PTA is offering easy school supply shoping for next school year. Orders need to be place by July 1st.
Good Afternoon,
In preparation for our Summer Meals program, which will kick off on June 23 with Summer School, we would like you to help us communicate with our families on where they can find meals for their children this summer.
New this Summer
We are happy to announce that we will be offering Grab-and-Go Meals on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at Gifford School.
This drive-thru service is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and children must be present to receive a week's worth of meals, including 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches.
Below you will find information you can easily share with your families via email and on social media. Would you please take the time to:
Share this information electronically with your families
Share with the community via social media
Display the posters in a location visible to the public (windows near the main entrance or on the door). Posters will be delivered via IMC Mail on 6/10/26.
Share with your staff
Include a notice on their school marquee/sign, if possible
RUSD Summer Meal Program - Community Meal Sites
June 23 - July 30, 2026
Meals available to ALL children ages 18 and under.
Children DO NOT need to be enrolled in RUSD to receive meals.
Lunch Only Served at these Locations Monday - Thursday
Jerstad-Agerholm K-8 3535 LaSalle Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Julian Thomas Elementary 930 Martin Luther King 12:00-12:30 PM
Mitchell K-8 2701 Drexel Ave 12:00-12:30 PM
Schulte K-8 8515 Westminster Drive 12:00-12:30 PM
Starbuck International K-8 1516 Ohio Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Enter via the Main Entrance & Proceed to Cafeteria
New meal service for 2026
Meals to Go - Receive Breakfast & Lunch for 7 days
Children MUST be present
June 24th, July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th Wednesday Only
Gifford School 8332 Northwestern Ave 8:30 - 10:00 AM
Contact: RUSD Food Service - 262-631-7070
Email: food.service@rusd.org
Programa de RUSD: Alimentos de Verano – Sitios Comunitarios
23 de junio - 30 de julio, 2026
Alimentos disponibles para TODO niño de 18 años y menor
NO tienen que estar inscritos en RUSD para recibir alimentos.
Solo se sirve almuerzo en estos sitios lunes - jueves
Jerstad-Agerholm K-8 3535 LaSalle Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Julian Thomas Elementary 930 Martin Luther King 12:00-12:30 PM
Mitchell K-8 2701 Drexel Ave 12:00-12:30 PM
Schulte K-8 8515 Westminster Drive 12:00-12:30 PM
Starbuck International K-8 1516 Ohio Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Entre por la puerta principal y diríjase a la cafetería
Nuevo Servicio de Alimentos para 2026
Comidas para Llevar – Reciba desayuno y almuerzo para 7 días
Los niños TIENEN que estar presentes
24 de junio y 1, 8, 15, 22 y 29 de julio Solo los miércoles
Gifford School 8332 Northwestern Ave 8:30 - 10:00 AM
¿Preguntas? Dpto. de Alimentos RUSD - 262-631-7070
Email: food.service@rusd.org
In preparation for our Summer Meals program, which will kick off on June 23 with Summer School, we would like you to help us communicate with our families on where they can find meals for their children this summer.
New this Summer
We are happy to announce that we will be offering Grab-and-Go Meals on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at Gifford School.
This drive-thru service is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and children must be present to receive a week's worth of meals, including 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches.
Below you will find information you can easily share with your families via email and on social media. Would you please take the time to:
Share this information electronically with your families
Share with the community via social media
Display the posters in a location visible to the public (windows near the main entrance or on the door). Posters will be delivered via IMC Mail on 6/10/26.
Share with your staff
Include a notice on their school marquee/sign, if possible
RUSD Summer Meal Program - Community Meal Sites
June 23 - July 30, 2026
Meals available to ALL children ages 18 and under.
Children DO NOT need to be enrolled in RUSD to receive meals.
Lunch Only Served at these Locations Monday - Thursday
Jerstad-Agerholm K-8 3535 LaSalle Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Julian Thomas Elementary 930 Martin Luther King 12:00-12:30 PM
Mitchell K-8 2701 Drexel Ave 12:00-12:30 PM
Schulte K-8 8515 Westminster Drive 12:00-12:30 PM
Starbuck International K-8 1516 Ohio Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Enter via the Main Entrance & Proceed to Cafeteria
New meal service for 2026
Meals to Go - Receive Breakfast & Lunch for 7 days
Children MUST be present
June 24th, July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th Wednesday Only
Gifford School 8332 Northwestern Ave 8:30 - 10:00 AM
Contact: RUSD Food Service - 262-631-7070
Email: food.service@rusd.org
Programa de RUSD: Alimentos de Verano – Sitios Comunitarios
23 de junio - 30 de julio, 2026
Alimentos disponibles para TODO niño de 18 años y menor
NO tienen que estar inscritos en RUSD para recibir alimentos.
