Hi friend, your weekly updates are ready!

Have you lost track of the days? Well, guess what? Only eight more days until the last day of the school year. Thank you for supporting us in supporting your students.

If you haven’t already, you have until midnight on Wednesday, May 13, to participate in an online poll that tells District leaders your ideas, concerns, and priorities as plans develop to return to school in the Fall safely. Contribute your input at the bottom of this email.

Hey ho, let’s go…

ℹ️ Nurse Notes from Stella Mulhollan, BSN, RN, school nurse at Hernandez Middle School.

Practice good habits to promote good nighttime sleep quality. Adults should average seven to nine hours per night, but teens need even more.

Experts agree on these essential tips for getting a good night’s sleep.

1. Establish a sleep/wake routine: since we are creatures of habit, going to bed at the same time, and waking up at the same time +/- 30 minutes helps keep our body systems and internal clock working in tandem.
2. Ensure your surroundings are conducive to sleep, keep your room:

a. Dark – turn off the lights. Close the blinds.
b. Quiet – turn off electronics. NO TV. No cell phones.
c. Cool – around 70 degrees is a preferable temperature.

3. Avoid stimulants (caffeine) or depressants (alcohol) that interfere with sleep patterns.
4. Create a relaxing pre-bedtime ritual (i.e. bath, meditation, quiet music)

🆕 Remote Online Learning, Summer Edition
In June and July, students PreK through grade 12 will have access to eight weeks of remote online learning. Students can opt into current grade level or preview next grade-level content, work on assignments, and have online access to teachers for support and answer questions. Request a paper copy of the At-Home Learning packet and to sign up to stay up-to-date with announcements about this program.

Learn art from the best teachers in Texas 🖼
Round Rock ISD art teachers demonstrate art projects and ideas using everyday household items. Watch Get smArt, Maker Masters. on your campus or Round Rock ISD Facebook page or subscribe to the Get smART playlist on the Round Rock ISD YouTube channel.

Easy to follow exercises for the whole family
Wellness teachers host 2 Minutes 2 Fun & Fitness. Select from 13 fun activity videos. Follow your campus or the District on Facebook or subscribe to the 2 Minutes 2 Fun & Fitness playlist on the Round Rock ISD YouTube channel.

Do you have questions about student grading?
COVID-19 school closures during the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year have brought about changes to student grading calculations. For more information, videos explaining how student’s grades are calculated are available or visit the COVID-19 school closures webpage to read grading FAQs.

Watch: Elementary School grading  | Middle School grading | High School grading

Chromebook Support
If your student has technical issues with a loaner Chromebook, please contact the technology help desk at 512-464-5167 or email support with your contact info and a description of the issue. District technicians are only able to offer hard-ware assistance with District owned devices. If you’re still in need of a device, contact your campus administration.

Featured Virtual Field Trip:
Today we are heading 1700 miles west to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California. There’s no need for scuba gear, just grab your device to see what’s 🎵under the sea. 🎵

Enjoy live cams of sharks, penguins, tropical fish, sea otters and other aquatic life. 🦈🐧🦑🐠🐡 While there, find the Aquarium’s free online classes and guided science activities for students in grades PreK-12.

Be sure to visit during Pacific coast daylight hours for the best live cam viewing experience.☀️  Aquarium Live Cams | Resources for PreK-12

Senior Commencement Walk at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex
We invite the proud, persistent, and resilient Class of 2020 to participate in a Senior Commencement Walk at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, located at 10211 W. Parmer Lane, Austin.

VIDEO: Graduates and their families are encouraged to watch Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steve Flores describe important details about the Senior Commencement Walk experience including parking, and what graduates and families can expect while on the field.

  • May 18: Success High School (8 – 11 a.m.)
  • May 18: Early College High School (5 – 8 p.m.)
  • May 19: Stony Point High School
  • May 20: McNeil High School
  • May 21: Cedar Ridge School
  • May 22: Westwood High School
  • May 23: Round Rock High School

Congratulations, Grads! If you have further questions, please contact your campus.

Graduate websites
See the names of all the students who are the proud members of the Class of 2020. Before your school’s commencement walk, visit your school’s graduation website. For those attending commencement walks, essential safety precautions will be enforced. Find information about virtual graduation and watch senior commencement walks on livestream.

