Dear WRE Parents,

I hope this message finds you well! As we continue through the school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. Your partnership plays a vital role in our students' success.

RISD is seeking parents and community members interested in serving on three new committees that will begin meeting this semester. Learn more about serving here. This is a great opportunity for parents and community members to serve in RISD.

Please stay tuned for important updates and upcoming events in this newsletter!

Warmly,

Principal Stevens

We're Excited to Welcome a Special Guest to WRE Next Week! On Tuesday, January 28, during specials, students in kindergarten through 5th grade will have an exciting opportunity to meet the one and only author/illustrator, Steve Harpster!

Steve Harpster, a talented author and illustrator, will be visiting White Rock to draw with our K-5th grade students. He is known for his popular series of books that inspire students to use their imaginations to write and draw. With over 100 illustrated books to his credit, Steve has also created artwork for products like T-shirts and toys. Through his company, Harptoons, he has published more than 15 how-to-draw books and launched Harptooniacs, a video platform offering engaging art lessons. Steve inspires students nationwide with his school visits and YouTube videos.

If your family would like to purchase a Harpster how-to-draw book, visit the Harptoons online store. Your child's book will be personally signed by Steve Harpster and will include a custom cartoon on the inside cover. Save 20% on your order by using coupon code HARPART at checkout. All books will be shipped directly to your home or preferred address.

A huge thank you to our amazing PTA for sponsoring this exciting experience for our students!

The next WRE PTA meeting will be held next week on Thursday, January 30 at 5:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the WRE cafeteria. We hope to see you there!

WRE's STEM Showcase originally scheduled for January 30 has been postponed. A new date will be finalized and announced next week. We hope you can join us that night at the PTA general meeting at 5:30 PM in the cafeteria.

Please click here to read the latest Specials Student Services Autism Parent Newsletter. This month’s newsletter includes information about sensory toys, upcoming parent education opportunities, resources for parents of children with autism, and more!

Live Wise Live Healthy provides community wide training, programming, and opportunities to empower young people through healthy and wise decision making and meaningful life changing experiences. Each month students, staff, and parents will receive information about a different topic. Below are the topics for each month:

August - Start Safe

September - Together for Mental Health

October/November - Be Kind to Your Mind

December - Managing Stress & Mental Health

January/February - Healthy Relationships

March - Up Close and Cultural

April - Safe Kids, Healthy Futures

May - Making Connections

As shared at the end of last school year, the district is implementing a new Richardson ISD Code of Civility this school year to set expectations for how students, parents, employees, and visitors treat and interact with each other while at school or communicating about school-related activities.

“It’s important that everyone value safety, respect, and responsibility when interacting with someone at school or activities related to school,” said Superintendent Branum. “Treating each other with civility is an expectation in our schools and when interacting with our educators. We can all support students most effectively when we prioritize safety, respect and responsibility this school year by understanding the practices and attitudes of the Code of Civility.”

Please click here to read more about the RISD Code of Civility. RISD is a beautiful community in which safety, respect, and responsibility are an active part of the fabric of our schools, community, and staff. Play your part by adhering to these practices and attitudes.

Parents can find RISD Back to School information and resources here.

• Create a Focus account – RISD provides electronic access to a student’s attendance, grades, and other information via the Focus school software system.

• Download SchoolCafe app – RISD’s school cafeteria payment system is called SchoolCafe.

• Download RISD Mobile Parent app – Access student information, view the latest news, receive important alerts, review 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 via the RISD Mobile Parent app.

• Follow RISD on social media

• FB: @RichardsonISD
• IG: @instaRISD
• X: @RichardsonISD
• YouTube: RichardsonISDVideo

• Volunteer in RISD – There are a lot of opportunities to volunteer on RISD campuses all year long. If you are interested in becoming an RISD volunteer, please sign up through risd.voly.org.

  All volunteers must complete a background check through the VOLY system EACH YEAR.

If you would like your child to ride the school bus to or from WRE, you must complete this Google form:

Click here for more information:

RISD TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT INFO

If you would like to volunteer at White Rock Elementary, you must complete a volunteer background check EVERY new school year. Volunteering could include helping by attending field trips with your children, working in the library, helping at Field Day, or many other activities. We will not allow anyone who has not completed and passed the volunteer background check to volunteer.

Please click on the link below to complete the background check. You MUST also watch the full length of the very short powerpoint at the end to complete the entire background check. Failure to watch the powerpoint will make your application incomplete and you will not be able to volunteer.