9 PM RIVERFIELD UPPER SCHOOL GYM - Riverfield Country Day ...

BLUEprint
Educating Students Infant through 12th
RIVERFIELD
FALL 2010
Fine Arts Festival
November 19, 2010

1
LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
MARTY CLARK
Dear Riverfield Families and Friends,
The fall of 2010 is off to a tremendous start – new courses, new counseling staff, and new opportunities for both student
and staff development!
Thanks to private gifts from Riverfield families and friends (not from the operating budget), an improved drainage system
and new score board for the football field and four tennis courts have been added to our campus this fall.
I am also excited to share ideas that came from our FedEx Day during Fall Break In-Service. This was a concept we learned
about from Daniel Pink’s book, Drive, which he describes in this way:
Before the In-Service meeting, our staff suggested topics they would like to explore. From the 18 topics, each person
selected two groups on which to focus. The delivery (hence the FedEx name) after each session was most interesting and
some suggested ideas that are already taking shape or have already been put in place. Based on the FedEx Day topics,
here are some campus happenings:
Of special note, I would like to recognize faculty member Wes Rowell for the outstanding artwork he created for the front
cover of this BLUEprint. In addition to teaching Service Learning and coaching athletics, Mr. Rowell is now sharing his
knowledge of design and drawing with Middle School students taking Visual Communication.
We welcome all who are able to join us on campus for Visiting Day and encourage others to visit us anytime.
With best regards,
Martha S. Clark
Head of School
Set aside an entire day [or hours for us] where employees can work on anything they choose, however
they want, with whomever they’d like. Make sure they have the tools and resources they need. And
impose just one rule: people must deliver something – a new idea, a prototype of a [school-related]
product, a better internal process.
• Students of all ages took part in sprucing up the campus for Visiting Day. On the afternoons of their respective
parent/teacher conferences, 4th-12th grade students stayed on campus to complete tasks from a list compiled
by teachers. Pre-School and Primary classes have also participated as a class to tidy, plant, sort, and create.
A special thank you to the students, volunteers, and staff who worked with the students.
• Middle and Upper School students participated in the nation-wide Mix It Up Day to encourage them to meet
other students, organized by the students of our Diversity Committee and Upper School Counselor Meredith
Molloy.
• Newly named Camp Director Ric Breig, fresh from a summer camp director’s workshop in Delaware, brainstormed
with other staff members regarding the expansion of our Raven Ramblers Summer Camp program.
• A contingent of teachers researched the use of online resources and textbooks for use at RCDS.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Riverfield Country Day School is to provide an excellent education in a family
oriented atmosphere. Students are motivated and encouraged to learn, develop, and mature
in a respectful, secure, and diverse environment. A caring, creative faculty and a challenging,
integrated, and personalized curriculum promote the development of the whole student as a
confident and responsible learner prepared for real world success.

Fine Arts
Visual Arts
Abound!
Blue Raven Singers
Speech and Debate
Drumline
Visual Arts
Home Ec
Filmmaking
Orff
Speech and Debate
Rock Band
Drama
2

