January News

January 10, 2019

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2019! The onset of a new year is a time for resolutions, and looking forward.  Teachers at Riverton are helping students do this by setting goals for learning, as we dive deeper into rigorous instruction. This winter promises to be filled with plenty of exciting learning opportunities designed to support students’ gains in their academic progress. 

January is also the kick off to mid year assessments. Across the district, teachers will be giving assessments that let us know whether students are keeping up with the class, or need extra help. The tests will also determine new areas for teachers to work on between now and spring. Starting on January 22, English language learning students will be taking the yearly ACCESS test. This test measures the domains of speaking, listening, reading, writing and comprehension in English.

Working Together for School Success

When you think of parent involvement, do you picture parents and caregivers volunteering in the classroom? That is one way to help- but research shows that supporting your child’s education at home can make a big difference in your child’s education.  Here are some conversation starters that will help you stay involved with your child’s learning at school:

“Let me see what you brought home.” - Look at completed work to find out what your child is learning and how well he or she is doing. Comment on what you notice about their math work or writing. (“You know a lot about subtracting two digit numbers!”) Also, be sure to respond to notes from the teacher and sign any forms that are required.

“Show me what you have for homework.”- It is your child’s responsibility to do homework, but you can play a role, too. Make sure your child knows what they are supposed to do by having them explain the assignment to you. After they finish the homework, glance over the work to see that it is complete.

“Tell me about a book you enjoyed today.”- This gives you an idea of what your child likes to read. Build up your child’s daily reading habits by asking what they would like to read at home.  Encourage their reading and listening skills by reading aloud to your child and letting them read to you.

“Tell me what you learned that you’d like to know more about.”- Use your child’s interests as jumping-off points for activities to share together. If your child likes geometry, you might hunt for shapes together. If they are fascinated by how animals adapt to winter, take them to the library to research the subject or look for informational videos on-line.

“Time to go to school!”-Helping your child maintain good is attendance is key.

Being in school every day means your child will not miss out on learning. It is helpful if you can schedule appointments and family trips outside of school hours.  If your child asks to stay home “just because,”remind them of what they will miss, such as a reading lesson or PE class.  Explain that children can only be absent if they are sick or if there is a family emergency.

Math and Tech Night

January 23 there will be a special Math/Tech family event at Riverton School in the Media Center from 5:00-6:00. Please join us to hear important information about keeping children safe using technology, as well as how to support your child’s math and technology learning at home. We hope to see you there!

Special Reminder- Martin Luther King, Jr Day -There is no school on Monday, January 21, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Upcoming Dates

January 11: Spirit Day! Wear Riverton colors!

January 16: Early Release, 1:50

January 17: PTO meeting, 5:30 Media Center

January 18: Mad Science Presentation for students, 8:45

January 18-19: 5th Grade All Star Basketball Tournament
January 21: Martin Luther King Day, NO SCHOOL

January 22: ACCESS Testing Begins

January 23: Early Release, 1:50

January 23: Family Math/Tech Night, 5:00-6:00

January 25: Play Me a Story-8:45, cafeteria

January 23: Math Meet, 9:00-12:00

January 24: Early Release, 1:50

January 25: Talent Show, 5:30, cafeteria

January 30: Early Release, 1:50

Please feel free to reach out to me, or Assistant Principal David Turner if you ever have questions about how we can best support your student(s) at Riverton School (874-8210).

Sincerely,

Mrs. Ann Hanna

Principal