Solo se sirve almuerzo en estos sitios lunes - jueves
Jerstad-Agerholm K-8 3535 LaSalle Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Julian Thomas Elementary 930 Martin Luther King 12:00-12:30 PM
Mitchell K-8 2701 Drexel Ave 12:00-12:30 PM
Schulte K-8 8515 Westminster Drive 12:00-12:30 PM
Starbuck International K-8 1516 Ohio Street 12:00-12:30 PM
Entre por la puerta principal y diríjase a la cafetería
Nuevo Servicio de Alimentos para 2026
Comidas para Llevar – Reciba desayuno y almuerzo para 7 días
Los niños TIENEN que estar presentes
24 de junio y 1, 8, 15, 22 y 29 de julio Solo los miércoles
Gifford School 8332 Northwestern Ave 8:30 - 10:00 AM
¿Preguntas? Dpto. de Alimentos RUSD - 262-631-7070
Email: food.service@rusd.org
Upcoming opportunities for your child!
Starbuck Cheer will be hosting two camps this summer at Starbuck and Mitchell:
• Starbuck: July 13th-16th 12pm-4pm
• Mitchell: July 20th-23rd 12pm-4pm
The camps are open to any current 5th-7th grade students interested in cheerleading. We are still accepting registration forms and would greatly appreciate it if you could share this opportunity with students who may be interested. Below I have attached a flyer with all of the information, including a QR code for registration.
~AND~
Come PLAY BALL the Milwaukee Brewers for this FREE event!
Where: Baran Park, 2600 S. Chase Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 am-11:00 am (Check In Begins at 8:00 am)
Come join Brewers Alumni, local high school baseball athletes, and experienced baseball coaches for a fun-filled day of engaging, skill-building activities—plus the chance to take photos with mascots—designed for children ages 5 to 12!
Parents are welcome to sit back and enjoy the action from the stands during each session.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited, so don’t miss out! Be sure to bring a water bottle and glove. Register here.
Starbuck Cheer will be hosting two camps this summer at Starbuck and Mitchell:
• Starbuck: July 13th-16th 12pm-4pm
• Mitchell: July 20th-23rd 12pm-4pm
The camps are open to any current 5th-7th grade students interested in cheerleading. We are still accepting registration forms and would greatly appreciate it if you could share this opportunity with students who may be interested. Below I have attached a flyer with all of the information, including a QR code for registration.
~AND~
Come PLAY BALL the Milwaukee Brewers for this FREE event!
Where: Baran Park, 2600 S. Chase Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 am-11:00 am (Check In Begins at 8:00 am)
Come join Brewers Alumni, local high school baseball athletes, and experienced baseball coaches for a fun-filled day of engaging, skill-building activities—plus the chance to take photos with mascots—designed for children ages 5 to 12!
Parents are welcome to sit back and enjoy the action from the stands during each session.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited, so don’t miss out! Be sure to bring a water bottle and glove. Register here.
Hey Gifford Parents, let's end the 2025-2026 school year with some fun. Volunteers are needed to supervise the bounce houses throughout Field Day on June 11th.
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0545A4AB2CA3F49-64181930-endofyear#/
Please review the available slots and click on the button to sign up for one or multiple time slots. Events like these are only possible because of dedicated volunteers, and we truly appreciate your help in making this a special day for our students.
Check in at the Main Office 15 minutes prior to your scheduled slot time.
Must be WINGS approved: https://www.rusd.org/page/get-involved (Apply here if you have not yet done so this school year)
This week, hundreds of students at Mitchell, Olympia Brown, Gifford, Schulte and Jerstad-Agerholm celebrated the completion of Everfi's Financial Literacy courses with Educators Credit Union!
