Red Smith Back to School '26

Welcome Back to the 2026-2027 school year. We are hopeful you have filled your bucket and reenergized for the exciting year ahead. Our theme this year is Dreams Under Construction! How fitting, with physical changes to our building including a renovated secure entrance, updated main office, renovated Family Consumer Education room and future auditorium just getting underway (completion December 2027), we have much to be thankful for. The community support shown in passing the 2024 Referendum is proof that the residents in Green Bay believe strongly in Public Education and all the benefits within.

In the weeks ahead, staff will be returning to school to prepare for the year ahead. We invite all families to The 2026 Welcome Back Celebration which will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Preble High School. There will be free food and entertainment. Visit gbaps.org for more information. The following week, August 24th-28th, staff attend professional work week meetings. Please be sure to attend Open House on Wednesday, August 26th. Details are found below.

This year, we promise Together, we will… reach for the District theme Infinite Possibilities and continue to live our Red Smith School mission of ADVICE Together, we will…Appreciate Diversity, Dream Big, Value Learning, Inspire thinking, Celebrate Talent and Embrace Challenges. Let’s make it a great year to be a RAPTOR!

Wille Birkholz-Principal

Pete Ware-Associate Principal/Director of Athletics and Activities

Joanna Wiitanen-Associate Principal

Our Raptor Staff will be welcoming students & families at our annual Open House on August 26, from 2:30-3:30 and then again from 5:00-6:00 pm. This is a time for Middle School students to receive their schedules, drop off supplies in their lockers, check out their classrooms and learn about upcoming school athletics/activities. Middle School Checklist to use to guide your visit.

Elementary students should have already received their classroom assignments. Students will be able to meet their new teacher/s and drop off school supplies in the classroom. We encourage everyone to attend to see old friends, meet new ones and get energized for the upcoming school year.

Kayla Gaulke - Kindergarten Teacher

Jennifer Johnson - Grade 3 Teacher

Briam Holm - Grade 4 Teacher

Griffin Geib - Grade 6 Science Teacher

Raeann Cree - Grade 7 Science Teacher & STEM Elective Teacher

Heather VandeWalle - Grade 7 Math Teacher

Omar Rosado - Grade 8 Spanish Teacher

Alexa Beauparlant - Special Education Teacher

Natasha Behnke - Elementary Vocal Music Education

Dani Maus - Elementary Vocal Music Education

Rachel Benn - Elementary Physical Education

Jake VanDyke - Elementary Vocal Music & Middle School Instrumental Music

Ana Diaz-Gonzalez - Early Childhood Paraprofessional

Amy Buhr - Paraprofessional

Dawn Schwartz - Paraprofessional

Lauren Pearson - Monitor

Michelle Vanlieshout - Grade 1

Cheryl Delwiche - Grade 3

Sarah DeMeuse - Grade 4

Maggie Thill-6th & 7th Math

Patty Lofdahl - Middle School Reading Intervention

Michelle Devine - Middle School Math Intervention

Jessica Day - Paraprofessional

Kayla Ford - Paraprofessional

Mindy Dahlin - Paraprofessional

Theresa Roemaat - Custodian

Our Welcome Back Dances are quickly approaching and we are 'live' on our website for ticket sales! PTO website address is linked here.

9/11, Friday, Middle School Welcome Back Dance, 7:30-9p

9/25, Friday, Elementary Welcome Back Dance, K-2: 2:45-4p, 3-5: 4:30-5:45p

Red Smith PTO is in need of new members so anyone interested should reach out to us via email ptoredsmith@gmail.com and/or attend our PTO meeting on Tuesday, 9/8 to learn more at 4:00 pm. We need a Vice President and Communications.

Upcoming PTO Events

9/8 Tuesday PTO Meeting

10/5 Monday, Culver's Community Night

10/13, Tuesday, PTO Meeting

If you have not yet gathered supplies for the 26-27 school year, please see the list by grade linked here.

