Northwood Hills News
April 10, 2025

Northwood Hills News is the school newsletter written by campus leadership. You'll find important dates and information about upcoming activities including evening events, school-wide assessments, and RISD area events. The newsletter will go out via email on Thursdays of each week. Please ensure your email addresses and phone numbers are up-to-date in Focus so that you receive each week's updates in a timely manner.
A Note From Mrs. Smith
NHE Families,
We can't wait to see everyone tonight for Fine Arts Night! Please see below, for the schedule of events!
This edition of the NHE News includes details on the total funds raised during the NHE Auction & Gala. Every contribution you make to the PTA directly benefits our school, helping to create enriching experiences and providing valuable support for all students and staff!
Next Tuesday marks the first round of STAAR testing for our 3rd-6th grade students, who will be taking the Reading STAAR assessment. To ensure the best testing environment for all our students, we will not be allowing campus visitors or volunteers on testing days, including lunch visitors Thank you for your understanding and support.
Best Regards,
Jenni Smith
Principal
Coming up @ NHE
Please be aware of the upcoming events at NHE!
April 7 - 11 - National Assistant Principal Week
April 10 - Fine Arts Night 5:00-7:00
April 12- NHE PTA Future Falcons Egg Hunt 9:00-11:00 am
April 15 - 3rd-6th grade STAAR Reading Assessment (no visitors)
April 16 - 3rd-6th grade STAAR Reading Make-ups (no visitors)
April 17 - Early Release @ 1:10
April 18 & 21 - No school, Student and Staff Holiday
April 22 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 23- Administrative Professional's Day (Office Staff)
April 23 - 5th-grade STAAR Science Assessment (no visitors)
April 24- 5th grade STAAR Science Make-ups
April 24 - NHE Site-Based Decision-Making Committee Meeting 4-6
April 29- 3rd-6th grade STAAR Math Assessment (no visitors)
April 30 3rd-6th grade STAAR Math Make-ups (no visitors)
24-25 NHE Yearbook
NHE PTA Auction & Gala Fundraising Update
Hi NHE Fam!
What a great weekend it was! Fun was had, money was made, and receipts have been sent out. As we wrap up this year’s Gala and Auction, we want to give a huge thank you to everyone for making the evening a tremendous success! The night was filled with generosity and a wonderful sense of community—you couldn’t ask for a better evening.
A special thanks to our sponsors, Carbon Landmark Construction and Future Focused Wealth, for their generous contributions, and to the Russell family for facilitating the beautiful Prestonwood Country Club venue for our event.
A huge shout-out to our Auction Chair, Katie Febbroriello, for the hours upon hours spent making the night a complete success, and to her team leads: Aynsley Boksiner, Kendra Benson, Megan Butler, Haley Hiscocks, Rubria Marines-Price, Maly Scott, and Claire Scheihing—you guys absolutely rock!
Also, a big thank you to all of our donors for their generous donations and to the team that collected them; your contributions will directly benefit the students of Northwood Hills Elementary daily. Please look below at how funds were used for our current school year and see your contributions at work. As you will see, without the efforts of this one night of the year, our kiddos would not have the opportunities and experiences they do. Knowing that makes it all worth it.
I will forever be proud to be a part of this school and what it accomplishes. Together, we continue to make our school a better place, and we hope that more families will join us in that mission. Until next time….
Brittany Coggins
Ways & Means & Fundraising
Northwood Hills PTA
214.417.2414
RISD 2025-2026 Enrollment
Richardson ISD enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is now open.
Returning families will need a Snapcode to enroll, which was emailed to parents on Feb. 24.
Visit the enrollment website to learn more about the enrollment process or to enroll your student.
Reserve your 2025-26 seat today!
Capturing Kids Hearts April Focus: Finish Strong
Snow Make-Up Days
It has been announced that due to the number of banked instructional minutes in the RISD student academic calendar, the district will not need to use April 18 or April 21 as snow make up days, and both days will remain student and staff holidays.
Career Day Volunteers Needed
Spring Book Fair is April 7-11
Volunteers, we need you to help run the cash register. Signup at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040848ACAA29A2F49-55512655-spring
Parents, you’re invited to join the shopping spree during your superstar student’s class library time! And don’t miss the fun at Goodies in the Garden on Tuesday, April 8 from 7:15-7:55; the Book Fair will be open for all your literary treasures! Remember, every book you snag helps our school thrive!
The Book Fair will also be open during Fine Arts Night on April 10.
Afterschool Tutoring Information
Students who are invited to attend tutoring will receive a permission form. Bus transportation is provided for tutoring. If your child brings home a tutoring invite, please make it a priority to have them attend. We are committed to closing instructional gaps and providing the support necessary for each student to meet their growth goals.
Tutoring Dates:
April 1, 8
Upcoming Assessment Dates
STAAR Dates:
April 15: STAAR RLA (grades 3-6)
April 16: Make-up STAAR RLA (grades 3-6)
April 23: STAAR Science (5th grade only)
April 24: Make-up STAAR Science (5th grade only)
April 29: STAAR Math (grades 3-6)
April 30: Make-up STAAR Math (grades 3-6)
*Please avoid scheduling any doctor's appointments or out-of-town travel on these dates. We want every student to have the opportunity to show what they can do on these important state exams.
Summer Opportunities
6th to 7th Grade Summer Acceleration Courses
6th Grade Families-Our 6th graders have an option to take PE or Health in the summer for a fee. Just a reminder that all students must take 1 year of PE or Athletics in 7th or 8th grade. Health is a required course in high school for graduation. The window to register for summer acceleration classes begins April 1st and ends May 2nd. Check out the Junior High Programs Acceleration section on the following site:
2025 Summer School
Parents, please check your email to see if you received an invitation to RISD summer school. This is a valuable opportunity to reinforce key concepts, improve academic skills, and ensure continued progress for the upcoming school year.
