Cross Rivendell Trail Summer Hiking Challenge for Student Hikers and Families

Hike the Cross Rivendell Trail this summer and record your hikes in individual 'Hiking Passports' (provided) using stamps found in boxes on the 13 featured trail segments of the 36-mile Cross Rivendell Trail. Please complete and return REGISTRATION FORMS and all SPONSOR FORMS by WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9th. For more information, please go the the CRT website.

Raptor Retail Apparel Sale

Raptor Retail is hard at work selecting/designing, purchasing, stocking, and pricing various Rivendell apparel items. We are very excited to be able to bring many requested items to the school store. For more information, please download our order form. 

Allen Avery Memorial Raptor Run

May 15, 2010 is a 5 mile run or walk around Lake Morey and/or a 1 mile Fun run. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Rivendell Interstate School District and the Community School Organization (CSO). The AAMRR takes place each May in memory of Allen Avery. Allen Avery was dedicated to educating the young people in our community. He worked effortlessly to develop our school district and sustain programs. He was generous with his time and resources and will be remembered and appreciated always. In the spirit of Allen Avery's generosity, we come together each May to celebrate and enjoy time with family, friends, and community. This year the CSO will
organize the event with support from Rivendell students.

Fees
$15.00 - Individual
$30.00 – Family
Includes entry fee and one t-shirt. Additional t-shirts can be purchased for only $5.00 more!
Donations above the entrance fee gladly accepted.
Parking is free!!!
Not interested in walking or running? We’re looking for volunteers to help with registration, parking, setup & cleanup.

Events for the whole family:

• 5 mile running race
• 5 mile walk
• 1 mile fun run
• Potluck Celebration
• Musical Entertainment

Register on line at the CSO website http://www.cso-rivendell.org/
For more information and to download the registration form, please click here.

Congratulations OM Teams

Congratulations to our High School Odyssey of the Mind Teams!! During the VT State competition on Saturday, March 6th, the Nature Trailer team took 1st place to qualify for the World Finals at Michigan State in May.

The Food Court team finished 2nd place overall. With 1st place for their Long term Problem solution and 1st place for their Style component. They’ve also qualified for World Finals.

Many thanks to the guidance of Mrs Reichert who has supported OM for the 31 years!!

Three-way conferencesTuesday March 9th

Three-way conferences provide an opportunity for the student, teacher and parent to come together as a team to support the student’s learning.  In preparation for the three-way conferences, students and teachers have been writing personal learning plans or PLP’s.  The personal learning plan helps the student be responsible for his or her own learning.  It is goal oriented and allows the student to think about what he or she is learning and to set goals around the learning.

Research shows that students learn better and more when they are involved in their own learning.  It helps students develop the vocabulary to talk about their achievement and learning and encourages student ownership of schoolwork and improves motivation.

Rivendell Community Science Celebration

at Montshire Museum of Science Thursday night, March 4, 5:30-7:30 pm

Montshire Museum, Dartmouth College, and Rivendell Interstate School District invite all Rivendell students in preschool through grade 8 and their families to an evening open house at the Museum to celebrate science! This special event will highlight the accomplishments of Rivendell students and their Dartmouth science mentors.

Students will present and share with their families samples of the science they did with their Dartmouth mentors. The Museum’s exhibit halls will also be open for this Rivendell Community science night.
We hope to see you there!

For more information, click here.

Raptor Retail Romance and Friendship Valentine's Sale

Raptor Retail, our school store, is taking orders for Valentine's flowers and ballons. Please click here for more information and to download an order form. 

Winter Program

The Winter Program for students in grades K-8 will begin on Thursday January 7. 2010. Skiers, snowboarders and skaters will be dismissed at 12:00, all other students will engage in their school-based activities beginning at 12:30 pm. On winter program Thursdays students in grades K-8~will be dismissed at the regular dismissal time, preschool and students in grades 9-12 will be dismissed at 12:30.

