RISD School Times — January 8, 2020
Best Entertainment Value In Town
January is the start of high school musical season, and the RISD troupes have something for everyone.
The Theatre Collective at Richardson High School is producing “Urinetown: The Musical,” and Lake Highlands High School Theatre will be performing “Crazy for You.”
Berkner is bringing “The Wiz” to the stage, and Pearce Fine Arts presents “Hairspray.” The Pearce show starts Jan. 25–26, and the curtain rises on the other three shows Thursday, Jan. 30.
“The fine arts departments at each of our four high schools collaborate to create amazing productions,” said RISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Jeff Bradford. “We thank RISD stakeholders for their continued support and invite all residents to join us for the best entertainment value in town.”
Showtimes and tickets are available on the schools’ theater arts pages linked above.
School Board Recognition Month
Every January, we recognize our Trustees, who work tirelessly to ensure “All Means All” in RISD.
This group of seven RISD residents volunteer their time to set the tone for a learning environment that prepares students for the 21st century.
We are grateful for the servant leadership of Board President Justin Bono and Trustees Jean Bono, Kim Caston, Karen Clardy, Regina Harris, Kristin Kuhne and Eron Linn.
RHS Students Help Organize Anti-Vaping Event
RISD continues to raise anti-vaping awareness as instances of student vaping increased substantially last year.
Health occupations students at Richardson High School helped organize an event Saturday, Jan. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. in the RHS library to further efforts to stop students from vaping. Inhaling a substance, mixed with water vapor, into the lungs through an e-cigarette device is dangerous and prohibited on all RISD campuses.
These substances typically contain substantial amounts of nicotine mixed with a flavoring in a cartridge. Other substances are also often inhaled through vaping, including illegal substances such as THC. Students found vaping or in possession of an e-cigarette face suspension. Under state law, students found vaping THC or in possession of a cartridge with THC can face felony arrest and potential expulsion.
Parents, please join us Saturday at RHS to learn what to look for. RISD’s awareness efforts with students are focusing on the health impact and legal/disciplinary consequences of making a choice to vape at school. There is a misconception that vaping is harmless. It is not.
Again, vaping is prohibited on all RISD campuses.
Pearce Alum Gives Back to RISD Foundation
The Richardson ISD Foundation, formerly known as the RISD Excellence in Education Foundation, recently received a generous donation from Tucker, Albin & Associates.
CEO Allen Humphris presented Maria Conroy, Executive Director of the Foundation, with a check that will benefit students across RISD. Humphris attended RISD schools, including Pearce High School.
District Calendar
- 2019–20 Student Academic Calendar
- LiveWise LiveHealthy November/December Calendar
- January 20 — Student and Staff Holiday
- January 21 — Student Holiday/Staff Development
- January 22 — Board of Trustees Meeting
- February 17 — Student Holiday/Staff Development
- March 16–20 — Spring Break
Meetings, Events & Fundraisers
- RISD Athletics Calendar
- Fine Arts Calendar for January
- January 11 — #EscapeTheVape
- January 16 — Screen Time at PDC
- February 8 — Sing With Espree LHHS Choir Workshop
- February 21 — Altrusa Scholarship Application Deadline
Reminders
Candidates for May 2 Election Must File Between Jan. 15-Feb. 14
Single-Member District 3 and At-Large Place 6 will be on the ballot on Saturday, May 2.
Prospective candidates can obtain election information packets via email by completing the request on the district’s website at risd.org/bot or at the RISD Administration Building, 400 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson, TX 75080 during normal office hours.
The first day to file for a place on the May 2 ballot is Wednesday, Jan. 15, and the deadline to file is 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14.
DCAD Tornado Damaged Property Reappraisal
Dallas Central Appraisal District has completed the reappraisal of properties damaged by the Oct. 20 tornado.
In December, DCAD mailed a special notice of appraised value for property damaged in natural disaster area letter and a special supplemental notice of appraised value. These documents will provide the pre- and post-tornado property values.
The deadline to protest the reappraisal is Jan. 21.
DCAD reappraised 1,207 properties in RISD with an overall decrease in value of about $29.1 million that led to a tax revenue decrease of about $412,000. The lost revenue won’t impact the district’s finances due, in part, to the equalization process included in the state’s funding of public education.
Read the tornado reappraisal FAQs.
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 the school 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.
