Colt Connection

Wishing all of Colt Country a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

⛄🎅🎄

Classes resume on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Richland #44 Community,

As we wrap up the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the year so far. Our students have excelled in the classroom, showcased their talents in activities and athletics, and created lasting memories through fun and meaningful experiences. From academic achievements to community events, this semester has been filled with learning, growth, and joy.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators whose hard work and commitment have made this semester a success. Your support and passion for student learning and well-being are the foundation of our district’s success. To our families, thank you for partnering with us and being a vital part of the Richland #44 community.

As we head into the winter break, I hope you find time to rest, recharge, and enjoy special moments with loved ones. We are excited for what lies ahead in the second semester, with more learning opportunities, exciting events, and continued student growth. Have a safe and joyful holiday season—we’ll see you back in January!

Warmly,

Dr. Gandhi

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆: You may have seen a post card in your mailbox this week. We are currently updating our census data of 0–5-year-olds in the district and are asking for your help. This census data is used for preschool class lists and upcoming Kindergarten classes, as well as other useful projections.

** In addition, as our district continues to grow, we want to make sure we are accounting for students of new families moving in, or students wishing to open enroll.

𝙄𝙁 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 𝙄𝙉 (𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤) 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙃𝙇𝘼𝙉𝘿 #44 𝙎𝘾𝙃𝙊𝙊𝙇 𝘿𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘾𝙏 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡, 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙪𝙨 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨: https://form.jotform.com/243388475590166

Richland Elementary School is offering a free 3-year-old screener on January 17, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. This is for children born between August 1, 2021 and January 17, 2022. The office will be sending these families an invitation to attend with a specific time. If you do not receive a notice by January 6, please contact our office. We look forward to meeting you and helping your child get started on their learning journey!

3-year olds with a birthday after January 17, 2022, will be invited to attend a screener in the fall.

A 4-year old screener will take place later in the spring.

The Richland #44 School Board has transitioned to Diligent Community as a platform to help host school board meetings. You will see a new look when visiting our School Board website. Meeting packets and board policies are available at your fingertips!

As the basketball season swings into full gear, Richland #44 School District, along with the junior class and Close Up groups, are seeking support in concessions fundraisers this winter. The groups are seeking donations of taco meat for each home varsity game to be served at concessions. To sign up, please visit this link. Thank you for your support!

Students of Richland #44 put on two amazing Winter Concerts earlier this month!

Music students in grades 7-12, led by music teacher Mrs. Weatherly, shared their talents on December 10. In addition to the junior high band and choir and our senior high band and choir, the audience was treated to an official return of a Richland Jazz Band and Jazz Choir!

Later in the week, Mrs. Christensen and our our elementary students in grades K-6 shared a festive holiday performance featuring "Ruby's Diner" and Christmas visitors.

Both performances left the audience wanting more and ready for the holiday season.

You can watch these performances on YouTube:

5th grade band

6th grade band

Elementary Music program

Jr/Sr High Music program

Greetings Colt Country,

As we reach the end of the semester, we are excited to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished. The last few months were filled with activities, including the Veterans Day and Christmas programs, a successful food drive, and fun school-wide events like Turkey Bingo and holiday dress-up days. We are especially proud of our students’ growth, with many more reaching proficiency in both reading and math on their winter benchmark assessments. We can’t wait to see what the second half of the school year will bring.

Happy holidays from all of us at Richland Elementary School!

The halls of Richland Elementary School are bursting with Christmas cheer! 🎄🎅

Holiday art decorates the walls, and fun dress-up days like Grinch vs. Santa bring festive smiles all around. ❤️💚

The 6th Grade Leadership Team collected over 500 items for our food drive the week prior to Thanksgiving. These generous donations were delivered to the food bank in Wahpeton to help those in need.