Students showed off their financial knowledge with a series of games that highlighted their ability to make smart money decisions. To make things better, 82% of these students completed BOTH Everfi courses. 🎉
THANK YOU to Everfi, Educators Credit Union and the volunteers who made this program possible for our students. #YouBelongHere
Students showed off their financial knowledge with a series of games that highlighted their ability to make smart money decisions. To make things better, 82% of these students completed BOTH Everfi courses. 🎉
THANK YOU to Everfi, Educators Credit Union and the volunteers who made this program possible for our students. #YouBelongHere
As reading scores in Wisconsin continue to decline, we have made noticeable gains at Racine Unified!
A renewed focus on early literacy has put our change in Reading Achievement on an upward trajectory for 3rd-8th-grade students since 2023. During that same time, the average of similar districts has fallen and leveled off.
Attention Gifford families with students grades 2-5!
Hello RUSD Families,
The JI Case Boys Soccer Booster Club, Inc. is pleased to announce that we will be hosting two, week-long coed soccer summer camps for students who were 2nd through 5th grade students in the 2025.2026 school year.
These camps will be player-led, with support, supervision, and guidance provided by adult coaches and parent volunteers. The cost is $150 per week, per student, which includes a camp t-shirt and daily lunch. There are limited spots open each week, so sign up soon to ensure your spot.
As this camp also serves as a fundraiser for the program, we are unfortunately unable to offer scholarships at this time.
The camp theme, “Big Goals Start Here,” reflects our commitment to helping young athletes stay active, build skills, and grow their love for the game this summer.
We look forward to a fun and rewarding experience for all participants.
Regards,
The Case Boys Soccer Booster Club
Hello RUSD Families,
The JI Case Boys Soccer Booster Club, Inc. is pleased to announce that we will be hosting two, week-long coed soccer summer camps for students who were 2nd through 5th grade students in the 2025.2026 school year.
These camps will be player-led, with support, supervision, and guidance provided by adult coaches and parent volunteers. The cost is $150 per week, per student, which includes a camp t-shirt and daily lunch. There are limited spots open each week, so sign up soon to ensure your spot.
As this camp also serves as a fundraiser for the program, we are unfortunately unable to offer scholarships at this time.
The camp theme, “Big Goals Start Here,” reflects our commitment to helping young athletes stay active, build skills, and grow their love for the game this summer.
We look forward to a fun and rewarding experience for all participants.
Regards,
The Case Boys Soccer Booster Club
In honor of children's Mental Health Acceptance month, Please join us at Red Apple School on May 14th, 2026 for the Youth Mental Health and Addiction Resource Fair from 4:30pm-7:00pm.
We have several camp options this summer through the RUSD Extended Learning Program. Find more information and register.
Camp options include:
Art
Baseball Skills
Basketball/Life Skills
Cheer
Chess
Dance
Golf
Line Dancing
Girls in Manufacturing
Podcasting and Video Production
Soccer Skills
STEAM
Volleyball
ATTEND THIS FREE COMMUNITY EVENT at Red Apple on May 14th!
*PRACTICING MINDFULNESS SESSIONS
*SPEAK TO MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES
*LEARN ABOUT HOLISTIC OPTIONS AND SELF-CARE
*FIND HELPFUL COMMUNITY RESOURCES
*LEARN ABOUT PARENTING SUPPORTS
*LEARN MORE ABOUT FINDING HEALTH INSURANCE AND INSURANCE OPTIONS
*HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY
*EDUCATION ON WARNING SIGNS OF YOUTH ADDICTION
*PRACTICING MINDFULNESS SESSIONS
*SPEAK TO MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES
*LEARN ABOUT HOLISTIC OPTIONS AND SELF-CARE
*FIND HELPFUL COMMUNITY RESOURCES
*LEARN ABOUT PARENTING SUPPORTS
*LEARN MORE ABOUT FINDING HEALTH INSURANCE AND INSURANCE OPTIONS
*HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY
*EDUCATION ON WARNING SIGNS OF YOUTH ADDICTION
Gifford families, please see the youth soccer community night information below
Hi,
My name is Laura Gleason, and I am the new head coach of the Girls Soccer Program at Case High School.
We are excited to host two youth-focused events next week—a Youth Night game and a Middle School Girls Practice—and would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this information with students and families at your school. Please note that participation in the youth practice is limited to 7th and 8th grade girls. These events are designed to connect younger players with our high school program and celebrate our local soccer community.
Youth Night – Case Eagles vs. Park Panthers
Date: April 23, 2026
Location: Case High School
Game Schedule:
JV: 4:30 PM
Varsity: 6:30 PM
Youth attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a halftime shootout during the varsity game.
