BLUES NEWS
Richmond Street School and PTA Newsletter
February 2007				Volume 7, Issue 6
Richmond Street School 615 Richmond St., El Segundo, CA 90245 (310) 606-6831		Dickie Van Breene, Principal Janice Hickey, 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 OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Richmond Street Families,

I would like to thank all our families who have contributed $25 or more to the El Segundo Educational Foundation’s Boost Our School Challenge. The Educational Foundation has contributed in many ways over the years to our children’s education by funding:

· Richmond’s Art and Music Program

· UCLA Writing Project, which trains RSS teacher on to provide top-notch writing instruction

· Robotics program for grades 4 – 12

· Physical education aide for RSS 4^th and 5^th graders

· Computers for every teacher at RSS

· And much more

We hope that you will join the Foundation with your tax-deductible donation of $25 or more by March 1. We hope to get 50% of our families joining the Foundation. If we meet this goal $2,500 will be donated directly back to RSS to go towards a new playground near TLC. Nine percent of our families have donated thus far but we know we can do better. Please go to www.elsegundoedfoundation.org/money.html for easy online donating. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Dickie Van Breene

FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2/8 Thursday	GATE Parent Presentation 7:00 - 8:00 District Office
2/12 Monday	SCHOOL HOLIDAY Presidents’ Day
2/13 – 2/23	Kindergarten Parent Conferences
2/19 Monday	SCHOOL HOLIDAY Presidents’ Day
2/20 Tuesday	District Spelling Bee 4:15 Middle School Auditorium
2/22 Thursday	Wellness Committee 3:00 PTA Room 3^rd Grade Science Fair 6:00 – 7:00 Auditorium
2/28 Wednesday	School Site Council Meeting 8:30, room 202

MEET OUR TEACHERS

Jennifer Pickett (1^st Grade): I became a teacher because someone before me chose this career to make a difference in my life and I desire to do the same for the precious faces that I see before me each day.  I became a teacher because I can't have 20 kids of my own each September and this is the next best thing! I became a teacher because my personal metaphor "teacher as baker" shows that I believe I am giving the students all the ingredients-the things they will learn- in a comfortable, warm environment to end the year having grown as people and risen to the expectations set for them in the beginning of the year.  I became a teacher because I enjoy debating with my husband about whose day had more impact on the greater good.  I became a teacher because lack of knowledge leads to lack of caring, lack of awareness and lack of opportunity.  I became a teacher because I know my son will benefit from my experiences working with different families and what they bring to me as a person and mother.  I became a teacher because...why wouldn't I?

Kate McClain (1^st Grade): Why did I become a teacher? Well, to be honest I didn’t intend to make teaching my career.  When I was about to graduate from UCLA, I applied to the Developmental Teacher’s Education Program at UC Berkeley, figuring “Well, if I don’t like this, I’ll come out of this with a master’s degree from Berkeley, and that will be useful in any career.”  Thank goodness I made that decision.  I found that I LOVED teaching— working with children and families, creative lesson-planning, the opportunity to test and refine and retest lessons and strategies to meet individual goals, daily feedback about my progress, the opportunity to explore a vast array of subject areas—really, who wouldn’t love it?  No day in teaching is ever the same; no school year is ever like another.  To me, teaching always feels fresh and challenging.  It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been teaching now for over 10 years—the time has just flown by.  And there’s still so much more for me to learn!  I plan to keep evolving as a teacher for several more decades to come.

Elanya Thompson (4^th Grade): Why did I become a teacher?  I can’t think of anything else I would rather do.  As a child, I very much enjoyed school and have more fond memories than I can count. I’ve also had some FABULOUS teachers throughout the years who not only taught me subject matter but also taught me how to enjoy learning, which is one of the reasons I desired to get a masters degree in education.  I feel fortunate to have a job that I love to come to everyday.  It’s exciting to anticipate what each day brings.  It gives me the opportunity to explore a variety of subject areas.  I get to design creative and exciting lessons.  Having the opportunity to witness the success of a child is immeasurable.  Teaching continually inspires me to evolve as a life-long learner.  I wouldn’t trade teaching for anything else!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RSS Website: The Blues’ News and school lunch menu, along with the latest school information can be found on our school website www.elsegundousd.com/richmond_school

Lakers’ Read to Achieve Program: Our 3^rd – 5^th graders are participating in the Lakers’ Read to Achieve Program. Please support your child in this effort. Last year the classes that had 100% participation received a surprise ice cream party hosted by Kwame Brown and Devean George! The program ends February 21.

