Messages from Dr. Kasmarick
What beautiful weather we're having! The kids have been beyond excited to ditch their coats this week and the playgrounds have been abuzz with a new level of energy. Wisconsin certainly keeps us guessing. Speaking of sunshine, we're going to get Tropical on Friday morning - please encourage students to come dressed for luau, the limbo, and lounging on the beach. They've earned it!
We completed our winter STAR testing in January and individual scores are coming home in student folders this week. If you're looking for more information about this assessment, click here. More specifically, if you're wondering why these scores fluctuate over time, click here. While we do value the information provided by this assessment, we always use multiple data points when making instructional decisions and tracking growth over time.
Finally, we so greatly value the service provided by our dedicated Crossing Guards each day. Please see the important message below from this group.
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A Safety Message From Our Crossing Guards
We are asking all families to encourage their child(ren) to cross at the designated corners staffed by the crossing guards. It is a safety concern when children are crossing in the middle of the block into oncoming traffic in front of school. We also ask that cars pull out of the traffic lane when dropping off in the morning. Thank you!
The Recreation Department is looking for several people to work as substitute crossing guards until the end of the school year. If you are interested, please contact or stop in at the Recreation Department at 963-3947/5205 N Lydell Ave, for information and an application.
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Please Check Your March Parent/Teacher Conference Time
Thursday, March 23rd is an early release day for students and some conferences were mistakenly scheduled for the time immediately following student dismissal, which provides no time for our teachers to prepare. If you have a conference scheduled between 12:00-1:00 on March 23, please contact Julie Harding (963-3951) in our office to reschedule. Thank you!
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Early Release Day Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Friday, February 24th is an Early Release Day. K5 – 5th grade students are dismissed at 11:50am. There is no JK attendance.
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Rollerskating for Grades 1-5
Beginning on March 6th, our Physical Education classes will be participating in an in-house skating program. The skates will be delivered directly to school. Along with the skates, Skatetime School Programs will also provide wrist guards. All students must wear helmets while skating. A few helmets will be provided, but we do not have enough for everyone.
This skating unit is being implemented because of its emphasis as a “Lifetime Activity”. Skating provides a variety of benefits, which include balance, coordination, motor skills, and a top rated cardio-vascular workout. Students will also learn basic skating skills such as starting, stopping, forward skating, backward skating, cornering, and a number of safety tips for being a smart skater.
We have provided a hard copy along with a electronic copy, of the permission slip, for your use. Please sign and return the permission slip on or before Wednesday March 1st.
Thank you in advance!
Ms. Swanson and Mr. Genthe
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Responding to Art (R2A)
The next due date is quickly approaching. On March 2nd the replication of students selected artwork is due to Ms. Danforth. On March 16th will be the next due date for DOC #3. See the link for other due dates and forms.
//www.wfbschools.com/schools/richards/riart.cfm
Please remember that the All School Art Show will be on April 20th. R2A presentation will be from 5:00-6:00 pm. All R2A participants will have the opportunity to showcase their replication and their responding artwork. Students will also have the occasion to speak to visitors about their creations.
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Dr. Mazius Informational Sessions
Summoning Self-Control: The Art and Science for Making it Happen in Children
Recent neuroscientific studies reveal several necessary ingredients for establishing and growing sound mental and physical health in children (and adults). The top three include grit (passion and perseverance), optimistic thinking, and the capacity for summoning self-control when needed. Last month, we discussed grit. Next up, self-control, a developmental process with which young children clearly struggle. As our children grow older, they naturally develop more of a capacity to evaluate and control their urges but their performance rarely is near perfect and they clearly remain works in progress. This is where parents come in. Dr. Mazuis will discuss the ways in which we, parents, can aid our children in growing their capacity to observe, evaluate, and control their impulses. This skill has obvious and important implications throughout one’s life span (especially adolescence). We can help our children grow it once we understand the neuroscience and teaching tools. Please come to participate in this important discussion.
Please join us in the Great Hall at Richards for Dr Mazuis' presentation on Thursday, March 9th at from 8:15-9:15am.
Mark your calendars for Dr Mazuis' final presentation:
May 5 (8:15-9:15 am): Building Optimistic Thinking in our Children
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Love Your Classroom Library Book Drive - One Week Left to Donate!
There are 6 days remaining to donate to the Love Your Classroom Library book drive - it will run through the end of February. Thank you to everyone who has already donated - your generosity is greatly appreciated. The purpose of the book drive is to fill the gaps in our classroom libraries at Richards. Richards has implemented a new literacy model where classroom libraries are vitally important.
Please see the link below to find a list of the needed books and book genres for each grade level. You can donate in four ways:
1. Purchase new books and drop off in the designated boxes in the school lobby - there are collection boxes in the unlocked part of the front entrance and also in the lobby
2. Bring in gently used books you may already have and drop off in the designated boxes in the school lobby
3. Purchase books online and have them shipped directly to Richards - you can find a link to the Amazon List on the PTO website
4. Cash donations for teachers to purchase certain needed trade books and audiobooks (cash donations can be dropped off in the office)
You can purchase books off the list for any grade level – you do not necessarily need to stick to your child’s grade level.
Next Door Foundation
If you have gently used books at home that do not fit into the Richards book drive parameters, we are also collecting books for the Next Door Foundation. You can find out more information about Next Door on their website at www.nextdoormke.org. Next Door is looking for gently used or new books – baby to age 5. They are mostly in need of gently used or new board books. There are specific Next Door collection boxes in the lobby.
Together, let’s fill our classroom libraries and support literacy in Milwaukee! Thank you in advance for your support and generosity!
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PTO LEGO Club
Fifth graders, you're up! Lego Club for fifth graders - dates are March 8 and 15 and April 5 and 12. You can register online until March 6 at www.richardslclub.com. Parent volunteers are also needed and can sign up online at www.richardslclub.com. See the flyer below for more information.
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Last call to order yearbooks!
Did you forget to order a yearbook at registration? Now is your chance to order! Don't remember if you ordered one? Visit richardspto.org, there you will find a link to a list of families who ordered yearbooks at the beginning of the school year. Orders are due by Tuesday, February 28th! Any other questions can be directed to Allison at richards.yearbook@gmail.com.
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PTO Box Tops
Box tops to be included in our next submission are due by tomorrow, Friday, February 24th! In our first submission last Fall, Richards received a check for over $550 to be used towards classroom needs. All of those 10 cent box tops really do add up! Box top sheets need NOT be full to turn in, but please remember to include your teacher's name so we know which class should be getting credit towards the popcorn party! Thank you to those who are taking time to collect!
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Richards PTO
Want more information about an upcoming event? Did you lose a form? Check out richardspto.org for events, forms, dates, volunteer sign ups, and more!
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WFBHS Drama Department
The Whitefish Bay Drama Department presents Les Miserables! Performances begin this weekend - February 24, 25, 26, as well as March 3, 4th. See the flyer below for more details.
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