| The activities list at Riverdale changes from year to year, following students' interests. Anyone may start a new group by finding kindred spirits and a faculty advisor and getting official approval. Some clubs from recent years include the ski and snowboard club, yoga club, chess club, environmental club, HOLA (Hispanic Organization for Latino Awareness), BSA (Black Student Alliance), AAA (Asian American Alliance), Hoops for Hope, Alumni Relations, and the Chipotle Appreciation Club. |
Lower School
The Student Council is an important part of life in the Lower School. Beginning in third grade, students can be nominated to represent their class on the Council. Six students are elected from the fifth grade. Three are officers who represent each of the fifth grade classes, and two meet with and represent grades 1 and 2. The sixth representative is a council-member-at-large who acts as council liason with the faculty and other divisions of the school.
Elections are held in the fall. All students who are running for Council must prepare and present a speech entitled, "Why I Wish to Serve." Elections are followed by an evening workshop at which the representatives engage in trust-building exercises, are trained in group dynamics and problem-solving, and learn "Robert's Rules" from members of the Upper School Student-Faculty Council.
The Council meets weekly with the Head of the Lower School and other advisors. It seeks to work on issues of concern to both the students and the entire Lower School community. Agenda items are generated by the student body, the faculty, and the Council itself.
Students on the Council take responsibility for "Children Helping Children," the Lower School's charity outreach program. At an all-school assembly the Council presents a selection of researched charities to the student body, which votes to support one for a minimum of two years. In addition, the Council sponsors the student newspaper, The Lower School Review.
The Council's pledge, written by the students, is as follows:
"We, the Student Council, look and listen with an open mind and an open heart to serve and help our School and community, and to address any problems that might occur.
Being on the Student Council is fun, challenging, and interesting, but it is serious and not always easy. We work not for ourselves, but for others, and our reward is in what we can accomplish." |
Middle School
There are two student organizations that are comprised of representatives from each homebase and advisor group in grades 6, 7, and 8. The Middle School Council is designed to deal with issues pertaining to student policy in the Middle School, while the School and Community Committee is responsible for organizing activities to instill school spirit and community. Both work independently of the other in some cases and then come together to organize joint ventures, such as the Middle School Dance-A-Thon and fundraisers for various charities. An after-school robotics club supports students interested in science and engineering.
Upper School
Many clubs and interest groups are active at Riverdale's Upper School. Meeting regularly during the scheduled activity period, these clubs allow students to pursue interests ranging from political and public concerns to hobbies, art, and musical performance. Each fall students visit various clubs before deciding which to join. All groups have a faculty advisor and student leaders. |
Student-Faculty Council
Foremost among school activities is the Student-Faculty Council. Riverdale's active student government is composed of both student and faculty representatives elected by their peers each spring. The council meets weekly, and student representatives meet with their constituents in grade-wide assemblies throughout the school year. The council's purpose is to establish principles, procedures, and rules for student life in cooperation with the school administration, to present the opinions of the student body by means of motions or resolutions, to help allocate student activities funds, and in general, to provide channels of communication among students, faculty, and administrators |
|  | The list that follows gives a representative sample of activities:
Amnesty International, Group 130
Asian-American Alliance (AAA)
Chess Club
Coalition for the Homeless
Computer Club
Covenant House
Environmental Awareness
HOLA (Hispanic Organization for Latino Awareness)
Impressions (literary magazine)
Mock Trial
Model Congress
Riverdale Review (newspaper)
SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
Students of Color Coalition (SCC)
Student-Faculty Council |
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