The Raccoon Tribune

February was packed with fun, kindness, and achievements at Richneck!

• UnitedWay- Through Popcorn Fridays in January, Raccoons were able to raise $345 to donate to the UnitedWay!
• 80s Day had us celebrating 80 days left of school in totally rad style! Students and staff rocked their best 80s outfits to keep the countdown exciting.
  
• Cover our Doors with Love spread kindness throughout the building as students and staff shared heartfelt notes, turning every door into a celebration of positivity.
  
• Popcorn Fridays were a huge success! Thanks to our generous school community, we raised funds to support the Peninsula Foodbank and our CanStructure team—helping fight hunger one bag at a time.
  
• Archery Excellence—The Richneck Archery Team ROCKED at the district competition and is now advancing to STATE! We are so proud of their hard work and dedication.
  
• American Heart Challenge- Raccoons were able to surpass our fundraising goal for the American Heart Challenge by raising $1,620! Shout out to our top 5 fundraisers, Kian H, Mackenzie E., Camille E., Sage B., and Nora B.

Way to go Raccoons! Let's keep the momentum going!

Hey 5th Grade Parents, say Hello Middle School!

This month, the School Counselors began the course selection process with 5th grade students. Instructions and this tracking form have been sent home. It is important to review your child’s electives on ParentVUE and complete this tracking form. The School Counseling Team will confirm the choices and provide incentives for all signed/returned forms. Together we can all help align our 5th grade students with success and independence while choosing their elective classes for next school year. Please contact Mrs. Fonville if you have any questions!

Every moment of your student's day is precious and here at Richneck, we strive to make every minute count. Too many absences- excused or unexcused- can keep students from succeeding in school. Chronic absences keep students from getting consistent instruction needed to build skills. Late arrivals and early dismissals are also detrimental to a student's education as they are missing valuable instruction!

Did you know...

If your student misses just one day per week, that equals 40 days per year, which is 8 weeks. If that pattern continues, in 13 years of school, the will miss over 2.5 years!

What about leaving early or coming late?

If your student misses only 30 minutes per day, that equals 1/2 a day per week, 4 weeks per year. If that pattern continues, over the course of 13 years, they will have missed over 1.5 years.

What if my student is sick or has an appointment?

We know there are going to be times that student's have to miss school. If your child is truly sick or has an appointment, let us know! Bookmark the following link which brings you to a form to send the absence notification to our office staff. This will help determine if the absence is excused or unexcused.

https://richneck.nn.k12.va.us/absence.html

Chronic Absenteeism

Students are considered chronically absent if they miss 10% of the school year. Should your child exceed this threshold, a meeting will be held with school administration, your child's teacher, you, and a school counselor. Your child could be at risk of being retained due to attendance.

An excess of unexcused absences could result in contact being made by an attendance officer, an attendance improvement meeting, or court intervention.

A copy of NNPS Attendance Policy can be found here: https://sbo.nn.k12.va.us/resources/handbook/attendance.pdf

Here are some tips to help promote good attendance:

• Set a regular bedtime and mourning routine
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before
• Don't allow your child to stay home unless they are truly sick
• If your child seems anxious about attending school, talk to teachers or school counselors about their feelings and advise on how to make them feel comfortable and excited for learning
• Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call a family member, neighbor, etc.
• Check your child's attendance in ParentVue
• Encourage participation in after-school activities

For more information regarding attendance in Newport News Public Schools, please visit https://sbo.nn.k12.va.us/attendance/.

Points of contact for attendance matters at Richneck Elementary:

Catherine Harden- Attendance Officer

We are excited to host a Career Readiness Expo at Richneck Elementary and invite you to

participate! This event will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM in

our school gymnasium, with setup beginning at 9:00 AM. We are seeking volunteers to showcase

their careers and share their professional journeys with our 3rd-5th grade students (approximately

250 attendees).

Volunteers will have the opportunity to set up a display about their career or organization, engage

with students by sharing insights and answering questions, and, if possible, provide small swag

items. We will provide a four- or six-foot table, two chairs, and light refreshments for all participants.

If you are interested in volunteering, please confirm your participation no later than Friday, April 18,

2025, by completing our volunteer form [ https://forms.office.com/r/4KB0YisDKZ ]. This form is also accessible via the QR code above.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, contact the counseling department. We appreciate your support in making this a meaningful experience for our students and look forward to seeing you at the Richneck Elementary School Career Readiness Expo!

All Month: Canned Food Drive

7: Student 1/2 Day

14: Popcorn Friday

14: Sharing the Love Free Baked Goods

18: Chick-fil-A Spirit Night

24-28: Scholastic Book Fair

27: 2nd Grade Concert

28: Popcorn Friday

28: Club Friday

28: Fire Friday

28: Share the Love Free Baked Goods

29: March Mania 3.0 at Menchville High School

Also this month:

A child’s success starts with strong family support. When families engage in learning at home, students build confidence, improve academically, and develop a love for discovery.

This month, we encourage families to try these fun and simple activities to stay engaged in their child’s learning:

📖 Family Reading Time – Set aside 15–20 minutes each evening to read together. Let your child pick a book and take turns reading aloud. Discuss the story to boost comprehension.

🎲 Learning Through Play – Board games, puzzles, and card games help develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Try a math-based game like Monopoly or a word-building game like Scrabble!

📝 Writing Challenge – Encourage your child to keep a daily journal. They can write about their day, create a short story, or even start a family gratitude list.

🔬 Hands-on Science – Conduct simple experiments at home, like making a baking soda volcano or growing a plant from a seed. Learning comes to life when kids explore with their hands!

📅 Everyday Math – Involve your child in real-life math by letting them help with measuring while cooking, counting change at the store, or tracking the weather.

Family engagement doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s about spending quality time together while reinforcing learning in fun ways. Let’s make this month one filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection!

Stay engaged, stay involved, and let’s keep learning together!