MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL COTTON

Parents – Thank you for a great start to the school year! While we are still virtual, we are preparing for a safe return to campus for our students. Please complete the parent survey to select virtual or in-person instruction at http://www.fwisd.org/survey. Sharing your preferences will help us prepare for your child’s needs, but you will not be “locked-in”. Families can adjust their selection each six weeks.

Parents,

Welcome to the start of the 2020-21 school year at Ridglea Hills Elementary! During these challenging times, we have been inspired by the heroic efforts shown by people in our community. Now more than ever we need heroes everywhere, including Ridglea Hills Elementary. Together, we accomplish great things and are a powerful force for good, so this year our theme is: Be SupeRHEroes!

We are looking forward to a special school year ahead. We want to help you and your student feel connected to our magnificent Mustang family. Included here is a quick overview of ways to get involved with our stellar school. 

The best way to stay informed about everything going on is by signing up for our different email and social media updates and visiting/bookmarking our RHPTA website. In addition, please have your FWISD background check completed so that you are able to volunteer when interested and available. Finally, please join our PTA – your membership helps provide a voice to all of our students.

We are excited to have you in our Mustang family!

Rachel Harris

RHPTA President

r.harris@tcu.edu

RHE Teachers and Staff,

You have been working tirelessly in extremely challenging times to ensure you’re ready to make the most of the school year ahead for your students and families. We cannot thank you enough for all of your time and effort going above and beyond and working before your contracts even started. You are truly supeRHEroes in every way, and we are so grateful for all of you!

On behalf of our RHPTA, I ask you to please take a moment to watch the following special video created just for you by our incredible Teacher & Staff Appreciation Chair Julie Duhrkopf Dore and some of your MANY fans.

We know it’s going to be an extraordinarily special year at RHE because of YOU! Please know we’re behind you all the way – you’ve got this! And we love you.

Be super, and GOOOOO Mustangs!!!

Your RHPTA

 #supeRHEroes

• We are proud to announce our newest Texas PTA Honorary Life Members for 2019-20 – Drew Harris and Ashley Sanchez.

• Due to COVID-19, we were not able to honor them at our RHPTA Closing Luncheon last year as we typically do.

• The Texas PTA Honorary Life Membership Award is one of the highest PTA honors that may be bestowed to individuals for outstanding service to children and youth. Recipients are people who have contributed significantly to the development of the work of the PTA. Presentations of life memberships are made to publicly recognize individuals who have given in the interest of the young people of Texas.

• Congratulations to these honorees, and thanks for your outstanding service to and for the students of Ridglea Hills Elementary School! 

Principal Cotton is looking for parent volunteers to serve on her Site-Based Decision-Making (SBDM) Committee this year.

• The purpose of this advisory committee is to establish a collaborative approach to improve student achievement for all students.
• SBDM was introduced in FWISD in the summer of 1981. Staff and community participation increased during the 1983-84 school year with the formation of several special interest groups. Since that time, SBDM has remained a viable strategy for making informed decisions at the campus level.
• Principal Cotton hosts monthly SBDM meetings for 30 to 45 minutes, and is ultimately responsible and accountable for all decisions made at the campus level.
• If you’re interested in serving this year, please email Principal Cotton at crenesha.cotton@fwisd.org by Oct. 1.

The Virtual Learning Support page is the go-to resource for students and parents. Whether you're getting started using a digital device or online application for the first time or need to learn more about how to use a resource, you'll find the support you need here. Our Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) were designed to give you clear, step-by-step directions for completing common tasks within various applications.  In addition to our QRGs, you will find helpful videos that walk you through the applications used for virtual learning.  On this page, we've compiled information and resources specifically for students and parents to help with common learning tools like Google Classroom, Google Meet, Seesaw, ClassLink, and much more. For students who have received a district-issued device, we have several resources available to help parents and students with technical issues. Our goal is to ensure that parents and students have the knowledge and technology skills needed for success during virtual learning. 

AR will be available starting September 8. Over the summer, AR was moved to a new platform, and the old link will not work. The new link is:

https://global-zone53.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/227565

Library news!

Ridglea Hills already had a couple of students close to AR Level 1! Great job!!

The Destiny link I sent last week didn't work, please use the following one:

https://fwisd.follettdestiny.com/

When you click on that link, it will take you to a list of FWISD schools. Click on Ridglea Hills and then catalog to search for a book. When your child has found the book they want, send me an email with the request. My email is: renee.rick@fwisd.org 

I will pull the book and set up a time for it to be picked up. 

Contact: Ms. Rick at Renee.Rick@fwisd.org  

• What are RH Buddies? Our fabulous Mustang families volunteer to spoil a staff member throughout the school year. Participants are paired with an RH teacher or staff member. Throughout the year, you can treat your buddy with a treat or little token of appreciation. 

