Richards Thursday Folder
April 4, 2024
Dear Richards Families,
Welcome back from a refreshing spring break! We hope your children are recharged and ready for a fun-filled return to learning.
The last few months of the school year are always exciting at Richards. We have major events like High Interest Day and the Fine Arts Festival, plus lots of engaging smaller activities planned to help our students learn and grow.
We are here to partner with you in making the rest of the year a success!
April School Concerts
5K and 1st Grade Music Concerts: We are looking forward to the 5K and 1st grade general music concerts on Thursday, April 11, 2024! Kindergarten will perform at 5:30pm (5:15pm arrival) and 1st grade will perform at 6:15pm (6pm arrival). The concerts will take place in Richards Great Hall. Students are asked to dress up for their performance. Please email Mrs. King Driscoll (lauren.kingdriscoll@wfbschools.com) with any questions.
Elementary Orchestra Concerts are coming this month! Students should bring their instrument and music, and arrive 15-20 minutes prior to their concert time to allow time for tuning. Students can plan to dress for a special occasion (nothing new needs to be purchased).
Richards 4th Grade Orchestra: Tuesday, April 23rd, 6:00pm in Richards Great Hall
Richards 5th Grade Orchestra: Tuesday, April 23rd, 7:00pm in Richards Great Hall. This is a combined concert with Cumberland's 5th grade orchestra students.
Please email Mrs. Christine Annin (christine.annin@wfbschools.com) with any questions.
Mark your calendars for Richards Fine Arts Festival on May 30. More information to come.
From the Guidance Department: In May, our guidance lessons will be all about jobs and careers! I thought it’d be fun for our students to learn more about a variety of jobs from you - their families.
If you are interested in helping to share the many career options out there, we ask that you sign up to take Spirit (a stuffed tiger) to work with you! The sign-up linked below will be available for the next several weeks.
For those interested in this opportunity it would entail picking up Spirit here at Richards and taking it to work with you. We ask that you take a few pictures of Spirit the Tiger at your job, helping with various duties. There would also be a few questions for you to answer about your job - like a brief, kid-friendly description of what you do, where and when you work, and what you like about your job. Then you would return Spirit to Richards so it can be passed on to another volunteer. I will then compile the pictures and information into a slideshow to share with the students during our lessons.
If you are interested, please sign up here, and I will be in touch. Thank you!
Ms. Haley Anderson
Richards Counselor
2024-2025 School Year
This LINK takes you to the Parent/Guardian Optional Input Form. This form can be used to provide us with any information that you feel will be helpful in the class placement process for your student for the 2024-25 school year. Please note that requests for specific teachers will not be honored. All classroom placements are carefully considered whether this form is submitted or not.
The form will be available online through tomorrow, April 5, 2024. It is important to complete the form by this date to ensure the request is reviewed prior to initial placements.
Another important part of our planning for next year is to project as accurately as possible our student enrollments. Please notify the Richards office if your child will not be returning to Richards next year. (Stephanie.Haupt@wfbschools.com) Thank you!
NEW Student Enrollment: 4K - 5th Grade new student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process.
It is not necessary for current students to re-enroll. Families of current students will complete online registration in August. Specific registration details will be shared this summer.
5th Grade Advancement: We are beginning to plan all of the fun activities for your 5th graders for the last week of school. These activities will take place June 12-14. The PTO generously donates money for us to use towards this, but with the cost of the activities, etc. we ask that each family pays $35.00 for your children to be able to enjoy this fun filled last week at Richards. The money will cover the following: a memory book, a breakfast the morning of June 12th, field day the afternoon of June 12th, rollerskating at Butler Skateland the afternoon of June 13th, and decorations for their lockers, the hall and the breakfast. If you would like a yard sign, that cost is $5.00. You will also be invited to a morning cheer and high five at 8:05am on June 14th as they enter into the school for their last time as elementary school students (cue tears and sobs now). More details on all of this to follow. Thank you for your support and monetary contribution to make this last week a fun memory filled week for the students. Please make payment in Membership Tool Kit by April 19th. Thank you.
5th Grade Advancement Co Chairs
Sophia Menendez and Lynn Lange
Staff Appreciation Week 2024! Attention Richards Families! Each year there is one week when we celebrate our Richards teachers, staff, and crossing guards to show them how much we appreciate all they do for our children. This year, Staff Appreciation Week will be May 6-10, and the Richards PTO has exciting plans! Each day, the PTO plans a special activity, including catered lunches, gifts and sweet treats. Everyone gets excited for the daily sweepstakes as well, and this is where we can use your help! We are looking for donations from our Richards Community to help make the week a great success. Please consider making a monetary or gift card donation. Donations may be made through Membership Toolkit at https://richardspto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/277491 or in the envelopes that came home in your child’s Thursday Folder. Questions? Email Staff Appreciation Week Chairs Angela Burke angelahorvath@hotmail.com or Chrissy Tigrani caduhn@gmail.com.
