Richards Family News
November 9, 2026
Dear Richards Families,
One of the things that makes Richards special is the close, welcoming community we share. Maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students and staff is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate your partnership.
As a follow-up to our communication last week, we will continue to have staff members supervising student departures at dismissal. We are also making some adjustments to the doors students use to exit the building. These changes will limit the number of doors being used, help reduce access to the building during dismissal, and provide supervision as students leave. We will begin implementing these changes by next week and communicate the exact plan to students and families.
The updated dismissal procedures will be:
- 4K and 5K: No changes to current dismissal procedures.
- 1st Grade: Students will exit through Door 1. (main, front door)
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades: Students will exit through Doors 6 and 7. (center, back doors)
Students may continue to meet up with siblings and leave together at dismissal. They will simply need to use one of the designated exit doors listed above. We will not be using any other doors for dismissal.
We also want to reinforce a few important expectations for after-school building access:
- Students should leave the building promptly at dismissal and may not reenter unless they are participating in the Connects program.
- Students who need to retrieve a forgotten item should enter through the main office (Door 1), which remains open until 3:45 p.m.
- Families should not reenter the building after dismissal through exterior doors. Please use the main office for any necessary building access.
- Please do not ask staff or students to open locked exterior doors outside of established procedures.
A couple of additional pickup reminders:
4K Connects: Family pickup will take place through the buzzer system in the Great Hall rather than through Door 1. The interior doors will remain locked moving forward, so families needing access to the building will need to enter through the main office or Great Hall.
After-School Groups: For groups that begin immediately after school, family pickup will take place at Door 1. The group supervisor will bring students to Door 1 for pickup.
Please share these updates with anyone who may be picking up your child, including grandparents, nannies, other family members, or parents of siblings and friends. We recognize that many people help with afternoon pickups, and it is important that everyone is aware of the updated procedures.
Even in a close-knit community where we know one another well, these procedures are important for maintaining a secure building. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and continued partnership in making Richards a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
Upcoming No School Dates: Mark your calendars, school is not in session on the following dates.
- November 25 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break
- November 30 - No School (Staff Professional Learning Day)
November at Richards is Kindness Month! Students can participate by completing a Kindness Bingo card at home with their families or dressing up for our Multiply Kindness Day on Nov. 20th
Picture Retake Day: Did your child’s photo not turn out exactly like you had hoped? Retake Day will be held tomorrow in the Great Hall: November 10 from 3:15-5:00 pm. Students must be accompanied by an adult, no appointment is needed. During the school day, our photographer will also be taking first time photos for those students who missed Picture Day in September.
To view/select photos, follow the link to the Richards VIP photo page. For best results, please make sure your child's name and student number are entered exactly as it is in your Skyward account.
- Retake photos will be added to your online image gallery about a week after photo day.
- The deadline to choose your child's yearbook photo is two weeks after retake day; if you do not pick an image VIP will choose a yearbook image.
- If you have any questions, please email support@vipis.com
Wear Red, White and Blue on November 11: We invite students and staff to wear red, white and blue in honor of Veterans Day this Wednesday, November 11, with appreciation for all who have served our country.
Incoming 2027-2028 4-Year Old Kindergarten (4K) Visits
Whitefish Bay resident families of students who turn four on or before September 1, 2027 are invited to a 4K Overview at Richards Elementary School on Friday, December 4, 2026 at either 8:40am or 1:30 pm.
Mr. Nelson and Ms. Petersen host this event, which will include an overview of the 4K Program at Richards, an opportunity to meet our 4K teachers and key staff members, a story in the library, and a Q & A session. More information can be found in this FLYER.
Families interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP via this LINK. Please contact the Richards Office at 414-963-3951 with any questions.
Please help us spread the word to friends and neighbors!
Meet the Richards Pupil Services Team! Please open this LINK to view the Fall 2026 Welcome and Informational Letter from our Pupil Services Team.
ICE CREAM LUNCH NEEDS YOU!
Are you free tomorrow, Tuesday November 10, between 10.55am and 1.10pm? We need your help! Help make ice cream lunch a success by signing up to volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DA8AD2CABF4C43-67251144-icecream
BOOK FAIR: A huge thank you to all who came to the Scholastic Book Fair. Because of you, we donated 163 Wish List Books back to classrooms! AND due to your "rounding up" generosity during checkout, 19 books were purchased for the library and classrooms.
The results are in! Thanks to all of your support, the Book Fair earned $4,049.72 in cash proceeds. An additional $34.24 was accepted through donations.
We could not have run the book fair without the help of our volunteers: Betsy Wittmann, Jen Biffle, Claire Barber-Stetson, Ellie McCue, Dee Leung, Jen Ryan, Crystal Stair, Allison Brouk, Ann Amormino, Jill Williams, Lynn Raines, Kelly Little, Maria Camera, and Katie Nowak. Thank you for volunteering your time to this event. An additional thank you to Brian Timmerman and Jake Wahl for sharing their space with us and to Webster Boyd and the custodian staff for all of his help with set up. And of course to Stephanie Haupt and Chris von Paumgartten for all of their assistance along the way.
