PARENT ENGAGEMENT
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The aim and commitment of Riverwood Community School (RCS) is to provide an actively engaging and meaningful education for children which rests upon a strongly shared partnership between home and school.
In selecting our school for your child, you have chosen to become a contributing member to a community dedicated to realizing this purpose. We are delighted you are here! The educational experience you want for your child is only possible if we are all working together toward shared goals. The following information summarizes the three basic kinds of engagement we anticipate and depend upon from parents. You can download this information if you'd like, but RCS staff will also give you the latest copy and go over each topic with you. |
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1. Supporting your child’s education
The first area of engagement assures your child’s educational process. It includes your ongoing commitment to be involved and attentive to your child’s day-to-day experience and to support the classroom community created by the teacher and teacher assistants. The information you need will come through your child’s teacher, weekly information bulletins, newsletters, email communications and whiteboard and class postings. Specific expectations include:
2. Contributing time and talents to the school community
The second area of engagement is the contribution of your time and unique talents to the school community. RCS festivals, classrooms, gardens, play yard, building and commitment to sustainability make for a vibrant community that draws people in. These things can only be maintained if everyone takes responsibility for supporting what benefits us all.
3. Providing financial support
The third area of engagement is financial. In brief, the funds we receive come only from tuition, supply and enrollment fees, fundraising, gifts and donations. RCS is a 501c3 non-profit organization and the program does not receive state or federal funding. All program costs which include rent and utilities, teacher pay, teacher assistant pay, specialty teachers’ pay, trainings, food, class supplies and toys, textbooks, clerical supplies, office equipment, cleaning and event supplies, bathroom and kitchen supplies, play yard equipment, furniture, facility upgrades, printing and copying costs and garden supplies come from this fund pool. Rent of the facility includes the summer months when classes are not in session. To thrive and grow, we rely on the resources, gifts and connections of our parent body, extended families and community at large.
The first area of engagement assures your child’s educational process. It includes your ongoing commitment to be involved and attentive to your child’s day-to-day experience and to support the classroom community created by the teacher and teacher assistants. The information you need will come through your child’s teacher, weekly information bulletins, newsletters, email communications and whiteboard and class postings. Specific expectations include:
- Assure your child(ren) has good attendance. The Washington State Board of Education has approved RCS to a school day calendar of 165 days, rather than the standard of 180 days. Parents of grades’ students have the responsibility to ensure their child(ren) attend for the full time that school is in session to comply with state attendance requirements. Students may be excused for medical and dental appointments during school hours. A written excuse must be provided for all absences. Absences for reasons other than illness will require a teachers’ pre-approval, and any make-up work must be completed. Please refer to RCW 28A.
- Assure that your child(ren) arrives on time. The holistic nature of the curriculum means that a late arrival causes a student to lose the benefit of what was missed, and it also disrupts the learning process for the entire class. If your grades’ student arrives after 8:00 a.m., he/she must wait in the hall until 8:10 a.m. accompanied by you. Morning verse time cannot be interrupted.
- Attend Parent Orientations. See school year calendar for dates and times. These orientations are essential! Do not miss them.
- Attend all student/parent/teacher conferences. These generally occur twice a year, but the teacher may contact you to schedule an additional conference.
- Attend all Parent Enrichment Seminars. Take advantage of these opportunities to grow in your understanding of the needs of the developing child and how the RCS program meets these needs through the implementation of Waldorf education models and methods. Often guest speakers and special activities are planned to place classroom work in context for parents. Much planning, effort and thoughtful consideration are given to create these opportunities for you.
- Attend all Festivals. Festivals are designed to bring our school community together as well as extended family, friends, and supporters. The students prepare for several months in advance of each festival, and it is their time to share what they have been learning in school. The play that is performed in the spring involves all of the grades’ students and the older Chickadees. It is also a time for fellowship and conversation. Please mark these special dates on your personal calendar.
- Participate in Remote Learning Days. Remote Learning Days for grades’ students are scheduled throughout the year on Mondays. It is necessary that your child participate in all of them to meet the state school attendance requirements. Remote Learning days will usually take place in your home. It is an opportunity for you to share in school activities with your child, other parents and class teachers and teacher assistants. It is an occasion to build strong bonds, shared experiences and explore the world that surrounds us. Your involvement and participation affirms your support of the school’s mission and helps teachers provide a meaningful experience.
- Respond to requests for classroom support from your child’s teacher. Examples include driving for fieldtrips and participating in Remote Learning Days, making food for school functions and festivals and helping with fundraising activities. It is vital for the health of the school community that these responsibilities are shared by all and do not fall to a handful of families or teachers.
- Observe the grades’ classes in session. As a Chickadee parent, you have the opportunity to witness Waldorf education beyond early childhood by visiting the grades’ classrooms. When you see the students’ joy of learning, their creative thinking, and our rigorous curriculum in action, you will see how the academic foundation your child(ren) is building in the Chickadee class is preparing him/her for future success in learning. Plan to visit the classrooms at least three times during the school year for a minimum of one hour (8:00 – 9:00 a.m.) after drop-off. You are welcome to stay longer or visit more often. Confirm your intentions with a class teacher one day prior to your visit.
