Northlake Notes

☀️ Happy Weekend, Northlake Families,

I hope you all got to go out and enjoy the nice weather. It was definitely a weekend where I really enjoyed being a soccer mom. Right now, I've got the windows open and the cool breeze coming in, (it's the best, right, Todd Bowen?) as I settle in to write this week's edition of Northlake Notes.

The month of February has kept us moving quickly, and it seems to be coming to an end just as quickly. We've had Black History activities, garden days, 100th, 101st & 102nd days of school, Lunar New year, field trips, PTA projects like Gaga Ball and Pickleball, Heart Health and Jump Rope contests, Used Book Fair, professional learning and trainings for staff, TELPAS testing, Hoops sign ups, Wellness Week, and School Board proposals for 24-25! Now we're rounding the bend to the final week with Interim Testing, Enrollment 24-25, and Kindergarten Round Up.

Thank goodness we got an extra day with leap year; otherwise, I don't know how we would've fit it all in! While there may be a hive of noise and activity around us, here at Northlake, we never lose sight of our goal of taking things to the next level of excellence. 🏆

For all the important announcements and celebrations from this past week, read on below! 🎉

Be sure to check out the important upcoming dates at the end of the newsletter!

See you tomorrow, 😁

Kylee Wall

Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year opens online Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 8:00 a.m.

Whether you’re new to RISD or returning for another year of school, parents can take advantage of convenient online enrollment using a PowerSchool registration account. Enrollment for returning students will require a “snapcode” that will be emailed to current parents on February 26.

Starting Feb. 27, enrollment for next school year will open for all current or future students in Pre-K through grade 12. Please click here for more information about the enrollment process and what documents are necessary to complete enrollment.

Contact your current (2023-24) RISD school for questions or assistance with enrollment, including help submitting necessary documents.

Kindergarten Round Up has been moved to this Thursday, February 29th at 6:00pm.

If you have an upcoming Kinder aged child, please come to this informational meeting and tour to find out more about Northlake. Please no siblings allowed for this event, as our upcoming Kinders will also have an opportunity to network and make school friends with a Paw Prints Art activity led by Ms. Tovar and our Kinder Team.

We are looking forward to welcoming our incoming Kinder class of 24-25.🧑‍🤝‍🧑👭👬👫

Project RightSize is RISD’s school and facility consolidation plan to support long-term student and teacher success.

• If approved, Project RightSize creates a phased-in, sustainable financial plan that aligns with RISD’s vision and beliefs, including the North Star Goal, Graduate Profile and Strategic Plan.
• The overall goal is to address budget challenges in a way that does not impact the program and services offered to students while allowing RISD to continue to provide educators with competitive compensation that attracts and retains the high quality staff necessary to continue our students' academic growth.
• RISD is committed to standing by our families and employees and supporting them through the changes and transitions in this plan.

For more information on Project Rightsize, please review the information provided at https://web.risd.org/home/project-rightsize/. It is anticipated that the RISD School Board will be voting on these recommendations at a meeting in late March.

Our theme of Black History: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow is still going strong, our students and staff were able to embrace and celebrate their natural selves, learn about (and eat) snacks by African American inventors, and dress as their favorite African American/Afrocentric Heroes! I know I personally enjoyed channeling my inner Jackie Joyner-Kersee!

Check out the "I am..." BHM parade video! 🖤💛💚❤️

Here is the full BHM Calendar. Thank you to PTA for supporting the Northlake Inclusion Team, our students, and our NLE Community.

From Coach Bridges ❤️

NLE families, please give your children a big hug; they have all worked so hard to get ready for our PE Annual Kids Heart Jump Rope Challenge we had on Friday.

Did you know that jump roping has many benefits, from boosting heart health to improving coordination and increasing running speeds? But overall, jumping roping is fun!

Classes experienced a unique warmup by jumping in the dark using our light-up jump ropes. After our students created a magnificent show of lights, they competed in our jump rope contest, with each grade-level winner receiving a jump rope medal!

