Welcome to Rider!

We have had a busy start to the new year!  The second quarter ends on February 2^nd. At the end of this quarter the regular, formal report card will

be used to share your child’s academic progress. There will be no school on February 3^rd so that teachers can prepare the report cards. Your child will bring the report home Friday, Feb. 10.  We look forward to sharing your child’s progress in this format.  If you have any questions about your child’s report card, please contact his/her teacher.

On February 1^st through the 10^th, our 5th^th graders will take their first round of the online OAKS assessment (Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.)  They will take the Science, Math and Reading portions of the test.  Our 3^rd graders will begin their first round the week of February 13^th in Math and Reading and 4^th grade will begin Math and Reading February 20^th. Scores from the first round of testing help us identify students who may need additional support and gives teachers information to help plan instruction.

Students are more confident going into to the OAKS test session if they

are well prepared and rested.  Please make sure your child goes to bed on time, has extra nutritious snacks and arrives to school on time.  Taking a state test can be stressful, so talking to your child about the importance of just putting forth their best effort may ease their anxiety.  You can also remind them that they will have a second opportunity in the spring. Our

goal is to provide your child with the highest quality education so that he/she makes significant academic growth each year and is prepared for middle school, high school and beyond.

You can visit the Oregon Department of Education website to see a sample of the test at http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1307. 

Our Cultural Fair Committee is having their first planning meeting on February 2^nd at 6:30 in the library.  Last year’s Cultural Fair was magical and exciting.  With your help, we hope to shape this year’s event on

May 18 into an equally wonderful experience for all our families.  Please contact Irma Llanes irmallanes@frontier.com if you would like to help in any way with the Cultural Fair

On February 23^rd at 6:30 we will have our combined Science Fair/Family Math Night.  Science Fair packets are available online this year.  Many of our teachers have included work on Science Fair projects in their homework assignments.  They have studied the scientific method and brainstormed topics to help your children

get started on a scientific question that interests them.

Lastly, we have had a few close calls in our morning parent drop off lane in the last few weeks.  Cars have tried to pass around others that are unloading students.  Please  do not go around others cars who are stopped because students may get out of their parents’ vehicles on the left side due to car seat positions, etc.  It takes a little more time to wait for the car in front but it is important for the safety of our students.  Thank you.

Our PSO “CarniBull” on April 21^st also promises to be an amazing community event.  There will be games, prizes, food and a silent auction with a myriad of items to choose from.  Our teachers are busily planning their creative and popular teacher experiences for you to bid on.  I hope you will join us!

Please contact your child’s teacher beforehand for special permission before allowing your child to bring Pokemon cards or other objects of value such as ipods to school.  Our handbook says, “Objects of value such as cameras, iPods, video games and collector cards (i.e. Pokemon, Yugio) are to be brought to school by special permission only.”   We have had a few incidents recently where items such as these became problematic.  Thank you for your assistance in keeping these items at home

Laura Kintz

Principal