APRIL 2011www.dps.k12.oh.us/school-rivers-edge/

At River’s Edge Montessori it is our vision that we, the students, will make wise choices and become good citizens so that we can accomplish our goals and reach our highest level of achievement in our global society.

This newsletter is produced by River’s Edge Alliance of Parents with input from the Title I program and the school’s administration and staff.

RIVER’S EDGE MONTESSORI at FRANKLIN

River’s Edge Alliance of Parents Meeting:

Monday, April 11, Media Center, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Help us plan the remaining events for the school year. Please join us as we nominate officers for next school year and discuss upcoming events. Enter through the Findlay St. doors. We’ll see you at the meeting!

As always, child care is provided!

Earth Day Adopt-A-Park Eventby Kerensa

This year in celebration of Earth Week all River’s Edge family members are invited to participate in the Earth Day Adopt-a-Park event on Saturday, April 16, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. near the site of the new REM. Families can

meet in the parking lot of the former 4 River Place on Emmet St. between Main and Linwood Streets.

Each volunteer will receive a T-shirt and a free lunch at Eastwood MetroPark following the clean-up. MetroParks will also provide gloves, and trash bags. REAP will provide bottled water. We will clean down by the river but will not go into the water; for this reason, we strongly advise parents with young children to keep this in mind when planning your day.

Please return the slip and indicate how many are participating and T-shirt size(s). Please return the form below or contact Kerensa by Wednesday, April 6, if you are interested in participating in this event. We cannot guarantee T-shirts for those who register after April 6.

Earth Day Adopt-A-Park EventName:

Phone:

Email:

Student’s Name:

Teacher:

T-shirts come in adult sizes only, order small for youth size. Please indicate number of each size.

Name(s) of participant(s):

S: M: L: XL: 2XL: 3XL:

Return this form to the office by April 6, 2011!

Spring Picture Day!by Mrs. Coulter

Spring Picture Day will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011. Spring pictures and class pictures will be taken.

There is a change in procedure this time in order to control cost: only students who prepay for pictures will have individuals taken. Lifetouch will gladly refund the money if parents are not satisfied with their child’s pictures. There will be NO retake day. Class pictures will be a part of each packet purchased or $10.00 if families only want the class picture.

Considering DECA? by Tina

Attention all 6th- 8th graders, interested in Dayton Early College Academy (DECA)!

You are welcome to come and check out the school on April 19, 2011 when River’s Edge is on Spring Break. You must complete an application to attend DECA. At this school that your child will be prepared and expected to attend college. DECA is currently accepting students entering the 7th-12th grades for fall 2011. For more information you can contact:

Dave Taylor, PrincipalDayton Early College Academy300 College ParkDayton, OH 45409dtaylor@daytonearlycollege.org937-229-5780

For more information on DECA, please visit their website:http://www.daytonearlycollege.org/

Letʼs Get POPPING!We’re warming up the popcorn machine once again on Friday, April 15! For the week preceding Popcorn Day, students can pre-purchase a bag of popcorn for $0.50.

Special thank you to March volunteers, Amber and Stacey.

Fond Farewellby Mrs. Taylor

We are putting together a scrapbook which will become a cherished piece of history commemorating our final year here in our school building. If anyone has pictures taken at any of the events that have occurred in the 2010-2011 school year, we would like to try to include them in this scrapbook. Please send pictures in a marked envelope. We would greatly appreciate it if we do not have to copy and return pictures due to the cost factor. However, if you want the pictures returned, we will copy those we can use for this project and then return them. The event, who is in the picture and whether or not you want the pictures returned must be indicated on the outside of the envelope. If you do not indicate this on the envelope, we will assume that we may use the photograph(s) without copying them. Please do not write on the back of the photographs with pencil or ink pen as this eventually destroys the photographs. Information can be placed on the envelope. Submit photographs to Mrs. Gloria Taylor’s mailbox in the office.

Family Fun for All at the Book Fair Carnival!

Spring Buy One Get One Free Book Fair was a winner! We extend special appreciation to event

coordinator Meridith for spending the week at REM for the book fair

Meridith would also like to thank her very special helpers Heather, Tina, Cindy, Amber and Jennie for volunteering their time.

So, thank you to all who donated time and money. We hope you’re enjoying all your great books!

Volunteer TrainingIf you have yet to attend volunteer training, which the district requires for all volunteers, it’s not too late. There are still two dates left this school year. Contact Dawn Wood-Martin at 937.542.7025 to schedule your session.

Tuesday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 19 at 9, 10, & 11 AM; and 2 & 3 PM (Sessions run about an hour)

There would be very little point in my exhausting myself and other conservationists themselves in trying to protect animals and habitats if we weren’t at the same time raising young people to be better stewards.

