Riverdale Review DISTRICT 51J
Winter 2017
Providing shelter from the storm RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – Our high school found itself acting as an impromptu shelter on Dec. 14, during the storm that shut down the city. Aside from several students whose parents were trying to make their way through the thick traffic and hazardous roads to claim them, a menagerie of local Portlanders stopped in seeking refuge. “It was a revolving door,” says Principal Paula Robinson, “though there were a few folks who remained several hours – including a nurse whose car went off the road somewhere and was too cold to go on, a delightful man who works for the Department of Agriculture, and a pregnant woman who was very near to her due date.” A neighbor brought a few stranded motorists to the school, after already filling his home. Some were near hypothermia and really needed a place to warm up. Mrs. Robinson also recounts the generosity of a local oral surgeon, who made return trips to the high school to take folks home. “People were very, very scared, some crying,” Mrs. Robinson says. “Some folks would step in the door with a blank look on their faces, and when they realized they were welcomed, warm and safe, they would be so relieved.” She adds that many just Continued on page 9.
Stranded travelers become friends (top), one man rests up before heading out on his journey (lower left) and kids stay entertained (lower right) at Riverdale High School during the storm.
Riverdale now has its own weather station RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – There are more than 200,000 personal weather stations comprising Weather Underground’s vast national weather reporting network – now including one at Riverdale. On Tuesday, Jan. 10, just hours before the historic winter storm that would dump snow in record time, middle school science teacher Dietrich Nebert says he and Jeff Bjorn, technology coordinator, activated the data uplink system and installed the hardware atop the southeast corner of the Commons building. A display screen will soon be placed inside the school. “All the data I see looks accurate and in agreement with neighboring stations,” Mr. Nebert says now. “We will have localized forecasts as well as historical data to allow Riverdale Review
students to interpret weather data in a graph format. The data includes barometric pressure, temperature, precipitation, wind direction and speed, and dew point.” With Riverdale’s new weather station, funded by the Parent Teacher Club, the school community can monitor real-time weather conditions from anywhere by visiting WeatherUnderground.com or the corresponding mobile app. This includes viewing 14-day forecasts and signing up for custom weather alerts via text or email. These readings will definitely help the district interpret current and imminent weather conditions that may impact the school day – a useful tool during a winter that has already seen eight days of school closures due to inclement weather. Access Riverdale’s weather station data at http://tiny.cc/rgsweather or select KORPORTL605 from the choices at WeatherUnderground.com.
Snow days: Now what? RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – Discussions continue between administrators, teachers and the school board regarding options for making up this year’s snow days and, more importantly, the loss in instructional continuity. The most immediate scheduling need was to add days back into the high school’s Trimester 2 so students are prepared for course finals. To do this, we first converted the high school’s winter parent teacher conferences into instructional days, then pushed back the end of the trimester and moved a teacher work day. These changes bring the high school’s second trimester more in line with the length of the first trimester. • RHS students will now attend school March 6 • Finals are March 15-16 (followed by RHS field studies and spring break) • No school for RHS students on March 17 (teacher work day) • Trimester 3 begins April 3 At the time of printing, grade school schedule changes had not yet been made. However, a proposal for making up additional days at both schools should be presented to parents for input around the time you receive this newsletter. www.riverdaleschool.com
Supporting Our Schools A message from your superintendent: State of the District
I am pleased to report to you on the positive State of the District for the 2016-17 school year. First, I want to commend our staff for all the hard work they do – whether it is instructing children, crunching numbers, performing maintenance or providing other means of support. Riverdale employees are dedicated professionals and will always do what is right for our kids. Instruction – This is a science curriculum adoption year. Preparation began last year with K-4th grade and work is now underway in 5-12th grade – aligning, going deeper and integrating with the Next Generation Science Standards. Expect to see strengthening of practices and resources this year and next. Additionally, both schools are also engaging with staff and students about diversity, equity and inclusivity to make sure all who walk through our school doors feel welcome. The grade school staff is focusing more deeply on the Habits of Mind, spreading lessons over a two-year period with extra emphasis on identified "core" habits. This approach supports our belief in “less is more, depth over coverage” and will allow for more meaningful discussion and development of a Growth Mindset. This fall, the high school introduced two new complementary math programs with decidedly different strengths. The first provides clear framing of the standards with predictably organized text, narrated examples and plenty of quality practice problems to help students develop the necessary foundation for higher mathematics. The second is rich with high-quality, open-ended problems that challenge students, often in small groups, to engage with in-depth mathematical practices. Additionally, a new full-time college counselor (see page 10) is making strides with students, and is also starting to tackle service learning and internships. Facilities – Our facilities are all holding up well, and we continue to keep up with routine maintenance issues that are to be expected. We replaced a boiler at the high school, and we are currently entertaining proposals to increase the number of security cameras at both schools. Athletics – Our athletics program is growing quickly. This year’s winter season officially became the busiest at Riverdale with 14 teams, surpassing the fall numbers (13 teams) for the first time. With the increase in teams, the hiring of new coaches, the addition of the new athletic website, and weather-related cancellations and re-schedules (see page 11), our athletics department is doing the best it can while running at max capacity. We appreciate your support and understanding as we continue to manage the program growth. Financial – Although final state budget numbers are not yet available, we will be watching deliberations in Salem closely. One of the big unknowns is what will happen with the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). As you know, there is a large shortfall over the next 20 years and the legislature is determined to do something about it. Without some type of intervention, our rates will increase significantly. I am diligently monitoring the situation through my role on the Funding Coalition of the Confederation of School Administrators, which is my statewide professional organization. Please know I will be involved in the solution and will keep you inform as things develop. Riverdale continues to thrive thanks to our principals, staff, board and families. Thanks for believing in and supporting our schools in so many ways. Sincerely, Terry Brandon, Superintendent
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Checks big and small
RIVERDALE SCHOOL FOUNDATION – We extend our sincerest thanks to donors big and small, including parents, grandparents, staff and community members for raising $1,230,000 in this year’s Annual Campaign, with 72 percent participation from Riverdale families. Pictured, foundation board member Rakesh Pai presented one big check, totaling $10,000, on behalf of his employer, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon. The final donor list, printed in June, will show all individuals and businesses that contributed.
