NHE News
April 14, 2026

A Note From Mrs. Smith
NHE families,
My heart is full seeing the hard work and school spirit our students have demonstrated over the last two days. We kicked things off with an absolute blast on Monday during the Dallas Mavericks Mascot assemblies. It was such a joy to see our students so excited and engaged! A huge thank you to our PTA for funding this incredible experience. It is these special moments that make our school community so vibrant.
Building on that great energy, our 3rd–6th-grade students tackled their first round of STAAR testing today. I am incredibly proud of the focus and determination they showed. They have worked so hard, and I cannot wait to see their efforts rewarded.
As we move through the rest of the week, let’s keep our momentum going. Our learning continues every single day, and we are committed to finishing the school year strong. We still have so much to look forward to!
Thank you for your support of our students and our school. We truly Level-Up when we work together!
Warmly,
Jenni Smith
NHE Principal
Coming up @ NHE
Please be aware of the upcoming events at NHE!
April 20-24: Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 20-May 1: Kindergarten & 1st grade mCLASS Reading Assessment Window
April 21: 5th grade STAAR Science Assessment
April 22: Administrative Professionals Day
April 28: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 28: 3rd-6th grade STAAR Math Assessment
April 30: Lunch Hero's Day
April 30: NHE Site-Based Decision-Making Committee
May 1: School Principal Day
May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4: College Colors Day
May 6: School Nurse Day
May 8: 5th Grade Science Camp
May 4-14: End of Year MAP Assessment Window
May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4: College Colors Day
May 8: 5th-grade Science Camp field trip
May 12: Career Day
May 13: NHE Talent Show
May 14: Falcon Award Night
May 15: Field Day
Our NHE 6th-graders are Leveling-Up!
We are bursting with pride over our 6th graders' incredible academic achievements as they prepare for junior high! An impressive 33 students qualified for advanced Spanish courses, while 32 students were accepted into the AVID program.
Additionally, 12 students qualified for GT core courses, and 27 students were accepted into Magnet programs at West and Westwood Junior High, spanning specialties from Robotics and Science to Leadership and the Arts. Congratulations to our hard-working Falcons. The future is bright!
Summer School Registration Reminder
Did you receive an email invitation for your student to attend Summer School? Don't miss out!
The final day to register is Tuesday, April 21. Our summer program is designed to be both fun and engaging, providing a wonderful opportunity for your child to boost their skills and head into the next school year with confidence.
Deadline: April 21
More Information: https://web.risd.org/summerlearning/elementary-programs/
Questions? Please reach out directly to your child's teacher.
🧥 Lost and Found Reminder
Is your student missing a jacket, water bottle, or lunchbox? Please make sure to check the Lost and Found by this Friday, April 17!
Any items remaining after Friday will be donated to the RISD Clothes Closet. Thank you for helping us clear out our collection and support a great cause!
NHE Counseling Corner
Library Information
Library Volunteers Needed
Please find a time to come in and shelve books in the library. Every week the library circulates between 1000 and 1500 books! Every little bit helps!
April Sign-up
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090449A8A829ABF85-63312883-april
Spring State Assessment Dates
STAAR Dates:
April 14: STAAR RLA (grades 3-6)
April 15: Make-up STAAR RLA (grades 3-6)
April 21: STAAR Science (5th grade only)
April 22: Make-up STAAR Science (5th grade only)
April 28: STAAR Math (grades 3-6)
April 29: Make-up STAAR Math (grades 3-6)
NHE PTA News
RISD Clothes Closet
The clothes closet has some important dates coming up! The last day for donations is Monday, April 20th and they are having an End-of-Year Garage Sale on May 16th. And, if you don't have clothes to donate, click the link below to see their Amazon Wish List of current needs!
Future Falcons Music
Calling all Future Falcons!! Come join our amazing music teacher, Mrs. Tracy, for a fun and musical time on April 23rd from 2:30-3:30 in the NHE music room! She has lots of hands-on activities for your little ones, you won't want to miss it!! Please RSVP so she knows how many to prepare for!
Join our PTA Team!!
We're looking for parents to fill open positions on our PTA! This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful impact in our school, support teachers and students, and help organize fun events and programs that enrich our school community. Whether you have a few hours a month or can commit more, your time and talents make a difference! See the open positions below and reach out to NomCom@nhepta.org to learn more and get involved!
Amigas del la Educacion
Looking for a way to volunteer at the school? This is a volunteer group that meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to help with tasks like stuffing Tuesday folders, classroom projects for teachers, etc. See the flyer below for details!
Learning Community News
Westwood Junior High
A massive thank you goes out to the NHE & WWJH PTA for their incredible generosity last week! To ensure our hardworking WWJH staff stayed fueled and hydrated during testing, the PTAs stocked the library with a delicious spread of snacks and beverages.
RHS Eaglette Mini-Clinic
On behalf of the Richardson High School Eaglettes Dance team, we would love to extend a warm invitation to the students at Northwood Hills Elementary School to our Spring Mini-Clinic which will take place on Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Richardson High School Large Gym.
We have appreciated the support of our school families to attend, have fun and bring a great sense of community to these events. Participants of the spring mini clinic are invited to perform at our annual Revue show on Saturday, April 25th in the RHS Auditorium at 6:30 pm.
Multilingual Excellence Expo
Families are invited to attend Richardson ISD’s Multilingual Excellence Expo, a district‑wide celebration of languages, cultures, and student achievement! This free event is open to all grade levels and offers an engaging morning of learning and celebration for students and families.