We look forward to seeing you at our one-day Scholastic Book Fair in the spring!
Kelly Moore and Elizabeth Schwartz
Scholastic Book Fair Co-Chairs
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
The Cultural Arts Committee is planning for our 3rd annual International Night in the Richards Great Hall on Thursday, February 18th from 5:30-7pm! This event will feature different cultures represented at Richards through our families and give students the opportunity to learn about our students' diverse backgrounds. This has quickly become one of our favorite family events at Richards, and we hope to make this year as successful as the last! This event is coordinated by the Cultural Arts committee, but its success depends on family participation. If your family would be interested in participating in this event by hosting a table, please click on this link and complete the short survey by November 16th.
If you have any questions please contact Seema Afsari at seema1018@gmail.com or Blanca Guzman at blancaguzro@gmail.com.
LOST AND FOUND: Winter weather will be here before we know it! Plan ahead and order adhesive name tags (they work well on hats and mittens) from Mabel's Labels; Richards PTO gets 20% back on all purchases (make sure to select Richards Elementary via the "Support a Fundraiser" tab or during checkout).
Email richardslostandfound@gmail.com for help finding a specific item or any other questions.
GET INVOLVED AT RICHARDS!
Come to a PTO Meeting
Everyone is welcome at PTO meetings and we would really love to see as many people there as possible. Meetings are held at 7pm on the third Monday of each month in the Great Hall.
Next meeting: Monday, November 16 @ 7pm - we hope to see you there!
Stay connected
Don’t miss out! Follow us to see what’s happening and keep up with the latest PTO news:
- Instagram: @RichardsPTO_WFB
- Facebook: @RichardsPTO
- Membership Toolkit: richardspto.membershiptoolkit.com
If you have any questions, or need help navigating any of the above, please reach out to richardsptowfb@gmail.com. We are ALWAYS happy to help! Thank you for supporting Richards Elementary PTO! Have a great week everyone.
The Richards PTO
Building Futures Facilities Planning Next Steps
Dear Whitefish Bay Families,
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our entire Whitefish Bay community following last week's vote approving the $90 million capital referendum. As we enter this next chapter, your ongoing partnership remains vital to advancing our Focus Plan and fulfilling our vision as an Exceptional Place to Learn.
Whether you voted in favor of the referendum or opposed it, thank you for your active participation and for caring so deeply about the future of our district. We recognize and respect the diverse perspectives within our community. Moving forward, we remain fully committed to serving every student and family with excellence, transparency, and responsible fiscal stewardship.
What This Investment Means for Our District
Whitefish Bay Middle School: Rebuilding and renovating the facility on its current site (~70% new construction with major renovations) to create a modern, flexible learning environment.
Whitefish Bay High School: Replacing aging HVAC infrastructure and mechanical systems, and upgrading fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
Cumberland & Richards Elementary Schools: Upgrading fire alarm systems and installing full fire sprinkler coverage.
Design Development Phase & Anticipated Timeline
Over the coming months, we will officially enter the design development phase. During this collaborative process, our Architect, Construction Manager, Owner’s Representative, District Leaders, and School Board will work directly alongside students, staff, and community members to help shape these new and renovated spaces.
Initial architectural design and detailed planning will take place throughout the upcoming phases, leading toward an anticipated construction start date in December 2027.
Next Steps & Project Updates
We are committed to clear, consistent communication throughout the design and construction phases. Please visit our dedicated project webpage for updates, FAQs, and board presentations:
🔗 Building Futures Project Website (Video Message: The webpage includes a short video message from me providing additional context on what happens next. I encourage you to check it out!)
As we move into this next chapter, we welcome continued dialogue and input from all members of our community as we build these spaces together.
Thank you again for your partnership and dedication to Whitefish Bay Schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jamie J. Foeckler
District Administrator
Whitefish Bay School Board Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00pm, in the Whitefish Bay High School Library Media Center. Click here to view the 2026-2027 School Board Meeting dates.
October 27, 2026 School Board Meeting Takeaways
The community is welcome to attend School Board meetings to gain a better understanding of School District business and the role of the School Board. The public is also invited to address the Board during the public comment portion as indicated in Board meetings. Meeting agendas are posted within BoardDocs two days preceding each meeting.
WFB Public Education Foundation’s 2026 Annual Fall Pledge Drive: The WFB Public Education Foundation’s 2026 Annual Fall Pledge Drive kicked off on October 10th! The Foundation supports the Whitefish Bay Schools by funding innovative educational projects, educator grants and student scholarships. The Foundation also provides long term financial support.
Your generosity helps ensure continued academic, artistic and athletic excellence in Whitefish Bay.
The pledge drive takes place October 10 – December 31. Show your support by donating at www.educatethebay.com TODAY!
