BLUES’ NEWS
Richmond Street School and PTA Newsletter
May 2008				Volume 8, Issue 9
Richmond Street School 615 Richmond St. El Segundo, CA 90245 310- 606-6831		Dickie Van Breene, Principal Jack Plotkin, Assistant Principal elsegundousd.com/richmond_school Shari Gulian, Newsletter Editor	Tammy Long, PTA President PTA El Segundo Council Thirty-Third District California State PTA, everychild.onevoice

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Richmond Street Families,

It’s official! We are a California Distinguished School! This is the second time we have been honored with this award. We were eligible to apply twice and received the award both times. Congratulations to our outstanding students, our supportive families and our wonderful staff. We celebrated on April 25^th by wearing our RSS shirts and being treated to popsicles at lunch.

STAR testing for grades 2 – 5 is scheduled for May 12 – 23. We would like to encourage you to send your child/children to school on time and well-rested, having had a nutritious breakfast. Homework will not be given during testing. Where possible, please schedule orthodontist/doctor’s appointments for your child after school.

May 5 – 9 is Teacher Appreciation Week. I would like to express my appreciation and respect for all the teachers at Richmond Street. I see daily, the professionalism, dedication, and caring attitude our teachers have for our students. I’d also like to thank all the parents and PTA members who are involved in planning Teacher Appreciation Week. You really know how to make our teachers feel special.

Finally, we look forward to seeing all of you on Thursday, May 29 from 7:00 – 8:00PM for OPEN HOUSE!

Sincerely,

Dickie Van Breene

Principal

dvanbreene@esusd.k12.ca.us

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS STILL OPEN FOR NEXT YEAR

The positions of Grade Representative for both the 4^th and 5^th grade are still needed for next year. The 5^th Grade Rep position can be split between two people. If you are interested in helping out in this important function please contact Susan Hepburn at smc6758@earthlink.net or 310-640-8040.

MESSAGE FROM PTA

I can't believe my two years as PTA President are nearly done! At Richmond Street, knowing that our children are getting an amazing education is why I volunteered and will continue to volunteer.  I feel a little guilty saying I am the "President of the PTA".  I can't begin to take credit for heading the PTA, my name has just been at the top for a few years. Recently I read that the people who volunteer the most are usually the people who have the least time to volunteer.  At Richmond Street that is a true statement.  I would like you to know a few of the many volunteers at Richmond Street School. Volunteers are the people who make our school day and PTA events flow smoothly and successfully.  There is Maria who is at school nearly every single day helping with math facts and spelling words.  Shari, who has graciously and professionally put together every single Blues News for the last four years.  Brandy has handled our wrapping paper sales and back to school packets.  Debbie and Ann take role at choir every week at 7:30 in the morning.  Nan has organized the work room for two years, making it look effortless.  Suzanne recorded every important item mentioned at our meetings. Judy and Julie collected our Box Tops. Cecelia sold our t-shirts.  Brenda and Lisa have helped with PE for our kids for many years. Eng helped organize volunteers for nearly every event for the past four years and is always there to provide whatever is lacking.  Beth audits the books.  Bonnie raised the bar at our Silent Auction and Shannon started collecting items for months before it happened.  Cathy made running the Fall Festival look easy.  Windri made sure that every PTA bill and form was paid and completed before it was due.  Carol made sure that we were inspired and goodies were at every meeting, Victoria and Sylvia made sure your PTA membership was recorded. Claudia provided our speakers.  Laura created amazing book fairs.  Marcia made sure our teachers felt appreciated, Joanne brought out the artists in our students during Reflections. The room moms organized parties, parents corrected homework, worked math centers and computer lab, helped on field trips, donated supplies, and met with the Site Council.  Wendy and Tammy donated many hours making sure our cafeteria was perfect for the Distinguished School Visit.  There are so many more people that volunteer that I haven't mentioned. Please know that you are appreciated. We will have close to 16,000 volunteer hours by the end of this school year and for that we should be proud.  These are the parents who run your PTA or rather, make your PTA run and I am in awe of all that you do. We are working parents, single parents, and stay at home parents. We all have one thing in common......we are parents and at Richmond Street we work together and I thank you.

Our PTA’s Very Special People awards were given to Richmond Street staff members Francisco Gonzalez, Augustìn Martinez and Angel Jauregui, our outstanding custodians. These three gentlemen take great pride in maintaining our school and it shows. All PTA awardees were honored at the Founders Day Event held on April 29th at Bulldog Hall. 

