Richards Thursday Folder
April 18, 2024
Dear Richards Families,
We know your children had a wonderful time at Richards High Interest Day! It was a fantastic afternoon filled with exploration, learning, and fun. From putting out pretend fires with our firefighter visitors to meeting mascots and DJ’ing, there was something for everyone.
A special thank you to the presenters who shared their talents and to the Richards PTO co-chairs who organized and coordinated this amazing event.
School Travel Safety
We ask that everyone uses great caution when traveling around our schools. Families have shared with us that there have been recent close calls where accidents have been narrowly avoided. Safety is a collective responsibility in our community. Please have conversations with your families and children about the importance of moving safely throughout the village.
School pick up and drop off result in additional congestion on the streets and sidewalks around our schools. Ensuring that students, families, and staff members are safe is a collective responsibility, even more so during high traffic times. Please review the following safety measures to help reduce the risks of accidents.
Drivers: School Zones have reduced speed limits. Please move slowly, stay attentive, and follow all traffic signs and signals, including No Parking, No Stopping, and Accessible Parking signs. Drop students off on the same side of the street as their school to avoid people crossing the street mid-block.
Pedestrians: Be sure to look both ways before crossing the street, and cross the street only at the corner. Crossing the street mid-block makes it difficult for drivers to see you.
Bikers: Pay careful attention to vehicles and pedestrians, obey traffic signs, and use hand signals to let others know where you are heading. Cross the street only at the corner, even if you don't see a car coming.
We greatly appreciate the commitment of all in practicing and modeling positive and safe travel behaviors for children. It is important that all students, staff members, and families are able to safely travel around our schools and arrive safely at their destinations.
4th & 5th Grade Orchestra Concerts are coming this month! Students should bring their instrument and music, and arrive 15-20 minutes prior to their concert time to allow time for tuning. Students can plan to dress for a special occasion (nothing new needs to be purchased).
- Richards 4th Grade Orchestra: Tuesday, April 23rd, 6:00pm in Richards Great Hall
- Richards 5th Grade Orchestra: Tuesday, April 23rd, 7:00pm in Richards Great Hall. This is a combined concert with Cumberland's 5th grade orchestra students.
Please email Mrs. Christine Annin (christine.annin@wfbschools.com) with any questions.
Save the Date! Mark your calendars for Richards Fine Arts Festival on May 30. More details of this school-wide event will be shared soon!
Upcoming No School Dates
April 29 - No School 4K - 5th Grade
May 24 - No School 4K. Early Dismissal at 11:30am 5K - 5th Grade
May 27 - No School 4K - 5th Grade
Richards Lost and Found: Spring has sprung and our Lost and Found is loaded with winter gear and more! It will be on display in the main lobby through tomorrow, Friday, April 19. Parents, guardians, and students are encouraged to check the tables and take home items that belong to them. All unclaimed items will be donated to charity.
From the Guidance Department: Our May guidance lessons will be all about jobs and careers! I thought it’d be fun for our students to learn more about a variety of jobs from you - their families.
If you are interested in helping to share the many career options out there, we ask that you sign up to take Spirit (a stuffed tiger) to work with you!
For those interested in this opportunity it would entail picking up Spirit here at Richards and taking it to work with you. We ask that you take a few pictures of Spirit the Tiger at your job, helping with various duties. There would also be a few questions for you to answer about your job - like a brief, kid-friendly description of what you do, where and when you work, and what you like about your job. Then you would return Spirit to Richards so it can be passed on to another volunteer. I will then compile the pictures and information into a slideshow to share with the students during our lessons.
If you are interested, please email Ms. Anderson at: haley.anderson@wfbschools.com.
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.
It is not necessary for current students to re-enroll. Families of current students will complete online registration in August. Specific registration details will be shared this summer.
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!
Staff Appreciation Week 2024! Attention Richards Families! Each year there is one week when we celebrate our Richards teachers, staff, and crossing guards to show them how much we appreciate all they do for our children. This year, Staff Appreciation Week will be May 6-10, and the Richards PTO has exciting plans! Each day, the PTO plans a special activity, including catered lunches, gifts and sweet treats. Everyone gets excited for the daily sweepstakes as well, and this is where we can use your help! We are looking for donations from our Richards Community to help make the week a great success. Please consider making a monetary or gift card donation. Donations may be made through Membership Toolkit at https://richardspto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/277491 or in the envelopes that came home in your child’s Thursday Folder. Questions? Email Staff Appreciation Week Chairs Angela Burke angelahorvath@hotmail.com or Chrissy Tigrani caduhn@gmail.com.
