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December Newsletter
School District of New Richmond - December 29, 2023
Letter From The Superintendent
Dear SDNR Families,
With winter break winding down, I hope everyone had a fun and safe time with family and friends. I look forward to seeing everyone back in the classrooms and ready to learn beginning on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
To kick off the new year on a positive note, I would like to invite all students, families, and staff to attend the Second Annual Sledding with the Superintendent event that will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the west side of Starr Elementary. New this year, we will have fundraisers put on by various school groups, and Mr. Dahle, our Middle School Choir Director, will be the DJ during the event.
Let's end the month of December by inspiring each student to continue learning and growing every day.
Respectfully,
Troy Miller
Superintendent
Miller on the Move: Sledding with the Superintendent
You're invited to the Second Annual Sledding with the Superintendent event on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Starr Elementary Sledding Hill (Our make-up date for the Sledding with the Superintendent event is Saturday, January 13, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)!
Please watch our latest Miller on the Move video to see what is new at this year's event!
View Miller on the Move on YouTube HERE.
View Miller on the Move on our Website HERE.
Coffee and Conversation
Attention SDNR Parents and Guardians:
Please join Superintendent Miller for a cup of coffee and school-related conversation on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, from 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. in the Middle School Media Center.
Thank you, Bizzy Bean, for providing us with delicious coffee!
We Want To Hear From You!
We want to make our monthly Coffee and Conversation events with Superintendent Miller more accessible and beneficial for you. Please fill out the Google Form HERE to share your thoughts with us about these Coffee and Conversation events. Thank you for being an active part of our school community!
Important Dates in January
January 1: No School - Tiger Pack Closed
January 2: Classes Resume
January 3: Navy Representative Visits NRHS
January 5: SCVMEA Honors Band & Choir Rehearsals @ River Falls High School
January 6: Sledding with the Superintendent @Starr Sledding Hill
January 6: SCVMEA Honors Band & Choir Concert @ River Falls High School
January 9: National Guard Representative Visits NRHS
January 9: Army Representative Visits NRHS
January 9: Coffee and Conversation with Superintendent Miller @ Middle School Media Center
January 10: Marine Representative Visits NRHS
January 11: NRHS Play Auditions @NRHS Auditorium
January 11: Northwood Technical College Representative Visits NRHS
January 12: Starr Kindergarten White Day
January 15: No School - Tiger Pack Closed
January 15: School Board Meeting
January 19: End of Quarter 2 for NRMS & NRHS
January 19: Starr Kindergarten Purple Day
January 20: 8th Grade Conference Honors Ensembles Concert @ River Falls High School
January 22: No School - Professional Learning Day
January 30: UW-Platteville Representative Visits NRHS
January 30: NR4Kids Informational Meeting
Congratulations on Your Retirement!
On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, the School District of New Richmond Board of Education approved the retirement of Deborah Swanson, following the 2023-2024 school year. Ms. Swanson dedicated 21 years of service to the School District of New Richmond. We wish you nothing but the best in your retirement following the 2023-2024 school year!
Care Solace
Dear Families,
Happy holidays! With winter break upon us, we encourage you to relax, unwind, and settle into a safe and restful break.
The holiday season is a time for togetherness and joy, but it can sometimes bring unwelcome guests, like stress and grief. Some of us may be experiencing the holidays without a loved one. Some of us may be balancing endless to-do lists from shopping to entertaining. While we each celebrate this season’s joys, it’s important to stay mindful, acknowledge our feelings, and reach out for help if needed.
The School District of New Richmond partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of our community. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. This is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service provided by the School District of New Richmond. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health care provider:
Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
Visit www.caresolace.com/newrichmond and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
May you enjoy your break and return rested and reinvigorated for a fantastic new year!
NRHS Student Council & Key Club Decorate the Giving Tree!
Starr Students Learn to Rhyme Using Their Gingerbread Men!
NRMS Students Experience BizTown & Discover Their Skills!
Student Learning Update
NRHS Music Department
On Monday, December 18th, NRHS music students performed their Winter Concert for a full house. Weeks of hard work and practice paid off as they filled the auditorium with toe-tapping music and sounds of the season. Winter Wonderland, Festive Madrigal, Allegro from “Xerses,” Linus & Lucy, and Sleigh Ride are an example of selections that were performed.
When the students return in January, they will be greeted with new music and opportunities to challenge them, as the bar continues to be raised. This cycle of expectation, practice, and performance works to sharpen our students’ musical skills, and the results can last their entire lives. While studying music has many immediate and obvious benefits, there are also other great outcomes. Did you know that singing or playing an instrument can lower blood pressure and reduce stress? In addition, research has shown that music is to the brain as physical exercise is to the body. Students who regularly study music tend to have larger vocabularies, more advanced reading skills, as well as an increased ability to be creative and express themselves. But of course, we all know that performing music can be just plain fun, and the act of being able to make music daily in school is fantastic.
Many thanks to our wonderful Administrators, District Music Teachers, our colleagues, and of course our great parents and community members who continue to support music in our schools and the Fine Arts in New Richmond!
NRMS Health / Physical Education Departments
NRMS Physical Education classes have been playing volleyball in class. After practicing the skills of passing, setting, and serving, the students played small-sided games, learned the rules of the game, and how to rally score. Then, the students were able to choose to join a recreational or competitive class tournament. There were lots of smiles as the champions were crowned!
Stay tuned for our ice skating adventures in all of our Physical Education classes. Please see our Physical Education webpage for more information and ask your student for all the upcoming details.
In Health Class, our 8th graders completed the last part of their Nutrition Unit which involved researching their favorite fast food meals and then measuring out the fat and sugar using lard and sugar cubes. Students had to include a mean dish, side, and drink for their meal calculations. Great work using your math skills to complete the assignment!
Hillside 4th Grade Classes
In our Science Unit, the 4th Graders learned about Earth's features and processes. Students explored the rapid process of volcanic eruptions! In contrast, students also explored the gradual Earth processes of weathering and erosion. Students applied their knowledge and designed solutions to mitigate the impacts of these processes on humans.
Students also gathered evidence to describe how environments on Earth have changed over time. Students explored how the process of sedimentary rock formation preserves a record of those past environments. In the activity, Canyon Explorer, students observed fossils found within a model canyon. The characteristics of those fossils provide evidence to support the explanation that the landscape has changed numerous times.
Paperjack 5th Grade Classes
Our Paperjack 5th graders diligently wrote Opinion Essays this month. They learned to collect research from expert sources, while also organizing and analyzing the research to form an opinion, based on facts. Then, the students wrote a five-paragraph essay supporting their opinion. They all wrote about the pros and cons of chocolate vs. white milk. What a fun way to learn and engage our Tigers!