E. Ray Parent Newsletter

Dear E. Ray Families,

Happy New Year, and welcome to the 2026 semester! We hope you and your family enjoyed a restful Winter Break. We are excited to welcome our Bulldogs back and begin a new semester of learning and growth.

We are so grateful for the incredible family support we received last semester. Your involvement in school events and partnership with our campus truly made a difference for our students, and we look forward to continuing that strong collaboration.

As we move into the second semester, our focus will remain strong on academic growth and attendance. Daily attendance plays a critical role in student success, and we ask that you please ensure your child is at school each day if they are healthy and well. Being present every day helps students stay engaged, confident, and on track academically.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to working alongside you for another successful semester at E. Ray.

Warm regards,
Alexis Young
Principal, E. Ray Elementary

7:15 AM- Doors open

7:20 AM- Breakfast is served

7:45 AM- Students head to class

7:50 AM- The tardy bell rings and instruction begins for the day. Students are in their seats, ready to learn. If you bring your child after 7:50, you will need to come into the school with your ID to sign them in.

3:20 PM- Dismissal

Snacks are available for sale on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the cafeteria

Monday, January 5th

• No School/Student Holiday

Tuesday, January 6th

• No School/Student Holiday

Wednesday, January 7th

• Welcome Back! Our doors open at 7:15AM for students

Thursday, January 8th

Friday, January 9th

Attendance Matters at E. Ray!

Every day at E. Ray matters for learning. If your child is healthy, please ensure they are at school and in class by 7:50 AM each morning. Consistent attendance builds strong academic habits and keeps students on track for success.

Please remember that only three parent excuse letters are accepted each semester. If your child is absent due to illness, a doctor’s note must be submitted upon their return.

We are excited to launch a new Whole Class Attendance Puzzle Challenge!
Each day that all students are present in their homeroom class, the teacher will add a puzzle piece to the class puzzle. Once the puzzle is complete, the entire class will earn a special reward. This incentive promotes teamwork, accountability, and a shared commitment to being at school each day.

Thank you for partnering with us to make attendance a priority at E. Ray Elementary! Let’s work together to build strong habits and celebrate collective success.

Because of a new Texas law (Senate Bill 12), parents must now provide written consent before schools can offer many health and counseling services. These include:

• Providing first aid (bandages, ice packs, care for illness at school)

• Visits to the school nurse or counselor

• Routine screenings, such as vision and hearing checks

Until this consent form is completed, we are not allowed to provide these services unless it is a life-threatening emergency. Completing the form ensures your child has access to the care and support they may need during the school day.

What to Do:
The consent form is available in your Skyward Family Access account. When you log in, you will see a banner at the top of the home screen that will take you directly to the SB 12 Parental Consent Form. A separate form must be completed for each child enrolled in Everman ISD.

If you need help logging into Skyward, please contact our front office for assistance. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

Important Lunch Visitor Guidelines

If you are joining your child for lunch, please bring a valid photo ID. Parents and guardians will sit with their child(ren) at the designated end of the cafeteria table. For the safety of all students, please bring food only for your own child—outside food may not be shared due to allergy risks. We also ask that all children remain seated with you during lunch to help keep the cafeteria safe and orderly. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and positive lunchtime experience for everyone!

Parents/Guardians,

We need your help in reminding students to bring their Chromebooks and chargers to school each day. These are an essential part of their school supplies, just like notebooks and pencils. Having their device ready and charged helps students stay fully engaged in learning and minimizes disruptions during the school day.

We are also working with students on building responsibility, and your support at home makes a big difference. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your child is prepared each day!

To help keep our students focused on learning, we ask that all toys remain at home. Recently, we have seen an increase in toys making their way to school, especially with students bringing fake money. These items are not permitted, as they create a disruption to the learning environment. Please ensure that students leave these items at home each day.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a positive and distraction-free environment for all students.

January 19th-No School Student/Staff Holiday

Backpacks:Only clear backpacks are allowed on campus.

Cell phone policy:In compliance with the new law, cell phones must be powered off and kept inside backpacks during the school day. Students are not permitted to use or display phones at school.

ID:Your child/children’s safety is our #1 priority. Please be sure to bring a valid photo ID every time you enter the building.

Alexis Young-Principal (ayoung@eisd.org)

Chrislon Snell-Assistant Principal (csnell@eisd.org)