Yale Elementary -- A united community that grows all students academically, socially, and emotionally to inspire successful, global leaders of tomorrow.

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Tomorrow is early release day across the district. Dismissal will be two hours before the usual dismissal time. PreK & Kinder will release at 1:00 and 1st-6th grades will release at 1:10. Please call the front office if you have any questions.

Do you have a child who will be starting kindergarten in the ‘23-’24 school year or know a family in the area who has an incoming kinder child? Children must turn 5 on or before September 1, 2023 to be entering kindergarten in the '23-'24 school year. We are excited to kick off a new year of Yale Future Roadrunners with incoming kinder children and their families. There will be sessions held throughout this year to help prepare children and parents for life as a Roadrunner. Come meet our kinder teachers, administrators, content coaches, the librarian, as well as the PE and music teachers. They will be sharing some fun activities as we connect with our newest Roadrunners! Please fill out the following link if you are interested in joining us for Future Yale Roadrunners. The first meeting of Future Yale Roadrunners will be September 28th from 3:30-4:00 in the Yale library. You will be contacted with more information after filling out the following form.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. In preparation for this, the Richardson ISD Dyslexia Department is holding a T-shirt Fundraiser. Proceeds from this sale go directly to the annual Dyslexia Master’s Ceremony. This ceremony is held in the spring to celebrate the students who complete their dyslexia intervention program during the year.

The T-shirt store will be open from September 1st thru September 21st. There are three options for shirts in both child and adult size. We are offering a ¾ sleeve ringer tee, a dri-fit tee, or a traditional cotton/poly blend. Your order can be delivered to your address for a small fee, or you can have it sent to your campus where it will be delivered to your student.

Thank you for supporting the dyslexia department and helping us celebrate our students!

Interested in supporting our students at arrival and dismissal? We are looking for more adults who want to help with various activities during arrival and dismissal. Please fill out this google form if you're interested, and we will communicate more information with roles and responsibilities in the coming weeks. If you can't help support, but have suggestions on how our current flow of traffic could be more effective, there's a comment section at the bottom. We'd love to make arrival the best experience for everyone! https://forms.gle/oMpwC3vnrWgXS8Qw7

'Tis the season to give and give early! We are teaming up with The Richardson ISD Foundation to participate in NTX Giving Day, the country's largest regional day of giving, hosted by Communities Foundation of Texas. NTX Giving Day is Thursday, Sept. 22, but you don't have to wait to donate. Now through Wednesday, Sept. 21, you can support our Yale PTA and the Foundation by donating on our team page. The Foundation will use donations to help fund a new Innovative Grant program for RISD staff. These grants will help fund out-of-the-box projects and ideas that promote higher levels of student learning and encourage creativity. And, there's more! When you donate for NTX Giving Day, you could help our school win a popsicle party. Frios Gourmet Pops of Dallas will bring happiness to the school with the most NTX Giving Day Donors.

Mark your calendars! Next Friday is Elementary Night at the Berkner High School Football game! Students will have the opportunity to run through the football tunnel with other area students and lead the team on the field! More details to come in next week's newsletter.

To report students with symptoms of illness or positive/negative for Covid, please contact Nurse Barner directly and include the following information:

• date symptoms started

• list of symptoms

• date of Covid test (if tested) OR doctor’s note for return to school

• email a picture or attachment of Covid lab results

• for home Covid tests (email a picture of Covid test result with student’s name and date tested included with picture)

Questions about RISD Pandemic Protocols: https://web.risd.org/home/2022-23-pandemic-protocols/

Classroom lessons with the counselor have begun as of last week. This initial lesson includes meeting the counselor and learning about all the different ways the counselor can support them throughout the year. Throughout the month of September, our K-3rd grade lessons will include Time to A.C.T. and building self-confidence. In grades 4-6, lessons will include setting goals and making responsible decisions.

K-3 Lessons

Time to A.C.T

In one of our counselor lessons this month, students will learn some coping skills that they can use when facing a problem. They will talk about superheroes and will learn an acronym using the word ACT. Students will learn way to ask for help for themselves or a friend. This acronym can be used in many difficult situations that occur.