Thank you to the CSO for planning the skiing, snowboarding and skating components. Our SEAs and classroom assistants have been planning a variety of school-based activities which will include: arts and crafts, games, cooking, gym games, book club, computer, and outside activities.

Rivendell Awarded Candidacy for NEASC Accreditation through 2012

The Board of Trustees of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges approved the recommendation that Rivendell Academy be awarded Candidacy for Accreditation through 2012. To read the letter from NEASC please click here.

Raptor Retail Holiday Sale

Rivendell Spanish Students write teach each other by writing letters back and forth to Rutland High School Spanish Students

Natalie White, an honors Spanish teacher, at Rivendell Academy High School in Orford, N.H., and her Mom, also a Spanish teacher at Rutland High School have students teach each other by writing letters back and forth, sharing their personal stories. Read more.

Rivendell Lego Robotics

Our Lego Robotics team (ROBO RAMS) took second place in design at the Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering tournament held on Saturday, November 14th. The sixth graders presented a skit of their problem and gave three public demonstrations of their robot.

Eighteen areas schools joined Rivendell on Saturday to demonstrate how they used creative problem solving over the past eight weeks to solve a Smart Move challenge. This year's challenge, Smart Move, “calls for teams to research and present robotics technology solutions for transportation. The competition is judged in four areas: research and presentation, robot performance, technical robot design, and teamwork.” During this past Thursday’s assembly the Lego League team had a chance to present their work to the student body. Students were impressed and fascinated especially with the computer programming and integrated technology including the “eyes” on the robot.

Rivendell Raptors Special Olympic

Rivendell Raptors Special Olympic Team competed in the NH State Fall Games on Sunday, November 01, 2009.  Eight Rivendell Raptors bowled against athletes from the Upper Valley Region at Upper Valley Fun and Games in White River Junction, VT.  The Raptors demonstrated tremendous sportsmanship and skill, taking home 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze and 2 placed ribbons.  One young athlete looked at the ribbon around his neck and exclaimed, “I’m going to keep this my WHOLE life!”  The Raptors look forward to the winter games with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and cross country events.  For more information contact Tracy Martel, Program Coordinator at SME or Laurie Melanson, coach at Rivendell Academy.
 

2010 Raptor Yearbook

Reserve your copy of the 2010 all-color Raptor Yearbook. The price is $35.00 until October 15th, and then the price will increase to $40.00. Visit www.JostensYearbooks.com to purchase with a credit card. You may also turn order forms in to Ms. Frandsen. Paper order forms are available in the Middle School Office. Please make checks payable to the Rivendell Academy Yearbook.  

Rivendell Special Olympics

The Rivendell Raptors Special Olympics team had a strong presence at Saturday's Upper Valley Regional Bowling Games. We had 10 athletes from grades 2-post grads competing. The athletes earned first through 4th place ribbons in their divisions. The officials noted our team had exceptional teamwork and team spirit! Go Raptors - we are eligible for the Fall State Games on October 31. We will be doing some fundraising to support all the events we'd like to enter this year - stay tuned and thank you for your support!  

Clothesline for Peace at Rivendell Academy

Students, teachers and community members added flags to the "Clothesline for Peace."Students were asked to write a word or two or three... about something  "they hope for." The clothesline can be seen from the road, the mountains and the sky and will remain there for the month of September.   

RIVENDELL STUDENT TRAIL CREW BATTLES MUD WHILE
REPAIRING HIKING TRAIL ON MOUNT CUBE

A twelve-member youth crew receives state funding for erosion control

Orford, NH –The Rivendell Interstate School District (RISD) received $13,000 in project funding from the NH Recreation Trails Program to control erosion on one of the most popular hiking trails in the Upper Valley.  In partnership with the Rivendell Trails Association (RTA), a non-profit organization which maintains the Cross Rivendell Trail (CRT), Rivendell District has hired a youth crew to work on the CRT on Mount Cube (elev. 2,864’).  Over the next two weeks, twelve young adults will be working through mud and rain to control erosion on the upper reaches of Mount Cube.

