Bulldog Bulletin 10.30.24

I want to send a HUGE thank you to our wonderful kitchen staff (Emi & Maki) and all of the volunteers who made our Curry Rice Lunch such a special event for our students. It always warms my heart to see so many students from diverse backgrounds excited to enjoy one of my most favorite Japanese comfort foods.

These are the beautiful multicultural experiences that a Dual Language Immersion school can provide and I want to thank you all for choosing Richmond as your school. Sharing the Japanese language, culture AND foods with our children means so much to me.

Dear Richmond Families,

Today I am asking you to read this memo with the intention of supporting our school as I work on addressing some concerning student behaviors that are resurfacing this year. In my 17 years in public education I have never seen a more collaborative, passionate, and supportive community than Richmond, so I am trusting that we will be able to work through this issue together.

As parents we have chosen Richmond JDLI Elementary for our children because we value multicultural spaces and people, and we value diversity and inclusion. Our school culture (what we allow at Richmond) will always be a direct reflection of how we choose to raise/educate our children and how we choose to collaborate with our children's school staff.

This past week I have responded to a few student incidents that involved unknowing students being "tricked" into saying racial slurs (the N-word). As families who value diversity and inclusion, I know we are all working hard to protect our children from this type of hate and harm. However, growing up in a time where unrestricted access to the internet is available to some children/teens, it is inevitable for someone within our extended community (e.g. neighbors, kids from camps or after school care centers, kids with older siblings or cousins, etc.) to potentially expose a Richmond student to these types of inappropriate words.

The best way to protect our school community and empower our students is to educate them using age appropriate language so that they are aware of bias/hate existing in our world and they know what to do if they are exposed to it.

Here are some tips to share with your child at home:

• If someone is very eager to get you to say something, that word or phrase is almost always going to be inappropriate and/or embarrassing. Let that person know you do not want to play their game.
• If someone teaches you a word or gesture you did not know before, do not repeat it. Instead, share that new word or gesture with a trusted adult who can safely explain to you whether or not it's appropriate to repeat.
• When someone uses hateful, hurtful, or inappropriate words, you can say, "Stop, I don't like that," then walk away towards a trusted adult. Always report it to staff right away. That is the best way to protect yourself and other students.
• The "N-word" is called "the N-word" because it is one of the most hateful and hurtful words that can be used towards Black people, and it is not a word anyone should ever have to hear. This is why we do not repeat that word or teach it to others. If someone asks you, "What is the N-word?", tell them, "We're never allowed to use it; it's very hurtful. You need to ask an adult at home instead."

I plan to make myself available during Rich Coffee this month if anyone would like to informally follow up on this topic. I'd be more than happy to discuss any questions, concerns or needs that you have.

I will also be working with Richmond's Equity Committee (principal, counselors, staff & parent reps) to brainstorm additional ways we can support each other in this work. Having challenging conversations with our children is usually much easier to do if you have a community of other parents to support you in the process, and I would love to provide that for our families. More info to come soon.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

-Principal Stacy Eto (a concerned Richmond parent of a 4th & 2nd grader)

REMINDER: To maintain a safe, calm and predictable learning environment for all of our students and staff, we are requesting that Halloween costumes are not worn to school on Thursday, October 31st. Click here to read the full memo from last week's bulletin.

Thank you in advance for your partnership in ensuring that our staff is able to safely manage the very high energy that typically surrounds this day. 🙏

"No School November" is approaching, so I wanted to send a friendly reminder that we have no school on Friday, November 1st (teacher grading day) and Monday, November 4th (teacher planning day). Our building will be closed on these days. Thank you in advance for planning accordingly for the extended closures this weekend.

Breakfast is served at 7:45-8:00 AM in the cafeteria. At 7:53 students may enter the school, then all exterior doors close at 8:00 AM. By 8:05 attendance is completed, so students who arrive past that time are marked "tardy". Learning begins at 8:00 so it is very important for all students to be seated in class by that time to ensure they are not missing any core instruction.

On Wednesday, November 6th at 12:50 PM we will have a "Secure" drill. This used to be called a Lockout drill.

When we "secure the perimeter" students and staff are expected to be/return inside the school with all exterior doors locked. Inside the school we carry on "business as usual". A "Secure" drill is used when there is potential danger outside of the school, so the safest place to be is inside the building.

As always, I will prep our students for the drill by making an intercom announcement that explains the purpose of the drill and reassures students that no real danger is present - We are just practicing. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me.

This week counselors will be joining each classroom for another SEL lesson.

• Kindergarten will learn about diversity and celebrating our differences
• 1st grade will be learning about self control
• 2nd grade will continue with executive functioning skills and focus on working memory
• 3rd grade will be discussing bullying vs conflict
• 4th and 5th grade will be discussing time management

The next counseling lesson will be provided during the week of December 9th. In the meantime, our teachers will continue to provide SEL opportunities using our newly adopted Wayfinder SEL curriculum.

