The Titan Times: Week 19

Titan Families,

This month is a fun filled one with school events and activities. We want to be sure you can engage with our campus and surrounding community as much as possible, so please mark your calendars, RSVP, and carefully read all campus and classroom communication for what is ahead as we start to close out 2023.

Should you need anything or wish to connect to collaborate, celebrate, or express a concern, please reach out. Otherwise, let's make it a great week of showing PRIDE in our community!

Take care and be well,

Dr. Amy Sharp

Proud RPE Principal

December:

• 20th: Winter Party- 9-10 AM 2nd grade; 10:30- 11:30 AM 3rd grade; & 1-2 PM 4th grade
• 21st: Winter Party- 9-10 AM Kindergarten; 10:30- 11:30 AM 1st grade; & 1-2 PM 5th grade
• 22nd: Early Release Day at 11:30 AM
• 25th- January 8th Winter Break- Staff Returns January 8th. Students Return January 9th.

January: School Board Recognition Month

• 9th: Students Return to Campus
• 15th: MLK Day- Staff and Student Holiday
• 19th: 5th Grade Performance for Parents (RSVP coming in teacher newsletters)

The Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) is hosting its annual Gala and Auction on January 27, 2024 at The Crossover in Leander, Texas. We welcome you to come walk the yellow brick road with us into An Evening in the Emerald City where we will honor and celebrate our Leander ISD students and staff. You will enjoy cocktails, dinner, dancing and the opportunity to help raise funds for LEEF to continue investing in Leander ISD and your future leaders!

RPE Lego League's corporate sponsor Globalfoundries (GF) hosted our robotics teams at their office on 12/7. The teams presented their progress so far in front of a large audience and received valuable feedback from the GF community. Our RPE students impressed the audience with their smarts, confidence, presentation skills and coding abilities. Here are a few highlights and pictures from the day
- Camden M. (1st grade) who is part of our youngest team presented by himself as the sole representative of his team- way to go, Camden!!
- Ameya R. and Madelynn C. received sponsorship for a 2024 all-day girls-only STEM conference conducted by GirlStart
- 2 teams consisting of 3rd to 5th graders demonstrated their robot functions and presented a research project that addresses a problem identified by the season's theme
Thanks to all parents and coaches who made themselves available and made this event a grand success!

River Place Elementary School and Brownie Girl Scout Troop 40703 are teaming up to collect non-perishable food items to help support our students and their families during Winter Break. Please consider signing up for one or several food items on the list below. The Girl Scouts will be working to divide your donations into 28 boxes for our school community. We are also seeking (28) $25 HEB gift cards and/or monetary donations that can be used to purchase fresh bread and produce, and/or any missing items from our list.

Donations can be dropped off to the River Place front office or to Kelsey Emerson's porch (5119 China Garden Drive) by 3pm on Wednesday, December 13th. If you'd like to contribute financially, please send a Venmo to @kelsey_emerson (confimation #9199)

Questions? Please email Kelsey at kemerson531@gmail.com

Thank you so much for helping to feed our friends at River Place!

Please remember if your student is absent you must submit an email or note to the office via in person or email. Notifying your student's teacher only serves as a courtesy to them. The absence must be reported to the Attendance office.

Again, Leander ISD only accepts written or email notification as a form of absence reporting. (No verbal communication can be accepted.) Be aware that notes will be processed within 48-72 hours. Lastly, if a student arrives after Attendance Time at 8:30 AM they are automatically counted absent and it will be considered Unexcused unless a medical note is provided on the same day.

In order for absences to be updated the following information must be provided:

1. Full legal name of student (FIRST and LAST name.)
2. Specific dates of each absence
3. Reason for absence(s)
* For absences due to a healthcare appointment, provide an excuse note from a healthcare professional.

Examples of UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:

• Family trip
• Missing the bus
• Late arrival due to traffic
• Appointments, other than medical/dental, that could be scheduled before or after school
• Failure to get up on time in the morning
• Absences for which no reason is provided

WATCH D.O.G.S. is a national program focusing on the prevention of violence in our children’s schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures to be a positive role model for all students. The change this year is that you don't need to volunteer for an entire day; we will have hourly opportunities available should you prefer that. Anything to keep your involvement on campus!

While on campus, WATCH D.O.G.S may-

• work in small groups with kids,

• support staff out at recess,

• support lunch room clean up and etiquette eat lunch,

• monitor the school entrances and hallways,

• assist with arrival and dismissal,

• mentor students, and much more!

How to get Involved-

1. Read through the expectations and sample schedule

2. Register as a Leander ISD Volunteer

3. Fill out the RPE Watch Dogs Registration Form

4. After confirming volunteer status, our assistant principal, Lacy Olmstead, will reach out with more information and schedule.

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: 512-570-6900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverPlaceElementaryPTA/
Twitter: @RiverPlaceTitan