Trail erosion control is accomplished in several ways.  Most of the work that the youth crew will be undertaking involves moving and placing large rocks in the trail to serve as stepping stones, stairs, and drainage ditches.  The work is difficult, requires specialized tools and constant communication.  Moving large 150 pound rocks and setting them into the trail can take several people a couple of hours to accomplish.  Sometimes, a carefully excavated rock can slip out of control and roll downhill—away from the trail, wasting hours of work.  Yet the work is extremely gratifying.  At the end of a long day, the crew’s work is clearly visible—stepping stones and stone stairs provide a hardened surface through pools of mud and arrest the erosion of soil.  “At the beginning of the day, you think you’ll never get the work done; I thought it would take 2-3 days to get a couple of really big stairs in, but at the end of the day, we were done and it was rewarding to see what we accomplished,” remarked Travis Streeter, an assistant leader and student at Rivendell. 

Mount Cube features an open, rocky summit and a spectacular view.  Hikers can enjoy views of Vermont’s Green Mountains to the west, New Hampshire’s White Mountain range to the east, and the Monadnocks to the south.  As more and more hikers climb Mount Cube, the trail’s restoration is imperative for minimizing the erosion caused by heavy hiker traffic and for providing a high-quality recreational experience.  “It’s a very popular hiking trail primarily used by camp and school groups in the summer and fall and snowshoers in the winter,” said David Hooke, chair of the RTA.  “But the trail is very wet in sections, despite the several switchbacks that we installed in 2002,” Hooke continued.   It will take the trail crew two weeks to address the erosion issues on the upper half of the trail.

The NH Recreation Trails Program is the New Hampshire’s largest funding source for both motorized and non-motorized trails.  In 2009, the Program awarded $900,000 for trails construction and maintenance.  Funding is contingent upon a 20% match by the grant recipients.  RTA volunteers will be donating 193 hours of volunteer labor on the Mount Cube segment of the Cross Rivendell Trail.  “Volunteers will be an integral component of this year’s restoration efforts,” Val Stori, Trail Crew Supervisor, says.  A majority of this work will be completed by Camp Moosilauke whose campers enjoy clearing brush and cutting blowdowns on the trail each year.  Additionally, volunteers will be hauling hemlock lumber to the crew’s work site to be used for bog bridging.

The Mount Cube trailhead is on Baker Farm Road in Orford.  A map and guidebook to the entire Cross Rivendell Trail is available at local bookstores and on the RTA website.  If you would like to participate in the maintenance of the Trail or to learn more about its work, please visit the RTA on the web at www.crossrivendelltrail.org.

The Cross Rivendell Trail is maintained by the RTA. This local non-profit association was initially formed by the Rivendell District and is dedicated to trail maintenance, community integration and involvement and place-based education.  RTA members include students, Rivendell faculty, community members and the general public.

The Rivendell Interstate School District provides an integrated school program, encompassing four towns in Vermont and New Hampshire.  RISD promotes the intellectual, social and personal development of its students and strives to foster their growth as life-long learners, positive contributors to their communities, and become productive, healthy adults.

District Music Festival

Students from all Rivendell Schools joined together for the Distric Music festival on June 4th. 

Rivendell Green Week Project

Second Annual Allen Avery Memorial Raptor Run

Allen Avery Memorial Raptor Run May 16, 2009 is a 5 mile run or walk around Lake Morey and/or a 1 mile Fun run. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Rivendell Interstate School District and the Community School Organization (CSO). The AAMRR takes place each May in memory of Allen Avery. Allen Avery was dedicated to educating the young people in our community. He worked effortlessly to develop our school district and sustain programs. He was generous with his time and resources and will be remembered and appreciated always. In the spirit of Allen Avery's generosity, we come together each May to celebrate and enjoy time with family, friends, and community.

