Riverdale Auction Raises $140,000 for Programs Including Technology Upgrades and Emergency Preparedness

Riverdale Auction Raises $140,000 for Programs Including Technology Upgrades and Emergency Preparedness

Portland, OR. City Lights was the theme for the Riverdale School District Auction at the Leftbank Annex. Benefit Chair, Kristen Best and committee member, Allison Williams, helped coordinated the volunteers, donors, student artists, sponsors, attendees, and entertainers at February 24th event. The auction raised funds for Riverdale PTC programs including $50,000 during a paddle raise for District-wide technology and emergency preparedness/safety initiatives.

Riverdale supporters give a big pat on the back to Auctioneer Matthew DiLoreto.

Riverdale teachers enjoying a night out.

220 attendees were enjoying food by Chefstable Catering, wine and beer were donated by A to Z Wineworks, 10 Barrel Brewing and Taft & Mina Stricklin.

Student artwork was popular at the event.

Silent auction items, including student artwork and “Chance Balloons” generated about $22,000 in auction revenue.

Auction team members credited with making the evening run smoothly included:

DJ Max Barenberg of Blackboard Music

Auctioneer Matthew DiLoreto

Photographer Brian Crippe

Catering by Chefstable

Flowers by Gavin Younnie, Outdoor Scenery Design

From the Riverdale School District:

The Riverdale School District is an independent public school district. It was founded in 1888 and has always enjoyed widespread community interest, involvement and support. Today, Riverdale Grade School (PreK-8) and Riverdale High School (9-12) serve more than 600 families living in a residential, wooded area called Dunthorpe, located seven miles south of downtown Portland, Oregon, and adjacent to the city of Lake Oswego. View our district boundaries.

Riverdale School District is committed to providing an exceptional college-preparatory education for all students that is personalized, learner-centered and academically rigorous. Our simple but powerful goal is to produce students who know how to use their minds well. The curriculum in each grade level marries core academic disciplines with artmusic and experiential learning. Students are required to demonstrate their deep understanding of fundamental subject matter through classroom work, including individual and group projects. 

Plus, learning at Riverdale isn’t confined to the classroom. Students are encouraged to spread their wings and expand their minds through field studies. Starting with day trips in lower grades, overnight trips beginning in 4th grade, and week-long field studies in middle school and high school, these excursions provide the opportunity to use classroom knowledge in real-world, experiential settings.

Riverdale Diner en Blanc Raises Funds for School District

Riverdale Diner en Blanc Raises Funds for School District

Portland, OR. Nearly 100 supporters of the Riverdale School District in white attire came together for a white party benefit. Ron and Jillian Cain, and Amber and Henry Hillman enjoyed the festivities. The Diner en Blanc, on October 1st, was a French-Euro White Party with cocktails, dinner, and dancing. The secret venue  (Waverley Country Club) wasn’t disclosed until the night before.

 Star Sanaee ( husband Chris pictured solo in white hat), Maryam Bolouri( husband Farid), Jillian Cain (Ron), Amber Hillman (Henry), Soloumeh Saghafi ( husband Mehran), and Rania Nordean ( husband Hadi). We all hosted together.

Star Sanaee, Maryam Bolouri, Jillian Cain, Amber Hillman, Soloumeh Saghafi, and Rania Nordean  helped host the party.

Chris Sanaee brought out a top hat and cane.

Chris Sanaee brought out a top hat and cane.

From Riverdale: The Riverdale School District serves over 600 families living in a residential, wooded area seven miles south of downtown Portland, Oregon and adjacent to the city of Lake Oswego. (District Boundary map) The grade school is the only public facility in the neighborhood and is a focal point for community activity. Lewis and Clark College is located within the District. The Portland metropolitan area, with a population of 1.2 million, is the cultural and economic center for Oregon. Residents enjoy the benefits of a major urban area, while living within a short drive of both the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

The Riverdale Community has valued excellence in education for more than 125 years. The community prides itself on its independent status and voted to retain this independence with the passage of a bond in March 1996 to build a high school. Riverdale School District has always enjoyed widespread community interest, involvement and support.

The Riverdale Grade School offers a program for students in preschool through grade eight and provides a comprehensive and varied curriculum. The preschool through grade eight students benefit from a low student-teacher ratio.  The grade school is organized as Primary (Pre-K-4), Intermediate (5-6) and Upper Grades (7-8) to allow for broad curriculum flexibility. The faculty includes specialists in music, second languages, physical education, library/media, art and special education/student services. Students also enjoy a diverse selection of enrichment programs. A Field Studies program involving students and staff combines learning experiences with the opportunity to explore Oregon’s many resources. Both Riverdale Grade School and Riverdale High School have state-of-the-art computer labs with computers networked throughout the schools and connected to the Internet. The new state-of-the-art LEED Gold Grade School facility was completed in August 2010.

