Dear Davis Richmond Families,

Our D303 Administration, in collaboration with state and local officials, will continue to provide us guidelines and proactive measures to help ensure the safety and security of our students, families, and staff.

There will be limited access to our school buildings except for our students and staff until further notice. All after school activities typically held in our schools have been cancelled.

Our students will wash their hands before and after lunch, and throughout the day as needed. Enhanced cleaning protocols have been put in place to sanitize shared surfaces that are frequently touched.

To view our district’s March 12th parentlink communication regarding COVID-19 click here.

Thank you for assisting us in keeping our community healthy,

Denise Liechty

Lisa Simoncelli-Bulak

As communicated earlier today, in preparation for possible school closures in the future, we are asking students to take their electronic devices and materials home each evening beginning tonight. Today, students in grades three through five were sent home their devices. Students in kindergarten through second grade will NOT bring home devices. Please read the message below that states the expectations and responsibilities of students using these devices. If students were absent today, they will be assigned a device next week.

Chromebook Take Home Policy

Dear Parents,

Our students have a wonderful opportunity to use Chromebooks as a tool to support teaching, learning, communicating, and collaborating. Students will have the opportunity to utilize this technology at home for specific school assignments. Please take the time to review the expectations listed below with your student.

Appropriate Use of Technology at Home

The Chromebook is a tool used for learning purposes and should only be used for the purpose(s) determined by the teacher. Students not following the D303 Acceptable Use and Discipline Policies will be subjected to consequences (per the D303 Student Handbook http://district.d303.org/student-handbooks). Students should report any questionable activity/message/picture/etc. to staff immediately.

Internet Filters

At school, the District Internet filters provide protection and restrict access to certain sites and content. This filter remains in effect when students take Chromebooks home. Unfortunately, our filters DO NOT have the ability to guarantee that all inappropriate content is blocked. It remains the responsibility of the student and his/her parents/guardians to adhere to appropriate use ensuring student safety and security. Parents are expected to monitor and supervise technology usage when at home.

The D303 donation drive for Bernie’s Books will be the two weeks right after spring break, April 6-17, 2020. Please consider bringing in new and gently used children’s books for birth through 6th grade to Richmond Intermediate during the donation drive. Parents or students may place books in the collection bins located in the front hallway. D303’s goal for the 2020 donation drive is 20,000 books. Every book will help us reach our goal.

Our PTO (all of you!) has surpassed our fundraising goal for the year!! Thank you, parents, for all you have donated to make this possible. At our April PTO meeting we will be discussing how to use our surplus funds.

Next week's Talent Show has been postponed due to the guidelines shared by our government and school officials to limit large gatherings. We are hoping to reschedule this event in the future but that will depend upon how long these limits on group gatherings continue. Stay tuned!

Get your Year book orders in! Now all sales are through the Push Coin account https://store.d303.org/?YCY57LFFT5=P7N5447C7C

PTO Board elections are coming up in April, and we have some positions that need to be filled! If you have any interest in joining the PTO Board, the returning board members would love to have you join the team! We are looking for a Co-President and a Director of Communications to help manage the website and E-News communication. If you are interested, please email us at davisrichmondPTO1@gmail.com and we can get you more information.

The PTO at Thompson Middle School needs your involvement! All Board positions and several Committee roles are open. In order to keep the PTO running at Thompson, they need YOU! If you are interested in learning more, email Nicole Snopko at nmsnopko@gmail.com

Our 1st Grade participated in an assembly on Tuesday, March 10th. Street Smart, an engaging robot, taught students how important their brains and spinal columns are and how following a few safety rules while being active will protect them. All 1st grade students were fitted for a bicycle helmet and were able to keep them.

Additionally, all K -2 students at Davis Primary received instruction on safe choices students can make when riding their bikes, scooters, skateboards, and in-line skates. This was facilitated by our own Physical Education/Health Department, Nancy Mattson and Drew Sterkel. Parents can access additional information online at Bike Safety Tips from First 5 LA.

One of the most important ways to stay healthy is by washing your hands. We teach this skill at Davis Primary at the beginning of the year during our “Bathroom Best Presentations.” Our PE Teachers follow-up in with hand-washing lessons as part of their health unit. We have revisited this important skill this week.

We have a parent resource available to families on our LRC Website called BrainPop Jr. There is a video parents can view with their children. It also can be found here: https://jr.brainpop.com/health/bewell/washinghands/

Please click here regarding a letter about this year’s state assessments. Richmond will administer IAR April 7th, April 8th, and April 14th-18th. Third, fourth and fifth graders will take three English language arts and three math tests. We will run a different specials schedule during the two weeks of testing. We are designing a special allowing for movement before students take their first test. We encourage students to eat breakfast and get a good night’s sleep so they are at their best for their test.

5th graders will take the Illinois Science Assessment from March 17th-March 19th. ISA consists of three tests and students will complete one test a day.

We hope you enjoyed our Music Around the World music program. Our third graders did an amazing job. Thank you to Ms. Lenning and all of our third grade teachers for making our program a success.

Richmond's two service clubs, Student Council and the Fuel Up to Play 60 team, will be working together to organize a food drive in April. Our students will be sharing details of this soon.

If you have a FUTP 60 team member, they are invited to join the next Student Council meeting on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00 am in the Richmond Gym. Hope to see many FUTP 60 members there!

In order to support the transition from 5th to 6th grade, students and parents will be invited to participate in the opportunities included in the links below.

Thompson

Wredling

Saturday, Mar 28 - Sunday, Apr 5

- Spring Break

Monday, Apr 6

- School Resumes

Monday, Apr 6

- 2nd Spring Training Event for Incoming Kdg from 6:00 - 7:00pm at Davis

Tuesday, Apr 7

- 2nd Spring Training Event for Incoming Kdg from 9:30 - 10:30am at Davis

- State Testing (IAR) begins for 3rd-5th graders

Wednesday, Apr 8

- PTO Mtg at Davis Primary from 7:00 - 8:00pm

Thursday, Apr 16

- McTeacher Night at McDonald’s from 4:00 - 7:00pm

Tuesday, Apr 21

- 2nd to 3rd Grade Parent Transition Night at Richmond from 6:30 - 7:30pm

Tuesday, April 28

- STEAM Night at Richmond at 6:30pm