The sun was shining on Rivendell today as the Second Annual Allen Avery Memorial Raptor Run took place at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee, Vermont.  It was so great to see the families from our four towns gather to enjoy in some healthy, family fun.

The one mile family walk/run started our day.  The Rivendell Raptor cheered them on.  Next was the official five mile walk/run around Lake Morey.  This year we had an official timer which attracted runners from the Upper Valley.  We had over 300 registered participants this year.  That is more than double last year’s registration.

Much credit needs to be given to Tracy Martel who had a vision last year to have a fun, family event.  She has dedicated much time and effort in organizing and running this event.  The event is also a memorial event to remember Allen Avery, visionary leader of Rivendell and a dear friend of the Rivendell community.  Bonnie Avery said a few words about how happy Allen would have been to see the families of the four towns of our school district enjoying the day together.

The Community School Organization (CSO) and a student group from Rivendell worked together, preparing food, selling refreshments and helping to set up and break down for the day.  This year the Odyssey of the Mind students helped to raise money for their trip to the Odyssey of the Mind finals.  The Lion’s Club members also manned the grills to cook the burgers and hot dogs.

So as you can see, this is truly a collaborative, community, event.  Students, families, community members, Rivendell staff, all working together.  We are already looking forward to next year’s Third Annual Allen Avery Memorial Raptor Run.

For the results go to - http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/vt/May16_AllanA_set1.shtml

Community Forum Student Profile

Please join us as the Rivendell Community develops a new 21st century Student Profile
Tuesday, May 12th
6:00 p.m.
Rivendell Academy Library

Raptors Compete at Special Olympics

On May 9th, seven Rivendell Raptor athletes and their coaches Tracy Martel and Laurie Melanson joined teams from all over the area at Dartmouth College for the Regional Special Olympics Summer Games.  It was an amazing day.  We had beautiful weather and found wonderful sportsmanship everywhere.  Although this is only our second year as a team and there was fierce competition, the Raptors were strong. 

The Musical RATS was a Huge Success 

The Samuel Morey 3rd graders took the stage presented a grand performance under the professional direction of Hetty Thomae (Director) and Irene Drew (Musical Director). The gym was packed, the costumes and make up were outstanding, and thanks to Patsy Belknap (costume and makeup) the musical, RATS, was a huge success! This could never have happened without the collaboration of many people. Aaron Barber was the choreographer as well as helping out with the sets. Carole Bando also helped with set and the props. Dan Noseworthy was key in the technical assistance department. Pam Kendall played a general support role as well as being flexible with scheduling. Kim Poulin and Anthony Lee designed and produced the program. Cindy Crawford and Kayla Konya were indispensible as far as support and picking up any untied pieces that cropped up. I was able to provide a pizza feast to help nourish the students through a long day! We were able to videotape the show, so if you were not able to attend and would like to view the DVD, you can sign it out from school and borrow it.
   

Math Mania in Westshire on April 30 from 6-7pm

Each year the staff and students plan a family night. This year after many parent requests, we have decided that our night will focus on math. April 30th is the date of our family night – Math Mania. Each class will decide upon a mathematical algorithm to teach families about. Family members often comment that the Everyday Math program teaches children in a different way than they were taught. The purpose of Math Mania is to bring about some common understandings.
You can expect to be taught a game or two at each station that you can play at home. We hope this will be a fun and educational evening for your family. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, April 30th from 6-7 pm.

Rivendell's Environmental Club organizes Green Week

Green Week is an event that the high school and middle school environmental clubs with support from the Town of Orford Conservation Commission will be running. One of the goals is to help to see how much energy we can save and how we can conserve energy and help the environment. Some of the things we are planning to do are:

• Monday- Lights out in class. All week if you can. I checked the weather out and it looks good.
• Tuesday-Bring in and collect used batteries and ink cartridges for proper disposal. Middle School does this All week!
• Wednesday- Wear something Blue. Reuse a bottle for the day. Middle School All Week!
• Thursday-Wear something White- Ride a bike, carpool, walk or ride the bus day.
• Friday- Full School clean up by advisories.  Each advisory will receive a bag with environmentally safe cleaners researched and produced by RAMSEC and cleaning materials and directions 
  

Samuel Morey Students Win Award for Green Up Contest

Congratulations to Corrie and Sierra! Sierra won the Green Up Day Poster Contest for Orange County! Corrie’s winning poem is featured on the Green Up Vermont website.