The Expo will highlight PK–12 student language performances, including poetry recitations and book readings in multiple languages. Families can also participate in language immersion sessions, with short, interactive lessons in Spanish, French, Japanese, and Arabic.
In addition, the event will feature student award presentations recognizing outstanding achievements, as well as a Seal of Biliteracy Celebration, where graduating students will be honored with certificates and graduation cords for earning bilingual recognition.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
J.J. Pearce High School - 1600 N. Coit Road, Richardson, TX 75080
This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our multilingual community and the many benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy. Families are encouraged to reserve a spot in advance by visiting s.risd.org/MLEE.
We hope to see you there!
Elementary Fine Arts Culture Showcase
Tuesday, April 21
5:30 - 7 p.m.
J.J. Pearce HS Auditorium
1600 N. Coit Road
Richardson, TX 75080
In a vibrant celebration of creativity, elementary art and music students unite to highlight cultures from around the world, representing the diverse backgrounds and traditions of RISD.
Purple Up Day
Wear purple on a special day to celebrate military kids! Purple has been chosen to represent all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans. It blends each branch’s colors: the Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Coast Guard’s blues, the Army’s green, and the Marines’ red. MCEC celebrates Purple Up Day on April 15, 2026 – but it’s always a good day to Purple Up!
Bike & Roll to School Day
Join communities around the world to celebrate the benefits of bicycling, walking, and rolling to school!
Recurring Information
We’re Excited to Welcome Lunch Visitors!
Here are a few reminders to help make your visit smooth and enjoyable:
One visit per week, please. This helps us manage space and make sure every family has the opportunity to visit.
Arrive on time. Plan to be here before your child’s lunch period begins.
Bring your photo ID. All visitors must check in at the front office and wear a visitor badge while on campus.
Enjoy lunch at the visitor table. For safety reasons, visitors should sit at the designated visitor table with their child only. Parents may not sit in the cafeteria.
Friends can’t join your table. We know kids love company, but we ask that you enjoy this time just with your child.
Put phones away. To protect student privacy and keep the focus on your child, please avoid phone use, photos, or videos while in the cafeteria.
Head out after lunch. When your child’s lunch period ends, please exit through the front office. Visitors may not walk students back to class.
Permission for guests. If someone other than a parent/guardian plans to visit, we need written permission from the parent ahead of time.
Thank you for helping us make lunch visits a safe, positive experience for everyone. We can’t wait to see you in the cafeteria!
New Volunteer Management System
Before participating in volunteer opportunities in schools and district facilities, all RISD volunteers must complete a background check and an orientation through our NEW Volunteer Management System. We are using Verkada, the same program already in place for visitor management on every campus. Click here to complete your 2025-2026 Richardson ISD Volunteer Application.
Opt-In & Opt-out Preferences - Important Parent Message
Texas legislation requires all parents and guardians to provide clear opt-in and opt-out preferences for their student regarding various activities and services such as:
Available access to health services (all grade levels)
After-school clubs (all grade levels)
Counseling opportunities (K-5 & 7-12)
Library Services (all grade levels)
All RISD parents/legal guardians received an email from the district on Friday, August 22 with information to select your preferences for your student(s) in FOCUS. Please make sure that you check your email, you should have a message from Richardson ISD, with the subject line: Important Parent Message in Regards to Recent Texas Legislation.
Please visit the FOCUS portal and use the newly created page to submit your preferences for each of your children.
If you have additional questions, please submit a Let’s Talk here.
Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We look forward to a great new school year.
Helpful Parent Resources
✅Verify Your Student's Immunizations Are Up-To-Date✅
By law, Richardson ISD must have an immunization record for each student on file. These records should be up-to-date at the time of registration. https://web.risd.org/healthservices/immunizations
🔎Create a FOCUS Account🔍
RISD provides electronic access to a student's grades, attendance, and other information via the FOCUS software system. https://web.risd.org/focus/
📱Download RISD Mobile Parent App📱
Access student information, view the latest news, receive important alerts, review an archive of parent messages sent by RISD, view school menus and lunch account balances, find your bus stop, access student schedules, assignment grades, attendance and more. https://web.risd.org/home/risd-mobile/
🚍Need a Ride to School?🚍
See bus route information and sign up for student transportation: https://web.risd.org/transportation/
🥗Download SchoolCafe App🥗
RISD’s school cafeteria payment system is called SchoolCafe. https://www.schoolcafe.com/
District Links
RISD Graduate Profile
Parent Information
RISD Student and Parent Handbook
25-26 Academic Calendar
✍🏻Front Office Contact Information✍🏻
Jenni Smith, Principal
(469) 593-4333
jennifer.smith@risd.org
Mark Bell, Assistant Principal
(469) 593-4328
mark.bell@risd.org
Martha Menezes, Dean of Students (habla español)
(469) 593-4275
martha.menezes@risd.org
Paige Pendery Counselor
(469) 593-4332
paige.pendery@risd.org, qwendolyn.dixon@risd.org
Crystal Hunt, Nurse
(469) 593-4250
crystal.hunt@risd.org
Sadaf Ramzan, Student Data Specialist/Enrollment
(469) 593-4251
sadaf.ramzan@risd.org
Leslie Ledezma, Executive Assistant (habla español)
(469)-593-4252
leslie.ledezma@risd.org