Kudos to our staff Superintendent Terry Brandon wishes to recognize the following staff members for their outstanding achievements: Heather Crow, communications coordinator - For her dedication and hard work in developing our three new websites (see article on page 3). From focus groups to enduser test runs and everything in between, Heather captured our district’s needs expertly and efficiently. Dietrich Nebert, grade school science teacher - For spearheading the efforts to establish a Riverdale weather station (see page 1), which provided useful information during our last big snowstorm. It will continue to supply relevant data for students to study and on which families and staff can rely. Laurie LePore, high school science teacher - For guiding and inspiring student leaders in a variety of ways, including organizing the high school’s annual Spirit Week, instituting the new Buddy Program (see page 9) and posting useful information throughout the school, plus her oversight of yearly Field Studies offerings. Riverdale Review
Technology Highlights New websites for Riverdale RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – It was a long time coming and no easy task, but Riverdale introduced three new websites in November – four, including the new athletics department site (see page 11). “We needed a way to communicate to our three distinct audiences and provide each with the information that would be relevant to them,” says Heather Crow, who oversees communications for the district. “For instance, a prospective family is looking for overviews of all our programs and courses, along with our teaching philosophy and enrollment details. They want to see how their student would progress through the Riverdale education and if they will fit in,” she explains. The new district website, RiverdaleSchool.com, serves as this resource for prospective families and neighborhood residents. It’s really the best place to start for those who are new to Riverdale. “However, an enrolled family already knows all that. Instead, they’re looking for the day-to-day resources and tools to help them navigate the school year,” Mrs. Crow says. Current parents and students will want to go straight to their school sites: RiverdaleGS.com for the grade school and RiverdaleHS.com for the high school. Here you’ll find daily schedules, school-specific calendars, handbooks and forms, news and announcements, library pages, class pages and links to resources you need every day. Don't worry about missing district-level news; we'll push what you need to know out to the school sites. You can even find district links within either school's site navigation, including school board, policies, business office, facilities use, etc. For ease of use, all three sites are connected and can be accessed via the “Select a School” button. A popular links bar displays at the bottom of every page, with different links highlighted on each site. The same is true for the top navigation, which is customized for individual sites. You'll know what site you're on by the color of the navigation bar, and the logo. Plus, with responsive design, all three sites resize to fit the screen you’re on – from computer to tablet to phone. “So far, all feedback has been really positive,” Mrs. Crow says, acknowledging that, as with all new endeavors, some adjustments will be made to fit the way audiences interact with the sites. Suggestions for additional content to make your life easier can be emailed to info@riverdale.k12.or.us. District (top), grade school (middle) and high school (bottom) sites. Riverdale Review
Believe in the 'bot RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – Riverdale’s Robotics Team is readying for a new battle. This year’s First Robotics competition, dubbed First Steamworks, has a strong steampunk theme, taking place in an era where steam power reigns. Teams of students form alliances to compete in a long-distance air-ship race requiring them to collect fuel (in the form of balls) to build steam pressure, transport and install gears to engage rotors and, finally, climb (via rope) aboard their airship for lift off. The airship best prepared for flight when the timer reaches zero, wins. Riverdale’s “Team Pandamonium“ (#2915) has only six weeks from the Jan. 7 kickoff to build its robot. While the team must stop work and seal the robot on Feb. 21, the competitions are not until March 9-11 and March 30-April 1. “The build season is the best six weeks of the year!” says senior Matthew Gilbert. Junior Roma Pugliese explains the process: “In the preseason, we set up the subgroup teams, fundraise and restock supplies. Once we get to kickoff, we learn the tasks the robot is supposed to perform, what the field looks like, and get the basic supplies to start building the robot.” The first two weeks are completely dedicated to building the chassis, programming the motors so the robot can drive and prototyping the task systems. “In order for the build team to be the most successful, we have a computer-aided design team model the robot and its parts. After completing the models, the build teams get to work, creating the systems to accomplish the tasks on the field. The programmers are then able to properly code the robot to drive on the field,” Roma says. “I’m excited to see if our problem-solving skills have worked,” says junior Fisher Ng. At the same time, the development and marketing teams work together to raise money, advertise the team and promote the idea of gracious professionalism through teamwork. Roma says sponsors are still needed to help fund the cost of the team’s efforts. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact teacher Adam McLain at amclain@riverdale.k12.or.us. You can also follow the team’s efforts at Team2915.com.
