Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2006


In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Scholastic has a fun site about Hispanic Heritage Month, and Nick's Parents Connect site has some fun and easy recipes. Search the Net for more.

The Book Fair is Coming, and Needs Your Help

The Riverview Book Fair runs September 21 through the 25.

An amazing selection of books is headed our way including Spanish titles and books about China and its culture! At the Book Fair you will find the latest and finest titles for kids, as well as books of interest to parents. Mark your calendar for our Family Event where the whole family can join in the fun. And, you can contribute books to your child's classroom library. Come celebrate the joy of reading and find out where books can take you.

Volunteers are still needed. CLICK HERE to get connected and lend a hand.

It's a Wonderful Time to Read

September 8: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published on this date in 1900. You may also have heard that L. Frank Baum wrote 3 books in the Oz series in a cute little yellow house on Star Park Circle in Coronado.
From now until September 15th, The Coronado Historical Association has the exhibit, Ozily Yours: L. Frank Baum in Coronado.
And if that wasn't cool enough, September 8, 2009 is also International Literacy Day.

Welcome Back

Hello fellow families! Summer has come to it's close and the kids are back in school. For this household, that means that it's just as much us grown-ups getting back into the swing of things as it is the kids. For many other families, this is their first week at a full time school, or Riverview could be a new school for them.

The Riverview Elementary School web site is a great site to visit for information. This Riverview Connection Blog hopes to keep updated information on most of the events. The idea for this blog is to be a place for families to connect and communicate with each other, and the goal is still to help build, strengthen and improve our community at Riverview Elementary School.

If you are new to this blog, we want you to post your comments and share this site with others. And in case you didn't know, this blog is not run by the school district, so please don't blame them for any honest mistakes that could be made here. It's simply a parent's blog, offering a place to share things like thoughts, concerns and ideas with each other.

So please use the comment section under each post, or send your thoughts and your photos as well, to riverview.connection@gmail.com

Here's to a great new school year. Go Mustangs!!!

Here's to a Safe Summer

The kids had a blast this week with the arrival of Lakeside's Fire Engine #2 and the landing on the playground of the helicopter, Mercy Air.

Hope the demonstration and talk from these departments help the kids to remember to have a safe summer.



Think they were excited? Can you count how many kid's feet aren't even touching the ground?

Riverview's 1st (and amazing) International Fair

Floored by the commitment of many, and the execution of their efforts, almost sums up the experience of attending Riverview's International Fair. It was a fun-filled event and everyone who worked on making it happen... hats off to you for all you do.

Enjoy the video from images from the day & feel free to leave a comment too.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there, and also to the men who play the roll as well.

"A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary."
-- Dorothy Canfield Fisher

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it."
-- Mark Twain

Feel like reading some more mom quotes? Here's a site for you...
http://www.focused-momentum-lifecoach.com/mother-quotes.html

So Much To Catch Up On

Is it just me, or does it feel like things are revving up? There is so much happening or about to happen at the school, and it's getting really exciting. I'll update the upcoming events section of the blog and set it up with any links if I find any.

Western Days this Weekend

Lakeide's Western Days and Rodeo are here once again. It's a fun community event if you haven't been to it before. Helping to kick it off and get the kids excited is a visit from some Rodeo Royalty. Although I wasn't able to confirm which one will get to make an appearance at Riverview, I have learned that either the Lakeside Rodeo Queen, Mackenzie Cayford, or Lakeside Rodeo Princess, Jillian Zavadil, should be stopping by the school.

For a little more details and history, check out these sites...

Lakeside Rodeo

About Lakeside

Embrace Your Inner Green

With Earth Day this Wednesday, and it being GREEN WEEK all week, it seems fitting to post a few ideas and links on some green living for us parents as well as the kids. Here's some favorites that I found, but please feel free to post yours in the comments too.

Go Green with Your Kids...


San Diego Loves Green


Something for the Sports Fan...


