MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL COTTON

So very proud of our teacher Halie Poe!!!!

"Ridglea Hills Elementary School fifth grade teacher Halie Poe shares her experience teaching her students online this fall and what aspects of Google Classroom she would like to see continue when in-person learning returns."

Click below to read the Star-Telegram article:

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article245775250.html?ac_cid=DM288015&ac_bid=-1980141649

The Fort Worth ISD Board of Education has voted to extend virtual learning by an additional two weeks to October 19 with in-person instruction phased in beginning October 5 for various and special student groups.  All details at: 

https://www.fwisd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=1326&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=74037&PageID=1 

Don't miss RHE's Virtual Town Hall with Principal Cotton and Assistant Principal Starr to discuss RHE's return to in-person learning at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Ridglea Hills and Fort Worth ISD invite you to a Virtual Town Hall to discuss RHE families Return to In-Person Learning.

When: Thursday, Oct. 1 - 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm.

Where:  Zoom (codes and links will be sent to families via email).

See you there!

If you have questions that you'd like answered during the meeting, please email them to Principal Crenesha Cotton at crenesha.cotton@fwisd.org and Assistant Principal Ellie Self Starr at ellen.starr@fwisd.org no later than Wednesday, Sept. 30.
#supeRHEroes

We’ll have a quick General PTA Membership Meeting at the beginning of the Virtual Town Hall at 5:15 p.m. We’ll vote on our 2020-21 RHPTA Board as slated and our 2020-21 Budget.

You must be a member to vote, and all executive board members are required to be members. If you haven’t yet, please join prior to this meeting by clicking the following link: https://rhpta.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/124557

If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Harris at r.harris@tcu.edu. Thanks for your support!

Our teachers and staff are going above and beyond during this time and much of their hard work is behind the scenes. We want to recognize our RHE teachers and staff for all the wonderful ways they're helping us "Keep Our Stride"! We are asking YOU (parents, friends, other teachers, and staff) to help us nominate Magnificent Mustangs - Teacher & Staff Version where they'll be highlighted in the Pony Post and PTA Facebook group! Please submit nominations to brooke@safecarepartners.net 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! I am excited and look forward to a successful year at Ridglea Hills Elementary School. As your Elementary School Counselor, I pledge to work with you, Mrs. Cotton, Mrs. Starr, the teachers, and the community to provide the best possible educational experiences for your child.

This letter is to help you understand my job:

FACTS ABOUT YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR

WHO?
I am an adult friend to children and a resource person for parents. I have a Master’s Degree in counseling and ten years of experience in education. This is my fifth year as a school counselor.

HOW?
I see children individually, in small groups, and during classroom guidance lessons. Children can be referred to me by teachers, parents, the principal, or students can refer themselves.

WHEN?
My office hours are 8:00 am until 3 pm. You can reach me by phone (817) 815-1715 or email tracie.harris@fwisd.org.

WHY?
Children do better when they have a safe and caring adult at school. As a Professional School Counselor, I play an important role in:
• Helping prevent and eliminate barriers to learning,
• Equipping students with personal skills to lead healthy and successful lives,
• Assisting students in exploring and pursuing academic and career opportunities.

WHAT?
I provide help and support to students of all ages, races, cultural backgrounds and circumstances to master the challenges of life! Guidance lessons help all students develop basic life skills through small group and classrooms that focus on:
• Goal setting/Decision making/Planning
• Motivation to Achieve
• Responsible Behavior/Character Education
• Stress Management/Trauma
• Suicide Prevention
• Healthy and Safe Boundaries
• Communication Skills/Disrespect? It’s Not Okay! (INOK)
• Student Leadership/Student Voice
• Cross-Cultural Competence
• Interpersonal Effectiveness
• Self Confidence Development

WHERE?
My office is in room 112; Google site is https://sites.google.com/teachers.fwisd.org/rhe-counseling/home.

Please contact me about any concerns you have. Thank you for allowing me to work with your child. Together we can help them have a positive and great year!!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Tracie Harris, School Counselor

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

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 is now available! 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!!

Please use the following link for Destiny:

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 

• 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 

• Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5:15 pm -  General PTA Membership Meeting at the beginning of the Virtual Town Hall with Principal Cotton and Assistant Principal Starr to discuss RHE's return to in-person learning
  (If you have questions that you'd like answered during the meeting, please email them to Principal Crenesha Cotton at crenesha.cotton@fwisd.org and Assistant Principal Ellie Self Starr at ellen.starr@fwisd.org no later than Wednesday, Sept. 30.)
• Monday, Oct. 5 In-person instruction phased in beginning for various and special student groups (see table & link above for details)
• Monday, Oct. 13 In-person instruction phased in for various student groups (see table & link above for details)
• Monday, Oct. 19 In-person or Virtual Learning Choice Full Schedule (see table & link above for details) 

• 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