WORD CEO MAGAZINE_Issue 4_12.31.2023

INSPIRATION

SPOTLIGHT

ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULES

PARENT NATION

SPARTAN NEWS

COLLEGE PREP

31 Deember 2023

WORD CEO MAGAZINE

LOOKING AHEAD

What’s Happening at Richard Wright in 2024

Special Holiday Edition The Wright Dancers on the Wright Path

Table of Contents

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CEO MESSAGE

IMPORTANT DATES

REMINDERS

The latest and greatest with new video link

Important Calendar Dates upcoming in January

Things to keep in mind each and every day

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EDUCATOR SALUTE

SPARTAN NEWS

SEASON STYLE WATCH

Tribute to one of Richard Wright’s G.O.A.T. Educational Extraordinaire - Mr. Wyatt

Winter Wonderland, Honor Roll, Looking to Spring 2024 with Interact Club, Bible Museum, Florals, Fringe, and Preppy Winter Showcase, Brooklyn Trip

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SATURDAY SCHOOL

WISE OLD OWL

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The importance of the Saturday program and upcoming dates

A look at Brooklyn’s Finest Rapper and Entrpreneur Jay-Z and Michael Eric Dyson’s book

Inspirational thoughts and new perspectives to start the New Year

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THE WEEK AHEAD

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PARENT NATION

The schedule for the week of January 10-12, 2024

All the school contacts you may be in search of

Join the movement with “We All We Got” gear

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ROXIE SPOTLIGHT

GUIDANCE CORNER

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

The Wright Dancers on the Wright Path

Summer Dual Enrollment applications open

Follow, subscribe, and share all the great RW content

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Thank you for all you do as parents/guardians. We cannot believe that 2023 has now come to an end.

But with each ending rises a new beginning. I believe our students will continue to shine in 2024. So Parents, please continue to check in with your child every day to ensure that they are completing all homework and class work requirements for success!

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST VID HERE

We thank you for the opportunity to serve you, your child, and your family.

All the Best,

Dr. Marco Clark FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 3

SALUTE TO EDUCATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

Please join me in a salute for The G.O.A.T. Educational Extraordinaire, Mr. Lamarge Booker Wyatt, who has served diligently over 50 years in education on behalf of all students, families, and educators. It was our extreme honor and privilege to celebrate and recognize this milestone with a surprise dedication for Mr. Wyatt with his family and the Richard Wright Team present!

Thank you Dr. Wyatt for your leadership, mentorship, wisdom, and commitment to our development, growth, and success as a school and a community!

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Hon. Lamarge Chris V. Wyatt Rey, J.D. THE36th G.O.A.T. International President EDUCATIONALPhi EXTRAORDINAIRE Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

YEARS of EDUCATION

& WE LOVE YOU MR. WYATT!

Lamarge Booker Wyatt THE G.O.A.T. EDUCATIONAL EXTRAORDINAIRE

Richard Wright Schools Be it known that in pursuance of the authority vested in it by charter of the District of Columbia and upon recommendation upon the Board of Trustees and with the concurrence of the Faculty

Lamarge Booker Wyatt the degree of

Doctor of Professional Training & Development Honoris Causa

With all the rights, privileges, immunities, and honors thereunto appertaining and in witness thereof, it grants this diploma to which the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Richard Wright Schools have set their hand and seal in the District of Columbia this Twenty-first day of December in the year of the Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-three and of Richard Wright Schools the First.

Derwin Ross

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Marco Clark

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

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Family, the energy throughout the building has truly been electric. We are also thankful for the young people who showed up for Saturday School this past Saturday.

Parents if your child is in the 8th, 9th or 10th grade, we need them in Saturday School. Our Saturday programming is designed to address the deficiencies we analyzed at the start of the school year.

Parents, we are constantly evaluating student academic data and overall performance. As you know, all of our students were given a diagnostic exam at the beginning of the school year to assess their academic performance levels. After the assessments were completed our Academic Leadership Team did a thorough analysis and concluded that we need to revive our Saturday School to address academic deficiencies.

The analysis revealed some areas of concern which need some extended time to address. This is not uncommon for students to show signs of needing improvement during the lack of schooling in the summer. In order to ensure that we are completing the task of ensuring that every student is “College Ready”.