On November 12, Richland Elementary School held a Veterans Day program honoring our local heroes. 🇺🇸 Many local veterans attended, making it a memorable and heartfelt event for all. ❤️💙

Mrs. Klein's third-grade class kept the tradition alive with their annual skit, bringing history to life as they explained the events of the "First Thanksgiving." 🦃🍂

Every month one outstanding individual from each classroom that exemplifies being respectful, responsible, safe, and achieving will be selected to be inducted into the Richland Elementary Hall of Fame. Congratulations to the following students:

November Students of the Month:

December Students of the Month

Richland #44 FFA, Student Council, and FCCLA held their annual Colts Care Community Service Day activities on December 19. All students and staff at the junior/senior high participated in 12 different projects during the morning.

The following items were made, and projects completed:

✅456 monster cookies to raise $456 for an area animal shelter

✅39 tie blankets for Project Linus, and packaging over

✅2280 lbs of pasta packaged for the Great Plains Food Bank

✅540 sugar cookies made for the Great Plains Food Bank

✅Cleaned storage garage at The Perry Center

✅162 plants delivered (while caroling) at 3 retirement homes

✅2 gun stands built for the Richland #44 Trap Team

✅Built shelving for the athletic storage room at the High School

✅Cleaned and built storage for Colfax Community Center.

✅20 fabric playing card holders sewn to be donated to Sanford.

From the FFA: A tremendous thanks to those who have supported our efforts, especially the area farmers who donated soybeans during the FFA Harvest for Life project. Not only does Colts Care Day make a huge impact on our communities, but it also teaches our students that they are a part of something bigger and can make a difference for others.

From the FCCLA: We appreciate your generous donations and hope you enjoy our delicious monster cookies. New this year, we added sewing foldable fabric playing card holders to the project list that were inspired by Lori Loff. These card holders will be donated to Sandford along with cards to the children to play with. A huge thank you to Lori for her generous donation of donating all of the fabric for our card holders. We are excited to deliver the card holders this Spring along with baby burp cloths, tie blankets, and checker boards made in the Ag room along with checker bags made in the FACS room. Thank you everyone for all you do during Colts Care Day, it really is an amazing day for our students!

Each month, the high school faculty votes on the Rotary Student of the Month. The Student of the Month is selected from the junior class. The faculty looks at students who excel in many areas including academics, extra-curricular activities, character, and community involvement. On the third Tuesday of the month, students are recognized at a luncheon put on by the Wahpeton Rotary Club. Congratulations to the following on being named Student of the Month:

This fall we are so lucky to be able to perform two One Act plays! Having 30 students involved in theater is always such a treat! Both of these pieces were performed for the public, mid November.

"Complaint Department and Lemonade" is a funny ever revolving door of comedic timing and fun/wacky characters. It gave students the opportunity to see what being in a play is like, basic knowledge of theatre terms, and working together as a cast. Students worked very hard to deliver the best characters for Colt Country on Friday, November 15.

"Perfect", our competition One Act piece was about the inner monologue of a girl being perfect all the time. It's hard to live up to that pressure with parents and peers. This cast handled the raw emotions with grace as they competed at VCSU on Wednesday, November 13. Lucianne H, 8 grade received an honorable mention Actor award and Emma E, senior received a Superior Actor Award.

Preparing for the One Act competition and performances included weekly practices, repetitive running of lines for memory, blocking on stage, and finding and incorporating appropriate props that fit our character needs within the show.

Student Council Makes an Impact: State Conference, Snowball Dance, and Community Service Projects

Being part of a student council is more than just attending meetings and planning events—it’s about leadership, teamwork, and making a difference. Recently, our student council took part in a series of exciting and meaningful activities that not only created excitement within the school but also gave us the chance to connect with students across the state and make a positive impact. From attending a state conference to organizing a Snowball Dance and leading a community service projects, the council members have truly shown what it means to be leaders in action.

Attending the North Dakota Association of Student Councils (NDASC) Conference: Learning and Networking

We had 9 students attend the NDASC conference from December 8th-12th. Roughly 1,400 students and advisors attended the annual conference in Bismarck, ND. The three-day conference offered a program focused on leadership, service, and community engagement. The conference featured keynote speeches, breakout sessions, advisor training, and community service activities. Students also participated in evening social events and state officer election campaigns. Keynote speakers for the event were U.S. Senator John Hoeven, Dr. Aimee Copas, and Phillip Campbell. Our students look forward to this conference every year as they learn to foster leadership development, generate innovative ideas, and build lasting friendships among student leaders.

