Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year!At Riverton Elementary, we continue to improve the academic achievement and social skills development of ALL students. We will continue the structures that have assisted our progress over the last six years. These structures include:

Grade-level/specialist collaboration

Development of action plans to improve teaching effectiveness and student learning

Partnership with C-Port Credit Union, Riverton Community Partnership, Learning Works, St. Joseph’s College, Boys and Girls Club, Foster Grandparent Program through Opportunity Alliance

Professional development in Reader’s/Writer’s Workshop,Everyday Math and Second Step

Targeted Title One interventions for students who have not met proficiency

Enrichment activities through Portland Ovations, The Telling Room. Side x Side

The BEST Parent-Teacher Organization!!!

As we begin this year, please get involved with our Parent Teacher Organization. They have brought many enrichment activities (swimming, gardening, field trips) to our school. The PTO Board outside of our office displays some of the exciting events they have been held for our students, staff and community. They need your support in planning and volunteering at our many school activities (Back to School BBQ, Picture Day, Vision and Hearing Screenings, Book Fair, International Potluck, School Dance, Talent Show, Boxtops Collection, Fundraisers, Staff Appreciation Luncheon and Grade 5 trip to Boston).

As we start another “new” year, let us continue to work together (parents, community members, students and staff) in creating another positive and successful school year.

“YES, WE CAN” !!!!!!!!

