RES Family News
June 19th, 2026
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Field Day & BBQ
We wrapped up the school year with a fun-filled Field Day and All-School BBQ! Students enjoyed an exciting day of activities, including a dunk tank, slip-and-slide, bouncy obstacle course, sidewalk chalk creations, and refreshing popsicles. We also came together outdoors for a delicious BBQ lunch, making it a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our school community and all of the hard work and accomplishments of the year. It was a great day!
Powder Run Fun
RES's annual Powder Run brought students, families, and staff together for a colorful celebration of community and fun! Participants enjoyed a non-competitive one-mile run through Richmond, making their way through vibrant powder stations that added splashes of color along the route. After crossing the finish line, everyone gathered to continue the festivities with a slip-and-slide and a delicious assortment of homemade treats generously donated by families.
4th Grade Recognition & Parade
Richmond Elementary recently celebrated our 4th graders with a special Recognition Ceremony and school-wide parade. The 4th graders proudly paraded around the school while students and staff lined the route to cheer them on and celebrate their accomplishments. The Recognition Ceremony was a heartfelt and emotional event as families, teachers, and classmates reflected on the memories, growth, and achievements of this wonderful group of students. We are incredibly proud of our 4th graders and all they have accomplished during their time at Richmond Elementary. As they prepare for their next adventure, we wish them the very best at Camel's Hump Middle School and know they will continue to do great things.
As requested by families, here is Emily Wood's speech from the 4th grade recognition:
Good afternoon almost 5th graders! Good afternoon family, friends, teachers, and well wishers.
We are here today to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of these fine students. And it has been an honor to teach them for the past couple of years. This group of students have shown such resilience, empathy, and curiosity. Watching them grow to the people they are now has been a pure pleasure and I look forward to what they will do in the future.
As some of you know, I am leaving RES and Vermont to move back to where I grew up. Because of this transition, I’ve been really reflecting on the word “HOME.” In one sense I am moving home. And in another sense, I am moving away from another home, the one I have right here. The word means so much more than the dwelling in which you live. Home is more a feeling or adjective than it is a noun. It’s the place where you feel safe and loved. It’s the place that gave you refuge when it was a tough day. It’s the place that celebrates you for exactly who you are. It’s the place that helped you grow into the next version of yourself.
A strong memory from my childhood, my home, is watching and loving “The Wizard of Oz.” My neighborhood friends would watch this movie together on repeat. We would sing the songs. We would hop skip down our road singing “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.” And we would dress up and put on our own play versions, taking turns at who would play Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, the cowardly lion, and even Toto. The conflict at the heart of the story is Dorothy trying to get back home. Supposedly according to the story, she always had the ability to go back home using the ruby slippers, but I disagree. I think she had to go on that journey. She had to meet these life changing, cornerstone friends. She had to learn to have wisdom, heart, and courage to become the full human being she was destined to be. And only through this journey and transformation, is she able to go back home.
You too, are going on a journey and a transformation. And like Dorothy, I hope that you hold in your heart your “home.” That you remember the cornerstone friends that helped you along the way. That you learn to have wisdom, heart, and courage. I hope that you recognize and remember that RES is one of your homes. That it helped start you on your journey. That it provided a safe and loving space that helped you develop into your next version of yourself. I hope you remember the “wizards and witches” among the staff that helped guide you on the path. That we are all cheering for you and know that you have it in you to do amazing things.
Ms Roll and myself have painted some rocks as a gift to you. These are a reminder of your time at RES. Part of your foundation. Remember the lessons learned from our circle rock. First, your voice matters. Second, it's incredibly important to listen to others. And third, you don't need to have the right answer right away. You can come to it on your own time. Please take one and remember you are loved. Congratulations my friends! Onward!
What's New
4th Grade's Last Dance Party!