PRE - SCHOOL
SOWING
SEEDS
Recently, the OU-Tulsa Seed
Sower’s Series and the
Early Childhood Leadership
Institute featured Rusty
Keeler, a respected designer
of natural playscapes. His
presentation promoted
the benefits of outside
play areas similar to ones
featured throughout the
Riverfield campus and
provided inspiration for
ways to make them even
better. He noted that
Riverfield can be looked
to as a reference point for
outdoor play environments.
The emphasis on outdoor
education in the Pre-School
and throughout the grades
at Riverfield reflect this
year’s school theme of
“Sowing Seeds for Real
World Success” by inspiring
students to explore and
value the environments
around them.
3
GROWING
POPULARITY
FOR OUTDOOR
EDUCATION
Increasingly, schools everywhere
are recognizing the importance
of outdoor education. Children
develop foundational learning
skills as they observe nature,
explore the outdoors, experiment
with science, write
about observations,
create and listen
to music, express
themselves through
art, and develop
social and verbal
skills as they
interact in the great
outdoors. At the
recent National
Association for the
Education of Young Children
Conference, educators, including
several of Riverfield’s Pre-School
staff, were encouraged to help
connect students with nature.
“Riverfield is the
perfect setting for
nurturing a love
of the outdoors.”
-Jennifer Kesselring,
Co-Division Head
Reading through resource
material on this subject is much
like exploring the Riverfield
campus and classrooms. Much
of what is being promoted in
outdoor education is already
an integral part of the Riverfield
experience.
Riverfield is the perfect setting for
nurturing a love of the outdoors,
with 120 acres of woods, creeks,
ponds, shrubbery, and flowers,
as well as animals
in the barnyard and
classrooms. Pre-
School students
are immersed in
outdoor elements
throughout their
day at Riverfield.
Not only do they
explore and observe
nature outside, but
also utilize natureinspired
indoor environments
evident in classrooms with pets,
aquariums, expansive windows,
images and documentation
involving natural materials and
outdoor items such as shells,
pinecones, leaves, and rocks.
If it wasn’t valuable in its own
right, the statistics linked to
the decline of outdoor play are
compelling reasons to make
outdoor education a priority.
Less time spent outdoors can be
closely linked to:
• increased childhood
obesity
• increased attention
deficit/hyperactivity,
anxiety disorders, and
depression
• increased violence and
challenging behaviors
• stunted social, cognitive,
and creative development
• disconnected
and disintegrating
communities
• failing schools
Riverfield is proud of the many
ways the campus is utilized as
an outdoor classroom.

RCDS AS A MENTOR PRE-SCHOOL
As Riverfield’s Pre-School strengthens its
knowledge and relationship with the internationallyrenowned
practices of Reggio Emilia, Italy, the
RCDS program is looked to more and more as
a point of reference for other early childhood
programs. Over the last year, there have been 73
intern and practicum students working with the
school, and numerous study groups from OU-
Tulsa, OSU, TCC, NSU, and other colleges have
visited Riverfield for professional development
opportunities. Additionally, five RCDS faculty
members presented at the National Association
for the Education of Young Children conference
this fall in California.
These opportunities result from the commitment
of the Division Heads and faculty to better what
our families recognize as an outstanding Pre-
School experience. An example of this continual
improvement comes at the end of November, when
Riverfield will welcome Ms. Amelia Gambetti from
Reggio Emilia to campus for her third visit. Her
multi-day visit is one of very few stops in the United
States and the insight and knowledge gained from
her tour of the Pre-School and Primary School will
allow a great program to become even better.
A student in the Yellow Class manipulates
a piece that will be on display during the
Fine Arts Festival.
Fun Fact
MICHELLE WEBSTER
OFFICIALLY JOINS
STAFF
Michelle Webster has been
an employee at Riverfield for
years – first as After School
Club teacher for Pre-School
classrooms, then as an
intern and practicum student
as she completed her
degree from Northeastern
State University. This fall,
she returned in a more
permanent role: as a fulltime
teacher in the Frog
Class. She is enjoying the
challenge and joy of being
a faculty member and is
excited to “officially” be part
of the Riverfield staff.
After adding several new
teachers in recent years,
Mrs. Webster is the only
new Pre-School faculty
member for 2010-11.
Sculpting Success
Even the school’s
youngest students
express themselves
through the creation
and exploration of
clay. In the last year,
the Infants – 5s
children have enjoyed
using over 1,000
pounds of clay.
DRESS UP
DRIVE
Early on in the year,
the Frog and Turtle
classes showed a great
interest in dressing
up in costumes and
accessories. Toddler
teachers pondered if
the joy in dressing up
was part of the search
for personal identity
that is a large part of a
child’s growing up.
To help supplement the
items already found in
the Wing, the toddlers
(and their teachers)
decided to host a dress
up drive to ask for
donations from RCDS
families. The response
was overwhelming! The
donation boxes were
literally overflowing!
The toddlers and many
other Pre-Schoolers
will enjoy hours of
discovery and learning
thanks to the donations.
4