~ Dr. Jane Goodall“

“

“May We Thank You” Luncheon

On May 12 we will share our appreciation for our staff by serving up a “May We Thank You” luncheon. Volunteers are needed to contribute

food items for the luncheon, so pull out those favorite recipes that fill you up and make you feel special. We need families to donate casseroles or other main dish items (including vegetarian options), side dishes, salads, and desserts. We are also in need of some volunteers to help set up, serve and clean up during the luncheon.

If you want to get involved and recognize our staff for a job well done, please complete and return the form below. Event Coordinator Tina will contact you with further instructions. If you have questions, contact Tina. We look forward to your involvement as we say “THANK YOU” to our staff.

“May We Thank You” Luncheon

YES! I want to help with the staff appreciation luncheon planned for Thursday, May 12.

Name:

Contact #:

Student:

Teacher:

I want to help in the following way(s): (check all that apply)

Set Up (8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)

Serve (10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.)

Clean Up (12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

I will make the following food(s) for the luncheon:

Please return this form to the office immediately!

Mother / Son Eventby Jeni

This year’s Mother Son Event will be the morning of May 21 at Eastwood MetroPark. We will be creating our very own version of the Amazing Race, a combination of tasks and scavenger hunt. This event is going to need several volunteers to be successful.

If you are interested in planning or helping the day of the event please contact Jeni.

Mother/Son Event HelpYES! I would like to help plan this event or help the on Saturday, May 21!

Your Name:

Phone:

Email:

Student:

Teacher:

Please return this form to the office immediately!

All Hands on Deckby Lisa

The grounds surrounding the new River’s Edge Montessori have been meticulously planned with input from MetroParks in order to provide a home for insects and birds and to provide inspiration for our children. The new building will have three large beds for native perennials and the slope of the levee will be planted with

native grasses to minimize maintenance and erosion.

As part of the agreement for receiving such beautiful grounds we have been asked to seek volunteers to help plant. A small group of parents is consulting with MetroParks to work out the details of planting all the plants and with the construction company to determine the logistics of having volunteers on an active work site. A planting date of May 14 has been tentatively scheduled. We’re going to need as many of you as we can get so keep that date open on your calendar. We’ll have more info in the May issue of The Current so stay tuned!

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed. ~ Mahatma Ghandi“

“

Clinic Newsby Ms. Senne, RN, School Nurse

Attention Parents of Pre-school and 6th Grade Students:

Prior to starting school in the fall, Kindergarten and 7th grade students will need to show proof of having received their updated

immunizations. 7th graders will need a tetanus booster on file (a tdap or td), and kindergarteners will need their kindergarten shots on file (5th Dtap, 4th Polio, 2nd MMR, 3 HepB and 2 Varicella). Please schedule an appointment with your family physician or visit the Montgomery County Health Department’s Immunization Clinic at the corner of Fourth and Main St. (225-4550) and avoid the rush in August.

Read Across America Wrap-Upby Mrs. Finley

Thanks to all the adults and to the students from Ms. Mullins’s room who volunteered and read to students at River’s Edge for READ ACROSS AMERICA day on Wednesday, March 2. We celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with joy: rhymes, poems, stories, and clapping could be heard coming from every classroom. Red and white striped hats and bows reminded us of the Cat in the Hat. The day proved that:

“You’re never too busy, too cool, or too hot,To pick up a book and share what you’ve got”.

Successful Sale to Support BizTown Tripby Mrs. Mullins and Mrs. Gregory

The spirit of Mardi Gras was in the air during the first part of March as Rooms 122 and 125 sold decorated masks and beads to the 9 - 14 students. Our students learned that Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French. Fat Tuesday is the day before Lent, which is the Christian preparation for Easter and starts on Ash Wednesday. Purple, green and gold are the colors of Mardi Gras. Modern Mardi Gras came to America from France in 1827. The first Mardi Gras carnival and parade began in New Orleans. Our decorated masks and beads sold out quickly and we were able to earn $58.20. The money will go towards the 6th grade trip to Biz Town later this month. Thank you for your support.

Pennies for the Gardenby Mrs. Taylor

Please consider sending in your pennies again. Our intention is to use whatever money we can raise to fund gardening projects for our new school. The last penny drive brought in $206.00 which was fantastic. We will be

sending home the little plastic bags with the students sometime in early April. If you have loose change that you are willing to donate, please send it in. Your child(ren) can drop their pennies in the plastic container in the main hallway.

Family Day at Carillon ParkHead to Carillon Park Sunday, May 15, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM, for some FREE family fun. Experience Dayton’s rich heritage of creativity and invention.

