Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256

Twin Bluff science, technology, engineering, art and math teacher Nick Richmond points out the next step in the classroom plumbing station. Each 4-foot station, like the electrical one nearby, rolls into place.

Nick Richmond loved visiting construction sites as a kid, talking with the crew members about this tool and that, why things were built this way and not that. Eventually, he worked all types of summer construction jobs as he studied to become a physical education teacher.

Fast forward 28 years, and he’s built a new career as the Twin Bluff Middle School science, technology, engineering, arts and math or STEAM teacher.

“I believe each year the bar gets raised a bit higher for the level of projects we put out. The students love coming in and getting right to work, getting hands-on experience with tools, as well as designing and creating their own projects,” he said.

The Southeast Service Cooperative recently recognized his dedication and innovation, honoring him as one of the region’s top 10 STEM/STEAM teachers in the region.

You came to Red Wing Public Schools in 2022 as the grades 5-7 Phy Ed/Adapted PE teacher. What prompted the switch to STEAM?

After our STEAM teacher left mid-year many of us teachers had to sub in that class. I started thinking It would be easier to find a phy ed teacher than a STEAM teacher so I approached Assistant Principal Bobbi Seleski and asked if it was a possibility. She in turn spoke with Principal Patrick Beierman and the rest, as they say, is history.

STEAM encompasses so much. How do you incorporate the components into your lessons?

Each component of STEAM is broken down into units during each trimester. No two trimesters are the same in what is made. I like to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of my class in the first couple weeks to see what they can handle. Some do up to 16 projects, while others may do 10 or so. Those in the third trimester will do composting and starter plants, while those in the fall and winter may do projects that correspond with the respective seasons. Nothing is set in stone. I love the flexibility of switching from one thing to another.

Nick Richmond's lessons go beyond the nuts and bolts while keeping things practical in STEAM classes for grades 5 and 6.

Tell us about the new DIY lab you built.

Without the help of 3M and the Red Wing Public Schools Foundation, much of what we accomplish wouldn’t be possible. Through these organizations’ generosity, I was able to purchase materials to build our new DIY lab in our back shop.

Each 4-foot table top station is a mockup of a project one would do around the house, such as vinyl siding, tongue and groove wall board, ceramic tile, insulation, caulking, expanding foam, and many more. I spent much of last summer building the lab, averaging 20 hours a week, finally finishing a couple days before our back-to-school open house.

Students begin with our Tool Kit Unit, learning the names and using the 19 tools. Students are not allowed to move to the DIY lab without passing this unit. Fifth graders do cardboard projects, circuits and the design process. When they are in grade 6 they take on more advanced projects.

What do you enjoy most about teaching middle school students?

The fact that many of my students have never used these tools, made projects and engaged in the experiments we do in class is why I love the middle school level. The look on a student’s face when they wire up a closed circuit and that light bulb flickers on, there’s no better moment.

I express to the kids how important it is to fail once in a while without getting upset. I want them to ask to start over. This tells me they’re doing the little things right that will make them better as they get older. We stress the quality of work, not trying to get the project done and moving on to the next.

I see roughly 110 students per day, so our room is always messy – the room is busy with learning.

Tell us about being nominated an outstanding STEM educator.

What a humbling experience! What I appreciate most is the validation that everything I’m doing is bringing attention to TBMS and our students. I accept the nomination on behalf of everyone who has supported me the past 2 years. I’m truly proud of the direction our STEAM program is going.

Red Wing Public Schools Foundation is marking 30 years! With this anniversary comes a new campaign, $30 for 30.

The Red Wing Public Schools Foundation's mission is to enrich, enhance, and endow the educational experience of Red Wing’s students.

Each year Red Wing teachers submit grant requests to introduce our students to new technology, heighten awareness of the arts, provide classroom supplies, make field trips possible and enhance every student’s education in dozens of other ways.

The foundation has given approximately $1.7 million since its inception. For 2024-2025, the foundation gave our classrooms $74,000 in grants. Thank you!

Red Wing Arts has presented the Student Art Show for over 30 years. This special exhibition showcases a wide variety of artworks by K-12 students, including those at Burnside Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary, Twin Bluff Middle School, Red Wing High School, Tower View Alternative High School and Goodhue County Education District.

There will be public receptions staggered by grade at the Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery:

Thursday, March 13: 4-4:45 p.m. K-grade 1 and 4:45-5:30 pm., grades 2-4

Friday, March 14: 4-5:30 p.m., grades 9-12.

Tuesday, March 25: 3:30-4:15 p.m. GCED and 4:30-5:30 p.m., grades 5-8.

Ms. Sam Kiecker, who teaches Family & Consumer Sciences and the Winger Flight Paths Capstone class, gathered quotations by famous people from around the globe and throughout recorded history. The project posted in the hallway is intended to inspire and celebrate humanity.