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Academic Highlights Making a difference in Africa RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – Riverdale 7th and 8th graders have embraced the Oregon-based non-profit Africa Bridge, which empowers Tanzanian communities to protect, support and care for orphaned and vulnerable children. In addition to spreading the word to younger students and hosting several fundraisers, students even designed simple water filter prototypes they hope could benefit children halfway across the world. It all began when Africa Bridge founder, Barry Childs, visited the upper grade students. Originally from Tanzania, on Africa’s east coast, he grew up seeing the village kids struggle with having very little. Every third child is considered vulnerable – either orphaned or with sick parents who can’t provide for them. Yet there are no street children because even the poorest of families will still take them in. Families in rural areas often live on $1-2 a day. When asked what that could buy in the U.S., the students’ answers ranged from bottled water to candy. They were also surprised to learn that schools often have anywhere from 50-117 students in a class – but many children can’t afford the uniforms, shoes and books needed to attend. In an effort to help those children attend school, the Riverdale students decided to raise money for the non-profit. They collected nearly $700 through dance admission and concessions, plus craft sales and a gift wrap station at Riverdale’s holiday craft show. But money wasn’t the only way Riverdale’s students tried to help. A science assignment asked groups of 7th graders to design water filters using only resources on hand in the remote African villages. The students presented their filters – made from rocks, sand, gravel, soda bottles, flowers, plants, straw, fabric, cotton and activated charcoal – to their classmates and to Mr. Childs, explaining the dangers of dirty water and how their filters could improve the health of children less fortunate than themselves. To learn how you can help, visit africabridge.org. Students demonstrate their water filter designs for use in rural Africa.
Alumnus Jeff DeWitt, class of 2008, (left) spoke about his job with Kaiser Permanente's information technology team.
Investigating careers in wellness By Julia Brown, class of 2019
RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – This year’s new class, Investigating Careers in Wellness, is the most interesting elective I have taken during my time at Riverdale. It explores the different job opportunities available in the healthcare field, with weekly speakers visiting our classroom and sharing their experiences. We’ve been lucky enough to learn about everything from a dialysis nurse who was also an egg donor, to a former CFO of a major healthcare system. One of my personal favorites was when a microbiologist came and told us about a man who shot a bear, ate the meat and developed a mysterious infection, possibly related to consuming the wild meat. Not only do we enjoy many interesting presenters, but also on Jan. 25, our class was able to witness a live brain surgery at a Providence hospital! Possibly the most important aspect to this class is helping high school students discover different career options or paths in healthcare and providing first-hand tips and experiences that could help us succeed in the future. A big thank you to our 23 speakers, some of whom are former Mavericks, for donating their time and spending it with us.
Mock election yields a different result RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – Riverdale students experienced a national election firsthand when 5th and 6th graders set up voting stations and invited all grades to cast a ballot in the RGS Mock Election. “We learned about the Electoral College, where the candidates were traveling, who was leading and how they took the lead in certain states,” explained one 6th grader, who added that they also watched speeches and read CNN Student News. During the school-wide mock election, 5th and 6th graders helped younger students use computer voting stations and tallied votes in real time. Unlike the national results, Hillary Clinton was the clear Riverdale winner with 76.1 percent of the vote. Donald Trump received 13.3, Gary Johnson 7.7 and Jill Stein 2.8.
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Riverdale Review
Academic Highlights Teaching Martians to use a library RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – To demonstrate their deep understanding of library skills, Riverdale 3rd graders will be teaching Martians how to use a library. “How?“ you ask. By developing informational websites, of course. The websites must convey all the proficiencies the students have acquired during library classes, including how to use a card catalog, read call numbers, navigate library sections and locate books, which requires alphabetizing and numerical organizing skills, and knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System. Earthling students will also offer up book recommendations for young Martians. In just six lessons, 3rd graders will create, name and select a theme for their five-page websites. They’ll choose fonts and design pages by inserting, resizing and wrapping images around their text, and embed a YouTube video. Our library/media specialist, Lisa Becker, provides editing and compositional layout tips. Students must know how to work comfortably in their Google Drives – uploading and accessing images, PDFs and other files to include in their websites. Finally, each student will create a bibliography, citing and crediting the resources they used. The 7th grade technology elective class, which has just completed a digital safety unit, has stepped in to offer some guidance as the younger students set up their websites and privacy settings. Mrs. Becker says the older kids made animal websites as part of a research unit when they were in 3rd grade, but the technology has definitely improved since then. “It's a nice experience for them to share with 3rd graders. The 7th graders have been very kind, engaging and motivating role models for our younger students. I am proud of them all!” Mrs. Becker says. Older and wiser 7th graders help the 3rd grade classes set up websites to teach Martians how to use the library. Riverdale Review
Students produced videos about human rights defenders who spoke truth to power, including (L-R) Marie Curie, Malala Yousafzai (photo by AzamStudio) and Rosa Parks.
