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Richards Thursday Folder
June 6, 2024
Dear Richards Families,
Can you believe it's June already? The last week of school is just around the corner!
While students are likely buzzing with excitement for summer break, we know some parents and caregivers might have mixed feelings. It's a wonderful opportunity for family time, but there's also the chance to miss the school routine and structure.
Here at school, we're planning a fantastic last week filled with engaging activities and culminating events to celebrate all of your child's hard work this year. They'll have a blast while marking this special milestone! Get ready for a fun-filled finale to the school year!
Last Day of School
June 13 - Last day of school for 4K
June 14 - Last day of school 5K - 5th Grade, Dismissal at 11:30am
Report Cards: Semester two report cards will be posted to Family Access by the end of the school day on June 12.
From the Richards Health Room: As the end of the school year approaches, we ask that all student medication be picked up by 11:30am on June 14. Parents can stop in the Health Room during school hours. Any medication remaining on June 14 will be sent to the High School Health Room. Please note that medication pickup will not be available after that time as High School Health Room is not staffed during the summer months.
From the Richards Library: Student book check out wrapped up for the year last week and all books were due back on May 28. Reminder slips were sent home for overdue materials. Please return all materials as soon as possible!
Lost and Found: The Lost and Found is on display in the main lobby through the last day of school. Students are encouraged to check the tables for items they have lost. All unclaimed items remaining on June 14 will be donated to charity.
2024-2025 School Year
NEW Student Enrollment: 4K - 5th Grade new student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process.
Is your student NOT returning for the 2024-25 School Year? Another important part of our planning for next year is to project as accurately as possible our student enrollments. Please notify the Richards office if your child will not be returning to Richards next year. (Stephanie.Haupt@wfbschools.com) Thank you!
The 2024-2025 School Year Calendar is linked below for family reference.
2024-2025 Online Registration & Prep for Success Information: Online Registration opens July 23 and closes August 12. Classroom teacher assignments and welcome letters will be posted in Family Access on Monday, August 19th. Prep for Success days are September 3rd, 4th, and 5th. On these days, 5K-5th grade students come to school once to meet individually with the teacher and to complete assessments. Based on family survey input, families will schedule these appointments. Prep for Success scheduling is available starting on August 19th. Directions for accessing Family Access, teacher assignments and Prep for Success scheduling will be sent in mid-July.
4K students have a separate Prep for Success schedule, details in the link below.
2024-2025 Smart Watch Guidelines: A concern about students wearing smart watches at the elementary and middle school levels has surfaced as an issue within the daily instructional environment during this year. Within the classroom environment, concerns about student’s social emotional health and the lack of student interpersonal connections are linked with smart watch/smart phone accessibility. Our elementary schools and middle school have worked to try to navigate smart watches as that device has increased the ability to communicate like a cell phone (since many students who don’t have a cell phone at least have a smart watch for basic communication).
We are having our elementary schools and middle school update their guidelines to reflect that students will be required to keep their smart watches turned off and in their backpacks/lockers in the 2024-2025 school year. As always, if parents need to contact their child for urgent matters at any point in the school day, they can contact the main office. Please feel free to reach out to your principal if you have any questions.
Winkie’s School Tools: Get ready for next school year! Families have the option of purchasing school supplies through Winkie’s, with a percentage of sales donated back to Richards. Orders placed this spring will be available for pickup at Winkie’s in August. The School Tools Order Forms are linked below and can be returned to Winkie’s or to Richards by June 14. Questions? Contact Winkie’s at 414-964-2130 or Richards at 414-963-3951.
Friday, June 7 is the last Fun Lunch of the year! Remember to pack your child's snack and beverage!
Room Parent Sign Up Open
Are you looking to become more involved at Richards next year? Consider being a Room Parent! The main responsibilities include providing communication from the PTO to classroom families via Membership Toolkit, coordinating teacher gifts on behalf of the classroom, and assisting the teacher as needed. Sign up is available now by clicking HERE. Questions? Contact Lindsay Weber at lindsayruth.weber@gmail.com
Attention 5th Grade Families!
Congratulations to all of your future Whitefish Bay Lions! What a wonderful accomplishment to be advancing from Elementary School to Middle School! As you begin your summer vacation, please bookmark all of the Whitefish Bay Middle School PTO accounts to stay informed, especially for the start of the school year! Questions? Please email the WFBMS PTO at wfbmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com
Facebook: @WFBMSPTO
Instagram: @WFBMSPTO
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.
June 5 Board Meeting Takeaways
School Board Meetings: June 12, July 10, August 7: 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
New Immunization Requirements: The Department of Health Services has updated immunization requirements for school-aged children. These requirements for school-age children will go into effect at the beginning of the 2024–2025 school year.
Changes include:
· Meningococcal (MenACWY-containing) vaccine has been added as a requirement for students entering seventh grade, and a booster dose for eligible students entering 12th grade.
· If a child has had chickenpox, a parent report of chickenpox disease is no longer acceptable for exemption from the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine requirement. Children must have a diagnosis of chickenpox from a qualified health care provider (M.D., D.O., N.P., or P.A.) to be exempt from this requirement, however existing exemption options still apply.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services website includes additional information. We encourage you to contact your healthcare provider if you have specific questions, or to schedule an appointment for a vaccine.
Bay Gives Back: EOY School Supplies Drive: As the end of the year approaches, Bay Gives Back is organizing a school supplies collection drive. Please consider donating gently used or unused school supplies so we can help support students throughout the greater Milwaukee community this upcoming fall. Collection boxes will be located on each floor at Richards from June 3-13. More details in the flyer below. Thank you for donating!
Summer Programs from Whitefish Bay Public Library
Please see the information below for summer programming through Whitefish Bay Public Library
The Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation invites students, families and community members to enjoy the start of summer at the Ice Cream Social June 19. The celebration is from 6-8 p.m. at Old Schoolhouse Park across from the Public Library on Marlborough. The Whitefish Bay Village Band will perform. First scoop of ice cream, music and fun are free! Please join us!