Launch into the Week

Email: contact@richardsschool.k12.mo.us
Website: www.richardsschool.k12.mo.us
Location: 3461 County Road 1710, West Plains, Missouri, 65775
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaunchthatRocketPride

Phone: 417-256-5239

Sometimes the best laid plans change, so if corrections are made to this document please visit the online version using the "Launch" link found on the Richards website or follow postings on Facebook.

Monday, October 14 there is no school in honor of Columbus Day.

Tuesday, October 15 is Fall Picture Make Ups and Sports Pictures for Baseball, Softball, & Cross Country. Sports order forms should be available next week.

Please return original picture packet on October 15 if you are going to have a make up photo taken.

The original order form for Fall School Pictures is only needed if you missed the original Fall Picture Day and want to order pictures.

Richards will be hosting Parent Teacher Conferences the week of October 21 - 24, 2024.

Pre-K through 5th Grade will be by appointment only. Please sign up using the following link to schedule a Parent/Teacher Conference with your child's teacher(s): Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Up. Dates and times may vary by teacher and appointment slots can fill up fast, so be sure to schedule soon.

Grades 6 -8, Special ED, and Elective Classes will be drop in only, Monday through Thursday 4:00 - 6:00 PM.

To Sign Up: Click "view" on your child's teacher's name. This will bring you to the appointment calendar. Choose your appointment time and "Sign Up!". You will be asked for your name, email address and phone number. Click on "Save and Done" button. You may also enter a comment if needed. If you need to remove your appointment, click on "My Spots" and on the drop down menu click "Remove". If you have another child or want to sign up with additional teachers, you may repeat the process above.

If you have any questions please feel free to call the school at 417-256-5239.

Thanks to everyone who shopped this week at our Fall in Love with Reading Book Fair! The book fair store in the library is closed for business, but you can still shop online through October 13! Every book purchased provides funds for the Richards Library.

If you are headed to the WPHS football game tonight, Friday, October 4, be sure to look for our Rocket band members! It is 8th Grade Band NIght at the game. Area eighth grade band members are invited for a sneak peek of what to expect when they are in the high school marching band! Students participating will receive free admission & meal, observe the pre-game warm-up, walk in with the marching band into the stadium, sit with the band during the game, and watch the halftime show from the track.

Thursday, October 10, 3:45 - 5:15 PM Art Club will meet in the Richards Art Room.

Tuesday, October 15, FCA meeting will be held during lunch, 12:38 - 1:00 PM. All middle school students, grades 6 -8, athletes or not, are welcome to attend. We will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month. Grab a to-go tray from the cafeteria and come to the Bunch Gym!

Tinker Lab is EVERY Tuesday and Thursday, 3:45-5:15 PM. The "Lab" is sponsored by Mrs. Land, along with Mrs. Vanatter, and Mrs. Bunch, who provide supervision and instruction for students in grades 2-4. It is the goal of Tinker Lab to inspire future designers and creators of all types!

Morning meetings in Mrs. Bryant's room every Wednesday before school!!

3:45 - 5:00 PM

Monday, October 7

Wednesday, October 9

Friday, October 11, 11:00 AM

@ Junction Hill

Wednesday, October 9, 3:45 - 5:00 PM.

Going forward, Running Club will now take place at the Richards Sports Complex. Parents will need to pick up their athletes there.

All students in 4th through 8th grade are welcome! You must have a current sports physical on file at the school and passing grades to participate.

Tuesday, October 8, 3:45 - 6:00 PM

Parent meeting will follow at 6:00 PM.

Boys: Thursday, October 10, 3:45 - 5:30 PM

Girls: Thursday, October 10, 3:45 - 6:00 PM

3:45 - 5:15 PM

Monday, October 7

Tuesday, October 8

Wednesday, October 9

3:45 - TBD

Thursday, October 10

End time on Thursday will depend on the number of students who tryout.

Coach will communicate an approximate time sometime next week.

Visit Rocket Athletics to learn more!

Visit Lady Rocket Athletics to learn more!

Ramona Heiney-State Farm Agent in association with The Pizza Shack (West Plains) and Spring Dipper West Plains are excited to announce the Richards Rockets September student of the month, Hazard Barden. Hazard is a 3rd grader and the son of Shad Barden and Leidy Gonzalez. His teachers say he sets a positive example for other students to follow. Hazard works hard, actively participates in class, and always follows expectations without being asked. He is a good friend to others. Congratulations Hazard!!

Thanks for joining us for the "Fall in Love with Reading" event! We hope everyone enjoyed the stories, activities, and the opportunity to share in the love of reading. Your support for our reading community means the world, and we look forward to seeing you at future events.

We still have openings in our full day preschool program! If your child is 4 years old as of Aug. 1, 2024, call to enroll your child today! The Early Childhood Center (E.C.C.), located at 3075 Holiday Lane, is a special center where everything is structured with smaller students in mind. This center is fitted specifically for the needs of students in Preschool. Call us at 417-256-5239 for enrollment information.

Missouri SuN Bucks is a new program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer months of June, July, and August. Families of students who were determined eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRL) during the regular, 2023-2024, school year will be automatically enrolled and receive this benefit. Families that qualify will receive a one-time $120 benefit per eligible student. The funds will be loaded onto an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card and mailed to the household address or loaded onto a SNAP household member’s card. These funds can be used to buy nutritious foods at authorized locations.

Children may be automatically eligible for Missouri SuN Bucks and will not need to apply for the program if they meet any of the following:

• The household already participates in SNAP or Temporary Assistance, or

• The child is age 7 through 17 and is in foster care, homeless, a migrant, or

• The child attends a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, and your household income meets the requirements for Free or Reduced Price Meals.

Visit the following link to determine eligibility and if you need to apply: https://mydss.mo.gov/SuNBucks

All Missouri children under five years old are now able to register for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. There is no deadline to register. The Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by providing age-appropriate books each month to children free of charge. In order to receive books, a parent or guardian must register their child on the Imagination Library national website. Books will be mailed directly to the homes of registered children every month.

West Plains bank contributes to Richards when you use your West Plains Band & Trust debit card! Visit West Plains Bank and Trust Company to learn more!

Dear Parents,

We’re excited to share that our school is participating in Cash for Classrooms, part of Casey’s Rewards. This opens up Richards School to new funding opportunities to help improve learning environments for students.

The best part? Donations don’t come out of your own pocket. When you buy from Casey’s and use their rewards program you can simply turn your points into a donation to our school.

Download the Casey App to get started! Locate the School Donations tab in your Casey’s App Account Settings. Type in Richards R5 School and select. Once you reach 250 Points you can begin donating!

Help Richards R5 School make the most of this program and learn more at Casey's Rewards.