Friday, August 30, 2019

August 30, 2019


RBS Principal’s Notes
August 30, 2019

We’ve had a great opening to school!  Thank you for all of your support and for sending us such great kids!  Enjoy your long weekend, and we’ll see you on Tuesday, September 3rd.

IN THE NEWS:
Arctic Adventure Book Fair
Where: RBS Room 216-218
Days: Monday-Wednesday, September 16-18
Times: Monday & Tuesday:  2:00-5:00 PM, Wednesday:  2:00-8:00 PM  *Extended on Wednesday until 8:00 PM for Open House shoppers
Shop online at bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/riddlebrookschool1 through 9/25 to benefit the kids
of RBS. Purchases will be shipped free to your child’s classroom.

Strings Club for 3rd and 4th Graders
If your child is interested in participating in Strings Club this year, please take a look at THIS LINK for more information.

Follow RBS on Social Media
Throughout the year, we post lots of great pictures, videos and information on social media.  If you’re interested, please like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
RBS Facebook

Morning Drop Off
I wanted to give a friendly reminder that you cannot pass other cars in the drop off line out back.  Please wait your turn to pull away rather than passing the cars in front of you who are still dropping off.  This is a potential safety issue.

REMINDERS:
Anti-Bullying Partnership Agreement
Please keep an eye out for a document coming home with your children this week about bullying. Last year’s District Bullying Task Force developed a Partnership Agreement among students, teachers, and families to better understand and address student conflict, and what is and is not considered bullying.  We are asking all families to read, discuss, and sign this document to help ensure a happy, safe, and nurturing environment for all. Please click HERE if you would like an electronic copy of that agreement.

In addition to the above agreement, Mr. Munsey will be visiting each classroom sometime during the first week of school to have a conversation with students about expectations and following "the Golden Rule" of treating everyone the way they would want to be treated.  He and I will also be reading to and having a conversation with classes about bullying in late-September/early-October. 

Volunteer Opportunities at RBS
Soon you will get information on all the ways you can volunteer at Riddle Brook School! However, we could use help right away! This week and next week, we would love to have some helpers in the cafeteria for the K+ (10:45-11:30) and First Grade Lunches (12:10-12:30). If we have two volunteers per time period, we could help the little ones open their lunches, get in line and navigate the cafeteria successfully! If you are able to come in, please go to the Main Office first, sign in at the volunteer table, check in with the secretary and put on a yellow sticker badge that shows you are a helper. Thank you in advance for your help!  Please use THIS LINK to sign up.

Infosnap – Action Item
If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the Infosnap process.  Unfortunately, children will not be able to have their pictures taken or use technology until it is complete.  If you do not have the email with the link/snapcode that was sent to you this summer, please contact the school office. 

Automated Attendance Call
Again this year, families in the Bedford School District will receive a phone call confirming their child's absence via our "School Messenger" system.  Once we have taken attendance, a message will be generated confirming your child's absence.  The elementary calls will go out at approximately 9:30 AM, McKelvie and Lurgio will go out at 10:30 AM and the BHS at 11:00 AM.  If this call comes to you in error, please contact the Main Office, so that we can correct the attendance report.

Principal/Parent Communication
As my primary form of communication, I will be sending you an email update every week—typically on Friday afternoon/evening.  The email will include action items (highlighted in yellow), reminders, and other important information.  I will also archive all of my notes on the RBS web page (Principal’s News).  Parents, it is important that you review these notes each week and act on the action items, when necessary.  I appreciate your partnership in this.

Drop-Off and Dismissal Procedures
Morning Drop-Off:
When transporting your child to Riddle Brook School between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m., you will drop-off in the oval at the rear entrance of the school.  A duty teacher is available to supervise children at the drop off area beginning at 7:30 a.m.  From 7:50 a.m - 8:00 a.m., you will drop off at the playground/main entrance.  I would recommend arriving by 7:50 as often as possible as traffic can get backed up at the front of the school.  If the children arrive late to their rooms (due to traffic) they will still be marked tardy.  The academic day begins at 8:00 AM.  If you arrive after 8:00 AM, you must park in Visitor Parking and accompany your child to the office to sign a clipboard noting his/her tardiness.  Your child will receive a pass from the office to be given to his/her teacher. 
In order to avoid traffic back up and being marked tardy, the best course of action is to take the bus or arrive at 7:30 AM.

Afternoon Parent Pick-Up:
Please click HERE for Parent Pick-Up procedures.

PM Buses (Start of School Year)
Typically, for the 1st week and a half or so of school, we call Kindergarten and 1st grade students to line up for their afternoon buses prior to the older students. Consequently, it delays the departure of buses about 10-15 minutes. However, it's worth it in the end as it provides the little ones with a better sense of security and understanding during this hectic time of the day. We appreciate your understanding and patience with this!

Dismissal Information & Identification
When providing dismissal information (i.e. who will be picking up your child(ren) from school), please use proper names instead of grandmother, nanny, neighbor, friend, etc.  Staff members doing parent pick-up duty may need to ask for ID for those people they don't know, and therefore need a name to go with the ID.  Please be patient with staff members at the start of the year as they get to know parents/care takers.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 2 – Labor Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
September 3 – Grade 1 Orientation (6 PM)
September 4 – RBS School Pictures
September 10 – PTG Volunteer Breakfast (9:30 AM)
September 13 – All School Meeting (National Anthem) – Staff & students…please wear red, white and blue.
September 16-18 – RBS Fall Book Fair/Sale (Mon. & Tues. 2-5PM, Wed. 2-8 PM) 
September 18 – RBS Open House:  K & 2:  5:30-6:30 PM, 3 & 4:  6:30-7:30 PM
September 27 – PTG Coffee with the Principals (9:30 AM BCTV)
September 30-October 1 – Rosh Hashana
October 1 – Safety Trailer Presentation (grades 1 & 2)
October 7 – PTG Coffee with the Superintendent (9:30 AM BCTV)
October 8-9 – Yom Kippur
October 11 – District Workshop Day – No School for Students
October 14 – Columbus Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
October 16 – RBS Picture Retake Day
October 19 – RBS Harvest Festival
October 31 – Happy Halloween!
November 1 – End of Quarter 1
November 8 – Report Cards Released (grades 2-4)
November 11 – Veterans’ Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
November 27-29 – Thanksgiving Break