Kiecker stated, "Student voice is so important, and my goal is always for them to feel seen and heard. I hope the collection of powerful words will inspire them to speak their minds with courage and kindness."

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will begin Wednesday, March 5.

During fourth hour, current students in grades 8-11 will be shown an instructional video and given a registration form. Online registration will open at this time through StudentVue, and students should use their four-year plan to begin selecting potential classes. Physical registration forms may be submitted through March 12.

PSEO and students with an online class during fourth hour will need to pick up their registration form from their counselor.

RWPS students have no school on Thursday, March 6, as it is a day for conferences. Red Wing High School conferences will be held in teachers' classrooms from noon to 7 p.m. Students and parents/guardians do not need appointments; this is an open house-style conference.

The registration window for spring activities is now open at www.gowingers.com. Participants are encouraged to register early so that coaches may begin contacting families with important information relative to a chosen activity.

Spring practice start dates are:

• March 10 - Baseball (grades 9-12), softball (7-12), track (7-12), strength and speed (7-12).
• March 17 - golf (7-12).
• March 24 - boys tennis (7-12).

Students must be registered, have their fee paid, and have a qualifying sports physical on file.

RED WING HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR

Wednesday, March 5: Enrichment/Advisory Day.

Thursday, March 6: Parent-teacher-student conferences; no classes for students.

Monday, May 10: Band concert, 7 p.m., with grade 8, symphonic, concert and jazz ensembles.

Wednesday, March 12: Enrichment/Advisory Day.

Friday, March 14: Student Art Show reception, 4-5:30 p.m., grades 9-12, Red Wing Depot.

March 17-21: Spring break.

Monday. March 24: No school for students; teacher workday.

Tuesday, March 25: Student Art Show reception, 4:30-5:30 p.m., grades 5-8.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Student hours: 8:40 a.m. to 3:24 p.m.

Attendance: 651-385-4660 or rwhsattendance@rwps.org

Phone: 651-385-4700

Webpage: Red Wing High School

Student newsletter: March 3-7.

Activities: gowingers.com

Tower View students placed their handprints on the school's new tipi Wednesday, Feb. 26. The American Indian Parent Council purchased tipis for every Red Wing Public Schools site and has been conducting this activity throughout the year. By spring, the tipis will be finished and grace the various grounds. See more photos on the Tower View Facebook page.

TOWER VIEW CALENDAR

Thursday, March 6: Parent-teacher conferences; no school for students.

Friday, March 14: Student Art Show reception, 4-5:30 p.m., grades 9-12.

March 17-21: Spring break.

Monday. March 24: No school for students; teacher workday.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

154 Tower View Drive

Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Office: 651-388-8963

Webpage: Tower View

Some creative cardboard crafts hit the Twin Bluff Pool on Thursday. Grades 5 and 6 students put their STEAM lessons to the test. See more photos on the Twin Bluff Middle School Facebook page.

Twin Bluff Middle School will hold conferences Thursday, March 6. Parents/guardians should have received an email from their student's assigned conference teacher with a code to select an appointment time in PTCFast. We look forward to seeing our families at the conference!

TWIN BLUFF CALENDAR

Monday, March 3: Trimester 3 begins.

Thursday, March 6: Parent-teacher conferences; no school for students.

Friday, March 7: Leadership Dance, 6-8 p.m.

Friday, March 14: "Finding Nemo Jr.," 7 p.m., auditorium.

Saturday, March 15: "Finding Nemo Jr.," 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., auditorium.

March 17-21: Spring break.

Monday. March 24: No school for students; teacher workday.

Tuesday, March 25: Student Art Show reception, 4:30-5:30 p.m., grades 5-8.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Twin Bluff Newsletter: March

Student hours: 8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.

Attendance: 651-385-4550 or tbmsattendance@rwps.org

Phone: 651-385-4530

Webpage: Twin Bluff

Burnside fourth graders broke into two cohorts, participating in a Youth Frontiers Kindness Retreat Feb. 25 or 26. They engaged in conversations, small groups, dance, song, role play, and learning centered on kindness. They created a vision together of what they want for Burnside. Find more photos in posts both days on the Burnside Facebook page.

Here is your Day 5 totals and Week 1 wrap-up for the Burnside food drive: On Friday, 46 items were collected bringing the item count to 331.

Zach Harding's classroom surged into the lead this week with 86 items -- 65 of those coming in on Thursday. But other classes are closing in!

The drive to stock the Red Wing Area Food Shelf continues through March 12.

Burnside Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6. We are again using an online signup called PTCFast.com. We hope this system will allow you to choose the best time that meets your needs. Click on the link button below and follow the prompts to register and choose a conference time.

Per district procedure, we have one 15-minute conference time available per student. It is imperative that parents/caregivers who are connected to the student are receiving the same information and planning together, as a team, how to best support the student. Please contact the Burnside office at 651-385-4700 if you have any difficulty signing up for a time.

