School Times — May 15, 2019
State Champ!
Congratulations to Pearce student Denise Rodriguez for winning the Texas UIL State Shot Put Gold Medal for the third consecutive year!
National Police Week
A huge Thank You to our RISD School Resource Officers during National Police Week. Our amazing SROs, all of whom are Dallas or Richardson police officers, work with students and staff to help keep our schools safe and secure.
Two RISD Teachers Named 2019 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Award Winners
Tobi Brooks, a mathematics teacher at Pearce HS, and Helen Arceneaux, a science teacher at Liberty JH, were surprised in their classrooms with news that they have been selected as winners of the 2019 Texas Instruments Foundation Innovations in STEM Teaching Award. The award, facilitated by the RISD Excellence in Education Foundation, seeks to recognize secondary education STEM teachers who embrace and develop innovative instructional methods that engage students and help instill a love of learning.
“Our top philanthropic priority is education, STEM in particular, and what better way to make an impact than by supporting teachers?” said Andy Smith, Executive Director of the TI Foundation. “Teacher effectiveness is fundamental to student outcomes, and the TI Foundation is proud to honor two RISD teachers as recipients of this year’s STEM Teaching Awards. Both Ms. Brooks and Ms. Arceneaux exemplify excellence in STEM teaching through the hundreds of student lives they influence every year by bringing math and science to life. Congratulations and our gratitude for their commitment!”
Congratulations to two outstanding RISD teachers and thank you to Texas Instruments Foundation!
2020–2021 Student Academic Calendar Options
Parent & Staff Feedback Requested
Parent, staff, and public feedback is requested on the two options under consideration for adoption as RISD’s 2020–2021 Student Academic Calendar. (Please note that RISD’s 2019–2020 Student Academic Calendar was adopted last spring).
The options were reviewed and selected by a calendar committee of RISD parents and staff members after initial evaluation of eight calendar options. In addition, the District Planning Committee of parents, community members and staff members reviewed both final calendar options. Both options share similar elements based on requirements and considerations, including:
- Emphasis on balance of instructional days between the first and second semesters
- Ensuring enough instructional days in the first semester for semester-only classes
- Compliance with Fine Arts/Athletics UIL practice guidelines and schedules
- Instructional minutes reserved for potential inclement weather
- State STAAR/EOC Testing schedules
- Spring Break 2021 is aligned with Dallas County Community College District schedule due to large number of RISD students taking dual credit courses that utilize DCCCD services
- Statutory requirements under Texas Education Code
The school year in both options would begin on August 19, 2020 and conclude on May 28, 2021.
The major differences include:
- Calendar Option A begins the second semester for students on Tuesday, January 5. Monday, January 4 is a staff development day for teachers.
- Calendar Option B begins the second semester for both students and teachers on Monday, January 4. The January staff development day/student holiday is Tuesday, January 19, which is the day after the Martin Luther King Day holiday.
To provide feedback on the 2020–2021 calendar options, please email risd@risd.org or call 469–593–0000.
Feedback received will be shared with Trustees at the May 20 work session, and the 2020–2021 Student Academic Calendar may be adopted as soon as the June 10 regular board meeting.
Watch the calendar presentation and discussion (Item VI L)
RHS Hotel Internship Program Gets Grant to Train, Place Grads in Job
There is a labor shortage in hotels all over the world. Professional services giant Deloitte said the industry has seen 10 consecutive years of growth, and there are more than 1.1 million current job openings in the sector in the U.S. alone.
To help fill this void and align student skills with market opportunities, RISD continues to enhance its Hotel Internship Program at Richardson High School that began a dozen years ago.
The program recently received $7,500 and curriculum resources renewed annually from two industry nonprofits to specifically train and place more job seekers into hotel jobs in the Dallas region.
Click to see RISD-Sponsored Summer Camp Opportunities
#GoVoteRISD
Visit RISD’s GoVote website for updated information about the local runoff elections on June 8. Be informed and make your voice heard!
District Calendar
- May 13–16 STAAR Testing
- May 20 — Board Work Session
- May 27 — Student & Staff Holiday
- May 29 — Last Day of School
- June 2–3 — Class of 2019 Graduation Ceremonies
Upcoming Meetings, Events & Fundraisers
- RISD Athletic Events Calendar
- May Fine Arts Calendar
- RISD Assessment Calendar
- Class of 2019 Elementary Senior Breakfasts & Walks
- May 17 — Hospitality Industry Job Fair — RISD Professional Development Center
- May 17 — Berkner Booster Club Scholarship Golf Outing
- May 21 — LHHS Choirs A Salute to America Memorial Day Concert
- May 24–25 — Wallace ES Seussical Jr. the Musical
- May 25 — SAT Prep Boot Camp
- June 1 — ACT Prep Boot Camp
Reminders
2018–19 Individual Student STAAR Results
Individual student results are now available for the first administration of the 5th & 8th grade Texas Math & Reading STAAR assessments. Parents may access individual student STAAR results through the Focus student information system. Individual student results of STAAR tests in other grades and subjects are expected between May 30 and June 12.
STAAR exams for grades 3–8 are being administered this week.
Parents without access to the Internet may contact their child’s school for a paper copy of individual student STAAR results.
Learn more about accessing individual student STAAR results
Learn more about creating a Focus account to view student STAAR, grade, and attendance information
Enroll Your Child Online for the 2019–20 School Year
All students who will be new or returning to RISD for the 2019–20 school year may now enroll online. Paper enrollment is no longer available. Parents whose children will be attending school in RISD in 2019–20 should enroll online without delay.
Like last year, returning students will need a unique “snapcode” to enroll. Snapcodes were sent to parents by their child’s current school — contact your school if you need a snapcode or would like to use a school device to enroll your child online.
Please visit the online enrollment page to learn more* including the information parents will need in order to enroll online.
- Updated web browser may be required.
Have a Question About RISD?
We’re glad you asked!
From time to time, students, parents, residents or taxpayers have questions about information or issues related to RISD, but aren’t sure who to ask or where to go for information. We’re Glad You Asked is a feature on the RISD website that lets stakeholders ask questions about anything related to RISD, and you’ll receive an emailed response from the appropriate RISD staff member. Some questions & answers may be featured in district publications.
Simply visit risd.org/gladyouasked to use this feature.
