Bulldog Bulletin

First, I want to thank every school community member who submitted feedback regarding our staffing reductions for next year. There was so much dedication and passion for Richmond expressed within your responses, and every parent's input was either rooted in the importance of centering our students' needs, or being mindful of our staff's wellness. Thank you for helping me make these incredibly difficult decisions.

Click here to view the updated slides that describe the staffing outcomes for 2026-2027.

If you have any additional staffing questions or concerns, please use the staffing feedback form and I will do my best to address your feedback in an upcoming Bulldog Bulletin. Thank you in advance for using the google form. It will help me manage my email inbox more effectively. 💙

We will have a Lockdown Drill on Monday, March 9th at 8:35am. Teachers will review the expectations with their class prior to the drill, and I will make an intercom announcement prior to beginning the drill to ensure that students feel prepared, safe and calm.

This is a friendly reminder that we have an Early Release Day scheduled for Wednesday, March 11th.

• School ends at 11:50am
• Busses will run their usual routes in the morning and right after school ends at 11:50am
• Breakfast is served at the usual 7:45am and lunch is served about an hour earlier than usual
• Art4Life closes at 5:00pm on early release days!
• Please complete a dismissal plan change form, if needed.

If you would like to bring in snacks or beverages for our 3-hour staff meeting on this day, please sign up here and/or drop off your item in the main office. Due to the ongoing budget cuts I am no longer able to provide food at staff meetings, so your donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏

Our next Black Student Union (BSU) meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9th at 10:45-11:45am in room 200.

Students who usually eat lunch during this time should bring their lunch to the meeting.

Please read below for updates from Richmond's LGBTQIA+ Student Affinity Group advisors:

Gender Diverse Hive members: Our next meeting will be on the 17th of March. This week we had to cancel the 2x/month HIVE meeting as it took place the same day as the 2nd grade field trip to Hoyt Arboretum.

In February we learned about Black members of the Queer community and their impact in Queer rights and culture.

Here are a few activities that are open to the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the Portland area:

• Lewis and Clark has a wonderful TransActive community that has both youth and family peer groups, as well as a parent training titled "Understanding Gender Diversity for Parents and Caregivers". Check out their website to learn more. https://graduate.lclark.edu/programs/continuing_education/transactive/support-groups/
• There is a free overnight summer camp for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ or kids of Queer parents! Please check this link out if you think your child would enjoy this opportunity: https://www.camp-starlight.org/

We are looking for a few people to help run the QSA table at the Spring Festival May 9th. We need a few adults to help us sell T-shirts (our main fundraiser) and have a fun activity for the students to play! Amy will create the game and get the prizes, but as she is running the Spring Festival as a whole she cannot also do the QSA table as usual. Any help would be appreciated. Please reach out to Amy directly at amykyleryano@gmail.com

Thank you very much! どうもありがとうございます!

Physical Education

Oregon PE Standards

Congratulations to 5th Grade Blue Group for earning the most points in PE so far by supporting each other, respecting materials and trying new things!

Here’s what Richmond students have been learning in PE in January and February:

Week 16: Sink the Ship-a game involving a variety of skills, strategy and teamwork

Week 17: Parachute-students learn how collaborate, lead and follow directions

Week 18: Jump Rope-Group and Individual Basics

Week 19: Pacer Test and School Records - students learn how to set goals and improve

Week 20: Pin Knockdown-a variation of dodgeball where the goal is to knock over the other teams bowling pins

Week 21: Winter Olympics: Bobsled, Curling, Hockey

Each class has been able to name at least 2 ways they can take care of the gym such as sweeping, throwing away trash, using equipment and materials correctly, not taking tape/stickers off the floor or the wall. It’s been wonderful to see students take ownership of their learning space and treat it with respect.

In Week 19, students had the opportunity to measure their fitness, set goals and improve by going for a record. Using stopwatches and counters, students measured how far they could jump, how long they could hold a plank, how many jumps they can do on a jump rope, how fast they can cup stack, how many consecutive basketball free throws they can make, how long they can hang for, how many times they can juggle a soccer ball, and how long they can hula hoop for. I loved seeing students encourage each other to reach their goals and the excitement when a record was broken!

In Week 21, students learned about the meaning of the Olympic Rings, the Paralympic symbol and the meaning of the Olympic Torch. We practiced our own version of bobsled, curling and hockey. Bobsled including coordinating with a team to go as straight and as fast as possible on a gym mat on top of scooters. Curling involved pushing “stones” with a goal of getting as close to the middle of the circle as possible. Hockey involved reviewing the skills learned from our Hockey Unit last year and applying them to a game. We’ll continue to learn more about the Paralympics that start on March 6th.

We celebrated Black History Month by highlighting inspirational Black athletes, a Black History Month Yoga Freeze Dance Video, Black Panther Wakanda Forever workout videos and a Black History Month Music Playlist. We celebrated Valentine's Day/Friendship Day by doing heart exercises and discussing what a good friend in PE looks like. We celebrated Lunar New Year by galloping like a horse in Gallop Tag and learning about the significance of the Horse.

