RICHLAND REFLECTIONS

Dear Richland Families,

Happy last full week of May! I hope you enjoyed the summer-like weather this weekend. It seems summer is just around the corner!

Thank you to our Richland families for your support and participation in our Leadership Week, and see many highlights below! The week was packed with a community Leadership Day, a fabulous Family Leadership Breakfast, Project PROUD, and amazing band, chorus, and orchestra concerts. Our students shined as greeters, tour guides, activity directors, live announcers, lead learners, and performers. I could not be more proud of our students and their incredibly dedicated and empowering teachers. Richland is an exceptionally wonderful place, and we recognize our students, families, and staff all play a significant role. Thank you for your leadership!

Richland is administering the Measurable Results Assessment (MRA), a survey and reporting system designed to provide insights into our progress as a Leader in Me school. We hope you will participate so we can use your feedback to make our school an even better place for students and families. See more information below.

We are excited to bring back our favorite performer, Jared Campbell, for a live assembly on Monday. Students and staff love his music and positive messages of kindness, respect, and anti-bullying. Be sure to ask your children about it!

As a reminder, there is no school next Monday for Memorial Day. We hope to see you at our last PTO meeting of the year this Wednesday. It's a great time to get involved. Please note all of our upcoming events through June at the end of this newsletter.

Have a wonderful week!

Nicole Zuerblis

Richland Principal

Our next PTO Meeting Date: 5/25 @ 6:30 at Richland's library and via Google Meet

Kids are welcome!

Contact us with any questions, ideas or concerns... richlandtpo@gmail.com

Co-Presidents- Alysha Day/Utpal Bhatt

Co-VPs- Kim Lynch and Danielle Schultz

Treasurer- Jackie Toro

Co-Secretaries- Brittany Eagan and Vicky Mullen

HS Student Volunteer Liaison- Hannah Hensel

Richland is administering the Measurable Results Assessment (MRA), a survey and reporting system designed to provide insights into our progress as a Leader in Me school. In order to provide a holistic picture of what is going on in our school, the MRA includes three different surveys; 1) one completed by all school staff, 2) one completed by students in grades 4 and above, and 3) one completed by the families of students in all grades.

We hope you will participate so we can use the feedback to make our school an even better place for students and families. If you have any questions about the surveys or wish to see a list of questions, please contact the school’s front office.

FAMILY SURVEY

WHAT: Online survey completed by one member of each household.

● Survey typically takes about 5 minutes to complete

● Questions relate to the experiences you and your child have at our school.

● Answers are anonymous--to encourage people to be honest and open, no names and other identifying information will be collected.

WHEN: The survey is now available for you to take through Friday, June 3, 2022.

HOW: The survey can be taken from any computer, smartphone, or tablet with internet access,

● Simply click on this link: https://www.leaderinme.com/s/richland-elem-pa/families

● If you do not have a computer available at home you can request a paper copy.

STUDENT SURVEY

This survey will be completed by students in grades 4 and above on a computer at school.

● Survey typically takes 15-20 minutes to complete

● Students privately answer questions about their attitudes and behaviors--and can skip questions and stop anytime they choose.

● Students who do not wish to participate in the survey, or whose parents choose to deny permission for their participation, will be provided with an appropriate alternative activity (e.g. quiet reading) while the surveys are being administered.

If you have a child in grades 4 and above and DO NOT want them to participate in the MRA Student Survey, please send in a note or notify your child’s classroom teacher.

Thursday, June 2nd is Richland Elementary School Field Day! Please join Mr. Kemmerer and the field day team in making this year’s field day a great experience for all by volunteering to help. Volunteers will help run field day activities, organize materials, and assist students in any way possible.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out this survey by May 26th. This is a firm deadline as we must confirm clearances and cannot accept volunteers after that date. Please indicate the time frame (AM, PM, or all day) that you are available to help. AM Volunteers will run from 8:30-12:00. PM Volunteers will run from 12:00-3:00. Full day Volunteers will run from 8:30-3:00.

After we receive your contact information and availability for the day, we will reach out to discuss the details of your activity for the day. All volunteers must have their updated clearances on file with QCSD via APP-Garden.

AM 8:30-12:00

PM: 12:00-3:00

FULL DAY: 8:30-3:00

• Details on required clearances can be found here: https://www.qcsd.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=20016975&pageId=25044340

• The link to App-Garden where clearances must be uploaded can be found here: https://appgarden6.app-garden.com/VolTrackPA98403.nsf/Sites.xsp

****Rain Date June 7****

Each day, we read a question of the day. We encourage you to continue the conversations at home. Be sure to watch this week's question of the day video too!

Below are this week's questions. We'd love you to participate!

MONDAY: What are some decisions you’ve made recently that you’re proud of?

TUESDAY: What is in your Circle of Control?

WEDNESDAY: When you’re having a tough day, what do you want or need from your teachers?

THURSDAY: What tools do you use to make plans?

FRIDAY: What will you do to make someone smile today?

Mr. Kemmerer often poses the question of the day to students and staff at Richland. Watch last week's video reflecting on the question, "How are you a good leader?"

Use this Google Meet link each time.

As part of our Leader in Me view of everything we do, students have opportunities to apply for jobs at Richland. One job is being a morning announcer. When students are "hired" they work for the entire week as a team to coordinate and read morning announcements.

Each week on Wednesday and Friday, morning announcements are live via Google Meet, and all classrooms watch live and even participate on Fit Fridays. Roles include news readers, weather reporters, special reporters, and producers who manage slides presented.

Now, parents and families can join the Google Meet too! It is the same link every Wednesday and Friday. Applying for jobs, creating clubs, and suggesting new ideas are ways that students share their voices and have ownership in their learning to support them academically, socially, and emotionally. We are happy to give you a window into our student leadership experiences.

Please note for this week, live announcements will be on THURSDAY and Friday.

One of the greatest challenges of this school year has been staffing. In his recent blogs, Dr. Harner talked about sub shortages and the very real possibility of Yellow Alerts in the coming weeks. On many days there are unfilled positions at Richland. This means an employee at our school is out for the day (sick day, personal day, bereavement,...) and there is not a substitute teacher to fill this position. We are fortunate to have an amazing team, and we work through these daily challenges to supervise students and maintain a safe environment. However, having unfilled positions presents a significant strain on our team and limits instructional opportunities for students.

You may be able to help us! If you have a bachelor's degree, you can sub! We are asking you to please consider becoming a substitute so you can help us here at Richland. This would be a tremendous help for our school community. If you are able and willing to help, please CLICK HERE (scroll toward bottom of link) or contact me at nzuerblis@qcsd.org to learn more about becoming a sub with ESS. Thank you!

Bucks County has seven Pre-K Counts grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The grants allow families, who meet the required criteria, with children (who are 3 or 4 years old by September 1st) to enroll in an approved high quality, preschool program at no cost to the family. There may be a few openings now, and they are taking applications now for 2022-2023!

Please see the Bucks County Pre-K Counts application for the 2022-2023 school year.

Little things can make a big difference. You can help support the Ronald McDonald House and others affected by childhood cancer or anyone else who needs the help from the Ronald McDonald House by collecting the little tabs you pull to open soda, soup or any other aluminum cans. The funds generated from recycling these aluminum tabs help offset The Ronald McDonald House expenses. Send in your tabs to Richland.

There is a drop off spot right in front of the office.

We are donating our tabs in honor of Rhiley who is a cancer survivor.

He is a 4th grader at Richland.

Would you like to express your gratitude to staff members? Click on the Shout Outs image to let us know! I will share messages with staff weekly.

Each school year, Richland staff adopts one word. We invite you to join us in supporting each other with what our children and we need to thrive this year.

TOGETHER WE THRIVE!

With SafeArrival, families can report their child’s absence using any of these 3

convenient methods:

1.Using a mobile device; download and install the free SchoolMessenger app from the
Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.com). Please note that the first time you use the app,
you will need to select Sign Up to create your account. To enter an absence, select Attendance, then Report an Absence.

• In addition to attendance information, in the app you will also see all of the School Messenger messages the school has sent throughout the year.

2. Use the SafeArrival website; https://go.schoolmessenger.com. The first time you use
the website, you will need to select Sign Up to create your account. Then, select Attendance and finally, Report an Absence.

3. Call the toll-free number; 1-833-834-4911 and report an absence using the automated phone system. To use this system, you must use or enter the phone number you
provided as your district contact number. Using or entering that phone number will link you to your child(ren).

These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.

Currently, our district is providing ALL families with children up to the age of 18 with FREE breakfast and lunch for the remainder of the school year through funds from the US Department of Agriculture. There are no conditions to qualify. However, if you do not have a current application on file for the 2021-2022 school year, you could miss benefits from the State, should it decide to provide the Pandemic EBT Benefits again.

Please click here for the Free & Reduced Meal Program applications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stacy Reiss, Free & Reduced Lunch Program, at sreiss@qcsd.org or 215-529-2022.

Email: nzuerblis@qcsd.org
Website: https://res.qcsd.org/
Location: 500 Fairview Avenue, Quakertown, PA, United States
Phone: 215 529-2452
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichlandQCSD/
Twitter: @RichlandQCSD