BLUES’ NEWS
Richmond Street School and PTA Newsletter
June 2005			Volume 5, Issue 10
Richmond Street School 615 Richmond St., El Segundo, CA 90245 (310) 606-6831		Dickie Van Breene, Principal http://elsegundousd.com/richmond_school Shari Gulian, Newsletter Editor, ssa@copper.net		Windri Barriga, PTA President PTA El Segundo Council 33^rd District, CCPTS

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Richmond Street Families,

It is hard to believe that the school year is quickly coming to an end. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support. We have an outstanding program at Richmond Street School, due in a large part to our wonderful parents. I would also like to thank our PTA, President Windri Barriga, and her talented executive board. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated, hard working and supportive PTA. No task seems to be too big or too small for our PTA parents. Thank you to our School Site Council representatives, including president, Jayne Pimlott, who has contributed countless hours to Richmond Street School over the past five years.

This year the PTA is giving $61,305.00 to Richmond Street School for the 2005/2006 school year. We plan to use some of the money to purchase the following:

· Books for intervention and enrichment

· Resources for bullying prevention education and school safety

· Technology – computers, and projectors for the classroom that connect to the computers

· Field trips and assemblies

I would also like to thank the many businesses that contributed to Richmond Street School, the El Segundo Educational Foundation for its generosity, and the school board and district personnel for their support. Thank you to our wonderful staff of teachers, instructional assistants, office personnel, custodians, noon supervisors, librarians, and cafeteria workers. Each day these people work very hard to ensure that each child receives the quality education that he or she deserves.

I wish you all a safe, relaxing and fun summer. I look forward to seeing you back in September and to those of you who are moving on, I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,

Dickie Van Breene, Principal

dvanbreene@esusd.k12.ca.us

SPRING SING SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 9
9:10 – 9:50	Choir and 1^st Grades perform – 1^st grade parents attend
11:00 – 11:40	2^nd and 3^rd Grade perform – 2^nd grade parents attend
2:00 – 2:30	4^th Grade performs – 4^th grade parents attend
Friday, June 10
9:00 – 9:40	Choir performs – choir parents attend
11:00 – 11:40	2^nd and 3^rd Grades perform – 3^rd grade parents attend
2:00 – 2:30	5^th Grade performs – 5^th grade parents attend

Summer School: Summer School will not be held at the elementary level this summer due to lack of state funding. State funding allows the district to operate summer school for grades 6 – 12 only. Fee-for-service programs such as Science Camp, Drama Camp and TLC are available at Richmond. In addition many Richmond Street teachers will be offering tutoring for a fee over the summer. For more information visit the school office.

5^th Grade Culmination and DARE Graduation will be held on Wednesday, June 22 at 11:00 in the High School Auditorium.

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE): The District is conducting a search to identify students in grades 3 – 12 for GATE. If your child is a high achieving student or is exceptionally talented in the arts he/she may be eligible to be designated as a GATE student. Referrals for gifted students with learning disabilities or limited English skills who might be typically overlooked are also considered. Applications are available in the school office and the deadline has been extended to June 17.

Not returning in September? If your child will not be attending Richmond Street School in

September, please contact Ann in the office, 606-6831, ext. 400.

School Office Closed: The school office will be closed during the month of July and will reopen in the middle of August.

JUNE CALENDAR OF EVENTS
6/1 Wednesday	School Site Council Meeting 8:45 room 202 Kindergarten Volunteer Luncheon 2:00 – 2:45 Kinder Playground
6/3 Friday	Center Street Ice Cream Social 6:00 – 8:00
6/9 Thursday 6/10 Friday	Spring Sing See schedule above
6/22 Wednesday	5^th Grade Culmination ESHS Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.
6/23 Thursday	5^th Grade Picnic Chevron Park Minimum Day – Early Dismissal Grades 1 – 5 attend 8:30 – 1:30 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
9/2 Friday	Class Lists posted on Richmond Street School Library Windows at 9:00 a.m.

MESSAGE FROM THE PTA

Well, our 2004–2005 school year is coming to an end. It was wonderful year for Richmond Street School and the PTA. Over the past two years, the PTA has donated a total of $100,000 towards school equipment, the reading curriculum and various school programs. All these funds were the result of the generous donations of time and money by Richmond’s parents through various fundraising events.

This year we have seen an increase in the number of parent volunteers at Richmond. Parents have given their time by helping in the classrooms, the workroom and by participating in the planning and staffing of our events and fundraisers. Without them there would be no PTA and Richmond would not be able to maintain its high quality of education as well as its fun and safe environment. Thank you parents, for all your hard work and dedication to the children of Richmond Street Elementary School.

As for me, I could not have survived my first year as PTA president without all these wonderful parents. I’ve made many new friends and enjoyed our friendship during the past year. I was truly blessed with a PTA Board and program chairpersons that worked very hard to make our events and programs successful. Truly amazing! Some of these wonderful parents are leaving Richmond Street and I would like to thank them for all their years of service. A special Thank You to Jayne Pimlott and Tish Mitchell for your years of service here at Richmond Street School. We’ll miss you. And to all the PAR’s (Parent Alumni of Richmond), your kids may be leaving but we hope we’ll be seeing you again.

Our Richmond Street School office and custodial staff do so much for everyone throughout the year. Your contributions and commitment to the students, staff, and PTA is very much appreciated. And of course our wonderful teachers, thank you for supporting Richmond’s PTA with all your time and efforts.

Lastly, I want to say thank you to our Principal, Ms. Dickie Van Breene. Your leadership and hands-on approach serves as an example for all. It’s wonderful when the PTA operates as intended, a partnership between parents, teachers and staff with a single purpose; to make Richmond Street Elementary School a better place for all.

Again, THANK YOU to everyone for your commitment to Richmond Elementary. You are all AWESOME!

Have a fun and safe summer,

Windri Barriga

BOX TOPS AND LABELS FOR EDUCATION OVERALL WINNERS FOR 2004-2005!!

Box Tops

Campbell’s Labels

Grade	Teacher	#BoxTops
K	Jacobson	560
1^st	Pickett	921
2^nd	Kuch	711
3^rd	Teitelbaum	665
4^TH	Blaney	934
5^th	Berkes	550

Grade	Teacher	#Labels
K	O’Brien	1668
1^st	Pickett	1927
2^nd	Kuch	1301
3^rd	Igi	4641
4^TH	Blaney	2989
5^th	Sleeth	1773

We raised over $1300 in the Box Tops Contest and collected 100,000 points in the Campbells Contest.

Thank you to everyone for your participation.