We wanted to take a moment to say thank you to our parents for all of your hard work during remote learning. Please click HERE for a message from staff.

Davis/Richmond families - we need your help! We want to celebrate our 2nd and 5th graders who will be transitioning to new schools next year with a virtual clap out. Ms. Dixon will be putting together a video. What we need is students/families to send a short video of you clapping. It can be by just a student, student with a sibling(s) or with the whole family. Videos are to be posted here on flipgrid. The password is 5thclapout. Please send videos by May 12th.

Thank you to the PTO and parents for coordinating a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers truly appreciate all of the kind gestures from students and families. The Graham’s Chocolates and Starbucks from the PTO were a nice treat as teachers entered the school for the first time to begin to pack up for summer. (The notes and pictures from your homes have been so encouraging!)

We will have curbside pick-up for student belongings at the end of the school year. Davis will pick up on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19th and 20th. Richmond will pick up on Tuesday, May 19th. You will have an opportunity at the curbside pick-up to drop off teacher gifts, library books and any other items that need to be returned to the school.

Students WILL keep Chromebooks/iPads and band/orchestra instruments to use throughout the summer and return in the fall. Further details will be sent soon!

We are excited to announce that Davis/Richmond School has been recognized as a 2019-20 PLTW Distinguished School. This recognition means we are empowering students to thrive in an evolving world and achieving exemplary results from our PLTW Launch programs.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning.

Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit www.pltw.org.

This week’s SEL lesson focuses on relationship skills and their development through communicating effectively. Make sure to check out the information and resources highlighted for parents. This weeks competency is:

• Relationship skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.

The challenges and uncertainty facing families and children are impactful on overall mental health and well being. We are hopeful the resources shared will be a support to parents/guardians and children. If you have any questions on the information provided or are seeking additional support for yourself or child, please contact Patti Palagi, Director Instructional Interventions (patti.palagi@d303.org or 331-228-6457).

A Parent Link email invitation will be sent later today for students to share what they love about Davis with Mrs. Shaw as she gets to know us. Watch for it!

Davis School Nurses have been busy contacting parents to arrange for medication pick-up. The office will be open from 8:00 - 3:00 daily. Call before you come to be sure we have it at the door for you. We have created individual sheets for “receipt of medication signatures.” You may bring your own pen if you wish.

We want to celebrate our 5th graders. All D303 schools will participate in getting lawn signs for our 5th graders. Thank you to the PTO for covering the cost of these signs. If you are willing to deliver signs to our 5th grade student’s homes, please e-mail our PTO at davisrichmondpto1@gmail.com. Thank you!

Attention 4th Grade Families: Are you getting excited about joining the band program? Learn about some of our amazing instruments! Be sure to click on the individual instrument links to hear musical examples. Start thinking about which instrument would be the perfect fit for you.

An official band sign up link will go home next week along with more detailed information about the band program. Questions in the interim? Contact Mrs. Lydigsen at jennifer.lydigsen@d303.org.

Curbside pickup of student belongings will be offered on Tuesday, May 19th. The health office staff will be available to bring any medication that was left in the health office out to a parent for pickup and signature on that day as well. The health office staff will call you on Monday May 11 with a list of what you have in the office. When you arrive, alert the staff member with a walkie talkie and they will prompt the health office staff to bring out your items. If you need to arrange a different time for pick up, please email Nurse Jenny and we will schedule accordingly. jennifer.schweizer@d303.org.

Spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning with Covid-19. To keep it out of our homes and get the kids involved with that task, take a look at the article published by UNICEF. It can be read in English and Spanish. It includes important information on practices that allow your disinfectant to be more effective in killing germs.

Soon to be 6th grade families.....Be on the lookout for a recorded Thompson Middle School Presentation that will be sent to you, via parent link, by Mr. Steve Morrill, Thompson Middle School principal.

Wredling families be on the lookout for a recording on Wednesday from Mr. Timothy Loversky, Principal of Wredling Middle School.

Middle School is just around the corner!

During our first ever “Zoom PTO Meeting,” our new PTO Officers were voted upon for School Year 2020-2021. We thank them for their willingness to lead and we pledge to them our support!

President: Erin Clausen

Co-Vice-Presidents: Nikki Copher and Sarah Mowat

Secretary: Alisa Sawka

Treasurer: Amy Joseph

We are still in need of a Communication Lead. If you enjoy communicating, this might be the role for you. We have chairperson opportunities for the events throughout the year as well.

The PTO has voted to fund several projects to support the students and staff of Davis Primary and Richmond Intermediate. At Richmond, we will be installing three Water Bottle Filling Stations. At Davis, we will be providing two loveseats and an ottoman for the LRC and a Sensory Path in the Kdg Hallway.

We are excited to be able to support our schools!

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) launched the Pandemic EBT application for families on May 1 at https://abe.illinois.gov/abe/access/. P-EBT is a new special benefit that can help families buy food for their school age children who would normally receive National School Lunch Program (NSLP) free or reduced-priced meals when schools are in session. All families with school age children who attend schools approved for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) are eligible for the benefits as they receive NSLP meals at no charge.

Families that currently receive SNAP benefits do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits. These additional P-EBT benefits will be loaded into Illinois LINK EBT accounts along with regular SNAP benefits.

Families who do not currently receive SNAP benefits but do have children who receive NSLP free or reduced-priced meals will need to apply directly with IDHS. The fastest way for families to receive benefits is to complete the application for P-EBT available online (Click “Apply for Benefits” at the link.) A paper application in English and Spanish is also available and can be submitted by email to DHS.FCS.PEBT@illinois.gov. IDHS created a flyer to help families with the application process.

If families need technical assistance with the application, please email IDHS at DHS.FCS.PEBT@illinois.gov.

Friday, May 22

- Richmond Virtual Field Day

Friday, May 22

- Last Day of School