. Alexander Stevens to speak with students and with parents.  He is an Assistant Professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the Oregon Health Sciences University, and will be speaking with students on Friday, May 4th from 10-11am, and with parents on Tuesday, May 8 at 7am. 

Sophomore and Junior Parent Nights Recap, April 17 & 18, 2012:

The evenings began with an update about the work District staff are accomplishing.  The following is a brief description of what was shared.

The High School has a team working together to analyze our current schedule and several other possibilities.  We are considering the following, what schedule is best for our students (weighing benefit), what schedule is the most cost effective and efficient, and what schedule provides optimum teacher to student instructional time.  Serving on the team are four parents, three teachers, a student, the registrar and myself.  Updates are forthcoming.

The State has provided schools with adjustments and changes in laws and instructional requirements.  In order to be ahead of the game, we are in discussion about ways to improve opportunities for students.  Conversations have included brief discussions about implementing International Baccalaureate, Advanced placement and dual credit (high school/college) courses.  No decisions have been made, we are in the research phase, your input is welcomed.

Our District has completed a required project --  development of the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).  All districts in Oregon are required to annually develop CIP; our CIP was completed and the School Board approved the plan.  Schools are required to build a School Improvement Plan (SIP).  This plan is to be drafted using the CIP as a springboard.  Through the Site Council (a team of four students, four parents, two teachers, one classified and one administrator) our SIP had been drafted and presented to the School Board.  Our SIP focuses on improving student achievement for all students.

The District is in the final stages of drafting the District Literacy Plan; this K-12 plan focuses on reading across the district.  You will hear more as the plan will be posted publicly.

Student messages:

The Congo Rescue Mission is an organization committed to helping the people of the Congo, starting with the youth, to build better lives for themselves using the game of soccer as the foundation for the teaching of basic life skills and lessons.  The founder is Riverdale High School JV soccer coach, Marcel Mubikayi, a native Congolese motivated to create change in a poverty struck country. Soccer is the most popular game in the world and it offers many life lessons that help shape not only soccer players but good individuals. Simply stated, our goal is to improve the quality of lives of the people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...one soccer player at a time!  Right now, the organization is gathering old soccer equipment to send to the Congo.  We plan to host tournaments, donate equipment such as balls, cleats, clothing, etc, and bring the love of the game across the world to the Congolese youth.  If you would like to donate equipment or money to help raise funds to help this organization the please visithttp://www.congorescuemission.org/.
Thank You,
Sevan D and Ben F

District Art Show

The show included over 864 pieces of art, and featured 47 performers.  In addition, 20 seniors showcased their visual and performing arts (one-third of the class!).  Thank you to our students, parents and Riverdale Teachers - David Schell (RHS), Nancy Helmsworth (RGS), Michelle Horgen (RHS), and Molly Scholz (RGS).