Major League Baseball ~ How the Teams Show their Green

NBA's Green Initiative

A Great Loss ~ Anthony Jellison

As many of you may know, a Riverview student's life was cut short over this Spring Break. Our hearts broke when we learned the sad news. I wanted to post something about this great loss on this blog so that his family knew they were being thought of and prayed for, but I found something even better. There is a site already created for Anthony. You can visit it yourself and perhaps leave a comment there.

www.rememberanthony.com

Anthony Jellison
(1999-2009)

Jog-A-Thon

Way to go, joggers! I couldn't believe how many laps the students completed during the Jog-A-Thon on Friday. I have heard that it's generally a good fundraiser for the school, and I'm looking forward to seeing how well it did this time around. Congratulations to everyone who went out there and gave it their all. That goes for the students, teachers and parents alike. Be proud of what you've done.

Evening Parent Meeting tonight!

Did you know that if you have an EAK student at Riverview now, that you need to attend a Parent's Information Meeting in the same year that your child starts the program? We knew it was required, but what we didn't realize was that you need to attend in the same school year. We went to the meeting in 2008, and since we don't have any other children in the program, we're required to attend again in this calendar year. Personally, it seems a little odd having to attend again, but I guess rules are rules. So if you need to attend the meeing again as well, here are the remaining dates.

Wednesday, March 11, 6:00 pm
at the Lakeside District Office
619-390-2600

Thrusday, April 2, 9:30 am
at Riverview School for meeting and tour
619-390-2662

Wednesday, May 13, 6:00 pm
at the Lakeside District Office
619-390-2600

For anyone interested in taking a tour of the school, tours are at 9:30 am on March 12 & May 14.

Picture Day & PTA Meeting ~ Wednesday March 11th

Don't forget that Wednesday is Picture Day, like I nearly did. And also the PTA meeting is tomorrow as well. Have a great day!

Cups & Cones Fundraiser Tonight

Treat yourself to some ice cream or a rich cup of coffee tonight at Cups & Cones!

Many thanks to Brian & Bettie Stearns for offering up 20% of all beverage and ice cream sales for the Run for the Arts. The Riverview staff will be there from 5 - 5:30 tonight, but the fundraiser stretches from 4 to 7 pm. Help support this wonderful little shops as it helps support our community.
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Action Packed Days

What a couple of action packed days we had last week. The Family Night Out was a ton of fun for our family. Being a newer parent at Riverview, I was somewhat surprised at the good size of the turnout. Than again, it was that same the level of family involvement at the school that helped me realize that Riverview was the right choice for us.

Watching the kids on Grandparent's Day on Friday was a treat. I know that for my child, he really loved being able to introduce his Grandmothers to his friends. And if the grandparents hadn't been 100% on-board for the immersion program before, they would have been after one afternoon on campus.

Balancing all that "action" with family life, work and and now sports for us, can be a real challenge. Do you think the families out there that make it look easy have any tricks? Are you one of those families? Or do you think it just looks easy?

As you can see here, I am posting a photo I took on Thursday. I do not intend to post any photos of children's faces without parent's permission. School staff on the other hand... well you should know that you're fair game. If you have a photo that you would like posted of your own child, you can send it to riverview.connection@gmail.com and it will be posted for you.

Please share your stores as well. I know you have some. You can post them here in the comments, or email them for me to post for you.

Quick update

Sra Rodriguez @ 5:15 pm

There was a change of plans. Sra. Rodriguez should now be scheduled to read at Barnes & Noble at 5:15 pm. See you there tonight.
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Riverview Elementary School FUNdraiser on Thursday

Thursday, February 26
5 pm - 9pm

Thanks to Cold Stone Creamery and Barnes & Noble for their support of Riverview Elementary School. It's going to be a tasty good.

The kids will enjoy meeting Clifford the Big Red Dog and listening the special guest speakers, like Sra. Rodriquez at 5:45 pm, at the Barnes & Noble's Pajama-rama! They'll also have information about teacher's wish lists for anyone who might be able to help out there as well.

Cold Stone Creamery will be donating 20% of the sales towards this fundraiser, so please don't forget your flyer. Cold Stone will also be be offering fundraiser ticket specials. Filled with great things like free products, the tickets are valued at $38, on sale for $20, and they'll give $10 to the school for each one sold! They make great gifts too.

Can't make it? No problem! You can call Cold Stone Creamery at 619-449-0808 and place an order up to 2 month in advance of when you'll need it, and if you mention the fundraiser, the order will count towards the total sales. Check out Cold Stone's Cake Menu to get an idea of what sort of super yummy teats they have to offer, and don't forget to tell your friends and family about the fundraisers as well.

