Richmond Elementary E-News

5th graders participated in a Book Break with Linda Sue Park, the author of “A Long Walk to Water”. Linda discussed why she wrote this book, what was true within the book, and all of the effort she put into making the book. Richmond even got a shoutout with a question that one of our students submitted!

Richmond will be observing Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th. We invite our Veterans (and 1 family member/guest) to come to Richmond at 9:15 a.m. to enjoy a complimentary breakfast, followed by an all school assembly at 10 a.m. We will put together a video that we will show at our assembly and email out to families after the assembly. We need your help! We would love to include pictures of our Veterans in our presentation. Please reach out to family members and direct them to this FORM to be included in our video!

Please fill out one form for each veteran attending. You can also call the main office at (331) 228-2800 to RSVP.

This year, our Richmond Student Council is leading the way in helping our school community care for the environment through the Bags to Benches Recycling Challenge. Students will be collecting eligible plastic film (such as grocery bags, bread bags, and other clean, dry plastic materials) throughout the year. The goal is to recycle at least 1,000 pounds of plastic and compete for a Trex bench made from recycled materials!

We are excited for our students to take the lead in this important initiative and encourage families to get involved. More details, including what can be recycled and how to participate, are included in the attached flyer.

You can also click HERE to see options.

Fall parties are right around the corner, and we would like you to be aware of our plans and expectations so that you can help your student to prepare. Our celebration is scheduled for Friday, October 31st.

Richmond

The parade will run outside from 2:25 pm to 2:35 pm. Parents may line up along 12th Street to watch the parade.

• Classroom parties will run from 2:35 pm to 3:15 pm

• Room Parents will be allowed to go to classrooms at 2:15 pm for party set up and to assist with costumes after they have checked in at the office

• In the event of inclement weather, there will not be a parade

Costume & Party Guidelines: Students should bring costumes in a bag. Costumes must be appropriate for school. Costumes should not be violent or scary in nature. No blood, guts, or weapons. No masks. Make-up is discouraged because it is difficult to apply. No bare midriffs or scant clothing. Students may be asked to remove or put away any parts of costumes based on teacher judgment.

• Room Parents who are assisting with the parties should not wear disguises that would make it difficult to recognize them as a safe person

• Only Room Parents may attend the classroom parties

• No food treats will be eaten during the party

• No food treats will be passed out or shared with other students.

• Work with the teacher on any non-edible goody bags to be sent home.

Room Parent Guidelines:

• Sign-up for Room Parents and party helpers is through our PTO.

• Complete the D303 volunteer form if you have not already. Contact Darlene Buffano at darlene.buffano@d303.org or call at (331) 228-2800 if you have questions about procedures.

• Work with the classroom teacher on activities/games for the party

• Work with the teacher on any non-edible goody bags to be sent home

Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to inform you about an important upcoming educational program for our fifth-grade students. We have partnered with Candor Health Education to present their "Puberty I - Understanding Changes" program, which will be delivered to our students on October 22, 2025 in the afternoon.

Program Overview

The 90-minute session is thoughtfully designed to help students understand and navigate the physical, emotional, and mental changes that accompany puberty. We have chosen an in-person delivery model to ensure our students can learn about and discuss this sensitive topic in the familiar, comfortable environment of their regular classrooms. Students will be separated by gender during the lesson to encourage open discussion and address gender-specific topics appropriately. As part of the Candor program, students will complete a pre-test on the content of the presentation. Your child will complete this pre-test on October 22nd in the morning. The pre-test allows the instructors to know the group's current level of understanding related to the content.

Educational Approach

The program incorporates several learning methods to maximize student engagement and understanding:

• Pre- and post-lesson assessments to measure comprehension

• Interactive group work activities

• Pre-lesson e-learning opportunities

• Guided discussions in a supportive environment

Parent Resources

We understand you may want to review the program content before the session. Candor Health Education has created comprehensive resources for parents:

1. Visit their parent information page: Here you'll find helpful FAQs and an overview video about the program.

2. To view the specific content that will be presented to your child: Use password: Premier25 This page contains detailed presentations showing exactly what your child will learn during the program.

We believe this program provides valuable education that will help our students understand and feel more confident about the changes they are experiencing or will soon experience. The Candor Health Education team has extensive experience in delivering this sensitive content in an age-appropriate and respectful manner.

If you have any questions or concerns about the program, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly. We want to ensure you feel fully informed and comfortable with this important aspect of your child's education. As a parent, you have the right to request that your child not participate in this presentation. If, after reviewing this information, you would prefer not to participate, please let me know through e-mail at lisa.simoncelli-bulak@d303.org by October 15, 2025.

Sincerely,

Lisa Simoncelli-Bulak

Richmond Principal

Thank you to Mrs. Carlson, Mrs. Webster, Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. Miller and Ms. Munroe for serving food for our Culver's night and supporting our PTO!

We use pushcoin for fees in D303. HERE is the website with info and how to launch. You can check your child's lunch balances on pushcoin and can see any transactions they have made during lunch.

D303 Community,

St. Charles North is excited to host this Friday’s Senior Night football game against Glenbard North! This week’s Blue Fan Group theme is NEON!

• Sophomore game: 4:30 p.m.

• Varsity game: 7:00 p.m.

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all fans, please review these important reminders:

• Gates open at 3:45 p.m.

• Reserving seats in the stadium prior to 3:45pm is prohibited. Access to the stadium during school hours is not permitted.

• Tailgating is not permitted.

• Backpacks, bags, or outside food and drinks are not allowed. Small bags up to 8" x 6" are permitted and subject to search.

• Students younger than high school age must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

• No re-entry into the stadium.

• The following are strictly prohibited: profanity, taunting (including racial or discriminatory remarks), throwing objects, or using items that block the view of others.

• Linked here are Game Day Reminders & our Parking Map

Ticket Information (available at the gate or via GoFan). Buy a Booster Pass and skip the lines for all SCN Home Games!

• General Admission – $5.00

• Students & Seniors 65+ – $2.00

• Visiting Students (with school ID) – $2.00

• D303 Middle/High School Students & Staff (with ID) – FREE

If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Office at 331-228-6258.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night as we come together to cheer on our North Stars!

Join us for an engaging and practical three-part series designed to help parents navigate the growing challenges of anxiety and school avoidance. Led by Dr. Megan Schmitz of Vital Living Wellness Solutions, these sessions will give parents tools to:

• Recognize anxiety in their child and understand its impact on learning and growth.

• Learn strategies to balance empathy and compassion with boundaries and expectations.

• Gain concrete tools to support positive school attendance and resilience.

Where: St. Charles North High School Auditorium
Time: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Dates: October 8 • October 22 • November 12

This series is designed to strengthen the partnership between families and schools, offering tools and strategies that foster belonging, perseverance, and achievement. Together, we can create the support and consistency children need to thrive. Please note: An interpreter/translator will be available for families who need language support.

• D303 is hosting a parent-empowerment series featuring Dr. Megan Schmitz of Vital Living Wellness Solutions. The series, titled “Guiding Students from Avoidance to Achievement,” includes three evening events at North High School and is part of D303’s student-attendance initiative.

  Spanish translators will be available to assist parents.

In this episode we stopped by Classroom B218 at St. Charles East High School to talk directly with the school’s Department Chairs Cara Drexler (English) and Andy Ehrhardt (Social Studies) about the classroom work they do and how they support other teachers in ensuring East students get a solid foundation in these core subjects to help put them on their pathway to excellence.

D303 is supporting the St. Charles Public Library with their Community Cabinet Food Drive.