Self-Confidence

During this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics that make them unique, and understand how to have positive, supportive, and respectful relationships with students who are both similar and different to them. They will learn how to appreciate and celebrate who they are, and be confident with their unique characteristics.

4-6 Lessons

Setting Reachable Goals

In this lesson, students will learn how to set and reach personal goals. Students also learn to identify resources that can help them reach a personal goal. Students will think about something that they can't do yet, or want to improve, and will set a goal. They will then think about what skills and characteristics are needed to reach their goals. They will also discuss people and resources that can help them reach their goals.

Making Responsible Decisions

In this lesson, students learn to plan their actions, evaluate their choices, and problem-solve using the steps for responsible decision making. Students also determine when decisions should be made alone or with the help of a responsible adult.

Students will review the Time to ACT acronym and identify adults at home and school that can help them when they have difficult problems to solve. The four steps in the decision-making process are:

• Stop before you make a decision. If you respond too quickly, you might make a bad decision or be disappointed with the one you made.
• Think about what the best outcome would be, and think about how you can reach it. Also, think about the positive and negative consequences of each options.
• Act out the best plan.
• Reflect on how you did and ask yourself if you made the right decision.

Hello! My name is Ms. Givens and this is my third year teaching third grade at Yale! My goal as a teacher is to show children that learning can be fun! As most of you know, I have a bearded dragon named Yoshi who is our class pet! I also have a spoiled kitty at home named Olive. In my free time I love to paint, dance, go on hikes and explore new places. I hope to travel and teach abroad in another country in the near future, but I will always be a roadrunner!

Ms. Givens's favorites:

• Color- Teal and purple
• Food- Sushi
• Season- Fall
• Animal- Elephant
• Place to go- Colorado mountains
• Quote- "Tomorrow is a mystery. Yesterday is history. Today is a gift. And that is why it is called the present"

Is this a trick? Well yes and no. What could this possibly mean? I guess you'll just have to read it to find out! Written by The Office's B.J. Novak (ask your parents, they might know).

Discover the main character right along with him. Why? He lost his memory, that's why! He learns his name again, and he learns that different kids have varying opinions about him. Find out why in this classic by the prolific Gordon Korman!

Free & Reduced Meal Applications Now Open
RISD Parents – after a two year break during the pandemic, the federal government is again requiring families to sign up to receive free or reduced price school meals in the upcoming school year at most RISD schools. If you are receiving this message, you must sign up your household if you wish for your students to receive free or reduced-cost school meals.

Applications are open now at www.myschoollunchapp.com – click this link to register your family.

The first day of school is August 16, and parents must register in advance for their children to receive free or reduced-cost breakfast or lunch at school starting on the first day.

Helpful Information:

For more information about eligibility for free or reduced-cost school meals, please click here.

For general information about school meals in RISD please visit https://richardsonisdchildnutrition.com.

For more information about this return to the pre-pandemic meal benefits application process, please see the attached document.

Yale Office

469-593-8300

Carrie Greer

Principal

469-593-8359

carrie.greer@risd.org

Holly Gordon

Assistant Principal

469-593-8335

holly.gordon@risd.org

Megan Ayitey-Adjin

School Counselor

469-593-8347

megan.ayitey-adjin@risd.org

• September 26- tutoring begins 3:15-4:00

• September 27- Future Yale Roadrunners 3:30-4:00 in the library

• September 27- Progress Report #2 for the quarter sent home

• September 28- PTA Blaze Pizza Night

• October - Principal Appreciation Month

• October 2- Custodian Appreciation Day

• October 7- No School

• October 10- No school- Fair Day

• October 14- End of 1st Quarter

• October 17-21- Book Fair

• October 19- Picture Day

• October 20- Literacy Night

Are you interested in volunteering at Yale during the 22-23 school year? We have many opportunities coming up! ACME, Tuesday Folders, chaperoning field trips, Jingle Bell Run, field day, and the list goes on and on! If you are interested, be sure to complete your application in Voly. Voly accounts MUST be updated each school year. Thank you in advance for all you do to support Yale!