November 10, 2022

Messages from Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Petersen

Dear Richards Families,

With Veterans Day approaching, Richards honored veterans from our school community at our All School Meeting last week. The veterans shared about our November theme of Kindness in relation to community and their service to our country. The words were very impactful and we are grateful to all six veterans that joined. Students also wrote Thank You letters for the VA in honor of Veterans Day.

Recess Reminders: It has been beautiful fall weather! We continue to transition to wearing warmer clothes, but then as the temperature rises, students tend to take off and leave jackets and other items behind. Please help us keep the lost and found to a minimum by labeling ALL of your student’s belongings so that we can get them back to the owner. All students go outside for recess when the wind chill is above zero, and students should be dressed to remain outside comfortably for 25 minutes.

Lunch/Recess Supervisor Needed: We are looking to hire additional compensated lunch/recess supervisors to start at Richards after Thanksgiving for the following positions:

1. 10:55am - 1:10pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – Second Grade Lunch/Recess and Fourth Grade Recess/Lunch
2. 11:10am - 1:10pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays - 5th Grade Recess/Lunch and 3rd Grade Lunch/Recess
3. Lunch/Recess Substitutes - Subs are needed on occasion when our regular Lunch and Recess Playground Supervisors are unable to work.

These paid positions would be a great way to get in your daily steps! Supervisors circulate on the playground and in the lunch room monitoring students while they play and eat lunch. Clear expectations are in place with well-developed rules and procedures.

All candidates must apply via WECAN (Vacancy ##154649). If you would like to apply, or have any questions about this position, please contact Chad Nelson at chad.nelson@wfbschools.com, Katie Petersen at katie.petersen@wfbschools.com, or Chris von Paumgartten at chris.vonPaumgartten@wfbschools.com.

Upcoming No School Days

• Wednesday, November 23: No School 4K – 5th Grade
• Thursday, November 24: No School 4K – 5th Grade
• Friday, November 25: No School 4K – 5th Grade
• Monday, November 28: No School 4K – 5th Grade

Click here to view the 2022-23 School Year calendar.

4th and 5th Grade Music Concerts: We are looking forward to the 4th and 5th grade general music concerts on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. 4th grade will perform at 5:30pm (5:15pm arrival) and 5th grade will perform at 6:15pm (6:00pm arrival). The concerts will take place in the Richards Great Hall. Students are asked to dress up for their performance. Questions? Email Mrs. King Driscoll at lauren.kingdriscoll@wfbschools.com.

Incoming 2023-2024 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Visit at Richards Elementary School: Whitefish Bay Resident families of students who turn four on or before September 1, 2023 are invited to a 4K Visit at Richards Elementary School on Friday, December 9, 2022 at either 9:15 am or 1:30 pm. The event hosted by Mr. Nelson, Richards Principal, will include a welcome from our 4K teachers, a short story with our Library Media Specialist, and a Question and Answer session. Check out our flyer for more information and RSVP here. 

From the PTO

PTO Presidents Must Be Filled for the 2023-2024 School Year!  When you were a kid, did you ever dream of being President...of the PTO?  It’s time to make those dreams a reality... and the truth is, it is a lot of fun and a rewarding way to give back to the community by supporting the students, teachers, and administration of Richards.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are needing your support now. We're seeking volunteers to serve as Co-Vice Presidents for the remainder of this school year, with the plan to transition to the President role beginning next school year.  If you have a good friend you know you'd work well with, please reach out to them to discuss this opportunity together! The current and former Presidents will coach and support you throughout your first year.  Everything you would need to fulfill this role is organized and ready to go with thorough transition plans. If you have interest or would like to learn more, please reach out to us at richardsptowfb@gmail.com or visit this link for more info!

The Green Team : Another Fall Cleanup Date! Thank you to all of the volunteers that braved the weather and still came out to the raking event this past Saturday!  Thank you especially to Girl Scout Troop 15828.  We will be doing a second fall clean-up this year on November 19th from 10am - noon.  Please use the link below to sign up if you are able to help.  Volunteers will need to bring their own rakes (gloves, tarps for hauling leaves and leaf blowers are also welcome).  Children will need to be supervised by an adult.  Please direct any questions to Emily Bandsma at ecbandsma@gmail.com.  HERE is the link to volunteer.

