The Rhino Report

Parents and Guardians,

We have extended out World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser to sell our few remaining boxes before Spring Break. Thank you for all the parent support with selling the boxes, we just need a little more assistance to reach our fundraiser goal of $18K. As a reminder, the funds raised will go towards purchasing technology and teacher incentives.

For your planning purposes, here are some reminders regarding up-and-coming school Holidays.

Spring Break – March 13 – 17

Easter Break – April 7 & April 10

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the International Night, tomorrow, Thursday, March 2 starting at 6:00 PM.

Have a great day,

Tanya Heard
Principal
Rylander Elementary School

March Teacher Appreciation Lunch for our Rylander Teachers and Staff is on March 9th, Italian is our theme! Please review the available food provision and volunteer setup/serving/clean up slots as well as raffle donations below and click on the button to sign up. 707-318-6029 is my cell- Stephanie Tower, Thank you!

El almuerzo de agradecimiento a los maestros de marzo para nuestros maestros y personal de Rylander es el 9 de marzo, ¡el italiano es nuestro tema! Revise la disponibilidad de alimentos necesarios y los espacios para preparación/servicio/limpieza de voluntarios, así como las donaciones para rifas a continuación y haga clic en el botón para registrarse. 707-318-6029 es mi celular- Stephanie Tower, ¡Gracias!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4BAFA828ABF49-italian

Last month we sent 12 art pieces that were submitted to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Show. 4 of those pieces went to the Katy FFA Livestock and Rodeo Show Art exhibit. Another 4 of those were Judges Choices which considered to be in the top ten of all of the Elementary Art category. One of those art pieces, made by Jordynn Barbee, was chosen to be the Gold Medal winner from Katy. This art piece is one of two art pieces that are representing Elementary art from Katy ISD and it will be on display during the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show at NRG arena. We wish to congratulate all of our students that were chosen for this art show and for all of the hard work that they put in to making beautiful art.

Last week we had 4 art pieces that were chosen by the Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo organizers to be displayed in the Katy ISD 2023 FFA Livestock Show Art Exhibit. This is an Art Show that ran along with Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo on Feb. 16th, 17th and 18th. Of the four that had the honor of being chosen for this show, we had a student, Mila Yassin, who won the Reserve Division Champion Elementary Award. We wish to Congratulate all of the students that were chosen for this art show.

Please nominate for our Volunteer of the Year

As you know, our parent volunteers are amazing and do so much for everyone all school year long. If you would like to nominate one or more of our parent volunteers for VOY, then please fill out the attached nomination form for each parent volunteer and email it back to me.

On Friday, March 10, Kindergarten will be participating in our Kindergarten Rodeo. Because of this, kindergarten and first grade will be switching lunch times. 1st grade will be eating lunch from 10:18-10:54 and kindergarten will be eating lunch from 10:48-11:22. Please be on the lookout for an email from your child’s teacher for class specific times.

This week:

3/2 - International Night at Rylander 6-8

Coming Up:

3/9 - General PTA Meeting 5:30 - Gym

3/9 - Dad's Night Out 6:00 - Gym

3/10 - Kinder Rodeo

3/13 - 3/17 Spring Break

4/1 - Rumble

Hello Rhino Parents!

For the next 3 weeks at RRE we will be focusing on the character trait: Cooperation. One way to think about Cooperation is “working together to reach shared goals.”

As a family, talk about how this definition applies to how you work together at home. What are some goals you share? This week, plan a time where everyone needs to work together to accomplish a shared goal like cleaning up the space you live in or making a meal together. Make sure everyone has a role to play with specific tasks. When the project is complete, discuss and celebrate how each person’s part was important to the end result.

The RRE Staff would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to the following businesses for supporting us over the last few months.

1. Starbucks at 25015 Westheimer for providing delicious coffee and all of the fixings for the RRE Secret Santa exchange.

2. House of Donuts and Kolaches at 3030 Falcon Landing for providing warm kolaches and sweet treats for the staff during the Secret Santa exchange.

3. ER Katy located 25765 Katy Freeway for providing a variety of scrumptious breakfast tacos for the staff before a busy day.

Have you purchased your yearbook yet? You won't want to miss out on all the great memories we are making at Rylander including Movie Night, the 100th day of school, the Parent-Child Dance, International Night, Rumble, and daily fun like recess, specials, science labs, and more!

LAST CALL for personalizing your yearbook! Make your yearbook exclusive to your student! This month is your last chance to add their name and icons representing their passions and personal style to the cover when you order your yearbook! The deadline to add on cover personalizations is March 3.

