RISD School Times — January 29, 2020
RISD Sweeps Engineering, Design Categories at AAMAB
RISD students swept the engineering and design competition at the 11th annual African American Male Academic Bowl at The University of Texas at Dallas.
The Apollo Junior High Scholars took first, the Apollo Junior High Innovators placed second and the Skyview Elementary Admirals finished third.
The college hosts teams of sixth, seventh and eighth grade boys from across North Texas to compete in a three-tiered academic competition. The teams earn points by participating in an academic quiz bowl, MathCounts and an engineering and design competition. Eighteen teams from RISD competed, including teams from Merriman Park, Skyview, Stults Road and Thurgood Marshall elementary schools and Apollo, Liberty and Richardson North junior high schools.
“What an inspiring day, watching 48 teams from various schools and organizations around the metroplex compete in this challenging three-prong academic tournament,” RISD Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Angie Lee said. “Watching our young men stand boldly and proudly in their brilliance, competing confidently against peers and walking away as the top scholars was a joy to watch. They’ve all worked so hard, and it’s great to see them reap the rewards.”
Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker shared his thanks to Lockheed Martin for their sponsorship of the event, which included an F-35 simulator. The annual “Aim For The Stars” competition seeks to inspire these young men to excel in high school.
Berkner DECA Seniors Lead Texas in Hotel Management
Berkner seniors Nathan Hoang and Michael May finished №1 in Texas, №2 in the southern region and №3 in the nation in the DECA virtual business challenge for hotel management. RISD fared well at the district competition, as 68 Pearce students advanced to the state competition.
Richardson High School seniors Tamjeed Islam and Luke Mulvey won first place in the district DECA competition for their work with the community on mental health awareness for teens.
DECA, formerly the Distributive Education Clubs of America, “prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.”
Richardson Mayor Paul Volker hosted the RHS students this week and proclaimed Jan. 31 as Mental Health Awareness Day, presenting the young men with a City Proclamation as they prepare for the state DECA competition in February.
At the district level, their charge was to create a campaign to bring more awareness about mental health to the city and other North Dallas communities.
Islam and Mulvey handed out information packets to fellow RHS students one morning, started an online presence supported by alumni, the mayor and city council, and partnered with the national crisis text line. Anyone can text 741741 in a time of need. The crisis text line is a free app that connects people to a trained professional who can help.
Islam and Mulvey provided fellow students with a purple “RHS-STRONG #741741” wristband to further promote awareness and provide support to peers who may be suffering from anxiety, depression, loneliness, emotional abuse, bullying, sexual abuse, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and other school stressors.
RISD Remembers
This week is Holocaust Remembrance Week. The Texas Legislature mandated public schools educate students about the Holocaust to inspire within young Texans a sense of responsibility to recognize and uphold human value and to prevent future atrocities.
RISD is holding age-appropriate instruction this week, including information about the history of and lessons learned from the Holocaust, as well as learning projects that use materials developed or approved by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.
Save The Date
PBK Architects Supports RISD Foundation Boots & Bowties Bash
PBK Architects is once again sponsoring the Richardson ISD Foundation’s Boots and Bowties Bash, which is set for Saturday April 25.
This is the second year PBK has been the presenting sponsor and the first year the Texas-based firm will honor exemplary RISD teachers at the event. The Boots and Bowties Bash raises money for scholarships, programs, supplies, grants and professional development.
Foundation Executive Director Maria Conroy thanked Todd Spore for the donation and told him the entire district is grateful PBK Architects continues to support RISD.
All Juniors Can Take ACT Test for Free
All Richardson ISD juniors can take the ACT test for free on Tuesday March 24. Students will take the test at their home campus.
The ACT is one measure colleges and universities consider during the application process. There are five sections to the test RISD students will take on March 24: English, math, reading, science and writing.
SMU holds an ACT boot camp at the RISD Professional Development Center on Belt Line Road for juniors and seniors looking to improve their scores. There are also test prep materials available online. Please contact the counselor at your school if you have more questions about the free ACT test.
District Calendar
- 2019–20 Student Academic Calendar
- LiveWise LiveHealthy January/February Calendar
- February 17 — Student Holiday/Staff Development
- February 27 — Online Enrollment for 2020–21 Begins
- March 16–20 — Spring Break
Meetings, Events & Fundraisers
- RISD Athletics Calendar
- Fine Arts Calendar for January
- February 1 — ACT Boot Camp at SMU
- February 4 — MAC Open House at RHS
- February 5 — World Read Aloud Day
- February 8 — Sing With Espree LHHS Choir Workshop
- February 10 — MAC Open House at Berkner
- February 11 — MAC Open House at Pearce
- February 13–16 — PTA Used Book Fair
- February 19 — College Credit Night
- February 19 — Elementary Magnet Info Night at HPPM
- February 21 — Altrusa Scholarship Application Deadline
- February 27 — Online Enrollment for 2020–21 Begins
- February 29 — RMSIP Application Deadline
Reminders
Technology Survey for Parents
RISD is once again using BrightBytes.net to survey parents, students and teachers about the use of technology in education. The survey is only available for parents on their school’s homepage.
Parent input is very important for instructional technology planning in RISD. There are no right or wrong answers to the survey questions, and everyone will have a different set of responses, depending on their experiences. All survey responses are confidential.
The survey closes this Friday Jan. 31.
Census 2020
Richardson ISD is providing information to educate, encourage and engage our school community about the upcoming U.S. Census, and we encourage your participation.
RISD will continue to update this website as we prepare for Census Day on April 1.
Do You Have an Amazing Counselor?
Last year, RISD established a counselor of the year award: Leader of the Heart. The recognition will coincide with National School Counselor week this year from Monday Feb. 3 through Friday Feb. 7.
Counselors who have been with RISD at least one full school year are eligible, and anyone can nominate a deserving RISD educator who embodies the heart of a school counselor. The winner will be notified during the first week of February, will represent RISD in the process to determine the Texas School Counselor of the Year and also get to attend the American School Counselor Association conference in Las Vegas in the summer of 2021.
Please use this link to nominate your campus counselors. The deadline is this Friday Jan. 31.
Connecting With School
RISD administration and individual schools regularly provide messages to parents of enrolled students with school information, important dates, reminders, and safety information.
In order to reach parents, schools must have accurate contact information.
When inclement weather causes RISD to cancel or delay school, parents and staff are notified by telephone, email and text message.
If you have changed your phone number or email address since enrolling your child, please provide updated contact information to your school’s front office.
Questions?
Your child’s school is the best resource for questions about school schedules and operations.
Parents may also contact the main RISD switchboard at 469–593–0000 or email the district at risd@risd.org.
Volunteering in RISD
A new background check is required every school year for all volunteers at RISD schools.
Parents, grandparents and community members must be cleared prior to volunteering at school activities, so the beginning of the school year is the best time to complete that process.