International Education Week: November 14-18: The Cultural Arts Committee encourages student exposure to a wide variety of arts opportunities, with an effort to represent and include a variety of cultural perspectives.

We’re looking for families who would be interested in displaying artwork, books, photographs, or other small items of cultural significance to contact Katie at Ktcizauskas@gmail.com by Nov. 11. Students can also pick up coloring sheets from the lobby or share their own cultural artwork and return them by Nov. 11.  Members of Membership Toolkit can click here for more details.

Bucks Night is January 6:  The Milwaukee Bucks are proud to welcome Richards Elementary families and friends to Fiserv Forum to watch the Phoenix Suns take on the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, January 6th at 7:00pm.  A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Richards Elementary PTO. Deadline to order is December 6th!  Check out the flyer here.  The link to purchase can be found here.

Shop the WFBMS Holiday Boutique! The holidays are right around the corner! Get a head start on your shopping at the Whitefish Bay Middle School Holiday Boutique, brought to you by the WFBMS PTO. The Holiday Boutique will be held on Thursday, November 17, from 4-8 pm at the Middle School. The "shops" feature 30 unique vendors selling everything from hand-crafted jewelry and original artwork to holiday treats, WFB spirit wear and some super cozy apparel. We'll also have an amazing silent auction from which all proceeds will go to benefit the WFB Middle School PTO. The event is FREE and open to the public.  Like us on Facebook and invite your friends. Questions? Contact Beth Wagner at bethcrivellowagner@gmail.com or Katie Ferguson at kmferguson5@gmail.com.

District Announcements

Our school community takes a strong interest and pride in the educational rigor and educational options available to students in Whitefish Bay Schools. With this in mind, we share with you that the School Board will be discussing the District's Math Pathways and Course Progressions for Grades 6 -12 at the upcoming Instruction Committee Meeting on November 16. Committee Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the High School Library Media Center (1200 E. Fairmount Ave) or can be accessed remotely online through the link provided. We encourage families and staff members to listen in on this important conversation and provide feedback during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. We hope to see you there!

School Board Meeting: November 16, 2022: The community is welcome to attend School Board meetings to gain a better understanding of School District business and the role of the School Board. The public is also invited to address the Board during the public comment portion as indicated in Board meetings. Meeting agendas are posted within BoardDocs two days preceding each meeting.

• Meeting dates located under featured tab/documents
• Agendas located under featured or meeting tabs

Emergency School Closings: Please take a look at this LINK and on our website for information on Emergency School Closings. These resources outline the many factors considered in emergency closings as well as related School Board Policies.

Bay Gives Back is hosting its eighth annual Gift Drive for Seeds of Health Elementary School (formerly Windlake) on Milwaukee's southside. We are sponsoring all 250+ students K4-5th grade this holiday season and we need your help! Sign up using this link: Sign Up Link! You will receive an email with specific details including your students name(s), wish list, grade etc. so you can shop accordingly. All gifts must be wrapped, labeled and dropped off by December 16th at the High School! Share the link, all members of the community are welcome to participate! Check out our flyer and if you have questions email BGB at baygivesback@wfbschools.com

Bay Ball is Back! Save the Date! On Saturday, April 15, 2023 the High School Field House will be transformed, rivaling the trendiest venues Milwaukee has to offer. Drinks, dancing, and live music await, all in support of the WFB Public Education Foundation's mission to promote educational excellence in The Bay. For more information about the event, including sponsorship details, please visit bayballwfb.com. We look forward to celebrating with you!

From the Recreation Department 

The North Shore Health Department has partnered up with the Whitefish Bay Recreation Department to provide FREE classes that are focused on health, safety, and wellness. Each month is a different topic. December's topic is "Holidays and End-of-Year Stress Management". Check out this flyer for more information and how to register!