Rayburn Elementary

AUGUST 2021 PARENT NEWSLETTER

Welcome Back Rayburn Rockets!

Dear Rayburn Elementary Families,

Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! Our Rayburn Staff is ready to welcome our students back for in person learning. We are all excited to see everyone both new and returning to Rayburn. I want to start by thanking parents for selecting Rayburn as your school of choice. I know that nowadays there are many options for schools, and I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to contribute to your child’s life. We take this responsibility very seriously and will strive to bring the best learning possible to your child.

As students return to in person learning, please know that we are doing as much as possible to keep them safe. Our district has made many investments to support student and staff safety. Parents can find all the detailed return to school protocols attached below. Your child's teacher will spend the first day teaching healthy habits to students including proper hand washing, watching their distance between others and wearing their mask correctly. This will be reinforced daily by all staff. McAllen ISD has invested in electronic devices for each child and we will continue to use these as a learning tool in the classroom. Please make sure your child's device is charged each evening and sent to school each day. Our district and campus is committed to safety and transparency. We will be informing all parents and staff if there is a positive case anywhere on campus. Please know that general letters informing you of a positive case will be sent via the email address you have provided on Skyward. If your particular child is ever considered in close contact, you will get a personal phone call from Nurse Garza and a second letter directly from me.

I ask for your support in helping us keep our students safe. Please make sure to complete the student wellness screening before sending your child to school each day. You can find the skyward link below or download the app. If your child is feeling ill, please take him/her to their physician rather than send them to school. If your child is ill please inform our school nurse so that she can provide further guidance on a return to school plan. Please encourage your child to follow healthy habits.

This pandemic has impacted our community greatly, and our hearts go out to our families that have suffered a loss during this time. We have immense gratitude for our healthcare and other essential workers, many of whom are our student’s parents and have been instrumental in helping our community through this crisis. For those who have experienced hardship due to the shutdowns, please know that we will do our best to assist your child and provide as much guidance and resources as possible to assist your family. We know student learning was impacted over the past year and a half, and we have a plan for support. We have included time in our schedules and lessons to review previous year skills so that students are better prepared for new learning. We will also be monitoring assessment data closely so that we can properly intervene as needed. Our reteach and enrich program will be more essential than ever this year and we are ready!

Please have patience as we teach our new families drop off and pick up procedures. Traffic can get busy in the mornings and afternoons, so please help us by using the south side drive through and staying attentive to the traffic. Please refrain from being on your phone as well. Keeping the rear passenger side seat available for us to unload and load your child will help things go much smoother. The first two weeks is always a challenge, so I ask for your support.

Please stay updated with information from our school and district through ongoing newsletters, emails and social media. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out by phone or email. Working together, we will bring the best education possible to your child!

Mrs. Clarissa Partida, Rayburn Elementary Principal

Rayburn Elementary Website