We need all students in grades 8-10th in “Saturday School”. Please see the schedule below.

SATURDAY SCHOOL 9:45AM - 12:00 PM

SATURDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE FOR 8th, 9th, and 10th GRADERS

SATURDAY SCHOOL WILL RESUME

SAT. JAN. 20, 2024

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THE FIRST WEEK OF THE NEW YEAR SCHEDULE SCHOOL STARTS @8AM SHARP!!

PLEASE BE ON TIME AND IN FULL UNIFORM.

PARENTS WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

PLEASE ENSURE THAT STUDENTS GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME ……

Students will not be admitted after 8:20am without a parent, a note from court, or a doctor's note.

School Schedule Week of JANUARY 10-12, 2024 Monday, Jan. 8

School Closed

Tuesday, Jan. 9

School Closed

Wednesday, Jan. 10

Full Day of Learning - Dismissal @3:30 pm

Thursday, Jan. 11

Full Day of Learning - Dismissal @3:30 pm

Friday, Jan. 12

Half Day of Learning - Dismissal @12:30 pm

STUDENTS RETURN ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10th, 2024 @ 8AM 7

ROXIE SPOTLIGHT

THE WRIGHT DANCERS

ON THE WRIGHT PATH

By Summer Johnson

The Wright Dancers were founded in 2021 under the leadership of Director Summer Johnson. Within months of the team's inception, they created a moving Black History presentation featuring tributes to Alvin Ailey and Pearl Primus.

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ROXIE SPOTLIGHT THE WRIGHT DANCERS Autumn RIsbrook, the first team captain, performed a contemporary solo to Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hills We Climb.” Autumn is currently attending the University of Chicago as a dance major and continues dancing and choreographing. The team presented a Women’s History Month performance in March 2021 and was asked to participate in Remember the Pearl, SW Freedom Festival in May 2021. To end the semester, they participated in the student film “Dancing Through the Decades.”

During the 2021-22 school year, the team grew from 7 members to 15. They also grew their repertoire of dance styles to include not only ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop, but also African and majorette dance. For the first time in school history, dancers performed a halftime show at the Spartan Football Homecoming Game. Later, they performed HBCU-style stand routines and brought out an unprecedented crowd to see them perform.

In December, they performed several dances in the R.O.X.I.E Department’s Winter Showcase. They were again invited to perform at the Remember the Pearl, SW Freedom Festival and received a standing ovation.

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In high demand, the Wright Dancers were invited to the Southwest Neighborhood Association to open their monthly meeting at Arena Stage. Then captain, Caitlyn Taylor, currently a freshman at the University of Arizona, helped to organize the Spring Celebration of the Arts with presentations by all of the R.O.X.I.E. performance and arts programs. She also created a studentchoreographed piece for the production, as did Ashley Joyner, current team co-captain.

The Celebration of the Arts was a sold-out performance celebrating Black Girl Magic and Black Boy Joy that capped off the season in an epic way!

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The Wright Dancers participated in the Richard Wright Summer Experience Broadway Revue to kick off this school year. Current team captain, Symone Hill executed a beautiful solo performance to Alladin’s “A Whole New World.” Team members also acted and danced in scenes from Dreamgirls and The Wiz. In October, the team dazzled with “Renaissance” themed dance routines at the Homecoming Pep Rally and Homecoming Game Halftime Show.

On Dec 14, 2023, the team performed 5 outstanding dances in the R.O.X.I.E Department’s Annual Winter Showcase.

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dream enjoy

fun

BOLD and Brave!

THE WRIGHT 12

DANCERS

On the horizon, the Wright Dancers are looking forward to their first dance competition, the National Dance Association’s Virginia Regional Championship at Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA on February 18, 2024 (TBD). We hope many of you can attend to cheer the team on in this exciting endeavor! In their few years of existence, the Wright Dancers have accomplished a great deal in a short time and continue on the Wright path to greatness!