This week in your child’s folder you will find a paper fruit or vegetable. Please help us celebrate teacher and staff appreciation week this year by sharing something special about a Richards teacher or staff member on your fruit or vegetable, then decorate, cut it out and return by 5/1. We will be using all the fruit and vegetables collected on a bulletin board for staff appreciation week May 6-10, for any questions reach out to Hannah Ruck, hjruck@gmail.com
High Interest Day 2024 at Richards was a success, thanks to the dedication of our parent and community presenters who generously shared their passions, hobbies, and professions, as well as their time. The students had a fun and educational afternoon. We are grateful to the Richards administration and staff for their collaboration in organizing this fun and educational experience for our Richards students, along with a special shout out to Dave who once again went above and beyond getting supplies and equipment in order with only a moment's notice at time. A final thank you as well to the parent volunteers who volunteered their time during the event to make sure the day ran smoothly. Till next year......Katie Walsh + Lisa Taub
Terracycle: Baby & Kid Clothing Recycling Program
Ever wonder what to do with baby or kid’s clothing that you cannot donate? Terracycle offers a clothing recycling program for those items full of holes and stains. Please drop off CLEAN clothing items into the white bins marked Terracycle in the front vestibule of Richards. Remember to also bring your items for the dental recycling program (both bins are located together). Please email Emily Bandsma with any questions: ecbandsma@gmail.com
Compost Crusader School Fundraiser Compost Crusader is selling 35lbs bags of compost for $18/bag. For each bag sold, Richards Elementary will receive $4 back to the school. Please see the attached link below with more information as well as the link to place your order. All orders will need to be in by Friday, April 26, 2024. Pickup of the compost will be at the school in May (pickup date to be announced). Please reach out to Emily Bandsma with any questions: ecbandsma@gmail.com
Spirit's Soiree!! Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 15th for a fun night at Richards Elementary School!! The Richards PTO invites all families to join us in the Richards Gym for Spirit's Soiree from 5-7pm. All are welcome to enjoy dancing to a DJ, snack on cookies and treats, and even a special appearance by Spirit the Tiger! Stop by the Great Hall for the Book Fair and Spirit Wear Sale. We hope to see you all there!! Questions? Contact Anna Graham at annagraham4@gmail.com or Kristin Fischer at klfischer622@gmail.com
PTO COMMITTEE CHAIR OPENINGS for 2024-2025 School Year
Not all heroes wear capes! We are looking for volunteers to co-chair the Fun Lunch committee for the ‘24-’25 school year. Fun Lunch is a key fundraiser for the PTO and a treat for both kids and adults. You can sign up as soon as today and work with current chairs Deborah and Lynn to be ready for Fall 2024. Please email RichardsPTOWFB@gmail.com if interested in learning more!
Ever dream of being President someday?? Well now may be your opportunity! The PTO is seeking volunteers to co-chair the Vice President role for the next school year. The Vice President assists the President, as needed, and shadows the President in preparation for advancing to the Presidency the following year. If your someday is today, please reach out to current Presidents Maya and Angie via email at RichardsPTOWFB@gmail.com for more information!
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.
April 10 Board Meeting Takeaways
School Board Meeting: April 24, 2024: 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
All-District Orchestra Festival (Grades 4-12): Thursday, May 9, 7:00pm at the WFBHS Fieldhouse. All Richards families are invited to attend this free performance given by all ages and levels of WFB Orchestra students. Please join us! Details and report time for the performers will be shared soon.
The WFB School District is Seeking Community Member Representatives to serve on the English Language Arts Renewal and Design Committee for the 2024-2025 school year.
More information can be found linked here: LINK.
Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation's Run the Bay
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Run the Bay is the foundation's main event to fund innovation in the WFB Schools. The run will be held on Saturday, May 4th at Klode Park! You can register for the run HERE! Visit us on Facebook for more information on the run along with the other Bay Day activities. Please email Kara Bzdusek (kmbzdusek@gmail.com) for sponsorship opportunities.
Volunteers Needed for Run the Bay
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Not able to participate? Will you be there as a spectator? We would love your help! Sign up to volunteer HERE.