Middle School backpacks are required to be clear. If your family is not able to purchase a clear backpack, please reach out to Student Services.

• Elementary 4K-5 and Grade 6 students will attend school in person on August 31st. 7th & 8th grade students will be asynchronous that same day. All Early Childhood & 4K-8th grade students will all be in person starting September 1st.

• Each morning, general outdoor supervision for elementary students will begin at 7:30a. Please do not drop students off before that time. Middle School students may start start entering the building at 7:27 am.

• Our daily schedule for all students is linked here. The Red Smith School annual calendar is linked here.

• Breakfast is served in the Raptor Cafe’ for those choosing to fuel up. Elementary students can enter from the playground at Door 5B at 7:25. Middle School students can access breakfast by entering through Door 1, 14, or 15 at 7:27.

• Main Office hours are 7:00 am - 3:30 pm; phone # is 920-391-2425, follow the prompts

  Attendance Office Hours are 7:00 am - 3:30 pm; phone # is 920-391-6634

  Student Service Office Hours are 7:30 am – 3:00 pm; phone # is 920-391-2510

  
  

• 8/17 RS Football starts
• 8/24 RS Cross Country Starts
• 8/26 Open House for all students 2:30-3:30 & 5:00-6:00
• 8/26 Athletics & Activities Meeting 6:15-6:45
• 8/31-First Day of School for 4K-6th grades. 7th & 8th grade asynchronous learning.
• 9/1-All students are back! 3K-8th grade
• 9/2-First day of practice for Volleyball & Soccer
• 9/7 NO School
• 9/8 PTO Meeting
• 9/10-Football @ Norte Dame, Soccer @ Red Smith, Volleyball Games vs. DePere, Cross Country Meet @ Colburn Park
• 9/11 PTO Middle School Dance 7:30-9:00 pm
• 9/14 Volleyball vs. Denmark & Washington, Soccer @ Wrightstown
• 9/15 Soccer & Cross Country Pictures, Football @ Edison
• 9/16 Football and Volleyball Pictures
• 9/17 Volleyball vs. Edison, Soccer @ Lombardi, Cross Country @ Colburn Park
• 9/21 Soccer @ Smith, Volleyball vs. Pulaski, Cross Country @Meadowbrook
• 9/22 Volleyball vs L.C., Football @ Smith
• 9/23 Soccer @ Franklin
• 9/24 Cross Country @ UWGB
• 9/25 PTO Dance K-2nd 2:45-4:15 pm, 3rd-5th 4:45-6:15 pm

School pictures will be taken at Open House for all 6th,7th, & 8th grade students. If middle school students miss Open House, our school wide Picture Day is set for Thursday, September 3rd. Make-ups for all grades will be October 8th. Ambrosius Studios will provide ordering information to all families at the designated times.

Middle Schoolers-Please remember, the picture you have taken during Open House is the one that will be used on your ID. Please plan accordingly with appropriate clothing and bring your BEST smile:)

We will continue following past practice with cellphone, and other electronic expectations. Here is the common message that all students at Red Smith receive.

• TalkingPoints for Families one pager: A simple overview of how families can use TalkingPoints to stay connected with their child's school.

• TalkingPoints Families App Invitations: Printable invitations available in multiple languages to help families download and begin using the TalkingPoints app.

Annual Updates (Student Registration) - Please complete the Annual Updates online for the 2026-27 school year. All families with students who completed the 2025-26 school year can access the Parent Portal to submit the annual information update.

It is important that all families complete the annual updates through the Parent Portal to ensure the district has the most accurate information in Infinite Campus. More information, including a guide for families to complete their annual updates online, can be found on the Registration page of the District website. All parents should have a Parent Portal account and can use the self-service tools. If they forgot their username or password parents should email servicedesk@gbaps.org from the email they have on record with the district. If email is not an option, parents should contact the Department of Technology Help Desk at (920) 448-2148 for assistance.

