Rattlin Rattler
This is Northside!
A Message From The Principal
Dear Rattler Families,
I hope everyone finds the start of the new school year a success. We have had a productive first five weeks of school! The students, staff, and parents have set a positive tone, and we are truly a force to be reckoned with! Actually holding true to the space theme, #RabaForce!
Our current enrollment is 752 students that we serve with the following school vision:
Our vision is to prepare all students to be successful and productive contributors in a global and multicultural society.
This vision sets the tone to what we do day in and day out. Our staff ensures that our vision is a success by holding true to our school mission:
At Raba Elementary, we are committed to creating a positive learning environment that embraces growth by providing the framework for all students to be responsible citizens and become leaders in our community.
We hope you will be available to attend our P.T.A. meeting on October 9th. We will have the opportunity to approve our fundraiser events for this year. We are looking forward to having the Fall Festival (October 26th) and a Fun Run in January. We will introduce our PTA board at the next meeting and it is as follows:
President - Polly McDonald
VP of Membership - Stephanie Griego and Maeghan Moeller
VP of Fundraiser - Julie Xia
VP of Volunteers - Casandra Avila
Secretary - Zuki Ozuna
Treasurer - Nga Tran
Parliamentarian - Becky Hinojosa
Historian - Annalisa Phipps
Monday, October 8th, is a staff development day and student holiday. The faculty will spend the morning and the afternoon in district staff development. Student success is a high priority and we are appreciative to have the day to prepare.
Towards the end of October and beginning of November, teachers will be offering individual conferences to all parents and guardians. If you have not scheduled a date and time with your child’s teacher, please contact him/her so you can meet and discuss your child’s academic progress.
I want to touch base on our traffic situation and parking. We have seen an increase in traffic this year. Please be patient with traffic concerns that may arise. We are doing our best to keep everyone safe. Please remember our school zones are in effect and there’s no cell phone usage. When you drive up to campus please do not park on the right because it breaks up into two lanes as follows: If you are dropping off/picking up your child stay to the far right; and if you are parking in the front parking lot use the left lane.
If you do not bring your unique id card with you, it is necessary to park and come into the office to verify identification on the child’s emergency card (picture ID required). Keep in mind that this is for your child’s safety.
Remember that our school does not open until 7 AM. It is going to begin to get cold so please do not drop off your children before 7 AM or leave them unattended. That is a safety concern. Also, if you wish to visit your child for lunch or have a meeting at the school, do not forget to check in the front office-Picture ID is required every time. Visitors must check in and get a visitor’s pass between the hours of 7:45 AM to 2:55 PM. It’s very important that you go to the designated area (cafeteria, classroom, library, etc) then return your pass to the office on the way out. For safety purposes and for us to continue to allow parents on campus during instruction, please do not follow the class out of the cafeteria or wonder in the hallways.
The faculty and staff at Raba Elementary continue to be committed to providing your child with the best possible educational experience. On behalf of our entire faculty, thank you for the privilege of letting us serve your family. We look forward to the best year yet!!
Yours in education,
Mrs. Francesca L Neal
Principal
From The Reader Leader Mrs. Gass
Dyslexia Information Session
You are invited to attend an awareness
session about Dyslexia.
When: Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Time: 3:30 – 4:30
Where: Raba’s Library
Raba's Annual Bike Rodeo
Friday, October 5th
Bicycles may be dropped off at the school beginning at 7:00 a.m. All bikes should be dropped off at the blacktop back by the gym. When entering the school, go LEFT. You will go past the bus loop. The drop off is immediately to the right as you pass the bus loop. Parents may pick the bikes up as soon as their child has finished competing. All bicycles must be picked up by 3:30 p.m.
Each bike should be labeled with your child’s name and his/her teacher’s name
Bike Rodeo Times:
Kinder: 8:30- 9:15
1st: 9:15 - 10:00
2nd: 10:00 - 10:45
3rd: 12:30-1:15
4th: 10:45-11:30
5th: 1:15 - 2:00
Your child will be learning about bike safety and how to maneuver the rodeo course during their P.E. classes. You can help by encouraging your child to participate. Pump up the tires, dust off the seat and encourage them to practice. The practice course is located on the blacktop behind the gym. Feel free to use this course to help prepare your child for the rodeo. The competition course will be on the blacktop again this year.
Trophies will be awarded to the first place girl and boy in each grade level, medals for the 2nd & 3rd place winners. Ribbons will be awarded to all students participating in the rodeo. Emphasis will be placed on safety, however qualifying students will represent our school at the city wide rodeo in May.
No permission slips are necessary if your child shows up with a bicycle - they may participate!
**Parents, no student will be released to you from the gym area. For your child’s safety, If you are going to pick your child up early, they MUST be signed out in the FRONT OFFICE!
(It is important that they be accounted for at dismissal time).
Note From Your Music Teacher
Rattler Choir, Sound Waves, and Raba Orchestra are all in full swing!
Please make sure that all students are on time for all rehearsals, our time is very valuable!
Tuesday, October 9th immediately following the PTA Meeting at 5:00 pm is our 3rd Grade performance of Alien Invasion! Our students are working extremely hard in music for this upcoming performance.
Mrs. Gabriella Almanza
Music Specialist
Raba Elementary
9740 Raba Dr
San Antonio, Texas 78251
210-397-1350
Twitter: @RabaMusic
P.E. Happenings
We are joining schools across the nation to focus on our students, staff, and families on HEART DISEASE. The program prepares kids for success by supporting their physical and emotional well-being.
