Email: REScommunications@katyisd.org
Website: https://www.katyisd.org/campus/res/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 19711 Clay Road, Katy, TX, USA
Phone: 281-237-8500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhoadsElementary

A quick reminder: Friday, December 20th, is a half day, with dismissal at 12:05 PM.

We wish you and your family a joyful, safe, and restful winter break. Enjoy this special time with loved ones, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

December 20th- Half Day Early Dismissal 12:05 PM

December 23rd -January 3rd Winter Break

January 6th Professional Learning No Students

🎉 Important Details:

-Half Day for Students: Dismissal at 12:05 PM.
-Contact your Homeroom teacher for finalized party details if they have not shared communication.

🚨 No Outside Food Policy:

-No outside food from students or parents will be allowed on this day.
-Food brought to school will be held in the front office, and parents will need to pick it up.
-Drop-offs or walk-ins with food will not be accepted or delivered to students.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to make this a smooth and fun celebration!

🎄 Happy Holidays!

The holiday season is here, and we’re ready to celebrate with 10 Days of Holiday Cheer! Starting Dec. 9th, join us in spreading festive spirit by dressing up each day. Whether it’s cozy pajamas, holiday colors, or fun accessories, we can’t wait to see your creative outfits! Let’s make this season merry and bright together! 🎄✨

🌟 RISE and SHINE at Rhoads Elementary! 🌟

Did you know that every school day counts? Regular attendance helps students build good habits, stay on top of their learning, and connect with their classmates and teachers. When students show up, they shine brighter every day!

In November, 2nd Grade led the way with an outstanding 95.17% attendance rate, and our top homeroom was Ms. Risser’s class 5th grade class with an incredible 98.97% attendance rate! 🎉

Let’s keep up the momentum, Rockets! Being present every day helps us all learn, grow, and achieve. Together, we can R.I.S.E. and shine! 🚀

Physical/Hard Copy Government-Issued Identifications

As Katy ISD continues its review of safety practices and protocols, it's essential to stress the significance of physical/hard copy government-issued identifications for accessing campuses/facilities, student registration, and student pickup. The district is strictly enforcing this requirement and will no longer accept paper or digital copies of driver's licenses, visas, and passports at any of its campuses or facilities, for these purposes. Katy ISD greatly appreciates the community's cooperation with these safety procedures and the ongoing partnership to maintain safe and secure environments across campuses.

All students and staff members are required to wear an ID badge on campus at all times. Katy ISD has provided every student with an ID badge, clear slipcover, and lanyard. Please ensure your student comes to school every day with their ID badge. If an ID badge, slipcover, or lanyard is lost, a replacement will be issued at a cost of $1 per item. As RES is a cashless campus, payments should be made through the PaynGo app. Students are only allowed to use the lanyard provided by the school. Thank you for your cooperation!

We will continue to use the Character Strong - Purposeful People SEL curriculum at Rhoads. Each month, we will highlight and focus on a different character trait. The character trait for the month of December is EMPATHY!

On the last Thursday of each month, we will celebrate what we have learned about each character trait by wearing a corresponding color. The color for December is PURPLE! On Thursday, December 19, we are asking that all students and staff wear the color purple to school. Information and reminders will go out to staff and families prior to that day

ELEMENTARY HEALTH TEKS AND PARENT OPT-IN CONSENT

In accordance with Texas Education Code 28.004 and Senate Bill 9, 5th grade students will receive instruction on the required health TEKS specific to abuse and violence prevention. Under Texas statute, parents must choose to “opt-in” for their 5th grade student to participate in lessons that address the topics of abuse and violence prevention. On September 2, 2024, parents/guardians will receive information via email on how to view the associated lessons and record their decision for student “opt-in” of these lessons. Below are the windows for both the parent opt-in and when lessons will be taught:

• Parent Opt-In Window: September 2nd – September 30th
• Instruction Window: November 4th – December 20th

If your student is a bus rider, look for the white route number on the side of the bus when tracking their bus this school year! And make sure to download the Smart tag™ app from your mobile Google Play Store or Apple App Store! The Smart Tag app allows parents to set their preferred notifications, including when their child’s bus is expected to arrive. You can also see when and where your student boards and exits the bus.

Attention 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade families-

All students in these grades have been assigned a Chromebook. Please make sure your student charges their Chromebook every night and brings it to school each day. Thank you for your support in helping your child stay prepared and engaged!

Please see the flyer below for important information.

Atención familias de 3º, 4º y 5º grado-

A todos los estudiantes de estos grados se les ha asignado un Chromebook. Por favor, asegúrese de que su hijo cargue su Chromebook cada noche y lo traiga a la escuela todos los días. ¡Gracias por su apoyo para mantener a su hijo preparado y comprometido!

Consulte el folleto a continuación para obtener información importante.

There are new procedures in place for students who are walkers in the afternoon:

PK, K, 1st , and 2nd - Students will wait behind the gate that leads to the playground at the back of the school building. Parents/guardians must walk down to the gate to pick up their student. Dismissal tags are still required to be shown before a student can be released to an adult.

3rd , 4th , 5th - Students were previously walked to the stop sign on the corner of Windmoor Dr. and Westfield Pkwy. Students will now stop on Windmo0r Dr. before the stop sign (next to the school zone light). Second graders with parent permission to walk alone, and bike riders will also be walked to this stop.

