See You Tomorrow!

Dear Roadrunner Families,

Tomorrow is the big day, and we are so excited to welcome our students back to school! Our goal for the first day is simple: Every student will feel seen, welcomed, and excited to return the next day. Our staff has been working hard to prepare warm, joyful learning spaces where every child knows they belong.

The first day can bring many emotions—excitement, nervousness, curiosity, or a mix of all three. Please remind your child that we are ready for them and will be here to help every step of the way. Thank you for trusting us with your children and partnering with us for a wonderful year of learning and growth. We can’t wait to see our students tomorrow morning and officially press start on a great school year!

With excitement,
Pamela Washington
Principal, Renton Park Elementary

Below are a few important dates/reminders to tuck away as we begin the year:

• August 26: First Day of School (Grades 1-12)
• August 28: Late-Start School (see bell schedule below)
• August 31: First Day of School (Ready K and Kindergarten)
• September 3: PTA-Sponsored Fundraiser at Menchies
• September 7: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
• September 24: Open House - More info to come

Walkers: Main front entrance doors open at 8:10am for breakfast. At 8:20am all doors are open and students are invited to enter the building for "Books Before the Bell" where they are invited to sit quietly with peers and talk or read.

**Note: 1st - 5th Families are welcome to enter the building and walk students to their class on Wednesday, August 26th. After that, please plan to say your goodbyes at the front door.

Car Riders: To help arrival move quickly and safely, please have students ready to exit when you reach the drop-off area. Students should be seated on the right (passenger) side of the vehicle. Adults must remain in the vehicle and should not walk around the car to assist, as vehicles may be passing in the other lane.

• For safety reasons, traffic posts will be used to separate lanes.
• Morning drop off is only available using lane closest to sidewalk (right lane). Left lane drivers will be directed to park and not be able to merge into drop off lane.
• Once students have exited the car, families should continue to pull forward.

Bus Riders: Students exiting the bus will be ushered into the building and go directly to the cafe for breakfast. At 8:20 students will be dismissed from the cafe to join peers for Books Before the Bell.

This year, students arriving after 8:45 a.m. Monday–Thursday or after 10:15 a.m. on Friday MUST be escorted to the main office by an adult. This ensures a safe, adult-to-adult handoff and supports our school security procedures. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:

• K-4 students will be released to the playground at dismissal.
• 5th Grade students will be released through the front main entrance.

Walkers: Students walking home will exit the campus and report directly to their respective destinations.

Bus Riders: Students riding the bus will be released to the playground area and report directly to the bus area where they will board the bus.

Car Riders: Car riders can either meet their family in the car pick-up lane in front or in the playground area. *NOTE: Families MUST park their cars in a designated parking spot if picking their child up from the playground. No parking in the pick up lane.

Renton Schools provides school supplies for all elementary and middle school students right in classrooms at the start of the school year. Families pay a low, one-time fee of $30 per student ($10 per student for families on free/reduced lunch) for enough school supplies for the entire school year (backpacks and lunchboxes not included). Families who wish can continue to bring their own school supplies. High school students will continue to provide their own school supplies.

Families can pay the one-time fee of $30 per student through their Online Payment account or at their school.

Families can find their students’ school bus routes and pick-up and drop-off times in several ways this school year. School bus routes will be ready to view on Monday, August 17.

• Login to your Family Skyward Access account and click the Transportation button (remember to log into each student’s account to find their individual bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times)
• Download the MyRideK-12 app to your cell phone at https://myridek12.tylerapp.com/. This app will also allow families to receive real-time messages about changes to their school bus routes through the school year.
• Contact Transportation Office at Transportation.Routing@rentonschools.us or call 425.204.4455

Important Rules for Riding a School Bus

• Students should be at designated stop location five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled arrival of the bus. School and transportation schedules will not allow drivers to remain at a stop location waiting for students to arrive.
• Kindergarten/preschool students will not be allowed off the bus without a parent/guardian present. To have your student dropped off with a sibling or other authorized adult, complete this release form and give it to your school bus driver.

While not required for no cost school meals, all families are strongly encouraged to complete the Child Nutrition and Education Benefit form (CNEEB) to allow the district to continue to apply for the program next year and to help students and families receive important resources like: before and after school academic and enrichment programs; resources for classrooms; guidance and college counselors; health and wellness services, and more.

• Complete the form online in your Family Skyward Access account (look for the Food Service Application button), or
• For a printable version, download the CNEEB form, complete and sign it, and email it to RSD.mealform@rentonschools.us or drop off at your school.

As part of our annual security updates, all student passwords will be reset to a default password on August 25, 2026. After this reset, students will need to use the default password to log in to their Chromebooks or the RSD Login Portal. Schools will share the default password with students when they return to school.

• Elementary students will have the option to change their password to a new secure password once they are back at school.
• Middle and high school students will be required to create a new secure password when they return.

Accessing GoGuardian Parent for Student Chromebooks

The district uses GoGuardian Parent to support families in setting restrictions outside of school hours on their student’s Chromebook (for students in grades 2-12). Learn more at Technology Safety Information for Families and review how to Get Started with GoGuardian Parent (mobile app) to view student activity and set other controls.

Cell phones and personal devices are a regular part of daily life—but they can create challenges and distractions in the classroom. To help all students stay focused and ready to learn, Renton School District has developed districtwide guidance for the use of cell phones in schools.

Since Fall 2025, student personal device use (including cell phones, smart glasses, earbuds, headphones, etc.) are not permitted during specified times. Note: Smart watches may be worn but not used for communication.

• Elementary: Full day restriction - no access during the entire school day
• Secondary: Class period restriction - no access during classes or “bell to bell”

Our goal is to create respectful, distraction-free learning environments while also helping students build lifelong digital habits that support their success in school and beyond.

Please visit our Cell Phone Guidance website for further details, frequently asked questions, and to explore helpful resources for families, including:

• Tips for setting parental controls and promoting online safety
• Guidance on creating a Family Media Plan or Media Use Agreement
• Resources on digital citizenship and responsible technology use
• Expert recommendations on screen time and social media

Click the link below to learn about the many ways our AMAZING PTA supports Renton Park as well as learn about ways to join and participate!

https://www.rentonparkpta.org/