Sponsored by The Dress Code Project organization, The Gender-Free Haircut Club is a biannual party that happens in salons across the continent celebrating queer youth by offering fun, affirming and FREE salon services for LGBTQ2S+ youth.

This event is not organized by or affiliated with PPS or Richmond. Please contact the number on the flier for any questions you may have.

It’s time to Register for Oregon Battle Of the Books!

3rd through 5th graders - it’s time to register for Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)! Build your team, register by November 15th, then work out your strategy and hit the ground running with this year’s selection of great books!

Don’t have a team? Don’t fret - we can match you! Haven’t done it before? We got you - there’s a lot of information on the Richmond OBOB website to help you get started.

Initial battles will take place Sunday, February 2 (first round, on Zoom), and the championship round will take place in-person at school on Friday, February 21 or 28 (TBD).

Feel free to reach out to richmondobob@gmail.com if you need more information!

[REPEAT] Picture Retake Day is November 7th

If we did not see you on picture day or you would like a new image, Dorian Studio will be taking pictures at our school again soon. Orders may be placed online by searching our school name at mydorian.com and selecting the green Order button next to the retake day event. Online orders are available up to 4 days after retake day. If you already ordered and want a new picture taken please be sure to return your original picture packet to the photographer on retake day.

Attention Bulldog Families! Richmond Elementary School is partnering with Ridwell to collect plastic film. Plastic film recycling bins will be located outside of Main Entrance Door #1 and Cafeteria Door #6 on Nov. 5 and the morning of Nov. 6.

For additional information regarding plastic film here are links to A Guide to Plastic Film and All About Plastic Film. Please contact Richmond parent Karen Rodriguez khilts4@gmail.com with any questions.

HELPFUL LINKS
School Webpage HERE
District Student Handbook
Google Dismissal and Dismissal Changes Form
Want to Volunteer?
Fliers approved for distribution
Richmond Calendar
School Supplies Online Payment

Rich Coffee

A small bit of history about Rich Coffee that I learned late last week. Rich Coffee was started by Emi San, our wonderful lead cafeteria staff, when her full grown 23 year old adult Bulldog was but a wee Bulldog pup in the1st grade. That means Rich Coffee has been running for about 17 years even through the great recession, the worst of the pandemic, and having to say goodbye to Ted Lasso! Our wonderful Kirstin in the office also served as Rich Coffee lead at one point! How wonderful to have such a rich long history of building community and caffeinating parents, teachers, and staff through Rich Coffee, and to have such important former Rich Coffee baristas continuing to be important and supportive members of our community! Cheers to Emi and Kirstin and everyone who has supported Rich Coffee through the years!

Rich Coffee Footnote: Rich Coffee is cashless. We accept credit cards, Apple Pay, etc. **Join the Coffee Crew** We need more hands to keep this 15+ year tradition going. Stop by or email richcoffeepta@gmail.com.

Super Green Team

Please mark your calendars for the next Breakfast in the Garden event on Saturday November 2nd from 9 am to noon. We will be building bamboo barriers around the rain garden and Mt. Mochi to discourage curious feet (and neighborhood pets) from trampling sensitive new plantings. The craft/activity for that event will be mason bee cocoon cleaning. Many hands make light work - please mark your calendars!

*If you are interested in joining the Super Green Team or staying closer in the loop about happenings please join the committee on Konstella and/or send an email to greenteamrichmond@gmail.com *

PTA Membership – Annual Membership Drive

Do I need to do anything if I become a member? I’m really busy as a parent of littles in a DLI program.

NO! But, you will be able to vote in all general meetings on matters such as approving the budget, forming new committees that the community might need, and approving new officers.

What do I get?

1. An awesome bright red yard sign to show your pride in Richmond School. (Pick it up from Rich Coffee on Tuesdays in October.)

2. The privilege of bragging to your friends and family that you’re in a cool national society called the Parent Teacher Association.

3. Showing your support to our school and K-12 education across our state and nation.

How do I join, and what does it cost?

Join by filling out this membership form and paying the PTA $15 through Square.

PTA Fun Fact

PTAs in the early 20th century used milk cows to boost children’s nutrition! During the 1920’s, PTA’s across the US led “milk campaigns” to encourage milk drinking for better health, sometimes bringing cows directly to schools for demonstrations.

We need help to solicit donations by sending emails from a donor list. If asking isn’t your thing, we also need people to help pick up items. We currently have one person doing some pickups and a couple of helpers but we would like at least one more pickup person and 2 more people to help solicit donations. Also, if you have something you can donate to our Annual Benefit held on March 8th, please reach out! Any services, goods, gift cards to shops/restaurants, vacation home, or experiences are welcome! Please email procurement@oyanokai.org.