Riverdale High School opened in September 1996 for grades 9-12. The high school is located at 9727 SW Terwilliger Boulevard in Portland, just two miles from the Riverdale Grade School. Riverdale High School has grown to a student body in the mid-200’s, while maintaining a low student-teacher ratio to maximize individual attention. In addition to resident students, non-resident students are encouraged to attend Riverdale High School on a tuition or inter-district transfer basis.

 

Riverdale schools focus first and foremost on the relationship between teacher and student, and the academic disciplines that bring them together. Students are required to demonstrate their understanding of a core subject matter through classroom work as well as demonstrations called “exhibitions.” These exhibitions provide a basis for accountability by asking students to show what they know. The focus of the high school is to help adolescents learn to use their minds well. Riverdale School District is committed to providing education for all students that is personalized, learner-centered, and academically rigorous.

Riverdale School PTC Cuban-Themed Fundraiser Raises Over $65,000

Riverdale School PTC Cuban-Themed Fundraiser Raises Over $65,000

Portland, February 20th, 2016. The photo booth was entertaining for Riverdale School parents Michele Rosenbaum, Amber Hillman, Star Sanaee, and Jillian Cain. Teachers, staff and friends were treated to a Night in Havana at the Evergreen event space at SE 6th and Alder.  The Riverdale Parent Teacher Clubs benefit drew 160 people and organizers transformed the space into the streets of Havana. Street lamps, palm trees, old farm tables, wooden benches, cigar boxes, a “Cuban eats” menu and a choice of Cuban cocktails by ChefStable made the night memorable. DJ Max of Blackboard Music and the 12-piece salsa orchestra Melao de Cuba put everyone in the mood for the event billed as a “fundraising fiesta.” (PhotoBooth by instaPixnw.com )

View of A Night in Havana from the balcony level at Evergreen event space donated by Kurt and Heather Melonis Huffman.

View of A Night in Havana from the balcony level at Evergreen event space donated by Kurt and Heather Melonis Huffman.

A Night in Havana Chairwoman Shelly Morris with husband Mert Rockney

Wendy and Tim Tolls with Kari Lynn and Bill Dischinger at Riverdale’s A Night in Havana

Wendy and Tim Tolls with Kari Lynn and Bill Dischinger at Riverdale’s A Night in Havana

The $65,000+ raised is earmarked for PTC programs and the Principal’s wish lists items such as the following:

  • Riverdale Grade School Principal Joanna Tobin sought to build on technology infrastructure purchased with funds from prior PTC Paddle Raises by purchasing interactive classroom technology such as Mimeo boards.
  • Riverdale High School Principal Paula Robinson sought to add electric keyboards to the school’s Music Program and to expand and coordinate Career Exploration and Service Learning opportunities for students.
  • PTC Special Appeal was made for the Outdoor Classroom at Riverdale Grade School.

Student performers included RGS Tuba Players and RHS cast members from the upcoming Pajama Game.

From Riverdale:

Welcome to Riverdale School District. For more than a century, Riverdale has focused on providing a rigorous and rich academic experience. We are a unique, distinctive and successful educational organization that demonstrates how a focused vision can have a profound effect on the learning outcomes for students. Among the many strengths of the District, first and foremost are our students. This is clearly evident in the range and depth of school activities they are involved in on a daily basis. Dedicated faculty enhances the strength of our students and involved parents who shine a light on the vibrant educational community we call Riverdale.

Our students are actively engaged in the learning process from their first day in Preschool all the way to their senior exhibition. They learn how to think for themselves, and when they graduate, they go on to a wide variety of selective colleges. More importantly, students leave Riverdale equipped with the skills and confidence to become leaders in today’s global community. Our alumni consistently tell us that the skills they developed at Riverdale set them up for success in college and beyond.

Riverdale students are also active outside the academic classroom. We want our students to lead balanced lives and encourage them to participate in the arts, athletics, and to create a passion for personal interests, a habit of critical thinking, and a deep understanding of civic virtue. The breadth of our programs and the size of our school create many ways for Riverdale students to get involved, and these opportunities lead families to choose Riverdale.

As you explore our website, we hope you will discover what makes Riverdale such a special place. Riverdale offers a close-knit community. At Riverdale, students develop meaningful relationships with one another and with their teachers, and our parents are actively involved throughout the school. We all come together within a safe, supportive environment.

Our schools welcome students from the Riverdale neighborhood and from the surrounding communities who join us as tuition or transfer students. Riverdale offers the best aspects of independent schooling in a public school setting. 

We warmly welcome you and encourage you to visit our schools and discover the exceptional learning community we offer our students.

“Teaching students to be thoughtful in their education, about each other, and for their community.”