Both girls traveled to Montpelier on March 27th to receive their award from Governor Douglas.

Rivendell Students compete in Odyssey of the Mind State Finals and will compete in the World Finals in Ames, Iowa

On Saturday, March 7th, 28 Odyssey of the Mind Competitors and their families traveled to Hinesburg, Vermont for the 30th Anniversary of the Vermont State Finals.  All 4 teams received trophies and three teams have been invited to World Finals in Ames, Iowa from May 27th to June 1st.  This is quite an achievement and honor for Rivendell Academy.  Over the years we have made a name for ourselves in this academic program. We are considered one of the top schools in Vermont for OM.  This year a newspaper reporter was specifically sent to track our high school team and get pictures.  Dr. Sam Micklus, the founder of OM, chose to spend an hour with our team in a 1 on 7 interview.  It was an honor for the kids.  

Rivendell Band Jam Concert

Band Jam Concert will be held on April 15th 6:30 p.m at the Rivendell Academy Café. Students from Grade 4 & 5 Guitar Class, Grade 4 & 5 Band Musicians, Middle School Stage Band, High School Rock Band, High School Jazz / Rock Ensemble will be performing.

Rivendell Community Science Celebration

at Montshire Museum of Science
Thursday night, March 5, 5:30-7:30 pm

Montshire Museum, Dartmouth College, and Rivendell Interstate School District invite all Rivendell students and their families in grades K-8 to an evening open house at the Museum to celebrate science! This special event will highlight the accomplishments of Rivendell students and their Dartmouth science mentors. Students will be present and share with their families samples of the science they did with their Dartmouth mentors. The Museum’s exhibit halls will also be open for this Rivendell Community science night. We hope to see you there!

Mud Season Family Sock Hop

When: Friday, March 6, 2009
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Who: Rivendell Families
Where: At Westshire Elementary School gym
Cost: Donations at the door to benefit the CSO

• Raffles for cool prizes
• Punch and cookies
• Children must be accompanied with an adult for the entire evening (no dropping off children,
• adults must stay)
• 50’s themed attire is encouraged (think poodle skirts and greasers)
• Our Very Own Gail Keiling will be DJ for the event!!!!!

Rivendell Academy Open House

Rivendell Academy Open House was held on November 13th. Student work was on display, seniors shared their senior projects, students performed on stage and showed off their Latin Dance skills.

The Middle and High School bands and chorus treated their audience during Coffee House (musical performance) in the Café.

Rivendell Interstate School District Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

Thursday, October 9, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
at the Samuel Morey Elementary School on School Street in Fairlee, Vermont 

"October 13, 1998 – Following public hearings in the four towns, each town votes separately on whether to establish the Rivendell District in accordance with the Articles of Agreement. The district is overwhelmingly approved by the following vote totals: 248–64 in Fairlee, 265–58 in Orford, 160–44 in Vershire, and 148–66 in West Fairlee."
—RISD Annual Report 1999

Orford, NH. - Ten years ago history was made as the nation’s first K-12 interstate school district was officially formed. The Rivendell District is comprised of four towns – one New Hampshire town (Orford) and three Vermont towns (Fairlee, West Fairlee and Vershire). In October of 1998, public hearings were held in all four towns with each town voting separately on whether to establish the Rivendell District. It was overwhelmingly approved by all towns.

In the proceeding decade, Rivendell has made remarkable strides in offering a comprehensive, quality education to students in the four-town district. Rivendell’s mission is to foster the intellectual, social and personal development of its students. The District has strived to promote students’ growth as life-long learners, positive contributors to their communities, and productive, healthy adults.  