Yearbooks are $45, cover personalizations start at $5. Order your yearbook online only at https://www.balfour.com/texas/katy/rylander-elementary-school

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTco9cKCWJ6O6wN_sXPg5Cq6DAumXwttGipJ2Cn_ufiYWUMA/viewform

Rylander Elementary has over 10 trained crossing guards who make sure each morning and afternoon that our Rhinos arrive safely to campus and depart safely for home. As RRE is located on a very busy intersection, this adds to the responsibility of their duties. Please be mindful of the directions that our Crossing Guards are giving in order to keep our students and staff safe. Thank you for your support.

Just a quick reminder that while driving through a school zone, it is against the law for a driver to be on his/her cellphone. Thank you.

Here are few reminders and directions for arrival and dismissal:

1. Please be Kind and keep in mind that arrival and dismissal will always be busy with the number of parents and guardians dropping/picking up students.

2. Please be patient.

3. Please do not cut people off or cut in line. The car rider line for Kinder Drive and Main Car Drive is down Falcone Landing Blvd. If you are coming from Westheimer Pkwy and turn into the Main Car Drive entry (by the donut shop) you are cutting in line. You need to drive down Falcone Landing Blvd. and get inline on the far-right side. There is one car rider line that either enters in the Kinder Drive or Main Car Drive drop off.

4. Please do not be on your cell phone in a school zone.

5. Please follow the school zone speed limit.

6. Kinder Drive – blue car tag (PreK, Kinder, 1st Grade Only)

For information on this year's International Festival at Rylander, please click the following link.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTco9cKCWJ6O6wN_sXPg5Cq6DAumXwttGipJ2Cn_ufiYWUMA/viewform

Parents,

Going forward we will need your assistance when visiting lunch with strollers. Please park your strollers outside the cafeteria while having lunch. We will have a designated parking area while you enjoy time with your student. Thanks for your cooperation with this.

Padres,

En el futuro, necesitaremos su ayuda cuando visite el almuerzo y traigan sus cochecitos de bebe. Por favor estacione sus cochecitos afuera de la cafetería mientras almuerza. Tendremos un área de estacionamiento designada mientras disfruta del tiempo con su estudiante. Gracias por su cooperación con esto.

Read, Deed, Run is an all encompassing program for the WHOLE child. Students in grades 3, 4, & 5, commit to a 25 week program in which they will read 26 books(or 2600 pages), perform 26 good deeds in the community, and run a total of 26.2 miles. Meetings are held after school every other Monday, from 3 – 4. During this time students will run a mile and complete a good deed towards the program requirements. Students run their final 1.2 miles in a “race” to earn their Finisher’s t-shirt and medal at Legacy Stadium with more than 18 other schools. This program requires commitment from the student and their family. Please click the link below to fill out an application to join. Students accepted into the program will be contacted and given further information. Program fees are $25.

Applications are due by October 7th.

https://forms.gle/UFhFGL6xRYKkHx1L8

Read, Deed, Run es un programa integral para TODO el estudiante. Los estudiantes en los grados 3, 4 y 5 se comprometen a un programa de 25 semanas en el que leerán 26 libros (o 2600 páginas), realizarán 26 buenas obras en la comunidad y correrán un total de 26.2 millas. Las reuniones se llevan a cabo después de la escuela cada lunes, de 3 a 4. Durante este tiempo, los estudiantes correrán una milla y completarán una buena acción para cumplir con los requisitos del programa. Los estudiantes corren sus últimas 1.2 millas en una "carrera" para ganar su camiseta y medalla de “Finisher” en el estadio Legacy con otras más 18 escuelas en el distrito. Este programa requiere el compromiso del estudiante y su familia. Haga clic en el enlace a continuación para completar su solicitud para participar en el programa. Los estudiantes aceptados en el programa serán contactados y se les dará más información. El costo del programa es de $25.

Las solicitudes deben presentarse antes del 7 de octubre.

https://forms.gle/UFhFGL6xRYKkHx1L8

Lunch visitors are welcome to come starting on Tuesday, September 6th. Please keep in mind that Fridays are very busy and each student is allowed to have lunch visitors once a week. Please coordinate with extended family members. The Parent Permission for Elementary Lunch Visitors yellow form was sent home in the first week packet. If you need another form, just stop by the main office. Please make sure that all lunch visitors have a current government issued ID.

To maximize our lunch visitors’ time with students, please encourage all lunch visitors to arrive 5 minutes before the grade level lunch begins to get his/her ID scanned through Raptor. The front office is extremely busy during lunch time. After lunch, all visitors must return to the main entry to exit and are not allowed to walk students to his/her classroom.

Rylander Elementary is excited to partner with Koger in their Kroger Community Rewards Program. This program is at no cost to you and will provide funds to RRE when your Kroger rewards card is linked to our campus. After enrolling in the program, swipe your rewards card at Kroger when making a purchase and a percentage will go to Rylander.

