Friday, April 30th

Calendar of Events

4/30 Heritage Festival, 5:30-7:30 PM

5/1 Pancake B’fast 7:30 – 9:30

5/1 Town Cleanup, 8 AM- NOON

5/2 Ping Pong Tourney, NOON- 5 PM

5/4 6^th Grade parent meeting

5/7 Talent Show, 7 PM

5/11 Informational Mtg, 7/8 Grade Trip, 6 PM

MacDonald Baby News

We are happy to announce that Amy and Sean MacDonald have a healthy baby boy born on April 19^th. Ronan Francis MacDonald and Mom are both doing fine.

8^th Grade Graduation Picture

Just a reminder: the 8^th graders will have their graduation picture taken on Friday, May 7^th at 1:00. Clothes should be brought to school where students will change after lunch. Any questions call Mrs. Strock.

MCAS Schedule

Date                    Grade          Subject

Mon, May 10th Wed May 12th	3rd & 4th	Math
Mon, May 10th Tues, May 11th	5th – 8th	Math
Wed, May 12th Thurs, May 13th	5th & 8th	Science

Please make sure your child has a good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast and the message from you that they should try their best. Gum and water bottles are encouraged during the test.

Room Parents

The PTO voted during their last meeting to bring the room parents back under the umbrella of the PTO so that folks won’t feel so isolated. Our next PTO meeting is Tuesday, May 11^th from 5:45-7:00. If you need childcare call before the 10^th so we can arrange for a sitter (cost is $2.00 per child.)

Math Club

The last session for Math Club for this year will be Thursday, May 13^th.

Sixth Grade Parents Meeting

There will be a meeting of all interested sixth grade parents and staff on Tuesday, May 4^th around the topic of bullying and cooperation. This is a continuation of a meeting held a month ago. It’s a very friendly exchange of information, please come!

District Attorney’s Office

Kim Blair, of the District Attorney’s office, came Monday and worked with the 5/6 graders and then the 7/8 graders on the topic of bullying and cyberbullying.  If you haven’t already, ask your child to tell you a couple of facts they learned that morning.

CAP Performance

Congratulations to the fourth, fifth and sixth graders for their wonderful dance and drumming performance Tuesday afternoon.  Everyone did a great job!

Seedlings

Calling all seedlings and budding gardeners: please bring back to school the seedling you have been nurturing at home. Drop the milk carton with the growing plant in the cafeteria so we may continue to help it grow strong. All plants will be planted in the school garden on Sat. May 22^nd (with a rain date of May 23^rd) at our celebratory ground breaking garden event from 1-6pm.  Please plan on joining us that afternoon to start our garden and participate in various fun activities, followed by a potluck supper. So mark your calendars for the 22^nd!

Heritage Festival

Friday, April 30^th, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Celebrate our great heritage with displays, entertainment & food & prizes!!

Adults-$5.00 / Children-$3.00

Family of up to 5 – $15.00

Pancake Breakfast/Town Clean Up

Please join us for a Pancake Breakfast this Saturday 7:30 – 9:30 am during the
Town Clean Up being held from 8 am -12 pm
Prices for this PTO Fundraiser are:
$3/seniors/children 8 & under
$5/Adults
$20/family
The menu will include Pancakes/Blueberry Pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, tea and cantaloupe.
Town Clean Up

Looking for something to do Saturday after breakfast? We’ve got just the right thing- town clean up! Come, grab the kids and join your neighbors as we spruce up Richmond. Town clean up is May 1^st from 8-12. Please stop by the back of the school for gloves, garbage bags and a route. It will be a great way to start a lovely day.

Visitor Badges

Calling all visitor badges! Did you arrive home to find you still had a visitor’s badge attached to your shirt? Please send it in with your child. Thank you!

Talent Show

It’s Talent Show time once again. 
The show will be on Friday, May 7th and all performers should reserve Thursday, May 6th from 3-6pm for our dress rehearsal. Thanks to all our past performers and people who helped out.  Come join us for a good cause and help us raise money for the 7th and 8th grade trip this year.

5^th Grade Red Sox Raffle

ATTENTION RED SOX FANS!!!!!!!!  Your 5th grade class is selling raffle tickets for June15, 2010 Red Sox tickets for 2 people.  It is against the Diamond Backs.  Cost:  5.00/ticket or 3 for 10.00.

GET THEM WHILE THEY ARE AVAILABLE!!!   Drawing June 1, 2010.

Warm Weather / Appropriate Dress

Just a reminder, now that the warm weather is here, students will be outside on the playground equipment for recess as well as PE classes. Please make sure your child has sneakers if in grades PK – 4. Please also make sure that they have clothing that covers bottoms and tops of legs when they slide.

Ping Pong Tourney

Come to the Ping Pong Tourney on Sunday, May 2^nd from Noon – 5 PM at Richmond Cons. School Gym.  All welcome. $5 entry fee ($10 max family) 1st & 2nd place Trophies for each of 5 Divisions (Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner, Women, and Youth) Purpose: Community fun. Proceeds to benefit Rec Committee Youth Programs.  Check out the Richmond Rec Committee web site:  http://www.richmondreccommittee.org/ for details & sign up form.

7/8 Trip Information

On Tuesday, May 11^th at 6:00 PM, there will be an information meeting for all students and all their parents that will be going on the Washington DC trip. Please be prepared to fill out emergency information for health insurance and emergency phone numbers.

7/8 Washington DC Trip

We are ordering tickets now, so if your child is not planning on going on the trip, or if you need assistance with payments, please call either Mr. Pugh or Mrs. Strock. Thank you.

