SFDR Highlights
Back-To-School Edition
Welcome Back! The First day of School is August 28th
San Felipe Del Rio CISD welcomes our teachers, staff and students to the 2017-18 School Year! We hope you've had a great summer filled with lots of fun, well-deserved rest and lasting memories with family and friends. Each school year brings anticipation, excitement, and with many, anxiety of what the new school year may bring. As we begin this school year, whether we are driving a school bus, providing outreach to parents, maintaining one of our many facilities, working in an administrative function, teaching in a classroom, or serving in any one of the many other important capacities in this district, we are committed to ensuring that our schools are highly effective centers of learning. This year, we particularly want to highlight the following priorities as critical to our continued success:
· Effective communication and service
· Quality instruction
· Student support and Intervention through the RTI model
· Safety and school attendance,
· Kindergarten readiness, and early literacy.
As we work together towards achieving our goals towards excellence, we cannot help but thank our SFDRCISD parents and community for their amazing support. We look forward to another exciting year of learning with our awesome students!
Have You Heard? No Cost for Breakfast and Lunch!
San Felipe Del Rio CISD is pleased to announce that beginning with the 2017-18 school year, all Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade students are eligible to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program . This means all children attending elementary and middle schools will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost to families regardless of income status.
In CEP schools, meal applications are no longer required. However, the CEP Income Survey will need to be completed and promptly returned to the school’s office at the start of the school year. CEP Income Surveys will be given to parents during their child’s Back-To-School Orientation session. We request that parents complete and promptly return this survey to their child’s school office.
Benefits of the CEP Program:
- CEP helps schools increase lunch and breakfast participation by guaranteeing access to free meals for all students. The more students participating, the more funding the school meal program receives.
- CEP eliminates concerns about negative lunch account balances, and gives cafeteria staff more time to focus on planning and preparing meals.
- CEP eliminates the payment process which can help speed up the lunch line, allowing students more time to eat their meal, including fruits and vegetables.
For more information regarding the CEP Program or the CEP Income Survey, please contact the Child Nutrition Program at 830-778-4187 or 830-778-4178.
Click here to access the SFDRCISD Child Nutrition Webpage and the Back To School August Breakfast and Lunch Menus. Menus can also be found on your campus website!
Meet the Principals and Directors!
Jose Perez, Ed.D.
Mrs. Patricia Rodriguez
Mr. Thomas Cabello
Mr. Jose H. Rodriguez
Blended Academy
Principal
Mr. Roger Gonzalez
Gerardo J. Maldonado
CTE Center Director
Mr. Brian Westlake
Student Guidance and Learning Center
Principal
Sally Zuniga-Barrera
San Felipe Memorial Middle School Principal
Mr. Sergio Jimenez
Del Rio Middle School
Principal
Ms. Ruby Adams
Cardwell Elementary
Principal
Mrs. Jennifer Sutton
Mrs. Cheryl Pond
Ms. Maytte Soliz
North Heights Elementary
Principal
Mrs. Genella (Denise) Rubio
Garfield Elementary
Principal
Mrs. Jane Villarreal
Dr. Fermin Calderon Elementary
Principal
Ms. Maryvel Flores
Lamar Elementary
Principal
Mrs. Maria Correa
Ruben Chavira Elementary
Principal
Elementary Back-To-School Orientation Meetings
Ready, Set, Start! Our SFDRCISD Elementary Principals and Staff are excited to welcome our Pre-Kinder through 5th grade students back to another GREAT year! Click on the campus links below to gain access to our new school websites and to access more details about orientation meetings, school supplies and bus routes at your school! For a list of K-5 school supplies, click here!
Aug. 25th 11:00 a.m.
Aug. 25th 1:00 p.m.
Buena Vista Elementary (Cafeteria)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
Dr. Lonnie Green Elementary (Cafeteria)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
North Heights Elementary (Designated Classrooms)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
Garfield Elementary (Cafeteria)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
Lamar Elementary (Cafeteria)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
Dr. Fermin Calderon Elementary (Cafeteria)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
Ruben Chavira Elementary (Cafeteria)
Aug. 23rd 5:30 p.m. Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Aug. 24th 5:30 p.m. 3rd-5th Grade
Secondary Back-To-School Orientation Meetings
Welcome Back Rams and Queens! Secondary Principals and Staff are eager to kick off the 2017-18 school year! This year, Early College High School will open its doors at its new location across from Del Rio High School at the old administration building and students attending the Gerardo J. Maldonado CTE Center will transition into its first full year since its opening in January. Orientation dates and schedule pick-up times are listed below. View the updated campus webpages and access campus bus routes simply by clicking on your campus name.
San Felipe Memorial Middle School
Aug. 23rd - Last Name A-L - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 24th - Last Name M-Z - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 21st - 7th Grade - Last Name A-I - 4 p.m.
Aug. 21st - 7th Grade - Last Name J-Q - 5 p.m.
Aug. 21st - 7th Grade - Last Name R-Z - 6 p.m.
Aug. 22nd - 8th Grade - Last Name A-I - 4 p.m.