Please click on the link below to enroll.

https://url.avanan.click/v2/___http://www.kroger.com___.YXAzOmthdHlpc2QyOmE6bzo0ZDgxYjA3NTBlYTgyMzdkOTRjOWY5ZDZjOTI1NzViZDo2Ojk0NzQ6NjIzMDEzMWVjM2NmNjhhYjM1NzU5NTI4ZTk2NjM5MmZjYmRjYTc4Mzg1MmFmYzEwYzhmMDNjNjUzNTIzOTMwYTp0OlQ.

Once logged into your Kroger account you can search for Roberta W Rylander Elem. Katy ISD either by name or UL070 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.

Thank you for your support. :)

Just a reminder that we will follow district dress code policy. We have not had any major issues, but I wanted to be proactive and send out the campus procedure. If a teacher notices a student out of dress code, that student will be sent or walked to the nurse's office. Nurse Maher will double check the dress code and contact parent if a change of clothes is needed. A couple things to keep in mind is crop tops and small shorts for female students. Please see the discipline management plan below if you need more information regarding dress code violations.

Early Pick-up/Emergency Contacts:

Emergency contacts are listed for the campus to use in case we are unable to get in contact with you when there is an emergency with your student. We do not automatically release a student to an emergency contact, we still need to know that you give permission for the emergency contact person to pick-up your student. Please email RRETransporation@katyisd.org when anyone comes to pick-up your student and are not listed as a guardian. You must send us something in writing with a copy of your government issued ID. This is the only way we will know that you as the guardian gives permission for your child to be picked up by someone else. We understand that this may be an inconvenience, however, for safety reasons we do not want to release your child to a person who has not been approved by the parent or guardian. Early pick-up ends at 2:30 pm daily.

Birthday Treats:

As a reminder, to avoid interruption of classes, messages will be delivered to students only in extreme emergencies. Delivery to students of flowers, balloons, food (including birthday treats) and other such items are prohibited at school per Katy ISD policy in the Student Handbook (pg. 48).

Please email RRETransportation@katyisd.org to request dismissal transportation changes by 2:00 pm daily.

Walker Permission

There are two types of front/back walkers—independent and parent pick up. Independent front walkers are escorted to the corner of Falcon Landing Blvd. and Westheimer Pkwy. They walk home independently from that corner. All 2nd through 5th grade students default as independent walkers. Younger siblings (in grades PK-1st) of those students can walk home with the independent walker ONLY IF The Walker Permission form is filled out and returned to school. Here is the link for the Walker Permission Form.

PK-1st grade students default as parent pick up front walkers. These students are matched with their parents at the northeast corner of the building by the bike racks. These students can ONLY be released with a physical number tag that matches the number on the student’s dismissal tag. No photos of the tag will be accepted. If the tag is not present, the student will need to be picked up at the front office. Parent must present a government-issued ID.

Bikers are also dismissed with the independent front walkers. They follow the same procedure as independent front walkers. They must walk their bikes on school property.

Link to District Transportation Page

Link to find out your student’s bus information

School Meals

All breakfast and lunches are no longer free.
Please feel free to complete the free/reduced meal program application.

Link to Nutrition and Food Services Information

In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) concluded its free breakfast and lunch meal service that was available to all students, regardless of eligibility. To determine eligibility for free meals for the 2022-2023 school year, families with students who do not attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) campus will need to complete a Meal Benefits/Free & Reduced meals application. More information about free and reduced benefits can be found here. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines can be found here.

New to SchoolCafe? Setting up an account is easy!

Fill out a Meal Application, access student purchase history, view school menus, set-up a la carte purchasing restrictions, and MORE! Here is an easy step-by-step GUIDE to help set up an account for your student.

SchoolCafe' Link

Meal Payment Information:

Payment for meals is encouraged to be cashless through the Pay N' Go App.

Cash and checks for meal payment will be accepted in the lunch line for students and change will be deposited on the student’s account. Students’ positive and negative cafeteria account balances from last year have rolled forward to the current school year.

Pay N' Go Link (see instructions below for accessing application)

Student Required items for purchase online:

Planners - $3.00
(only grades 1st, 2nd, and 3)

Lanyards - $3.00

Badge Sleeve - $1.00

Badge Clip - $1.00

Directions & link to A+ Pay N Go.

Below is the link that will get you to the log in, or create an account. Click on LOGIN.

https://katyisd.revtrak.net/

Directions that will help you navigate the website:

After they log in, on the far right of the screen they will see a box that says Elementary Schools, click on that.

Next screen, bottom right click Elementary R-Z box.

Next screen, top row, right side, under LOGIN, click Rylander Elementary box.

On this screen click on the tab you want to pay.

Please ignore the word replacement on each of the items title . New orders are labeled replacement. It is the way the system is set up.