Jeanne K. Malia

Proud Principal of Riverton School

Staff List

Riverton School 2016-2017

PrincipalJeanne Malia,

504 Coordinator

Title 1X Coordinator

Assistant PrincipalDavid Turner,

POSITIONSTAFF MEMBER______ROOM_

PRE -KJennifer Seed 110

Ed Tech Tracy O’Brien

Christine Wirth109

Ed Tech Bakhita Saabino

GRADE KJessica Kalloch401

Jillian Nealey*402

Nancy Burke 403

Carol Gallagher404

Ed TechSandy Capriola400

GRADE 1Laura Pons 101

Laura Nichols102

Student intern Sarah Ringer102

Meghan Rivis 103

Chelsea Leadbetter*104

GRADE 2Marydee Stinson 301

Student internKaitlin Flanders 301

Janet Harrison302

Taryn Southard * 303

Ginger Lyons 304

GRADE 3Cindy Soule501

Student InternJessica Blanchard501

Kate Cestaro502

Caitlin Malloy504

Meredith Doyle 801

GRADE 4Nicole Casasa-Blouin601

Celeste Biron-Libby602

Heather Lyle604

Student InternMegan Smith604

GRADE 5William Webb201

Teddy Valencia202

Judy Harris 203

Bridge Gr K-2 LEVEL Betsy Liller 701

Ed Techs Michelle Blanchard

Leslie Downes

Barbara Frost

Nicole Hutchinson

Samantha Richard

Anoff Cobblah

BridgeGr 3-5 LEVEL Liane Hamann702 Ed Techs Joe Dennis

Dee Tutino

Bonnie Tauwala

Terry Therrien

Ken Paulo

K-1 RESOURCE Kayla Segal 603

Ed Techs Michelle Chambers

Moira Leighton

Sandra Muehle

Bridget Tidd

2-3 RESOURCE Cynthia Johnson108

Ed Techs Laurie Korthy800

TBA 108

4-5 RESOURCE Kate Fisher 803

Ed Techs TBA 800

Stephanie Yarmaloff 800

Psych Examiner Brooke Dunphy 200

Speech & LanguageDeborah Davidson106

Emily Jackson107

Amy Putnam709

Occupational Therapy

Molly Northway204

Meg Long 204

Physical TherapyHilary Terhune 204

Kristen Burns 204

Special Education Team LeaderJoAnn Smith200

Literacy Coach (.5)Kim Elliott 07

Reading InterventionJennifer Rogers111

Reading InterventionMaureen Lovejoy503

Ed TechsSatomi Beaumier600

Robert Haley-Babson300

ELL Kris Reburn (K, newcomers) 100

ELLKim Elliott (.5) (1) 07

ELLSuzanne Chevalier (2) 112

ELLTBD (.5) (3) 708

ELLStacey O’Donoghue (4-5)500

Ed TechsSimone Bodlovick600

Moui Nguyen300

Ibrahim Hassan707

SpanishOwen Murphy805

K-2 Math Coach/InterventionistNancy Sirois502

3-5 Math Coach/InterventionistAlex Lawrence502

Chapter 104Kathleen Ball* LLC

ArtChad Hart804

Student InternPeter McFarland804

MusicBridget Kazukiewicz 28

Physical EducationBill RoakGym

NurseNancy DiPretoro

Social WorkerAmanda Atkinson-Lewis 08

Sophie Ranta(2 days) 12

Social Work Intern Courtney Leeman 12

Technology Integrator (10 hours) Laura Girr 11

Librarian Elle Ivy

Ed Tech Susan Doane 707

Community CoordinatorKathy Cole805

Secretaries: Administrative:Roseanna Pratt

School Year:Gina MacVane

Custodians:Head:Pam Golder

Day:David Chick

Night:Annmarie Phanor, Martin Ianov

George Brooks

Food Service:Team Leader: JoAnn Sparks

Cafeteria Workers:Steve Jacobson

Foster Grandparents: Vera DelaneyJane NooneFran Seeley

Judy BaldinelliJyll Paulin Judy Minervino

Betty EmmonsStella Dalrymple

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AT RIVERTON SCHOOL & COMMUNITY CENTER

City of Portland

Riverton Recreation Programs - 874-8455

Dental Health – 541-6628

Swimming Pool - 874-8456

Portland Public Library797-2915

Health Affiliates of MaineMary Fitzpatrick 09

Learning WorksCaitlin Malloy & Meghan Rivis

2:30-5:00Site Coordinators

Monday-ThursdayCell # 615-6728

DAILY ROUTINES

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Portland Recreation Department offers before and after school care for students. For more information contact Portland Recreation at 874-8455.

START TIME

8:05 –ALL students (bus, walkers, bicyclists) begin arriving at school and go DIRECTLY to their classrooms. All students will start their day with breakfast. Students will be considered tardy after 8:20.

RECESS/LUNCH

11 - 1:30 StaggeredRecess and Lunch periods

DISMISSAL

2:50 – Staggered dismissal times will be in place to assist with an orderly dismissal. Announcements will be made over the loud speaker to facilitate the dismissal process. School staff will supervise students during the dismissal process. First bus students will be announced so they can be dismissed and seated on the bus by 3:00. If you are picking your child up you can anticipate they will be outside shortly after 2:55.

3:05 - ALL students not picked up will be escorted back to the office so that parents can be contacted.

The pick-up/drop off area for students is marked in yellow, in the LOWER PARKING LOT. This area allows for safer access for pick-up and drop off. The Portland Police Department has worked with us in the development of safe and orderly procedures. They conduct spot checks throughout the year to ensure that established procedures are being followed.

SAFETY FIRST!!!!

For the safety of our children and staff, please observe all traffic and parking rules. A speed limit of 15 miles per hour is in effect during school opening and dismissal times. Signs clearly mark bus zones and handicapped parking zones. Cars should approach all areas slowly and with caution. The movement of children on the school grounds and sidewalks can be unpredictable and adults are reminded to be alert at all times.

NO CARS ARE PERMITTED IN THE BUS CIRCLE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. PLEASE TAKE CARE NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE CROSS WALKS OR WHEELCHAIR RAMPS WITH YOUR CAR.

The Police Department would also like to remind us that parking is not allowed on either side of the main entrance road from Forest Avenue down to the crosswalk

The smaller automobile loop is reserved for short duration parking and handicapped parking. When parking, please respect the crosswalk and the spaces that are reserved for vehicles bearing "handicapped plates". Police will ticket violators.

Employees and long-term visitors are to park in the large lot below the building. Parking behind the school is not permitted; this is a fire lane. The access road next to the gym is for “Authorized Vehicles Only” and is NOT to be used.