PRIMARY SCHOOL
ANGLING
TO LEARN
GEOMETRY
During their study of
geometry, the Lakes class
explored many different
uses and materials such as
cutting out and constructing
3-dimensional shapes from
paper, using pattern blocks
and pattern block templates,
working with geoboards and
bands, drawing symmetric
Halloween symbols and
magazine faces, making
animals using tangrams,
constructing 3-dimensional
structures with Geofix (shown
above), reading various
books such as Grandfather
Tang, The Greedy Triangle,
The Patchwork Quilt, and
much more. Some of these
geometric designs were
then put on display in the
classroom for November’s
Visiting Day festivities.
5
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONGRESS
In an effort to allow students a sense of
ownership and responsibility, the faculty
facilitated Riverfield’s first-ever Primary School
Constitutional Congress in the first weeks of
school. The Congress was defined
as “representatives that come
together to create agreements that
represent the ideas of everyone.”
Riverfield’s Congress assembled
over the course of several weeks
to create agreements or rules by
the students, for the students of
Riverfield.
Two children from each Primary
classroom, either selected by their
teachers or chosen by their peers, joined as
a community of 14 representatives. Under
the guidance of Mrs. Musick from the Woods
Class, Division Head Norma Wallace, and
Counselor Kim Harper, students discussed
Creating
agreements by
the students, for
the students...
allows a sense of
ownership and
responsibility.
collective goals and how to reach those
goals by setting rules or agreements. These
agreements would address four main areas –
a universal silent signal, outside guidelines,
common spaces guidelines, and hallway
guidelines. Dividing into sub-committees
based on these four areas, the K – 3rd graders
brainstormed ideas and found
clear and simple ways to phrase
the accepted guidelines. It was
determined that posters would
be a clear and effective way to
represent the agreements to their
peers. These posters, complete
with students’ words and sketches,
can be seen throughout the Primary
School as reminders of the agreedupon
behaviors.
Mrs. Musick and the other faculty consider
the inaugural Constitutional Congress a
great success and plan to conduct a similar
endeavor each fall.
A student in Lisa Zarrow’s Art Class prepares
a piece for Visiting Day exhibitions.

SCIENCE BUDDIES
Recently, Grasslands students teamed up with
Upper School physics students as Mr. Jones
challenged the multi-age group of scientists
to create a tri-pod or quad-pod out of natural
materials. The classes went into the woods
and worked in teams to meet the challenge.
The older scientists helped the 2nd/3rd
graders find suitable sticks and showed them
how to lash them together using wet vines.
At the completion of the class, the younger
children described what they built, and the
older students identified Newton’s Laws of
Physics that were affecting the tri-pod.
COUNSELOR KIM HARPER
RCDS welcomed a new school psychologist
and K – 5th grade counselor this fall. Kim
Harper completed her degree in Elementary
Education at Oklahoma State and taught
in the classroom for several years before
earning her Master’s in Applied Behavioral
Studies with additional coursework for School
Psychologist certification. She had previously
served as a school psychologist for Tulsa and
Broken Arrow Public Schools. In this, her first
year at Riverfield, she hopes to help guide
Riverfield students in their personal and social
development in order to support academic and
real world success. She spends time weekly
in K-5th classes and will also begin providing
testing services to Riverfield families.
NEWSWORTHY COLLABORATION
Readers of The Commons Upper School
newspaper will likely notice a special article
based on a newly-formed relationship. The
Forest Class’ interest in creating their own
newspaper led to meeting with the staff and
faculty sponsor of The Commons to learn the
tips and tricks of the trade. Students observed
the news staff determining what stories to
include and in which section of the paper they
belong. This collaboration was beneficial for
both sets of students. The younger students
learned how to write a newspaper and the
older ones found a new story to cover – the
new glass-skinned frog in the Forest Class.
The 2nd/3rd graders’ paper is on track to be
published by the end of November.
Fun Fact
Leaf It to Fairy Tales
Ever notice that
plants are a part of
almost every fairy
tale? Prairie Class
students noticed
this as part of their
investigation of
fairy tales. Based
on further student
interest, teachers and parent volunteers helped
create a landscape design and then plant a Fairy Tale
Garden just beyond the outside door of the class.
Art by Sarah Joseph
FRACTION
PIZZA
The Sky class reinforced
their understanding of
measurement and fraction
concepts in a very tasty
medium: pizza. Students
divided into small groups
and carefully measured
the appropriate amount of
sauce, cheese, and toppings
using different measuring
cups. After baking, students
cut the pizza into 1/2, 1/4,
and 1/8 to share with their
group.
Art by Abby Redmond,
Jack Sowell, Leah
Gelfand, and Julian
Walker
6