Speaking truth to power RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – The phrase “speaking truth to power” may have been coined by the Quakers in the 1950s, yet the concept of taking a stand and mobilizing society around change is firmly rooted in the fabric of humanity. “Speaking truth to power means believing deeply in what you say and fighting every day to have that heard. It may not be popular; it means taking a risk, it means standing for something,” said Shari Runner, Chicago Urban League’s interim president and CEO. Using the framework of a national student video competition centered on this notion, three Riverdale 9th grade teachers collaborated on a three-pronged project aimed at shining a light on the societal and global impact of speaking truth to power. Students in World Cultures and Geography, Freshman English Experience and Art Survey had approximately two weeks to form teams, choose a human rights defender and create a 3-5 minute video that utilized creative storytelling to teach others about a human rights issue. Complementary assignments included a skills-based annotated research document and a reflective response paper about what students took away from learning about their subject. Student videos had to
incorporate found footage, original footage, transitions, video effects, music, voiceover, still images, quotes and images from books found in the library. They also needed to provide biographical information on the subject, including their early life, what human rights violation inspired them to take action, how they spoke truth to power, why their actions matter and what their actions changed. The 15 videos were presented in a Riverdale Video Oscars presentation in November during which students voted for best editing, soundtrack, voiceover, transitions, acting and more. “This is a difficult art form and I’m impressed with the way you pulled it together,” said art teacher David Schell at the start of the event. Students selected subjects from the realms of civil rights (Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, John Lewis and Jackie Robinson), women and children’s rights (Leymah Gbowee, Malala Yousafzai, Becca Stevens and Kailash Satyarthi), immigration and genocide (Elie Wiesel and Luma Mufleh) and medicine (Marie Curie and Henri Dunant). Each, in his or her own way, illustrated the idea of speaking truth to power. Even with the graded project complete, one of the teams has decided to continue enhancing its video and plans on submitting it to the national contest. Best of luck!
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Academic Highlights Marimba melodies are catching on RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – Marimba may seem like program, which grew from seven to 22 students in four a mild-mannered instrument, but Riverdale Grade School’s years, has now sparked an offshoot at Riverdale High School, with three former RGS students continuing their MarimbaLab arrangement of “Shark Attack” by Grouplove marimba studies. The high school purchased two 5-octave went viral when the indie rock band shared the students’ classical marimbas (“As big as they come,” Mr. Smith says) to video on social media saying, “amazing marimba cover of support the new after-school program. Additional classes Shark Attack!!” can be added for beginners interested in joining in the fun. “I remember asking the first class what they wanted to Only four players are required to play and they said ‘Party Rock create a class. Anthem.’ From then on, I “Marimba is really accessible focused on arranging popular because from day one, if you music for the kids,” says hit the key right in the middle musician/teacher Michael of the bar you’re going to make Smith. “At the beginning of this beautiful sound,” Mr. Smith each term we all sit down says. “MarimbaLab students and brainstorm song ideas. can play individually or the Then we vote! MarimbaLab is marimbas, a lot of them, are big a democracy.” enough to accommodate three With 50-60 professionally players.” filmed marimba videos MarimbaLab students perform during last year's school concert. Currently, the high school’s on its YouTube channel, MarimbaLab program is playing Elgar's “Nimrod” from the MarimbaLab's additional arrangements have surpassed Enigma Variations and Queen's “Bohemian Rhapsody.” A joint “Shark Attack” in views – including the group’s versions of concert is planned for the spring to feature all groups. Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space“ at 13,600 views and Adele's See all the students’ videos at MarimbaLab.com, where you “Hello” at 14,700 views. can also contact Mr. Smith about classes. The success of the grade school’s before-school
International Day of the Girl By Maya Ward, class of 2019
RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – In October, Riverdale’s Girl Up club hosted an assembly to celebrate International Day of the Girl. The event’s speakers included Congressman Kurt Schrader and several Myanmar refugees, as well as other female leaders from the Portland community. Oct. 11 was declared International Day of the Girl by the United Nations in 2011, as the result of worldwide youth advocacy efforts to better the lives of girls. It is a day of Rep. Schrader with Girl Up leaders. national action, organized entirely by students who are fighting for gender justice. This assembly was special because our club designed it to expose the Riverdale community to new narratives. Afterward, many students and staff members spoke to me about how moved they were by the event. “I loved the assembly. I really enjoyed being able to hear the stories of the refugees because it was a really eye-opening experience,” says senior Derek Song. Kamron Safari, also a senior, says, “It was really cool to hear from a sitting congressman about what Capitol Hill is doing for girls all around the world.”