A celebration of this historic vote will be held on Thursday, October 9, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Samuel Morey Elementary School on School Street in Fairlee, Vermont. The public is invited to attend this celebration.

As part of this celebration, the School Board will be dedicating the library at the Samuel Morey Elementary School as the Avery Library. This dedication is to honor the late Allen Avery, a Fairlee resident who was driving force behind the creation of Rivendell and a longtime school board member, and his mother, Louise Avery, for her generous contributions over the decade to the Rivendell District. The public is invited to attend this celebration.

2008 Cross Rivendell Trail Ramble Hike-a-Thon
Saturday, 4 October 2008

We are hosting the fourth annual Rivendell Ramble with several hikes to choose from and as always, a fabulous dinner.

This 4th annual Rivendell Ramble is our hike-a-thon fundraiser. The Cross-Rivendell Trail runs from Flagpole Hill in Vershire to Mount Cube in Orford, a total of 36 miles. The Ramble consists of two rolling hikes that start at the two endpoints of the trail and converge on Blood Brook Road in West Fairlee, at the trail midpoint. You can choose to hike part or all of either half of the trail - the west (Vershire/West Fairlee) half or the east (Orford/Fairlee) half. We'll provide shuttles to Cube and Flagpole, and also to various points on the way, so you can hike as much as you want without doing any driving. We provide free snacks on the way and a big dinner at the end (5:00 pm), with food donated by local farms and restaurants.
It's a great way to enjoy the fall colors, and support the management of this local trail and the student Trail Crew. As a Ramble participant, every mile you hike will raise money for the Rivendell Trails Association. Please use the Hike-A-Thon pledge form (available below) to solicit pledges and bring the completed form with you to the Ramble.  Our goal this year is to raise $4,500.

Pre-Registration is STRONGLY encouraged so we can plan transportation and food. Please call or email Andy Boyce, 603-353-4321 ext. 108, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by Wednesday, October 1st.
For more information please check the Cross Rivendell Trail Website or download the registration/information form. 

 YEARBOOK is YOUR BOOK!

Our photographers can't be everywhere, so we invite you (students and parents) to upload your photos of Academy events to our website for possible use in the 2009 Talon yearbook. Simply go to: images.jostens.com , enter the login ID# 1181049, password: talon2009 and follow the simple directions. Thank you for helping us gather as many photos as possible for a best-ever yearbook. See attached for a printable flyer with directions on the process.

"Clothesline for Peace" 9/11 Event at Rivendell Academy

Interested in ordering a Rivendell Academy Yearbook?

ORDER YOUR 2009 YEARBOOK NOW for the lowest price of the year!
THIS OFFER EXPIRES OCTOBER 31, 2008

SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHERS

Students from the SummerScapes program at Rivendell spent a week in July learning about photography and snapping pictures of local scenery and landscapes. Their photos will be displayed in September at the Orford Social Library.

  Rivendell Raptor Run 

The four Rivendell communities of Fairlee, Orford, Vershire and West Fairlee joined together on Saturday, May 17 for the 1st annual Allen Avery Memorial Raptor Run, a great day of healthy fun and fine opportunity to honor founding member and long time board member Allen Avery who passed away in March. Nearly 300 participants walked or ran either the 1 mile or 5 mile course around Lake Morey, raising over $1000 for the Rivendell Special Olympics (RSO) program, a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to the district.  Set to become an annual Rivendell tradition, the original idea for the AAMRR came from Samuel Morey teacher Tracy Martel who rallied her fellow staff members and the broader community to support the event.   

Times for participants in 5 mile run/walk are available in PDF format by clicking here.

