Richmond Elementary E-News

At Richmond there are several ways that students are recognized for good behavior. Tiger Heads are a part of our Richmond building-wide positive behavior system. Classrooms earn a Tiger Head by following Richmond's expectations of being respectful, responsible and a problem solver. Golden Tiger Heads are unique because it means that a class has consistently demonstrated that they can follow school expectations and has earned a special reward after 5 Tiger Heads are earned.

In addition to Tiger Paws, students also have an opportunity to be recognized individually with Tiger Bucks for following Richmond's expectations of being respectful, responsible and a problem solver. Students can choose to spend their Tiger Bucks on various items and experiences with Richmond teachers and staff here. We want to thank our Richmond PTO for their support of our Tiger Buck monthly raffle through their generous donations. We have included the Tiger Menu below for our parents to see some of the tangible items and experiences students can earn.

We are excited to offer an exciting parent engagement opportunity. During the end of September and early October, we will invite guest readers into classrooms to read a book that pertains to Hispanic Heritage Month. For a list of possible books please click HERE. If you have another title you are interested in reading, please e-mail your book idea to our LRC director at brittany.brandenburg@d303.org to see if it can be added to our list.

To sign up we will use Sign Up Genius. Please note, you do need to create a FREE account if you do not have one in order to sign up. To sign up for a slot, please click HERE. Please fill out the book you are reading in the comment section.

Students in grades 3-5, will begin taking the Panorama SEL Survey on Monday, September 23rd. Here you can find a detailed letter regarding this survey.

Students who ride a bus to school participated in a bus evacuation drill on Wednesday. They did a great job! We have concluded 2 fire drills, a shelter in place, a lockdown drill and the bus evacuation drill. We will have one more fire drill this year in the spring.

Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day is on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Richmond Elementary are welcoming families to participate in this event. We know that these events are important opportunities to gather as a school or community, encourage physical activity, and promote safety in our neighborhoods and near schools. Wellness committee student leaders, staff, and PTO will welcome our students as they walk to school to promote being active.

At Richmond, students have the opportunity to walk in a parade around Richmond (and outside on 12th street) before their fall parties in their costumes on Halloween. The parade will run outside from 2:25 pm to 2:35 pm. Parents may line up along 12th Street to watch the parade.

• Classroom parties will run from 2:35 pm to 3:15 pm after the parade

• Room Parents will be allowed to go to classrooms at 2:15 pm for party set up and to assist with costumes after they have checked in at the office

• In the event of inclement weather, there will not be a parade

Costume & Party Guidelines: Students should bring costumes in a bag. Costumes must be appropriate for school. Costumes should not be violent or scary in nature. No blood, guts, or weapons. No masks. Make-up is discouraged because it is difficult to apply. Students may be asked to remove or put away any parts of costumes based on teacher judgment.

• Room Parents who are assisting with the parties should not wear disguises that would make it difficult to recognize them as a safe person

• Only parents signed up to assist at the parties are able to attend the parties

• No food treats will be eaten during the party

• Work with the teacher on any non-edible goody bags to be sent home. NO CANDY!

Room Parent Guidelines:

• No more than 4 parents per classroom. Sign-up for Room Parents is through our PTO.

• Complete the D303 volunteer form if you have not already. Contact Darlene Buffano at darlene.buffano@d303.org or call at (331) 228-2800 if you have questions about procedures.

• Work with the classroom teacher on activities/games for the party

• Work with the teacher on any non-edible goody bags to be sent home

From October 7th - 11th, students can explore their next favorite read at the Richmond

Elementary Literati Book Fair! Every purchase supports our school LRC.

The Book Fair will take place during the school day October 7th-9th. We will be open during

Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 10th from 8:00am-8:00pm and Friday,

October 11th from 8:00am-12:00pm.

Each classroom will have a 20 minute shopping day/time during the fair. During that time,

students may create a wish list or purchase books using a Literati Digital Gift Card or cash.

Any cash should be sent to school in a plastic baggie marked with the child's name and

class. Students will be responsible for their own money and spending.

● Literati Book Fair Gift Cards: Digital gift cards are an easy payment method that

won’t get lost in a backpack. Buy them online for use at both our in-person and online

fairs. Click HERE or go to: https://literati.com/store/product-category/gift-cards/

All gift cards will be accessible from the bookfair registers at checkout with student name.

