Richardson’s 2nd through 5th graders just completed their winter Measure of Academic Progress Testing. The results are in and our students are growing at impressive rates. Over 70% of all students made their winter math targets and over 65% of students made their reading targets. The scores also show that more Richardson students are meeting the state standard than were in the fall. All of this is encouraging news. If you have questions about your child’s performance please contact their teacher.

Richardson was home to a Family Math Night this past week. Over 400 people turned out for a pizza dinner followed by math stations. Students worked on math skills in small groups with their parents for an hour before returning to the gym for a bingo game. The bingo game brought the house down. Each family left Richardson with a bag of math activities and a family math book. The evening was funded with Title 1 dollars. Special thanks to the many teachers who volunteered to work the event.

The Richardson 5th grade put on a musical extravaganza this past Tuesday. First the entire 5th grade put on their annual choir performance. This was followed by the 4th and 5th grade school choir. Both groups directed by Ms. Juttila did a fabulous job. The evening was completed by the 5th grade band. This group of 40 students has had only ten weeks to practice, but was in top form. Thanks to Mr. Bodelson and Mr. Grill for bringing the groups along so quickly.

January 21st is fast approaching and with it the annual Richardson Family Night. This year we will be have a math centered evening. The math events will take place from 5:30 until 7:30. The night will begin with a free pizza meal in the cafeteria and move on to planned activities in various classrooms. We will wrap our evening up with bingo game complete with math prizes back in the cafeteria. All Richardson families are encouraged to attend this evening of fun and games. If you have questions please contact Joe Janquart, Math Specialist, at 651-748-6922.

Tonight Richardson was home to a wonderful New Year’s celebration. With a display of dance, music, fashion and food over 150 members of the Richardson Community celebrated the Hmong New Year. Many thanks to the students who stayed after school to practice their songs and dances. The evening started with a wonderful pot luck meal that was provided by the participants. In addition to Richardson students the audience was treated to North High School students who had participated in an earlier New Year performance. The evening was planned Isabella Som, cultural liaison, for her hard work organizing this the event.

Today Richardson students were treated to Trio Callisto the second in a series of Bravo Theater performances. Linda Chatterton played the flute, Sally Dorer the cello, and Min Kim the harp. These musicians play in some of Minnesota’s finest orchestra. They played two thirty minute concerts. Richardson students were most impressed with the six foot tall one hundred pound harp. Thanks to the Parent Support Council for supporting this series.

The weather outside may have been below zero, but there was plenty of mid-winter warmth in the Richardson Cafeteria last night. The Richardson first and third graders sang holiday classics from around the world in front of a packed crowd. Four hundred chairs were set up and they were all taken with many folks left standing. The children’s performance was wonderful. Thank you to our music teacher Beth Jutilia for her work putting the show together, and thank you to all the people who turned out to support our kids.

Richardson Elementary School and its students have many things to be grateful for this holiday season. Just this past week we were the recipient of a $1,500 anonymous donation. The money is earmarked to buy warm winter clothes for students who are in need, and to provide holiday gifts to students who otherwise might go without. The Richardson students and staff would like to thank this kind and generous person for making so many days brighter.

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.