If your student(s) is/are going to be absent from school, please let us know by calling the Attendance Office at 920-391-2425 #1. In addition, an online resource is available this year for families IC Absence Request Tool to enter absences.

Please be sure we keep ‘safety over convenience’ at the forefront of our decision making when traveling to/from school! Staff in highly visible yellow vests will also be supervising safe foot traffic patterns. Please respect their role and our expectations of traffic flow (foot, bike, vehicle) to keep all students and staff safe. Please do not drop students close to school and expect them to cross the street into oncoming traffic.

Be sure to have an awareness of our NEW Middle School vehicle traffic pattern for drop off & pick up. In addition, vehicles may still utilize the South side of Baywatch Drive ONLY for safe drop off & pickup. The Traffic Map to follow is here: Traffic map in 26-27.

*** Parent Bus Information will be Available August 24th in IC and on My K-12 App ***

Information can be found at https://www.gbaps.org/aboutgbaps/departments/transportation

The My K-12 App is available for parents to download, this provides parents more information on where their students' bus is located and also has a way to communicate with the bus company.

District Traversa Users are able to see student bus stop location information for 26-27 in Traversa, starting August 14th.

Click here to view all upcoming activities and athletic information for fall.

The online store is currently OPEN. Get your Red Smith Raptor Gear to show your Raptor Pride!!

Students in middle and high school have a number of entrees to choose from each day. For lunch: The homestyle line option changes each day (view on NutriSlice menu website on the calendar). Other daily options include (listed below the calendar on NutriSlice): taco fiesta line, sub deli line, pizza, hot sandwiches (including veggie burgers), rotating specialty salads and grab & go boxes, fruit, yogurt, and granola parfaits, and a full salad bar. Visit gbaps.nutrislice.com to review all of our options!

~Students in middle and high school have a number of snack and beverage options available for purchase! These items are not included in the regular meal price. Items can be purchased with cash or using their Food Service account balances (like a debit card). Spending limits can be placed on the account through calling the school kitchen or our main Food Service office.

~Families with children impacted by food allergies and/or dietary accommodations should work with the school nurse. Then the nurse will work with our registered dietitian. Visit our website for more information, click here.

~ Families can access the school breakfast, lunch, and after-school dinner (where applicable!) menu on NutriSlice! Visit our website https://foodservice.gbaps.org/menus-mealprices for instructions on how to download the NutriSlice app! Please know the menu can change and we recommend families view it each morning for the most accurate options! Visit gbaps.nutrislice.com for all of our menu options!

~Free and Reduced Applications should be returned before or at the start of the year and anytime there is a change in the household size or income. All families are encouraged to fill out and return the application. Even if your child attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school and receives breakfast and lunch at no cost, it is critical that you fill out the Free & Reduced Price School Meals application. **NEW: SNAP benefits have been greatly reduced - if you have qualified for automatic free meals in the past and did not this year, please apply on this application immediately. Students who qualify for free meal benefits can request to have school fees waived. Free & Reduced-Price Meal information is used to determine funding from various programs for schools. Completing this form, even if you opt not to have your child receive free or reduced-price meals, can make a significant difference in the amount of available funding for your child’s classroom. The information in this application is kept confidential and private. You may fill out the enclosed form or the online application through the Campus Portal: https://greenbaywi.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/greenbay.jsp.

If you plan to provide lunch for your student(s) and peers please call the Main Office, 920-391-2425, at least 24 hours in advance, to have this pre-approved by school administration. A space will be reserved for the students to eat, as we don’t allow ‘take out’ food in the Café. If involving peers, consider allergies. Parent/guardian written permission must be granted by the peer’s parent/guardian.

As a service to students and their families, GBAPS is making available an optional student accident insurance plan for your child at a very nominal cost. The district offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, co-payments, or lack of health or dental insurance coverage. Coverage and enrollment information is available at gbaps.org/enroll.

Community Resources Handbook