OK, enough with the accolades.....there is still work to be done.  May 12th is our last official PTA meeting of the year....7:15 in the cafeteria .As my last hurrah, I expect to see all of you there! Please join us. Come for the goodies and stay for the information!

And finally, to Sheila, I leave this all to you!

Tammy Long

PTA President

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Richmond Street School Survey Results: A summary of the results from the recent school survey is available on our school websites’ main page at http://www.elsegundousd.com/richmond_school

K – 2 Read-a-thon results: Our K – 2 students read 21,119 books! Thank you to our parents for your support. This is a great way to motivate kids to read!

KINDER VISITATION: Please tell your friends and neighbors who have children who will be entering kindergarten in the fall about our Kindergarten Visitation scheduled for Monday, June 2 from 10:15AM – 11:15AM.

Moving over the summer? Please inform Ann Hancock in the office if you are planning to move over the summer.

School Choice Enrollment for 2008 – 2009: During one week in May, El Segundo Unified School District will offer residents of El Segundo the opportunity to choose where they would like their children in grades K-5 to attend school within the District, if space is available. Parents wishing to continue in their home school need not take any action. Parents interested in participating in this program for the 2008-2009 school year should contact Kris Martin in the Educational Services Office for an application. Applications must be submitted in person on the following days: Monday, May 19, through Friday, May 23, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the El Segundo Unified School District Office located at 641 Sheldon Street, Room 102.

Lost and Found: Our lost and Found is overflowing with items. Please check at Open House or at any other time for items your child has lost.

Kinder Dental Exams: California law requires your child must have a dental check-up on his/her first year in public school. Dental exams that have happened in the 12 months before your child entered school also meet this requirement. If you have not completed and submitted to the school the form for your child please do so before the end of May - 2008. Forms are available in the office or from your classroom teacher.

Congratulations to Kayla Jacobson, Katie Denman and Amanda Houston who all received the

Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award.

Center Street’s Ice Cream Social - SURF’S UP …Center Street School’s Annual Ice Cream Social is coming June 6^th, 2008 from 6pm-8pm. They will have exciting carnival games, silent auction, a cake walk, music, food, and much more. There is something for everyone and a whole lot of GOOD OLD FAMILY FUN! Admission is FREE, but tickets are required. Pre-order ticket sales will be coming soon. If you have any questions, please contact Robin Funk at 310-414-6711 or at GRFUNK95@aol.com or Gilda Dyckman at 310-640-0887 or at dyckmantwins@aol.com

BOX TOP WINNERS!!

Congratulations to all our winners!! With all your help and effort we have already surpassed last year’s totals. We have two more collection dates before this school year is over so please keep clipping those Box Tops and keep up the great work!

The final Box Tops collections will be Friday, May 2nd and Friday, June 6th. Thank you for all your support.

Judy Nieto and Julie Cantu

PTA Box Top Coordinators

	January 2008	February 2008	March 2008
Grade
Kindergarten/Tedde	Bryant	O'Brien	Jacobson
First Grade	Maisonet	Pickett/McClain	Maisonet
Second Grade	Sobosky	Foster	Foster
Third Grade	Igi	Teitelbaum	Feinbloom
Fourth Grade	Stakkestad	Lubba	Lubba
Fifth Grade	Sleeth	Sleeth	Berkes

BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKS

Richmond Street PTA is offering parents the option to buy all their school supplies for next year in one convenient package. Grades 1 through 6 will be offered. To order simply go to www.buyschoolstuff.com and enter our school number: 118959. Choose the appropriate grade level for the 2007-2008 school year and pay by credit card. Your order will come straight to your house 2-3 weeks before school starts. You will be billed when your order ships. It’s really that easy!

The sale is open from May 5th until June 13th and a portion of the sale will benefit Richmond Street School. The purchase of these “back-to-school packs” are optional and you are welcome to purchase back to school materials in your own way. The lists of required supplies for all grades can be found on the RSS website, look for the link named, “Back-to-School Materials.” If you have any questions feel free to call Brandy Smith at 310-615-1944 and leave a message.

May 2008 Calendar

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1 5^th Grade Parent Orientation at ESMS – 7PM	2	3 Hometown Fair Choir Performs
4	5 Minimum Day K – 5 Online Back to School Supply Pack Orders Begin Teacher Appreciation Week	6	7 7:00 Technology Night	8	9 5^TH Grade Panoramic Picture	10
11	12 Minimum Day Grades 1-5 STAR Testing Grades 2 - 5 PTA Meeting 7:15 PM	13 STAR Testing Grades 2 - 5	14 STAR Testing Grades 2 - 5	15 STAR Testing Grades 2 - 5	16 STAR Testing Grades 2 - 5