PK Orientation

Preschool orientation will be June 7^th at 9:00 AM. Please come with your child that day and copies of birth certificates and immunization records.

Gymfest of the Berkshires

The Summer 2010 programs brochures are available. Please call the school for a brochure or Gymfest for more information at 445-5689.

Richmond Cultural Council

The Richmond Cultural Council is collecting opinions to help set funding priorities for the next few years. Please take a moment to complete a confidential survey. When completed, please save and email to: rbasile@berkshire.rr.com or print it off and drop it off at the town hall. Please visit www.richmondma.org to download the survey.

Parent Enrichment Committee- Book/Lecture

We are pleased to announce our spring book selection,

“Worried All the Time: Over parenting in an Age of Anxiety and How to Stop It” by David Anderegg, Ph.D. We are fortunate in that Dr. Anderegg, a resident of the Berkshires, has graciously agreed to moderate what promises to be a dynamic discussion on May 19^th at 6:30 PM.  Participants will have an opportunity to submit 2-3 questions and/or topics of interest prior to the discussion to help direct the conversation. So don’t miss this exciting opportunity. Get your book and start reading!

See the following links for some helpful information.

http://www.drdavidanderegg.com/page.php?PageID=470&PageName=Worried+All+The+Time

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=worried+all+the+time

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=book&ATH=David%20Anderegg

Healing Workshop

Sign up for this 4 week series on “Movement Awareness for a Healthy Back” with Carol Link, certified physical therapist. Cost: $90; Location: Berkshire Healing Arts, 42 Summer Street, Pittsfield 2^nd floor; Dates: Thursdays May 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, and 27^th. Time: 6:30-8 PM

Tennis Anyone?

The Richmond Recreation Committee would like to offer tennis lessons  this summer for both children and adults. Lessons would probably be twice a week for children and once a week for adults and we would charge a small fee.   If enough folks express interest, we will proceed with a program.  If interested, please email Holly Freadman at  hfreadman@nycap.rr.com.

Richmond Scholarships

The Richmond Scholarships are awarded each year to Richmond students to help defray costs of attending college.  All High School Seniors and currently enrolled college students are eligible to apply. High School Seniors will receive applications in the mail and all currently enrolled college students can pick up applications at Town Hall, the Post Office, Bartlett’s or the Richmond Library. The application deadline is May 1, 2010. Questions? call Holly Freadman at 698-2231

Donations Accepted

The Pediatric Development Center, PDC, is now accepting “gently used” items for their table at the Kiwanis Tag Sale at the Pittsfield Common o Saturday, June 5 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Items include: children’s clothes (NB-6yrs), children’s toys, children’s books, and children’s furniture and other accessories.

Norman Rockwell

The Museum is hosting World Rhythms Day on May 2.  Our promotion of Kids and Teens Free, combined with the variety of programming and activities that the Museum offers tailored to children and families, make Norman Rockwell Museum a fun, educational

PTO News

The PTO sponsors Staff Appreciation week – which this week falls May 4-7th 2010.  The PTO tries to do something special as a thank you every day for our staff.  Anyone who would like to help in the planning can email us at RichmondPTO@gmail.com.
Also the minutes from the meeting held April 13, are available on the PTO page of the website.  Many items were covered and the PTO would like to thank the parents and staff who took the time to attend the meeting and provide insight and suggestions.

Audition Call for Annie

Berkshire Theatre Festival seeks child and adult actors, musicians, backstage crew, technical support, usher staff, and parent volunteers to participate in its upcoming community production of the musical Annie with book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charnin, music by Charles Strouse, directed by E. Gray Simons III and Travis G. Daly.

These roles and positions are open to members of the Berkshire community, third grade through adults. Rehearsals will begin in late July, with performances on September 10-12 and September 17-18, 2010 at the BTF Main Stage.

Proceeds from the production will benefit BTF PLAYS!, Berkshire Theatre Festival’s Year-Round Education Program. Funding provided by BTF sponsors will cover the theatre’s direct production costs.

Auditions will take place on Tuesday, May 18^th from 6pm to 10pm, Wednesday, May 19^th from 6pm to 10pm and Friday, May 21^st from 6pm to 10pm at BTF’s Main Stage Theatre located on Route 102 in Stockbridge, MA.

Student auditions will be held during the first three hours of each session and the last hour will be for adults.  Adults should be prepared to sing 16 bars of a song and bring the accompanying sheet music that is in the key in which they prefer to sing. Students will learn a song at the audition. Callbacks will take place the following week as needed. Appointments are necessary to audition.

Principal Singing Roles:

• Annie – An optimistic eleven-year-old redheaded girl
• Miss Hannigan – The unpleasant orphanage matron
• Daddy Oliver Warbucks – Billionaire businessman who opens his home and heart to Annie
• Grace Farrell – Warbucks’ faithful secretary
• Rooster – Miss Hannigan’s no-good brother
• Lily St. Regis – Rooster’s girlfriend
• Molly, Pepper, Duffy, July, Tessie, and Kate – The principal orphans, ages 6 to 13
• Franklin D. Roosevelt – President of the United States
• Bert Healy – Radio announcer who agrees to broadcast Annie’s search for her parents
• The Three Boylan Sisters – Singers on the Bert Healy Show
• In addition there will be a chorus of 20+ adults and 80+ boys and girls

*To schedule an audition time slot or for further information, please call the Annie Hotline at 413-298-5536 extension 23.visit us online at www.berkshiretheatre.org