Dear Lower School Families,

We are excited to welcome your children to campus at the end of August. Faculty and staff have returned this week to prepare classrooms, plan lessons and participate in professional development. This summer, I went on a whale watch and spent time on the beach. In addition, I attended several WNBA games. (See below)
 
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5WK-fp87RRvFdHbOebZWZBxDnFgYv3X7_uW4c3dG7-HQrURkmr9VblLSrzeSfFr6XTFf77T7rsF72Gly4HLVdh22-RuBKJY4on_6bPrpKpoaqEGcxmcnuQKPYHD_Gk9MPFhAxTGX7eiseSnI--JZOSI https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/693yTxlNHi8GiR4XAp43gcWYhYS7txoM0l9vIM2lRjRTZiMgqRloMqpyD0Vm4gTN1mc6YtZNsx6Vm-QvXgz6FT_1_0BVcxS_qMwrl_DE7VEK0LBoVxfA0UtCUaS69bz7zlBCJPi_HPN_ebMw5EvF0vs
Las Vegas Aces Mascot Whale watch in Cape Cod
 
The last part of my summer was spent dropping my daughter, Camryn, off for her freshman year at Howard University.
 
I am very excited to welcome and share with you all of the new Lower School faculty:

  • Shana Barnett, Technology Integration Specialist
  • Ash Cespedes Black, K-5 Science Teacher
  • Julia Downes, X-Care Activity Leader
  • Rob Eifler, Director of Afterschool and Summer Programs
  • Mia Gittlen, K-8 Librarian
  • Jessie Jackson Thaler, Assistant Librarian
  • David Palange, DBiL Specialist
  • Lauren Rhizor, K-2 Reading Specialist
  • Lulashi Villa, K-5 Mandarin 
  • Jane Shamaeva, School Counselor/Health Educator
 
Here are the 2023-2024 Associate and Team Teachers:

  • Kindergarten - Daniela Garcia and Gemma Marshall
  • First Grade - Sam Putney and Marisa Graham (Team)
  • Second Grade - August Feinstein-Hillsman and Isabelle Tanov
  • Fifth Grade - Syd Thorne
 

Mini-Conferences For Grades K-3; Thursday, August 24, and Friday, August 25

Mini-Conferences provide an opportunity for families to share their child’s strengths and areas for growth, along with any information to help build and strengthen the home/school partnership. Conferences will be held both in person on campus and via Zoom for 15 minutes. Instructions on how to sign-up for Mini-Conferences can be found on the Important School Updates for 2023-24 page. If you have any trouble signing up, please contact Victoria Gurrola directly at vgurrola@rdschool.org. 

Thursday, August 24; 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Friday, August 25; 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.


Orientations for
New K-5 Students

We will continue to hold orientations in-person for new students and new parents/guardians. 


Lower School Orientations
New Students; Friday, August 25, 2023

9:15 a.m.
Drop-Off for In-Person Session
9:30-10:15 a.m.

10:15-10:30
Student Program and Meeting for Families (45 minutes)

Reunite with parent/guardians and play on the yard (15 minutes)
10:30 a.m.
Depart
 

Orientation for ALL 4th and 5th Grade Parent/Guardians - Thursday, August 24

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Zoom Links
 
Fourth Grade: Zoom Link 
Meeting ID: 123 832 453
Password: 4thrules
 
Fifth Grade: Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 895 2025 9546
Passcode: 455634
 
 

School Supplies

All school supplies will be provided for Lower School students. Students will need to bring a backpack, lunch box, and a reusable water bottle to school. I strongly encourage you to label all of your child’s belongings, including their lunch box, reusable water bottle, shirts, and hoodies with their name using permanent ink or a label maker. Last year's Lost and Found was overwhelmed with unlabeled items that could not be reunited with their owners. 


New Faculty Leadership Roles: K-2 and 3-5 Coordinators 

I am very excited to announce that Selma Quemada Valenzuela and Amelia Rowland will be spending ten hours a week as Lower School Coordinators. These new positions (K-2 Coordinator and 3-5 Coordinator) will allow the Lower School to enhance communication, provide support for Lower School faculty, and provide professional growth opportunities for two valued faculty members. Selma and Amelia will also collaborate and consult with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Laurie Ransom, and the Director of Student Life, Denise Breland. To support these changes and as part of our Associate Teacher → Lead Teacher program, Marisa Graham will work with Selma in 1B as a Team Teacher, and Nick Wuebben has been promoted to a third Lead Teacher for the fourth grade team.


Building Our Home/School Partnership

I look forward to meeting our new families, reconnecting with familiar families, and building our strong home/school partnerships. I am available for a meet and greet and/or to discuss questions or concerns you may have. Please connect with my assistant Victoria Gurrola to schedule a meeting via email at vgurrola@rdschool.org.
 
Finally, I’d like to invite you to an informal, virtual ‘Meet and Greet with Ms. A’ on Monday, August 28 at 9:00 a.m. 

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 885 1582 4105
Passcode: 141838
 
I look forward to connecting with you. 
Sincerely,
Johanna Aeschliman