RGS Rams Report

Recently, we sent a communication asking parents to complete the 5Essentials survey for this school year. The Illinois State Board of Education initially communicated that the survey would open January 23rd but then they recently posted a date change. The following information is according to the ISBE website however, we will monitor the situation and send another communication once we are sure that the survey is up and running. Thank you!

The survey window for school year 2023-2024 will be January 30, 2024 to March 29, 2024. The survey window will apply to all districts regardless of whether they use the 5Essentials or an approved alternate survey.

Get ready to mark your calendars! Information regarding Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year will be released on February 16th. Spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors so they can start preparing for their child's educational journey. Stay tuned for more details!

During the cold months, it is VERY important to send your student(s) with the appropriate winter wear for outside recess. This includes a Hat, Gloves, Snow Pants, Boots, and most importantly a Winter Jacket. We have seen quite a few students come in only a sweater. Kids will go outside as long as the "feels like" temp is 10* and above. Please send them with their gear just in case they may need it throughout the day.

**Please make sure all snow gear is labeled. It is difficult for staff to differentiate between similar items, such as black snow pants or gloves.**

Climbers, climb on! Students in all grades have started climbing the traverse rock wall at RGS. Students work with partners in a "coach and climb". Coaches help their climbers not only climb but also stay safe. This imitates a climber and belayer system used in top rope climbing like at NMS. Students climb with different challenges, like only using one color of rocks, or one foot making the climb more difficult.

Next week will be our Kids Heart Challenge kickoff assembly! Last year RGS raised more money than ever before and even made it on the Top 15 Schools in Illinois list! We hope to do it all again this year. Please help us reach our goal by registering your students today! It’s free to sign up! Our goal this year is $15,000. If we meet this goal, Mrs. Smith will spend a day in an inflatable chicken costume!

The class with the most online sign-ups will have the opportunity to play against a teacher/staff team in a school-wide assembly dodgeball game.

The top 2 student fundraisers in each grade level will get to pie a teacher/staff member during that assembly!

Ms. Johnson

rschmitt@nsd2.com

(815) 678-6882

Thank you so much for supporting our school and the American Heart Association!

Interested in learning more about advocating for the Association? Join You’re the Cure.

© Copyright 2023 American Heart Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. All rights reserved.

Kids Heart Challenge is a trademark of the Association. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Fine Arts Night is coming! This year's theme will be Minions! Art work from every student will be on display throughout the hallways of Richmond Grade School. It will be held on Thursday April 25, from 6:00 to 7:30pm. I would also like to hold an after school art club in March for those students who may be interested. The painting project will have a Spring-time theme. A flyer will be sent out a few weeks in advance. During the next few weeks students in every class will be working with clay. We will be creating three-dimensional clay minions for the up coming Fine Arts Night! Thank you.

Mr. Ratts

wratts@nsd2.com

815-678-6869

This month in music...Fifth grade will be exploring some different online music tools to compose. Fourth grade has been learning to play the recorder and learning about all the procedures for taking care of this instrument. They will be beginning to play every day in music! Be on the lookout for a handout on how to help your musician successfully practice at home. It will be great for helping them learn and saving your ears! If your musician is bringing their own recorder it should be brought to school with them daily starting today! Third Grade and Second Grade have been reviewing rhythms and learning about composing! First Grade and Kindergarten are preparing for their concert on February 15th at 6:00 pm! This will be the first annual benefit concert. We are raising money and item donations for two animal rescues located in McHenry County, Young at Heart and Lost Woods Animal Sanctuary. Donations will be collected at the concert and/or may be brought to Mrs. Flores during the school day starting February 1st and ending February 15th. A donation list has been sent home to all RGS students and will be posted below as well! Donations for our animal rescues are not required but are very appreciated! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to reach me using the information below!

Mrs. Katia Flores

kflores@nsd2.com

815-678-6799

The lollipops are in! We are excited to hold our annual lollipop sale. The sale will begin on Monday, January 29th and run through the week to Friday, February 2nd. The classic round lollipops from the Old Fashion Candy Company are $1 each. The money raised goes to a special lunch during teacher appreciation week that is hosted by the Student Council.

Thank you for your support!

Join us next week for our District’s SmartSocial Live Parent Q&A Event. The topic is How Students Can Use their Social Media Accounts to Shine Online. First, you will need to register for the SmartSocial community using this link if you haven’t already done so: https://smartsocial.com/members?org=nippersinkrichmondburton. (This free access is for our students' families only and valid until July 31, 2024. Please do not share the link with non-district families.) Once registered to SmartSocial, you can click Parent Resources: https://smartsocial.com/members#start scroll down to the section, Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events, Here, you can register for upcoming Live Events! After registering for a specific event, a replay link will be sent to you in case you miss it or want to see it again. The focus of this month’s live event, How Students Can Use their Social Media Accounts to Shine Online: The critical role of a positive online presence in shaping future career opportunities and college admissions. Insights directly from students who have successfully leveraged social media to create a favorable image to reach their goals. Practical strategies and tips on how students can use social media as a tool for self-expression while maintaining professionalism. Guidance on online etiquette, privacy, and digital responsibility to ensure a safe and positive online experience.

If you have any questions about these events or other SmartSocial resources, feel free to Contact Us: https://www.nippersink2.org/o/district/page/contact-us. We look forward to your participation in these SmartSocial live events during the 2023-2024 school year and hope you’ll join our community’s conversation about keeping our students safe online!

Sincerely,

Nippersink District 2 Technology Department

** Practices start on March 4th, 2024 after school Mondays & Wednesdays until 5:15pm. **

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Morrison(jmorrison@nsd2.com) and Mrs. Weber(mweber@nsd2.com) for any assistance.

Recently, there have been some younger siblings accompanying parents who are volunteering during the school day, particularly during our most recent holiday party. While we appreciate the enthusiasm and eagerness to involve the whole family, we kindly request that PTO volunteers refrain from bringing younger siblings during their volunteer shifts.

This request is not meant to discourage family involvement; rather, it ensures that our volunteers can focus on their assigned tasks and responsibilities without distraction. Additionally, it helps maintain a safe and organized environment during school activities.

We understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to this guideline as much as possible. Your commitment to these guidelines ensures the success and smooth operation of our PTO events.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working together to create memorable experiences for our students!

-RGS PTO

Email: rgs.support@nsd2.com
Website: https://www.nippersinkdistrict2.org/o/rgs
Location: 5815 Broadway Road, Richmond, IL, USA
Phone: 815-678-4717