Aug. 22nd - 8th Grade - Last Name J-Q - 5 p.m.
Aug. 22nd - 8th Grade - Last Name R-Z - 6 p.m.
Aug. 15th - Last Name A-I - 6 p.m.
Aug. 16th - Last Name J-R - 6 p.m.
Aug. 17th - Last Name S-Z - 6 p.m.
Aug. 24th - Freshman - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aug. 23rd - Sophomores - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aug. 22nd - Juniors - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aug. 14th *Block Schedule Orientation at 6 p.m. - DRHS Little Theatre
Aug. 22nd - Seniors - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 23rd Juniors - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 24th Sophomores - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Secondary Schools to Implement New Block Schedule
When the school bell rings this fall, SFDRCISD secondary teachers and students will return to a new block schedule! Although start and end times at these campuses are not much different, class times have been redesigned to allow students and teachers more time for instruction during their class period.
Traditionally, secondary students have attended classes in an 8-period schedule. Each class period ranged from 45-48 minutes in length, often leaving little time for learning and practicing subject matter. Now, students will participate in an A/B block schedule where students will attend 4 courses per day on designated “A” and "B" days. Classes will extend to 90 minutes, which will allow teachers the additional time they need to expand and complete high impact lessons and interact with students who need the extra help.
Students and parents are encouraged to attend special meetings and orientation sessions to learn more about their new schedules.
SFDRCISD Transportation Department Announces Bus Routes for 2017-18 School Year
The Texas Education Code permits school districts to provide transportation to and from school for students who live two or more miles away from their home campus. San Felipe Del Rio CISD is pleased to provide this service and provide transportation services for students eligible for special programs. Parents and students are reminded that safety for all students is extremely important. Students should follow safety procedures as directed by the bus driver and by the campus principal. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in the loss of bus privileges.
Click here to access the 2017-18 Bus Routes on the SFDRCISD Transportation Website. *Parents should note that generally at the beginning of each school year, scheduled bus times are approximated and subject to change based on adjustments to routes, bus ridership and adjustments based on the number of bus stops each driver has to make. This process usually takes about 7-10 days.
No Shots? No School! Information on State Requirements
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is granted authority to set immunization requirements by the Texas Education Code, Chapter 38.
Texas law indicates that all immunizations should be completed by the first date of attendance. The law also requires that students be fully vaccinated against the specified diseases.
A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has an immunization record that indicates the student has received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine required by this rule. To remain enrolled, the student must complete the required subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable evidence of vaccination to the school.
A school nurse or school administrator will review the immunization status of a provisionally enrolled student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30-day period, a student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the student is not in compliance and the school shall exclude the student from school attendance until the required dose is administered.
To access the 2017-2018 Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements, click here.
New Cell Phone Policy Goes Into Effect This School Year
SFDRCISD has announced that a new cell phone policy for middle school, freshman and high school students will go into effect at the start of the 2017-18 school year. This past summer, SFDRCISD responded to concerns expressed by teachers and parents alike by convening two separate committees to review and discuss issues regarding the existing policy. Concerns expressed by teachers and parents included increased distractions to learning and issues revolving around social media (i.e. cyber bullying).
Each of the committees comprised of teachers, parents and students agreed that the current student cell phone policy needed to be revised to address clear rules and expectations for cell phone use during the school day for middle school and freshman/high school students separately. The new changes to the middle school cell phone and the freshman/high school cell phone policy include reduced time for cell phone use, as well as new consequences for students violating these policies. Previously, a $15 fee was assessed every time a cell phone was confiscated. Now, the consequences involve confiscating the cell phone for a period of time, and no fee will be assessed. These new recommendations were approved by the Board in July, and is included in the 2017-18 Student Handbook.
Students, parents and staff are encouraged to review the new cell phone policies carefully in preparation for the 2017-18 school year. Campus administrators will provide students and parents with additional information on the implementation and enforcement of this policy during orientation sessions before and on the first day of school. To view the new cell phone policies, click the links below.
2017-18 SFMMS/DRMS Cell Phone Policy
2017-18 DRFS/DRHS Cell Phone Policy
Texas Passes New Law on Cyberbullying - David's Law Goes into Effect September 1
In addition to the changes in the cell phone policy, parents are urged to carefully review the policies regarding bullying. Bullying includes cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined by Section 37.0832 of the Education Code as "bullying through the use of any electronic device, including a cell phone or any type of telephone, a computer, a camera, e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool". SFDRCISD will be updating the current FFI(LOCAL) policy this fall which includes procedures for reporting and addressing any type of bullying.
TEA and the Texas Assessment Management System Release New STAAR Student Report
Local Family Resources and Social Services
On behalf of San Felipe Del Rio CISD, we hope you liked our special Back-To-School Edition of SFDR Highlights. We couldn't help but thank the local organizations that give the extra support to our students and their families throughout the year. They are indeed a blessing! Parents, if you are ever in need of extra help, please reach out to these folks. They are ready to lend a helping hand. Click here for a list of organizations and their contact information.