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Who borrowed Mr. Bear? RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – Somebody borrowed Mr. Bear without asking and left him in shabby shape on the floor. And so the mystery began for Riverdale 2nd graders, who were eager to suss out the culprit. The junior forensic investigators began a series of science experiments on the clues left behind at the crime scene. They tested for stains (chromatography), cola (Ph levels), fingerprints, smells, threads and other substances, organizing their findings on a clue board. “The children used observation and deduction to narrow down the suspects. It was a fun way to start the school year and work together as a classroom community,“ says 2nd grade teacher Debbie Gorenstein. In the end, the collaborative efforts paid off and science revealed the culprit; however, our lips are sealed. You will have to join our new 2nd graders next fall to find out. Students examine the crime scene for clues before starting their forensic testing. Riverdale Review
Academic Highlights Trip around the world in 1st grade
Outdoor lessons grow RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – With our partnership with the Green Schoolhouse (thanks to last year’s auction donations), the number of lessons taking place in Riverdale’s Outdoor Classroom and Garden is growing right along with the plants and vegetables. In an effort to encourage tangible and experiential learning, Green Schoolhouse director Lauren Rosenstein works closely with teachers to understand their instructional needs and help create a curriculum or activity plan that brings classes outside. So far this year, most grades have made it out to study a variety of subjects, she says, “all with natural systems, ecology and the garden as our lens. This autumn provided us with the opportunity to harvest, taste, pull out the dying plants, study decomposition, find out what will grow in the winter, investigate bugs and more.” Once the weather warms, there is much to plant and more tie-ins to curriculum from math and science to art. “One of the best parts of the Outdoor Classroom, for me, is that there are so many different grades that spend time in the garden. It connects the 7th grade to the preschoolers and everyone in between,” Ms. Rosenstein says. The Outdoor Classroom is part of the paddle raise request at this year's auction (see page 12). Curriculum highlights by grade level can be found at riverdaleschool.com/garden.
Above: 5th grade science experiments in the garden. Below: Lauren Rosenstein captivates kindergartners. Riverdale Review
RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – In an effort to foster tolerance and understanding of world cultures, our 1st graders found a unique way to study holidays and traditions in different countries. They took a trip around the world. To prepare, each student packed a “suitcase“ with the necessary items for world travel. “Each day, the children would fill out plane tickets to the surprise destination,” says 1st grade teacher Jennifer McDonald. “A YouTube video of an airplane taking off played in the background as they prepared for the trip. Each child had a preboarding snack of a Life Saver to make sure they sustained the energy for the trip.” During trips to Germany, Australia, Israel, India and even a local trip to New York, the class read books, watched videos and discussed the traditions and holidays celebrated in each Students drew their own location. Then the students created a memento mehndi designs, used in Hindu celebrations. from each country to represent the holiday studied and placed it in their suitcases for the return trip. “While in Israel, the children made a menorah to remember the story of Hanukkah; while in New York, we studied the holiday of Kwanzaa, which celebrates African culture but is celebrated in the United States,” Mrs. McDonald explains. “This unit united the classrooms by honoring different traditions and beliefs.”
Playing the market RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – Using real data from the stock markets, Riverdale Economics students have been trading in an online simulation in which they compete, risk-free with $100,000 in virtual cash. By Dec. 6, students had to “purchase” stocks available on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX). Along the way, they'll also learn financial basics and investment terminology, such as momentum trading, shorts and P/E ratios. “I've emphasized the importance of perception of a company's value, risk and applying the economic concepts we discuss in class to their experience, rather than ‘generating profit’ and beating out their peers for the top spot,” says teacher Laura Keldorf, who has brought in numerous local professionals to speak in her class. Students are asked to think about scarcity, supply and demand, production and how news headlines impact stocks. They also must substantiate why they selected each company and explain their stock performance using the terms covered in class. Throughout the 10-week simulation, our young investors complete stock updates explaining how their portfolio performed week-to-week, if it aligned with their expectations and how much they’d make if they sold it all right then. As you would expect, some hit it big, some lost their shirts and others realized a moderate gain long-term. “I have learned that the market is a volatile place and having a diversified portfolio insulates me from knee-jerk reactions to political events,” says senior Ben Richmond.
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Academic Highlights Making math fun
By Math Specialist Vi Tamargo RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – Marble slides. Airplane gliders. Scaled model playgrounds. Interest surveys. Model bridge designs. These are some of the exciting projects Riverdale students experience throughout the year in math. The math program at Riverdale, utilizing Math Learning Center’s Bridges’ curriculum in kindergarten through 5th grade and Connected Mathematics 3 in grades 6-8, emphasizes rigorous, deep understanding of mathematical concepts through investigations, direct instruction and open exploration. The activities within the program provide both a structure that is consistent as students advance through the grades and variety to keep students motivated and engaged. Walk the hallways during math time and you may find yourself in awe at the level at which our students are learning. Primary students analyze number relationships and
As 1st graders design their community parks within a fixed budget, they must choose supplies wisely.
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look for mathematical patterns as they flip another calendar card to start the day. The 1st graders design community parks within a fixed budget and watch it come to life on paper. The 2nd graders make cardboard ramps to determine what variables affect the rolling speed of marbles. In 3rd grade, students research and build their own model bridges, collecting data to graph and analyze. Our 4th graders engage in workplace games such as “Target One Thousand” as they build their fluency with addition and subtraction of multi-digit whole numbers. The 5th graders present their work, discussing their strategies and solutions for solving problems during a math forum. And 6th-8th grade students plan and conduct interest surveys, collecting the data for interpretation and analysis. As teachers, it’s inspiring for us to watch students lead their own learning and discoveries in the classroom. While it takes patience on the teachers’ part, when students persevere and finally get to the “aha!” moment, it’s a powerful thing to see. Here at Riverdale, we are proud of the real-life applications, hands-on learning and deep thinking that these two programs provide our students. We believe mathematics can and should be relevant, rigorous and a whole lot of fun.
