The Walker Connection

As we step into another exciting week at Paula Walker Elementary, we have two wonderful milestones to highlight!

First, this week is Red Ribbon Week! Our students will be engaging in age-appropriate activities focused on making healthy choices, building positive habits, and taking care of their minds and bodies. Be sure to check your child’s folder and our social media pages for our daily dress-up themes as we celebrate living a healthy, drug-free life!

Second, we are officially wrapping up our month of Student-Led Conferences. It has been an absolute joy watching our students take ownership of their learning, share their goals, and celebrate their academic progress with you. Thank you to all of our families who took the time to partner with us and attend these conferences—your involvement and encouragement make a world of difference in your child's success.

Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and dedication to our school community!

October 30th will be Storybook Character Day.

Learn more about these awesome leaders below:

GT Testing will take place in January and is open to all students in grades 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. (All Kindergarten and 2nd grade students are screened as a grade level during December/January.)

The Referral Form can be reached by going to: https://shorturl.at/dqXf6 or stopping by the office and picking up a paper copy.

The window for referrals begins on November 2nd. All forms must be turned in no later than December 18, 2026. Late referrals will not be accepted.

Contact Candace Cronkhite (candace.cronkhite@rcisd.org) with questions.

As we kick off the year, please review two important updates regarding our cafeteria routines:

• No Third-Party Food Deliveries: To maintain campus security and prevent instructional and operational disruptions, food deliveries from services like DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub will not be accepted for students. Any orders delivered to the front office will be turned away. If your student forgets their lunch, they may pick up a standard meal in the cafeteria or receive a delivered lunch dropped off directly by a parent/guardian.

• Parent Lunch Visits Resume Soon: We love hosting family visitors! Parent lunch visits will officially begin on Monday, September 14th. This initial window gives our students time to master cafeteria routines, bond with peers, and adjust to their daily schedules. After that, we are happy to welcome parents Monday through Thursday to have lunch with their students.

• Lunch schedule adjustments: With changes to instructional minutes, we tried a new lunch schedule and have determined we need to make some minor adjustments. The updated lunch schedule is included below and begins Monday, August 24th.

Birthdays are special milestones, and we enjoy helping our students feel celebrated while also ensuring we maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

If you are planning to send a special treat for your child’s class, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

🎂 Store-Bought Only:
For the safety of all students, especially those with food allergies, all birthday treats must be store-bought and in their original, unopened packaging. This allows us to review ingredient labels and identify potential allergens.

🚫 No Peanuts or Tree Nuts:
Please avoid sending treats that contain peanuts or tree nuts, including products with “may contain nuts” warnings.

🍪 Individually Wrapped Preferred:
Individually wrapped items are greatly appreciated as they make distribution easier and help minimize contact.

🏠 No Homemade Treats:
Unfortunately, homemade treats cannot be accepted due to allergy and safety concerns.

⭐ Non-Food Celebrations:
Consider non-food birthday treats such as pencils, erasers, stickers, bookmarks, or small books. These are wonderful ways to celebrate while allowing all students to participate.

🎈 No Balloons:
To ensure the safety and comfort of all students, balloons are not permitted on campus for birthday celebrations. Balloons can create distractions, safety concerns, and may impact students with allergies or sensitivities.

📅 Communicate with the Teacher:
Please coordinate with your child’s teacher at least 24–48 hours in advance if you plan to bring birthday treats. This allows teachers time to plan for the celebration and ensure it fits smoothly into the classroom schedule.

Thank you for helping us make birthday celebrations fun and safe for everyone!

All campus volunteers must complete a background check for the 2026-2027 school year. Please take a moment to complete the online form linked below.

10/26-10/30 - Fall Book Fair and Red Ribbon Week

10/29 - 4th Grade Program and Book Fair Night

10/30 - Boo Bash

11/5 - 5th Grade Program

11/6 - Kona Ice

11/12 - Picture Retakes

11/18 - All-Pro Dads

11/19 - Turkey Trot Fun Run