You are going to LOVE the Love of Reading Week (Feb 23-27)

The activities planned for the Love of Reading Week will be fun and motivating for the kids. Visit Wednesday's guest author and illustrator, David Hoobler's website for his bio, and to download some great coloring pages!

Don't forget that Thursday is Pajama Day, followed by that night's fundraiser at Cold Stone Creamery and Barnes & Noble from 5 to 8. Everything will be topped off with Grandparents Day on Friday!
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Some Valentine's Love for Everyone

Here are a couple fun facts...
1. In the Middle Ages, both men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear the names on their sleeves for a week. Now, to wear your heart on your sleeve means others can easily see your feelings.

2. Lovers are often unaware that the XXX kisses on cards goes back to early Christianity. In the days when few people could sign their name, a X was a legally binding signature. To emphasize their commitment to an agreement, people would kiss the X, similar to kissing the bible after swearing on oath.

~ While I've got your attention... please forgive my typos and the flawed grammar that you will certainly find within this blog. I'm often trying to type fast and family life doesn't always give me the chance to proof like I should before I publish. Please don't let that keep you from being a part of this blog, posting your thoughts, and sharing it with others. Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day! ~ XXX

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Performance Night ~ The Excitment of It All

What a blast it was watching all those little ones on Performance Night. I'm sitting here smiling just thinking about it. I can tell you that my little guy spent more time on stage waving at me than singing, but it made my day. Hats off again for Sra. Rodriguiz for pulling the kids together in such a short amount of time. I know that there were more than a few kids who were nervous about the idea of getting on stage, but you couldn't tell by looking at them all. What a great group of kids we have!!!

Speaking of Sra. Rodriguiz, does anyone know if there is a Medal of Honor for teachers? The military awards the medal "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty," and I think with having to evacuate her home in the early morning hours before the first day of EAK, and than being caught up in a car accident on Performance Night, she qualifies. If there is such a medal for teachers, I'd like to nominate her.

Thankfully, no one involved with the accident was seriously hurt but what a scary event and it could have been very different. Past and present staff and families at the school have shared with me their fear and anxiety of the traffic on Winter Gardens. I'm confident that others may have worked to get a traffic signal put up in front of the school. If someone out there knows what the hurdles they've faced have been, and what steps can begin working together on, we can help make the school safer.

Don't forget to share your thoughts and stories.

"This one step -- choosing a goal and sticking to it -- changes everything."
Scott Reed

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Happy Birhday Rosa Parks!

Rosa Louise Parks was nationally recognized as the "mother of the modern day civil rights movement" in America, and today is her birthday.Born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. She refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus on December 1, 1955 and was arrested, and this is her mugshot. She died October 24, 2005 at the age of 92.

February is Black History Month, and here are a couple great sites I found with information and even some activities for the kiddos.

Kaboose

RosaParks.org

African American History For Kids

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Box Tops 4 Riverview

An easy way to help Riverview earn money is with Box Tops for Education.

You can even help the school earn even more money if you're an online shopper. Click here: Box Tops Marketplace for a list of some really great participating stores, like Barnes & Noble (6% donations), and Avon (4% donation). And check around the site for Bonus Box Tops.
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I guess it's working

My child has not been in the Spanish immersion program long, but I can assure you he IS learning Spanish. The other day I heard my children arguing and the one in the program yelled at the top of his lungs, "ALTO!" at his little brother. Proof that the program is working.

Do you have a story to share? Post it in the comments.

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Not It!

As a first post on this site, I want to make it perfectly clear that this site is NOT run by the Lakeside Union School District. It has been started by a parent of a child attending Riverview's Spanish Immersion Program. Please feel free to share your comments, opinions, and tips on this blog. But please don't blame the school or LUSD if we get something a little off or make any mistakes.
In addition to posting things about the school, I'll be posting things that I think are helpful to families, like other great sites about what's going on in our community, and things that seem like great tips for families. Please post your suggestions so we can share them with the other parents.
Now, feel free to be open but don't forget to play nice. The goal of this blog is to help build, strengthen and improve our community for everyone.

com⋅mu⋅ni⋅ty

 /kəˈmyunɪti/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kuh-myoo-ni-tee]
–noun

1.	a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government.

2.	a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics, responsibility or interests.