Northlake Notes
December 21, 2023
October 13, 2024
Ms. Kellagher's Message
I hope you have been enjoying the long weekend so far! I have taken Rudy on a couple good walks with the cooler mornings and it's been lovely. We worked on Friday and had a great morning of Professional Development and then teachers were able to work in their classrooms and plan for the afternoon and that was a welcome gift of time.
We'll see you all on Tuesday, October 15th.
:) Ms. Kellagher
Elementary Night
Spirit Shirts
Most spirit shirts were distributed last week. We did run out of a couple sizes and PTA has placed another order. As soon as shirts are in, we will send them home. Thanks for your patience!
Referral for Gifted and Talented Testing
RISD elementary students in grades K-6 may test once per year to determine if they qualify for gifted/talented services. The window to refer your child/ren for testing opens October 4, 2024 and closes October 18, 2024. If you would like your child/ren to be tested to determine if they qualify for gifted/talented services, please complete this 2024-2025 Elementary Referral for GT Testing Google Form. This form will not accept responses outside of the referral window.
Please see the information below to determine if you should refer your elementary school child/ren to participate in testing for potential gifted identification.
- Kindergarten, 1st grade, 3rd-4th grades: referral form required
- 2nd grade: Please do not complete a referral. All RISD 2nd grade students are universally tested.
- 5th grade: Please do not complete a referral. All 5th grade students are universally tested.
- GT2 students: Students who are identified for GT2 services (30-45 minutes per week) may retest for potential qualification for GT3 services (2 hours per week). Referral form required if you want your GT2 child/ren to test.
- Please note: All 2nd and 5th grade students are automatically tested, including GT2 students. Please do not complete a referral for your GT2 child/ren if they are in either of these grades.
Elementary testing occurs on each campus throughout the late fall and winter. To learn more about testing timelines, please read this Smore newsletter. Jeana Braley, the Advanced Learning Teacher will communicate specific testing dates with you as the testing window approaches.
Kindergarten test results will be shared with families and campuses on February 28, 2025. Results for 5th grade will be shared January 17, 2025. All other grade level test results will be shared on March 7, 2025. GT services will begin for all newly identified GT students no later than fall of the 2025-2026 school year. If you have questions, please email our Advanced Learning Teacher: Jeana Braley, jeana.braley@risd.org
B.U.G. Lunches
Ms. Sorensen continues to host B.U.G. lunches each Friday and I think she would tell you, it's the highlight of her week! It's so fun to get some time to visit with our kids during lunch and to recognize them for Being Unbelievably Good!
Carnival
Our annual Northlake Carnival is this Thursday and we need your help!
- Please click the link below to volunteer and help at the carnival.
- Please donate a cake for the cake walk! Cakes may be dropped off in the front office during the day on Thursday.
- Please come to the carnival and have a great time!
It takes a team effort to pull off a successful carnival and our PTA does a great job each year.
*Wrist bands will be on sale after school from 2:45-3:30. PTA will be set up at the end of the carpool line, at the picnic tables. Wristbands will be sold for $20 each and your child will have unlimited games, turns at the bounce house, one face painting and one balloon animal with their wrist band. Other activities (cake walk and dunk tank) and food/drink will need to be purchased with tickets. Tickets will be sold at the carnival.
Pumpkin Patch!
Pre-K, ECSE and SDC enjoyed a trip to the Pumpkin Patch last week! Fun was had by all and each kiddo was able to bring a pumpkin home.
New Look for Northlake!
We Read Together Program
I'm excited to let you know that we have partnered with Grace Church Lake Highlands this year. They have already been so good to us this year. Here are a few ways they have already been serving Northlake:
- They donated 350 backpacks full of school supplies for the backpack bash.
- They provided dinner to teachers on Meet the Teacher night.
- They helped serve doughnuts and fruit at Doughnuts with Grown-ups.
- They have already been volunteering at Northlake and are partnering with PTA.
Starting next week, we will have about 20 volunteers who have committed to come each week and read with 1st and 2nd grade students as part of the We Read Together program. I am so excited to participate in this program and know that this will be a positive experience for our kids and volunteers.
Arrival and Dismissal
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.
Birthday Reminders
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.
Focus Parent Portal
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!
RISD Elementary Dress Code
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.
Lunch Visitors
We will are ready for lunch visitors! Please be sure to read through the following rules in order to keep the cafeteria running smooth and safe.
- No siblings, due to limited space on the stage.
- You may eat with your child only.
- Please do not take any pictures while visiting for lunch.
- When you are finished with lunch, please check out through the main office. Parents may not go back to class with their children to visit.
Attendance Reminders
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.
Volunteering at Northlake
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.
Northlake 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!
Breakfast and Lunch
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.
School Lunch Options
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.
Safety and Security
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.
Dates to Remember
October 11 - No School - Teacher Inservice Day
October 14 - No School - Fair Day
October 15-16 - Carnival wristband pre-sale 2:45-3:30
October 17 - NLE Carnival 5:00-7:00
October 23 - Early Release Day - Dismissal 1:00
October 24 - The NED Show - 1:15
October 24 - Paw Prints Music Night - 6:00
October 28 - Red Ribbon Week
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