Hello Northlake,

I hope this message finds all of you enjoying this amazing weather! I am so thankful for the cooler temperatures and the little bit of rain that we had last week. Last week was a busy one at Northlake, the short weeks are always busy. Teachers and students have been busy with beginning of the year testing. We'll be looking at data over the next few weeks and helping students set goals for themselves. We had a great PTA Board Meeting on Thursday night, followed by a business heavy general meeting. PTA has lots of exciting things planned and I'm so thankful for all their hard work and support. If you haven't joined our Northlake PTA yet, please take a few minutes to do so. It costs $10 and there is no time commitment. However, there are several opportunities for you to volunteer as your schedule allows. This past week, Mrs. Walker and I met with grades 1st - 5th to go over our expectations and reviewed the Code of Civility with each grade level. Please take a few minutes and talk to your kids about what they learned. I've already heard from some parents that your children shared the difference between having a conflict with someone and bullying. I love that some of them are already sharing new learning with you! Looking ahead, we have PTA and Meet the Teacher on Thursday evening from 5:30-7:00. We'll start in the cafeteria where teachers will be introduced and then you will have an opportunity to visit your child's classroom. We have two sessions where teachers will present some information about their classroom/grade level and you'll have some time to look around your child's classroom. I hope to see you on Thursday night!

Ms. Kellagher

Please be sure to come meet your child's teacher and learn a little more about what AVID looks like in your child's classroom. We will start in the cafeteria and have two information sessions where you can go visit your child's grade level and classroom. Some grade levels may stay together to present some information, but you'll have an opportunity to see your child's classroom as well.

5:30-5:50 - PTA Meeting and teachers are introduced

6:00-6:25 - Session 1

6:30-6:55 - Session 2

B.U.G. Lunches are back! During the first nine weeks we are looking for students that are Being Unbelievably Good! Teachers are looking for kiddo's that are making good choices, being helpful, showing great character, etc. When students get a BUG ticket, it goes into a bag and each Friday, teachers draw a winner to go have lunch with Mrs. Sorensen. They eat lunch in her office and get to play games and have a little treat. Be looking for more BUG winners next week in Northlake Notes!

PTA will be selling student spirit shirts again this year at a discounted price. Thanks to a generous community member who made a donation allowing us to offset the cost of the shirts, we'll be selling them for $2 each. This price is only available for Northlake students and each family may purchase one shirt at this price. More information will be coming home soon once the shirts are in and ready for purchase.

You guys have been doing a great job in the carpool line. We really appreciate your patience as we work to get all the kiddo's in and out of school safely and in a timely manner. Here are a few reminders:

• Please stay in your car at all times. Do not park in the carpool line.
• We will help get younger children in and out of their cars.
• Pre K/ECSE/SDC pick up begins at 3:00. If you have older students and are in the pick-up line too early, we will send you around to get in the carpool line at 3:10. Kindergarten - 5th grade car riders are dismissed at 3:10.
• There is no left hand turn on Ravensway at the end of the carpool line.
• There is no left hand turn on Church from Ravensway.

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 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.

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 grades. We will not send a home paper copy of your child's report card. So, please be sure to sign up for an account soon!

The district has updated the Elementary Dress Code. Please be sure your students are dressed appropriately for school each day. Please let me know if you have any questions.

We will not allow lunch visitors for the first few weeks of school. We will use this time to establish our routines and procedures in the cafeteria. Teachers will be eating with their students in the cafeteria for the first week and a half and will use this opportunity to teach students the expectations in the lunch room.

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 your 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 our Student Data Specialist, Mrs. Logan at pam.logan@risd.org.

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 the link below 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.

We are so fortunate to have a wonderful PTA. They have been working so hard already this year! PTA has helped with school supplies, spirit wear, Back to School Night, Reflections, etc. Our Garden Committee is planning Phase II of our NLE Garden and the Carnival Committee is planning for our annual NLE Fall Carnival later this month. Please be sure to check out their website for different ways you can help out. You can also reach out to Amanda Hinders at Preseident@NorthlakePTA.com for more information about PTA.

We need your help! We are working hard to grow our PTA membership. It costs $10 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!

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.

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 and patient as we all get used to these new measures. As you enter the building, please 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.

September 11 - First Responder Day and 9/11 Remembrance

September 12 - Meet the Teacher and PTA Meeting 5:30-7:00

September 16 - Paw Prints go to PE - 6:00 PM

September 18 - Early Release Day - Dismissal at 1:00

September 20 - The NED Show

September 27 - Doughnuts with Grown-ups - 7:15 AM on the playground