New Family Information
Welcome!
On behalf of the staff of Celia Hays Elementary, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new families. Each week you will receive a school newsletter via email informing you of important dates and other events happening at school. We encourage you to read our newsletters so that you can stay in touch with your child's education. We also encourage you to follow us on social media for important announcements and/or upcoming events. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. I look forward to partnering with you to help your children grow and have a positive experience this school year.
Kind regards,
Kelli Crossland
Principal
Celia Hays Elementary School
469-698-2800
Back to School Online Forms
We still have families who need to complete the required Back to School Forms for the upcoming school year. Please be sure to complete the Bus Transportation form if you plan on your child riding a bus this year. Bus rider registration is required and you must be eligible.
Click the link below to the Family Access Login page:
https://skystu.rockwallisd.org/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsEAplus/seplog01.w
Once you have logged in, click on the Back To School tab to begin completing the forms. Be sure to hit the button “submit forms” when all forms are complete.
If you have questions regarding your login information or any questions about the forms, please contact us at 469-698-2800.
What School Supplies Do I Need to Purchase?
Please click on the following link to view school supply lists for all Rockwall ISD schools:
What are the School Hours?
First Bell: 7:45
Tardy Bell: 8:00
Dismissal Bell: 3:00
Our 1st bell rings at 7:45, and we start announcements at 7:50. Thank you for your help in getting our Huskies in their classrooms and ready to learn by 7:45 each day.
Visitor Procedures
All visitors are required to check in at the office between 7:15 am - 4:00 pm to receive a visitor sticker. All visitors will need to scan their driver's license the first time checking in each year. Thanks for helping keep our students safe.
IS MY CHILD ELIGIBLE TO RIDE A BUS?
Families eligible for bus transportation and wishing to use bus service should complete the Back to School Forms in Skyward Family Access as soon as possible.
Families are encouraged to check the transportation website at http://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=RI05591038938 to view bus transportation eligibility and schedules.
How Much is Breakfast and Lunch?
Elementary School Students
Breakfast: Paid $1.50 | Reduced $0.30 | Free
Lunch: Paid $2.60 | Reduced $0.40 | Free
WHAT TIME DOES BREAKFAST START?
FREE & REDUCED MEAL PROGRAM
Families are encouraged to complete the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals. The application will determine a child’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and may assist in the determination of eligibility for other state or federal benefits. Only one application needs to be completed per household. The Child Nutrition Office will notify the household of the child’s eligibility once an application is processed.
Meal applications are available online at www.schoolcafe.com/rockwall. A meal application can be submitted at any time during the school year as household finances change.
For questions regarding meal applications, please contact the Child Nutrition Office at 972-771-8201.
Lunch Visitor Procedures
After September 5th, authorized parents &/or guardians are welcome to come to eat lunch with their child during their scheduled lunch on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
The cafeteria will not be open for lunch visitors on Wednesdays. Please make sure to communicate this with any family member who does not receive our newsletters. E.g., grandparents
Please review the following lunch visitor procedures:
- We ask all lunch visitors to sit at the designated visitor tables.
- Only an authorized lunch visitor and the student for whom the visitor is approved may sit at the visitor table.
- Due to privacy issues, visitors are not permitted to take pictures of students other than their own when visiting the café.
- Due to food allergies, please do not bring outside food for friends.
- Our cafeteria is closed to lunch visitors on Wednesdays.
Skyward Family Access Information
Family Access provides parents access to our student information system for secure access to student schedules, progress reports, grades, discipline, and attendance. A secure web-based application, this “real time” information promotes more effective communication between the district and our parents. Please click on the following link for more information:
https://www.skyward.com/parents-and-students/family-access-toolkit/parents
Arrival and Dismissal Map
Below is a map with arrows for arrival and dismissal. When all participants follow the preferred route, the traffic will flow much more quickly. Please demonstrate patience, respect, and courtesy in all interactions with fellow parents and staff members. We take the responsibility of you entrusting your students to us very seriously and are committed to returning them to you safely each day.
School Zone Safety
Let’s all do our part in helping keep our students safe by driving safely and patiently.
- Put away your cell phone. Cell phone use is banned in active school zones.
- Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Traffic fines usually double in school zones.
- Drop off and pick up your children in your school's designated areas.
- Keep an eye on children gathered at bus stops. They may not always look for vehicles before crossing the street.
- Stop for flashing red lights or a stop sign on a school bus, regardless of which direction you're headed.
Dress Code Reminders
We will periodically share dress code guidelines in our newsletter.
- Safe, appropriate shoes must be worn in PE class.
- For safety reasons, students are not permitted to wear flip-flops or slip-ons.
- Skirts must, during all activities, cover undergarments. Dresses or skirts worn to PE class must have shorts, dress code length, worn underneath. It is recommended that shorts be worn at all times under skirts in order to cover undergarments.
Click the following link to access the RISD Student Handbook: https://www.rockwallisd.com/cms/lib3/TX02215269/Centricity/Domain/130/2023-24%20Rockwall%20ISD%20Student%20Handbook%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Celebrations
Celebrations (All Grade Levels) Although a parent or grandparent may provide food or non-food items (stickers, pencils, etc) to share for a school-designated function or for a student's birthday, please be aware that children in the school may have severe allergies to a particular food and non-food products. In order to maintain the health and protect the safety of students who have life-threatening allergies, the following procedural guidelines must be followed:
- Food or non-food items (stickers, pencils, etc.) for school activities will only be shared with classmates at dismissal.
- All food-related treats will be individually packaged. Food items will include a complete ingredients list attached to each package.
- Any food items without a complete ingredients list and those not individually wrapped/packaged will not be distributed.
- Food items that contain an allergen for any student in the class will not be shared with the class.
- Non-food items containing latex (balloons, toys made with natural rubber, etc) will not be shared with the class.
- Items will be held in the office until the end of the school day and only distributed to classmates at dismissal.
Parent responsibilities:
- Bring celebration items to the school office.
- Individually package all items.
- Include a complete ingredients list on each individually packaged food item.
Classroom teacher responsibilities:
- Assure all celebration items are individually packaged.
- Assure each food item has been labeled with a complete ingredients list.
- Assure non-food items do not contain latex (natural rubber).
- Placed celebration items in student's backpack to be taken home at dismissal.
All items MUST BE individually wrapped, labeled with ingredients, and dropped off in the office to be dispensed at a time that is not disruptive to the school day.
Occasionally, the school or a class may host functions or celebrations tied to the curriculum that involves food. The school or teacher will notify students and parents of any known food allergies when soliciting potential volunteers to provide food.
Invitations and Flyers
Parents who would like to send invitations (e.g., birthday invitations) are encouraged to join PTO for access to student directory information, such as mailing addresses.
How do I receive gradebook notifications?
Attendance
In order to maximize your child’s academic opportunities, it is critical that they be in attendance at school every day. All students must attend school at least 90% of the days in order to be promoted to the next grade level. For your information, we have attached district procedures/policies and state laws related to attendance. We hope that this information is helpful to you and look forward to spending every instructional day possible with your child.