• What type of treats or gifts? Treats range from little candy and soda pick-me-ups to “Kudos for surviving a round of testing!” gift cards. 

• When do I have to give something? Whenever you want! You can give something once a six weeks, once a month or a “just because” Sonic drink here and there. You’re in charge of your buddy.

• Why should I sign up? RH faculty and staff love our children and care for them every day. We have the best teachers and staff in town, and this is just another way to say “You are appreciated!” 

• Ready to sign up? Contact Beth Wertman. Buddy requests are filled first-come, first-served.

Contact: RH Buddies Chair Beth Wertman beth.wertman@outlook.com

Many of you have reached out and asked what you can do after you are registered for school. Here are some options!

• Join PTA: https://rhpta.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/124557

• Sign up to volunteer for PTA: https://forms.gle/Kqi21MtUZhdn1yBk6

• Update your information in the online school directory (anyone can update their info here, you do not have to be a PTA member). You can choose what other people see. If you have last year’s login information, please use that instead of creating another account. https://rhpta.membershiptoolkit.com

• Complete your background check (for when we can allow events and parents in the building!) here: https://fwisd.voly.org. 

Contacts:

VP of Volunteers: Jenn Nevitt, jnevitt@sbcglobal.net 

VP of Membership: Ivy Ellis, ivy.ellis@sbcglobal.net 

Dear Mustang Families, the 2020 Mustang Mall is open! 

We are excited to announce that this year’s mall includes spirit t-shirts, uniform wear, after-school and school-from-home items, accessories, and non-medical grade face coverings. Many items are available in adult sizes. This second phase of the mall will close Sunday, September 20th, at 11:59 pm. When you place your order, you may choose shipping to your home with shipping charges or curbside pickup without charge. Orders will ship approx September 30th with priority delivery estimated by October 2nd. Curbside pickup will be at the school Wednesday, September 30th. Exact pickup times will be published closer to the date.

Parents are to ensure the appropriate wear is worn at appropriate times, such as uniforms on uniform days, spirits t-shirts only on advertised days, etc. As always follow FWISD dress guidelines and any additional Ridglea Hills campus communication about special dress or out-of-dress code days.

Parents are to ensure proper fit of uniform items, ensuring each uniform item fits their child according to the FWISD dress code. https://www.fwisd.org/Page/5532

Face coverings are not medical grade. Parents are solely responsible for selecting appropriately sized masks for their children. The manufacturer, vendor, district, school, staff, and PTA make no warranties as to the effectiveness of the masks to prevent or contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Mustang Mall is an RHPTA fundraiser, all profits go to the general fund to support our amazing school and our wonderful programs.

Contacts:

Mustang Mall Chair: Noel Rodriguez, nrodrig19@hotmail.com

Ashley Sanchez, ashleysanchez1215@yahoo.com 

Heather Smitherman, heather@bsmartbuilders.com

• Celebrate your RH student with a stampede of mustangs in your front yard! Contact Naomi Gelineau at naomi0617@gmail.com with any questions. 

• Follow the link below to schedule:

Contact:

5th Grade Fundraising Chair: Naomi Gelineau, naomi0617@gmail.com 

• Sept. 15, 2020, at 5:30 pm - FWISD Special Board Meeting (A timeline for returning to in-person learning will be discussed).
  • Click here for meeting details and how to join: https://www.fwisd.org/cms/lib/TX01918778/Centricity/Domain/148/September%2015%20Special%20Meeting.pdf
• Sept. 17, 2020, is North Texas Giving Day! Ridglea Hills PTA is one of the organizations to which you can donate. Donations benefit the PTA and our fundraising efforts. Share with your family and friends! Click here to donate now: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/rhpta 

• General information regarding Ridglea Hills Elementary School is available online at our PTA-sponsored website – www.rhpta.com. Please get familiar with this website and bookmark it on your browser.

• For specific questions regarding school-administered matters not addressed on www.rhpta.com, including but not limited to academic affairs, school registration, testing, campus security, school programs, Fort Worth ISD policies and procedures, etc., please contact the school office at 817-815-1700.

• For non-PTA-related posts (i.e., selling uniforms, looking for a carpool group to join, etc.), please head over to the Ridglea Hills Elementary Parents Facebook group.

• Other helpful Ridglea Hills Elementary School-related Facebook pages include the following:

  • Ridglea Hills Elementary

  • Ridglea Hills Elementary School’s Counselor

  • Ridglea Hills Mustang Muscle (for those RHE dads interested in getting involved with school service projects)

  • RHE Run Club

RH Pony Posts Contact: Brooke Mooty, brooke@safecarepartners.net

#BeSupeRHEroes