MIDDLE SCHOOL
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
AIDS ENGLISH
STUDENTS
Students in Shurley English
have been honing their
skills in a new way, thanks
to an advanced medium – a
new interactive whiteboard.
With a few moves and clicks
of a stylus, students can
demonstrate their sentenceclassifying
prowess to their
classmates, study trickier
items alongside teacher
Paula Thomas, or conduct
research.
7
CROSS-CURRICULAR STUDY
OF WATER
Students in the 6th and 7th grade were seeing
blue this semester as they studied water
in Social Studies, English, and Science.
Students in Dee Maxey’s Social Studies
classes learned about the importance of
river valleys in the creation, growth, and
sustainability of ancient civilizations. The
“birthplace of civilization” refers
to the four Great River Valley
civilizations: Nile, Tigris-Euphrates,
Huang-He, and Indus River valleys.
Student groups worked together to
create a map of their chosen area,
noting the land and water features
as well as the naturally occurring
elements such as minerals and
jewels that played a large part in
the success of these civilizations.
Pam O’Halloran and Fred Jones
worked with their Science students on
creating ecosystems, learning about the
water cycle, and testing water samples
from various locations on campus. Several
hikes and explorations on campus and
Middle School students spruce up one of
Riverfield’s many gardens.
to the Arkansas River bed were part of
the curriculum. Mr. Jones created a Wiki
page for his students to access as they
discussed and researched their findings.
These results were then shared with the 6th
grade students during English.
Ms. Watts’ students used their understanding
of action verbs in a unit on Writing for
Science, where students
took accurate measurements
and observations of water
and various ecosystems on
campus, then researching
their subject matter and
compiling all gathered
information into a formal
essay. “Working across
disciplines enables students
to employ skills concurrently
and gives their assignments
real-world context,” said
Ms. Watts. This cross-curricular study
will continue as students gain further
knowledge and apply their understanding
in student-led research and experimental
design projects.
“Working across
disciplines enables
students to employ
skills concurrently
and gives their
assignments realworld
context.”
-Lindsey Watts,
English Teacher

HONORING GRACIE
This fall, students of all ages, faculty members,
and even a few parents bid a fond farewell
to one of Riverfield’s favorite four-legged
creatures: Gracie the Science Bunny. Gracie’s
official home was Mrs. O’Halloran-Blevins’
room, but she was often seen scampering
through the Middle School Hallways, greeting
humans with a curious sniff or two in their
direction. Gracie suffered a seizure in the first
weeks of the school year and never recovered.
On October 14th, Mrs. O’ hosted a Celebration
of Life to honor the beloved pet, which had
been at school since 2005. A time of reflection
and placing of a memorial stone culminated
with the spreading of Gracie’s ashes. Though
Mrs. O’ and her students are quick to note
that no rabbit will ever replace Gracie, they
welcomed a new rabbit named Bandit to the
classroom later in the fall.
BIOGRAPHICAL REPORTS
After students were assigned to dress in
character for an oral report on a selected
biography book, famous people were seen in
the RCDS hallways. Abraham Lincoln, Amelia
Earhart, Mahatma Ghandi, and Lou Gehrig
each graced the campus in October as the
4th and 5th graders presented their reports.
Dressing in costume and supplementing the
report with a visual aid were ways students
enhanced their knowledge and expressed it
to their peers. Pictured here, Drew Dreiling
donned a wig and professional attire as he
brought genius Albert Einstein to life.
STUDENT AND FACULTY MEMBER
TEACHING RUSSIAN
The son of a Russian immigrant, 7th grader
Eleazar Tikhomirov is well-versed in English
and Russian. When the Sky Class was curious
about counting daily attendance in languages
other than English and Spanish, they asked
Herr Clark about learning German. Herr Clark
also speaks Russian and suggested that he and
Eleazar pair up and teach the K/1st students
to count and converse in basic Russian. The
students are picking up the new language very
quickly, already counting to 10, saying “hello,
my name is…” and beginning the alphabet.
Fifth grade students work to master the
rhythms and patterns of “STOMP!” for the
Fine Arts Festival.
Fun Fact
New Face in Book Club
Part of the school’s history for 27 years,
Caroline Johnson stepped into a new role
this year. After being a parent, volunteer,
and music teacher (among other
jobs), Mrs. Johnson found a seat
in another classroom – leading 8th
grade Book Club. She brings
her background as writer
for the Tulsa Tribune and
Tulsa Magazine to bear as she
encourages a love of all types
of literature in these Middle
School students.
Art by Maddie Smith
Ashley Guterman’s
artwork above depicts her
take on the book Tuck
Everlasting. Reworking
the book cover was one of
the ways students could
choose to show their
understanding and opinion
of the book.
Recycled Art by Kyndall
Shrum
Art by Chance Oveido
8

