Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256

Andy Richardson teaches in Red Wing High School's Industrial Technology Department. Of the 15 courses, seven involve the woodshop: Introduction to Woodworking, Creative Woodcrafts, Machine Woodworking I and II, Cabinetmaking I & II and Independent Woodworking.

Industrial Technology classes introduce students to ways they can build a better world – from computer numerical control to woodworking, from engineering to design. Woven into the technical skills classes are lessons in high standards, quality workmanship, leadership, teamwork and character.

This fall Andy Richardson began his second year with the Red Wing High School Industrial Technology Department and his 20th in education.

You bring international experience to your job. Please tell us about that.

Once my two sons were both school age my wife and I decided to explore international education opportunities. In 2008 we moved to Daejeon, South Korea. We taught in an International Baccalaureate school (I taught social studies and my wife taught art) and were able to travel in east and southeast Asia over the three years we were there.

Our last international school was in Accra, Ghana, where we lived and taught for six years until the pandemic hit and the borders closed and we had to leave.

International schools are generally high quality, rigorous and fun places to work. I would recommend checking out international teaching to anyone interested. We were able to visit Borneo and Benin, Thailand and Togo, Burkina Faso and Belgium, and a number of other countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe along the way.

What or who inspired you to become a teacher?

My mother was a teacher but it was after I completed the Peace Corps that I decided I wanted to go into education. I thought I could have a positive impact working with young people.

If you had two hours to pack a bag and head to the airport, what would be your impromptu destination and why?

Machu Picchu. I have been able to travel and visit many countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, but I have yet to visit South America. I would love to see the construction and cities of the Inca. After that, I would keep traveling south … .

What would you tell someone thinking about becoming a teacher?

Think hard. It is not for everyone but if you do end up liking it it can be a service to others and an amazing career, especially if you want to see the world.

How do you spend your free time outside of school?

Outside of school I work on house projects, plant native plants, walk along the Cannon River, read, volunteer at the Cannon Valley Maker Space, and watch romantic comedies with my wife.

Woodworking students produce numerous projects during class. Right now, shelves are coming off the workbench. At this point, the wood is in its natural state.

Red Wing High School students have 28 clubs and activities from which to choose participate during the new enrichment/advisory period offered most Wednesdays during the academic year. On Oct. 2, the school held a club fair, then students began signing up for clubs this past week. Students may join throughout the year.

The new club period on Wednesdays gives groups an opportunity to meet during the school day addition to or instead of before or after classes. Students may choose more than one club.

The school start and end times are unchanged, but the regular seven classes periods are shortened by 5-7 minutes each to create Club Time between periods 5 and 6. Also during this time, staff will begin to implement intervention time to promote and grow academic success for all students and be intentional about the ways staff support our students.

CLUBS INCLUDE:

RED WING HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR

Monday, Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Enrichment advisory schedule.

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: PSAT.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: Enrichment advisory schedule.

BARR I-times for grades 8-10 during Social Studies.

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: Oct. 14-19

Activities: gowingers.com

Tower View's wildlife class continues its research project using trail cameras on the Anderson Center property. Students recently were out checking cameras and downloading photos. Their project is documenting the variety of species on the property and attempting to look for patterns in wildlife movement based on time, date, and temperature.

TOWER VIEW CALENDAR

Monday, Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

154 Tower View Drive

Office: 651-388-8963

Webpage: Tower View

Lisa Hanson's health class is studying CPR. Students practice compressions in the hallway.

Twin Bluff Middle School students enjoyed their first dance of the year on Friday, Oct. 11.

TWIN BLUFF CALENDAR

Monday, Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Bus Stop & Walk (weather permitting).

Picture day.

Grade 5 Earth Orbit Expo.

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: Bus Stop & Walk (weather permitting).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

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

Twin Bluff newsletter: October

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

Phone: 651-385-4530

Webpage: Twin Bluff

Grade 3 classrooms visited Young Acres Apple Orchard this week. Students experienced wagon rides, apple picking and sorting as well as learning about bees and pollination. See more photos on the Burnside Facebook page.

The CARE Clinic will provide free dental care to qualified uninsured or publicly insured Burnside students on Friday, Oct. 25. Parents/guardians must register their children through the school nursing staff.

The CARE Clinic accepts uninsured patients and Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees (Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, including South Country Health Alliance). The clinic also provides free dental services to children at its location, 906 College Ave. Families are encouraged use the dental clinic for regular care outside of school visits. Regular visits every six months allow your child's dentist to detect early signs of dental disease and decay.

For information, contact Burnside nurses Casey or Lauren at 651-385-4704.

BURNSIDE CALENDAR

Monday, Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Bus Stop and Walk (weather permitting).

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: Bus Stop and Walk (weather permitting).

Vision screening for grade 3.

