The Titan Times: Week 3
The River Place Elementary (RPE) Campus Newsletter
IN THIS EDITION:
- Message from Principal Sharp
- Mark Your Calendars and Info Links
- #1LISD Community News
- #RPEtitans Community News
- Nurse Emma's Nook
- Counselor's Corner
- PTA Announcements
- Growing a Titan Mindset and Connection Every Day!
School Starts TOMORROW!
Titan Families,
Last night, our Titan life changers were able to welcome our Titan families at our Open House. Many thanks to those of you who were able to come out. We look forward to launching the school year officially tomorrow.
Yes, it's here! Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 16th! Remember, school doors open at 7:10 AM and school starts at 7:30 AM. Please be sure to follow traffic patterns and student dismissal manager information detailed in this newsletter to support the safety for our Titans.
Should you have any questions leading into the school year, please feel free to call our campus, and Ms. Natasha, our wonderful receptionist, will be more than happy to support you as she can.
**Please note: If you are receiving this communication and you are NOT returning to River Place Elementary next year, please email our registrar, Ms. Cheryl Eisenberg, at cheryl.eisenberg@leanderisd.org **
Take care and be well,
Dr. Amy Sharp
Proud RPE Principal
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
August:
- 15th: If you've already RSVP'd for the first day of school, you can pick up your badge early from noon- 3 PM to avoid lines on the 16th.
- 16th: First Day of School! RSVP for parent drop off at the classroom is below.
- 16th: Kindergarten Family Coffee Meet Up (See More Below)
- 16th: 4th & 5th Grade Titans who took the STAAR test in the 22-23 school year at River Place Elementary will get instructions to access STAAR Scores in Wednesday folders.
- 29th Kindergarten Curriculum Night from 5:30- 6:30 PM
- 30th Grades 1st & 2nd Curriculum Night from 5:30- 6:30 PM
- 31st Grades 3rd, 4th, & 5th Curriculum Night from 5:30- 6:30 PM
September:
- 4th: Staff and Student Holiday
- 5th: Visitors are now permitted on campus for lunch & volunteering
Curriculum Night: Kindergarten Aug. 29th @ 5:30 PM
Curriculum Night: 1st & 2nd Grades Aug. 30th @ 5:30 PM
Curriculum Night: 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades Aug. 31st @ 5:30 PM
2023-24 School Lunch Schedule
Sept. 5th Volunteers & Lunch Visitors Permitted on Campus
Titan Communication & Celebration
TITAN COMMUNITY NEWS
School Dismissal Information- Must Do
**SDM initial email will be sent TODAY!
**You will NEED to log in and set up your child's PERMANENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION on AUGUST 15th (BEFORE THE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL)
Setting Up School Dismissal Manager:
Step 1: On August 15th, you should receive an email about the School Dismissal Manager (SDM) system that RPE uses to support our campus dismiss process. Please be on the lookout for an email that will be sent to you and please LOGIN to the system. PLEASE check your junk mail/spam folder by searching School Dismissal Manager. You will find your log in credentials at the top of the email and you will be prompted to set up a password for your account. Next, you will set your child’s dismissal information. If you are having trouble, please reach out to Natasha Lewis at natasha.lewis@leanderisd.org
Step 2: Please download the School Dismissal Manager App or save the School Dismissal Manager website, on your phone or your computer, so you can always have it handy.
**If you already have the app, from last year, when you open the application, it will prompt your to update your version. It is very easy to do so! This application is a one stop shop where you can set your child’s permanent mode of transportation and also make changes as needed to their dismissal selection. The application will be used by parents who wish to make a transportation change for their child. Please note that all transportation changes must be made in the system by 1:30 PM on normal school days.
Step 3: If your child is a car rider, you will need to fill out a Car Tag. We will have Car Tags available on the 1st day of school at the front office and in the car rider line. You will need to show your card tag in the pick up line each day.
You should include the following information:
- First and Last name of student(s) (if you have multiple students please list all names)
- Student grade level and teacher's name
SDM website: https://www.schooldismissalmanager.com/mobile/login.html
- Login: parent email address
- Password: sent in original SDM email, then parent will be forced to re-set new password
Bus Routing Information
Leander ISD’s TransFinder’s InfoFinder software allows LISD parents to get information on their students’ bus stop locations and times by simply entering their street address and the student’s grade level. TransFinder will then give you a map showing your child’s assigned elementary or secondary bus stop.
- If you are unsure if your address receives bus service, please click on the TransFinder link above and enter in your home address.
- If your child does qualify for bussing services, please see the SMART Tag registration information below to set up their account.
SMART Tag (Bus Riders only)
The Leander ISD Transportation Department uses SMART Tag – a system that provides accurate, near real-time monitoring of where and when students load onto and unload off of their school bus – to help promote student safety and security, keeping parents, school administrators and the district’s transportation department more informed. Bus riders are issued a SMART card, which they scan as they get on and off the bus.
SMART Tag Parent Portal
Parents and guardians can go to the SMART Tag Parent Portal and select Register to begin the registration process. Once registered, parents and guardians can sign up for SMART Alerts to receive a text message notification 10 to 15 minutes before the bus arrives at their child’s bus stop. While on the bus, the Parent Portal also provides a live map to see bus’ location in near real time.
To complete the registration, you will need the following:
- The campus name of your child
- Your child’s student ID number
- Your child’s date of birth
For additional information, please visit the LISD Transportation Website.