Recognizing our students RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – This year, our grade school has found even more ways to positively recognize students for their outstanding efforts and achievements. In addition to weekly Falcon Feathers given by teachers, the upper grades are presenting monthly awards aligned with the Habits of Mind and all grades gather three times a year for school-wide academic award assemblies.
License to drive in 4th grade RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – Awesome Travel Opportunities for Kids, Inc., once again hired (wink, wink) Riverdale’s 4th graders to explore Oregon’s seven regions via a virtual road trip. Their job is to identify the best field trips possible in our fair state. The classes began by signing employment contracts, getting driver’s licenses and choosing a rental car. “I have a Toyota Prius,” Jayden P. says. “It had the best gas mileage of the four we could choose.” In teams of two, students track their mileage on a map and calculate how much they spend on gas, food, lodging, etc., in their road trip binder. They report back on their findings by sending hand-drawn postcards highlighting each region’s best attractions. The classes also create a 3D map of Oregon showing the landforms and how that factors into travel routes. “It is a great blending of the students’ skills in social studies, math, writing, art, technology and reading,” says 4th grade teacher Sharon Whitehill, who has been known to give traffic citations for those traveling too fast or too slow. In addition to sticking to a $100 budget per region, Jayden explains that students also have to make a lot of calculations and plan their routes carefully, taking into consideration proximity to the next closest stop. “You have to think about what you’re doing before you do it – it’s harder than you think,” she says. 4th graders mapping their way across Oregon. Riverdale Review
Academic Highlights My buddy and me
Busy as a beaver
RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – The Organizational Leadership class was determined to build school community right from the start of school. Senior Gabe Abdellatif, with help from teacher Laurie LePore, spearheaded the new Buddy Program, matching upperclassmen with new students to help them navigate the school, provide a home base and ensure a smooth transition. Buddies were paired up with the intent of matching similar interests. Junior Emma Myers and freshman Annabella Corvelli both play volleyball. “We really enjoyed the bonding activities that the Buddy Program provided us, and we appreciated expanding our friendship on and off the court,” the duo says, adding that their buddy spirit it still very much alive. “The Buddy Program gave us a way to connect with each other.” Freshman Devin Chek says, “Being matched with a buddy made me feel like I had someone I could ask questions and feel welcomed. My favorite part of the experience was meeting an upper classman.” Buddies engaged in a variety of social events first trimester, including decorating cookies, attending sporting events, posing for a buddy photo booth and dressing Freshman Devin Chek and his buddy, alike for Spirit Week’s Twin Day. junior Trenton Morris, on Twin Day.
RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – You’ve heard the expression, busy as a beaver. That’s exactly how you could describe Riverdale 1st graders this fall as they welcomed a special week-long guest from Tryon Creek State Park who led them through a series of beaver-themed lessons and exercises. After studying beaver traits, both physical and behavioral, classes got right to work transforming their teachers into a beaver! Each teacher received all the adaptations and attributes beavers have to survive – including goggles so they could see underwater. Students compared humans to beavers, including the roles of each family member, needs vs. wants for survival, habitat and traditions. The students learned beavers are rarely just hanging out. As the expression implies, they are always busy building food caches, fixing their lodges and dams, grooming and taking care of babies. So, too, our students kept busy gathering food, water and items to build their habitat and discussing the differences between what humans and beavers need to stay nourished and protected. There were also lively discussions about how beaver fur has traditionally been used and why there is a beaver on the Oregon state flag. Students even created their own flags based on personal family traditions. Finally, the students got their hands dirty building beaver lodges out of clay – taking care to build both an entrance and exit as beavers do. Some even filled their lodges with mini beaver families to really make a beaver house a home.
Shelter from the storm (continued from page 1) stopped to warm up or use the restroom. Some had dead cell phones and were thankful for the charging station in the lobby. They charged up and went back out into the snow. “As more and more people got stranded or needed to use the facilities, I began referring to Riverdale as ‘The Inn at Riverdale High’,” says Julie Benevento Ball, known professionally as “Nanny Julie,” who was on her way to work when her “Nannymobile” slid off the road right near the school. “Principal Robinson was truly the calm in the storm. She kept all the kids happy and doing tasks,” says Ball, who added, “[Principal] Robinson is a blessing to [the] community. I so enjoyed meeting new people and getting through a rough day with laughter.” For Mrs. Robinson, it was a 16-hour school day, but she says it was so busy, she had a lot of energy to keep her going. “I raided the kitchen to give the kids afterschool snacks that were probably dinner for some,” she says. “The kids were wonderful; they did homework, taught each other to knit, sang Christmas songs, visited with the guests that arrived and were very nice to hang out with.” The young children were also supplied with a few board games to keep them occupied. “Parents were exhausted when they arrived to pick up students and had to go out to face the roads again,” Mrs. Robinson says about Riverdale High School families, though that evening anyone who walked in the door was treated like a Riverdale family. “One group was really worried because they couldn't drive and their mother was in another car off the road somewhere. Eventually she arrived at the school and they were relieved to be together and really scared to try to go out again. They brought their cello in from the cold, as well.” The “shelter” closed around 11 p.m. after the last travelers were on their way. “We all just pulled together,” Mrs. Robinson says, “I just could not turn people away, I just couldn't.” Riverdale Review
A 1st grader bonds with his new beaver pal, kept on display during the lessons.