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IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES

NEW YEAR‘S DAY AND WORLD DAY OF PEACE (JANUARY 1st) DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (JANUARY 15th) NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK (JANUARY 21st - 27th)

STUDENTS RETURN ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10th, 2024 @ 8AM 14

SPARTAN NEWS Annual toy drive and winter wonderland for Apple Tree students

Thank you to all the 12th graders, the Choral Ensemble, and Raamiah Seabrooks who played an awesome Santa. With everyone’s hard work, we helped create an amazing Winter Wonderland for our youngest neighbors at Apple Tree! Thank you to Mrs. Glover for making it happen each year!

Thank you to all who made donations for the Toy Drive, the Sock Drive initiated by the Parent Nation, and the Shoe Drive for the Homeless spearheaded by student Jada Sills!

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The R

ic h a r d

W rig h t H o n o r R o ll Ass

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Congratulations to honor roll students who earned ALL A’s: 9th - Talise Green 10th - Madison Bowling - Ever Casarrubias - Ronae Cooke - Ethan Dailey - Jazmin Franklin - Taniyzhae Hart - Jayla Murphy Smith - Jermeil Phoenix - Madison Russell - Paige Simmons - Morgan Turner - Lakita Wills - Xyon Young 16

11th - Sadiyah Farrakhan - Makayla Napper - Aurlie Sheppard - Jada Sills 12th - Latrice Adams - Daria Craddock - Jacire Godbolt - Jordyn Greer - Naomi Jones - Perion King - Laniya Mcfadden - Imara Onunaku - Elijah Rogers - Zaniya Wright

The R

ic h a r d

W rig h t H o n o r R o ll Ass

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Congratulations to honor roll students who earned all a’s & B’s: 8th - Daja Barbour 9th -Laila Davis - Emani Armstrong - Zilliyah Datcher - D'Erah Dawson-Mayhew -Nashay Douglas - Ramone Evans - Cristina Fields - Zahraya Griffin - Dejohn Hardy - Allen Harrison - Makyala Herbert - Erin Horsley - Morgeyn Hudson - Tyrell Lloyd - Quincent Pendergast - Joel Polanco - Samariya Simpson - Ta'Kiryah Zephyrin 10th - Jaion Anderson - Kameran Attaway - Barren Barnett - Akailah Benjamin - Makayla Brown - Azara Bryant - Martin Carrington - Mekhi Coley-Thompson

10th (cont.)

- Jasmine Cruz - Kayla Davis - Logan Evans - Lailan Fells-Watson - Josiah Foreman - Arianna Goings - Ja'Kiya Goodwin - Aaliyah Graham - Dominique Hackett - Chloe Hill - Yashua Hill - Janiya Jones - Jerome Kearney - Lathan McDowney - Ronney McMillian - Za'Yea Melton - Courtlyn Pointer - Carey Porter - Dylan Price - Qwentin Price - Samiyah Rhea - Madison Russell - Raamiah Seabrooks - Jaibreon Smith - Jayden Snipes - Kavion Steptoe - Kimani Stewart - Maliyah Thomas - Damon Tucker - Janiyah Vinson - Dania Wilson

10th (cont.)

- Arbre Winslow - Shila Yarde 11th - Da'Janea Armstrong - Eryn Attaway - Kennedy Barnes - Darren Beasley - Clarence Brown V - Daryl Davis - Anglic Garrett - Symone Hill - Ladawn Langley - Logan Mccrae - Zi'Liyha Quails - Jamari Tyree - Andrew Wood 12th - Tavares Ash - Ziyah Bailey - Khaiden Bragg - Jake Curtis - Sydney Horne - Ja'Brea James - Cayleigh Johnson - Justin Mahoney - Traevon Myers - K'Imani Rispus 17

INTERACT CLUB

Interact Community Service Project Written by Laniya McFadden and Mr. Gassert Photos by K’imani Rispus

On December 6th, 22 members of the Richard Wright Schools Interact Club traveled to the National Capital Area Headquarters of the YWCA. The students learned about the YWCA’s mission to help the community, especially women and young families. Some of the YWCA’s initiatives include food drives, adult education, sheltering, and other community resources.

While they were at the YWCA, the students wrapped gifts–scarves, hats, and tote bags, for parents the YWCA serves. Our team put together over one hundred gift bags. At the end of the trip the students were thanked with food and snacks!

