Richards Family News

Dear Richards Families,

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for our Richards community. The dedication, hard work, and collaboration of our staff, students, and families inspires daily. It’s this commitment to excellence that makes Richards such a special place for our students to learn and grow.

This shared effort is reflected in the recently released School Report Cards from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. I am thrilled to share that Richards continues to receive a rating of a school Significantly Exceeding Expectations. This accomplishment is a true testament to the power of teamwork and shared purpose.

You can view detailed insights from our report card below along with a District Family Letter about the Report Card. Together, we’ll continue building on this success, striving for even greater heights.

Wishing you a safe, joyous, and restful Thanksgiving!

New Volunteer Process Begins December 3rd
To all our Richards volunteers, thank you for your invaluable support! Starting December 3rd, all volunteers must have their approved volunteer card upon check-in. This step helps us ensure student safety in alignment with our Focus Plan.

Who Needs a Volunteer Card?
If you’re volunteering in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, or involved in PTO clubs where students are present, please complete the volunteer application via the District HR Department at: https://www.wfbschools.com/district/volunteering.cfm. This approval is valid for two years.

Thank you for helping keep Richards a safe and welcoming place for all.

November 27-29 - No School 4K – 5th Grade: Thanksgiving Break

December 2 - No School 4K – 5th Grade: Staff Professional Learning Day

Click here to view the 2024-2025 School Year Calendar.

Whitefish Bay resident families of students who turn four on or before September 1, 2025 are invited to a 4K Visit at Richards on Friday, December 6, 2024 at either 8:40am or 1:30 pm.

This event, hosted by Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Petersen, will include a welcome from our 4K Teachers, a short story with our Library Media Specialist and time for Q & A. More information can be found in this flyer. Please join us! RSVP via this link. Contact the Richards Office (414-963-3951) with any questions. Help spread the word to neighbors and friends!

Elementary Switch Days: There are many no student days on Mondays and Fridays throughout the year. To provide every student with a balanced experience of Library, Art, Music (including Band and Orchestra), Physical Education, and Spanish instruction throughout the school year, we introduced a "days equalized" calendar.

Switch Day Tomorrow, Tuesday, 11/26: follows a Friday schedule. The reason this is important is specific to students who need to bring an instrument or wear appropriate footwear for physical education. We will give you notice before each switch day throughout the school year.

REGISTER HERE Registration ends December 15th.

For any questions please feel free to reach out to Maya Ceniceros and Rachel Adar at: mvceniceros14@gmail.com and rachel.adar@wfbschools.com

High Interest Day is a vibrant event that is loved by the entire Richards community!

While we are staying on as this year's Chairs, we are looking for 1-2 volunteers who would like to take a more active role in planning this year's event and potentially lead in future years. We've loved bringing this event to life, but we also think it could benefit from fresh eyes and new leadership at some point!

If interested, please let us know ASAP. This is not a crazy time-intensive role but there are a couple time periods where things are busiest [mid-March-mid April (excluding Spring Break) with a little prep work mid December]. Types of tasks you would be helping out with may include:

• Corresponding with past year's presenters and soliciting new presenters (if need be) [this will take place soon, before the end of the year]
• Liaising with the school - typically Chad Nelson and Katie Peterson - to coordinate details and provide necessary information to the teachers and student body
• Richards Family News + social media (FB/Insta) messaging
• Creating "course guide" for students to review the session options/info
• Assigning courses to students (we primarily use an online program for this)
• Assembling day-of name tags for each student
• Being present "day-of" to sit back and enjoy watching all of your hard work come to life.

Thanks for reading and we hope to hear from you soon!

Katie Walsh and Lisa Taub

Student Attendance FAQ

The linked document includes answers to frequently asked questions related to student attendance, excused and unexcused absences, make-up work, and more. Please carefully review the linked information. 2024-25 Student Attendance FAQ

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.

November 20 Board Meeting Takeaways

Next School Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00pm, at Whitefish Bay High School Auditorium. Click here to view the 2024-2025 School Board Meeting dates.

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

WFB Public Education Foundation Annual Pledge

The WFB Public Education Foundation’s 2024 Annual Fall Pledge Drive kicked off on October 9th! The Foundation provides immediate support to Whitefish Bay Schools and helps fund innovative educational projects, continuing teacher education, student scholarships and provides emergency funding.

Your donations are vital to the District’s long-term growth and success. With your support, we can help ensure continued academic, artistic and athletic excellence.

The campaign takes place October 9 – December 31. Show your support for our students and our schools by donating at www.educatethebay.com TODAY!

Join Us: Facilities Focus Groups

Our district is working to develop a plan to ensure our facilities are best suited to meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Based on feedback from our community and our district’s goals, we’re focused on developing ideas around collaborative spaces and modernized learning environments. We invite you and your family to share their thoughts with us through the opportunities outlined below:

Student Focus Groups

Your student’s perspective is essential as we plan improvements to support your academic, social, and future goals. We want to hear your student’s ideas on how updates to classrooms, common areas, and other school facilities could enhance their experience at their school.

Please let us know if you would like your child (grades 3 - 12) to participate in a focus group by clicking here to add their name and your agreement to allow them to participate in the group during the week of February 24-28. The focus group will include 5-7 students and be about 15-20 minutes long with a facilitator and notetaker. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Jamie Foeckler, jamie.foeckler@wfbschools.com, 414-963-3901.

Community Member Focus Groups

We are excited to invite you to participate in a focus group as we develop a plan to ensure our facilities best meet the needs of our students, staff, and community. Your insights are invaluable as we evaluate the condition of our school buildings, evolving educational practices, projected enrollment trends, and other factors to shape recommendations for repairs and updates to facilities to the school board and administration.

The focus group will occur during the week of February 24-28 and will last approximately 15-20 minutes, facilitated by a leader/notetaker. If you would like to participate, please click here to confirm your participation. For any questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Jamie Foeckler, jamie.foeckler@wfbschools.com, 414-963-3901.

Thank you for your support in improving our schools!

Website: https://www.wfbschools.com/schools/richards/
Location: 5812 North Santa Monica Boulevard, Whitefish Bay, WI, USA
Phone: 414-963-3951
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WFBSchools/