Whitefish Bay Schools - February 24, 2022

Messages from Dr. Kasmarick and Mrs. Petersen

We are very excited about the elementary library media center (LMC) renovations planned for both Richards and Cumberland this summer! The new spaces will allow for a greater level of flexibility and include a Tinker space where our current computer labs exist.

Mrs. Reed and Ms. Heyman in our Richards library are working hard to prepare for construction to begin in early May. This involves packing and moving the entire collection to alternative spaces within the building. Please note the dates below - we appreciate your cooperation!

Last week for book checkout: March 14-18
Last week to return books: March 28-April 1
Follow up with students/families regarding overdue books: April 4-8

Welcome Mr. Treul: As we wish Mr. Daigle the very best as he moves into a new chapter, we are very excited to welcome Mr. Jeff Treul as a long-term counselor substitute for the remainder of the year. Mr. Treul retired from WFBMS after many successful years in our district and will be a wonderful addition to our school community. He will be at Richards Monday - Thursday and can be reached at jeff.treul@wfbschools.com.

Upcoming No School Dates: Click here to view the 2021-22 School Year Calendar and note these upcoming no school dates.

Friday, February 25th
Friday, March 18 - Friday, March 25: Spring Break

NAEP Testing in 4th Grade: Some Fourth Grade Students at Richards will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Thursday, March 3. Within each selected school and grade to be assessed, students are chosen at random by NAEP to participate. Every student has the same chance of being chosen. For children who were chosen to participate, email notifications via Skyward were sent from Richards this Wednesday, February 16. Please contact Katie Petersen with any questions that you might have.

NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The assessment is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. The results are released as The Nation’s Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public.

General Music Concerts: We look forward to our 5-Year-Old Kindergarten and First Grade music concerts scheduled for Thursday, March 31st at 5:30pm (5K) and 6:15pm (First Grade). Specifics regarding arrival time and dress will be coming in the next few weeks.

Student Council Bake Sale: On March 16th, Richards students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will be participating in a Learning Fair from 4 to 6 pm in the Great Hall. During the Learning Fair, the 5-DeToro Student Council group is hosting a Bake Sale that will include store bought items that are nut free. This group is raising money for the MACC Fund. All proceeds from the Learning Fair Bake Sale will go to care packages made by the 5D Student Council group for sick children to cheer them up! Bake Sale items will be sold for $2 each and cash/venmo will be accepted. Weather permitting, we will encourage enjoying the treats outside. Please join us for the Learning Fair --- bring some money to support this great cause and to purchase an after school treat!

2022-2023 School Year: Looking ahead to next year already, we are excited to have sixty eight 4-year old kindergarteners enrolled! New student enrollment for all grades for the 2022-23 school year is now open. Enrollment information and forms can be found in this link. Current students do not need to re-enroll, families of current students will complete online registration in August for the upcoming school year. If for any reason, your student will not be returning to Richards next year, please contact the office at 414-963-3951.

Seeking Volunteer Classroom Lunch Supervisors

Consider: Please contact Margaret West (margaret.west@wfbschools.com) or Katie Petersen (katie.petersen@wfbschools.com) to volunteer to assist with lunch supervision in classrooms. We need volunteers on Mondays and Wednesdays starting March 7 through the end of the school year. Lunch times are from 11:15 to 12:30 (on "B Weeks") or until 1:00 (on "L Weeks").

Thank you! Thank you to the following parents and grandparents for volunteering in classrooms this winter. We really appreciate your support!

Emily Cerow, Bruce Cole, Tracy Donahue, Amy Goldstein, Jennifer Holpfer, Kelly Moore, Sarah O'Shea, Claudia Ruiz Wiske, Elizabeth Schwartz, Kristin Sherman, Lindsay Sloden, and Courtney Stokes.

From the PTO

Hunger Task Force Food Drive: The Richards PTO and 3rd graders invite you to “Be a Soup-er Hero” this February and participate in our annual food drive benefitting The Hunger Task Force, which is running until March 11th. New this year, the HTF food drive will be both virtual and in-person. The third graders will be tracking all of our school’s donations and announcing them each week. All families are encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items, or click here to donate! Please be a soup-er hero and donate what you can! Questions? Contact Hunger Task Force Chairs Kristen Pavlik and Erin Haan.