UPPER SCHOOL
STUDENTS
RECEIVE
NATIONAL
MERIT
RECOGNITION
In September, Will Lugar
received notification that he is
one of the top 16,000 from the
million and a half students that
participated in the Preliminary
SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test. He had already
succeeded through the round of
50,000 High Scorers, and fared
better than 34,000 Commended
Students. With the help of
his family and school staff,
Will compiled the remaining
application, including resume
and essay portions. In February,
he will find out if he is one of
15,000 to be named National
Merit Finalist for 2012.
Additionally, Shelby Massey
received recognition as being
a National Merit Commended
Scholar. Both students are being
recruited by many colleges and
universities. Congratulations,
Will and Shelby!
9
NEW
OPPORTUNITIES
Several new courses are
offered in the Upper School
this fall. “Student response
to these offerings has been
very favorable,” said Upper
School Head Toby Clark.
“These classes are another
example of the types of
programs we
can provide
when student
interest is
paired with
faculty support
and expertise.”
Below is a brief
d e s c r i p t i o n
of what these
students have
been studying
this semester.
Fundamentals of Music
Theory
Students have studied
musical notation, part
writing, harmony, and form
so far this semester. Musical
nomenclature over the past
400 years was closely
examined then correlated to
modern musical examples.
Completion of this two-year
course is the equivalent of
the first two semesters of
college level Music Theory
coursework. Though college
credit and preparation are
“These classes are
another example
of the types of
programs we can
provide when student
interest is paired with
faculty support and
expertise.”
- Toby Clark,
Upper School Head
a bonus, the true intention
of the course is to further
nurture the students’ love
and understanding of music.
Fundamentals of Theatre
Students have increased
their understanding of
theatre past and present.
Through discussions and
activities, they were able to
apply what
they learned
into group
and individual
e x e r c i s e s
in class.
Students have
learned to
discern the
structure of a
play and how
to analyze
a script.
Various genres
of theatre – Greek,
Renaissance, and Royal
Theatre – were explored and
students delved into acting
exercises with their first
scene reading of Romeo and
Juliet.
Art History
Students have examined
the arts, culture, and history
of the Paleo/Neo-Lithic
periods, the Ancient Near
East, and the Egyptian
Empire. Through lectures,
slides, online programs,
and class discussions, the
students have embarked on
a journey to understand the
cultural contributions of the
ancients. Each a semester
long, both Art History and
the History of Rock Music
are offered as alternatives
to the traditional History
curriculum at the senior
level.
History of Rock Music
This new course will be
offered second semester.
Instructor Paul Knight said
he would describe it as “a
hybrid course of sociology
and music.” A primary course
objective is examining music
as a platform for social
statements – from its roots
in jazz and blues through
current day hits. There
will be strong emphasis on
popular music of the 50s,
60s, and other periods as
they related to the cultural
landscape at the time.