Students who ride their bikes to school must lock up the bike at the rack located at the front of the building. ALL students must wear a helmet when riding their bikes to school. Students need to walk their bikes once they are on school property.

Students walking to school must use the sidewalks.

Your cooperation in observing these parking regulations is greatly appreciated and is in the best interest of all that use Riverton School facilities.

School Breakfast

It’s a fact: eating breakfast at school helps children learn. Studies show that children who eat breakfast at the start of their school day have higher math and reading scores. They have sharper memory and show faster speed on cognitive tests. They have broader vocabularies. They do better on standardized tests. They focus better and behave better.

Eating breakfast at school has health benefits too. Children are less likely to be absent. They’re less likely to see the school nurse and less likely to be overweight. They eat more fruit, drink more milk and consume a wider variety of foods (cereal, bagels, yogurt or fruit).

Offering breakfast in the classroom makes the morning meal accessible to all students. The breakfast program is FREE for ALL students. This serving model ensures that all students have the opportunity to start the day with the nutrients and energy they need to learn better, behave better, and perform better in school.

Students assist our custodial staff in the distribution of the breakfast to each classroom. It will be the responsibility of ALL children to clean their area, deposit their trash and wash their hands before instruction begins.

School breakfast and lunch menus are available on the Portland Public School web-site. Copies of the menus are also available in the office.

Adapted from: United States Department of Agriculture FNS Instruction 765-7 as of 8/88 , Child Nutrition Program Regulations Part 245.8

DAILY ATTENDANCE

School attendance is essential to a student’s achievement. Students who develop patterns of good attendance are much more likely to be successful both academically and socially. Our new Superintendent Xavier Botana wrote about the importance of consistent school attendance in his opening message available on the Portland Public Schools web-site. September is also School Attendance Month across the country. Students are expected to attend school every day unless they have an excused absence. Excused absences are defined by Maine State Law and the Portland School Board of Education as:

  • personal illness
  • an appointmentwith a health professional that must be made during school hours
  • observance of a religious holiday
  • a family emergency
  • a planned absence for a personal or educational purpose that has been approved in advance by the principal/assistant principal.
  • educational disruption as defined by Maine Law

Students absent from school any part of the day of an event (such as an evening concert) or activity (school dance) may not participate or attend without the approval of the principal or authorized designee.

Attendance is monitored closely by school staff. The office will call home when a student is absent.If an elementary student is absent for fifteen (15) days in a school year, they will be referred to the Response to Intervention (RTI) team. Students who are absent for more than 20 days will be considered for retention unless the administrators determines there are unusual circumstances such as a long-term absence due to a serious illness or accident.

SCHOOL NUTRITION AND LUNCH PROGRAM

All students, staff and parents are expected to follow the School Board Wellness Policy guidelines regarding food for events and classroom/school based activities.

Students will be provided with healthy snacks three days/week through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

A nutritious lunch is available daily to all students at no cost. Application forms are mailed home by Food Services. It is very important that the office receive all completed forms.

Lunches are served in rotating shifts from 11:00 – 1:30. Students are supervised at all times during the lunch periods. Line order assignments and seating charts help to maintain consistent and efficient routines.

Students are expected to follow our Riverton school rules during lunch and to follow our expectations “Be safe, Be responsible, Be cooperative, Be respectful.” This includes putting all waste and recyclables in the containers provided, leaving the tables and floor clean and taking turns wiping the tables and seats.

TRANSPORTATION (874-8240)

Bus transportation is provided for all kindergarten students who live more than a half-mile from school. Students in grades 1 through 5 must live one mile or more from school to be eligible for bus transportation. Special education students or students with medical issues who do not meet the distance requirement will be transported per documentation in their Individual Educational Programs (IEPs). .

Riding the bus is a privilege and not a right. Please review and reinforce safe and respectful school bus conduct with your child. Any student who does not follow the Transportation Department student bus conduct code will be disciplined and/or lose their privilege to ride the bus. If this happens, parents/guardians will be responsible for transporting the student to and from school for the duration of their bus removal.

Kindergarten students MUST be met at the bus stop by a parent or guardian in order to be allowed off the bus.