Additional Information:
Concessions will be available
Parking is available in the student lot at the front of the school
Hi,
My name is Laura Gleason, and I am the new head coach of the Girls Soccer Program at Case High School.
We are excited to host two youth-focused events next week—a Youth Night game and a Middle School Girls Practice—and would greatly appreciate your help in sharing this information with students and families at your school. Please note that participation in the youth practice is limited to 7th and 8th grade girls. These events are designed to connect younger players with our high school program and celebrate our local soccer community.
Youth Night – Case Eagles vs. Park Panthers
Date: April 23, 2026
Location: Case High School
Game Schedule:
JV: 4:30 PM
Varsity: 6:30 PM
Youth attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a halftime shootout during the varsity game.
Additional Information:
Concessions will be available
Parking is available in the student lot at the front of the school
Attention Gifford 7th and 8th grade girl families! Please see what Case HS is offering below, what a great opportunity to meet and greet their potential coach in the next year or two.
Middle School Girls Practice (7th & 8th Grade Only)
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 4:00–5:00 PM
Location: Hammes Field at Case High School
This practice is a great opportunity for 7th and 8th grade girls to experience a high school training environment and play in a stadium setting. Players who attend both the practice and the game will have the opportunity to walk out with the varsity starting lineup during pregame introductions and the national anthem. Those interested may also sign up to participate as a ball girl during the game.
Important Reminders:
Players must wear shin guards and cleats
I’ve attached a flyer with additional details. If you have any questions or need anything further, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your time and support—we hope to see your students there!
Best regards,
Laura Gleason
Head Coach, Case Girls Soccer
laura.gleason@rusd.org
Middle School Girls Practice (7th & 8th Grade Only)
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 4:00–5:00 PM
Location: Hammes Field at Case High School
This practice is a great opportunity for 7th and 8th grade girls to experience a high school training environment and play in a stadium setting. Players who attend both the practice and the game will have the opportunity to walk out with the varsity starting lineup during pregame introductions and the national anthem. Those interested may also sign up to participate as a ball girl during the game.
Important Reminders:
Players must wear shin guards and cleats
I’ve attached a flyer with additional details. If you have any questions or need anything further, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your time and support—we hope to see your students there!
Best regards,
Laura Gleason
Head Coach, Case Girls Soccer
laura.gleason@rusd.org
Dear Gifford Families,
Please see the information below and in the attached forms for 2 opportunities coming up!
Girls Can Do It Too! Book Read & Career Day, taking place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Union Hall (1840 Sycamore Ave., Racine, WI).
This empowering event is geared toward students ages 7 and up and is designed to inspire girls by exposing them to a variety of career pathways and hands-on learning opportunities. Activities will include: A live book reading, Interactive STEM, career exploration activities, and opportunities to meet and engage with women working in skilled careers.
We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing the attached flyer with staff, students, and families who may be interested in attending.
Thank you for helping us uplift and inspire the next generation!
Gators Curtain Call Boosters (GCCB), in partnership with the Racine Unified School District, is excited to launch our Sponsor a Seat fundraiser in support of the Gifford School auditorium.
GCCB is a dedicated theater booster organization committed to supporting the Gifford School theater program by fostering community engagement, meeting program needs, and promoting a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts among our students.
Our auditorium is a vital space within our school and community. It hosts music concerts, elementary and middle school theater productions, awards ceremonies, school gatherings, and many other meaningful events. While this space has served generations of students, the current seating dates back to the 1960s and is in need of replacement to ensure comfort, safety, and accessibility for all guests.
Through our Sponsor a Seat campaign, you have the opportunity to be a lasting part of the auditorium's much needed refresh. Your support will directly impact the comfort, accessibility, and overall experience of every student, family, and audience member who enters our auditorium.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support of our students and programs. Together, we can create a space that reflects the pride, talent, and spirit of our Gifford community.
Sincerely, Gators Curtain Call Boosters (GCCB)
Questions? Gator.curtaincall@gmail.com
Please see the information below and in the attached forms for 2 opportunities coming up!
Girls Can Do It Too! Book Read & Career Day, taking place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Union Hall (1840 Sycamore Ave., Racine, WI).
This empowering event is geared toward students ages 7 and up and is designed to inspire girls by exposing them to a variety of career pathways and hands-on learning opportunities. Activities will include: A live book reading, Interactive STEM, career exploration activities, and opportunities to meet and engage with women working in skilled careers.
