Colt Connection

Wishing our students and staff a relaxing and enjoyable spring break! 🌺🌞☔

Classes resume on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Greetings Colt Country,

As we head into the final quarter of the school year, spring is bringing both excitement and a busy schedule to our schools. Spring break will take place March 9–13, and we hope students and families enjoy some well-deserved rest before we return for the remainder of the semester.

Included in this quarter's newsletter is measles information from the health department. While we thankfully did not have any cases in our district despite exposure several weeks ago, we want families to stay informed and review the health guidance included below. As always, if your child is feeling ill, please keep them home and contact the school if you have questions.

Looking ahead to next school year, the State of North Dakota is transitioning student information systems from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. This change will take effect in the fall with transition happening over the summer. Our team will share more details with families as we get closer, including what this means for parent access and communication tools.

Spring is a wonderful time in our schools—classrooms are busy with projects, activities, and preparations for the end of the year. We look forward to a great fourth quarter of the school year. Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school community.

Warmly,
Dr. Britney Gandhi

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on June 9, 2026, the Annual School Board Election will be

held in the Richland #44 School District for the purpose of electing school board members to fill

any expired or vacated terms.

Any candidate for election as a member of the school board shall file with the Business Manager of the board not less than sixty four (64) days before the election and before four o’clock PM. This means the deadline for filing is April 6, 2026. A Statement of Candidacy and a Statement of Interest must be filed and in the business manager’s physical possession before four o’clock on the sixty fourth day before the election. All times are Central Daylight Savings Times: (NDCC 15.1-09-08 and 09)

ONE MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS FOR A 3 YEAR TERM:

AREA 2 (two) - One member shall be elected from that area in Eagle Township between the Walcott road and Abercrombie Township

AREA 6 (six) - One member shall be elected from the village of Colfax, ND.

For more information on how to apply, visit our website at https://www.richland44.com/page/school-board-election

The 2026–2027 Richland #44 school calendar is now available. Families and community members can view and download the calendar by visiting the school website. Click HERE for a copy of the calendar.

**Watch the following video to learn how to find calendars on our website**

• Elementary teacher (hiring two) - 2026-2027 school year

• HS Science Teacher - 2026-2027 school year

CLASSIFIED STAFF

• HS head cook - 2026-2027 school year
• Bus route driver - 2026-2027 school year

COACHES

• Boys Golf Coach - starting March 2026
• JH Football Coach - starting August 2026

We are proud to recognize two outstanding members of our Richland #44 team.

Addie, our Teacher of the Year, is a dedicated 1st and 2nd grade teacher who brings positivity, patience, and passion to her classroom each day. She is known for her welcoming smile and steady encouragement for students—even on the toughest days. Her commitment to helping every child learn and grow makes a lasting impact on our school community. This honor is truly well deserved.

We also congratulate Tammy, our Staff Member of the Year. As a paraprofessional, Tammy plays an important role in supporting students throughout the day. From supervising students to helping transport them safely to and from school, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure students feel supported and cared for.

We are grateful for the dedication both Addie and Tammy bring to our school district each day. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

This year we again had several generous donations from both individuals and area churches to help cover student lunch costs. Donations have been earmarked either to our PB&J fund or to help cover outstanding student lunch balances for those in need.

THANK YOU to the following who have donated this school year:

Richland WELCA

Boyle Family

Kent Pie Ladies Group

Our Saviors Lutheran Church

Pete & Karen Krump

Tiger & Shirley Krump

Larry & Bonnie Kummer

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

In February, the Richland #44 District Wellness Committee completed its federally required three-year assessment of the District’s Wellness Policy. The review confirmed that our schools continue to meet federal school meal standards, follow USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition guidelines, and offer several child nutrition programs for students and families. The full wellness policy, assessment report, and information on available nutrition programs are available on the district website at https://www.richland44.com/page/student-health

A big thank you to our Richland #44 Pep Band, under the direction of Mrs. Weatherly, for bringing energy and excitement to our home basketball games this season. With help from community members, the band performed at many of our games, filling the gym with familiar pep songs that add to the game-day atmosphere.