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Faces of Riverdale Senior earns national awards Meet our new college counselor RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – Since freshman year, Riverdale senior Simon Chuang has been actively involved in the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary cadet program of the U.S. Air Force with 22,000 students aged 12-18. After winning state and regional awards for his achievements, he went on to win the national Outstanding Cadet Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award presented at the August 2016 national conference. Two months later, Simon also received the Civil Air Patrol’s Amelia Earhart Award from U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader. Only three percent of CAP cadets nationwide earn the award for completing the program’s first 11 achievements. Cadets must pass a comprehensive exam covering aerospace topics and leadership theory, complete staff duty reports, mentor other cadets in aerospace training, pass a fitness exam and lead moral leadership discussions. Simon joined CAP due to his interest in attending a military academy after high school. He has since committed to the U.S. Naval Academy. “I'm extremely excited to go, even though I know it will not be easy. Statistically, the U.S. Naval Academy is in the top 10 most selective schools in the United States, so I'm very honored to have been accepted,” says Simon of the two-month application process that required attaining a congressional nomination, in his case from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. “It was a lot of work, and much of it was before my classmates' applications, but it was certainly worth it.” Simon believes CAP’s military training will help him in the Navy, where he anticipates pursuing a flying career. “I love the challenges and opportunities of the cadet program. Whether it's training a group of cadets for a week, paying respect to veterans and their loved ones, or directing military jet fighters at an airport, Civil Air Patrol has amazing experiences.” At its core, he says the program taught him leadership – a skill, he admits, that requires practice. “Before I got involved in CAP, I was not interested in leadership and dismissed it as one of my weak suits. However, through study and practice, I have come to like the art and science of leading others.” Senior Simon Chuang proudly accepts one of his Civil Air Patrol awards last summer.
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RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – College Counselor Kathleen Reid joined us this year after similar stints for the Beaverton, Portland and Hillsboro School Districts and the non-profit, Minds Matter. Her role extends beyond college counseling to connecting students to internships and service learning opportunities. She can also guide student explorations into gap year programs, apprenticeships or military careers. Let’s get to know her better. What do you like most about your job? I love the Riverdale community and especially love working with the students. With over 4,000 4-year accredited colleges in the U.S. from which to choose, I am really passionate about helping students conduct self-reflection and research to compile an appropriate list of colleges that fit their individual academic, social and financial needs. What's surprised you most about Riverdale students? Our students are incredibly passionate and driven. I knew this would be the case, but the diversity of their ambitions and actions is so inspirational. Riverdale students are making an impact by assisting peers with mental health issues, working to create local education policies, writing letters to the editor, working with youth in the juvenile justice system, creating apps and writing grants to help the underserved. The list could go on and on. I am so impressed with our students' level of dedication and initiative to create change! What do you wish more students would access in the college center? It's never too early to start thinking about colleges, so I wish more underclassmen would attend our college visits. They’re not just for seniors. This year, we hosted admission representatives from nearly 70 colleges. While the college application process may feel like it's in the distant future, I encourage juniors, sophomores and even freshmen to discover what different types of colleges have to offer. I recommend sitting in on presentations from both a larger public school and a smaller liberal arts institution. This gets students thinking about what types of schools might fit their individual needs. What's your best piece of advice for considering colleges? Forget about college rankings! Do some introspection to determine your own rankings, based on your needs. The media focus is on rankings (which do little to speak to the needs of the individual student), and we therefore read about the same 30-40 schools. This has created an undue level of anxiety among students and parents. There are thousands of colleges and universities in the U.S., most of which are great institutions for a variety of students at every academic level. While a handful of these schools present admissions odds worse than a Las Vegas casino, most have acceptance rates of about 70 percent. Riverdale Review
Athletics New face in 3rd grade RIVERDALE GRADE SCHOOL – Riverdale’s newest 3rd grade teacher, Rylie Schlottmann, is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and Seattle University. She recently completed her master’s degree at the University of Portland and did her student teaching at Catlin Gabel. She has also served as a program director at Camp Howard, and exudes an unflappable commitment and passion for working with youth. What inspired you to become a teacher? Growing up, I loved going to school and learning from my teachers and peers. School was a place that provided me with a lot of joy and comfort. Those feelings inspired me to provide that kind of experience for other children. I love the sense of community in a school and I wanted that to be a big part of my life. In high school, I realized my interest in working with children; they have so much energy and enthusiasm! What are you enjoying most about Riverdale? I really appreciate the sense of community and support I receive at Riverdale. As a first-year teacher, I could not have asked for a better support system filled with so much care and encouragement. All the teachers, staff, parents and students have been so welcoming and I feel very fortunate to work in such an uplifting environment. What has been your favorite lesson so far this year? The students and I had a lot of fun with our Classroom City unit this fall. They clearly felt so much care and ownership for their city. I witnessed a tremendous amount of responsibility and support for one another during Classroom City. The students learned how to problem solve and come up with sound solutions. We had so many creative ideas and businesses. I was amazed how successful a student-run city could be! What has surprised you most about your students? I was surprised about the amount that the students advocate for one another. When one of my students feels like their peers need support, they are always willing to stand up for them. It's incredibly heartwarming to see the amount of respect and admiration they have for one another. What is your favorite book for 3rd grade readers? A book that I am reading with one of my literature groups is "The Secret of Platform 13," and we are having so much fun with it! The book incorporates fantasy and adventure, which makes it such a page turner, even for me! The students are so excited when they find out what happens in each chapter. This book has brought about some fantastic conversations about good vs. bad and how others should be treated. Riverdale Review
How snow impacted our winter sports RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – The countless snow days that closed our schools also wreaked havoc on the winter sports schedule. With record numbers of teams this year (see superintendent’s message on page 2), planning games was already a bit of a juggling act. Now, the athletics department is working at a rapid pace to reschedule high school basketball games and swim meets before the season ends. Fortunately, middle school basketball was not impacted as greatly due to the later start of its season. To view all game schedules, practice calendars and final scores, visit the new athletics website, RiverdaleSports.com – your hub for all things sports at Riverdale (read more below).