It raises funds for lifesaving research and programs. How cool is that? Students and their families can raise money for the American Heart Association online at: www.heart.org/KidsHeartChallenge or by downloading the Kids Heart Challenge mobile app. Our Kids Heart Challenge Event is scheduled for Thursday, November 16th and Friday, November 17th during P.E. class. Friday, Nov. 17th will also be the last day to bring in donations!
In addition to raising awareness and money for a great cause, we can earn gift certificates for free P.E. equipment that helps us keep fitness fun for our kids! Our goal this year is to raise $3000.
Thank you for your support!
A Word From The Nurse
Parent's if you change your phone number or address, please let the office know. That way we can reach you in case of an emergency.
~PK and Kinder parent's please remember to keep a change of clothes in your child's backpack in case of an accident. Please include: shirt, bottoms, underwear, and socks. If your child comes home in clothes borrowed from the nurse's office, please wash them and return them to the nurse.
Thank you, Nurse Keri
Math Corner
MobyMax is up and running.
Please encourage your children/students to utilize this amazing computer program at school and from home. This computer program helps students to close gaps in all subject areas.
Raba's Uniquie URL: https://www.mobymax.com/tx6687
Username: s#
Password: 4X4
Ms. Angelica M. Ayala, M.A Ed.
Math Specialist - Math Staff Development Teacher
Raba Elementary (210)397.1350 ext. 3169 D119
PTA
Welcome Back, Rattler PTA Members!
We are thrilled to start a new year and ready to work on all our goals and programs to benefit your student for 2018-2019. Have you been wondering what PTA does, exactly? We invite you to come to our next PTA Meeting at 5 pm on Tuesday, October 9. We’ll be discussing our budget, fundraising, and program goals with our membership. If you haven’t joined, please visit joinpta.org and you’ll be able to do so online. Our member goal for the year is 350, but I know we can surpass it with your help!
Feel free to reach out to me anytime. You can email me at rabaelementarypta@gmail.com. I always encourage feedback to make our PTA better than ever. You can also visit us online by going to our Facebook page:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1730271517223815
Happy Fall, Y’all!
Polly McDonald, President
Raba PTA
Raba Watch D.O.G.S
We are excited for a new year with the Watch Dog program. Thank you, PTA for supporting this program and to everyone who came out in September to sign up. If you would like to sign up to be a Watch Dog please go to the Raba website and click on the Watch Dog link. Remember in order to be a part of our Watch Dog you must be a part of the Raba PTA and complete the NISD background check. The Background check form is located at: https://nisd.net/partnerships
Our Scholastic Book Fair
Visit the library October 9th -12th from
7:15 am -11:30 am & 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm.
Also stop by and shop before you head over to our PTA meeting during our late night on Tuesday, October 9th from 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm.
Can’t make it to the Book Fair? Shop online at scholastic.com/bf/rabaes from October 1st -19th. Thank you for supporting our library!
Fall Photos
Where: Raba Stage
All students will have their picture taken on Tuesday and each class has a scheduled time. These pictures will be used for our yearbook, so please let your child's teacher know if you do not want your child to appear in it. Students were sent home with information on how to order photos if you wish to do so.
Retakes are scheduled for December 5, 2018.
Raba PTA's Annual Fall Festival
NISD Over Drive
Raba Elementary Celebrates Red Ribbon Week
October 22nd – 26th, 2018
National Red Ribbon Week honors the ultimate sacrifice made by U.S. Drug Enforcement Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. In 1988, Congress officially proclaimed the last week of October as Red Ribbon Week in honor of this brave American’s life. He made a difference by helping to fight illegal drugs. Today, schools and other organizations across the United States use this time to spread the important message about living a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.
The theme for this year is:
“Life Is Your Journey. Travel Drug-Free.”
Monday: “Rally in RED against drugs”
Let’s kick off Red Ribbon Week by wearing RED from head to toe...shirts, pants, socks, bandanas, even hats!
Tuesday: “ My Future Matters- Be Drug Free!”
Wear a COLLEGE or MILITARY shirt!
Wednesday: “Stomp Out Drugs”
Students will wear blue and stomp bluebonnet seeds into the ground around school!
Thursday: “Team Up Against Drugs”
We are in this fight together! Wear your favorite sports shirt/jersey to show you’re a team player.
Friday: “Drug Free...Show Your Character”
Dress up as your favorite book character for the character parade!
**Students that choose to dress up will need to bring the actual book or create a book cover to represent the storybook character they dress up as. Families are invited to come to the Book Character Parade at 8:15 am.
News From The Vice Principal
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 7:00 AM-7:40 AM. At 7:40 AM the cafeteria doors will be closed.
Attendance Matters
It is such a joy to see so many smiling faces at Raba Elementary. We want to make sure they are here every day. Did you know that:
• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work. Information taken from: http://www.attendanceworks.org
Things to remember when your child is out:
When a child is absent for an illness or doctor's appointment, please bring in parent/doctor's note within 3 days of the absence. A child arriving after 9:00 AM will be considered absent. Only 6 absences for any of the above mentioned reasons may be excused by a note from a parent within a school year. If a student incurs 3 or more unexcused absences within a 4 week period, the parent will receive an Attendance Warning Notice.
Perfect Attendance
For perfect attendance to be awarded to a student at the end of each nine-week grading period, the student may not exceed one tardy or one early out during that time.
Raba's attendance 97.68%
With best regards,
Mrs. Diaz
Vice Principal
Veteran's Day
Follow us on twitter: @NISDRaba
#rabaforce, #rabastrong, #rabainspired, #rabaproud,