ECHS OWL Update
December 19, 2021
Early College High School News
Mission Statement
Our ECHS Owls are taught to have H.O.P.E.--faith in the premise that they can create OPPORTUNITY and a better future through EFFORT, HARD WORK, and PERSONAL COURAGE. This idea of H.O.P.E. is woven into the fabric of our ECHS family.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Greetings ECHS School community,
We are SO VERY PROUD OF OUR ECHS OWLS for all their hard work during the Fall 2021 Semester! In addition, much appreciation to our wonderful teachers & staff for their dedication, along with our ECHS parents and PTSA, for the continued support.
It is time for a well earned Winter Break for ALL members of our ECHS School Community! We will look forward to welcoming everyone back for the Spring 2022 Semester in January.
We wish the Early College High School Community a very safe and enjoyable winter break.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
GO OWLS!
Dr. Wilson
UPCOMING Events:
December 20th - January 2nd: Winter Break
January 3rd & 4th: Student Holiday & Staff Professional Development Days
January 5th: First Day of 2nd Semester for ECHS Students
January 11th: Parent Information Session at Deerpark M.S. at 6:30 pm
January 13th: ECHS PTSA Membership Meeting at 7:00 pm
CAMPUS REMINDERS:
Seniors who would like to place an order for a class ring and other graduation products such as cap and gown, may click this link to order with Herff Jones.
Please note that the cap and gown pricing is slated to change as of March 1, 2022.
Additionally, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, it takes 8-10 weeks to receive your items. ORDER SOON!!!
If you would like to visit their office, it is located at 202 Laurel Drive, Round Rock, TX 78664. The office number is 512-243-7901.
College Visit Interest Form: Huston-Tillotson University
Round Rock Black Student Union (BSU) is partnering with campuses across the district to go on a campus visit to Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. Huston Tillotson is a Historically Black College located in Austin. The visit is on a Future Ram visit day where students will have:
On-Site Admission
Campus Tours
Academic Scholarships
Lunch & Games
Prizes & Giveaways
The campus visit will be on Friday, February 18th.
The space is LIMITED for this event since it is for all high schools in RRISD, so if you ARE NOT interested or have already committed to a college, there is not a need for you to submit this google form.
If you ARE interested in this college visit opportunity, PLEASE complete and submit this google form as quickly as possible.
College Website: https://htu.edu/
ECHS “OWL”standing News!
KUDOS TO OUR ECHS STUDENT AMBASSADORS!
***MANY THANKS TO ECHS STUDENT AMBASSADORS (Teresa L. - 11th grade, Naomi “Omi” K. -11th grade and Christine G. - 9th grade)!
These Owls, along with Dr. Laugier, did a WONDERFUL JOB presenting about ECHS, sharing their perspectives and fielding questions, during the Stony Point Learning Community Parent Information Session on December 14th at Hernandez Middle School!
“Winter Vibes” at Early College High School
ECHS Staff Winter Gathering
Our ECHS Staff holiday gathering, Friday December 17th, was loads of fun and enjoyable because of the thoughtful planning of our Wonderful ECHS Social Committee!
The ECHS Social Committee includes: Mrs. Lucero, Ms. Saavedra, Ms. Anaya, Mr. Kubicek, Mrs. Guardiola, Ms. Bolin, Ms. Vaughn, Nurse Franzen and Mrs. Guerra!
THANK YOU!!! :-)
THANK YOU ECHS PTSA!
Many Thanks to our Awesome PTSA board (including Amy Edwards, Kendall Reass & Renee Meredith) and PTSA Community for a sweet treat! Sharing a Hot Chocolate Bar with the ECHS teachers & staff, was a nice way to close out the First Semester! THANK YOU!!!
Also, Much Appreciation to the ECHS PTSA for sharing gifts to include during our Staff Holiday Gathering!
This Week's OWLstanding Award Recipients!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWLstanding ECHS Students nominated this week:
ALL Our Hard Working ECHS 9th, 10th, 11th and 12 grade OWLS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OWLstanding ECHS Staff nominated this week:
Keith Clinscales
Julian Jones
Tara Hornecker
Brooke Anaya - Nominated 2 Times!
Sydney Adair (Michna)
Geneva Guardiola - Nominated 2 Times!
Wesley Russell
Emily Saavedra
Sandra Lucero
Ryan Kubicek
Ana Franzen
Diane Guerra
Karen Vaughn
Katrina Bolin
Helen Holmes
Dr. Valerie Laugier
Dr. Elizabeth Wilson
Don't forget to follow us on FB and Instagram for additional updates!
https://sites.google.com/roundrockisd.org/echsnurse/home
Ana Franzen RN
Clinic: 512-704-1681
Fax: 512-704-1690
Nurse's Update:
Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe Winter Break!
For those traveling over the break, please consider testing regularly. Round Rock ISD’s COVID-19 testing site, located at the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center, will remain open during the holiday break, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or appointments can be made online. Testing is also available at several community sites. For free COVID-19 testing, check Curative Testing or TX COVID-19 Testing Sites. Persons testing positive should isolate, identify close contacts and report on Round Rock ISD’s website.
