RICHLAND REFLECTIONS

Week of 11/16/20 at Richland Elementary School

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Dear Richland Families,


In the spirit of gratitude, we thank you for your ongoing support in this ever-changing climate. We appreciate working together! Our PTO invites you to a Google Meet tomorrow, Monday, at 6:30, to come together and share ideas for supporting our students. Please see the link below and join us!


We have Richland t-shirts with our new logo for all students! Families of virtual students may come to school to pick them up Monday through Thursday between 2:30 - 4:30 this week. Families may also pick up for each other. All students should wear their new shirts on Friday for a Richland spirit day!


Have a wonderful week!


Nicole Zuerblis

Richland Principal

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Join us Monday night at 6:30 for a Google Meet PTO Meeting!


Meeting link: meet.google.com/rjn-odau-jdw


Phone number: ‪+1 617-675-4444‬

NOVEMBER 5, 10, 18

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FRIDAY IS RICHLAND SPIRIT DAY!

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T-SHIRT PICK UP FOR VIRTUAL STUDENTS THIS WEEK

ALL students will receive a Richland t-shirt with our new logo! Families of virtual students may pick up t-shirts, and any other gear ordered, on Monday through Thursday between 2:30 and 4:30 this week.


ALL students should wear their new shirts on Friday!

YELLOW ALERT MESSAGE FOR SCHOOL CLOSINGS

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As referenced in Dr. Harner’s recent blog, we will send you a Yellow Alert message the night before IF our school has a significant risk of not having enough adults present to safely open for students the next day. Think of the Yellow Alert like a winter storm warning or other weather alert to be prepared for possible closure.


We will review our absence data again the next morning and consult with Dr. Harner. If we cannot open our school safely, you will be notified by 7:30 a.m., and our school will operate virtually for the day. Please note that the notification/closure will apply to the individual school building only and other buildings will operate normally.


We will do our best and exhaust all strategies to avoid having to close our school for lack of adequate staffing, but it may occur. This will be our system that provides you advance notice as soon as we can.


Thank you for your support.

VIRTUAL PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD DRIVE 11/16-11/29

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Starting 11/16, click on this link for a library card application and enter password: $choolyear2020

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK

WORLD KINDNESS DAY

HONORING OUR VETERANS

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DECEMBER 3

If you ordered pictures online, they are being mailed directly to your home. If you did not previously order, you will receive proofs and the opportunity to order now. Parents of virtual students will be able to pick up proofs from Richland.


Picture retakes for in person and virtual students will be December 3.

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PAJAMA DAY 12/4 CHOP DONATIONS

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Pajama Day is a chance for our school to spend the day in our most comfortable jammies, all while supporting kids who rely on Children’s Hospital for care, cures and hope.


Giving back and creating a sense of community is important to our school. Pajama Day is a fun and easy way to support the kids at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.


We will be celebrating with CHOP on December 4.


If you would like to send a monetary donation to CHOP, you may send any amount into Richland. There will also be a web site for direct donations.


Your child does not need to donate to wear pajamas.

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DAILY QUESTION OF THE DAY

Each day, we read a question of the day that stems from our work with Leader in Me. We encourage you to continue the conversations at home! Here are this week's questions:


MONDAY: What's the story of your name?

TUESDAY: What's your favorite movie ending?

WEDNESDAY: What's your favorite quote?

THURSDAY: What's the most useful thing you've learned from your family?

FRIDAY: How would you describe yourself in 5 words or less?

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STUDENT LEADER TICKETS AND A VIRTUAL LEADERBOARD

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Students will receive these habit tickets in person or virtually when they are "caught" displaying one of the 7 habits. Student names will go on a virtual leaderboard, and we will recognize students who are part of forming 10 in a row.


November also begins leaders of the month in each grade level. Look for students recognized this month in a future newsletter!

VISIT LEADER IN ME HABIT ROOMS!

As part of social-emotional learning lessons (SEL) each week, students will learn how to practice the 7 Habits as part of our Leader in Me philosophy. Click on the image below to visit our interactive Habit rooms to learn along with your child at home! Many icons and books are clickable links.


LIM Habit Rooms


Learn more about the 5 core paradigms, or beliefs, of Leader in Me in this family letter!

THIS WEEK'S FIT FRIDAY WITH MR. KEMMERER!

IS YOUR FAMILY IN NEED OF HELP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

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SHOP WITH A COP


December 10th, 2020 at Quakertown Walmart

Eligibility criteria includes:

★ Must be from the Quakertown School District or referred to the program by a partnering Police Department

★ Children must be 5-13 years of age

★ Families have been faced with a life challenge such as homelessness, loss of job, military deployment, etc


To Apply: Please fill out the application that can be found HERE

For more information: Quakertown.org/SWAC


Applications must be submitted to Borough Hall (35 N. Third Street, Quakertown, Attn: Ashton Rosenberger). Or emailed to arosenberger@quakertown.org


DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 20th

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A great way to express gratitude. I share these weekly with staff. Keep the shout outs coming!

