Riverwood's Top 5

• Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard
• Read a mystery story together
• Cook or bake a fall recipe as a family
• Take a walk to notice signs of fall
• Write thank-you notes for teachers, coaches, or neighbors

At Riverwood, we are proud of our incredible teachers! If you’d like to recognize a teacher who has gone above and beyond, please share your shout-out in this Google Form. Your message will be shared with the teacher and may be highlighted in school communications.

As we recognize that not all children are comfortable celebrating Halloween, costumes are completely optional. Your child can wear PJ’s if they’d like or their Riverwood spirit wear! However, if your child would like to wear a costume, we do have rules that must be followed:

• Costumes must be worn over clothes. We will not be permitting students to change in or out of costumes at school. They are welcome to come to school in costume but they must be able to practically participate in all school-day activities including P.E.

• Costumes may not be demeaning to any ethnic group, race, religion, nationality, disabilities, gender (boys as girls and vice versa), or individual (staff or student) at the school.

• Costumes may not cause a disruption or distraction to the school program

• No weapons, toy weapons, or props replicating weapons ( light sabers, ray guns, squirt guns) are to be brought to school.

• No costumes that completely hide the identity of the student, i.e. Hazmat suit, gorilla suit, “Scream” character.

• Costumes may not be scary. We are a K-5 building and want to be sure all students feel safe.

Please look for communication from your child’s teacher about specific times and classroom details about Halloween.

At Riverwood, we utilize Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to encourage safety, responsibility, and respect. Students earn Rocky Cash for positive choices and can spend it at the Rocky Store on Fridays from 9:10–9:45 am.

Support PBIS at home by discussing daily displays of safety, responsibility, and respect with your child. Celebrate their positive choices with the Rocky Cash they earn!

We invite parents to volunteer at the Rocky Store or donate items via the linked Google Form. This month’s SEL theme is Friendship and Community, and we are grateful for our wonderful Riverwood families! For questions, contact Mrs. Sterbenz at ksterbenz@d15.org.

This month in Balanced Wellness our focus is Daily Wellness Habits. A calendar went home with your Rascal, but here is a digital copy. Please send it back at the end of the month for a Wellness Reward!

Thank you for your support and being such an important part of our Balanced Wellness program!

Check out the new Specials Newsletter for important information.

Specials Spectator

For the drop-off and pick-up process, there will only be one way to line up in the car queue.

Vehicles should arrive from the south on Glenbrook. Traffic will then turn right onto Driftwood, where cars will be directed to the area where cars will pick up or drop off children. After dropping off or picking up, cars must exit directly straight on Winding Creek onto Crystal Lake Rd. There will be no turning left onto Driftwood from the school. Please reference the map included for traffic flow.

Help decorate the Learning Media Center! Pick one of your favorite book characters and a pumpkin the size of a basketball or smaller. Then decorate the pumpkin to look like your favorite character. If you are in need of inspiration, do a Google search for “pumpkin book characters.” All pumpkins will be disposed of November 1st unless you send a note along with your pumpkin indicating you would like it sent home on October 31st.

¡Ayuda a decorar el Centro Tecnología de Aprendizaje! Elige uno de tus personajes de libros favoritos y una calabaza del tamaño de una pelota de baloncesto o más pequeña. Luego decora la calabaza para que parezca tu personaje favorito. Si necesita inspiración, busque en Google "personajes de libros de calabazas". Todas las calabazas se eliminarán el 1 de noviembre a menos que envíe una nota junto con su calabaza indicando que desea que se envíe a casa el 31 de octubre.

As the temperatures change, please help your child come prepared for outdoor recess and arrival/dismissal by dressing in layers and wearing jackets, hats, or gloves as needed.

Mark Personal Items: Please write your child’s name on coats, hats, water bottles, and lunchboxes. This makes it much easier to return lost items.

Check Out Our Lost & Found: We already have quite a collection of items! Our first official donation will be Tuesday, November 25th after Parent Teacher Conferences around 2:00 PM.

Thank you for helping us keep students warm, safe, and reunited with their belongings!

OCTOBER

Wed, Oct 8th: Pack 214 Scouting America School Visit

(11:00-2:00 PM)

Fri, Oct 10th: NO SCHOOL (Students Only) Teacher Institute Day

Mon, Oct 13th: NO SCHOOL - Non-Attendance Day

Thu, Oct 16th: Riverwood Trunk or Treat (5:30-7:00 PM) on the blacktop

Mon, Oct 20th: School Safety Assembly

Kinder-1st & 5th Grade (9:30-10:10 AM),

2nd-4th Grade (10:20-11:00 AM)

Tue, Oct 21st: PTO Culver's Night Fundraiser (more details to come)

Wed, Oct 22nd: 5th Grade Music Concert (6:30-7:30 PM)

Mon, Oct 27th-Fri, Oct 31st: Haunted Gym

Mon, Oct 27th-Fri, Oct 31st: Red Ribbon Week

Fri, Oct 31st: Early Release (2:10 PM)

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS🏁

OCTOBER

Tue, Oct 7th: 5th Grade Exploring Ecosystems (9:10-2:00 PM) (Carbine, Biddle & Tovar)

Wed, Oct 8th: 5th Grade Exploring Ecosystems (9:10-2:00 PM) (Gregory & Cieslak)

Thu, Oct 9th: 1st Grade Cody's Apple Farm (9:30-1:45 PM)

Tue, Oct 15th: 4th Grade Pioneer Life Experience @ Glacier Park (9:30-1:50 PM) (DeBlok & Vidal)

Wed, Oct 16th: 4th Grade Pioneer Life Experience @ Glacier Park (9:30-1:50 PM) (Erber & Pawlak)

Thu, Oct 17th: 4th Grade Pioneer Life Experience @ Glacier Park (9:30-1:50 PM) (Darlage & Mesnard)

Fri, Oct 24th: 2nd Grade Richardson's Farm (9:20-1:30 PM)

Tue, Oct 28th: 4th Grade Chicago Wolves Game (9:00-2:00 PM)

Don't forget to come!

Please refer to the District 15 Parent/Student Handbook to find many answers to questions you may have that pertain to all D15 schools available in English and Spanish.

Website: https://www.d15.org/Domain/14
Location: 300 South Driftwood Trail, McHenry, IL, USA
Phone: 779-244-1400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057063505521

Twitter: @RW_Rascals