Riverview Elementary Weekly Newsletter

Submitted by angela.killian on

Principal Moment

I don’t know why, but kids like to talk about their parents’ ages.  It is a predictable subject of conversation.  Every year, at some time, I will hear one student ask another, “How old is your mom?”

I remember when I first heard the question.  I was twenty-two years old, fresh out of college and newly married. 

When I heard students announce their parents age as thirty-five; I thought, wow, their parents are old!

Pretty soon I was thirty-five, and I heard the question again.  Wow, I thought.  I’m the same age as their parents.

March 1st was my birthday.  I turned fifty-two and I heard the question again.  Wow, I think.  I’m older than the parents.  What happened?  Where did time go?

Teachers are Peter Pans in a way.  It’s so easy to lose track of time.  You forget that you’re getting older, because they’re always the same age.  You teach in the same classroom year after year.  You wear the same dress.  You tell the same jokes.  Everything is always the same.

Then one day you are kicked into the reality that you are getting older when you receive a graduation announcement or a wedding invitation, or when the store cashier says, “Hi, Mrs. Killian.  Remember me?”  Ahhh...the circle of life.  I love working in an elementary school!

Penny Wars

Riverview is hosting a Penny Wars fund raiser through the week of March 4th – 8th. Each class earns points by collecting pennies.  Points are subtracted from a class when students “bomb” a class with silver coins or bills.  The grade level with the most points at the end of the war wins a reward.  All the money raised will be put into a scholarship fund for a former Riverview student who will be graduating from Spanish Fork High School this year.  Current Riverview students are paying it forward and helping a Riverview graduate ‘Make a Mark’ in the world! Way to go Riverview!

SEP Conferences

SEP Conferences will be held Thursday, March 14th from 3:15-8:45 PM.  You will be getting an email this week from SignUpGenius.  This email will allow you to visit the website, find your child’s teacher(s), and sign-up for the time that is most convenient to your individual schedule.  Parents, if you find a need to change your appointment the day of conferences, please contact the teacher so he/she is aware of the change. 

There will be no school on Friday, March 15th. Thank you.

Riverview Learning 

Riverview’s learning philosophy is based on the four phases of learning – Building Learning Capacity, Collaborating, Making Meaning and Breaking Through.  The focus of the phases of learning is to help students recognize what phase they are in and know what to do when they don’t know what to do – how to get unstuck when thrown into the learning pit.  This type of thinking is highly valued.  Teachers teach students the learning power strategies to get out of the learning pit.  Being stuck in the learning pit is a valuable part of learning because it allows each of us an opportunity to build our learning capacity – to know, believe, and stretch ourselves as learners.  The learner powers are an important part of building learning capacity.  The seven learner powers are Reflect, Question, Connect, Think, Self-Aware, Wonder and Be Determined.  The learning phases, when intentionally taught, allow students to be the drivers of their own learning, problem solve and face their future with confidence and hope. 

It is generally know that once an individual repeats something for 30 days it becomes a habit.  We are intentionally trying to change the habits of students' thinking at Riverview.  Students are tracking their use of the learner power strategies.  Once a student and his/her teacher recognizes that the strategies are used daily, students earn a learner power pin.  Each month we are awarding more and more learner power pins.  Please ask your child what they are doing daily to make the learner powers a part of their learning.  

Together, we can help students realize that learning is to be valued and celebrated. 

Communication Options

Riverview School website

Riverview Facebook & Instagram

Riverview PTA

Please continue to check the website for additional information.

Upcoming Events

  • March 4th – 8th – Penny Wars
  • March 8th – Maturation Program
    • 6th grade @ 1:15 p.m.
    • 5th grade @ 2:00 p.m.
  • March 14th – SEP Conferences from 3:15-8:45 p.m.
  • March 15th – No School
  • March 18th – 22nd – Teacher Appreciation Week/Box Tops Competition
  • March 26th – Kindergarten Pictures
  • March 28th – Make Your Mark Assembly @ 9:00
  • March 29th – 4th grade keyboarding ends; 5th grade Bean Museum @ 10:30; 3rd term Good Citizen Reward

Mrs. Angie Killian

Principal, Riverview Elementary