Richardson Family Newsletter

I hope you had a wonderful MEA break! While last week was a short one, we packed it full of learning, fun, and experiences that helped us connect with one another and our community.

Our kindergarteners visited Afton Apple Orchard and returned excited to show off their pumpkins and apples! All that exploring also made for some sleepy Penguins on the bus ride home. Pictured above are a few of our kindergarteners resting after a full day of orchard fun.

Our fourth graders also headed out on a field trip Wednesday to visit the State Capitol, where they had the opportunity to explore the building and learn more about our state government. To help make field trips and other special experiences possible, we’re looking forward to our upcoming Glow Run Fundraiser! Students will participate with their grade levels during the school day. Read below for details and ways your family can support our Penguins!

Throughout the week, we also gathered for our buddy assemblies. Students did an amazing job listening and working with their partners as we reviewed our anti-bullying rules and talked about the importance of learning one another’s names. Knowing and using someone’s name is a small but meaningful way to help them feel noticed, included, and connected to our school.

We also learned about Unity Day and how wearing orange shows support for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Unity Day is Wednesday, October 21, and your family is welcome to join us in wearing orange! Classroom teachers will continue this learning with activities that reinforce our October focus on preventing bullying and helping every Penguin feel they belong.

As always, please feel free to reach out to the main office, Miss Susi, or me anytime with questions, concerns, or suggestions. My contact information is mhoude@isd622.org or 651-748-6910.

Together,
Mrs. Houde (pronounced hood)
Principal

We’re 3 days away from kicking off our Richardson Elementary Glow Run fundraiser!

We’re excited to have fun, build community, and work toward our goal. It all starts by signing up at MyBooster.com!

Important Dates and Details:

Goal: $12,000

Supports: field trips, classroom supplies, family fun nights, recess equipment, and more!

Kickoff Date (in school): 10/21/2026

Event Date: 10/29/2026

Get Started on MyBooster.com TODAY:

1) Sign Up

2) Search for “Richardson Elementary”

3) Create your student’s page

Once you're signed up, share your student's page by email, text, and social media.

Biggest Tip for Success: Share, share, share using the easy online tools at MyBooster.com!

Thanks for your support!

Congratulations to Ms. Yang's 1st grade class for winning the Golden Penguin Award!

Ms. Yang nominated her class for this award. She said she sees them growing each day and they are committed to be better each day that the day before. Keep up the great work first grade!!!

Pictured below: Ms Yang's class on Indigenous People's Day (Monday, October 12th). They went on a nature walk and observed and recorded some of thing things they noticed using their senses.

Hello families! We’re excited to let you know that we are working hard to create positive experiences for students in our school. This month (or insert dates) we will be asking students how they feel about our school climate and how they get along with other kids at school. This information will be used to help us celebrate what is going well and identify ways to improve our school climate and support our students. Here is a link to the survey questions: School Climate Survey Questions.

If you have any questions or do not want your child to participate, please contact your principal.

Getting back into the school routine after MEA break can take a little extra encouragement. Small steps—getting dressed, eating breakfast, or heading out the door on time—are worth noticing!

Are school mornings feeling tough?

Try this: Celebrate your child’s effort with specific words: “You were tired, but you got dressed and ready for school. I’m proud of you for sticking with it!” After school, ask about one good moment from their day to help them look forward to returning.

Why it helps: Noticing effort helps children feel proud and builds confidence to keep trying—even on challenging mornings. A little encouragement can help make daily routines feel more manageable.

Need support? Reach out to your child’s teacher or our social worker. Whether it’s a difficult morning routine or worries about school, we can work together to understand what’s getting in the way and make a plan.

As a reminder, all students are able to receive free breakfast and lunch. Below you will find the menus for September. Since menus are subject to change, you can check online for update menus. (linq connect website - menus

Independent School District No.622, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the District’s Title IX Coordinator. For more information, the District’s Notice of Nondiscrimination can be found at www.isd622.org/policies.

RICHARDSON ELEMENTARY

Email: mhoude@isd622.org
Website: https://richardson.isd622.org/
Location: 2400 17th Ave E, North Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 748-6910