Cedar Ridge High School | Early College High School | McNeil High School
Round Rock High School | Stony Point High School | Success High School
Westwood High School

Show your support for our 2020 Seniors
Update your Facebook profile pic with a Class of 2020 custom frame. There is a frame available for every Round Rock ISD high school! Search for Round Rock ISD and choose your new frame.

Seniors, fill out the FAFSA
For students starting college in the Fall of 2020, the deadline to file your FAFSA application is June 30, 2020.

May is National Mental Health Month
If you need to talk with someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our school counselors are available, and families can access 24/7 online mental health resources and helpful links Behavioral Health | Counseling Services.

To access the latest information about the District’s response and decisions related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, please visit our COVID-19 School Closures webpage.

Central Texas Food Bank
If your situation has changed and you think you may need some help, the Central Texas Food Bank website has information about food distribution, and State benefits like Medicaid and CHIP. Also available are resources for senior citizens and educational programs about nutrition, breastfeeding, and gardening.

Weekday Meal Service
Now through Thursday, May 21 🍎 Students may pick up lunch for the day and breakfast for the following morning from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 13 locationsGo to Food Services for locations and eligibility details.

ℹ️ MEAL SERVICE NOTICE: On Thursday, May 21 meals will be distributed to cover Friday, May 22 and the weekend, Saturday, May 23 and Sunday May 24. Due to Memorial Day, service is unavailable on Friday, May 22 and Monday, May 25.

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 school closures? Visit our frequently asked questions websiteEmail us your school closures questions.

The HISTORY Channel’s HISTORY at Home site offers free video series designed to teach, inspire and motivate children. Learn more about the “History of Handwashing,” “The History of Toilet Paper,” “How Florence Nightingale Changed Medicine” and more.

In addition, the site offers study guides and related content so you can easily watch, read and discuss some of history’s other important moments.

Round Rock ISD Teacher Virtual Job Fair, May 14

Now hiring extraordinary educators for the 2020-2021 school year. We can’t wait to meet you! View our list of jobs.

1. Register for the Virtual Job Fair now

2. Log on Thursday, May 14, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The City of Round Rock will light up its historic water tower with the colors of Round Rock ISD’s high schools, May 18 through May 22. The city will also place a congratulations banner downtown in recognition of the graduates. Light schedule.

Last day of school, Thursday, May 21

Pre-register online for Kindergarten beginning Fall 2020, now through May 22.

Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees May Virtual Regular Board Meeting, Thursday, May 28

Watch it on cable access or stream Board meeting online. 🖥

Meeting agenda posts at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. 📄 View Board meeting agenda

Parents of children turning 4 by or on Sept. 1, 2020, have their first opportunity to enroll their students in Pre-Kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year on Monday, July 6. Sign up to receive updates on enrolling for Pre-K.

🏆🏆Congratulations Jill Peyton from Forest North Elementary School and Kat Malone from Success High School, for being named Round Rock ISD Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year! Both teachers go on to represent the District in the Region 13 Teacher of the Year competition! Read their story and learn who won campus Teacher of Year from each school.

Every end is a new beginning. 🎉 Congratulations to our fifth and eighth-graders who are transitioning to the next step in their academic career as they move up to middle and high schools, respectively. You make us proud.

You made it to the end. Thanks for reading!
While you’re here, please take the quick poll.

Your input into planning the 2020-2021 school year is crucial. District leaders want to know your ideas, concerns, and priorities as plans develop to safely return to school in the Fall. Give us your views and rate the thoughts of others.

Poll closes Wednesday, May 13 at midnight. Stay connected to Round Rock ISD for more opportunities to share your views.

Last week’s Quick Poll results:
When visiting your students’ campus website how easy is it to find what you’re looking for? Select the response that applies to your experience most of the time

Respondents chose one of the following:

I can usually find what I am looking for but I have to click around a lot: 41%
I can usually find what I am looking for: 38%
I have difficulty finding what I am looking for: 9%
My experience varies by campus website: 7%
I don’t usually have a need to visit campus websites: 6%

Rate the Health & Well-being Weekly: 4.75/5 stars