RIVENDELL SUPER RAFFLE A SUCCESS FOR PROJECT GRADUATION

The café at Rivendell Academy was transformed on Saturday evening, April 26th as the volunteer organizers and supporters of the Project Graduation safe celebration committee served a delicious prime rib dinner to ticket holders and their guests before drawing the 2008 Super Raffle. By the end of the evening, one family would take home $1750 in prize money, others with their ticket money back in their pocket or a donated prize, while others left only with a smile and the lingering taste of wonderful homemade desserts.

Patricia Lester of Orford won the grand prize of $1500 in cash, and her daughter-in-law Sheryl of Elizabeth, Colorado took away $250. The two are grandmother and aunt to Jonathan Cook, a senior at Rivendell Academy and a member of the Project Graduation committee. Another $250 prize went to Carl Schmidt of Orford, while the following won back their ticket price each with a win of $100: Jesse Truman, Bob & Derry Gleason, Dr. Richard Schlein, Richard & Lucy Carter, Anne & Tony Dall, Steve Colby, Jan Powers, Nancy & Martin Murphy, and Becky Wood.

Other donated prizes went to Wayne Minnick ($50 gift certificate from Fogg’s), Doug Tifft ($25 gift card from Farm Way), Helga Muller (hanging basket from J&M Landscaping), Sheila Conley (graduation scrapbook from Cara Dyke of Creative Memories), Gabi Martino, Bonnie Avery, Cicely Richardson, and Joy Michelson (apparel items from Rivendell Academy). RA English teacher Jennifer Bottum won the “booby prize” of a box of potatoes left over from the dinner. Ms. Bottum grows potatoes on her farm in Newbury, Vermont and says she is “already up to her ears in potatoes,” but had a good laugh on Monday morning.

The Project Graduation committee and the Rivendell Chapter of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) thank all the ticket purchasers and supporting businesses who donated items or gift cards for the raffle, as well as the tireless efforts of parents and students who sold tickets and prepared the dinner. Many thanks go to “entertainers” Cody Thurston (MC), Mark Frazee (piano), Evan Madden (drums) and Tyler Perry who delivered cash to winners in a velvet-lined briefcase.

The funds raised from the Super Raffle will be put toward an all-night graduation celebration for high school students at the school between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM on the night of June 14th, Rivendell’s commencement day. After surveying students on what they would like for “amusements” that night, the committee has arranged for a mechanical bull, inflatable amusements, a casino gambling table with professional dealer, a DJ and the group will provide a variety of food throughout the event. There will also be a video gaming tournament on big screens, various games and a caricature artist. The group will provide prizes for the graduates at the event, and a commemorative T-shirt is being designed that each graduate who attends will receive.  

Odyssey of the Minds  

The Odyssey of the Minds Competition was an exciting day for Rivendell Schools. Our High School Muses (returning State Champions) again took 1st place and also captured the state’s highest award for creativity…The Ranatra Fusca! Another high school team, the Eccentrics, also captured first place, along with the attention of the tournament officials with their long term solution which addressed the problem of global pollution. Our third high school team the Dinostories, placed 1st in long term solution, first in style and second in spontaneous with an overall second place win. Our fourth high school team, Road Rally, placed second with a 70’s theme vehicle problem.

Middle school did very well, too. Our Dinostories finished 4th with a creative presentation involving instant snow and fantastic scenery. Muses placed 5th with a humorous skit about Zeus and his daughters. Their spontaneous score was the highest of all 8 teams. Eccentrics II placed fourth with a wonderful skit about the hydrosphere. They also captured the Vermont Omer Award for creativity in materials used and beauty of their scenery. Their team name and school will be inscribed on the Vermont State Omer trophy. Last but not least, our Road Rally Division II placed 4th with a vehicle that judges commented was the best built and sturdiest of all.

Rivendell’s Special Olympics team, the “Raptors”, compete in the New Hampshire State Winter Games 

The athletes, along with coaches Tracy Martel & Robert St. Pierre, and volunteers from the community participated in the three-day competition at the Waterville Valley Ski Area.This brand-new team is made up of students from Samuel Morey Elementary School and the Academy who first competed as a team in the Regional Games at Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme, NH
on January 19th. At that event, they represented the district well. The standings qualified the team for participation in the State Games.

