White Rock Elementary
April 11, 2024
Good Afternoon WRE Families,
This week has been a wild one between the solar eclipse, the power outage, early release, and a 4-day week! But even with all of that, I have to say that Monday was one of my very favorite days ever of being a principal. It brought me so much joy to see and hear our students experience the moment of totality. It made me laugh that so many neighbors said they could hear the elementary school kids from blocks away and I loved hearing the 4th graders chant "ban the clouds!" It really was an experience that we will always remember and I am grateful to have spent that moment with my Seahawk family.
Please read below for a fun opportunity to see our very own Coach B play in the RISD PTA Harlem Wizards game! The game is on Sunday and we hope to see you there!
Have a great three-day weekend and we will see you on Monday!
Principal Stevens
Harlem Wizards - Sunday, April 14
Come out to the RISD Council of PTA's Harlem Wizards game to cheer on our very own COACH B! The big game takes place on Sunday at 3:30 at Richardson High School Gym located at 1250 W. Beltline Road.
Doors open at 2:30 and student tickets are only $1.00 with the purchase of an adult ticket.
STAAR Testing
All 3rd through 6th grade students will be taking the STAAR test this month. We ask that if you have any appointments already scheduled for your children to please reschedule them now so that testing is not interrupted. Please see the dates below.
Tuesday, April 16--- Reading STAAR for grades 3, 4, 5, 6
Thursday, April 18---Science STAAR for grade 5
Thursday, April 25-- Math STAAR for grades 3, 4, 5, 6
Additionally, visitors will not be allowed in the building during STAAR testing for volunteering or lunch. This includes parents of students in all grades, Pk-6.
No Lunch Visitors - April 15-26
Due to STAAR testing over the next two weeks, we will not be able to host lunch visitors in the cafeteria starting Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 26.
If your child has a birthday and you were hoping to celebrate, you may check them out in the front office and have a picnic lunch out front. Thank you for your understanding!
NEW Visitor Check-In System at WRE
WRE has a new visitor check-in system that requires a picture ID each time a person visits our campus. When visiting WRE, please ensure you have a government-issued picture ID with you. You will complete the process on an iPad in the office, or from a QR code displayed on the front door.
This system will be used to check-in visitors for meetings, conferences, volunteer opportunities, lunch visits, classroom visits, and anything else that requires visitors to enter and remain in the building. This new system takes the place of Raptor and completes a more thorough and current background check for each visitor.
We ask that you please remember to bring your ID with you each time you come to WRE. Our office staff often hears from frustrated parents who did not bring an ID and still expect to be let in. Please know that they are following our campus and district safety guidelines.
Thank you for your cooperation with this!
April Dyslexia Newsletter
Here is the WRE Dyslexia Department's April newsletter. Thank you to our fabulous teachers - Toyia Crisp, Robyn Dunham, Stacey English, Laura Pepito, and Annie Urbanus - for creating this newsletter for our families and staff each month!
2024-25 Enrollment Begins February 27
Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year opens online Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 a.m. Whether you’re new to RISD or returning for another year of school, parents can take advantage of convenient online enrollment using a PowerSchool registration account. Enrollment for returning students will require a “snapcode” that will be emailed to current parents on February 26.
Starting February 27, enrollment for next school year will open for all current or future students in Pre-K through grade 12. Please click here for more information about the enrollment process and what documents are necessary to complete enrollment.
Contact your current (2023-24) RISD school for questions or assistance with enrollment, including help submitting necessary documents.
Volunteering at WRE
Volunteering at WRE
If you would like to volunteer at White Rock Elementary, you must complete a volunteer background check for EVERY new school year. We have many opportunities to volunteer at WRE throughout the year, including attending field trips, working in the library, helping at Field Day, PTA events, and many other activities.
We will not allow anyone who has not completed and passed the volunteer background check to volunteer. Please click on the link below to complete the background check. You MUST also watch the full length of the very short powerpoint at the end to complete the entire background check. If you do not watch the powerpoint, your application will be marked incomplete and you will not be able to volunteer at WRE.
FOCUS Parent Accounts
FOCUS Accounts for Parents
Parents of RISD students are encouraged to sign up for a FOCUS account. You can also add a new RISD student to an existing account by visiting www.risd.org/focus.
FOCUS is a great way for parents to keep track of how their child is doing in school! In FOCUS, parents have access to -
Current grades
Attendance and absences
Report cards
Assessment results
Online absence note submission
Clinic visits
And more!
Focus Parent Portal is accessible through any web browser, the Focus App, or the RISD Mobile Parent App.
Have a question? Please email FocusParent@g.risd.org or call 469-593-0811.
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
Richardson ISD is implementing a new school cafeteria payment system for 2023-2024 called SchoolCafe. RISD will no longer be using the PayPams service.
Existing balances in PayPams will automatically be moved when parents create a SchoolCafe account. Please click here for more information about SchoolCafe.
To receive free or reduced-price meal benefits for the 2023-2024 school year, families can complete a meal benefit application via this SchoolCafe link.
Parents at all RISD campuses must sign up their family if they wish to receive school meal benefits.
Parents with questions or in need of assistance may visit the RISD Child Nutrition website or contact RISD Child Nutrition at 469-593-0109 or 469-593-0102.
RISD 2022-2023 Academic Calendar
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