As pep band performances become less common around the state, our fans are always in for a treat when the band takes the stands. We appreciate the time, talent, and spirit they bring in supporting our Colts! 💙💛

Colts students attended the Richland County Spelling Bee in Wahpeton on February 11th. James A (5th), Bella B (6th), Grace H (7th), and Violet M (8th) did a fantastic job representing Richland #44.

This past Saturday, a group of 5th – 8th grade Richland music students attended the Young Musicians Festival in Enderlin. Students performed solos and small ensembles in front of judges and received scores and feedback on their performances. These students were well prepared and did an excellent job representing their school! In addition to many star ratings, Richland took home five outstanding performance awards this year!

The past few months at Richland #44 Elementary have been full of learning and celebration. While we experienced several days of indoor recess during the colder weather, we are grateful that it is beginning to feel more like spring outside.

We also enjoyed seeing many families and community members attend our Coffee with Kids events—thank you for your continued support and partnership with our school. Our students had fun celebrating the 100th Day of School, proudly recognizing that they are now 100 days smarter!

We are proud of the learning and growth happening each day in our classrooms and want to give a special congratulations to our Quarter 3 VIP Students, who were recognized by their teachers for going above and beyond. We are very proud of all of our students and the positive contributions they make to our school community.

One of the highlights of this quarter has been the launch of our weekly Character of a Colt recognition, which began in February. This initiative was created to intentionally recognize students who go above and beyond in demonstrating respect, responsibility, and positive leadership in our building.

Each week, staff members nominate students by completing a Character of a Colt certificate when they observe these qualities in action. Students turn their forms into the office, where their names are entered into a weekly prize drawing. All submitted forms remain in the drawing throughout the quarter, giving students multiple opportunities to be recognized.

A special thank you to Student Council for their leadership in this effort. They played a key role in developing our pillars of character, designing the recognition cards, and organizing prizes for the weekly winners. Their partnership with staff has helped ensure that the positive things happening in our building are seen and celebrated.

We are looking forward to spring and a great 4th quarter.

Go Colts!

Mr. Davison

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬!

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 245 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘵𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘈𝘈, 𝘈, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯:

Grade-point average

ACT or SAT scores

Extracurricular involvement

Community service

Leadership qualities

Students are honored on Gold, Silver, and Bronze teams in each division, along with additional honorable mentions.

We are thrilled to share:

𝙀𝙫𝙞𝙚 – 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘉 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯

𝙀𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 – 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘻𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘉 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘵.

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙀𝙫𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪!

Congratulations to Brezlyn, Alexa, and Genevieve!

These outstanding students qualified for STATE with their FCCLA STAR Event, Colts for a Cause – Chapter Services Project!

Through hard work and teamwork, they raised over $1,000 with a lasagna take-and-bake fundraiser. They donated $250 to the High School Store44 and $250 to the Elementary Store44 to support students across Richland #44.

They also assembled 50 Colts Care Kits, donated to our local fire department and first responders. These kits will support children during emergencies.

Their service, leadership, and kindness make a real impact. They represent FCCLA and Richland #44 with pride.

Each month, the high school faculty votes on the Rotary Student of the Month. The Student of the Month is selected from the junior class. The faculty looks at students who excel in many areas including academics, extra-curricular activities, character, and community involvement. On the third Tuesday of the month, students are recognized at a luncheon put on by the Wahpeton Rotary Club. Congratulations to the following on being named Student of the Month:

Richland Student Council held our annual winter dance, the Glacial Gala, for Richland middle and high school students on Friday, February 27. Students had a great time dancing and playing board games while raising funds to help pay for next year’s Student Council convention and other school spirit-building activities throughout the school year.

The Richland #44 Student Council will be hosting a Blood Drive on March 18 from 8:15–10:30 AM. Community members, staff, and eligible students are encouraged to consider donating and helping make a difference for those in need.

To schedule a donation time, please contact Mrs. Roth or CLICK HERE. Thank you for supporting this life-saving effort!

A shoutout to all of our student-athletes and coaches for the work you put into your season. Thank you for your dedication and for the way you represent Richland #44.

