Committees & Chairs

Does your child come home from school excited to tell you about Fun Lunch, or practicing their class song for an upcoming performance? Did you have a great time at Movie Night or find something new to read at the Book Fair? You have these amazing PTO members to thank. Committees and their Chairs make up the majority of the working body of our PTO. They are responsible for all the fun events during the school year, as well as the behind the scenes work of creating the Buzz Book, fundraising, teacher appreciation, and yes, even weeding our campus. PTO committees are broken into five groups, the Executive Board, Ways and Means Committees, Student Enrichment Committees, Outreach, and Hospitality. The Executive Board is the governing body of the PTO, Ways and Means committees are responsible for raising funds to support PTO projects and events, Student Enrichment Committees are in charge of extra curricular activities for the students, or anything involving volunteering during the school day, Outreach committees are responsible for events that involve engaging with the community, and Hospitality committees oversee family engagement events.

  • Hospitality Committees are in charge of engaging our Richards families in fun both in and out of school.
  • Outreach Committees are in charge of extra curricular activities for students and their families that involve activity within our greater community.
  • Student Enrichment Committees are in charge of extra curricular activities for the students, or anything involving volunteering during the school day. 
  • Ways and Means committees are responsible for raising funds to support PTO projects and events. 

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Ways and Means Committees

Ways and Means committees are responsible for raising funds to support PTO projects and events. 

 

2023-2024 Ways and Means Committees and Chairs

Book Fair - Amy Mulcahy and Carrie Osswald: Plans and executes the Fall and Spring Book Fairs.

 

Dine Out - Kristin George: Partners with 2-4 local restaurants to schedule dates where the restaurant donates back an amount of sales to the Richards PTO.

 

Fun Lunch - Deb Grayeski and Lynn Lange: Coordinates catered lunch delivery for staff and students approximately twice per month with proceeds going back to the Richards PTO.

 

Passive Income (Box Tops) - Angie Buchanan, Maya Ceniceros, Kristin Fischer and Laura Fischer: Oversees accounts to ensure charitable proceeds are received.

 

School Photos/Yearbook - Allison Roth: Works with VIP to schedule school photographs and compose the school yearbook.

 

Spirit Wear - Leigh Anne Staley, Laura Schroeder and Chelle Van Caster: Oversees the on-hand spirit wear inventory and sales. Also, organizes 1-2 online spirit wear sales per school year.

 

Sporting Events (Admirals/Brewers/Wave) - Want to Help?: Collaborates with local sports organizations for attendance at 1-2 sporting events.

Student Enrichment Committees

Student Enrichment Committees are in charge of extra curricular activities for the students, or anything involving volunteering during the school day.

2023-2024 Student Enrichment Committees and Chairs

5th Grade Advancement - Lynn Lange and Sophia Menendez: Committee plans and executes graduation events and activities in collaboration with the 5th Grade teachers.

 

Chess Club - Mariya Lazebnik: Oversees the after-school chess club.

 

Clinic Crew - Adrienne Grunau: Stocks the school clinic with necessary supplies.

 

Cultural Arts - Katie Cizauskas: encourages student exposure to a wide variety of arts opportunities, with an effort to represent and include a variety of cultural perspectives. Opportunities that include student involvement (i.e. artists/authors in residence that work directly with students in some way beyond large group presentations) are prioritized.

 

Encore Room Parent - Lynn Lange: Purchases winter holiday gifts for the Encore/Specials staff.

 

Green Team/Beautification - Emily Bandsma: Focuses on empowering students and staff to better the environment. This may include organizing recycling, composting. and waste reduction efforts at Richards. Responsible for organizing two school clean-up days at Richards. The clean-up days include basic yard work, weeding and spreading mulch.

 

High Interest Day - Katie Walsh: Seeks out leaders of various professions and hobbies to provide a school day event students to explore different careers, hobbies and activities in a hands-on environment.

 

Lego Club - Want to Help?: Schedules and manages grade-level Lego building exercises for students after school.

 

Lego League Jr. - Doug Lane: Organizes the logistics for the Lego League Teams. The Teams learn basic design coding skills.

 

PBIS Enrichment - Elizabeth Schwartz: Participates with district leadership to reinforce positive behavior through activities and events. These events may include: Richards School Store, assemblies, dress up days, etc.

 

Performances - Allison Roth: Partners with Encore and Specials staff to provide supplies needed for school concerts.

 

Room Parent Coordinator - Abby Williams: Assigns Room Parents to each classroom teacher. Streamlines all communication sent to families on behalf of the Richards PTO.

 

Stock the Lounge/Staff Conference Meals - Hannah Ruck & Megan Revitte: Organizes staff meals and treats throughout the school year.

 

Special Disbursements - Abby Williams: Responsible for collecting and overseeing requests made by Richards staff and families for items that enhance the learning environment at school.

 

Student Council Liaison - Elizabeth Schwartz: Serves as a liaison between the 5th grade student council, Richards School, and the Richards PTO. Oversees committee volunteers, as well as facilitate relationships between the student council, community partners, and the PTO. 

Outreach Committees

Outreach Committees are in charge of extra curricular activities for students and their families that involve activity within our greater community.

 

2023-2024 Outreach Committees and Chairs

3rd Grade Hunger Task Force - Jenny Aiken and Kristin Fischer: In charge of the annual 3rd Grade service project. Working alongside the 3rd Grade teachers, the committee plans and organizes a field trip to the Hunger Task Force for the 3rd graders as well as an all-school food drive and dinner.

 

 

Community Service - Emily Anderson: Schedules 2-3 all-school service projects for Richards students and families. Previous projects have included: a holiday toy drive for the Rescue Mission, backpacks and personal items for local-area foster children, and Valentine cards for senior citizens.

 

Scholarship - Amy MacArdy: Alongside other district members, evaluates submissions to reward a Whitefish Bay High School senior a college scholarship.

Hospitality Committees

Hospitality Committees are in charge of engaging our Richards families in fun both in and out of school.

2023-2024 Hospitality Committees and Chairs

Donuts with Grown Ups - Lindsey Vebber: Decorates the Great Hall and supplies donuts, drinks and coffee for the before school breakfast treat honoring students and the special guest of their choosing!

 

Family Engagement - Jamie Shomperlen and Trina Hayden: Organizes family-friendly events for Richards families. These events may include: Kindergarten Popsicle Play Dates, Tailgating before WFBHS sporting events, Estabrook Park gatherings, School’s Out events, etc.

 

Family Fun Night - Melissa Knobloch: Past themes have included carnival games, food trucks and a petting zoo! In conjunction with the Fall Book Fair, the FFN committee arranges a fun evening event on school grounds.

 

Movie Night - Jamie Shomperlen and Trina Hayden: Secures movie license and snacks in preparation for 2-3 family-friendly evening movie showings in the Great Hall.

 

Staff Appreciation - Angela Burke and Chrissy Tigrani: Executes the week-long celebration in May honoring the staff at Richards! Celebration items have been raffle prizes, staff meals, and other gifts of gratitude.