Calling All 3rd Grade Lego Makers! Registration for 3rd grade Lego Club is now open and closes tomorrow, February 25th on the Richards PTO website. 3rd Grade Lego Club dates will be: March 7, March 14, and March 28. Lego Club is a free extracurricular activity run by the Richards PTO. Each grade will get a chance to spend a few weeks imagining, creating, and building with their peers. Lego Club will run on Mondays from 3:05-4:05 and students will be dismissed directly from their classrooms. Unless prior arrangements are made, parents are expected to pick their child up from Lego Club by 4:05. We will also be looking for parent volunteers to assist. Questions? Contact Lego Club Chair Susan Puechner.

Yearbooks on Sale Now! Yearbooks are on sale now through April 24th. The cost for each yearbook is $16.50 and will be delivered to your child at school in May. Yearbooks may be ordered through Membership Toolkit by clicking here. Questions? Contact Yearbook Chair Allison Roth.

Show your Stripes! Here’s a chance for your Richards Tiger to share who they are and what they love to do with the rest of the school. How it works:

Sign up to participate using this sign up genius: Sign Up Here
Have your child answer the “All About Me” questionnaire*
Submit a photo of your child*
Bring in 4-5 small items or photos of things that best represent your child and what they like to do. It could be pictures of friends and family, pets, an object that represents a hobby, or a souvenir from a favorite vacation or place. Please make sure objects are non-perishable, of emotional but not monetary value, and less than 12” tall/wide. All objects will be in a locked display case while they’re at school.
Label each of the items with your child’s name and leave them in the Show Your Stripes bin in the Richards main office. Stephanie or Margaret can show you where it is.
Your child’s photo, all about me info, and objects will be featured in the glass case in the main hallway of the school for two weeks.
At the end of the two weeks the objects will be delivered to your child’s classroom to bring home.

You will receive a confirmation email with a link to the questionnaire and directions for uploading your child’s photo within a day or two of signing up. Questions? Email RichardsTigerStripes@gmail.com

Black History Month All School Cultural Arts Activity: The Richards PTO Cultural Arts Committee is excited to announce an all school art project in honor of Black History Month! Students can watch one or more of the videos below and then color the corresponding coloring sheet (or make a drawing inspired by the video). Artwork will be displayed in the Great Hall stairwell. Each participant will receive a bookmark and be entered in a drawing for a multicultural art kit which includes a Family Membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum! The coloring sheets or artwork should be put in a special bin located in the office by Monday, Feb. 28. Links to the videos and coloring sheets can be found below, and on Richards PTO website. Copies of the coloring sheets are available to pick up from the wood organizer on the wall right outside of the office, next to the rainbow bench (inside of the school). Students, please put your full name and teacher somewhere on the artwork so we may enter you in the drawing and get a bookmark to you! Questions? Contact Cultural Arts Chair Katie Cizauskas

Videos

Coloring Sheets

District Announcements

School Board Meeting: March 2, 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

Updated information for COVID-19 Testing: Our COVID-19 testing partner, ACL, once again has rapid tests available. When getting tested, there will be an option to choose between PCR tests or rapid tests. Additional information about testing can be found on our website.

Substitute Teachers and Paraprofessionals Needed: We are always looking to add to our sub pools! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a paid Substitute Teacher and/or paid Substitute Paraprofessional (teacher's aide) for the School District of Whitefish Bay, please see the information linked here about how to start the process.

Whitefish Bay High School Theater Department is thrilled to present Fiddler on the Roof this March! Check out our flyer for more details, dates, and ticket information.

WFBHS Bay Gives Back service organization is hosting the second annual Fun for Foster Care Spring Box Drive. We are collecting fun spring toys, games, and activities for children in Milwaukee's foster care system. This project will benefit KidsMatter Inc. and we are looking to sponsor 300 children this year. Check out our flyer for more information and consider donating via this LINK.

Duke Pride Spring Spirit Wear: It’s time to show your school spirit! Need some new WFB swag? Duke Pride has launched its annual spring online spirit wear store through Burghardt Sporting Goods. The store is open until Sunday March 6th. You can opt for in store pick up or delivery estimated to be the first week of April. GO BLUE DUKES!!