RICHLAND REFLECTIONS

What a beautiful night for our Fall Fest on Friday! Lots more October events are coming up. This week, we welcome local firefighters for fire safety presentations for students in K-2. Check out our newsletter for information on next weekend's Family Photo fundraiser and details on how to view our Halloween parade on October 30.

On Tuesday at 5:30, come to Richland's library for a Meet and Greet with Dr. Hoffman, our Superintendent. Then, stay for our PTO meeting at 6:00. All parents/guardians and students are welcome. We hope to see you there!

Calling all veterans! We invite you to join us for our annual Veterans' Day Celebration on November 11. Please see your invitation in this newsletter.

As a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday.

Enjoy your week!

Dr. Nicole Zuerblis

Richland Principal

Come chat with Dr. Hoffman. She is looking forward to meeting Richland families!

October is Bullying Prevention Month, a time where we come together to promote kindness, respect, and inclusion for all. To support this important message, throughout October students are encouraged to participate in Richland’s Kindness Calendar, featuring a simple act of kindness each day to help spread positivity at school, at home, and in our community! Activities include complimenting others, including someone new, showing appreciation, and celebrating Unity Day on October 21st by wearing orange!!

Students in all grades are also invited to participate in our Anti-Bullying Poster Contest for National Bullying Prevention Month! Create a colorful poster sharing a message about kindness, inclusion, or anti-bullying and turn it in to the counseling office by October 23rd. Selected posters will be featured in the school newsletter!

We can’t wait to see Richland spread kindness all month long!

Join Richland parent and local photographer Jeni Whittaker at Richland Elementary School on October 17, 2026 (Rain Date 10/18/26) for a 15-minute fall photo mini session. 5 high resolution digital images will be included with your session for $100. Proceeds will be donated to the Richland PTO.

Richland Elementary will have a Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30! Students are invited to dress in costumes and parade with their classes in the back of the school on the blacktop beginning at 2:30 (weather permitting). Family members may view the parade in designated areas.

Please note:

• Students should not wear costumes to school. They should bring costumes with their name and teacher’s name clearly marked. They will be provided classroom time to dress in costumes in preparation for the parade.

• Costumes, including masks, depicting any violence or horror as seen in the movies, on the news, or in comics, are not permitted.

• Weapons of any kind, including metal, plastic, wood and cardboard are not permitted.

• Costumes should reflect age appropriate characters.

If you do not wish to have your child participate in the parade or the classroom activities that follow, please let your classroom teacher know. Your child will be provided with an alternate activity not related to this event.

In order to help ensure the safety and well-being of all our students and staff members, the following procedures will be followed:

• Parents/Guardians can watch the parade in the back of the school. No visitors will be permitted in classrooms before or after the parade.

• The parade will begin promptly at 2:30, and students will walk by grade level.

• Fall classroom celebrations will occur after the parade. Only those parents who are volunteering to help with classroom celebrations will be permitted into the building. Teachers will notify those parents and provide the office a list of parents who are assisting with classroom celebrations before or after the parade.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with these procedures. We hope this is an enjoyable day for everyone!

New this year, our spirit wear store will be open year round. Ordering closes every Thursday at 8am. Those orders are expected to be delivered to school by Thursday of the next week!

QCSD wants to promote a healthy environment and is sensitive to student allergies as well as health needs. When classroom parties are held, we ensure that allergy sensitive and healthy options are offered in addition to any treats.

If you would like to celebrate your child's birthday with their class, please contact your child's teacher. We ask that you adhere to our wellness policy and do not send in food items for birthdays. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

If you need to change your child's transportation for dismissal, please notify us by calling our main number 215-529-2450 and leaving a voicemail, or by sending an email to Mrs. Irvine at kirvine@qcsd.org and cc'ing your child's teacher.

Thank you!

As many of you know, we select one word or phrase each school year that embodies Richland’s mission: Lead Myself, Lead Together, Lead with Balance. It helps staff and students to keep our priorities and goals in our sights. Our theme for this school year is “Every Student, Every Time,” and this is our promise to students and our commitment to you. At school, we will make sure every student is:

SEEN — I am noticed and valued.

KNOWN — My teachers know who I am.

HEARD — My voice matters.

ENGAGED — My thinking matters.

CHALLENGED — I am pushed to grow.

SUPPORTED — I don’t have to figure everything out alone.

INCLUDED — I belong here.

CELEBRATED — My strengths and growth are recognized.

Families are an essential part of “Every Student, Every Time.” Every student will have adults in our school who know their strengths, interests, needs, and goals - academically, socially, and emotionally. You know your child in ways we don’t. Throughout this year, we will ask you to help us learn what makes your child unique. We encourage you to talk to your child throughout the year on how this year's theme will guide them. And maybe you!

In addition to the entree on each day's menu, daily offerings include peanut butter and jelly sandwich, jelly only sandwich, mixed salad with cheese, mixed salad with chicken, turkey and cheese sandwich, cheese only sandwich, cheeseburger, and yogurt parfait.

Teachers will ask students for their selections each morning.

The Quakertown Community School District is a full Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) district for the 2026-2027 School Year. Therefore, all students, K-12, qualify to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch meal per day at school. Please note, this does not include a la carte items or second meals - students would need funds in their cafeteria accounts for these types of purchases. Parents can add funds to their students’ account either through the online system with SchoolCafe.com or students may bring cash or check payable to Quakertown Community School District to the cafeteria to be added to their meal account. Please include the student’s full name on the envelope for cash or in the memo section of a check to ensure proper credit.

Families that have been Directly Certified by the state will receive an email notification for their records. Since all students are eligible for free meals, online/paper applications are no longer accepted for processing.

If your student has funds available in their cafeteria account and will not be purchasing a la carte items or second meals during the 2026-2027 school year, a parent/guardian on file in PowerSchool may request a refund. Please email sreiss@qcsd.org with each student's name, grade and mailing address for confirmation. Checks will only be made payable to a parent/guardian on file in PowerSchool. Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing the refund from the time of request. If you have additional questions or concerns, please email the Business Office secretary at sreiss@qcsd.org.

Visit the QCSD website for full volunteer clearance information.

Teacher Professional Development

9:30am - PreK - Gr 2

@5:30pm in the library

6pm in the library

Rain date - 10/18

via email

Open during lunches

2:30 - Families may watch the parade in designated areas, weather permitting

Teacher Professional Development

Website: https://res.qcsd.org/o/res
Location: 500 Fairview Avenue, Quakertown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-529-2452
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichlandPTO
Twitter: @RichlandQCSD