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dc rotary club luncheon

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richard wright schools choral and orchestra ensembles perform at the bible museum

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Check out the vid here

the roxie winter showcase

Check out the vid here 21

field trip experience to brooklyn, NY to visit the Jay-Z Exhibit

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Check out the vid here

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur.

Known for his involvement in numerous artists' creative and commercial success, he was named the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe in 2023. He is the founder and chairman of the entertainment company Roc Nation and was the president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings from 2004 to 2007.

WISE

OWL

Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z is one of the world's best-selling music artists with 140 million records sold. Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Awards, the tenth-most of all time. He has been awarded the NAACP's President's Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Sports Emmy Award, and has been nominated for a Tony Award. Ranked by Billboard and Rolling Stone as one of the 100 greatest artists of all time, JayZ was the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the first solo living rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013.

READINGRECOMMENDED "Dyson writes with the affection of a fan but the rigor of an academic. ... Using extensive passages from Jay-Z’s lyrics, 'Made in America' examines the rapper’s role as a poet, an aesthete, an advocate for racial justice and a business, man, but devotes much of its energy to Hova the Hustler." ―Allison Stewart, The Washington Post "Dyson's incisive analysis of JAY-Z's brilliance not only offers a brief history of hip-hop's critical place in American culture, but also hints at how we can best move forward." ―Questlove Featuring a Foreword by Pharrell 23

ON POINT: PARENT

NATION

U N I T I N G R I C H A R D

A S

O N E

W R I G H T

PARENT NATION MEETINGS WILL RESUME AFTER THE NEW YEAR!

Contact: Ms. Randi Glover 202-500-9413 Director of Parent and Community Engagement

LOOKING FOR PARENTS INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF OUR POPULAR DAILY QUOTE SEGMENT “10 SECOND MOMENT FOR SUCCESS.” PLEASE EMAIL MRS. GLOVER RGLOVER@RICHARDWRIGHTPCS.ORG TO SCHEDULE YOUR FILMING SESSION. PARENTS ARE LINING UP TO JOIN THE FUN .

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IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE LIKE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ON ALL OUR PLATFORMS AND READ OUR NEW CEO MAGAZINE IN ITS ENTIRETY!!!

CALLING INTO THE SCHOOL

📞

Parents, just in case you are unfamiliar with our phone system, let's take a moment to take you step by step to ensure you reach the person best suited to answer your questions. First, please dial 202388-1011 and listen to the school’s message. Then dial the appropriate extension number (listed below to reach the correct person or to leave a message). Hopefully, this will close the gap on any questions you may have. If not, please feel free to email Mrs. Glover at rglover@richardwrightpcs.org.

EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

128 Alisha Roberts-Funderburk (Chief of Operations) 160 Michelle Santos (Chief Creative Officer) 131 Carolyn Youngfolk (Chief of Staff) 135 Lamarge Wyatt (Chief Academic Officer) 155 Randi Glover (Director of Parent and Community Engagement)

SCHOOL BASED LEADERSHIP & ASSISTANTS 1172 056 058 160 126 149 150 158 120 200 119 118 148 199 059 112 128

Danzell Bussey (Academy Director) Eugenia Turner (Director of Academics) Roger Murray (Director of Journalism and Media Arts) Issac Jackson (Multi-Media Arts and Technology Director) Valeria Rodriguez (Director of Student Support Autism and Self-Contained) Dr. Kevin Parson (Director of Student Support Instructional Learning ) Kacey Holland (Director of Student Support Behavioral Compliance) Helen Compton-Harris (Director of Outreach, Planning, and Development) Kara Sheler (Director of Admissions and Enrollment) Leia Harris (Director of Attendance and Truancy Monitor & Director of Academic Counselor) Darryl Singleton (Dean of Students) Cheryl Mayfield (Dean of Students) LaRhonda Wright (Main Office Manager) Angela Fornah (Nurse) Shara Cyrus (Clinical Social Worker) Carlette Jones (Therapist) Kelli Parks (Exec. Assistant to the Chief of Operations)