NEW COUNSELORS ON CAMPUS
The Upper School added two new faces to the counseling staff this year.
Meredith Molloy joined Riverfield as the Counselor for 6th – 12th grade
students and Melissa Bogle stepped in to the role of College Counselor.
Meredith Molloy comes
to RCDS with five years
experience in the classroom
and three years experience
as a school counselor.
She has an undergraduate
degree from Oklahoma State
and a graduate degree in
Counseling and Guidance
from the University of Missouri
– Kansas City. She teaches
Awareness class for 6th – 10th
graders in addition to providing
counseling for 6th – 12th grade
students. So far, she says
one of her most interesting
interactions has been Mix It
Up Day, a nation-wide project
to promote diversity. Students
were assigned to lunch tables
in an effort to encourage
communication among peers
would might not usually sit
together.
Rock band students gear up for their
Fine Arts Festival performance and for
Café Night on December 3rd.
Melissa Bogle is serving as
the College Counselor as
well as Assistant to Head of
School Marty Clark. She came
into the semester midway
through after staying home
on maternity leave with her
son Hudson, who is now at
Riverfield in an infant class.
Melissa earned a degree from
Oklahoma State. She has
jumped right into her role as
College Counselor, meeting
regularly with students and
their parents as they explore
the admissions process. She
spent a week at a College
Counselors Conference in
St. Louis, gaining skills and
learning about updates in the
world of college admissions.
Fun Fact
Peanut Power
BANK ON IT
Students in the new
Personal Finance class
have been learning the
basics of personal finance
such as creating a budget,
properly writing checks,
and reconciling a bank
statement. These students
test their skills using an
interactive online personal
finance program. The Upper
Schoolers are participating
in the STARS (Students
Tracking and Researching
the Stock Market) project
hosted by the Oklahoma
Securities Commission and
University of Oklahoma
Outreach to learn about
using stock market strategy
as a long-term investment
option.
Have you ever considered just how much
protein your body needs to function for a
day? Biology students determined their
daily protein requirements in terms of
peanut M&Ms recently. The average number
of candies was 11 peanut M&Ms every
hour to sustain a teenager’s daily protein
requirements. Probably not the healthiest
way to keep a body running,
but sure tasty!
Art by Jon Kelley
Art by Miller Storm
EL DÍA
DE LOS
MUERTOS
El día de los muertos, one of
the most important holidays
in Mexico, is celebrated
on November 1st and 2nd.
It is a time to remember
loved ones now gone. At
Riverfield, all Spanish
classes, Pre-School through
Upper School, study this
holiday. In younger grades,
they read stories, watched
cultural videos, made pan de
muerto, and decorated skull
cookies. The Middle School
and Upper School Spanish
classes made silly (not
scary) skeletons that honor
those who have passed on.
10

AT HLETICS
11
BASKETBALL BEGINS
With six different teams comprised of 4th
– 12th grades, Riverfield’s hardcourt has
been used at all hours this fall. Teams
alternate practicing before and after
school, sometimes arriving at school by
7:00 am or staying until 7:00 pm. Middle
School teams have fared well so far in
the Lake Country Conference against
opponents like Oak Grove and Jennings.
As part of the Cherokee Conference this
year, the Varsity Girls and Boys teams
are also doing well, taking on the likes
of South Coffeyville and Bartlesville
Wesleyan successfully. The basketball
season started full tilt in early November
and will run through mid-February,
often with several games a week. “It
is definitely a commitment and we
are working hard to have a successful
season,” said Maddy Berry, Raven
senior. Fans of all ages are welcome to
come cheer on the Ravens. The game
schedule can be found at riverfield.org
under the Athletics link.
CROSS COUNTRY
Running continued to gain popularity
on the Riverfield campus this fall. As a
result of student interest, Varsity Coach
Ric Breig’s expertise was supplemented
at the Middle School level by teacher,
coach, and avid runner, Lindsey Watts.
Events for both levels were held across
the Tulsa area including Sapulpa, Bishop
Kelley, Holland Hall, and, of course, the
Riverfield Invitational held on campus
on Saturday, August 28th. Outstanding
results from the Cross Country season
are 6th place Varsity team at the Sapulpa
Chieftain Invitational and 10th grader
Stephen Sesso’s 3rd place finish at the
Riverfield Invitational.
In other running news, Riverfield earned
$250 as the school with the fourth
most participants (students and family
members) participating in the Tulsa Run
on October 30th. Way to go!
LETTER JACKETS
AVAILABLE
For the first time ever, Riverfield letter
jackets, featuring the schools colors
of blue and green, are available.
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
placed orders for jackets that will
arrive by Winter Break. Those that
are interested in ordering but missed
the order date may do so any time by
emailing jbogle@riverfield.org. Jackets
will be on order for qualifying freshmen
at the end of year Athletic Banquet.
VOLLEYBALL
In her first year leading the RCDS
Volleyball teams, Coach Christi Martin
took a relatively new program to new
heights. In just their second year of
interscholastic play, the players gained
skills and experience needed to grow
the sport at RCDS. “I enjoyed the
opportunity to guide both the Middle
School and Varsity teams,” said Coach
Martin. “It was also great to get to know
the athletes and their families in my first
few months here.” All the hard work paid
off and the teams continued to improve
throughout the season.
WELCOME COACH MARTIN
Christi Martin came to Riverfield over the
summer and dove right in with her girls’
athletic summer conditioning program.
She is the Coach of Middle School
and Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Girls
Basketball. Most of her school day is
spent as the PE teacher for K – 8th grades.
Originally from the south, Coach Martin
has a Master’s in Physical Education from
the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
She taught seven years and coached 10
years before coming to Riverfield.
GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Riverfield Athletic Department
hosted the 2nd Annual Raven Classic
golf tournament on Monday, October
4th. The 4-man scramble tournament
kicked off with lunch followed by a
shotgun start around Clary Fields golf
course. “We had such great success
with our first tournament last fall, that we
decided to stay with the same course
and time of year,” commented Athletic
Director Jason Bogle. That philosophy
paid off, as over $5,000 was raised for
various athletic purposes, including
contributing to the new scoreboard
on the Martha S. Clark Field. Special
thanks to all our golfers, volunteers, and
to the sponsors.
CHEER
Continuing their momentum from a
very successful summer, the Raven
Cheerleaders, under the guidance of
Coaches Aubrey Flowers and Jillian
Zinn, took to the fall sports season with
energy and excitement. The squad kept
busy with tumbling classes; decorating
lockers before games; learning new
cheers, dances, and stunts; and even
hosting a Lil’ Ravens Cheer Clinic for
Pre-School and Primary students.
Captain Hannah Sieler said, “The
cheer clinic was definitely the highlight
of the football season, for us, for the
younger girls, their parents, and the
fans.” The Middle School and Varsity
teams are busy cheering for basketball
as well as working to raise money for
their December trip to Florida to be
part the Disney Christmas Parade, an
honor received after their outstanding
performance at National Cheerleading
Association camp this summer.

