Wednesday, December 2nd from 8:45 to 9:45

You are invited to room 124 for a cup coffee and a chance to say hi to administrators Joe Slavin and Jim Miklausich. This meeting is an open forum to let them know how things are going. Feel free to call 748-6936 with questions.

The Richardson Parent Support Council met tonight in the school media center. An enthusiastic group of parents met to listen to Jim Miklausich and Joe Slavin talk about the school improvement plan and the staff actions that will make that plan a reality. Doug Anderson spoke about “Penguin Pride”. Penguin Pride is a social skills and community building program designed to create student ownership of their school. We look forward even more Richardson parents at our next meeting in the new year.

Parent/Teacher Conferences have come and gone and Richardson was over 90% in conference attendance.  We thank all of the families who met with their child’s teacher and continue to encourage those of you who were unable come in to contact your child’s teacher.  Active parent participation is one of the leading indicators of student academic success, so please stay active in your child’s education and thanks again.

Last week, Richardson 4^th and 5^th graders were treated to a Climb Theater performance of “Fantasy Football”.  The play was about the importance of doing your best in school so you can have plenty of career options in life.  The performance was paid for by a grant from the Minnesota Post Secondary Education  Foundation.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

 Yearbook Coordinator:  A coordinator for the 2009-2010 Yearbook is needed.  The yearbook is submitted for printing on March 23, 2010, but  has mini-deadlines along the way.  This position can be filled by one or completed by a team!  Let me know if you would be interested in working on this special project.  If you replied last year, please let me know once again that you are interested! Thanks!

• Fundraiser Delivery Help:  Help is needed for the delivery of our fundraiser items on Thursday, November 12th, from approximately 2:00 to 6:00 PM.  From 2:00 to 3:45, we will be unloading and sorting the boxes.  From 3:45 – 6:00 PM we will be helping parents/guardians pick up and sign for their items.
• Greeter Desk:  Volunteers are needed to help keep our kids safe.  Work at the Greeter Desk for a minimum 1 hour shift each week.  Shifts are available Monday through Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.  Meet visitors and other volunteers as they enter the building and get them signed in, assigned a badge, and directed to their desired destination.  Let me know when your free time is and I will get you on the schedule.  Not free during the day, how about Grandma or Grandpa?

To help out With any of the above opportunities, please contact Debra Flom at 748-6934 or respond to this e-mail.  Thanks!

 Richardson Elementary Newsletter Link:    

http://richardsonelementaryschool.webaloo.com/principals_page.aspx

UPCOMING RICHARDSON EVENTS: 

• Nov. 2nd – 6th                          COMET
• Nov. 2nd – Dec. 2nd                  Star Lab is at Richardson
• Nov. 2 (Mon)                           Climb Theater 9:40 AM Gr. 4 & 5
• Nov. 2 (Mon)                           Wendy’s Night 5 – 7 p.m.  – Maplewood Wendy’s
• Nov, 4 (Wed)                           Deadline for ordering Spiritwear!
• Nov. 5 (Thurs)                          Roller skating Saints North 6-8 p.m.
• Nov. 10 (Tues)                          Partners in Print (K&1) 6-7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 12 (Thurs)                        Great American Fundraiser Deliver, Pick-up from 3:45-6:00 PM
• Nov. 17 (Tues)                          Bravo - Four Seasons Barbershop Quartet 2:15 K-2; 3:00 Gr. 3-5
• Nov. 18 (Wed)                          Picture Retakes
• Nov. 19 (Thurs)                         Parent Support Council (PSC) Meeting 6:30 PM Media Center
• Nov. 25 (Wed)                        NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break
• Nov. 26 (Thurs)                      NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break
• Nov. 27 (Fri)                           NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Break

Remember to collect pop top rings, Kemps Milk Caps, Land O Lakes Milk Caps, Box Tops for Education, and Campbells Labels.

 Turn into the office, used printer ink cartridges and used cell phones (Attn.:  Mr. Keefer).

Ramsey County Library is pleased to announce “Homework Rescue: Online Tutoring” is now available — in plenty of time for students to familiarize themselves with this terrific resource before the busy homework season begins.

Homework Rescue will be available from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, in English and in Spanish. There is no fee to use it, and interested library card holders can access it from their home computers or from computer workstations in the Library. All you need is a library card and the desire to learn.

“We hope that this live one-to-one homework assistance from certified tutors will indeed be a ‘lifesaver’ for students in grades 3-12,” said Susan Nemitz, Ramsey County Library director.

Tutoring is provided in all core subjects: Science, Math, Social Studies, English, and Reading and Writing Assistance. Tutors work with students through controlled chat, use of interactive whiteboards and shared Web browsing.

“Tutors do not give students the answers,” said Marcus Lowry, teen librarian. “They help learners determine solutions.”

For more information about Homework Rescue, visit your local library or log on to the Library’s Web site, www.rclreads.org.

Homework Rescue is funded by the Metropolitan Library Service Agency.

from622 This Week

Yesterday, twenty members of the North High JROTC program spent two hours putting in a beautiful perennial garden at the base of the Richardson marquee sign.  Led by Master Sergeant Buesgens and Senior Master Sergeant Wilkinson this group of hard working, well mannered students completed a the laborious task quickly.  Special thanks to Richardson parent Shannon Parenteau who designed the garden and helped the JROTC with the planting.

Today, Ms. Erin Slaikeu was surprised by members of the local Office Max with “A Day Made Better.”  Ms. Slaikeu was presented with $1000 worth of office/classroom supplies, which included items like glue sticks, paper, a digital camera, a new office, chair and many more Office Max products.  Information regarding Office Max’s ”A Day Made Better” can be found at  http://www.adaymadebetter.com/

     Another resource that I would like to highlight is the Curriculum page on the district 622 website, which can be found at:  http://www.isd622.org/curriculum_areas.aspx  These are the standards and outcomes that students are expected to know or be able to do by the end of the school year.

     A lot of work goes into creating and reviewing the content of these standards from teacher groups reviewing changes in state law as well as researching best practice, to the district parent group (CACC) reviewing the work of the district curriculum committees to give their seal of approval prior to ultimate approval coming from the school board.  Learn more at:  http://www.isd622.org/curriculum.aspx

     CACC is a very critical district committee, please feel free to let me know if you have interest in serving as the Richardson parent representative to CACC.

     This year, we have changed our mathematics curriculum materials from Everyday Mathematics to Math Expressions. The Math Expression materials, like the Everyday Mathematics curriculum materials was chosen to best support student learning of state standards in mathematics as well as district curricular and essential learning outcomes.
     One feature that I would like to highlight is the online support materials that are part of the Math Expressions materials. If you go to http://www.eduplace.com/math/mthexp/ you will not only find online games, but you can also find parent letters, vocabulary information, etc. All of which can be great resources if you are looking for a way to support your learner at home.