Bulldog Bulletin

あけましておめでとう! Happy New Year! I hope you all had an enjoyable Winter Break with your loved ones. Our family hosted the holidays at our home and it was really nice to slow down and connect with one another during our time off. My parents and brother visited us so Hiromi & Zengo had a lot of fun with them (photo included from our trip to the Grotto).

This week my kids and I struggled with getting up early again, but the first week back seems to be off to a positive start for many of our Richmond students and staff.

I also wanted to thank each student and family who gave me a thoughtful card, message or gift for the holidays. Our family really enjoyed all of the sweet treats you provided! Richmond families have been so warm and welcoming towards me and I appreciate you all very much. I feel privileged to serve as the school principal within our community. Thank you!

Richmond's BSU will have their next student meeting on Monday, January 12th at 10:45-11:45am in room 200. Students who typically eat lunch during that time should bring their lunch to the meeting.

We will have a Team Response drill on Tuesday, January 13th at 10:25am. Team Response drills are utilized when we have a medical emergency or other incident that requires our hallways to be cleared. As always, I will make an intercom announcement prior to the drill beginning so students are aware of what we are doing and why.

A team response drill allows us to clear the hallways for many reasons, but here are the most common reasons:

• Allow emergency response staff (medical providers or firefighters) to quickly get to the person in need of help.
• Provide more privacy for the person experiencing a medical emergency.
• Ensure that an "audience" does not form around an incident while staff are doing their best to respond to student/adult needs.

After we conclude the Team Response drill, I will make a second announcement on the intercom to prepare students and staff for our Fire Evacuation drill. Our goal is to evacuate the building in less than 4 minutes, and to evacuate using a "Voice Level 0" (silent) to practice remaining calm and allowing staff to hear any sudden announcements regarding potential changes in our evacuation plan.

On Wednesday, January 14th school will end at 11:50am for our Early Release day. Please plan accordingly and complete a Dismissal Plan Form, if needed, for that day.

• Buses will run their usual routes after school ends at 11:50am.
• After school activities do NOT take place at Richmond on Early Release days.
• Art4Life closes at 5:00pm on Early Release days.
• If an after school activity chooses to run their program on an Early Release day, it is their responsibility to communicate their plans directly to parents. Please do not ask our staff. We do not always receive that info.
• Breakfast is served at the usual 7:45am, but lunch is about an hour earlier than usual.

SNACKS FOR OUR 1/14 STAFF MEETING: On our Early Release Wednesdays our staff and I engage in 3 hours of professional development to improve our practices for supporting students. During this time it has been greatly appreciated to have snacks to share, and it provides our teachers with something to look forward to on these long meeting days. However, with budget cuts, it has not been possible to continue this practice as a school.

Click here if you'd like to sign up to bring in a snack or drink for our awesome teachers. Thank you! 🙏

*Perishable items should be delivered to the main office on the day of our meeting 1/14 by 12:30pm.

Dear Synergy ParentVUE & StudentVUE Users,

We want to inform you that the Synergy ParentVUE & StudentVUE login URL has changed. Click here to view documents that will guide you through how to make the change for both apps or website browser bookmarks.

NEW! "Richmond's Questions & Connections" section of the Bulldog Bulletin will include questions, concerns, and personal stories from our own Richmond families and students.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK FOR NEXT WEEK'S BULLDOG BULLETIN. The google form is very short (2 questions) and you can choose to share as little or as much as you'd like.

Here is this week's question...

What are some ways families can partner with the school to strengthen equity and inclusion for all students?

During our staff professional development on 1/14 we will be using an equity rubric that we reviewed last month to dig deeper into topics that ask educators to self-reflect on the ways their identity impacts how they show up in the classroom.

Parents can help partner with us in our efforts to strengthen equity and inclusion for all students by reviewing similar topics at home with their own children. These types of topics can be unpacked as a family starting as young as age 3-4. By practicing from a young age how to reflect on our own identities, we develop empathy for those who are different from us, and we learn how to be more compassionate and inclusive of others who have different struggles than we do.

Here is a sample of how to make the attached statements more kid-friendly:

• As a family share with one another how you each identify: skin color (race), languages spoken, birthplace (nationality), age, gender, role in the family (parent, sister, brother, etc.).
• Use more intentional language as they get older (e.g. race, gender, class, ability, etc.) and begin identifying which identities have historically experienced more privilege.
• Families who share identities within the dominant culture should avoid conversations that create shame or blame, and instead focus on the historical facts and ask your child how those historical events go against your own family values. For example, when discussing racism in American history, ask your child why we as a family believe this is wrong.
• End the conversation by brainstorming ways your child can interrupt bias when it shows up. For example, ask your child, "What can you say/do if you hear someone being excluded because of the color of their skin?". Role playing helps students to build the confidence they need to interrupt harm in real time.

Source: Coaching for Equity, Elena Aguilar. Jossey-Bass, 2020

Our annual Japanese New Year’s Festival is coming on Jan 31st, 2pm-5pm, at Richmond!

Save the date and come join us to enjoy the feeling of the Japanese new year!

Questions? Please contact Cultural Committee at ptaculturalcommittee@gmail.com

The first breakfast in the Garden event of 2026 is happening on Saturday January 17th from 9am - noon. Our focus for the January event is to spruce up the front of the school before the prospective family open house(s) in February. We're talking weeding, cleaning and pressure washing! As always we'll have some drier and more kid oriented activities as well. Find us in the learning garden for painting and snacks. We'll be painting some fence decorations for reinstallation by Spring.

We are looking for a few items to help us have a successful event. Do you have any exterior paint? Yes, we actually do want what's at the end of the can that's taking up space in your garage! We'd love all colors and sheens of your exterior grade paint. We are also looking for a few gas-powered pressure washers to use for the event. Do you have one to share for the event? Please email greenteamrichmond@gmail.com to coordinate donations or if you have any questions. Thank you!

Hello! I’m Siobhan Marcoux, a Life Scout for Troop 351 and a Richmond Elementary alumna. I’m fundraising for my eagle project, which is to build a large garden bed in the Richmond Elementary Learning Garden. My goal is to create a space for all students to learn about plants and where their produce comes from, and to create a welcoming environment in the garden. My total cost for this project is close to $2,000, so any support would be appreciated. These funds will go to materials for the project, such as lumber and soil, prepping the area, and gathering materials. If you do choose to donate, know that your contribution directly helps make an immersive space for Richmond students to learn in.

Please help support Richmond’s first female Eagle Scout!

I’m not the first Eagle Scout from Richmond nor the first female Eagle Scout from Troop 351. Troop 351 has a proud tradition in Southeast Portland of helping all youth grow into confident leaders through community service, teamwork, and unforgettable outdoor adventures. No matter who you are, there's a place for you here—come discover your strengths and explore the world with us. To learn more about the troop, visit troop351.org (http://troop351.org/), or ask me about my experiences.

https://gofund.me/72c4a92bc

We are excited to announce that we will welcome 11 new interns coming to the JDLI program in April, 2026! There will be 8 interns at Richmond! If you and your family are interested in hosting one of them, feel free to contact Haruka Takanuma, intern coordinator, at haruka.takanuma@oyanokai.org with your questions, concerns, or anything!