Friday, Oct. 25: Fall dental clinic (by appointment).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

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

Burnside Bulletin newsletter: October.

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

Phone: 651-385-4700

Kids Junction: 651-385-4709

Webpage: Burnside Elementary School

Mrs. Prigge, Mrs. Richardson, and Mr. Alton traveled with their kindergarten classes to Carpenter Nature Center for Orchard Day on Oct. 9. Ms. Kelly, Ms. Plonsky and Ms. Marklevits took their classes on Oct. 8. The center provides the hands-on education of nearly 10,000 K-12 students and up to 20,000 visitors annually.

Picture Day will take place Tuesday, Oct. 15, and Sunnyside again will be using Kemmetmueller Photography. If you have specific questions about your student's picture day, need help with ordering photos, or have other concerns, please contact info@k-photography.com or call 952-473-2142.

SUNNYSIDE CALENDAR

Monday, Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Tuesday, Oct. 15: Picture Day.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: Bus Stop & Walk (weather permitting).

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

Monday, Oct. 21: Fire safety presentations by Red Wing Fire Department.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: Hearing and vision screenings.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: Bus Stop & Walk (weather permitting).

Fire safety presentations by Red Wing Fire Department.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

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

Sunnyside Bulletin newsletter: October

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

Phone: 651-385-4570

Kids Junction: 651-385-4587

Webpage: Sunnyside webpage

Staff and students created road on the blacktop. Traveling the Colvill roadways on their trikes, students did a great job of going one direction and looking out for others. When they were done, students parked their vehicle in the “parking lot” and took turns with their peers. If your child has a bike, come to Colvill and check it out! See more photos on the Colvill Family Center Facebook page.

COLVILL CALENDAR

Monday, Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LINKS

Colvill webpage

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

Phone: 651-385-8000

Many classes await you this fall. To view the catalog, click the front cover photo, make choice and then register.

YOUTH CLASSES

Thursday, Oct. 17: Creative Clay Wheel Adventure for Tweens, ages 9-13.

Kids Clay for MEA.

Friday, Oct. 18: Kids Clay for MEA.

Saturday, Oct 19: Wooden Pumpkin, grades K-2 with adult, grades 3-7.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: Acrylic Painting Class, grades 5-7.

Wednesday, Oct 23: Halloween Cookie Fun!, grades 3-8.

Thursday, Oct 24: Kids in the Kitchen: Pumpkins! Ages 7-12.

Friday, Oct 25: Pumpkin Pool Party, ages 4+ w/ adult.

Saturday, Nov. 23: Disney on Ice - Mickey's Search Party

ADULT CLASSES

Tuesday, Oct .15: Practical ChatGPT Training for Everyone.

Tuesday/Wednesday, Oct. 15-16: The Assassination of President John F Kennedy: In Depth Analysis.

Wednesday, Oct 16: Bob Ross “Wet-on-Wet” Painting Class, ages 12+.

Thursday Oct 17: How to Start Any Home Business + 250 Home Business Ideas!

Make Money with a Virtual Assistant/Word Processing Business (Participants must also attend “How to Start Any Home Business + 250 Home Business Ideas!” for a clear understanding of this endeavor.)

Saturday, Oct 19: Wooden Pumpkin.

Thursday, Oct 24: Coping with Mental Health Conditions, ages 18+.

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

Phone: 651-385-4565

Red Wing Public Schools partners with Teachers On Call to recruit substitutes for our schools, and we have a high demand for substitute paraprofessionals. We need your help!

Enjoy the benefits of creating your own schedule while earning extra income. If you have a high school diploma or GED and are passionate about supporting our students, we would love to have you on board. No experience required.

Start your application today: teachersoncall.com/talent/apply-now/. Have questions? Reach out to Sydney Arens at sydney.arens@teachersoncall.com or call 800-713-4439.

The District Advisory Council is looking for parents of current students to join for the 2024-2025 school year. DAC's are designed to provide feedback and input on instruction, assessment, programming, and the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness report.

If interested please contact Director of Teaching & Learning Emily Seefeldt at easeefeldt@rwps.org.

DAC meeting details

Time: 4:15-5:15 p.m.

Nov.14: Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness (formerly Worlds Best Workforce)

Jan. 9: K-12 math -- upcoming curriculum adoptions and new standards

March 13: District Assessments

May 8: Read Act and K-6 Literacy

DISTRICT CALENDAR

Tuesday, Oct. 15: Goodhue County Board/Minnesota House 20A candidate forum, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Red Wing High School.

Thursday-Friday, Oct. 17-18: No school.

Monday, Oct. 21: School Board, 4 p.m., workshop, Red Wing High School room J108: 6 p.m. meeting, RWHS room J110.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: Agenda/Personnel Committee, 8 a.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