The 4th grade students came together one last time for their final community-building “Firework Friday” dance party! Students sang, danced, and celebrated to many of their favorite songs from throughout the year while making lasting memories with their classmates. Ms. B and Ms. Paula added some extra sparkle to make the celebration even more special!
Project Citizen
Every year 4th grade classes (every other year 3/4 multiage classes) engage in a year long youth participatory action research project called Project Citizen, facilitated by Mrs. Roll & Mrs. Wood. Through the Project Citizen curriculum, our young fellow citizens explored the concept of citizenship by focusing on their voice, rights, and responsibilities during their Library and Enrichment collaborative block. Learners gained experience in consensus building, collaborative problem solving, and academic research, while also learning how change is implemented across various government levels. After evaluating the strengths and obstacles within our community, the classes utilized a consensus-driven process to select a specific local challenge for further study. Their investigation involved analyzing informational texts, conducting surveys, and interviewing experts to develop a viable, sustainable policy solution for presentation to decision makers and/or other citizens.
Ms. LeFrancois's class specifically addressed the issue of homelessness in Vermont. To help facilitate sustainable solutions, the class created a "Mythbusters" style public service announcement video designed to debunk the common stigmas often associated with homelessness and promote "housing first" policy. Use this link to see their video. https://drive.google.com/file/d/13T-lEo1R0A6ktHyhEIACS7Yxdz11pdIh/view?usp=drive_link
Ms. DesRoches's class researched the complexities of animal and human conflict, ultimately narrowing their focus to the issue of bears accessing trash containers. To address this, the students developed a policy proposal requiring all new trash containers provided by collection companies to be bear proof. They pitched their solution to state Senator Ruth Hardy who serves on the Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Committee. Use this link to see their presentation.
Marine Animal Studies
Students in Ayer, Donovan, Girouard & Paskiet classes spent the last few months researching marine animals. They wrote argument essays supported with text evidence to sway their readers to any number of ideas. They created posters in Canva to share their research & essays and created habitat trioramas with model animals to showcase it all. We held a museum walk on Tuesday to celebrate our learning!
IT'S HERE!!
The 2026 - 2027 School Calendar is officially out! You can find the link below. Important dates to note are on the right.
VOLUNTEERING
**If you think you might VOLUNTEER at any point during the school year, please be sure to fill out the Volunteer Form now.**
It is much easier to fill it out now so you can be cleared to volunteer at any point during the school year.
RES PTO
RES Daily Information
ATTENDANCE
Consistent and regular attendance is paramount to student development and success. On time arrival provides a student with the most positive start to the day. If your student will be absent or tardy, please be sure to enter the information PickUp Patrol by 8:00am. Our first priority is your child's safety. If the absence or tardy is not entered into PickUp Patrol by 8:30am the office will begin to contact families. Students are marked absent until they have checked in with the office.
**Information about PickUp Patrol will be sent out by the end of the week**
From the Nurse
Important Dates to Remember
Community News & Events
Bus Transportation
Below is transportation information for the upcoming school year. Please contact the Bus Garage with any questions you may have. They can be reached at 802-899-4840 or transportation@mmuusd.org.
Food Service
For the 2025-2026 school year, school meals will continue to be free. Even though there is no charge for snack and lunch, we encourage you to fill out this application for free and reduced-price school meals. If many families fill out and return this form, we will get more money from the federal government for free school meals now and in the future. We will also get more money for other school programs. Filling out this form also helps our community provide free summer meals to all kids, and free meals to kids in childcare. HERE is additional information outlining food service, free and reduced lunch, and common questions asked.
From the District
2025-2026 SY District Calendar
The district has put out the SY calendar for the year.
You can view the full 2025-26 SY Calendar HERE and it was shared in the District Happenings as well!
STAY CONNECTED with WHAT'S HAPPENING @ RES
Richmond Elementary School
Richmond Elementary School
Email: resoffice@mmuusd.org
Location: 125 School St, Richmond, VT 05477
Phone: 802.434.2461
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