Throwing a Snowball Dance: A Night to Remember

The Saturday following the conference, student council set its sights on bringing back a long-forgotten tradition: the Snowball Dance. The Snowball is a winter-themed semi-formal dance offering students a chance to celebrate the season, socialize, and create lasting memories. This year’s Snowball Dance was a huge success, thanks to the hard work of the student council members. They coordinated everything from the decorations to the playlist, ensuring that the evening was magical from start to finish.

Leading a Community Service Project: Giving Back to the Community

In addition to social events, student council members have been getting ready to take part in Colts Cares Day. This is an annual event put on by Student Council, FFA, and FCCLA. The projects that student council will be focusing on this year are Project Linus, The Perry Center, and the New Life Center. This is a fun event for the entire student body that allows us to give back to the community and those in need.

Looking Ahead: Continued Leadership and Impact

As the year progresses, student council remains focused on making a positive difference. The experiences gained from attending the state conference, throwing the Snowball Dance, and leading the community service projects have inspired the council to plan even more initiatives that will engage the student body and support the community.

Whether it’s organizing school-wide events, advocating for important causes, or volunteering for local organizations, the student council is determined to create a school culture that is inclusive, compassionate, and driven by the power of student leadership. Our student council members have shown that with hard work, dedication, and a passion for service, they can accomplish great things

Congratulations to our One Act performers, Elementary Girls' Basketball team, Junior High Choir, Senior High Choir, Junior High Band, Senior High Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, and Junior High Girls’ Basketball teams on their successful performances and seasons! Participation in extracurricular activities can plant the seeds for lifelong friendships and teach valuable lessons in handling both success and failure. I am grateful for the opportunities available to our students and for the dedication of our coaches and advisors.

We are thrilled to see so many families supporting our basketball games and cheering on the Colts this winter. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly remind you that elementary students should remain seated with their parents or guardians during the games. Students should not be in the hallways unless accompanied by an adult. Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and family-friendly environment for all attendees.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Go Colts!

Lukas Davison

Junior High Girls Basketball put the exclamation on an exciting season with two big wins against the Kindred Vikings on Monday, December 16.

Coaches recognized growth among all thirteen girls (7-7th grade girls 6-8th grade girls). Practices involved agility, dynamic ball handling, contested layups, offensive/defensive spacing, rebound mechanics and drills, shots at varying distances, fast breaks, lateral movement, free throws, movement without the ball, post moves, plays and game time decision-making, mental strengthening and physical conditioning (aka running a lot).

The 7th graders ended the season with a record of 11-1 and 8th 6-5, winning 6 of our last 8 games. Thank you to the players and families for a memorable season of Colts Basketball!

The 5th & 6th grade girls basketball season was a fun and interesting couple months. Our group of 15 girls did a fantastic job and learned a lot along the way. We were overjoyed to have Inger Holdman assistant coach the team. The 6th grade girls only had 2 losses on the season which was very exciting. Every one of these girls came a long way throughout the season. I feel very fortunate to have coached such a fun and kind group of young ladies and look forward to watching them for years to come. Go Colts!

Coach Beyer

Coltbackers | Supporting Richland Athletics

Coltbackers continues its mission to support student athletes, coaches, and programs at Richland #44. We are excited about the future of the athletic programs at Richland!!

Here’s what we’ve been up to since the last Colt Connection:

• Volunteers worked 23 volleyball and football concession stands
• Purchased a fun photo backdrop for athletes and fans (set up near the concession stands at the school)
• Approved new track and cross country warm-ups
• Kicked off our Colt Buddies Fall basketball practices with 80+ K-6 boys and girls participating
• Registration for Winter Session is open - see information below.
• Announced our 1st annual JH GBB Travel Ball tournament coming February 21, 2025
• Registration for girls 7th and 8th grade teams is open - please share this link with teams around the area.
• Applied for 501c3 status

Are you interested in getting involved?