Car Rider Drop Off & Pick Up Information
Please remember that the street in front of our school becomes ONE WAY during arrival (7:05 - 8:00am) & dismissal times (2:20-3:00pm). During this time the traffic in front of our school on Sitio Del Rio Blvd should flow one way ONLY--traffic entering from River Place Blvd. and driving towards FM 2222. If parking in the parking lot in front of our school for drop off or pick up during these times, you should follow the flow of traffic, making a LEFT turn as you exit the parking area.
Car Rider Dismissal Update
In order to speed up the line and distance students more effectively, we have a 2-lane pick-up system.
- Kinder - 2nd (and families who have a K-2 student and a 3-5 student) Enter car rider via River Place Blvd & stay in the left lane. These children will be picked up under the awning. If they have a sibling in an older grade, the older sibling will also get picked up here. After pick up, they will turn left and exit out the back of the school. A staff member will be posted to help you merge.
- 3rd - 5th Graders Enter car rider via Sitio Del Rio stay & stay in the right lane. Your students will be picked up on the field side of the blacktop (passenger side of the car). You will then continue straight and exit out the back of the school.
This allows for a smooth process. Again, staff members will be placed along the route directing and helping merge as well.
Child Nutrition Services (CNS)
Meal Pricing Information (Elementary):
- Student Free Breakfast: $0.00
- Student Paid Breakfast: $1.50
- Student Free Lunch: $0.00
- Student Paid Lunch: $2.90
- Guest Breakfast: $2.50
- Guest Lunch: $4.00
Online Payment Options:
- Easily make payments to your student’s account through Titan School Solutions.
- Please note: We are now live with online payments! Parents should be able to deposit money into their students’ accounts via Titan. Parents will always have the option to send their students to school with cash or check if they wish to deposit funds that way.
- Titan Family Connect App for iPhone | Titan Family Connect App for Android
Free & Reduced Meals
LISD provides free and reduced-price (F&R) meals for children approved for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). To apply for this program, submit an application online, or download, print, and submit one of these forms:
- F&R Application in English | F&R Application in Spanish
- Letter to Households in English | Letter to Households in Spanish
- F&R Meal Application Directions in English | F&R Meal Application Directions in Spanish
Snack Limits
- There are several snack items students may purchase that are not part of the breakfast/lunch meal and have extra associated costs. These items range in price from $.50 to $3.50.
- If you would like to limit the amount your child is able to spend out of their account, you can set up an account through Titan School Solutions, add your children to your account, then set your own spending limits, or by using one of these forms: Elementary Snack Limit Form
4th & 5th Grade Families: How to Access STAAR Scores Info Coming Home on August 16th
Hello Titan Families,
An envelope with instructions to access your child’s STAAR scores will be sent home on August 16th. You will only have an envelope if your student was an RPE student last year and took the test(s). If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Principal, Lacy Olmstead. lacy.olmstead@leanderisd.org
QUEST INFORMATION
QUEST, which is Leander ISD 's Talented and Gifted Program, parent referral forms are due by Friday August 18th. The form is here Parent Referral for 23/24 QUEST This form will open the door for the QUEST teacher to look into your child's data to see if they qualify to test for the program. If your child qualifies to test Allison Solberg, the campus QUEST teacher, will contact you the first few weeks of school. Have questions? Reach out to our QUEST teacher, Allison Solberg, via email allison.solberg@leanderisd.org
NURSE EMMA'S NOOK
Medication Drop Off Times
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
C2 T-Shirt Information
Hey Titan Families!
Help us show support in promoting a culture of kindness and caring at River Place Elementary!
Use the link below to order your C2 shirt designed by one of RPE's own students for the 23-24 school year.
The Deadline to order is Sunday, September 3, 2023.
PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOIN PTA TODAY!
Join PTA TODAY because increasing our membership, even by one, makes it possible to:
- Get funds to teachers to supplement classroom needs.
- Connect with teachers, parents, and administration to voice needs for our school and our Titans.
- Fund library technology, guest speakers, playground equipment.
- Help plan community activities such as Fall Fest, Apex Fun Run, Book Fair, Mentoring
- programs, Field Day, Career Day & STEAM Night.
- Support Teacher and Staff Appreciation.
Myths Debunked!
- PTA does NOT require mandatory meetings or volunteer hours.
- PTA is NOT just for stay-at-home parents or for those who want to take on a large leadership role.
PTA is-
- for ANYONE who wants to be a bit more connected to teachers, principals and the Titan community. In sum, there is no wrong or right way to be in PTA!
- something that takes 5 minutes to join and if you join now your $10 membership will enter you in a monthly raffle for gift cards, free water bottles, and MORE!
- easy to join! ----------> https://riverplacepta.membershiptoolkit.com
Incentive:
August Paid PTA Membership Sign Ups will be in a raffle with a chance to win a HEB, Target, Oz. Tap House gift cards, or Titan Shirts or water bottles. Our 10 lucky winners will be announced the first week of September!
Leander ISD #1LISD Community News
River Place Elementary Titan Community
Here are our Titan Community Communication Tools-
- River Place Elementary School Website
- Twitter Account
- PTA Facebook Page
- Remind App for River Place Insiders
Email: ContactTeacher@leanderisd.org
Website: https://riverplace.leanderisd.org/
Location: 6500 Sitio Del Rio Blvd, Austin, TX 78730, USA
Phone: 512-570-6911
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverPlaceElementaryPTA/
Twitter: @RiverPlaceTitan