The Star Inquire
AUGUST 2024
Meet your administration team!
Rachel Sullivan - Principal
Narda Harber - Assistant Principal
Justina Record - Principal Resident
A Message from Principal Sullivan
🌟Dear Rivera Families🌟
I am delighted to share that our school year has been off to a fantastic start!
Teachers have also begun the beginning-of-year assessments for all students. We will share these results with you in the coming weeks. Following the end of the first grading period in October, we will schedule parent-teacher conferences to discuss your child’s progress. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
A few reminders about our school schedule:
- Morning arrival is from 7:15 am to 7:40 am.
- Learning begins promptly at 7:40 am, any students arriving after 7:40 am must be checked in at the front office by a guardian.
- If there is a need for a change in your child's transportation for the day, please notify us by 2:00 pm.
- The cutoff for early student pickup is at 2:30 pm.
- Dismissal starts at 3:00 pm.
We are pleased to announce that Denton ISD has been approved for a federal program that will provide free breakfast and lunch for all students – regardless of their eligibility for free and reduced lunch – at 10 campuses across the district. To continue this for next school year, please click this link and fill out the form.
Also, please note that our first early dismissal day is this Friday, August 30th, with students being released at 12:00 pm. As in previous years, our teachers will use this time for collaborative planning, developing assessments, and strategizing interventions for students who need additional support.
We are also excited to share some updates and highlights from our campus this year, made possible by the generous donations from our community partners:
• Phoenix Garden: Donated by The Plant Factory and Home Depot
• Updated soccer fields and goals: Provided by Serve Denton
• New picnic benches: Donated by McCarthy Construction
• Murals: Adding vibrancy and inspiration
• Updated front office: A welcoming space for all visitors
• Recess refresh: Sponsored by Texas Health to enhance playtime activities
• Updated courtyard: Transformed by The Bridge Church
• New P.E. equipment: Donated by Total Care Emergency Room
We are incredibly grateful for the support of these organizations and individuals, who have helped us create an even better environment for our students to learn and grow.
A Message from Assistant Principal Harber
It has been an amazing start to our 2024-2025 school year! Thank you for all of the smiles in the morning and at pickup. We truly enjoy seeing you each day.
Our students have been learning about STAR camp, where they are taught the procedures and expectations for our hallways, cafeteria, restrooms, playground, our new science lab, and during arrival and dismissal. This foundation is essential for creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Thank you for your continued support in making this a fantastic year!
STAR Camp: Restrooms
STAR Camp: Cafeteria
STAR Camp: Hallways
STAR Camp: Arrival
STAR Camp: Playground
STAR Camp: Dismissal
Lunch News
Important Dates
Check Your Calendars!
- 8/30 - Early Dismissal at 12 pm
September
- 9/02 - Labor Day (No School)
- 9/16 - Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
- 9/27 - Breakfast with Grandparents from 7:30 am-8:00 am
October
- 10/1 - Rivera Stars Deep in the Heart of Denton from 4:15 pm-8 pm
- 10/10 - STEAM Night from 5:30 pm-7:30 am
- 10/17 - Children's Medical Providing a Presentation on Safety
- 10/24 - Distribution and installation appointment for free booster seats
Nurse Lauren's Corner
A Message from Nurse Lauren
If I haven’t had the chance to speak with you in-person or on the phone yet due to a student health room illness visit, I hope that remains the case going forward!
I have, however, enjoyed getting to know those of you and your children who I have had contact with during the first weeks of school, so please feel free to stop by at any time just to say “hello” or for any health-related questions or concerns.
We have already seen the increase in beginning of school-related illnesses that is typical this time of year, so I wanted to inform or remind you all of the instances when not to send your child to school and illness guidance as it relates to school.
The information can be found at the following links: When To Keep Your Child Home From School and Respiratory Virus School Guidance, which is also on the Denton ISD website under the ‘Health Services’ tab . This is, of course, for the health and well-being of our students, staff and families. Thank you all for your diligence with this, please reach out with any additional questions.
To keep you informed, as part of the Texas Department of State Health Services requirements, I will begin health screenings later this month and will continue through October. Please see below what grades will participate and what screenings they will have:
Pre-K, Kinder– Vision and Hearing
1st, 3rd, 5th – Vision, Hearing, and Type II Diabetes Risk Assessment
If your student wears glasses or contacts, it is important that they wear them daily to prevent an unnecessary health referral. If your student has hearing loss and is under the care of a physician, you may submit documentation to skip the referral process.
If your student does not meet the screening requirements, you will get an email from me with a referral for additional health screenings.
Female students aged 10, or in their fall semester of 5th grade, will have spinal screenings completed in October. Please watch for an email from me with more information closer to that time.
If you would like more information regarding required health screenings, please visit the following websites:
- Vision https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening/vision/vision-screening-requirements
- Hearing https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening/hearing-screening-program/hearing-screening-requirements
- Type II Diabetes Risk Assessment https://rfes.utrgv.edu/Risk.htm
- Spinal https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vision-hearing-screening/spinal-screening-program/screening-information-procedure
Take care,
Lauren Britt, RN, BSN
Tomas Rivera Elementary School Nurse
(940) 369-3805
Resources for Families
COMMUNICATION STARTS HERE
In Denton ISD, we believe our schools are a reflection of our community. Our mission to empower life-long learners to become engaged citizens who positively impact our local and global community can only be accomplished through open and honest conversation between our families and staff. To efficiently address any concern families may have, we strongly encourage all communication to begin at the level closest to the concern.
Our Communication Commitment: Building Positive Relationships Between Denton ISD Staff & Communities
Denton ISD is committed to building positive partnerships between our staff and the communities we serve through positive and clear communication, acting as a bridge for community engagement, which leads to effective outcomes. When our staff and community work together, we set our students up for success, ensuring they are future ready.