We have many programs that happen throughout the year at Laura Richards School. Click on the program that you would like to read about! Enjoy your visit!
October 15th was "Fire Prevention Week". Laura Richards students were all entered into a poster contest. They all colored a picture on poster paper to remind us that families need to have a meeting spot as part of their fire escape plans. Gardiner Fire Department rewarded each grade level with a first, second, and third place winner. These students received ribbons and a fire prevention bear. Congratulations to all our winners! Thank you to Gardiner's Fire Department for visiting our school and teaching us about fire safety! You are our heros!
The Penquis CAP Foster Grandparent Program has approximately 95 Foster Grandparents serving at 63 different sites throughout its fourteen county service area. Funding for this program is provided through the Corporation for National Service, the State of Maine Bureau of Elder and Adult Services, United Way donations, fundraising efforts, and Penquis CAP. Foster Grandparents are caring people children can depend on for love, wisdom, and support. They are at least 60 years of age, and meet income guidelines. They share experience and wisdom for at least 15 hours a week in public and nonprofit settings, such as daycares, schools, Head Start Centers, and hospitals with children who need a little extra love and attention.
Grammie Margaret LaFlamme supports Laura E. Richards School. We are so lucky to have her!
Helping Our Children Be Fit For Life!
Suggested Snacks
Below is a list of foods that are tasty and nutritious for your children. Healthy eating helps to build a strong body, a strong mind, and protects our teeth. Let's help our children get on the right track!
Juicy Foods
Oranges * Grapefruits * Blackberries * Strawberries * Blueberries *
Tangerines * Plums * Peaches * Apricot * Cantaloupe * Watermelon *
Other melons * Fresh Pineapple * Apples * pears * kiwi *
Canned Fruit (packed in juice not heavy syrup) * Tomatoes
Crunchy Foods
Carrots * Radishes * Turnips * Raw Potato * Cabbage Wedges *
Green or Red Peppers * Celery * Cucumber * Lettuce * Mushrooms *
Broccoli * Raw Spinach * Cooked Fiddle-heads-cold * popcorn * Corn Nuts
HUNGRY....More substantial snacks
Eggs (hard boiled or deviled)* Yogurt * Cheese * Low-fat Cottage Cheese *
Nuts * Pizza * Sunflower Seeds * Pretzels (low salt) * Crackers (low salt) *
Chicken * turkey * Whole Wheat or enriched Bread * Peanut Butter *
Non-sugared dry cereal * sesame Stix * Brown Rice * Oats * Tuna
Healthy Drinks
Water * Low-fat Milk * Orange Juice * Grapefruit Juice * Apple Juice *
Grape Juice * Pineapple Juice * Tomato Juice * Milk Shake
(Juices should be 100% and Unsweetened)
Recommended sites on nutrition:
http://www.dole5aday.com/
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
http://www.5aday.gov/
http://www.nutrition.gov/
http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec01/fastfood.html
Laura E. Richards school participates in a healthy initiative called, "The Walking School Bus". MSAD #11 has a wellness plan that encourages and raises the awareness of health benefits from walking.
Every Tuesday morning students, parents, teachers, Mrs. Moody and Anthony Anderson, our district Health Coordinator, have joined together to walk to school from the Common. Everyone enjoys themselves, and what a great way to start the day with some fresh air! Healthy kids are happy kids!
National Fire Prevention Week
Fire Prevention & Safety Tips
* Make sure all smoke alarms are in working order.
* Keep fire extinguishers handy.
* Plan escape routes.
* Practice fire drills at home.
* Teach children the facts about evacuating safely during a fire.
* See www.sparky.org/PDF/SparkyChecklist.pdf for a Home Fire Safety Checklist.
* See www.sparky.org/ for more tips on fire prevention and safety.
In The Event Of A Fire
* Cover your mouths and noses with a moist towel or an article of clothing to keep out dangerous fumes while evacuating.
* Crawl under the smoke to safety, staying as low to the ground as possible (smoke always rises).
* Touch any door to see if it is hot, and if it is, do not open it - find another exit.
* Never stop to take personal belongings or make a phone call (even to 911) while evacuating.
* Never go back into a burning building once safely outside - wait at your family's designated meeting place.
* "Stop, drop, and roll" once away from the fire to extinguish any flames that may have caught on to clothing.
If You Are Unable To Evacuate
* Seal all doors and vents with duct tape or towels to prevent smoke from entering the room.
* Open a window at the top and bottom so fresh air can enter. Be ready to close the window immediately if it draws smoke into the room.
* Call the fire department and let them know that you are still inside the building.
* Wave a flashlight or light colored cloth at the window to let the fire department know where you are located.
Success in school starts with reading. When children become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond.
Learning to read is HARD WORK for children. Fortunately, research is now available that suggests how to give each child a good start in reading. Becoming a reader involves the development of important skills, including learning to:
* Use language in conversation
* Listen and respond to stories read
aloud
* Recognize and name the letters of the
alphabet
* Listen to the sounds of spoken
language
* Connect sounds to letters to figure
out the "code" of reading
* Read often so that recognizing words
becomes easy and automatic
* Learn and use new words
* Understand what is read
Title 1
Title 1 teachers provide direct, supplemental services to children who are facing challenges as they learn to read. These children have been identified for Title 1 through testing and observation.
In addition to the regular classroom lessons, the Title 1 students receive individual or small group instruction n the following areas:
•letters, words, and sounds
•vocabulary
•study skills
•language development
•writing skills
•listening skills
•comprehension
•content areas
The goal of Title 1 is to assist or support students as they learn to read and progress toward appropriate grade level performance. We are continually monitoring their progress throughout the year.
If we can provide any more information about the Title 1 Program or if you have any questions about your child's reading needs, please contact the Title 1 personnel or your child's classroom teacher.
You may also access more information by going to the federal website: http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html