BURNSIDE CALENDAR

Wednesday, March 5: Selected fourth graders to Minnesota Zoo for ZOOM presentation.

Thursday, March 6: Parent-teacher conferences; no school for students.

Friday, March 7: Grade 3 to Goodhue County History Center.

Thursday, March 13: Student Art Show elementary reception, 4:45-5:30 p.m., Red Wing Depot.

March 17-21: Spring break.

Monday. March 24: No school for students; teacher workday.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Burnside Newsletter: March.

Student hours: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attendance: 651-385-4715 or: BESattendance@rwps.org

Phone: 651-385-4700

Kids Junction: 651-385-4709

Webpage: Burnside Elementary School

Sunnyside students had a fantastic time on a winter story walk Feb. 26, organized by Goodhue County Safe Routes to School. Walking from page to page, students read "Dragons Love Tacos," one of their favorite books. A big thank you to Red Wing Public Library for providing the book page signs and helping make this experience special.

Sunnyside Elementary will hold conferences by appointment 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6. Parents/guardians may sign up online through PTCFast.com. Please contact the Sunnyside office at 651-385-4570 if you have any difficulty signing up for a time.

SUNNYSIDE CALENDAR

Thursday, March 6: Parent-teacher conferences; no school for students.

Thursday, March 13: Student Art Show, 4-4:45 p.m. K-grade 1, Red Wing Depot.

March 17-21: Spring break.

Monday. March 24: No school for students; teacher workday.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Student hours: 7:45 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.

Attendance: 651-385-4580 or SESattendance@rwps.org

Phone: 651-385-4570

Kids Junction: 651-385-4587

Webpage: Sunnyside webpage

Students in Ms. Alexa's classroom are learning about construction as they play.

Colvill conference dates are March 3 and 6. Parents should connect with their child's teacher to schedule a time if they have not scheduled one already.

COLVILL CALENDAR

Monday, March 3: Parent-teacher conferences; no school for students.

Thursday, March 6: Parent-teacher conferences; no school for students.

Friday, March 7: Colvill Play Day, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (registration required.)

Thursday, March 13: Early childhood screening (appointment required).

Open gym night (enrollment required).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Colvill webpage

Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-385-8000

YOUTH CLASSES

Tuesday, March 4: Kids Coil Bowls, grades 2-4.

Wednesday, March 5: Burnside After School Craft - Hop Into Spring, grades 2-4.

Thursday, March 6: Intro to Horses at Lost Creek Ranch, ages 7-16.

Saturday, March 7: Child and Babysitting Safety (CABS) Program, grades 4+.

Try It - On the Wheel, ages 15+.

Home Alone!, grades 2+.

Monday, March 10: Middle School Nail Lab, grades 5-7.

Acrylic Painting Class, grades 5-7.

ADULT CLASSES

Tuesday, March 4: Gardening For Moths - The Super Pollinators.

Friday, March 7: Watercolor Landscapes.

Saturday, March 8: Bob Ross "Wet-on-Wet" Painting Class, ages 12+.

Monday, March 10: The Mountains Are Calling Cake Decorating.

Thursday, March 13: Clay Night Out.

Parents with Littles - Your Technology Safety Toolbox.

Friday, March 14: Watercolor Floral.

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Phone: 651-385-4565

The School Board accepted the following grants and donations in February:

• American Legion Post 54, $250, Twin Bluff MIddle School Food Pantry.
• American Legion Post 54, $250, Red Wing High School Food Pantry.
• Pat Evans, incumbent bike for weight room, Red Wing High School.
• Linda Kocur, fishing kits ($60 value), Colvill Early Childhood Family Education.
• Elizabeth Breeden & Red Wing Area Homeless Shelter Committee, 10 children’s winter jackets
• ($200 value), Colvill ECFE.
• Barbara Haley, $1,000, Red Wing High School robotics team.
• Wipe Your Paws, $600, gym equipment.
• W. Steven and Heidi Jones, $10, Black Student Union.

DISTRICT CALENDAR

Monday, March 3: Conferences at Colvill Family Center.

Thursday, March 6: Conferences at Colvill, Sunnyside, Burnside, Twin Bluff, Red Wing High School and Tower View; no school for students.

Monday, March 10: School Board workshop, 5:30 p.m., Red Wing High School room J110.

Tuesday, March 11: Agenda/Personnel Committee, 3:15 p.m., District Office.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

District Office

2451 Eagle Ridge Drive

Red Wing, MN 55066

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-385-4500

Website: www.rwps.org

Red Wing Public Schools strives to provide an innovating and meaningful educational experience that fosters curiosity; pursues and applies best practices; embraces diversity by respectfully engaging all students, families, and staff; and connects and partners with our community. We serve pre-K through grade 12.

Website: www.rwps.org
Location: 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 385-4500