October 24, 2023
Greetings from the Avery County School System!
Our first grading period has quickly passed. All staff and students are working very hard to address academic priorities throughout each school and grade level. Last year’s student performance data has been released and is now available through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction at the following link, Accountability Data Sets and Reports. As a result of the intense focus on reading and math, we continue to see significant academic gains at the elementary level and have a lot to celebrate. We also have several opportunities for growth throughout Avery County Schools. In addition to academic growth, attendance has been improving across all grade levels and will continue to be among our top priorities this year. Thank you to all parents, guardians, and students for recognizing the importance of being in school and arriving on time each day.
In addition to academics, safety is a top priority for Avery County Schools. Our fleet of buses are traveling throughout Avery County each school day transporting our students. Vehicles must stop in both directions on all Avery County roadways for stopped school buses when red flashing lights are on and stop arms extended. Compared to this time last year, we are experiencing an increase in the number of vehicles running through stopped school buses, endangering the lives of our children. Buses are on our highways each morning between the hours of 6:00am to 8:00am and 2:30pm to 5:00pm. Motorist are reminded to be on the highest level of alert to avoid running stopped school buses and the possibility of seriously or fatally injuring a child as they are boarding or exiting a school bus.
As fall has quickly arrived so has cold temperatures. We have transitioned all schools and other buildings from air conditioning to heat. Fall is also a reminder that snow will soon return to our area. Along with our winter season, comes the frequent decision to close or modify our school schedules, including delayed starts or early releases. Decisions to cancel school or expedite a delayed start will continue to be made at the earliest time possible to allow parents and guardians adequate time to plan for childcare or to make other arrangements on snow days. Our current academic calendar has additional time built in for inclement weather without the need to make up days of instruction. However, if we exhaust all “banked” hours with extended snow days and cancellations, we will have to revisit our calendar and all available options, including make-up days.
This is a very exciting time of year with the holidays quickly approaching and the first semester halfway complete. Thanksgiving will be here in a few weeks providing each of us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our numerous blessings. We all have a lot to be thankful for, especially our health, family and this great county we call home. The Avery County School System is very thankful for our strong partnerships between our schools and families as we strive to make this the best school year ever in Avery County!
Parent Teacher Conferences are tomorrow from 10-6.
THANK YOU to all who came out and supported our Fall Festival last Friday!
Please send in Woolly Worms on Friday.
Next week we will have our 4-H club meeting on Monday, October 23rd from 2:30-4:00 and Y.E.S. club will meet on Thursday, October 26th from 2:30-4:15.
Fall Festival 10/13 from 5-7.
To shop at our FanCloth Shop https://fancloth.shop/MFFYE.
Please wear pink tomorrow to help raise awareness Breast Cancer Awareness.
Hat Day $1 donation.
No School Thurs., Oct. 19th for Parent Teacher Conferences.
Woolly Worm races Fri., Oct, 20th during PE.
Fall Festival at Riverside Elementary - Avery County on Friday, October 13th. The admission is FREE for everyone! We will have Smoked BBQ (to-go plates available for $10) and Hot Dogs along with funnel cakes, sno-cones, cotton candy, and much more! We will have live music by JAM, inflatables for all to enjoy, a train, small games, face painting, Bingo, and A LOT of items for raffle. Some of the Raffle Items include: Xpedition Viking Crossbow X430, 40+ gift certificates and services, grade level themed baskets, and much more. You do not have to be present to win! Come out and join us next Friday for a great evening of live music and fun!
Coding Club after school on Thursday, October 5th until 4:00.
Y.E.S. club on Thursday, October 12th until 4:15.
Friday, October 13th Fall Festival from 5-7.
XPEDITION ARCHERY-VIKING X430 Crossbow raffle- tickets available at RES.
FanCloth Shop is open please visit the website https://fancloth.shop/MFFYE.
Please join us on Friday, October 13th from 5:00-7:00.
Mon., Oct. 2nd is the last day to send in change for Erin Carver
Mon., Oct. 2nd we'll have our Fall Pictures. Pay cash or go online at strawbridge.net school code- FM420834
Last day for Raffle Baskets items is Mon.
Fri., Oct. 13th Fall Festival from 5-7
Raffle: XPEDITION ARCHERY-VIKING X430 Crossbow
Please send in loose change until Oct. 2nd for Erin Carver
4-H Club Mond., Sept. 25 @ 4:00.
Please send in items for grade level baskets:
PK- Camping
K- Baking
1- Snow Fun
2- Christmas Wrapping
3- Fall Decor
4- Friday Night Football
5- Pumpkin Carving
Fall Pictures on Oct. 2
Oct. 13- Fall Festival from 5-7
Good Afternoon! Reminders for this week:
Sept. 18- Oct. 2nd please send in loose change to raise money for Erin Carver
Spirit Week (September 18-22) Wed.- Camo Thurs.- Tie Dye Fri.- RES/AHS Spirit October 13th is our Fall Festival is from 5-7
Early Dismissal at 12:00 on Sept. 22
Please send in items for raffle baskets
Good Afternoon!
Reminders for this week:
Sept. 18- Oct. 2nd please send in loose change to raise money for Erin Carver.
Spirit Week (September 18-22)
Mon.- PJ's
Tues.- Tacky
Wed.- Camo
Thurs.- Tie Dye
Fri.- RES/AHS School Spirit
October 13th is our Fall Festival is from 5-7.
Early Dismissal at 12:00 on Sept. 22.
Open House!!!
Mark Your Calendars!
We will have a Hat Day this Friday!
Muffins with Moms on Monday, April 24th
Raffle Basket
Our next PTO meeting will be next Tuesday, April 25th at 5:30! Please mark your calendars!!!
Updated Calendar
Congratulations to our February Terrific Kids
Pre-K - Caspen Cook & Lennox Vance
Kinder - Harper Bell
1st - Shyla McKinney
2nd - Alex McClellan
3rd - Logan Hensley
4th - Tessa Ingram
5th - Ayden Hicks
Good Evening Riverside families, this is Ms. Baird. I hope that you have had a wonderful week! I wanted to send a quick message before your weekend about Spring Pictures next week.
Spring Pictures will be on Thursday, April the 6th. Students will ONLY have their pictures made IF you choose to purchase pictures ahead of time. Flyers were sent home with your child today. You can either purchase pictures by going online to strawbridge.net and typing in our school code which is Capital FM409014 or you can send back the paper order form with your money. This must be sent in prior to pictures being taken on Thursday for your child to receive their Spring Pictures. If you have any questions please feel free to call the front office.
Thank you and I hope you and your family have a blessed weekend!