• Join us for a meeting - the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30PM
• Support Coltbackers and your favorite basketball player this winter by being a GAME SPONSOR.
• Limited home games and spots available. Questions - email Kendra.l.dockter@k12.nd.us
• Join us as we recognize athletes at the following events:
• Summer Shot Club Recognition - January 10, 2025
• GBB/BBB Meet and Greet - January 10, 2025
• Join a Coltbackers committee - we are currently looking for members to help with the following upcoming events:
• JH GBB Tournament Committee - contact Erin (Erin.hage@live.com)
• February 21, 2025
• All-Sport Athletic Banquet Committee - contact Jenny (jenny.schmitt@ndscs.edu)
• April 27, 2025
• Coltbackers 5K Committee - contact Anna (annamarohl@gmail.com)
• May 10, 2025

• Winter Sessions: Saturdays: January 18, February 1, 15, 22
• Times BOYS
• Kindergarten-1st Grade BOYS - 30 minute session - 8:30am - 9:00am
• 2nd Grade - 3rd Grade BOYS - 60 minutes session - 9:15am - 10:15am
• 4th Grade - 6th Grade BOYS - 75 minute session - 10:30am - 11:45am
• Times GIRLS
• Kindergarten GIRLS- 30 minute session - 8:30am - 9:00am
• 1st Grade - 3rd Grade GIRLS - 60 minutes session - 9:15am - 10:15am
• 4th Grade - 6th Grade GIRLS - 75 minute session - 10:30am - 11:45am
• Cost:
• K-2 Kids | $50
• Grades 3-6 Kids | $60
• Registration Link: https://forms.gle/RQnUVmMiiwtPsfNh6
• Registration Due by January 10
• Confirmation email will be sent by January 13 with additional information including location of practices.

Click here to register and get additional information: COLT BUDDIES BASKETBALL

**Payment can be brought to the first practice or mail to Coltbackers, PO Box 292, Colfax, ND 58018 - cash or check (Coltbackers - Colt Buddies in memo line)

Contact Anna Marohl with any questions - annamarohl@gmail.com or 320-815-9433

Happy holidays from the PTO! We're looking forward to some fun events and fundraisers in 2025, including:

Colts Classic Basketball Tournaments

Our 5/6 grade travel ball tourneys are right around the corner. If you can, please sign up to bring a pan of bars or pitch in for a few hours. Thanks!

• Girls BB Tournament: January 25, 2025 Sign up to volunteer here
• Boys BB Tournament: February 8, 2025 Sign up to volunteer here

Fun Night

Save the date for our annual community dinner and carnival on March 28th!

Missoula Children's Theatre

Thanks to our volunteers for helping us provide a week-long arts experience for elementary students. If your student might want to participate, please reserve April 7-12 in your calendar. It will be a busy practice and performance week! More details to come.

Thanks to the volunteers, donors, and school staff for your support throughout the year. We couldn't make any of these things happen without you!

Be sure to check out our website for all up to date information: https://www.richland44pto.org/

Calendar Raffle

Richland #44 Dollars for Scholar's February calendar raffle is back!! Watch for tickets to be sold starting over Christmas Break.

This school year we will individually feature our wonderful staff members so that our community can get to know more about them and we can recognize the important work they do.

Staff Features are posted on our school website Live Feed as well as on our Facebook page.

**Click the links below for event flyers and additional information**

• Dec. 23-Jan. 3 - NO SCHOOL
• Dec. 27-28 - Richland #44 Girls Basketball Shoot Out at RHS
• Jan. 6 - Classes resume
• Jan. 10 - Coffee with Kids and Preschool Showcase
• Jan. 14 - Class GROUP picture day - ALL GRADES
• Feb. 14-17 - NO SCHOOL (Feb. 14 is a snow make up day if needed**)

Wondering where to find something? Most items can be found on our website and app!

Website:

• Lunch menu
• Home game livestream
• Events (all)
• Athletic events
• Daily Announcements includes upcoming meetings, events, community items, job postings, and more. Use the link to read today's announcements and/or to get signed up for daily emails.
• Much more!

Do you follow our group organizations on Facebook??

• Coltbackers Facebook
• PTO Facebook
• FFA Facebook
• Dollars for Scholars Facebook

Visit the app store today on Apple or Android devices and search "Richland 44 School".