NHE News

Para ver está información en español, oprima la flecha que está arriba en la página en el lado derecho y busca Spanish.

Dear NHE Families,

We want to share an important update about your child’s MAP Growth assessment results. Starting this fall, MAP Growth will use a new set of national norms to help interpret student scores. This allows educators to set more personalized growth goals, especially for students who are above or below grade level.

What does this mean for your child? You may notice that your child’s percentile ranking looks different than before. This percentile represents where your child stands when compared with their peers today--not peers from several years ago.

Because student performance has generally declined since the pandemic, the same score may now be associated with a higher percentile. This change applies to both current and past reports in MAP Growth.

Has the test itself changed? MAP Growth has also improved how it adapts to each student. The test now aligns even more closely with the material students are learning in class, helping teachers understand how students are performing relative to grade-level expectations.

How can you learn more? This blogpost explains the updates in more detail. If you have questions or want to talk more about your child’s progress, we’re here to support you.

Additional information about NWEA MAP in RISD and directions on how to review your child’s Student Progress Report can be found on the RISD Website. Your child’s MAP assessment results will be posted in the Focus Parent Portal about one week after each MAP window closes.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s learning journey. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions about how to read the reports or what next steps will be in supporting your child’s academic success.

Warmly,

Jenni Smith

NHE Principal

Come support NHE and enjoy a delicious meal at Chick-Fil-A, TODAY, September 23rd. Just mention Northwood Hills Elementary when you order and a portion of the sales will go directly to our school programs and students! Bring your friends and your appetite - the more the merrier! Thank you for supporting our school and see you there!

Please take a few moments to read through the NHE Family Handbook in its entirety. It’s filled with important information to help ensure a successful and smooth school year for you and your child. Your partnership and understanding of our procedures and expectations make a big difference.

• September 23: Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night

• September 25: Early Release at 1:10 pm

• September 29: College Colors Day

• September 29: Tutoring

• September 29-30: Opera in a Suitcase

• October 3: RHS Homecoming

• October 6: Fall Picture Day

• October 6: Tutoring

• October 9: A Day of Drumming (during specials classes)

• October 9: SOAR Awards & Celebrations

• October 10-13: Fall Break

• October 15: PTA Movie Night

• October 18: Saturday School

• October 20-24 National School Bus Safety Week

• October 20: Tutoring

• October 20-24 National School Bus Safety Week

• October 25: Saturday School

Thursday, September 25th, is an early release day. Students will be dismissed at 1:10 pm. Please make arrangements to pick up your student at 1:10 pm.

** Please be aware, we will have a modified schedule for lunch, recess, and specials ***

This month, NHE is proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage! Each morning, students will hear facts about Hispanic culture and learn about influential Hispanic figures who have made a lasting impact on our world. In October, we’ll continue the celebration with some fun dress-up days to honor Hispanic heritage and traditions.

We look forward to learning, celebrating, and honoring the rich contributions of Hispanic culture together!

Most months in the library we have a lesson on digital citizenship. September’s digital citizenship focus is passwords. Students learn about why we have passwords and what makes a strong password. The most important thing about passwords is that we never share them with anyone other than a trusted adult.

If you would like to follow up with your student about passwords, here is an activity to do with them:

English

Spanish

Tutoring will begin on September 29th. Students who are invited to tutoring will receive an invitation on Thursday. Bus transportation is available after tutoring is over.

If your child receives a tutoring invite, please make it a priority to have them attend. Tutoring is required for any 4th, 5th, or 6th-grade student who did not pass one or more STAAR tests.

We are committed to closing instructional gaps and providing the supports necessary for each student to meet their growth goals.

What is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to be aware of, understand, and be sensitive to another person’s feelings. Instead of focusing on how these feelings impact ourselves, empathy motivates us to focus on others and respond with care and compassion.

Why Focus on Empathy?

• Empathy builds a positive classroom culture. Empathy empowers students to learn to understand each other to build trust and safety in the classroom.
• Empathy strengthens community. Empathy helps students strengthen their relationships with classmates, other students and adults at school, and at home.
• Empathy prepares your students to be leaders in their community. The best leaders understand the people they lead and are able to show they care.

The referral window for GT testing will be open October 3rd-17th. Please remember that students in the following grades are universally tested, so parents do not need to complete a referral.

• 2nd grade

• 6th grade

Students in RISD may test once per academic year to determine if they qualify for gifted services. As a parent, you have the opportunity to refer your child for this testing once per year. The referral window for GT testing will be open October 3-17, 2025. Please note: RISD administers this test to all 2nd graders and 6th graders on our campus. If your child is in 2nd or 6th grade, you do not need to refer them for GT testing.

Please see this document to get an overview of RISD’s 2025-2026 GT testing timeline. More information about referring your child for testing, including the referral link, will be communicated as the referral window approaches.

Our library is the heart of the school, and volunteers help bring it to life! By volunteering, you’ll support students as they discover the joy of reading, help keep our collection organized and welcoming, and model the importance of lifelong learning. Whether it’s shelving books or sharing a friendly smile, your time makes a big difference. Volunteering in the library is also a wonderful way to be part of our school community and see firsthand the excitement of students growing as readers. You must be registered in Verkana.

To receive email reminders throughout the year: https://forms.gle/HuPJQC1KhYdQYqK59

To sign up to volunteer in September: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090449A8A829ABF85-58221416-library

Cleaning out your closets and looking for a place to donate them? The RISD Clothes Closet is looking for your help! See the flyer below for how to drop off donations and click the link below to volunteer at the clothes closet on Tuesdays! This is a great way to give back to all RISD students and families!

NHE Volunteer Opportunities: RISD Council of the PTAs Clothes Closet

Mark your calendars for NHE's Annual Movie Night on Wednesday, October 15th! This is a community event so invite your neighbors and come watch Lilo & Stitch with us!!! As always, the movie is FREE but you must pre-purchase your meal tickets before October 8th. Meals include a hamburger or cheeseburger from In-N-Out, chips, and a drink. Click the link below to order your meal and we can't wait to see you there!

Do you have a neighbor with a Future Falcon or know someone who is considering elementary school options for their preschool child? If so, then please share this flyer with them! This is our annual Prospective Parent Night where parents of young children can come learn about our amazing neighborhood school from administrators, teachers, and parents!

Starting Tuesday, September 2 (the day after Labor Day), families are welcome to join their children for lunch! We’ve taken a little time to get our cafeteria routines in place so everyone feels comfortable and safe.

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.

• NHE Lunch Schedule 25-26
  
  

• 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!

How can bond dollars be used?

- How does RISD’s move to a middle school model from a junior high model impact Bond 2025?

- Why build a standalone Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center?

- Are property taxes frozen for RISD residents over age 65?

Get the facts and see FAQs about #RISDBond2025: https://web.risd.org/home/bond2025-faq/

To help parents and community members learn more about Bond 2025 and its potential impact on their campus, Richardson ISD is holding a series of information sessions.

You are highly encouraged to attend an information session in our community to learn more. Upcoming meeting dates are below.

• Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. – Richardson North Junior High

• Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m. – Parkhill Junior High

• Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m. – Richardson West Junior High

• Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m. – RISD Administration Building Auditorium

• Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. – Westwood Junior High

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For more information, including a video overview and a schedule of all information sessions, please visit the official Bond 2025 website at https://web.risd.org/home/bond2025/.

All information sessions are open to the public.

Spanish interpretation services are available. To submit your request, please email Teresa Ordóñezor call 469-593-0312 with 24-hours in advance.

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.

🔎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/

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