FACULTY

Lindsey Laster - English Language Arts (8th); English IV (12th) Llaster@richardwrightpcs.org Tyrice Brown - English I (9th) Tbrown@richardwrightpcs.org Ashley Wilson - English II (10th) Awilson@richardwrightpcs.org Jillian Uzuegbu - English III (11th); DC History (12th) Juzuegbu@richardwrightpcs.org Evan Jackson - Algebra I (9th) Ejackson@richardwrightpcs.org Melissa Alto - Algebra II/Trig. (11th) Malto@richardwrightpcs.org Marsha Chamberlain - Biology (10th) Mchamberlain@richardwrightpcs.org Francis Ayissi - Chemistry (11th); Pre-Algebra (8th) Fayissi@richardwrightpcs.org Rachel Nelson - U.S History (8th) Rnelson@richardwrightpcs.org William Morse - U.S History (9th); World History (11th) Wmorse@richardwrightpcs.org Joe Gassert - Latin (11th) Jgassert@richardwrightpcs.org Allen Lester - Intro to Film (8th) Alester@richardwrightpcs.org Elijah Gordon - Intro to Photography (8th) Elijah.gordan@richardwrightpcs.org Dwayne Charlton - Music (9th) Dcharlton@richardwrightpcs.org Summer Johnson - Dance Theater (9th) Summer.johnson@richardwrightpcs.org Anthony Carr - Studio Art (10th) Acarr@richardwrightpcs.org Desmond Smith - Graphic Design (12th) Dsmith@richardwrightpcs.org Dahia Frazier - Student Support Teacher Dfrazier@richardwrightpcs.org Donnetta McFadden - Student Support Teacher Dmcfadden@richardwrightpcs.org Gerald Caver - Student Support Teacher Gcaver@richardwrightpcs.org 25

SENIORS, PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY ON YOUR SENIOR THESIS PAPER AS DEADLINES ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING. PARENTS, IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR STUDENT'S REPORT CARD, PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL AT LEIA.HARRIS@RICHARDWRIGHTPCS.ORG

SUMMER DUAL ENROLLMENT APPLICATION WILL BE OPEN FROM JAN. 10TH - FEB. 9TH. CURRENT 9TH, 10TH, AND 11TH GRADERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. EMAIL MRS. HARRIS FOR MORE INFO: LEIA.HARRIS@RICHARDWRIGHTPCS.ORG

GUIDANCE 26

CORNER

Students are expected to report to school at 8am daily. Doors open at 7:45am.

Students are prohibited from using cell phones during school hours.

All students must have signed permission slips for all after school activities.

Parents please feel free to call the school in cases of emergency.

All students must be in full uniform.

Research reveals that young people between the ages of 6-18 need at least 8 hours of sleep to perform at their highest potential.

REMINDERS 27

SEASON Florals STYLE WATCH

e g n i r &F

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FOOD FOR

THOUGHT FOR THE “And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.”

Rainer Maria Rilke “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson “Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”

Helen Keller “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

Oprah Winfrey “Let our New Year's resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.”

Goran Persson “I hope you realize that every day is a fresh start for you. That every sunrise is a new chapter in your life waiting to be written.”

Juansen Dizon “And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us, new, untouched, full of things that have never been, full of work that has never been done, full of tasks, claims, and demands; and let us see that we learn to take it without letting fall too much of what it has to bestow upon those who demand of it necessary, serious, and great things.”

Rainer Maria Rilke “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” Edith Lovejoy Pierce “For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning."

T.S. Eliot

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT

THAT GEAR IS

DOPE

“We All We Got” Tees: XS- XL $20 2XL- 4XL $25 Hoodies: XS- XL- $40 2XL- 4XL- $45

DON’T FORGET YOUR SNOOP CEREAL https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyMSW9oSqwH/?igshid=MzRlODBi

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https://www.iheart.com/live/roxieradio9887/

Richard Wright Schools’ radio station is ROXIE RADIO. Please click the link, follow and share it with your friends. If you are someone you know is interested in renting airtime, please email Ms. Santos msantos@richardwrightpcs.org.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWSCAST OF WRIGHT NOW NEWS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @richardwrightschools

@rwpcsroxie

Check out the latest newscast HERE

@richardwrightschools

@RichardWrightSchools

WWW.RICHARDWRIGHTPCS.ORG 31

HAPPY

Peace, Joy & Love from your Richard Wright Family!