Richards Family News

Dear Richards Families,

Today, on Veterans Day, November 11th, we were honored to have Mr. Matt Rose as guest speaker at our school meeting. Many of you may remember Mr. Rose from his time as Associate Principal at the Middle School. He is a proud veteran who dedicated his life to serving our country.

Mr. Rose shared inspiring stories of his service and the significance of Veterans Day. His presentation helped us understand the sacrifices made by our veterans and the important role they play in our society.

We hope that his words have encouraged our students to reflect on the meaning of gratitude and to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy thanks to our veterans.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all veterans, both in our community and beyond, for their service and sacrifice.

Friendly Reminder: 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.

Whitefish Bay resident families of students who turn four on or before September 1, 2025 are invited to a 4K Overview at Richards Elementary School 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. Please contact the Richards Office (414-963-3951) with any questions. Help spread the word to neighbors and friends!

Ice Cream Day: Tuesday, November 12: We are looking for one more volunteer to help hand out ice cream to the 1st-5th grade students tomorrow from 11:00-1:00 during their lunch. Please reach out to Lisa Taub at lisabers@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.

Family Math Night - Shared Resources: Thank you to all who attended Family Math Night on October 21st and 22nd. During these events, students and family members engaged in game play focused on fact fluency.

Here are the resources we used:

● Google Slides of the presentation

● Family Letters from IM - letters sent out by teacher before a new unit

● Summary letters of key concepts at each grade level

● Games for Fluency Practice at Home by Grade - activities and resources from family night

Please note the games are built in stages and the goal is fluency. If it is too easy or challenging you can adjust a stage up or down. Think about making game play a weekly activity. Similar to how we ask students to read for a bit of time each night, added practice in playing Math Games can support fact fluency skills at home. Playing Sorry, Trouble, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Top It (previously called War in the form of addition, subtraction or multiplication practice),Monopoly etc are always options for turning math facts and skills into family time at home!

Should you have any questions, please reach out to Matthew Skinner at Cumberland Elementary (matthew.Skinner@wfbschools.com) or Susan Jones at Richards Elementary (susan.jones@wfbschools.com).

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.

Tuesday, 11/26, will be treated as a Friday. 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.

Volunteers Needed! The PTO could not run without the help of volunteers. If you are interested in becoming more involved with the school and PTO, the following committees are in need of volunteers:

• Sporting Events
• Lego Club
• Family Engagement/ Family Movie Night

For more information please email the PTO at richardsptowfb@gmail.com or visit the PTO website.

Join the steering committee for the 20th Anniversary Hunger Task Force Food Drive and Dinner!

The HTF Dinner is a proud tradition for our 3rd grade class for nearly two decades, this service project empowers students to learn about and combat hunger in our community. We need your help with planning and logistics to make this the BEST YEAR YET!

Committee Meeting Dates:

First Meeting: Dec 10, 2024, 6-7:30 PM

Second Meeting: Jan 14, 2025, 6-7:30 PM

🗓️ Event Details:

Food Drive: February 10 - March 7, 2025

Benefit Dinner: March 6, 2025

Ready to Make a Difference?

Contact: Maxine Webb mywebb08@gmail.com or Lynn Raines lynnraines318@icloud.com

*Although the HTF Food Drive and Dinner is hosted by the 3rd grade, we welcome parent volunteers from any grade.*

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.

October 23 Board Meeting Takeaways

Next School Board Meeting: Wednesday, November 13 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

Cancelation of School Activities due to Weather or Other Emergencies

As cooler weather arrives in Wisconsin, please review the linked communication from Dr. Foeckler related to Policy 723.4: Emergency School Closing. Additional information about school closings can be found on the District website.

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!

Bay Gives Back is hosting its 10th annual Gift Drive for Seeds of Health Elementary School (formerly Windlake) on Milwaukee's southside. We are sponsoring all 275+ students K4-6th grade this holiday season and we need your help! Sign up using this link: Sign Up Link! You will receive an email with specific details including your students name(s), wish list, grade etc. so you can shop accordingly. All gifts must be wrapped, labeled and dropped off by Friday, December 13th at the High School! Share the link, all members of the community are welcome to participate!

If you have questions email BGB at baygivesback@wfbschools.com

Happy Shopping!

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/