BACK TO SCHOOL - Parent Edition
Newsletter from the Principal
Mrs. Melendez-Carrillo, Principal
Mrs. Maggie Castillo, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Michelle Escobedo, Counselor
WELCOME BACK
Dear Parents,
On behalf of the Reyes staff, we hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy. For all our new families, thank you for choosing Congressman Silvestre and Carolina Reyes Elementary as your school of choice. I am honored to serve as your Principal at our amazing school. The 2022-2023 school year will mark my 18th year in Education. I have worked with a variety of students ranging from PreK through 5th grade as well as teaching college courses. Over the years, I have served as a teacher, instructional coach, early childhood district coordinator and assistant principal. I have served as the Principal of this wonderful school for close to four years. I am a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso and hold a bachelor's and a master’s degree along with several certifications including National STEM Certification, EC-12 Legacy Master Technology Teacher, EC-6 Generalist, EC-4 Bilingual Generalist, EC-12 English as a Second Language, Principal and Superintendent.
Mrs. Castillo is our Assistant Principal and this is her second year in this position. Mrs. Castillo is a community member and graduate of Canutillo High School. She has been an educator for 13 years, has taught 3rd and 4th grade dual language classes and most recently served as an at-risk teacher at Garcia Elementary School in Canutillo ISD. Mrs. Castillo has been recognized as the 2017-2018, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year in 2017-2018. Mrs. Castillo has served as a Texas Education Agency committee review member for the STAAR assessment to ensure alignment in both English and Spanish. She helps out in her community and is involved in church activities as drama director, worship singer and fundraisers for needed charities.
Please see below all the updates and beginning of the year information. We hope to see you at the open house on Friday July 29. Be sure to like our Reyes Elementary Facebook page, Twitter account @ReyesElementary and sign-up for school messenger emails, voicemail and texts.
Due to safety and confidentiality we will not post any rosters in the front office. Parents may call or pick up their child's schedule on July 28th from 1-4 pm. Only students fully registered will receive a class schedule which indicates the teacher and room number. You will bring this schedule on Friday during open house in order to visit your chid's classroom. https://fb.me/e/1YbqJe2d2
We invite all our military families to bring a family picture during Open House to post on our Purple Star Wall. You may give it to me at the beginning or end of the general session. As a TEA Purple Star Campus since 2020 we are committed to serve and support our military families. Thank you for your service and sacrifices.
This year we celebrate each and every one of our students. Our theme this year is “YOU 2.0” Last year we all had to learn to navigate COVID-19 while attending in person instruction. This year, we continue to be strong and remind ourselves that YOU and everyone matters. I am honored and excited to continue serving the Reyes community.
Warmly,
Jessica Melendez-Carrillo
Principal
OPEN HOUSE ON FRIDAY JULY 29, 2022
Our open house will be in-person on Friday, July 29th at 1 pm. Please pick up a schedule in the front office on Thursday July 28 from 1-4 pm or check parent portal starting July 28th. Only students fully registered (documents and all areas filled out) will receive a schedule that states the teacher name.
The general session begins at 1:00 pm in THE CLAW. Everyone will come in through the front office and head to that area. You will have an opportunity to meet the Dream Team as well as a general overview of our protocols and procedures. Parents will bring school supplies during the open house, labeled with the student’s name.
General Session All Grades: 1:00-1:30 pm
Classroom visit: 1:30-3:00 pm
This in-person event is a great opportunity to see the campus, meet the staff, purchase your uniforms as well as getting familiarized with drop off and pick up procedures. COVID-19 Immunizations and Health Screenings will be in front of our school from 1-3 pm.
Parent Teacher Organization
Our PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is excited to welcome all parents and will have a sign-up booth during our open house event. You will be able to order a Red Hawks spirit shirt. You may sign-up at that time and order your shirt. (Venmo, Cash App and Cash will be accepted).
Youth T-Shirts: 11 dollars
Adult T-Shirts: 12 dollars
Adult T-Shirt + Membership: 15 dollars
Follow the Red Hawks PTO - Home Facebook page for updates and upcoming meetings.
PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Parents will be allowed into the building from 7:30-8:00 am on August 1st. Please exit the building at that time. Breakfast will be served in the classroom only the first day of school, after that it will be in the cafeteria.
First Day of School is Monday August 1
Last Day of School is Friday May 26
Daily Schedule
7:30 First Bell-Entrance for all students.
Announcements will begin promptly at 7:45 am
7:30-7:50 am Breakfast in the cafeteria. Only students eating breakfast will go to the cafeteria entrance, everyone else will use the stations.
7:45 am Tardy Bell
7:45 am Instruction begins
10:30-12:45 Lunch block (every grade has a different recess and lunch time)
3:15 Dismissal in front of the school
If your child is eating breakfast please drop off in the lower level at 7:30 am and let them know to walk to the cafeteria. We are a closed campus for breakfast and lunch.
Station 1 is for PK-2
7:30-7:45 upper level courtyard next to the front office (white gates). All students PK-2 will enter here. You may drop off at the loop behind the flag mural. If you have students (siblings) in various grade levels, please drop off in station 1.
Station 2 is for 3rd-5th
7:30-7:45 lower level drop-off loop. Entrance will be the double doors next to the amphitheater. All 3rd-5th grade students will enter here. You will drive towards the lower-level drop-off loop through Via Canutillo and exit using the same gate.
A reminder that the upper-level parking lot is not a drop-off. Please be respectful and do not use that as a drop-off. We have students and parents walking and dropping off students at this location and it only causes more traffic and safety concerns.
Station 3: Front office. Daycare and school bus ONLY.
DISMISSAL
During open house, the teacher will notify you of the specific dismissal pick-up locations but dismissal for everyone is in the upper level (in front of the school).
Canutillo ISD no longer requires students, employees, or visitors to wear face masks, shields, or other coverings. Cloth face covering/masks are highly recommended for every student.
For any specific COVID-19 information please visit https://www.canutillo-isd.org/COVID19
SAFETY
Safety will continue to be our top priority. We work very closely with the Canutillo ISD Police under guidance from TEA and local authorities to ensure we continue to train all stakeholders and following safety protocols.
- Please ensure you are part of the official school messenger (text, email, phone call) system and Parent Portal for the campus/district. All parents are responsible for signing up for it. Please see our campus receptionist to do so. We will no longer use the remind app to communicate with parents.
- All visitors MUST have their ID to show at the door prior to entry into the building.
- If you need to come to the office, please bring your ID and use the Ring door bell and we will ask you to show us your ID at that time before we let you in. If you need to speak to Administration and/or teachers, please call to set up an appointment.
- Monthly emergency drills will be conducted.
- All campus employees will be trained on our safety protocols prior to the first day of school.
- All campus doors are locked and access to building with staff badge only. All substitutes, parents and other district employees will enter through the front office.
- Police officer on duty at our campus - Officer Jessica Rodriguez.
- Below are our Drill Handouts for Parents. Speaking to your child before the school year starts regarding the drills we have in school is beneficial. Safety begins with all of us.