We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing the attached flyer with staff, students, and families who may be interested in attending.
Thank you for helping us uplift and inspire the next generation!
Gators Curtain Call Boosters (GCCB), in partnership with the Racine Unified School District, is excited to launch our Sponsor a Seat fundraiser in support of the Gifford School auditorium.
GCCB is a dedicated theater booster organization committed to supporting the Gifford School theater program by fostering community engagement, meeting program needs, and promoting a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts among our students.
Our auditorium is a vital space within our school and community. It hosts music concerts, elementary and middle school theater productions, awards ceremonies, school gatherings, and many other meaningful events. While this space has served generations of students, the current seating dates back to the 1960s and is in need of replacement to ensure comfort, safety, and accessibility for all guests.
Through our Sponsor a Seat campaign, you have the opportunity to be a lasting part of the auditorium's much needed refresh. Your support will directly impact the comfort, accessibility, and overall experience of every student, family, and audience member who enters our auditorium.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support of our students and programs. Together, we can create a space that reflects the pride, talent, and spirit of our Gifford community.
Sincerely, Gators Curtain Call Boosters (GCCB)
Questions? Gator.curtaincall@gmail.com
Only one month left to order your 2025-2026 Gifford Yearbook! There are online orders only and no extra yearbooks will be ordered to sell at a later date.
You can order at www.buytheyearbook.com
Search by state/city/school
Enter school code #729820
ORDER DEADLINE 5/3/26
CONGRATULATIONS to Abby Barron, 7th-grade Social Studies teacher at Gifford School, for receiving the BIPOC Award from the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies (WCSS)! ⭐️ This is a wonderful and well-deserved recognition of the dedication and passion Abby brings to her classroom every day! #YouBelongHere
Due to the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service, schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, March 16. This day will not need to be made up. Thank you for your understanding and stay safe! // // Español: Todas las escuelas estarán cerradas el lunes, 16 de marzo debido a la alerta de una tempestad invernal emitida por el servicio meteorológico nacional. ¡Cuídense!
The Racine Unified School District is seeking feedback from the community regarding the instructional materials for our Early Learning programs. Please take some time to look at the materials provided by McGraw-Hill, Savvas, Scholastic, and Frog Street and give us your feedback by filling out the RUSD Instructional Materials Feedback Form.
Materials Links: https://tinyurl.com/4rb7tdey
Feedback Form: https://tinyurl.com/27u8vcew
The deadline to submit feedback is Monday, March 16th.
El Distrito Escolar de Racine está buscando la opinión comunitaria sobre los materiales de instrucción para nuestros programas de Educación Temprana. Por favor tome un momento para revisar los materiales proporcionados por las compañías: McGraw-Hill, Savvas, Scholastic, y Frog Street. Después, rellene el formulario Materiales de Instrucción de RUSD para darnos su opinión.
Enlaces para materiales: https://tinyurl.com/4rb7tdey
Formulario de Materiales: https://tinyurl.com/27u8vcew
La fecha límite para dar su opinión es el lunes, 16 de marzo.
As we "Spring Forward" Sunday morning, we have this great reminder from Pillar Health Racine on the importance of sleep for school-aged children. Take a look to learn about the importance of screen-free time before bed and how to create a predictable bedtime routine for your child. #YouBelongHere
Attention parents! It’s KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT WEEK! Join us at our Welcome Center (3109 Mt. Pleasant St) tomorrow through Friday to register your 3, 4 or 5-year-old for one of our kindergarten programs. Every child who enrolls in-person will receive a free backpack while supplies last. Can’t make it in? Enroll online at rusd.org/enroll. Spread the word! // ¡Atención Padres! ¡Es la semana de inscripciones para el Kínder! Visítenos en el Centro de Inscripciones (3109 Mt. Pleasant St.) a partir de ahora hasta el viernes para registrar a su pequeño de 3, 4, ó 5 años para uno de nuestros programas de kínder. Cada niño que sea inscrito en persona recibirá una mochila con útiles escolares gratis – hasta agotar existencia. ¿No puede llegar en persona? Inscríbase por internet en rusd.org/enroll. ¡Ayúdenos a correr la voz!
We have been notified by First Student that Bus 7 will not pick up students at school until 4:00 and Bus 15 will not pick up students until 4:10. Please check your Bus tracker for more information.