As we conclude our sports seasons with home events, I would like to thank the many individuals who work behind the scenes. From preparation to cleanup, the goal is always to create a positive, well-run atmosphere that provides a quality experience for our student-athletes and fans.

Thank you to Dave and Grace for setting up and taking down the gym, ensuring our facilities are ready for competition. We appreciate Don and Donna—along with others who step in—for managing the scorer’s table and keeping events running smoothly. A special thank you to Ashley for coordinating concessions and to the many volunteers who give their time to serve our community. We are also grateful for our ticket takers, pep band members who bring energy and school spirit, our dedicated student managers, and our activity drivers who safely transport our teams. Thank you all for your contributions to our teams!

Best of luck to our student athletes participating in Track, Boys Golf, Trap, Baseball, and Softball this spring.

Go Colts!

Mr. Davison

Overall Record: 10-12

Recap: “All In” – that was the motto for this team at the beginning of the year. Regardless of who our returning players were, how many girls we had on the Varsity team, or the number of underclassmen on our roster; the girls battled the entire season to our best record in five years. We overcame adversity with illnesses and injuries while keeping an upbeat mindset every game. While some teams may have been more talented than us, we played harder and at a faster tempo the entire game, which lead to multiple fourth quarter comebacks simply by wearing down the opponent. The reason we were able to do that is the effort put forth every practice by the girls – from our senior class down to our eighth graders. I am so proud of this team and the commitment they made to be “all in” to better this basketball program.

Outlook for Next Year: We will return a number of girls who played significant minutes for us during the year. The goal is to build off the momentum we carried throughout the season so we can start next year right where we left off this season. Next year’s success will be a direct reflection of the work our girls put in during the offseason – from shooting, dribbling, and growing their basketball IQ. By putting the work in during the summer, the sky is the limit for this team, and I am excited for the years to come.

Season Highlights:

- Earning the 3rd Seed for the District 1 Tournament

- Ashley & Janna named to the All-District 1 Team

Words about Seniors: Wow – where to begin... Abbie and Mallory both played huge roles for our team from their leadership, hustle, and commitment. They set the standard of working hard to make their teammates better, which was evident during our games. From hitting big shots to taking charges, they were the heartbeat of our team and made everyone around them better. While they will leave large shoes to fill, they set the standard for our program and showed the underclassmen what you can accomplish by being a great teammate. Thank you to both Abbie and Mallory for all they have done for our program – they will be sorely missed!

We wrapped up the season with a 14-10 record. This year was filled with memorable wins, valuable lessons from our losses, and significant improvement in our basketball skills. The team showcased remarkable talent, teamwork, and dedication to the program. We wish the best of luck to our 8th graders as they move on to the JV level next season. -Coach Perez

While the season did not bring the results the team had hoped for in the win column, it provided many valuable learning opportunities for the program. The year gave several younger players the chance to gain important varsity experience, especially with only one senior on the roster. Those minutes on the court will help build a stronger foundation for the seasons ahead.

One challenging moment came when the team lost Carson to a season-ending injury midway through the year. However, one memorable highlight came during the final home game when the team ran a set play for Carson, allowing him to take a shot off the opening tip and sink it—an exciting moment that will be remembered by teammates and fans alike.

As the season comes to a close, the focus now shifts toward growth and development in the offseason. With many returning players and the experience gained this year, the team looks forward to continuing to improve and building momentum for the future.

The Sheyenne Mustangs boys swim and dive team proudly partnered with Richland 44 this season to form a co-op, giving athletes from both schools the opportunity to compete together under the Mustang banner. What started as a numbers partnership quickly became something more meaningful, as Richland swimmers Milo S and Harvey F made an immediate and lasting impact on the team. Beyond adding depth to the lineup, they strengthened the competitive drive, positive culture, and leadership presence within the group.

Milo proved to be a consistent force all season long in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events, bringing speed and confidence to every meet. Harvey carved out his role in the 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle, showing steady improvement and determination each time he stepped on the blocks. Both athletes were key contributors to the Mustangs’ relay squads, helping elevate team performances and adding valuable points in critical moments.

