Red Pride Weekly - Family Edition

It was good to get back to a full day on Friday and I know we are all looking forward to getting back to our regular routine this week.

This week is The Great Kindness Challenge and fittingly we will be calling on our students to show their caring and compassion by participating in a Special Spirit Week to honor one of our 5th graders currently in the hospital. We will kick off the Spirit Week Monday with "Dress to Impress" day, so we are asking students and staff to dress in their best with sparkle, glitz and glam.

Important Dates

• Monday, February 3 - No School for PreK Students
• Monday, February 17 - No School for Students
• Tuesday, March 4 - No School for Students

Looking Ahead...

As you make plans or appointments for later this spring, please keep the following dates in mind...

• April 30 - SOL Reading Test, Grades 3-5
• May 6 - SOL Math Test, Grades 3-5
• May 8 - SOL Science & Virginia Studies Tests, Grades 4 and 5

Hopefully by having these dates on your calendar early, we can make sure that our Gladiators are here and ready for their SOL tests this spring.

This week, students in 1st and 2nd grade will be administered the VALLSS (Virginia Language & Literacy Screening System) assessments by their classroom teachers. VALLSS requires one-on-one testing, so we will be bringing in substitute teachers to help us continue with our regular instruction.

Schedule

• 2nd Grade VALLSS: 1/27 & 1/28
• 1st Grade VALLSS: 1/29 & 1/30

Please make sure your child is present for VALLSS testing during the window to minimize makeups.

Kaitlyn, one of our 5th graders, is currently in the hospital at UVA. We miss her dearly and want to show her that we are thinking of her with a special Spirit Week. Fittingly, this week is also the Great Kindness Challenge and offers our students another opportunity to be kind. We are hosting a coin drive to support the family during this time for those who feel called to contribute.

Each morning our Gladiators are asked to live up to our Red Pride Pledge by being safe, respectful, responsible, caring learners. Students who live up to our Riverheads Expectations for Success have a chance to be nominated by their teacher or another staff member for the honor of being a Good News Gladiator. Students who earn this honor are given a shout out over the announcements and are allowed to choose a book from our book vending machine.

Please join me in celebrating these Gladiators for showing their Red Pride!

We have been busy recognizing students all year, so be on the lookout for more Good News Gladiators each week.

Each year, Art Teachers from Augusta County Public Schools contribute their own art work to a traveling exhibit. We are fortunate to have the art exhibit at our school this week and many of our students have taken time to check out the artwork from the many talented artists and educators that work in Augusta County. The theme for this year's exhibit is "Color" and you can see it clearly in each of the pieces.

These 3rd grade students have been learning about ancient cultures, specifically about China. Our 3rd grade teachers working with Ms. Armstrong, our Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, to develop a virtual field trip to the Great Wall of China and the Yangtze River. Our Gladiators had a great time on their field trip and they didn't even need a passport.

After all the cold weather and delays, our students were getting back into the groove of things by Friday afternoon.