COUNSELORS UPDATE:
Helen Holmes (Students whose last names begin with M-Z)
Valerie Laugier (Students whose last names begin with A-L)
Dear Parents,
Did you know that every student at ECHS has a Wellness Plan? Ask your student about their Wellness Plan which is housed in their Personal Learning Portfolio. The holidays are a good time to implement wellness strategies like the ones students have outlined in their Wellness Plans. We’ve emphasized the SAVERS concept with the students, an acronym that stands for Silence, Affirmation, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, & Scribing. It’s a part of our Wellness Walk on campus. The concept comes from The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. He believes that starting each day with SAVERS sets us up to be calm, confident, and empowered. Ask your student about this practice, and hopefully SAVERS will become a regular practice and help reduce some of the stress experienced during the holidays.
Holidays can be stressful. Our new area superintendent, Dr. Mutscher, shared an article with us about managing that stress. We hope you find it helpful. Most of all during the holidays, remember to rest and find ways to rejuvenate–each day try to care for yourself by doing at least one thing from this list:
Exercise
Relax Your Muscles
Breathe Deeply
Eat Well
Slow Down
Take a Break
Make Time for Hobbies
Talk About Your Problems
Go Easy on Yourself
Eliminate Your Triggers
Source: WebMD
Thank you for allowing us to serve your children. We wish you all a very happy holiday!
ANNOUNCEMENTS! ANNOUNCEMENTS! ANNOUNCEMENTS!:
A NEW Announcements page has been added on our counseling website! This page includes the latest updates on College, Enrichment, and local Jobs. Check it out!
FAFSA IS NOW A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT! Fill it out today at fafsa.gov! Need help? Please reach out to Mrs. Holmes or Dr. Laugier.
Mrs. H and Mrs. L
Resources for Families:
*HSC Texas launched a 24/7 statewide COVID-19 mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress, or emotional challenges during this pandemic. The toll free number is 833-986-1919.
*If you or other family members are experiencing hardships related to COVID-19 visit https://findhelp.org and enter your zip code and it will generate a list of organizations (organized by category) that have COVID-19 response programs.
The district's contract with Bluebonnet Trails Behavioral Health is still in effect should you need an online appointment with a Licensed Professional Counselor. Contact Mrs. Holmes (Helen_Holmes@roundrockisd.org) or Ms. Laugier (Valerie_Laugier@roundrockisd.org) for more information.
ACC Updates:
ACC library - Resources now online
Need more study resources tips, meet with an Academic Coach
FREE online tutoring here.
All ACC Student Resources on one page
ACC High School Programs Newsletter
If you would like to sign up to receive the ACC High School Program Newsletter, here is the link, for your reference. This newsletter is produced by the Office of College and High School Relations at Austin Community College.
DISTRICT UPDATES:
Dress Code Updates to go Into Effect Jan. 5
Dec 17, 2021
After consulting with stakeholders, including students and families, updates to Round Rock ISD’s dress code have been made. These changes can be found in the District’s Student Handbook.
Updates to the dress code officially go into effect January 5, 2022.
Las actualizaciones del código de vestimenta entrarán en vigor el 5 de enero
Después de consultar con los involucrados en el proceso, incluyendo los estudiantes y las familias, se realizaron actualizaciones al código de vestimenta. Estos cambios se pueden encontrar en el Manual del estudiante del distrito.
Las actualizaciones al código de vestimenta entrarán en vigor oficialmente el 5 de enero del 2022.
COVID-19 Protocols to be updated for Spring semester
Dec 16, 2021
Update: Operating days for the District COVID-19 testing center have been updated to reflect the holiday schedule.
Dear Round Rock ISD Community,
As 2021 draws to a close, I want to thank each of you for the role you have played in helping keep our Round Rock ISD community safe and healthy. Our efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have allowed us to complete the Fall semester without any major disruption of education programs or services.
With the welcome news that COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children ages 5 to 11, we are amending our COVID-19 protocols to allow for a more traditional school environment. Beginning on Jan. 19, we will once again allow visitors on our campuses and transition to strongly encouraging mask use for all students, staff and visitors while at campuses and district facilities.
Waiting two weeks after students return from winter break before the changes go into effect will allow staff to monitor any potential spike in COVID-19 cases.
Vaccines are the most effective way to keep our campuses safe, our students and staff healthy, and bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted schools so heavily. We urge our families to access information available on the CDC website and consider COVID-19 vaccines for every eligible family member. Round Rock ISD hosted vaccine clinics in November and December for first and second doses for children 5-11 years old, and many parents took advantage of the opportunity. Parents can also contact their child’s pediatrician or make an appointment with providers such as CVS Pharmacy, H-E-B and Walgreens. Help finding vaccines is also available at Vaccines.gov.
