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ECHS OWL Update

August 18, 2024

ECHS OWLUpdateAugust 18, 2024

Early College High School News

Mission Statement

Our ECHS Owls are taught to have H.O.P.E.--faith in the premise that they can create OPPORTUNITY and a better future through EFFORT, HARD WORK, and PERSONAL COURAGE. This idea of H.O.P.E. is woven into the fabric of our ECHS family.


Greetings ECHS School Community!


It was Fantastic to greet ALL of our students August 13th for the First Day of School! On Tuesday & Thursday, our Owls headed to their B-Day classes and Wednesday & Friday, students navigated their A -Day schedules. Also,each day, our Advisories meet together daily. Advisories at ECHS are designed to ensure equity within a multi age group design (ie. 9th -12th graders in every advisory), encourage opportunities for student leadership, building campus community and students supporting one another via tutoring, study groups and meeting new classmates.


As we begin next week, ECHS teachers will continue establishing classroom communities with their students. In addition, teachers will continue to unpack their course expectations, class syllabi and begin introducing academic content. ECHS students and parents are reminded to please review the student/parent handbook and submit the Acknowledgement Form. HANDBOOK UPDATES have been provided about both attendance and exemptions. Also, please be sure to check out the areas of Tardies, Dress Code, Classroom and Lunch Expectations. Several friendly reminders regarding the aforementioned areas were shared with individual students during the first week of school. PLEASE NOTE: Our campus expectations will go into FULL EFFECT beginning the week of August 19th.


We regret there have been some buses arriving late since the start of school, given timely arrival to school each day is important for all ECHS students. Please know, we have been in contact with the transportation office and our district support staff, regarding late arrival concerns for specific buses assigned to ECHS in order to see improvements soon. Also our ECHS teachers have been made aware, as will ACC professors, so as not to penalize the students. Please be assured, as noted in our tardy policy, students will not be counted late when their bus arrives on campus late.


We are looking forward to a great 2024-2025 school year together!


Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.


GO OWLS!

Dr. Wilson

UPCOMING Events:

August 23rd: First “C” Day of the school year

August 26th: First Day of ACC Classes for the Fall Semester

September 2nd: Labor Day - Student & Staff Holiday

CAMPUS REMINDERS:

RECAP: 2024-2025 RRECHS Handbook & Acknowledgement Form

Thanks to the RRECHS students and parents who have already submitted their acknowledgement forms. If you haven’t done so already, please take time to review the 2024-2025 Round Rock Early College High School Student/Parent Handbook and submit the following 2024-2025 Student & Parent Acknowledgement Form.


Please know, failure to read and submit the RRECHS handbook and Student & Parent Acknowledgement Form, does not excuse the student from any consequences if they are in violation of any policy and procedure.


Thanks in advance for your timely attention to this request.

NEW Drop Off & Pick Up Location

Due to several construction projects happening on campus, one being OUR BUILDING, student drop off & pick up will be located in Parking Lot K & L. In addition, bus drop off and pick up will take place along the drive near the 8000 building.


Please see the map below.

Transcript Requests

Transcripts can be requested here. Please allow up to 2 business days for processing after payment is submitted. You will receive an email after the transcript is sent electronically, or when it is ready for pickup.


District-Wide Transcript Price Increase - On July 1, 2024 the price for transcripts increased to $5.00 each. This includes both electronic and certified paper transcripts.

ECHS “OWL”standing News!

First Day of School!

The first day of school went very smoothly thanks to all the time and preparation of our teachers and staff! It was great to greet and welcome all our OWLS! MANY THANKS to our ECHS Parents, Office Team and Ms. Leti for all their assistance as well! Also, we appreciate our ECHS PTSA and parents for their partnership.

The ECHS Student Council hosted an ECHS Senior Sunset on August 13th, 2024, the first day of school.


This was an opportunity for our Seniors to watch the sunset on their first day of their final year at ECHS together. Students were encouraged to bring their own food and snacks as they awaited the sunset on their Last “First Day of School”.

THANKS TO OUR ECHS PTSA!

MANY THANKS to ECHS PTSA president, Robyn Lynch, ECHS treasurer Kendall Reass and our wonderful PTSA; for providing the ECHS staff a tasty August 12th Chuy’s lunch & learning mini-session!

Felicity M.(ECHS Senior/Class of 2025): MITES & US Naval Academy Summer Programs

"This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in two prestigious programs: MIT’s Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) and the United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar. At the Naval Academy, I experienced life as a Midshipman, worked out with Navy SEALs, took STEM classes, and made new friends along the way!!


At MITES, I explored computer science and astrophysics through challenging coursework. I also had the chance to attend one-on-one admissions sessions with MIT admissions representatives, connect with leaders in the STEM community, and make new friends there too!


I am extremely grateful for these opportunities and excited to apply what I’ve learned back at ECHS. I’m also looking forward to helping underclassmen navigate their own academic and extracurricular journeys- I'm always here (and excited) to help!"