2. Contributing time and talents to the school community
The second area of engagement is the contribution of your time and unique talents to the school community. RCS festivals, classrooms, gardens, play yard, building and commitment to sustainability make for a vibrant community that draws people in. These things can only be maintained if everyone takes responsibility for supporting what benefits us all.
- Share your time and unique talents. There are many areas in which to contribute, so you should have no difficulty meeting an important time commitment each year with something that works with your schedule and interests. Some of our needs include website, marketing, Facebook and social media management, Parent Coordinator, Courtyard/Entrance/Play Yard Maintenance Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, Event Coordinator, Grant Researcher, writers of articles for newsletters, gardeners, handymen, carpenters and more.
- Facilities Cleaning and Maintenance. It is crucial that families provide essential support in the daily cleaning and maintenance of the school building. The school does not have a janitor on staff. The School Cleaning Coordinator will work with you to develop a plan for how you can help in the way that works best for your family.
3. Providing financial support
The third area of engagement is financial. In brief, the funds we receive come only from tuition, supply and enrollment fees, fundraising, gifts and donations. RCS is a 501c3 non-profit organization and the program does not receive state or federal funding. All program costs which include rent and utilities, teacher pay, teacher assistant pay, specialty teachers’ pay, trainings, food, class supplies and toys, textbooks, clerical supplies, office equipment, cleaning and event supplies, bathroom and kitchen supplies, play yard equipment, furniture, facility upgrades, printing and copying costs and garden supplies come from this fund pool. Rent of the facility includes the summer months when classes are not in session. To thrive and grow, we rely on the resources, gifts and connections of our parent body, extended families and community at large.
- Pay tuition on time. Funds generated by fundraising cannot be allocated for teacher pay. Our teaching staff is wholeheartedly committed to the program, Waldorf education, the micro and macro community and the life of your child. The pay we are able to offer teachers does not include benefits and is far below that of teachers in the public school system, Charter schools or parochial schools which are financially supplemented by governing agencies. The dedication and commitment of RCS teachers, teacher assistants and specialty teachers is inspired by ideals far greater than monetary gains. RCS teachers, specialty teachers, teacher assistants and specialty teachers are deeply committed to implementing well-planned and thoughtful lessons, learning opportunities, and quality experiences for your student(s) in the classroom. Many hours are spent to meet these objectives. Teachers have invested their personal time (and sometimes funds for fees, travel expenses, accommodations and meals) for trainings and educational experiences to provide a very high quality program. Each bring unique and varied experiences, certifications, endorsements, trainings and talents in many fields to benefit the RCS program and community at large. We are truly blessed to have such outstanding and committed persons invested in our program.
- Pay fees on time. The annual supply fee covers the consumable items that are used for instruction each year. Failing to pay or not paying in a timely manner compromises the school’s ability to meet the day-to-day needs of teachers and students. Enrollment fees cover staff time to process paperwork, clerical tasks and assure that the program is in compliance with not-for profit business practices. Fees and fundraising dollars also help to pay for application fees, subscriptions, licensing and permit costs.
- Support RCS through utilizing the following programs and opportunities. Our base of financial support needs to grow in order to accomplish all that the world is asking of us! We need all who feel a responsibility to society and the school to join in making an extraordinary effort to carry us forward to where our program and development can more fully support our shared vision and intention. You can help by:
- Using Amazon Smile and encouraging others to use for online purchases
- Saving Box Tops and encouraging others to do so
- Asking that bequest contributions be made on behalf of the RCS program
- Participating in all fundraisers
- Purchasing crafts and items made by students/teachers/parents to raise funds
- Participate in and support guest speaker engagements sponsored by RCS
- Donate pre-approved bulk foods and supplies (all donations are tax-deductible)
- Purchase class photos and student school pictures
- Support local businesses that contribute services or funds to RCS
All contributions are tax-deductible. Your gift is a powerful affirmation of the school’s mission and vision. Every milestone in the RCS growth has been made possible in part by financial gifts from the parent community.
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Note: RCS is not a childcare program. The program is an educational journey that begins at age three and continues to the eighth grade. The program offers a unique opportunity to educate heart, head and hands, educating the whole child. We seek to preserve the innocence of childhood; encourage creativity, imagination and healthy habits; and to inspire active lifelong learning. In our school, which is inspired by Waldorf education, there is no pressure to reduce children to test scores or behaviors. The early childhood years are free from formal academics and instead focus on the development of foundational skills students must master to be successful in school and most importantly, beyond. The curriculum for grades 1-8 can be represented by an ascending spiral of integrated learning which is built upon year by year. RCS is a Washington State approved private school and non-profit organization (501c3) working to grow an early childhood through 8th grade accredited Waldorf School to serve our local community. We are a developing member of WECAN (Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America) and welcome your participation in an extraordinary and meaningful experience.
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