Have you visited the new athletics website? RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – In addition to Riverdale’s three new district and school websites, the Athletics Department also set up its own website: RiverdaleSports.com. Consider it a fourth site, but it's easily accessed from the other Riverdale websites. Here, Riverdale athletes and their parents will find all sports-related information in one place, by team. This includes practice calendars, game schedules pulled right from OSAA, team rosters, coach contact information and the latest scores. You'll also find links to common athletic tools, such as the registration site and payment portal. While practices and game dates no longer appear on the individual school calendars, you’ll find them easily organized by team on the new athletics site. You can even sync the individual team calendars to your personal calendars.
Get ready for spring season RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – Riverdale spring sports include tennis (grades 9-12), golf (grades 7-12*) and track and field (grades 5-12). Practices begin: • Monday, Feb. 27 – High school • Monday, April 3 – Grade school Online registration must be completed prior to the first day of practice, including all sports fees ($350 for high school and $300 for grade school). For those who have already participated in a fall or winter sport, only the fee is required. Visit the new athletics website to register and pay fees. (*7-8 golf has no matches but practices twice a week with coaches. Fee is $200, which covers range balls and green fees.)
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Riverdale Review Winter 2017
DISTRICT 51J
Riverdale School District 11733 SW Breyman Ave. Portland, OR 97219
Inside this issue: • Latest News • Supporting Our Schools • Academic Highlights • Faces of Riverdale • Athletics • Events and Activities
P. 1 P. 2 P. 3-9 P. 10-11 P. 11 P. 12
Events and Activities Raise a paddle to our future
'Godspell' moves to March
RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – This year’s auction theme, “Passport to Our Future,” is the perfect way to spotlight the March 11 event’s paddle raise request. With a focus on innovation and exploration, the paddle raise seeks to generate between $40,000-$60,000 to fund important initiatives both in the grade school and the high school. New this year will be a dual paddle raise format, allowing bidders to designate their support to either school’s initiatives.
RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL – With snow days cutting into rehearsal times, Riverdale Drama has postponed its production of “Godspell,” a musical retelling of the Gospel of Matthew set in modern-day New York City. While this popular show includes dramatized versions of several wellknown parables, music teacher/ music director Heidi Schnizlein says that it transcends religion. “’Godspell’ is essentially about the formation of a community, and it is necessary to see what the individuals are like when there is no community, and how lost they are and how easily they descend into violence and chaos,” she says. “The students are dedicated and passionate about performing in spite of the weather challenges,” says director/choreographer Clara-Liis Hillier. “The students are enjoying the playful nature of the discovery process and the chance to delve into some physical, clowning work. The show is about ensemble and community-building, which I believe wholeheartedly speaks to the Riverdale community and student mentality.” She explains that the script encourages directors and actors to “explore and improvise through scenes, add their own physical comedy and discover from there who says what, who moves where and who sings what verse.“ Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 5, in the Riverdale Grade School Gym.
Grade School Paddle Raise The grade school is asking for your support in sustaining and expanding two areas. First, the Outdoor Classroom and Garden program seeks continued funding to ensure we can maintain, expand and educate students about what it means to truly “go green.” The space is used 20-40 hours a month by teachers in all grades and subject areas (see page 7), with a new outdoor learning specialist assisting them with curriculum integration. In addition, paddle raise funds will support purchasing Mimio “smart” boards and other interactive technology for preschool-8th grade classrooms. High School Paddle Raise The high school Field Studies program is a cornerstone of every student's educational career. Trips not only promote enriched learning, but also serve as important team-building exercises and life experiences. The high school paddle raise will allow the program to continue to support current Field Studies options, add new destinations and provide financial assistance for families unable to cover participation fees. Last year’s introduction of the extremely popular San Juan Islands sailing trip is a prime example of how these funds expand experiential learning opportunities for our students. These enriching initiatives will continue to provide a multifaceted, high-tech educational environment for our children to grow, learn and thrive, both in and out of class. View auction details and buy tickets at riverdaleptc.org/category/auction.
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Mark your calendar Feb. 17 Feb. 23 March 9 March 10 March 11 March 27-31 April 26
Non-Resident Enrollment Requests Due 5-8th Grade Band Concert High School Concert Enrollment Notifications PTC Auction Spring Break District Arts Night Riverdale Review