We strongly encourage you to sign your students up for summer school, as it will provide them with the support they need to succeed. Please take a moment to complete the registration process at your earliest convenience.
If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, feel free to reach out to your child's teacher or our assistant principal Mr. Bell.
We are now sold out! All player teams have been filled! We would love to get at least 7 more party passes sold. Those are $70/each. They can be purchased using the same link
Click here to sign up to play!
Scroll down until you see Freddie the Falcon, and select player!
We need you!
And it’s SO MUCH fun!
After School Club Information
School Supplies On Sale Now
Click below for more information
Field Day 2025
🎉 Field Day – Friday, May 16
Get ready for a fun-filled day! Field Day is a highlight of the year, and we need volunteers to help with everything from setting up relays to handing out popsicles.
Sign up here: Field Day Volunteer Signup
Important Notes:
· Only registered volunteers will be allowed on campus during Field Day—no spectators, please.
· All volunteers must complete a background check through Voly at least two weeks in advance. If you haven’t done so already, please complete it here: RISD Voly Background Check
Thank you in advance for your support—we couldn’t do it without you!
🎉 Día de Campo – viernes 16 de mayo
¡Prepárense para un día lleno de diversión! El Día de Campo es uno de los eventos más esperados del año, y necesitamos voluntarios para ayudar con todo, desde montar carreras hasta repartir paletas.
Regístrate aquí: Registro para voluntarios – Día de Campo
Notas importantes:
· Solo se permitirá el acceso al campus a voluntarios registrados durante el Día de Campo—no se permitirán espectadores.
· Todos los voluntarios deben completar una verificación de antecedentes a través de Voly al menos dos semanas antes del evento. Si aún no la has hecho, por favor complétala aquí: Verificación de antecedentes Voly – RISD
¡Gracias de antemano por su apoyo—no podríamos hacerlo sin ustedes!
Future Falcons
Attention Future Falcons! We have lots of fun events coming up this Spring and would love for you to join us! Please let me know if you can attend or would like to be included on our email list! Also don't forget to follow us on Facebook at NWH Falcons & Friends!
Partners Programs
April is Autism Awareness Month
Helpful Parent Resources
- Create a Focus account – RISD provides electronic access to a student’s attendance, grades, and other information via the Focus school software system. . https://web.risd.org/focus/
- Please go to RISD Voly to fill out an application. Please make sure you select NHE as your school. This process needs to be completed every year!
All of RISD will be utilizing Talking Points for classroom communication. Please download the free app to get started communicating with your child's teacher!
You can find more information online at this link
Download SchoolCafe app – RISD’s school cafeteria payment system is called SchoolCafe. https://www.schoolcafe.com/
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.
District Links
Focus Parent Portal
Library Opt-Out Program - Elementary
SEL Opt Out 2024-2025
Lunch Visitors
Beginning next week, visitors are welcome to join their students for lunch. Here are a few reminders when planning to visit for lunch.
- Due to space in our cafeteria we are asking that parents who wish to have lunch with their child do so only once per week.
- Arrive before your child's scheduled lunchtime.
- Bring your ID to be screened at check-in. You will be given a visitor badge to wear at all times while on campus.
- Visitors should sit at the designated visitor table with their child and are not permitted to sit at the class cafeteria tables.
- Lunch visitors may eat lunch with only their child. Friends will not be permitted to join another parent for lunch.
- We request that visitors follow a no-cell phone policy to ensure student privacy and quality time with their child. Taking pictures or videos in the cafeteria that include any other students or staff is not permitted.
- When your child’s lunch period is over, visitors should exit the building from the front or office doors. Lunch visitors should NOT walk their child back to class.
- If a visitor who is not a parent or guardian comes to eat lunch with a student, we must have permission ahead of time from the parent or guardian or they will not be permitted to eat with the student.
These guidelines may need to be adjusted from time to time. Updates will be communicated as needed.
NHE Recurring Links and Information
NHE Volunteers & Visitors
Safety and security is a top priority for us. You must complete a background check yearly if you will be volunteering for ANY school activities. Please go to RISD Voly to fill out an application. Please make sure you select Northwood Hills Elementary as your school. Again, this process needs to be completed every year!
All visitors must show a government-issued ID every time you are either visiting school or volunteering and will need to have a Verkada Badge. The great thing about our new system is that you can use the QR Code from home in the morning, and your badge will be waiting for you when you arrive. Please wait to access the code until 7 am the day that it is needed so that the badge doesn't time out. This is a requirement for any activity we will have during the school day.
Before entering the building, you will need to push the doorbell. Our office staff will ask how they can help you before letting you in. This is a requirement for everyone even if our office staff knows who you are. We appreciate your support and patience with this process.
Parents and Families On Campus
With the increased need for security on all campuses, NHE will continue to use Verkada to sign in all visitors on campus. If you plan on visiting campus, please make sure to bring your driver's license to the front office to be scanned by our RAPTOR system.
During occasions when we have a big event, we will send out a QR code ahead of time for you to complete to help speed up the check-in process.
If you plan to volunteer on campus, please complete the additional background check with VOLY. It is best to complete the VOLY application as soon as possible. VOLY requests can take up to 72 hours to complete. Please call the Northwood Hills office for any help needed with completing VOLY. Sign up to volunteer at risd.voly.org
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