Samuel Morey Elementary School Students Celebrate the Culture of India

On Thursday evening Samuel Morey Elementary School had a wonderful night where students celebrated the culture of India. The gym at the Samuel Morey Elementary school was transformed to look like a bazaar from India. The students learned about the culture of India and performed dances, read Indian stories and produced art work that represented the culture.  Parents enjoyed a potluck dinner with a variety of dishes and foods from India.  To add to the authenticity of the evening, guests Prasad  and Aparna Jayanti and Swathi worked with the children teaching them about India, played the veena (a musical instrument from India) and brought beautiful sarees for all teachers and children to wear and many other artifacts that represented the culture of India.  It was a wonderful evening for all and everyone left with a deeper understanding of this culture.

High School Students compete in Vermont Drama Festival-all come away with individual honors

On Saturday March 8,2008, one of the Regional Vermont Drama Festivals was held at Harwood Union High School.  Laci Bailey, Samantha Wolf, Hannah Hinsley, and Josh Lewis gave their best performances in He Said And She Said.  Tell Sacket did a great job with  the lighting.  Rivendell led off the festival's performances at 1:15 PM.  The final show finished at 8:15 PM.  

The students and directors from the other school at the festival voted award certificates to Laci, Samantha and Hannah for "acting excellence."  Rivendell Academy also earned an award from the directors for "outstanding individual performance." Josh was great as he played  the "straight man" to the ladies antics onstage, and was given Rivendell's group award by his fellow cast members.  

Vermont Odyssey of the Mind Winners Include Rivendell Academy Student Teams

Odyssey of the Minds Competition held on March 8th at Champlain Valley Regional High School was an exciting day for Rivendell Schools. Our High School Muses (returning State Champions) again took 1st place and also captured the state’s highest award for creativity…The Ranatra Fusca! Another high school team, the Eccentrics, also captured first place, along with the attention of the tournament officials with their long term solution which addressed the problem of global pollution. Our third high school team the Dinostories, placed 1st in long term solution, first in style and second in spontaneous with an overall second place win. Our fourth high school team, Road Rally, placed second with a 70’s theme vehicle problem.
Middle school did very well, too. Our Dinostories finished 4th with a creative presentation involving instant snow and fantastic scenery. Muses placed 5th with a humorous skit about Zeus and his daughters. Their spontaneous score was the highest of all 8 teams. Eccentrics II placed fourth with a wonderful skit about the hydrosphere. They also captured the Vermont Omer Award for creativity in materials used and beauty of their scenery. Their team name and school will be inscribed on the Vermont State Omer trophy. Last but not least, our Road Rally Division II placed 4th with a vehicle that judges commented was the best built and sturdiest of all. They accomplished each task and made us proud.
It would be impossible to continue a program of this size without the support of teachers, administrators and parents/grandparents. While everyone helped out, there are a few people I feel I need to name - Paul Fassler, Georgette Ludwig, Barb Ricker, Heidi Peyton, Susan Spayth, Tim Ruff, Carol Sobetzer, Heather Fahy and my assistant coaches Kelly Williams, Jeanette Regis, Betsy Piburn, Wendy Piburn, Dan Michaud, Anie Michaud, and students Aurora Gleason, Cara Gardner, Sherri Austin and Mariah Johnson.

Rivendell Preschool

As advocates for high quality early childhood education, we have worked hard with our educators to make this a priority for the district.  Utilizing Rivendell’s facilities, services, and curriculum goals, the RECP is in a unique position to reach out to community families and distinctly prepare both students and parents for their roles as life long learners.  Furthermore, the RECP can provide critical early intervention services for children ‘at risk’ or those already identified as having special needs.  Research tells us that the human brain develops fastest from birth to five years old.   A solid, academically rigorous early education program has been proven to be among the most effective ways to ensure that children become productive workers and citizens in adulthood.