January, 2012                                                                                                    

Happy New Year!

All of us at Richland Elementary are very excited about the New Year.  The students are back in class and working on goal-setting.  Please spend some family time discussing the goals your children have set for themselves.  Our Mustangs Bound for College student handbook provides our 1-5 graders a designated place to list their trimester one assessment results and current reading and math levels.  After reporting these results, they write a personal goal for the remainder of this trimester.  Finally, they list three strategies they can do to achieve their goal.

Mrs. Harper and I will be visiting with each 1-5 grader to listen to each child’s goals and strategies to make a personal connection and inspire them to achieve.  Classroom teachers will continually remind their students that WE BELIEVE!  This affirmation states, “Every child will be successful and each conversation will focus on the potential that lies within every student.  We believe that every student, even those thought to be at-risk, will achieve high levels of success.”

On January 18, students in grades 3-5 will attend a Scholarly Behavior Assembly where they will be taught the habits of scholarly learners.  It is hoped that these habits will become a common language at Richland for students to aspire towards.  Please take some time to read these habits and review them with your children periodically.

This spring we will invite all families to a college readiness workshop led by Leandro Galanz, a counselor at San Marcos High School.  He will discuss strategies that families can implement in elementary school to create college readiness.  With the PACE Promise available to all students in San Marcos Unified School District, We Believe every Mustang is Bound for College!

I find my inspiration in the faces and motivation I see in your children each day.  Each of us at Richland is a lifelong learner which is why our school proudly calls itself the Professional Development Campus.  What a great place to learn!

Sincerely,

Lynda McDonell