● Payment methods: Student shopping: We accept cash or book fair gift cards.

Conference shopping: We accept cash, book fair gift cards, or credit and debit cards.

● Shop from home at our online fair: Can’t make the fair? No worries! Shop for

exciting new books online at fairs.literati.com, through October 11th. Create student

wishlists to share with friends and family. When you search for our school,

double-check that you have the right city and state. Your online order will also benefit

our school.

We can’t wait for our students to experience our upcoming book fair! Thank you for helping

to inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Please contact Mrs. Brandenburg with any questions at brittany.brandenburg@d303.org.

Thank you again for all your support!

Brittany Brandenburg, LRC Director/Media Specialist

Alma Bautista, LRC Paraprofessional

We had an amazing sign-up for clubs! Club letters went home today with details to students who signed up. Clubs will start on Friday, October 4th. Students will come to school at their normal arrival time by their normal mode of transportation. They will report directly to their club. Staff will help students find their club location on the first day. Students will participate in their club and return to class at 9:20 a.m. Teachers will take attendance after students arrive back in class.

The First Rehearsal is on Monday!

Attention 5th Grade Families! Does your child like to sing? Choir registration is happening now for all 5th grade students interested in learning more about team building, vocal technique, and unison and part-singing, all through a rich variety of vocal music repertoire! Choir will be held before school on Monday mornings at Munhall, starting Monday, September 23th! Click here for more information and to register your 5th grade student for choir!

Choir Information

Registration Form

Choir Video

You may email Erika Hammons with any questions you may have:

erika.hammons@d303.org

¡El primer ensayo es el lunes!

Atención Familias de 5º Grado! A su hijo le gusta cantar? Las inscripciones de Coro ya están disponibles para todos los estudiantes de quinto grado interesados en aprender más sobre el trabajo en equipo, técnica vocal y canto al unísono o parcial, todo esto a través de un gran repertorio variado de música vocal! Las clases de Coro se llevarán a cabo en la escuela Primaria Munhall los lunes por la mañana antes de comenzar la escuela, a partir del lunes, 23 de septiembre! Haga clic aquí para obtener más información e inscribir a su estudiante de 5o grado en coro!

Información sobre Coro

Formulario de Inscripción

Video de Coro

After this week, we will have the link for the Tiger Lunch Crew at the bottom of the e-news under helpful links. The TLC (Tiger Lunch Crew) program is a school-based, family, and community engagement initiative designed to strengthen connections between parents, students, and staff. Inspired by similar successful programs like WATCH D.O.G.S.®, TLC is focused on fostering a supportive and positive school environment where parents can actively participate in their child's school experience.

Our program allows parents and guardians to volunteer during lunch and recess shifts to help supervise and build meaningful connections with students.

The Tiger Lunch Crew (TLC) is open to all parents, guardians, and caregivers. Volunteers play an essential role in creating a nurturing school community and supporting teachers and staff. Through this program, we hope to bring more volunteers onto campus, demonstrating the power of family engagement in boosting student success and well-being.

If you would like please sign-up for any lunch shift, any day school is in session. We will have two volunteer slots available per lunch. After you sign up, just come to the main office with an ID so we can check you into our system on the day(s) you volunteer.

SIGN-UP LINK HERE

Like and follow the Richmond Elementary School PTO on Facebook to stay to update on events, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, and much more!

http://bit.ly/4d9A2mf

KICK-A-THON is a local event that began over 30 years ago as an effort from the St. Charles High School Dance Team to raise money to help kick cancer. It has grown to include East and North High School Dance Teams and other amazing charities. This charity event will benefit the Fox Valley Food for Health, Colette A. Miles Foundation, and the high school dance teams. To date, we have raised over a million dollars and need your help to keep that number growing. Please join the St. Charles High School Dance Teams as we raise money to kick cancer.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, October 4th, 2024, at St. Charles North High School, prior to the start of the varsity football game between St. Charles North and St. Charles East. Local community members who help with fundraising will form a kick line alongside the dance team members and kick 100 times in an effort to raise money for these charities.

Student Council will be collecting donations! Please consider donating to support this great cause!

Hope to see you there!