Messages from Dr. Kasmarick
Welcome back to school after spring break! We are happy to be back in the swing at Richards and we know that the remaining ten weeks of the year will be busy and full.
My messages this week pertain to safety. After break and a few inclement weather mornings, a reminder about visitor check in is needed. We are fortunate to have such a safe and tight-knit community, but a building in which adults flow freely in and out is not a safe one. Our students and staff should expect to see a staff badge or a visitor's badge/pass on each adult, and if they don't, they should let someone know. If you need to come into the building, please take the time to check in at the office!!
Second, all Wisconsin schools are required to conduct annual safety (lock down) drills. Richards will be conducting a lock down drill sometime during the next few weeks. During a lock down drill, students and staff members remain in their classrooms with the doors locked. The Richards Crisis Team, assisted by our WFB Police Liaison Officer will walk through the halls to ensure that all classrooms are secure.
We will be speaking with our students ahead of time about what is expected during a drill like this, emphasizing that lock downs can occur for a variety of reasons, including people in the building who should not be, medical emergencies of students or staff, and other situations both internal and external that necessitate holding all students and staff in the building. We will follow up with you afterwards so that you're able to speak with your child(ren) that evening if you wish.
Additionally, we have scheduled a severe weather (tornado) drill for the afternoon of April 20th. This coincides with the state drill during severe weather awareness week.
Thank you!
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2017-2018 School Year
It's hard to believe, but planning for the 17-18 school year is upon us, and we are very excited to welcome a new group of 4-year old kindergarten students! If you know of any students who are eligible to be part of this group (4 years old by September 1st and residing in our attendance area), please encourage them to contact us if they haven’t already!
If, for any reason, your student(s) will not be returning to Richards next fall, please contact the office at 963-3951 as soon as possible.
The creation of class placements is a complex process that involves several staff members and multiple revisions. As in previous years, we will provide a parent input form if there are things you'd like to share with us. We will share those via the Thursday folder in mid-April and ask that they be returned by May 12.
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Upcoming No School Days
Friday, April 14 – no school, K4 – 5th
Monday, April 17 – no school, K4 – 5th
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Schools Day Out Care
Schools Day Out Care is available to all Richards families on days where your child has no school. Registration must be received 7 days prior to the care date (s) chosen. The Richards Connects staff plan fun activities and events to make these Schools Out Days special! Join us! Registration links below.
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Richards School Art Show
Richards will be hosting an all-school art show on Thursday, April 20 from 4:30 - 6:30pm, in the Great Hall. Please see link below for more details. We hope to see you there!
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From the 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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Fun Lunch Friday
Don’t forget, Fun Lunch is this Friday, April 7th! Students participating in Fun Lunch will receive their selection of Cheese Pizza, Mac and Cheese or Salad with Chicken from California Pizza Kitchen! They will also be served carrots, applesauce, water bottles and rice krispie treats! As a reminder, CPK generously offers a free meal to Richards students when they dine-in with their family. Only students dining with their families will be discounted and an adult entrée must be purchased for every kids meal. This offer is not valid with any other offers or discounts, and is not valid to groups or sports teams.
Thank you to the parents who offered to help serve fun lunch, this isn’t possible without you! If you have any questions on the Fun Lunch program, please contact Katie Robinson at katie.robinson0609@gmail.com or Verna Pazaras at vernapazaras@mac.com.
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LEGO Club
Calling all Lego builders in 5K! The 5K dates are Wednesday(s) - April 19th and 26th and May 3rd and 17th. Parent volunteers are also needed. Please register your child or register to volunteer by April 17th. Register online at richardslclub.com. See the below flyer for more information.
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2017 Richards School PTO Spring Herb & Plant Sale
It's FINALLY Spring! What a great time to brighten up your yard with some colorful flowers and herbs while also supporting your PTO!
This year's Spring Herb & Plant sale is going on NOW!! Order form is being sent home in your child's Thursday folder, link to order form attached or you can also find it at richardspto.org. Orders are due on Friday, April 21st. We will be selling herbs a la carte, butterfly gardens, container garden plants and flats of snap dragons and petunias. Pick up will be on Saturday, May 6th from 9am - 11am at Green Day in the Bay held at Cahill Park in Whitefish Bay. Don't think you can make this pick up? Don't worry, we've got you covered so that you can enjoy these beautiful Spring flowers and support the PTO! Read more in your order form! A special thank you to Bayside Garden Center for partnering with us once again!
Your PTO needs volunteers to help pick up the plant orders from Bayside Garden Center on Friday, May 5th as well as to staff the tables at Green Day in the Bay at Cahill Park on Saturday, May 6th!
Please check out the Sign Up Genius here and let us know if you can help!
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080F4AAFAE2CA20-richards6
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Water Conservation Project
A group of Richards second graders has been learning a lot about water- its properties, sharing what we all love about water, and water as a limited resource in our world. They are working on a group project that is designed to share the message of how water is a resource we all need to help protect, and have come up with a list of little everyday things that students, their families and our Richards community at large could do to try and help conserve water.
If your student(s) and/or families are willing to participate, we ask that you select one or more of the listed actions items (or come up with your own!) on the raindrop that is coming home in their Thursday folder, or see the link below. Once you have completed the raindrop, sign your name and return them to the office to be displayed on our community bulletin board.
Our goal is to fill the bulletin board with completed raindrops by Thursday April 20th.
Thank you for your support!
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Staff Appreciation Week
Each year there is one week we celebrate our Richards teachers and staff and show them how much we appreciate all they do for our children. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week will be May 1-5 and the Richards PTO has exciting plans! Each day, the PTO plans a special activity, including breakfast, a catered lunch, gifts and sweet treats. Everyone gets excited for the daily raffle as well, and this is where we can use your help! Please check out the attached flyer for additional information on how you can help. Please check your child’s Thursday folder for information on an all-school bulletin board project (flyers also attached). Thank you in advance for helping make Teacher and Staff Appreciation week a big success!
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District Announcements
- Mark your calendars for the Whitefish Bay High School Art Show, taking place next Wednesday, April 12. More details in the link below.
- Interested in congratulating a WFB High School graduating senior? Grad Grams are now available. See link below for more information and order form.
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Cindy Nelson Memorial Blood Drive
Cindy Nelson, a long-time teacher at Richards, will be honored again this year at the annual Cindy Nelson Memorial Blood Drive. The drive will take place on Wednesday, April 19, from 2-6pm in the Great Hall. Interested in donating? Information and sign up can be found at www.bcw.edu/cindynelson. Appointments can also be made by calling the school office at 963-3951.
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Developing a Positive Body Image
All Whitefish Bay parents are invited to Cumberland Elementary School on April 20th from 7:00-8:00 PM for a presentation by Dr. Stacey Nye on "Developing a Healthy Body Image in Elementary Age Students." Dr. Nye is a specialist in the field and will talk about approaches that nurture child well-being. She will also answer questions from the audience. This presentation will take place in Cumberland's Great Hall.
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