RES Family News
September 7th, 2025
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Welcome Back!!
Welcome Back!!
What an amazing first 2 weeks we have had! Our students have been spending a lot of time together, building their community so that everyone feels a sense of belonging. They have also been spending time doing Guided Discoveries in order to learn the expectations in the classrooms, cafeteria, and out at recess to ensure a fun and safe learning environment for all. The building is full of energy, laughter, and many smiles and we love it!
RES is excited to start another fabulous school year! Our school will be focusing on "Belonging" and finding ways to continue to build our amazing school community. We hosted our first assembly on Friday, August 29th, where we started what we hope to be a beautiful tradition. Our 4th grade students presented a Zinnia flower to each of our Kindergarten students. One of the meanings of the Zinnia flower is "enduring friendship" so our 4th graders are welcoming our Kindergarteners as full time members of our school. Hopefully these flowers will represent the enduring friendships they will make at RES.
What's New
More Time, More Fun: 40 Minutes Recess Begins this year at RES!
At RES we believe in PLAY! Play during recess is essential for children's physical health, helping them stay active and develop motor skills. It also supports social growth by encouraging teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution. Additionally, play boosts cognitive function and helps students return to class more focused and ready to learn.
4th Grade Team Building
To kick off the start of the school year, students in Ms. DesRoches' and Mrs. LeFrancois' 4th grade classrooms and Spanish Immersion students in Profe Paskiet's and Senora Donovan's classroom participated in team building activities led by Ms. Spaulding and Mr. Aaron. Groups worked together to figure out the combination on a giant keypad, cross a "river" with some stepping stones that could be swept away and figure out how to move from one side of a path to the other without creating a traffic jam. After completing these challenges we talked about what they had learned and how they could take these ideas back into their classrooms. Communication, slowing down, being brave, supporting each other and making mistakes were all important ideas that will help them have a wonderful school year!
Thank You!
Update from Mr. E: As we begin the 25-26 school year, we want to thank everyone for their continued support of our Kids Heart Challenge program! Last year we raised over $15,000 and we were blown away. Due to our hard work, we received an amazing grant that allowed us to buy all new recess equipment including footballs, volleyballs (for our new gaga pit), a balance beam, and many other resources. Continue practicing heart healthy habits and I look forward to seeing many new faces this February.
****New Open House Routine****
We will be holding Open House on Thursday, September 25th in 2 waves.
Based on Community feedback, and in an attempt to better serve families, particularly those with students in multiple grades, we will be hosting our Open House this year for everyone on one night! After the event we will be seeking community feedback.
Students (and their families) from grades PK - 4 with last names that begin with A-L will be welcomed in from 4:00pm-5:00pm.
Students (and their families) from grades PK - 4 with last names that begin with K-Z will be welcomed in from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
*We ask that you do your best if you are in the first group to leave around 5:00 pm, and if you are in the second group you do your best to arrive around 5:30. This is to ensure there is adequate parking for everyone. You will not be turned away if you are a bit off, so no worries.
*With this new procedure we will not be able to host a spaghetti dinner, as in recent years. Our intention is to add other opportunities for families to gather over a meal throughout the year.
RES PTO Information
The RES PTO is back for another year! Our first PTO Meeting is scheduled virtually for Thursday, September 25th at 7pm. If you’re interested in joining or coming back, please reach out to Jennifer Snow at res.pto@mmuusd.org for more information to get the link. You can also follow us on social media. On Facebook it is a group called Richmond Elementary School Parents and PTO. Please make sure to answer the membership questions so we know who you are. Or you can also follow us on Instagram @resptovt.
**RES Student Directory for 2025-26**
The RES PTO publishes a student directory each new school year. Students are listed by classroom, making this booklet a great resource for playdates, carpooling and other activities when you want to know who your student's classmates are. In order to be included in the directory, we need your permission. Please email Jennifer Snow at jenshawsnow@gmail.com with questions about this directory.
Click Here for Form for Student Directory
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**
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
September 10th - 2 Hour Early Release, all dismissal routines and arrival times are 2 hours earlier then typical
September 18th - School Pictures for PreK (M, TH) through Grade 4
September 19th - School Pictures for PreK (T/F) and anyone who missed the 18th
September 25th - RES Open House from 4:00pm - 5:00pm for Students with Last Names A - K
RES Open House from 5:30pm - 6:30pm for Students with Last Names L - Z
October 2nd & 3rd - NO SCHOOL
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.
From the School Counselor
Lunch Bunch with Ms. Spaulding
Ms. Spaulding is the RES School Counselor. She hosts lunch bunches for all grade levels throughout the week and every student has a chance to participate. During Lunch Bunch we usually play games that help develop executive functioning (like working memory & planning) as well as social skills (like cooperation & handling frustration). If you have any questions about the role of the school counselor or want to check in about your child(ren), please reach out. Ms. Spaulding can be reached by calling the school or emailing her at danielle.spaulding@mmuusd.org.
From the Nurse
Food Allergy Safe School Information for Celebrations
The Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District strives to ensure the health and safety of all our students.. MMUUSD elementary and middle schools are “Food Allergy Aware/ Safe Schools” and have adopted the model of “food-free” birthday celebrations. This will allow us to work towards our goal of creating a safe and healthy environment for all of our students and in particular, our students with life-threatening allergies.
The CDC states that about 8%, or 1 in every 13 students, is affected by a life-threatening food allergy, and about 40% of those are allergic to multiple foods. CDC studies also indicate that the incidence of food allergies has been steadily increasing over the years. Strict avoidance of the allergen and reducing possible exposure are the best ways to prevent a life-threatening reaction.
In addition to the safety measures we are already using in our schools, such as allergen-free food options at snack and lunch, no food sharing, frequent handwashing, and table cleaning, the district is adopting a “food-free” birthday celebration model. Not only will this help keep our students with life-threatening allergies safe, but we also believe that this approach will help students develop healthy habits by understanding that there are many ways to celebrate special events, including birthdays, without food. We are asking that families not send in food for birthday celebrations. We still want to celebrate birthdays but without food. Some ideas might include sending in a craft for the whole class to do together, sending in fun napkins and party hats for the class to use during snack time, or sending in a favorite book for the teacher to read at storytime. Teachers can also provide ideas like having extra recess time, doing a fun activity your child loves, or having the class make a special card that all students sign.
Ask your child how they would like to celebrate their birthday at school (without food) and discuss it with their classroom teacher in advance. Be creative and come up with your own ideas, or ask your school nurse - we have lots of resources!
Classroom celebrations and whole school celebrations with food may occur during the school year. The classroom teacher, school administration, or the parent-teacher organization will provide the food for these celebrations. The provided food will be allergy-safe. Families will be notified in advance of any food being served for celebrations. Please do not send in homemade baked goods for classroom celebrations.
Thank you for sharing our commitment to a safe and healthy school environment for everyone.
Sincerely,
MMUUSD School Nurses
8/2024
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 next year over the weekend. There are minimal changes compared to this year’s school calendar. The First Student Day is back on a Wednesday (August 27th).
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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