FOOTBALL RECAP
In the second season to play on
the Martha S. Clark Field, the
Raven football teams enjoyed
much less muddy games
compared to last year’s rainy
and wet season. Winding up
with a 4 and 4 record, injuries
often kept key Raven players
sidelined. “Injuries to key
players definitely affected the
season,” said Zach Allen, one
of the team’s four captains. Still
the overall results of the season
were positive and the program
continues to gain popularity.
Perhaps the most memorable
game of the season was played
far from home – 3 ½ hours
away in Gracemont, Oklahoma.
A large contingent of Raven
fans made the trek, which is
southwest of Oklahoma City.
Receiving statewide news
coverage, the game pitted the
Ravens against the Lions, who
were playing their first ever
home football game. The entire
community of Gracemont had
come together to create a team,
field, press box, concession
area, and bleachers.
Though Riverfield won handily,
both sets of teams and fans
were winners in this shared
experience, complete with a
special flag ceremony (shown
below) and community potluck
reception for everyone held
after the game. Head of School
Marty Clark commented, “This
was truly a special event for us
to be part of. It was not too long
ago when we were just starting
our football program and we
know well the challenges that
come along with this sort of
effort.”
HOMECOMING
October 4th – 8th was Homecoming Week at Riverfield. From dress up days to an
on-field pep assembly, from the golf tourney fundraiser to a cookout and activity fair,
the campus was full of Raven spirit. New this year, families were encouraged to arrive
early for the Homecoming football game to enjoy a cookout and activities and crafts
sponsored by campus groups and organizations. It was a great evening for families
of all ages, and it culminated with the Raven’s decisive win over Boulevard Christian.
Also included in the festivities were Boy Scout Troop 954 presenting the American
flag, the Blue Raven Chorus leading the National Anthem, and halftime performances
by the drumline, cheer squad, and the younger students who had participated in the
week’s Lil’ Cheer Clinic. “The weather was wonderful and the participation by families
and volunteers was outstanding,” said Head of School Marty Clark. “It is evenings like
Homecoming that make Riverfield truly unique.”
Senior Night Recognition
Congrats to the following Seniors who
were recognized at the final home
football game of the season for their
commitment to RCDS.
Cross Country
Barrett Biery
Nick Phillips
Football
Zack Allen
Zach Alred
Kevin Daroga
Hayden Skoog
Drumline
Kendall Cannon
Ashley Morton
Connor Schmigle
Volleyball
Maddy Berry
Kyler Kemp
Shelby Massey
Lauriana Williams
12