Earth Day Quizfrom funschool.kaboose.com (answers on page 6)

1. Glass decomposes in landfills after how many years?a. 5 b. 20,000 c. 1 million

2. For every ton of paper recycled, we save:a. 1 tree b. 17 trees c. 32 trees

3. Every hour Americans throw out this many plastic bottles.

a. 1000 b. 2.5 million 7 million

4. In your house, where is the most water used?a. The kitchen b. The laundry room c. The bathroom

5. How much less energy do CFL lightbulbs use?a. 30% less b. 60% less c. 100% less

We Asked ...You Answered!by Lisa

The March issue of The Current contained a survey about your school choices in Dayton. We were curious about the number of families who are going to make the move with us to the new building next school year. We were so impressed with the number of you who responded and with the nature of your responses that we took the survey results, in pie chart form to a meeting a handful of parents, myself included, had with the superintendent of Dayton Public Schools, Lori Ward.

The meeting was a successful give-and-take of dreams and ideas we have for our school going forward. Ms. Ward was open to our desire to advertise the only FREE public Montessori school option in Dayton in order to attract more

families who do not yet know they can exercise this choice for their children.

So, thank you to the parents who attended the meeting with Ms. Ward, Tina, Teffany and Jocelyn. Your hard work and preparation really showed the superintendent what dedicated and passionate parents we have at River’s Edge Montessori! And THANK YOU to the 151 families, representing 217 students, who responded to our survey. Your participation and your opinions have made a difference for our school!

4%10%

86%YesNoOther

13%

68%

6%13%

LocationAssigned HereMontessori CurriculumOther

2. Do you plan to move to the new Riverʼs Edge Montessori School building?1. Why are you at this school?

15%

58%

27%

Another DPS SchoolAnother School Option *Other **

37%

33%

13%

17%

Home SchoolRemain at REMUnsureDid Not Specify

3. If DPS no longer offered a Montessori option, what educational choice would you make?

3a. Breakdown of families who responded “Other” to question 3.

* Charter, private, etc. ** 6% of responders who indicated “Another School Option” or “Other” to question 3, specifically indicated they would move out of Dayton.

YES! Sign me up for the REAP Yahoo Group!

Name:

Email:

Student:

Teacher:

" Get Signed On In an attempt to offer a variety of communication methods, River’s Edge Alliance of Parents operates a Yahoo! Group. This group not only provides a

“home” for archived issues of The Current, but also a school calendar of all upcoming events with automatic e-mail reminders. You do not need a Yahoo email address to be a member of the group. Still unsure? Sign up and give it a try--you can unsubscribe at any time. Return the following form to the office today!

OAA Prepby Mrs. Painter

Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA) is only a few weeks away--right as we return from our Spring Break. As always, what you do at home is just as important as what goes on here at school. Be sure to help your child do the best he/she can do by "talking the talk" with them. Ask your child daily what they are learning. Ask them to explain how they know that the work they are doing at home is correct? Being able to verbalize their thoughts is a very important part of the comprehension process and your child will love showing what they can do.

Here is a wonderful website from the Ohio Department of Education that can give your child extra test practice: http://portal.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/.

Students can take a practice test by clicking the following link: http://ohio3-8.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/Profile/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fPracticeTest%2ftestworkbook.aspx%3fnav%3dstudent&nav=student. To take the test without registering, click “Take a Test without Logging In”.

Test Dates:Wednesday April 27th - Reading Grades 3-8Tuesday May 3rd- Math Grades 3-8Thursday May 5th - Science Grades 5 and 8

Title I TV The Title I Parent Program of Dayton Public Schools has a live call-in talk show on DPS-TV, Channel 21, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. “Parent Connection” allows parents to call in and ask questions on

various subjects. If you miss an episode, shows will repeat on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. on DPS-TV, or view any time on the DPS website: www.dps.k12.oh.us.

Some upcoming episodes are:

April 7, 2011 - Blended FamiliesAuthor and Engineer, Valerie Coleman will provide parents with strategies for resolving family conflicts of single parents and blended families that will bring peace, harmony and love back into the home.

April 28, 2011 - What Every Parent/Guardian Should Know to Continue Their EducationDr. Joanna Hill-Robinson will provide educational strategies to help parents continue their education that will in turn help their children succeed in school and maximize their potential.

To call in live, call (937) 542-7222. To be a part of the studio audience for a taping of the show, call (937) 542-3333.

Miss an edition of The Current? You can view them all online at the River’s Edge Alliance of Parents Yahoo! Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/riversedgeallianceofparents/ (for more

info on the Yahoo! Group, see article on this page). The Current is produced at the beginning of each month.

Earth Day Quiz Answers (from page 4)

1. c. It takes a million years for glass to decompose in a landfill. You can help by recycling your glass bottles and jars at home and at school.

2. b. 17 trees are saved for every ton of paper recycled. Can you imagine how many trees we could save if everyone recycled their paper?

3. b. Recycle your plastic bottles to cut down on waste, or even better, buy a refillable bottle.

4. c. On average, we use the most water in the bathroom. Cut down on some of the water wasted by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth.

5. a. If every house in America used one CFL bulb, we would save enough energy to power a city.