We want to congratulate the 2023-2024 Northlake Jump Rope Challenge winners:

• Kinder-Ja’kayri M.
• 1st Grade-(Tie) AJ and Madden P.
• 2nd Grade-Gloria P.
• 3rd Grade-Jadon G.
• 4th Grade- Claire W.
• 5th Grade-Graham W.
• 6th Grade-Trae F.
  
  

Thank you to our PE Coaches and our Specials Team for putting together and supporting this event!

Thank you to Ms. Rivka Altman for coming to present and speak to our 6th Graders this week, prior to their field trip on Thursday to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum downtown. Hearing real and personal stories gives our students opportunities to connect learning and better understand the impacts of history.

Students of all grade levels continue to enjoy the new Gaga pits.

Coach Bridges and Coach Manhkong have been introducing the game during PE classes so that all students are able to learn and play. Read on for the NLE rules Gaga Ball.

**NLE style Gaga Ball is not an elimination-style game…

The game is meant to continue without stoppage, moving students in and out, keeping them moving and rotating.

*Only 12 players in the pit to start the game (this is also the maximum number as the game goes on). All players in must have a hand on the wall when the game begins.

*Pick one student to start the ball by rolling it to the center and everyone says “Ga-Ga-Ball”. Upper grades are tossing it in the air, which is fine. Once they say “ball” students can leave the wall and move around or go after the ball to hit it.

*The ball should always stay on the ground on any hit. (Student rotates out if the ball is hit out of the pit)

*If a ball hits a student below the knee to the foot, that student comes out of the pit and goes to the end of the line and the next student in line goes in. The line is formed around the pit starting at the left of the exit.

*All students should enter and exit through the exit route and not over the padded sides.

*Keep the ball always moving and in play when the new player comes in… game continues without stopping.

*The ball can be hit with one hand or two hands.

*The ball can be stopped with a hand and hit once to continue the play (meaning students are allowed two touches to the ball at a time). A 3rd touch is an out.

Suggestions:

4-6 Grades: Play “NLE style” regularly to keep the game fun for all but offer your classes the opportunity to play regular Gaga rules during the last few minutes of Recess or as a reward day or option.

K-3 Grades: we suggest playing “NLE style” at all times during Recess. PE will not introduce regular Gaga ball rules to the lower grades.

Students all over Northlake were busy this week. 1st graders learned coding in classrooms, 2nd graders took their first crack at the announcements and enjoyed the new picnic tables outdoors, while 5th graders had some healthy competition with each other through word analysis games.

Ms. Robarge has had a busy week. Her team and students threw her a baby shower. She and her teammate, Mr. Amador, went to a student's basketball game. Also, she and her team gave out WOW student awards and enjoyed a student earned pizza party, not to mention working the Wellness Wagon with Ms. Fawkes for Sunshine this week. I mean, this lady never stops (believe me, I've tried kicking her out of carpool duty in the morning, and she just won't have it). What 3rd trimester?

All I know is that when Ms. Robarge's baby comes (and none of us know yet if it will be a boy or girl), that kid will know how to have good time, especially if he/she is anything like mom! 🎉👶🍼

In conjunction with Heart Health month, our Northlake Sunshine Committee put together a Wellness Week for our staff. After all, when we are at our best, we can be at our best for our students!

Activities this past week included:

• School appropriate work out wear

• Healthy snacks in the lounge! (thank you for stocking the fridge Lauren Solomon/PTA)

• Pick up a Healthy Habits tracker in the mailroom

• In lieu of staff meeting Thursday, a walk through the neighborhood!

Ms. Fawkes and Ms. Robarge also rolled out the Wellness Wagon on Friday loaded with wellness goodies like Clorox wipes, Emergen C, bath scrubs, facial masks, massagers, and more! An anonymous donor from our community also provided boxed lunches for all staff on Friday.