HAPPENINGS
13
6th-8th graders move and groove
at their Halloween dance.
The drumline performed at the kick-off for the
Tulsa United Way Campaign. Riverfield parent
and United Way volunteer Jason Brown came
to campus to thank Mr. Knight and the drumline.
Upper School Home Ec students take a stab at
carving their pumpkins.
Mrs. O’Halloran-Blevins gives young students
an inside look at recycling.
Upper Schoolers full of Raven
Spirit!
A student checks out the Book
Fair selection.
Singing of traditional folk songs, an evening of
karaoke, and a trip to a tall grass prairie were
highlights of the Middle and Upper School
Camp Outs this September.
Concrete is poured for four tennis courts to the
west of the main driveway.
Riverfield Rocks students perform at a Cosi
Night Fundraiser.

LETTER FROM ASSISTANT HEAD FOR
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
JERRY BATES
What an incredible start!
This year’s theme of Sowing Seeds for Real World Success has certainly resonated
with those of you who support Riverfield on a regular basis. Our 2010-11 Annual Giving
campaign began just over eight weeks ago and we have already received over $50,000.
The good news is that we still have so much potential! To date 12% of our families have
contributed, and as our “participation plants” (shown on the left) continue to grow, so will
our dollars. We hope to set a new participation record this year by eclipsing our all-time
record participation of 73%. The staff set the bar high by having over 90% participation!
You can be very proud of our staff because they realize the importance of supporting
Annual Giving and how it impacts the work they do each day.
At our Family Orientations this fall, we discussed how Annual Giving supplements our
budget and continues to enhance each student’s education. A number of props were
used as examples to bring this concept into focus. Annual Giving dollars have provided
wooden blocks to help Pre-School students learn basic geometry and tambourines that
build friendships between those making music together. In the Primary School, Annual
Giving donations helped purchase the materials used to construct Bill Ding, a study of
architecture and the systems of the human body. In Middle School, dollars have been
earmarked for Book Club books and for technological enhancements to improve our
wireless campus. Other examples mentioned at the Orientations were Annual Giving
donations used to contribute to Mr. Breig’s science supplies in the Upper School. All of
these are examples of how your donations directly impact our students.
It is our goal to create a culture of philanthropy at Riverfield. We need the continued
support of all of Riverfield’s constituencies to make this a reality. I urge you to follow
the staff’s fine example by setting a new participation record this year for Annual Giving.
Every gift counts, so please let us count on you!
Sincerely,
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES (www.riverfield.org/donate.php)
GIFTS OF CASH
Most people donate cash for non-restricted
or restricted use. All cash gifts are completely
tax-deductible.
GIFTS THROUGH PURCHASES
All proceeds from RFA activities go toward
enhanching Riverfield’s curriculum, facility,
and professional development for the
faculty. Activities include the Annual Auction,
Wrapping Paper Sales, and Sleepovers.
GIFTS IN KIND
Gifts of goods and services that support our
programs and facilities are always welcome.
Tax deductions are possible to the extent
allowable by law.
TRIBUTES & MEMORIALS
Another way to give is with special gifts
celebrating birthdays and anniversaries;
paying tribute to special friends, teachers,
and family; and honoring the memory of
friends, teachers, or family. All gifts will be
acknowledged with a card from the Head
of School, along with a listing in the Annual
Report.
GIFTS OF PROPERTY OR SECURITIES
Gifts of this nature are an alternative to cash
gifts. Donors avoid capital gains tax on the
increased value and receive a deduction
for the full market value on the date of the
contribution.
GIFTS OF LIFE INSURANCE, TRUSTS &
BEQUESTS
These gifts can have a significant impact
on the future of Riverfield and are always
welcome. We would be happy to discuss the
benefits of these gifts. A donor of this type
is eligible for membership in the Martha S.
Clark Society.
14

2433 West 61st Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74132
918.446.3553
riverfield.org
Non-Discriminatory Statement
Riverfield Country Day School is a non-profit, independent school with no religious affiliation. Riverfield is a welcoming community that strives to treat everyone fairly. All decisions
regarding admissions, employment, administration, and student and faculty life are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, gender,
sexual orientation, marital or family status, or any other criteria prohibited by law. All rights, privileges, educational, athletic, school-administrated programs, and activities made available
by the school are extended to all students, families, faculty, and staff.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3rd
6 - 9 PM
RIVERFIELD UPPER SCHOOL GYM
$5 cover at the door