As we head into the holidays and prepare to return for spring semester, concerns remain for the possibility of another COVID-19 surge and the emergence of the Omicron variant. We will continue to monitor the community health status and adjust protocols as necessary.
For those traveling over the break, please consider testing regularly. Round Rock ISD’s COVID-19 testing site, located at the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center, will remain open during the holiday break, Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or appointments can be made online. Testing is also available at several community sites. For free COVID-19 testing, check Curative Testing or TX COVID-19 Testing Sites. Persons testing positive should isolate, identify close contacts and report on Round Rock ISD’s website.
Round Rock ISD will continue to work hard to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect our community. Whether you are a student, parent or staff member, please do your part by getting vaccinated or a booster, if eligible. I know if we all stay vigilant, we will have another successful in-person semester this spring.
Please stay safe and well. I wish you all a restful and peaceful holiday break. See you in January!
Respectfully,
Dr. Hafedh Azaiez
Superintendent of Schools
Los protocolos del COVID-19 serán actualizados para el semestre de primavera
Estimada comunidad de Round Rock ISD,
Ahora que el 2021 llega a su fin, quiero agradecer a cada uno de ustedes por el papel que han desempeñado para ayudar a mantener nuestra comunidad de Round Rock ISD segura y saludable. Nuestros esfuerzos para prevenir la propagación del COVID-19 nos han permitido completar el semestre de otoño sin ninguna interrupción importante de los programas o servicios educativos.
Con la grata noticia de que las vacunas del COVID-19 ya están disponibles para los niños de 5 a 11 años, estamos modificando nuestros protocolos del COVID-19 para permitir un ambiente escolar más tradicional. A partir del 19 de enero, volveremos a permitir las visitas en nuestras escuelas y pasaremos a fomentar enérgicamente el uso de cubrebocas para todos los estudiantes, el personal y los visitantes mientras se encuentren en las escuelas y las instalaciones del distrito.
Esperar dos semanas después de que los estudiantes regresen de las vacaciones de invierno antes de que los cambios entren en vigor permitirá al personal monitorear cualquier posible aumento de los casos del COVID-19.
Las vacunas son la forma más eficaz de mantener nuestras escuelas seguras, nuestros estudiantes y el personal sanos, y poner fin a la pandemia del COVID-19 que ha afectado tanto a las escuelas. Les pedimos a nuestras familias a acceder a la información que está disponible en el sitio web del CDC y a considerar las vacunas del COVID-19 para cada miembro de la familia elegible. El Distrito Escolar Independiente de Round Rock organizó clínicas de vacunación en noviembre y diciembre para la primera y segunda dosis para niños de 5 a 11 años, y muchos padres aprovecharon la oportunidad. Los padres también pueden comunicarse con el pediatra de su hijo o hacer una cita con proveedores como la Farmacia CVS, H-E-B, y Walgreens. También hay ayuda para encontrar vacunas en Vaccines.gov.
A medida que nos acercamos a las vacaciones y nos preparamos para regresar para el semestre de primavera, sigue preocupando la posibilidad de otro aumento del COVID-19 y la aparición de la variante ómicron. Seguiremos monitoreando el estado de salud de la comunidad y ajustaremos los protocolos según sea necesario.
Para aquellos que viajan durante las vacaciones, por favor, considere la posibilidad de realizarse pruebas con regularidad. El sitio de pruebas para el COVID-19 de Round Rock ISD, ubicado en el Centro de Artes Escénicas Raymond E. Hartfield, permanecerá abierto durante las vacaciones, de lunes a jueves de 8 a.m. a 6 p.m. Se aceptan visitas sin cita previa o se pueden hacer citas en línea. Las pruebas también están disponibles en varios sitios de la comunidad. Para obtener pruebas gratuitas del COVID-19, consulte Curative Testing o Sitios de pruebas en TX del COVID-19. Las personas que resulten positivas deben aislarse e identificar a los contactos cercanos y reportarlo en el sitio web de Round Rock ISD.
Round Rock ISD continuará trabajando duro para mitigar la propagación del COVID-19 y proteger a nuestra comunidad. Si usted es un estudiante, padre, o miembro del personal, por favor haga su parte vacunándose y ponerse el refuerzo, si es elegible. Sé que, si todos nos mantenemos alerta, tendremos otro exitoso semestre en persona esta primavera.
Por favor, manténganse seguros y saludables. Les deseo a todos unas vacaciones tranquilas y pacíficas. ¡Nos vemos en enero!
Atentamente,
Dr. Hafedh Azaiez
Superintendente de Escuelas
This Week’s Inspirational Quote:
Have you seen Early College High School on Facebook and on Twitter?
Early College High School is on Facebook and Twitter!
Please like us on Facebook @RRISDECHS and follow us on Twitter @ECHS_RRISD to see what is happening at ECHS!
In an effort to maintain our good health, safety and well being; we are ALL encouraged to please continue following the current restrictions instituted within our school district, city, state and nation.
Please take care of yourselves!