ALL SCHOOL YEAR FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR ALL QCSD STUDENTS

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The free food program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.


The United States Department of Agriculture has extended a nationwide waiver to allow the Quakertown Community School District to provide FREE meals to ALL students regardless of need. No qualification or identification is needed.

ALL students are eligible to receive FREE breakfast and FREE lunch through the end of the school year in June.


Breakfast will be served at Richland in our lunch room or classrooms from 8:45-9:00.


Lunch will have three selections daily: A sandwich/wrap/hot entree, a salad with a protein and roll, or a Grape/Peanut Butter Uncrustable. An assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables along with milk will be available daily. Students will order their lunches in the morning and will eat lunch in their classrooms. Lunches will be assembled by the cafeteria staff in bags, with aides delivering to rooms at the scheduled lunch times.


For Virtual Learners, free meal pickup is now held two days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays. On Mondays, students can receive meals for two days, and on Wednesdays for three days. Pickup remains at the Quakertown Community High School bus loop from 11:15 AM until 12:30 PM.

DEVICE TECH SUPPORT

If you have a technology issue that requires a device repair or swap in person, please click here for the Sign Up Genius. There are appointment slots for Tuesdays through October 20th between 1 and 3:30 pm. This will take place at the district office, 100 Commerce Drive, Quakertown, at the loading dock on the side of the building opposite of Route 663.


If you have a technology issue that can be handled virtually (ie. login information, Clever badge, PowerSchool related questions, etc.), fill out the form by clicking here.

FROM MRS. STAUFFER, OUR SCHOOL NURSE

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO QUARANTINE?

What should you or your child do if asked to quarantine due to exposure to Covid-19? After an exposure to Covid-19, it may take between 2-14 days for symptoms to appear. When ordered to quarantine, you must stay inside of your home until cleared by the Department of Health. Even if you have no symptoms, you or your child should not be outside of your home having close contact with friends and neighbors. If you become infected with the virus, with or without symptoms, interacting with others not in your household can cause community spread of the disease.


While in school, we require children and staff to be masked, wash their hands often, and socially distance to prevent our Richland community from becoming ill. Even if your child has been diagnosed with a common cold, please ensure they avoid contact with other children to prevent transmission and missed school days. Following these same good habits outside of school will prevent you, your children, and others from becoming sick, whether it be from Covid-19, Flu, or any number of common fall and winter illnesses.


For more information, please read QCSD Exclusion from and Return to School Requirements.

LIVE AND VIRTUAL DAILY ATTENDANCE

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Attendance is mandatory for school age children, and the live portion of our school day is 9:00-2:00, with additional time allotted for work after these hours.


Every day Monday through Friday is a school day.


Please keep your child home if they show any symptoms and call to let us know. You will receive a follow up call from our school nurse. We will confirm if your child will become a virtual learner for a period of time so they are not marked absent from in person instruction while staying home with symptoms.


FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY IN THE BUILDING:

Attendance will be taken as in the past, and students will be marked absent if they are not physically present. *Please note, only students who need to quarantine or are approved by the school nurse will learn virtually instead of in person.


FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE 100% VIRTUAL LEARNERS:

Attendance will be taken daily. All students are to complete their "check-in" activity as explained by their teachers by 2:00 daily. To allow for the completion of work asynchronously, students may complete other school activities after 2:00, but the check-in must be completed by 2:00 in order to be marked as present.


IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT:

You will receive an email at 3:00 on the day your child is marked absent. The school must receive an excuse from you within 3 days of the absence.


New this year, you may respond to the email with your absence reason. If you prefer, you may send in an absence note to the office. All excuses must be received within 3 days of the absence.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

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Thank you for your support in making the changes to this year's drop off and pick up run so smoothly! To accommodate more car riders, that location has been moved to the back of the school. Please enter in the morning and afternoon from 313 on Chestnut Street.


The live school day begins at 9:00 and ends at 2:00.


Please note AM Kindergarten pick up at 11:00 and PM drop off at 12:00 are in the front of the school.


All buses will drop off and pick up in the front of the school.

OUR WORDS FOR 2020

Each year, Richland staff adopts one word. This year called for two! We invite you to join us in supporting each other with courage and grace and explore what these words mean to you.

Upcoming Events

PARENT CONFERENCES 11/5, 11/10, 11/18

RICHLAND SPIRIT DAY 11/20

Wear your new Richie the Richland Panther shirt!

NO SCHOOL 11/26-11/30

PICTURE RETAKES 12/3