Voting begins this week for our Homecoming theme! Pick your favorite theme here!

VOTE HERE!


ECHS PTSA is hosting our first ever Homecoming Dance this year! If you’re a PTSA member and interested in being a part of the planning committee, please contact us at president@echsptsa.com


Want to support Homecoming? You can! We’re having a Spirit Night at Panda Express on September 2! All proceeds from this event go directly to making our first Homecoming a night to remember!

Helen Holmes (Students whose last names begin with M-Z)

helen_holmes@roundrockisd.org


Valerie Laugier (Students whose last names begin with A-L)

valerie_laugier@roundrockisd.org

Wellness & Student Voice at ECHS!

Are you interested in fostering a positive school culture at ECHS? Get involved with Project Culture. . .Join the Wellness Team to promote mental, physical, academic, and social health, or join AISA (Active Input in Student Affairs), our Student Voice Group supported in part by our PTSA!


2024-2025 is sure to build upon what we have started and solidify our school culture through, not only mental and physical wellness, but also belonging. Community is the cornerstone of innovative schools. It’s what ensures that everyone feels emotionally safe and is thriving. To foster belonging, we emphasize student-to-student support, and relationship building. To get involved, contact the following sponsors:

Wellness - Mrs. Foerster & Mrs. Holmes

AISA - Mrs. Reass & Mrs. Holmes


Check out our YouTube channel and the fantastic videos the student Wellness Team has made!

Mental Health & Other Resources for 2024-2025

Crisis resources for anything related to mental health, dating violence, and substance use. This includes a 24-hour hotline and text line.


Community resources including financial, food, medical, dental, and mental health assistance.



More student and parent resources can be found on the district Counseling Services and Behavioral Health websites.

RRISD Health Services website for info and medical forms:

https://roundrockisd.org/health-services/



RRISD Covid website:

https://roundrockisd.org/covid/

ACC UPDATES:

ACC RESOURCES

DISTRICT UPDATE:

Round Rock ISD trustees call for $998 million bond

Aug 16, 2024


Voters will consider propositions that provide upgrades and address needs throughout the district.

Round Rock ISD trustees Thursday night called for a $998 million bond election to provide upgrades and address needs throughout the district. This is the district’s first bond in six years and would allow the district to replace instructional technology, HVAC, and other systems that are nearing the end of their useful lives.

By a vote of 5-2, the board last night called for four propositions to be added to the Nov. 5 Election ballot:

  • Proposition A: $798.3 million for maintenance and repair of schools, such as replacing air conditioning systems, roofing, electrical, and plumbing systems that have reached the end of their useful life, and other updates such as fresh paint, new ceiling tiles, and flooring to improve the condition of aging facilities.

    • Prop A also would allow the district to purchase new buses, and the purchase and equip a new facility dedicated to expanding Career and Technical Education programs for all students.

  • Proposition B:$125.3 million to upgrade instructional technology and infrastructure to support modern learning and to increase the speed, connectivity, reliability, and security of the district network.

  • Proposition C: $8.6 million to allow for improvements and upgrades to fine arts programs, such as upgrading outdated stage lighting and sound systems.

  • Proposition D: $65.9 million for improvements to existing athletic facilities such as upgrades to locker rooms, lighting and scoreboards, and adding artificial turf to competition fields. This proposition also includes the construction of a standalone multipurpose athletic facility to be used by students and staff throughout the district.

Round Rock ISD Board President Amber Feller Landrum said she is grateful for the community’s and Board’s efforts in finalizing a project list that will impact students and staff at every campus.

“I understand your passions. You will talk about your service being on this committee for a very long time,” Landrum said. “I am excited for this bond. I wanted to approach this bond and this process by looking at this entire district, and I am so thrilled to say that every school will be touched.”

Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez thanked the hundreds of community members who served on the district’s Long-Range Facilities Master Plan Committee, as well as on the Citizens Bond Committee (CBC).

Supported by campus staff and district administration, the CBC brought its final proposal to trustees July 8 after months of site visits, meetings and data collection.

“This was truly a team effort to ensure that the propositions we offer to our voters would impact all our students and our hardworking staff,” Dr. Azaiez said. “I am so thankful for the countless hours of work to finalize a list of projects that will expand and enhance programs and facilities throughout our district.”

District officials will hold a series of in-person and virtual events during the fall to educate voters on specifics of the propositions. Those dates are still to be determined.

To learn more about the Round Rock ISD 2024 Bond, visit bond.roundrockisd.org.

This Week’s Inspirational Quote:

Have you seen Early College High School on Facebook and on Twitter?

Early College High School is on Facebook and Twitter!


Please like us on Facebook @RRISDECHS and follow us on Twitter @ECHS_RRISD to see what is happening at ECHS!

In an effort to maintain our good health, safety and well being; we are ALL encouraged to please continue following the current restrictions instituted within our school district, city, state and nation.


Please take care of yourselves!

Elizabeth Wilson
Elizabeth is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters