The Titan Times: Week 41

• Message from Principal Sharp
• Mark Your Calendars and Links to District and Lunch Calendars
• Titan Community News
• Growing a Titan Mindset and Connection Every Day!

Titan Families,

Thank you for a solid year of growth, connection, rebuilding and renewal. It has been an honor serving as your principal and being a part of the community. We have impeccable momentum and positivity launching us into the summer and new school year. Thank you a million times over for partnering with our educators, families, district leaders, and community businesses to make River Place Elementary shine in our #1LISD community!

Here are a few reminders:

• Be sure to complete enrollment verification for your Titan(s) who plan to attend school in our district and on our campus. Learn more here. This helps us know how to plan our class placements and staff allocations. Feel free to call or email our registrar, Megan Smith, until June 1st. After that date, please email April Cmet.
• Be sure to check your Titan(s) lunch balance and close out the year well. There is a link at the end of this message. Our unpaid lunch balances have now grown, so please pay your child's balance as soon as possible.
• Please continue to read this communication and stay in the know.
• Updates on our campus are best reflected on our campus website and social media. Check there before you call our campus or email our office team.

Again, thank you for a phenomenal year! We look forward to seeing every one again in August!

Take care and be well,

Dr. Amy Sharp

Proud RPE Principal

May:

• 24th: Viper Senior Walk- Meet in RPE Foyer at 8 AM and walk at 8:15 AM
• 24th: 1st, Kinder, and Third Grade Parties- See Info from Classroom Teacher
• 25th: Fourth and Second Parties and Fifth Grade Crossing Over Ceremony- See Info from Classroom Teacher
• 26th: Last Day of School (Early Release at 11:30 AM)
• 26th: 5th Grade EOY Party at Sun Tree Park- See Info From from Classroom Teacher

August:

• 9th: New Family Orientation Night @ 6 PM
• 14th: Elementary Meet the Teacher Night @ 5 PM
• 16th: First Day of School! RSVP coming!

Dear 3rd-5th Grade Families,

We are writing to let you know that we have received Preliminary Reading, Math, and Science STAAR results for the respective grade levels. Due to the restructuring of the STAAR tests this year, final determinations of “met standard” and “not met standard” will not completely be determined until after school has ended for the 22-23 year. However, the state has provided preliminary scores of “likely passed, likely did not pass, or zone of uncertainty” to assist in determining performance and need for intervention.

******Your child’s preliminary performance level will be sent home in an envelope TOMORROW- WEDNESDAY, MAY 24TH. ***************

Thanks,

Dr. Amy Sharp, Principal

Mr. Marc Grace, Assistant Principal & HB4545 Coordinator

Here is an explanation of each level:

Preliminary Score: “Likely Passed”:

If your child achieved the preliminary score of “likely passed”, no other action is needed at this time regarding the results of the state assessment.

Preliminary Score: “Zone of uncertainty”:

If your child received the preliminary score of “zone of uncertainty,” we will be waiting until final assessment reports are received in August. If in August your child receives a non-passing score, we will implement interventions per HB 4545 to assist the student and the campus will be contacting you to discuss next steps.

Preliminary Score “Likely Did Not Pass” or Child was Absent/did not receive score:

If your child likely did not pass in one or more of the assessments, or did not take/complete the assessment(s), he/she is required to receive intervention per HB 4545 to assist the student. The campus will be in contact with the parent to discuss next steps if the student did not take or did not meet the passing standard on one or more assessments as indicated above.

*** Per the Texas Education Agency, the final performance level results will be available in the parent portal in mid August (Aug. 16th per TEA). The instructions for the parent portal may be accessed here.

Hello, Titan Community!

My name is Shannon Zepeda and I am so excited to start my new adventure in Leander ISD as your school counselor!

I grew up in a small town in East Texas before attending Texas A&M University where I met and later married my husband of almost 30 years, Ray. I started my career in Corpus Christi where I finished my Education Degree and received a Masters in General Counseling. We have since lived in Houston with our 3 boys for the past 26 years where I have worked for 22 years as a school counselor in Galena Park ISD and most recently Cypress Fairbanks ISD. During my time as a school counselor, I have had many roles and responsibilities, but this journey has shown me that my passion is being a resource for and building relationships with students, staff and community.

Some of my favorite things to do when I am not wearing my counselor hat are reading, exercising and spending time with family. My husband and I, as well as 2 of my sons have all attended Texas A&M University with my youngest starting this Fall. We enjoy attending sporting events, participating in outdoor activities and trying new restaurants. I look forward to exploring the city and experiencing the nature, food and culture that Austin and its surrounding areas has to offer.

Thank you so much for welcoming me into your Titan Community!

Hello!

My name is Carla Mendoza-Lopez, and I am so excited to be joining River Place Elementary as your new Physical Education Teacher! I earned a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Leadership Development and although I began my career in the field of HR, I eventually decided to pursue my passion of teaching. My teaching career started in Coppell ISD, which is located in the Dallas area. My husband’s job sent us to Lubbock for a couple of years, then Illinois. We finally made it back to Austin this past school year, where I have been teaching in Austin ISD. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had, the relationships I’ve made, and the opportunities to grow as an educator. These experiences have led me to the Titan family I am absolutely honored to have the opportunity to give back to the district that helped shape me into the educator I am today—I am a graduate of Cedar Park High School, Class of 2007!

I have been married to my husband, Jason, for over 9 years and we have two children. Zola is in 2nd grade this year and Zion will turn 3 years old over the summer break. My family loves movies and we have “Family Movie Night” every Friday night! We also love tennis and basketball and we are all avid readers. On my own, I enjoy weightlifting and have recently discovered a new interest in yoga. I am so excited to meet everyone!

Thank you for welcoming me into the Titan family!

Dear Titan Families,

My favorite part about the education profession is the natural rhythm of the school year. Creative possibilities of late summer and early fall lead to implementation and discovery during the winter and spring, and reflection and celebration in May of all that has transpired. This year, River Place has welcomed a dynamic new leader, celebrated the full return to in-person learning, strengthened our community bonds, and gathered momentum for a bright future.

My focus this year has been a deliberate uncovering of who I am professionally and how I want to show up in the education space. My heart for this work lies in supporting teachers' professional growth and practice. After much discussion and thoughtful reflection, I have decided to leave River Place Elementary next year as your assistant principal so I can consider opportunities that will give me the chance to fully explore this path.

The decision is not without regrets– River Place is a unique school and community that I will miss terribly. The diversity of backgrounds and lived experience here is breathtaking. My time here has been one of transformative, joyful learning.

I am grateful for the students' willingness to share their lives with me. I spent part of every day walking the classrooms, watching them learn and celebrating their growth with them. Every teacher lives for those “A-HA” moments and administrators are no different. I loved seeing them be their best selves academically, artistically, and socially.

I appreciate the faculty and staff more than I can ever express in words. There were growing pains as I learned the roles and responsibilities that go with this job. They were patient, supportive, and kind in all ways. The professional, collegial culture at River Place leads to a strong interdependence that makes this school an excellent place to work. Thank you for taking a chance on me and continue to lead each other well.

Dr. Sharp, your leadership, vision, and mentorship has been invaluable to my growth. Thank you for sharing your expertise and knowledge every single day. I could not have asked for a better partner to help me clearly see through the lens of the whole campus and to clarify my own thinking and systems. Our campus is better now and will be in the future because of your presence.

Finally, to the community, I offer my deepest gratitude. In interviews, we are always asked by candidates, “What is the River Place community like?”. I wish you could hear the pride the teachers and staff have in their voices when they answer that. You all make this school extraordinary through your gifts of time, talent, and treasure. A school only succeeds if every adult is focused on the long term flourishing of the children in our collective care. Thank you for supporting us and meeting the needs of students and families whenever and wherever you could. I will miss that energy and expression of loving commitment to all.

I cannot wait to see how River Place grows in the years to come. You will always be part of my professional identity and I look forward to cheering on your successes. In the fullness of time, I am sure we will run into each other again so this is not “good-bye”, but only “see you later”.

Onward. Forward.

Marc

Are you looking for ways to stay connected and know what is happening on campus? Great!

Here are our Titan Community Communication Tools-

• River Place Elementary School Website
• Twitter Account
• PTA Facebook Page
• Remind App for River Place Insiders

Email: ContactTeacher@leanderisd.org
Website: https://riverplace.leanderisd.org/
Location: 6500 Sitio Del Rio Blvd, Austin, TX 78730, USA
Phone: 512-570-6911
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverPlaceElementaryPTA/
Twitter: @RiverPlaceTitan