Thank you to our Anonymous Community Friend, PTA & Sunshine! 🌞

With the advent of spring, comes a little spring fever. Dads Club & PTA are asking volunteers to join in to provide support in the lunchroom and at recess.

If you are interested in volunteering in the lunchroom or at recess, please use this link to sign up. Be sure you have completed the background check via risd.voly.org.

Thanks, Dads (and Moms) ! We appreciate you. ❤️👨👩

If you would like to hear more about Dads Club, please reach out to Brad McCutcheon at DadsClub@NorthlakePTA.com.

We have a new opportunity to volunteer in the garden. In the weeks leading up to our drip-line install, we are needing some watering help.

This opportunity will be for one week at a time, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You would be watering the seedlings for a total of around 20 minutes. It can be done at your convenience, but you won't need to check in if you go after 3pm.

To sign up, click the link: Garden Volunteer Link

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Garden Chair, Rachel Bennion at rachelebennion@gmail.com

If you would like to volunteer at Northlake Elementary, you must complete a volunteer background check EVERY new school year. Volunteering could include helping with class parties, attending field trips with your children, working in the library, helping at Field Day, or many other activities. We will not allow anyone who has not completed and passed the volunteer background check to volunteer.

Please click on this link to complete the background check. You MUST also watch the very short powerpoint at the end to complete the entire background check. Failure to watch the powerpoint will make your application incomplete and you will not be able to volunteer.

Reminder that no crocs or "croc-like" shoes are allowed at school. Many croc-related incidents end up in the Nurse's clinic. Please do not make us have to be the "crocs police", as this rule is part of our district Elementary Dress Code. Please be sure your students are dressed appropriately for school each day. Thank you for your help keeping all our students safe! 👟

You may see Mr. Amador sporting crocs/slides the next week or so.

Unfortunately for Mr. Amador, it is because while he was out grocery shopping, his toe was broken when an older gentleman dropped a giant glass jar of pasta sauce directly onto his big toe.

He is sporting crocs on doctor's orders and because his team is notoriously "toe averse" and could not withstand his coming in slides/sandals. 👣

And yes, he did turn in his doctor's note to Nurse Williams. 😉

Please be sure that children are supervised at all times whether at the Audelia Public Library or the playground next to it. There have been injuries that have happened from students playing without guardian supervision. Please remind your children that if they are walkers, they should be walking straight home from school. The librarians do not supervise students, so please do not allow your children to go to the library without an adult.

The school day is from 7:50-3:10.

• The building opens at 7:30.

• Breakfast is served in the classroom from 7:30-7:50.

• Your child is tardy at 7:51 and will receive a tardy pass to get to class.

• Your child is late for school after 8:05 and a parent will need to sign them in at the office.

• If your child arrives to school after 9:00 AM they are counted absent for the day.

• If you child is absent for any reason, please be sure to send a note to school on the day your child returns, letting us know the reason for the absence. Any excuse notes must be received within 3 days of returning to school in order to receive an excused absence.

If you have any questions regarding attendance, please email lorrie.ford@risd.org.

Parents are welcome to bring a small birthday treat to celebrate their child's birthday. Here are a few reminders:

• Treats must be store bought or baked (cupcakes and cookies are best). We ask for store bought so teachers can see the ingredients listed in order to be mindful of any allergies students may have.
• We do not pass out drinks, party bags or balloons.
• Parents may drop treats labeled with child's name, grade and homeroom teacher, off in the main office, and we will get them to the classroom.
• We will not call students out of class to come to the office for pictures with their treats.
• Teachers will pass treats out at the end of the day.

To have your child's name added to the marquee for their birthday for just $10, please use this link to the PTA website. www.northlakepta.com/birthday-marquee

The district policy is that grades are not printed and sent home; however, you may view your child's grades on the Parent Portal in Focus. If you have not signed up for a Parent Portal Account, please see the information below.

