Rain Is Falling All Around!

Rain is falling all around
On the housetops, on the ground.
Rain is falling on my nose
On my head, and hands, and toes!

I came into school today (Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday - Holiday) to get caught up on some work. While I was working away, the first wave of the rain storm dumped buckets of water on Victoria School. When I got ready to go home, I discovered Lake Victoria! In the short time it rained here, it flooded our parking lot - half way across the front sidewalk!

They say that this is just the beginning of rain. Be sure to wear your rain gear... including rubber boots if you have any!

REEF Grants Help Enrich Education

Congratulations to all the Victoria Riverside Educational Enrichment Fund (REEF) grant recipients! Victoria was awarded a total of nine grants totaling $6,424.

• Ms. Nelson – Miss Nelson Is NOT Missing! ($1500) This grant will fund admission for all Victoria students in K-3 to see a live production of the popular book, Miss Nelson is Missing! Students will learn what it means to be coureous audience members and enjoy live theatre.
• Kathy Railsback – I Speak. We Speak ($971) This grant will purchase interactive books, flannel board stories, picture cards, music and other hands-on material to help young English Learners and special education students develop phonemic awareness and language development skills
• Kathy Railsback - Write Away ($648) This grant will purchase Write-on/Wipe-off whiteboards to help Victoria's kindergarteners learn in all areas of the curriculum with a focus on reading and writing.
• Kendra Schwartz – Why Are They Measured in Inches? ($670)Violas are especially important to provide to students, as they generally cost more than violins and are an essential part of the string orchestra. Currently, Victoria School has two violas to loan. This grant will purchase two of the three violas needed for Victoria students.
• Kendra Schwartz - and Cello-The Big One! ($500) This grant will purchase one more cello to loan to students because of this partially funded grant request.
• Kathye Crumley – Sing to Learn: Musical Memory ($314) Young students in the Special Day Classes will learn a song each week that is linked to the curriculum objectives. Every month, the classes will recored a CD of the songs they have learned, with each student taking home a copy. In May, student will select 10 songs and make a music video to be shared at an assembly.
• Melissa Wilson - Instruments for Victoria ($500) Two trumpets will be available for loan to 5th and 6th grade students to participate in the band program at Victoria School becuase of this partially funded grant.
• Julianna Cruz – Going Native at Victoria ($821) This project will help transform part of the school into a native, water-wise garden. Fourth and fifth-grade studetns will measure the garden area, research the most water-wise native plants, buy the plants and design the garden demonstrating proper land management.
• Juliana Cruz - Victoria Green Team Makes a Difference ($500) Inspired by an Earthwatch expedition, this project will teach students to reduce waste and conserve resources by having them collect green waste at lunch time for a compost to be used in the school's garden and orchard.

A HUGE thank you to REEF for their part of making timelong memories for children in our Riverside schools!

To find out more about REEF and how you can contribute, http://www.riversideschoolsrule.org/