RICHLAND REFLECTIONS

Dear Richland Families,

The theme of this month's Action for Happiness calendar is Happier January. As shared at the calendar link below, the best way to try to handle our difficult emotions and experiences is by focusing on what we can control. This month, we're encouraging everyone to focus on small steps to try to boost happiness - for ourselves and others around us - to spread kindness and hopefully inspire others to do the same!

Occasionally, the district needs to cancel buses due to a shortage of drivers. This week, buses 100 and 239 at Richland are canceled and will not provide transportation to or from Richland. Those families have been notified. These cancellations will impact our car rider line. We thank you for your patience as car lines will be much longer as dozens of students become car riders this week. We will have additional staff at drop off and dismissal to make the line move as quickly and safely as possible.

We are excited to bring back Jared Campbell later this month! Jared is an assembly presenter who promotes responsibility, respect, and bully prevention through his music and lyrics. Students and staff loved a visit from Jared a few years ago, and families tuned in for his virtual visit last year. Jared will be back for a virtual visit to Richland this month, singing the song he created just for Richland and personalizing his message. Check out Jared's familiar songs at the link below!

Have a wonderful week!

Nicole Zuerblis

Richland Principal

How can we start this new year happier? Things have certainly not been easy over the last year, and we are still in difficult and uncertain times. The best way to try to handle our difficult emotions and experiences is by focusing on what we can control. This month, we're encouraging everyone to focus on small steps to try to boost happiness - for ourselves and others around us - to spread kindness and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

Occasionally, the district needs to cancel buses due to a shortage of drivers.

This week, buses 100 and 239 at Richland are canceled and will not provide transportation to or from Richland. Those families have been notified.

These cancellations will impact our car rider line. We thank you for your patience as car lines will be much longer as dozens of students become car riders this week. We will have additional staff at drop off and dismissal to make the line move as quickly as possible.

For those new to the car rider line, please be sure to stay to the left of the lane as you enter Richland's third driveway so other cars and buses may pass as they drive toward Strayer.

http://jaredcampbell.com/elementary-school/

Check out Jared's familiar songs before a virtual student assembly on 1/19!

Each day, we read a question of the day that stems from our work with Leader in Me. We encourage you to continue the conversations at home!

Below are this week's questions. We'd love you to participate!

MONDAY: What are you looking forward to this week?

TUESDAY: What is one thing you are looking forward to this weekend?

WEDNESDAY: What are your three “biggest rocks” at school?

THURSDAY: What are your three “biggest rocks” at home?

FRIDAY: What is the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning?

If your child received a COVID 19 vaccine, please consider sharing a copy of their vaccination card with Mrs. Stauffer.

Please ensure your children wear a mask when boarding the bus in the morning that they may save to wear on the bus going home.

Check out Richland's student podcast club, led by Mrs. Coyle.

Read about the amazing work they're doing in QCSD's article here!

In addition to the items above, we have many coats. Please see photos of Lost and Found Coats here, and let your child's teacher know if you recognize any items.

Would you like to express your gratitude to staff members? Click on the Shout Outs image to let us know! I will share messages with staff weekly.

Little things can make a big difference. You can help support the Ronald McDonald House and others affected by childhood cancer or anyone else who needs the help from the Ronald McDonald House by collecting the little tabs you pull to open soda, soup or any other aluminum cans. The funds generated from recycling these aluminum tabs help offset The Ronald McDonald House expenses. Send in your tabs to Richland.

We are donating our tabs in honor of Rhiley who is a cancer survivor.

He is a 4th grader at Richland.

WHAT ARE HABIT TICKETS?

Each day, adults in the school building have tickets to give to any student they see exhibiting one of the 7 habits. Once a student receives a Leader Ticket, he or she will go to the office to sign our school Leader Book, pick a number at random for the placement of their ticket on the Leaderboard, and will bring home a postcard to show you so that you may share in their good news! Once the student has a ticket on the board, he or she is eligible to receive the "mystery motivator". When ten tickets in a row are up on the board, those students will spin a wheel to receive a mystery motivator prize. Examples of motivators are extra recess, lunch with Mrs. Zuerblis, and many more.

HOW CAN I HELP AT HOME?

We encourage you to discuss Leader in Me with your child at home. The characteristics of the 7 habits encourage responsibility and ownership of one's actions, as well as other leadership qualities. Ask your child to use the ideas shared at school when at home and in the neighborhood, and routinely check in with your child on how he or she is demonstrating these characteristics in different settings.

Each school year, Richland staff adopts one word. We invite you to join us in supporting each other with what our children and we need to thrive this year.

TOGETHER WE THRIVE!

With SafeArrival, families can report their child’s absence using any of these 3

convenient methods:

1.Using a mobile device; download and install the free SchoolMessenger app from the
Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.com). Please note that the first time you use the app,
you will need to select Sign Up to create your account. To enter an absence, select Attendance, then Report an Absence.

• In addition to attendance information, in the app you will also see all of the School Messenger messages the school has sent throughout the year.

2. Use the SafeArrival website; https://go.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use
the website, you will need to select Sign Up to create your account. Then, select Attendance and finally, Report an Absence.

3. Call the toll-free number; 1-833-834-4911 and report an absence using the automated phone system. To use this system, you must use or enter the phone number you
provided as your district contact number. Using or entering that phone number will link you to your child(ren).

These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.

Currently, our district is providing ALL families with children up to the age of 18 with FREE breakfast and lunch for the remainder of the school year through funds from the US Department of Agriculture. There are no conditions to qualify. However, if you do not have a current application on file for the 2021-2022 school year, you could miss benefits from the State, should it decide to provide the Pandemic EBT Benefits again.

Please click here for the Free & Reduced Meal Program applications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stacy Reiss, Free & Reduced Lunch Program, at sreiss@qcsd.org or 215-529-2022.

Email: nzuerblis@qcsd.org
Website: https://res.qcsd.org/
Location: 500 Fairview Avenue, Quakertown, PA, United States
Phone: 215 529-2452
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichlandQCSD/
Twitter: @RichlandQCSD