Yearbooks On Sale Now! Yearbooks are on sale now through April 30th! The cost for each yearbook is $17.50 and they will be delivered to your child at school in early June. Yearbooks may be ordered through Membership Toolkit by clicking here. Questions? Contact Yearbook Chair Allison Roth at: richards.yearbook@gmail.com.
Compost Crusader School Fundraiser Compost Crusader is selling 35lbs bags of compost for $18/bag. For each bag sold, Richards Elementary will receive $4 back to the school. Please see the attached link below with more information as well as the link to place your order. All orders will need to be in by Friday, April 26, 2024. Pickup of the compost will be at the school in May (pickup date to be announced). Please reach out to Emily Bandsma with any questions: ecbandsma@gmail.com
PTO COMMITTEE CHAIR OPENINGS for 2024-2025 School Year
Not all heroes wear capes! We are looking for volunteers to co-chair the Fun Lunch committee for the ‘24-’25 school year. Fun Lunch is a key fundraiser for the PTO and a treat for both kids and adults. You can sign up as soon as today and work with current chairs Deborah and Lynn to be ready for Fall 2024. Please email RichardsPTOWFB@gmail.com if interested in learning more!
Ever dream of being President someday?? Well now may be your opportunity! The PTO is seeking volunteers to co-chair the Vice President role for the next school year. The Vice President assists the President, as needed, and shadows the President in preparation for advancing to the Presidency the following year. If your someday is today, please reach out to current Presidents Maya and Angie via email at RichardsPTOWFB@gmail.com for more information!
Important Announcement: Student Safety During April 8th Solar Eclipse
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to inform you about an upcoming event that requires our attention and care for the safety of our students.
On April 8th, a solar eclipse will occur during school hours. While this is an exciting astronomical event, it also presents potential risks to students if they are not properly protected while viewing the eclipse.
After careful consideration and consultation with safety experts, we have decided that the best course of action to ensure the well-being of our students on the day of the event is to keep K-8th students indoors during the solar eclipse (1:30-2:30pm). This decision aligns with our commitment to providing a safe learning environment for all and matches the approach of several other school districts in the North Shore.
Teachers of science will have educational indoor activities planned for students to learn about solar eclipses in a safe environment. Feel free to read more about the solar eclipse from this NASA website for more information about solar eclipses and safety guidelines.
Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students, and we believe that this decision reflects that commitment. You are welcome to pick up your child during the school day for the solar eclipse. Please let your child’s teacher know ahead of time if you will be doing this so your child can be in office at the intended time.
Thank you for being a valued member of our school community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jamie Foeckler
Director of Teaching and Learning Services
Mr. Brian Chase
Director of Buildings and Grounds
School Board Meeting Takeaways: Curious about what is discussed at School Board Meetings? Linked below, you'll find key takeaways from the most recent School Board Meeting. Additional information can be found on the Board of Education website.
School Board Meeting: April 10, 2024: 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
The Whitefish Bay School Orchestras invite you to Electrify Your Symphony!
Electrify Your Symphony with the Whitefish Bay School Orchestras, features Mark Wood, original member of the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Saturday, April 6 @7:30 p.m. in the Whitefish Bay High School Auditorium.
Music from the Beatles, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and much more!
Tickets: $5 students, $10 senior citizens, $15 adult
Ticket site: LINK
WFBHS Choir Pops Concert - Friday, April 12th, at 7:30 p.m.
WFBHS Choir POPS concert theme this year is "British Invasion" featuring songs from the Beatles, Adele, Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Coldplay, and more! Tickets can be purchased in advance and information is on the poster.
Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation's Run the Bay
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Run the Bay is the foundation's main event to fund innovation in the WFB Schools. The run will be held on Saturday, May 4th at Klode Park! You can register for the run HERE! Visit us on Facebook for more information on the run along with the other Bay Day activities. Please email Kara Bzdusek (kmbzdusek@gmail.com) for sponsorship opportunities.
Important Policy Updates
Greetings Whitefish Bay School Community,
The School Board for the Whitefish Bay School District frequently assesses its policies and procedures.
The District recently reviewed and updated several, important policies, in consideration of new legal guidance. We invite all families and staff members to review the updated policies.
Should you have any questions, please contact the District Office at 414-963-3901.
Policy 411 Nondiscrimination and Equal Access to Equal Educational Opportunity
Policy 411.1 Student Anti-Harassment
Policy 411.2 Student Bullying and/or Hazing
Policy 411.3/511.3 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities
Policy 411.3/511.3 Exhibit Title IX Formal Complaint Form
Policy 411.5 Exhibit Report of Bullying, Harassment, and/or Hazing
From the Recreation Department: A new session of Young Rembrandts Art Classes begins next week and it's not too late sign up. More details can be found in our flyer!