Their hard work paid off at the Eastern Dakota Conference meet, where both Milo and Harvey qualified and earned spots on the Mustangs’ EDC team. The team placed an impressive 5th overall, highlighted by nine season-best swims and 11 individual podium finishes — a testament to the collective effort and dedication across the roster. As the season wraps up at the North Dakota State Swimming and Diving Meet this weekend, Harvey will represent the Mustangs in the 100 breaststroke and as part of the 200 freestyle relay. Milo and Harvey’s impact this season goes far beyond times on the scoreboard — they helped make this co-op year a success in every sense of the word.

Richland #44 was proudly represented this season in the Wahpeton–Richland Gymnastics Co-op by Carlie, who made an essential contribution to the varsity team throughout the year. Carlie consistently traveled and competed as an all-around gymnast, participating in season meets, the regional competition, and the state meet.

The season wrapped up at the end of February when Carlie and the team competed at the State Gymnastics Meet, where she represented the Colts in Team Vault, Bars, and Floor. Congratulations to Carlie on a strong season and for proudly representing Richland #44! 💙💛

This year was the first season of Richland High School Wrestling, and we had a small but dedicated group of athletes help start the program. Our team included three girls and two boys who were willing to step on the mat and represent Richland in a brand-new sport for our school. While none of our wrestlers qualified for the state tournament this year, the team still made history by earning the first wins for Richland Wrestling on both the boys and girls sides. Those wins were exciting moments and showed the hard work our athletes put in all season.

Starting a new program always comes with challenges, but our wrestlers continued to improve, support each other, and compete with pride. Every match and practice helped build the foundation for what Richland Wrestling will become in the future.

We are proud of this first group of wrestlers for their willingness to try something new and help lay the foundation for the Richland wrestling program. Their effort, courage, and commitment played an important role in getting the program started. As wrestling continues next year through a co-op with Kindred, the program will take on a new look, but the contributions of this first group will always be remembered as the beginning of Richland Wrestling. We look forward to seeing the program continue to grow in the years ahead.

We are looking forward to hosting the first Richland Rally 12U and 14U Volleyball Tournament on March 28. Volunteers are needed if you're available to help support the event. Planning is also underway for our annual Coltbackers 5K on May 6, and we are excited to celebrate and support our athletes at the Athletic Banquet on May 18.

We also continue our fundraising efforts toward the purchase of an Athletic Bus to better serve our athletes. If you are interested in supporting this important initiative, please connect with a board member.

This past quarter, we proudly supported both the girls and boys basketball team banners, purchased additional uniforms for the girls basketball team for next season, helped with the girls basketball alumni game and breakfast, and invested in a digital program to enhance the display board during games.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide opportunities, resources, and recognition for our Colt athletes.

— Your Coltbackers Crew

Jenny Schmitt - President

Erin Gowan - Vice President

Anna Marohl - Secretary

Janelle Berseth - Treasurer

Keep up with all things Richland Athletics:

Richland 44 Coltbackers Facebook Page

Coltbackers Website

Richland #44 Daily Announcements

All Richland Events Calendar

Be sure to check out our website with several summer camp opportunities!

We will continue to update this site as more are added: Summer Information - Richland #44 Coltbackers

A special thanks to all the students, parents, staff, and community members who volunteered at our 5th & 6th grade tournaments this winter!

The next DFS meeting is set for April 22nd at the high school. We are actively working on recruiting new members. We would like to have anyone that is interested in joining us, please come to the next meeting and learn about who we are, what we do and how you can help. If you would like to visit one on one, please contact one of our members and we would be happy to visit with you.

**Click the links below for event flyers and additional information**

• March 9-13 - NO SCHOOL: Spring Break
• March 27 - PTO Fun Night
• April 3-5 - NO SCHOOL: Easter Break
• April 6 - School Resumes (make up day)
• May 7 - Elementary Spring Concert
• May 12 - Jr/Sr High Spring Concert

• Wondering where to find something? Most items can be found on our website and app!

  
  

  Website:

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  • Much more!

  
  

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  • Dollars for Scholars Facebook
  • Richland #44 School Foundation

Visit the app store today on Apple or Android devices and search "Richland 44 School".