A bike rack in front of the school is available for students who ride their bike to school. Please provide your child with a bike lock.

Crossing guards are on duty from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and 2:50-3:30 pm at the light by the Fire Department.

SCHOOL SAFETY INFORMATION

BULLYING/HARASSMENT AND COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Bullying is any hurtful or aggressive act toward a person or group of people. Bullying behaviors include, but are not limited to: insults, threats, name-calling, put downs, spreading rumors, making fun of people, hitting, kicking, etc. These behaviors can also take place via Facebook or on other social media. Any member of the school community should report bullying without fear of retaliation for reporting. Bullying behavior is subject to consequences. The School Board has adopted a policy prohibiting bullying/harassment of students and a complaint procedure.

CELL PHONE/ELECTRONIC USE

Students are strongly discouraged from bringing electronic devices, such as cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, CD players, Game Boys, PlayStations, etc. to school. All personal electronic devices must be turned off and put away during the school day. Students are not allowed to use these devices during the school day (8:05-2:50). If students need to communicate with a parent, they should use the office phones. If the student violates this policy, the cell phone or electronic device will be confiscated and the parent will be notified. The parent or guardian will need to pick up the item from the principal/assistant principal. We are also not responsible for lost, stolen or damage to any items brought to school by the student. The best practice is to leave these items at home!

COMPUTER/INTERNET USE

The use of Portland Public School’s computer network and the internet is a privilege, not a right. The violation of School Board policies and/or school rules will result in the loss of computer/internet privileges and disciplinary action. Students are required to follow the policies and rules and have no expectations of privacy in the use of school computers, laptops or iPads.

Parents are held liable for any items posted on Facebook by a minor child.

CANCELLATIONS AND EMERGENCY DISMISSAL

If there is a significant snowstorm or other emergency, school may be cancelled or delayed. Announcements are made on local radio and television stations, including Channel 3 and the District robo-call system. School delays or cancellations are announced beginning at 6:00 A.M. Early school closings may require announcements during the school day. Information regarding school cancellations will be posted on Channel 3 and communicated through the District robo-call system.

CONTACT INFORMATION

It is critical that we have current emergency information for your child at all times. This student information form is in your Back to School packet. Parents should call and inform the school by 8:00 A.M. when their child will be late or absent. You may also email Gina MacVane at . Parents will be contacted by the school if the office has not heard from them. This procedure ensures that the child is actually at home and safe, with the full consent of his/her guardian.

It is very important that parents promptly return the Change of Information forms so that school staff are aware of your child’s medical information and know how to reach you during the school day. Individuals not listed on this form will not be permitted to pick up the student from school.Please let us know whenever you have a change in address, telephone number, and place of employment.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

The safety of our students and staff are our top priority. Many preventive and crisis response measures are in place to provide for the safety of our school community. School Board policy requires each school to have an emergency management plan in place that is specific and thorough. The plans follow guidelines established through a joint effort of the Portland School Department, the Portland Police Department and the Portland Fire Department. Each school is also required to conduct practice drills to make sure that staff are familiar with the crisis plan.

PERSONAL PROPERTY/LOST AND FOUND

The Portland Public Schools are not responsible for safeguarding students’ personal property, such as money, musical instruments, audio equipment, and clothing, jewelry, and collectibles. Students are discouraged from bringing items of value to school, if they are not needed during the school day. Please write your child’s name on all belongings. If your child loses something, check with the classroom teacher, main office and lost and found.

Please put your child’s name on his/her clothing, boots, lunch box, backpack, and other belongings so they can be returned if lost. Parents and students are encouraged to check the lost and found area to check for lost items. Periodically during the year, unclaimed items will be donated to charity

SAFETY DRILLS; FIRE AND LOCK DOWN

Fire drills are conducted 10 times a year in accordance with state law. Students are expected to follow their teacher’s directions and to leave the building in a calm and orderly way. Fire escape routes are posted in each room. Schools are also required to conduct a lock-down drill on an annual basis.

SCHOOL SECURITY

We take precautions to ensure the safety of students and staff throughout the school day.