Older students who walk with a younger sibling (PK-2nd) will be required to wait behind the gate until an adult picks up the younger sibling.

Students who are not picked up by 3:10 pm will go to the front office.

As a reminder, if your child is a walker you cannot park in the car rider line or at the church across the street.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our students safe!

Lunch with Your Child: Guidelines and Reminders
We're thrilled to welcome parents and grandparents (with written permission) to join their child for lunch! Please enjoy your time at the designated VIP table, focusing on your child only, and avoid interacting with other students. This helps our teachers maintain a safe environment for everyone. If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to Officer Brooks or one of our teachers.

Just a reminder: lunchtime is not the time for conferences. Please email your child’s teacher to schedule a separate meeting if needed. Additionally, due to privacy concerns, video recorders, voice recorders, or cameras are not permitted during lunch.

Thank you for your cooperation in making lunchtime special for everyone!

TRIGGER POINTS

• 1. Temperature below 45° or wind chill below 40°

• 2. Temperature below 32° or wind chill below 30°

• 3. Temperature or wind chill below 20°

RESPONSE CHECKLIST

1. When the temperature falls below 45° or the wind chill is below 40°:

• Teachers should ensure students are dressed for cold weather before taking them outside.

• Teachers should encourage students to drink water before going outside (proper hydration helps protect against hypothermia),

• Teachers should be attentive to any students showing signs of hypothermia.

2. When the temperature falls below 32° or the wind chill is below 30°:

• Watch for ice formation on walks, especially the boardwalks to temporary classrooms,

• Use sand rather than salt to reduce the risk that walkers will slip on icy sidewalks,

• Outdoor activities for elementary student should be limited to 25 minutes or less,

• Outdoor activities for secondary students should be limited to 40 minutes or less,

• Students with health conditions that could be aggravated by cold should be exempted from outdoor activities.

• Athletics and Fine Arts Department activities are governed by the Athletic Department guidelines.

3. When the temperature or wind chill is below 20°:

• Outdoor activities should be discontinued until the temperature warms.

As we face extreme heat, it's important to keep our students safe. Here’s what you need to know:

Trigger Points:

1. Temperature above 94°F or heat index above 99°F

2. Temperature above 100°F or heat index above 105°F

What We’re Doing:

- Teachers will monitor students for any signs of heat-related illness, especially during the first hot days of the season.

- We’ll encourage students to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

- When temperatures or heat indexes reach our trigger points, we’ll check the conditions hourly starting at noon. We’ll use weather monitors or reliable weather apps for accurate information.

During School Hours:

- If the temperature is above 94°F or the heat index is above 99°F:

- Elementary outdoor activities will be limited to 25 minutes or less.

- Students with health conditions that could be affected by the heat will stay indoors.

- If the temperature is above 100°F or the heat index is above 105°F:

- All outdoor activities will be discontinued.

- At elementary schools, students will stay in air conditioning until it’s time to load onto the bus.

We’re committed to keeping our students cool and safe during these extreme temperatures! 🌞

YOU MUST BE IN THE STUDENT DROP OFFLINE BEFORE 7:45 OR WALK STUDENTS IN

******Please refrain from stopping your vehicle and dropping off your students on Windmoor Dr. during morning car rider drop off in the morning. It is an expectation that all cars, who drop off students, drop them off in the car rider line, where there is proper safety protocols and supervision. We have procedures in place for the safety of our students and staff. ******

NO CHECK OUTS AFTER 2:30 PM

CAR RIDERS NOT PICKED UP BY 3:20 WILL BE TAKEN TO FRONT OFFICE FOR CHECK OUT

BIRTHDAY TREATS AND DELIVERIES

To avoid interruption of classes, messages will be delivered to students only in extreme emergencies. Student delivery of flowers, balloons, food (including birthday treats), and other such items are prohibited at school.

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

Need to make a transportation change for your child? You can email Rhoads Elementary at REScommunicatons@katyisd.org with your transportation change and a copy of your ID. Call the front office at 281-237-8500 if you have any questions.

Please see below information regarding Immunization Clinic dates and locations.

Additional information is also available at the Katy ISD Health Services website

Vision & Hearing Screenings
The clinic is beginning vision and hearing screenings for students. Please make sure your child brings their glasses to school each day if they wear them. If your child is supposed to wear glasses but does not have them at school, please send them in. If their glasses are broken, kindly inform us so we can update our records. This information is crucial for completing the state-mandated screening process. Thank you for your cooperation!

Lice Awareness
We also want to raise awareness about lice prevention. We encourage parents to regularly check their child's hair for lice, especially if they experience itching or discomfort. Please remind your child not to share combs, hats, or other personal items. If you suspect your child has lice, please notify the clinic so we can work together to prevent its spread. Early detection and treatment help keep everyone healthy.

Emergency Contacts & Clothing

• Please ensure your student's emergency contact information is up to date in case we need to reach you quickly.
• We encourage all students to keep an extra set of clothing, including socks and underwear, in their backpacks. Spills and mishaps can happen anytime, and having a change of clothes helps avoid disruptions.
• Dress appropriately for the weather and school activities. For example, tennis shoes are needed for PE. This helps ensure your child is prepared and prevents the need to call parents to bring a change of clothes.