September 17, 2020

Messages from Dr. Kasmarick

Masks or not, it is clear that kids are happy to be back!

On my mind this week: a few things are certainly different this year, but there are some important things that remain the same:

• Our teachers & staff love the kids, and they teach with skill, energy, commitment, and care.
• Our kids are respectful and kind, responsible, curious, funny, and resilient.
• We place high priority on relationships and community, relevant and engaging learning, student ownership and agency.
• Richards is more than just a building; it is a family. We are proud that Richards is something that kids want to be a part of!

Feedback for Learning

Formative feedback is a powerful tool for moving students along as learners. This year, we are prioritizing feedback given in real time, during independent work, guided practice, the end-of-workshop share, small group, and one:one instruction. In blended classrooms, this will primarily take place in person and in full virtual classrooms, this will take place during the synchronous times listed above. Please know that teachers are monitoring work completed in Seesaw & Google classroom, and what they see will absolutely inform their instruction with students!

A Few Operational Notes

As a reminder for students attending in the blended modality, classes enter the building at 7:55 am. Students who arrive after that time will need to enter through the office, and quickly visit the Clinic for a late pass.

Families of full virtual students picking up materials every other Wednesday: please place returning envelopes in the back of the grade level box.  Additionally, several grade levels have labeled bins for book return.  Materials that were not able to be picked up on Wednesday will remain in the vestibule through Thursday for pickup between 9:00am – 2:30pm.

No School: School is not in session on Monday, September 28.  There will be no in-person, synchronous, or asynchronous learning on this day.  Please refer to the 2020-21 Blended Calendar for the AA/BB Group in-person attendance days that week.

From the PTO

Membership Toolkit/BuzzBook and Join the PTO: Don’t forget to update your contact information in Membership Toolkit and added your child’s teacher. To create a Membership Toolkit account or to login to your existing account, please visit https://richardspto.membershiptoolkit.com/home and follow the login instructions. If you forgot your password there is a password reset option. New and returning families will need to enter or update their contact information. Please make sure the email address associated with your Membership Toolkit account is one you check regularly. Every family at Richards needs an account. It’s free and easy to set up and will allow you to receive communications from your classroom Room Parents about activities, important dates, and information shared with the class on behalf of the teacher or the PTO, as well as order your yearbook, etc.

The BuzzBook is part of Membership Toolkit, but access to the BuzzBook requires a PTO Membership. BuzzBook access will allow you to view the student directory, including who is in your child’s class. PTO Membership is $20 and must be renewed annually. If you have any questions about PTO Membership, BuzzBook access, or anything else PTO or Richards related, the PTO is here to help! Visit our How to Join the PTO page on our website (richardspto.org) or email richardsptowfb@gmail.com.

PTO Meetings: The monthly PTO meetings will continue to be via Zoom for now. The next PTO meeting will be on September 21st. For more information on meeting dates, times and Zoom links, visit richardspto.org.

Miltown Eats: The Richards PTO is partnering with Miltown Eats – a local home meal kit service. Richards families will receive 25% off new signups and the Richards PTO will receive $10 per family that signs up. Visit their website miltowneats.com to browse what you would like to order and enter the code Back2School to get the 25% off. This is a great way to ease the back to school transition for our families and raise money for the Richards PTO! Questions? Contact Kristen at lafond19@yahoo.com or Erin at erin.haan@gmail.com.

Richards SpiritWear! Are you in need of some Richards SpiritWear? We will be having an online sale for youth t-shirts and an online sale for additional SpiritWear options. Check out the PTO website and Facebook page during the next week for more information. Questions? Contact Kristi at kristientwistle@yahoo.com.

Like Us on Facebook! If you are new to Richards or are not currently following us on Facebook, visit our Richards PTO Facebook page and “Like” us! Our Facebook page is a great way to stay connected to other families at Richards and stay in the loop with what is going on at Richards!

Richards PTO Website: Wondering what is going on with the PTO? Check out our PTO website for updated information throughout the year. www.richardspto.org!

District Announcements

Substitute Teachers & Substitute Paraprofessionals Needed
Opportunities exist in the District for parents/guardians to work as a paid substitute teacher and/or paid substitute paraprofessional (aide). If this type of opportunity is of interest to you, please contact the Human Resources Office by email: hr@wfbschools.com or by phone: (414) 963-3960 and you will receive more information on the necessary steps to join the daily pool of substitute teachers and/or substitute paraprofessionals (aides). Please note that in the elementary blended environment, daily subs work with in-person students and will not be responsible for live-streaming or significant work in online learning management systems.

COVID-19 Data Metric Dashboard

In an effort of transparency and communication with our staff and families, the District has created a COVID-19 data metric dashboard and weekly District update letter. Each week the District will publish a status update of active cases and those in quarantine due to exposure or presentation of COVID-19 like symptoms. Please note that information relative to any individual’s health is HIPPA protected and private, so we are taking steps to secure the anonymity of individuals. Student numbers will be published at a school level and for the district as a whole. In any school in which the number is <5 we will post an ** to avoid the likelihood of exposing the identity of an individual. We will provide a summary number for the district as a whole.

Links to the dashboard and the weekly letters are located below. The dashboard will only show the current week's data. All letters will be located on the Communications to Families page. It is our goal to update the dashboard and letter at the beginning of each week.

• List of weekly COVID-19 letters and District Communications to Families 
• District COVID-19 Communications and Safety Dashboard
• 9.14.20 Weekly COVID-19 Update

Next School Board Meeting: September 23, 2020: The community is welcome to view 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.

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

WFB High School Orchestra Portraits in the Park:  The Whitefish Bay High School Orchestra is partnering with Jorie J. Photography to offer professional portrait sessions at Kletzsch Park from October 9-11.  Appointments are required, please see the attached flyer for more details.

From the Recreation Department

Afterschool Spanish: Vamos a viajar...let's travel! Afternoon Spanish has moved from Richards and Cumberland Schools to better serve the needs of our registrants. The program will now be held at the Lydell Community Center, Room 19 from 3:30 - 4:30pm. See the attached flyer for more details.