Please be sure to sign up for your Parent Focus Account. This will give you access to all kinds of important student information. Most importantly, you will have access to your child's grade.

web.risd.org/focus/

In the interest of safety & security, every visitor to a Richardson ISD campus must present a valid form of identification and be processed through the Raptor background check system each visit, regardless of previous checks. Please be sure that you have your valid identification with you every time you visit Northlake Elementary. Thank you for your patience and understanding as RISD works to ensure the safety of students and employees. Volunteer questions may be directed to the office of Strategy & Engagement.

Additionally, the front office staff will use the intercom system to ask visitors to identify themselves and the purpose of their visit before granting access to the office. This is part of our heightened security measures. Please be cooperative. As you enter the building, do not allow others to enter with you or to follow you through the doors as you enter or leave. Everyone who enters should ring the buzzer and speak to someone in the office before entering the school building. Thank you!

Parents are welcome to come visit during lunch to eat with their students. We ask that you sign up for a day and time using the sign-up genius. In order to keep students safe and to accommodate everyone, please read through these reminders for visiting Northlake for lunch:

• Sign up for your visit using the Sign Up Genius.
• No Siblings, due to limited space on the stage.
• You may eat lunch with your child only.
• Please do not take pictures of your child while at lunch.
• When you are finished with lunch, please check out through the office. Parents may not go back to class with their children to visit.

bit.ly/NLESpring24LunchSignUp

Parents must apply for their child/children to receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch. Last year everyone received free school breakfast but this year families must apply to receive free or reduced breakfast. The application must be completed as soon as possible to ensure that there is no interruption to their meal service. This application needs to be filled out every year. Please click on the picture or link below to get to the lunch application.

Students are welcome to pack a nutritious lunch from home or a lunch may be purchased in the school cafeteria. If your child happens to forget their lunch from home, please drop it off in the front office by 10:30 AM. This will ensure that the lunch will reach your child by their lunch time. Please refer to the RISD Child Nutrition website for menus, pricing and payment options.

We are so fortunate to have a wonderful PTA. They have been working so hard all year.

If you are interested in volunteering in the lunchroom or at recess, please use this link to sign up. Be sure you have completed the background check via risd.voly.org.

Please be sure to check out their website for different ways you can help out. You can also reach out to Amanda Hinders at President@NorthlakePTA.com for more information about PTA, or if you would like to hear more about Dads Club, please reach out to Brad McCutcheon at DadsClub@NorthlakePTA.com.

We need your help! We are working hard to grow our PTA membership. It costs $8 to join PTA and there is no time commitment needed. We always need volunteers at PTA school events such as Carnival, Multi-Cultural Night and Buddy Fun Day. But, we are flexible and you can work as much or as little as your schedule allows.

You can find more information out about our PTA on their website. Thanks in advance for supporting our school! https://www.northlakepta.com/

Feb 27th - Enrollment Window Opens & Interim Testing (3-6 Reading)

Feb 29th - Interim Testing (3-6 Math)

Feb 29th - Kindergarten Round Up/Paw Prints 6-7pm

March - Texas History Month & National Disability Awareness Month

Mar 1st - PTA Movie Night @Sundown

Mar 4-8th - Texas Public Schools Week & National Public School Breakfast Week

Mar 7th - College/Spirit Shirt Day

Mar 8th - End of 3rd Nine Weeks

Mar 10th - Daylight Savings Ends

Mar 11-15th - Spring Break

Mar 18th - Beginning of 4th Nine Weeks

Mar 21st - College/Spirit Shirt Day & 2nd Grade Field Trip

Mar 22-23rd - Hoops in the Highlands 3v3 Basketball Tournament

Mar 25-29th - Book Fair in Library

Mar 27th - I Know What to Do Day & PTA Meeting/Open House 5:30-7pm

Mar 28th - College/Spirit Shirt Day & 3rd Grade Field Trip

Mar 29th - No School (unless Snow Make up day)