Cold and Flu Season: Yes, it’s that time of year. Please remind your children to wash their hands frequently and please keep them home if they have a fever.

Kindergarten Conferences: Parent conferences are scheduled for February 13 – 23. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have not scheduled a date to meet.

Kindergarten Orientation: Please tell your friends and neighbors who have students entering kindergarten for the 2007-2008 school year that Kinder Orientation will be held for parents only, on Thursday, April 26 in the RSS Auditorium at 6:00 p.m.

ESUSD Songfest 2007: Musical excellence in El Segundo will be demonstrated during the all-district choral festival entitled Songfest 2007. The festival will feature performances by all El Segundo Unified School District choirs: Center Street School, Richmond Street School, El Segundo Middle School and the El Segundo High School. Songfest 2007 is scheduled on Wednesday, March 14th at 7:00 PM in the El Segundo High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 per person, and will be available for purchase at the schools beginning on March 1st. Please contact the music teacher at any El Segundo school for additional ticket sale details.

Coming Soon! See's Candy Fundraiser!  Help support Richmond Street School's 5th Grade Class. In order to raise funds to offset the cost of 6th Grade Outdoor Science School (OSS), the 5th Grade Class will be kicking off their very popular See's Candy Fundraiser at the beginning of March.  See's Candy offers a special selection of Easter Candy for this fundraiser at very reasonable prices.  They make wonderful gifts and all items will be delivered before Spring Break. The 5th Graders and their parents appreciate your support!  So keep an eye out for those 5th Graders as they'll be selling soon!

Questions?  Contact Sharon Blacksten at 310/322-8946 or blacksten1@aol.com.

ATTENTION PARENTS! The El Segundo Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit will be presenting “How to Raise a Street Smart Kid” on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the El Segundo Library’s Matsui Room, 111 W. Mariposa Ave. Parents will learn about: basic child safety, teaching their children abduction escape techniques, and good vs. bad touching. Refreshments will be served and space is limited. To RSVP, or for information, call Laurie Risk, Crime Prevention Analyst at (310) 524-2274. ADULTS ONLY PLEASE.

MESSAGE FROM OUr PTA PRESIDENT

PTA is off and running in 2007! The annual Run for Education and Fun Run for Education is Saturday, March 24th. This year you can register online. The link is at www.elsegundousd.com or wait for the registration forms which will be sent home in the near future. This is a great family fun activity that directly benefits our school.

Do you know someone at our school that you feel deserves to be recognized for their hard work and dedication? Nominations are now being taken for Honorary Service and Very Special Person awards that are given each year at our Founder's Day Ceremony. Nominating forms will be sent home in early February and can also be found in the office. This is a special way to say thank you to someone who deserves it. Also, if you would like to be on the committee who chooses the recipients, please contact me at

kipntam@sbcglobal.net.

PTA is also looking for our terrific parents to take a PTA position for the 2007-2008 school year. Please consider jumping on board. Parent involvement is one of the things that make Richmond Street a great school! Let us know if you would like a position. We are also still accepting PTA memberships. If you haven't joined yet, you still have time.

Remember, to the world you may only be one person, but to one person you may be the world. PTA helps make a difference.

Tammy Long

BOx tops for education

Box Top Winners for November 2006
Grade	Teacher		Box Tops
Kindergarten/Tedde	Glenny		331
First Grade	Lister		424
Second Grade	Miller		97
Third Grade	Teitelbaum		104
Fourth Grade	Bennett		45
Fifth Grade	Sleeth		188
Box Top Winners for December 2006
Grade	Teacher	Box Tops
Kindergarten/Tedde	Glenny	148
First Grade	Lister	280
Second Grade	Nodar	70
Third Grade	Evans	98
Fourth Grade	Bennett	71
Fifth Grade	Lubba	74

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Congratulations to our November and December winners!!   We are well on our way to reaching our goal for the 2006-2007 school year, so please keep clipping those Box Tops.  Box tops are collected on the first Friday of each month.  Thank you for your support.

Julie Cantu and Judi Nieto

Box Top Coordinators