Some students have asked where they can participate in some of these sports in Portland and here’s what I’ve found for those interested:

• Curling: Evergreen Curling Club https://www.evergreencurling.org/
• Hockey: Youth Hockey Programs in Oregon Youth Hockey - OREGON STATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Next in PE, we’ll be starting a Lacrosse Unit with the help of Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association. Later in spring we’ll learn Kickball and start preparing for Field Day.

Go Bulldogs!

Coach Feeney

afeeney@pps.net

The school-wide PTA fundraiser event Read4Richmond has already started! It will run from March 2nd - 13th.

This year the funds raised will be used towards providing one free yearbook to each student, as well as supporting school events and other PTA initiatives.

To celebrate the student’s efforts, if we reach the fundraising goal of $10,000, the entire school will participate in another fun filled assembly with The Reptile Man! In addition, the classroom(s) with the highest reading participation will get priority seating at the assembly, as well as special classroom hallway recognition.

We have created a google doc (2026 Read4Richmond, family information) for families to learn more about this annual fundraiser.

Thank you for all your support!

- Ellen Schiller (ellenwatt@netdiving.com) and Sarah Weber (srwsrw@gmail.com)

The Reptile Man was SO FUN last year! Check out the photos from our assembly.

Get ready to unleash your inner scientist! Join us Friday, April 17th, to celebrate and support our budding young researchers as they showcase their latest discoveries.

Please note: This is a participation event, not a contest. We want to celebrate curiosity in all its forms, so every type of project is not only welcome, but highly encouraged! Stay tuned for registration info and project inspiration coming your way soon.

We need your help! This beloved event truly relies on our community - please keep an eye out for volunteer sign-ups.

Looking Ahead:

We are also looking for a few people interested in taking the helm for next year’s Science Fair. It’s a well-oiled machine, and we’d love to "show you the ropes" during this year's planning so you feel confident leading the way in 2027.

Spring Festival is happening May 9th from12-4pm and we are so excited! This year we are looking for new vendors, food trucks, and fun! This year their is one flat vendor fee ($60). Which goes to supporting the PTA. Are you interested in vending? reach out to Amy Kyler-Yano. Do you know a yummy food truck or food vendor? We are also looking for a vacation home donation to help us raise a little extra $ through a day of raffle. Do you have a vacation home at Black Butte, Sunriver, Eagle Crest or the Coast, you can donate for a week?

Reach out to amykyleryano@gmail.com or 503-298-0257

Check out the after school activity spreadsheet updated for spring. There are new offerings -notably a new Kids Yoga for k-3 is now on Mondays, and Baxter Sports will be Thursdays for k-5. Check out the spreadsheet for flyers and links to register. Any questions or for more info, contact the program directly. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M1mQ2ZEGg6OCvrliPgfE67e5rKixK1UF2ygTihVLZgo/edit?usp=sharing

Richmond Fundraiser at Dough Zone

The party’s not over! The Post-Funk Online Auction is now live and ends on Sunday, Mar 8 at midnight! Don’t miss out on some fun sign-up parties and delicious wine! https://onk.tofinoauctions.com/benefit2026/catalog

Saturday March 7th from 4 - 6 pm

Interested in learning more about the ins and outs of hosting an intern? Want a casual no pressure opportunity to learn a bit more and ask your personal situation specific questions? Join us on Saturday March 7th from 4 - 6 pm for an informal gathering to discuss our host family / intern program. The gathering will include fresh pizza from dueling ovens so you

will be well fed while you learn more. Kiddos are absolutely welcome and encouraged to join as well.

Please RSVP to bennett.frazier@oyanokai.org by March 5th so we can be sure to have enough food. The address for the SE Portland party location will be shared with the RSVP list via email.

We are excited to announce that we will welcome 11 new interns coming to the JDLI program in April, 2026! There will be 8 interns at Richmond ES and 3 interns at Mt. Tabor MS!

If you and your family are interested in hosting one of them, feel free to contact Haruka Takanuma, intern coordinator, at haruka.takanuma@oyanokai.org with your questions, concerns, or anything!

🌊Richmond School Wide Pool Party🌊

Benefitting the 2026 5th Grade Cultural Exchange Trip to Japan

📅Saturday, March 7 | 5–7pm

📍North Clackamas Aquatic Park (7300 SE Harmony Rd, Milwaukie)

🎫$25/person | Free for kids 2 & under

Includes 2 hours of swimming, slides, wave pool + pizza, snacks & drinks

Children 10 & under must be accompanied in the water by an adult.

Register by Friday, March 6th.

👉Get tickets HERE

Register NOW: https://oyanokai.org/westwind-2026/

Weekend 1: May 15 - 17

Weekend 2: May 22 - 25

Love the Oregon coast? Want to connect with other Japanese Dual Language Program families? A Westwind weekend is the perfect way to get to know families across the program, from kindergarten through high school.

Go to oyanokai.org/westwind/ to watch a short video and learn more about Westwind weekends.