En Espanol

Today marks two full weeks of online learning through Digital Dawgs. Thank you for your ongoing support! We have just a few quick updates for you going into the weekend. Please continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines. We can’t wait to safely be together again!

DIGITAL DAWG LESSONS
PDF copies of the lessons will be posted at www.rcisd.org/digitaldawgs by Sunday at noon or sooner if possible. Remember that teachers will issue actual work and assignments in Google Classroom and Seesaw. 

GRADING UPDATES
We have issued some updates and FAQ’s on grading for Digital Dawgs. Please visit our webpage to learn more at https://www.rcisd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=738.

MEAL PROGRAM TO EXPAND NEXT WEEK
Our talented and determined food service team is again enhancing their grab-and-go meal program starting on Monday, April 6. Students can visit any of the previously posted spots on Mondays to receive food for 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches to carry them through the weekends. Pickup has also been streamlined and designed with social distance compliance, so please have patience with our volunteers as we try to make this process as safe as possible. Visit https://www.rcisd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=721 for those locations and pick up times for Mondays. 

QUESTIONS?
Thank you again for your support of our school district. Please continue to use our questionnaire for any unanswered questions that you may have at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIPcaTZXRo3ctwyedWwBxSXKonGrMbv3LH8wfZKA0bjBC1uA/viewform. 

En espanol

We can’t thank you enough for your support of Digital Dawgs as we’ve transitioned to online learning. The impact on families and educators alike has been profound, however, we are so proud of your willingness to work together to benefit students. As announced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott today, schools will remain closed for traditional instruction through Friday, May 1, 2020 to support national social distancing guidelines. Please note that our planned start of Monday, May 4 could change if deemed necessary for public health. 

Our amazing educators will continue to deliver instruction through Google Classroom and Seesaw on scheduled school days. We will continue Digital Dawgs following our regular school calendar at the advice of the Texas Education Agency. This includes the planned 4-day weekend from April 10 to 13 for students and staff. Online classes will resume April 14. 

Message for Class of 2020 Students & Families
We know how important this milestone is for students and their families and we are committed to finding ways to celebrate in a safe manner. A back up date of June 22 has been secured for Graduation if the original date is not possible.

QUICK LINKS

• Digital Dawgs Info 
• Meals-for-the-Week Program
• Student Counseling Services
• Device & Tech Support

En espanol

ROYSE CITY ISD EXTENDS CLOSURE IN COOPERATION WITH COUNTY ORDINANCE
Earlier today, Rockwall County ordered residents to stay home as part of a “shelter in place” mandate effective midnight tonight and expiring at midnight on April 15, 2020. In cooperation with this local ordinance, Royse City ISD has moved our earliest possible return date for staff/students to Thursday, April 16. If the county and/or state issues any further mandate impacting schools, we will again adjust our plan. As part of an exception, Royse City ISD will continue to provide meals to families throughout this closure. A new meals-for-the-week program on Mondays is in place for next week and beyond. Keep reading for more info. For full details on the ordinances issued by counties served across Royse City ISD, please visit the below websites. 

Rockwall County Ordinance
Collin County Ordinance
Hunt County Ordinance

MEALS-FOR-THE-WEEK PROGRAM 
Meal programs for the remainder of this week will continue as detailed at https://www.rcisd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=721. Starting on Monday, March 30, students can pick up meals-for-the-week on MONDAYS ONLY that consist of 5 lunches and 5 breakfasts. Pickup locations and times will remain the same. This will reduce time away from home for both families and food service staff. Students who qualify for free and reduced meal rates will receive the weekly food for free. Students who normally pay full cost will continue to purchase as normal. To apply for free or reduced meal rates, please visit https://www.rcisd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=160.

ATTENDANCE
Students are highly encouraged to participate daily in Digital Dawgs to support continual academic growth. For high school students, daily check-ins are found in their 3rd period Google Classroom. These check-ins are critical in keeping up with student progress, student credit and student grades. For all other students, daily check-ins are highly encouraged, but not required. Graded assignments will continue to be issued for students of all grades and are required. 

REPORT CARDS
By the end of the day, 3rd quarter report cards will be available for your review in Family Access. You can find these by logging into Family Access and clicking on the REPORT CARDS tile for your student. You can download a PDF of the most recent report card for the student.

En espanol

Royse City ISD Family,

Monday is a big day! It’s like the first day of school all over again as we begin online learning. And as with any first day of school, we will not expect perfection. It is about building trust and relationships. First day jitters will be there for us and for families. Our goal is to ease into online education and find routine in this new norm.  

BRIEF SITUATIONAL RECAP
Our version of online education, Digital Dawgs, begins on Monday as we are closed through April 3 due to COVID-19 precaution. In a matter of 5 days, Royse City ISD staffers built an entire online learning framework for students PreK to 12. We began to identify families in need of device and internet support. Some devices have already been issued to families and more will follow. Meal programs for students began on Monday and will continue through the entirety of this closure. Every department and campus in the district has collaborated this week on how to best support students. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR DIGITAL DAWGS?
By 5:00 today, if not already completed, you and/or your child (depending on grade level) will receive all Google Classroom and/or Seesaw access codes. Secondary parents/guardians can get the access codes from their child or their child’s teachers if desired for viewing rights. If you are not device or internet ready by next week, please don’t stress. Your child will have a chance to go back and make up any missed work. We are continuing to work to identify and support families in need. You’ll find many helpful links at www.rcisd.org/digitaldawgs. 

NEW! DRIVE UP WIFI ACCESS POINTS
Royse City ISD is partnering with Community Internet Providers to establish drive-up wifi access points for student connectivity. By Wednesday, March 25, if not earlier, families can drive up and connect to submit school work, watch videos and attend virtual meetings. The wifi network will be called Digital Dawgs and with a password of bulldogs. Locations are:

• Herndon Intermediate 300 Blackland Road in Fate
• Fort Elementary 2801 FM 35 in Royse City
• Ruth Cherry Intermediate - 1412 FM1777 in Royse City
• Union Valley City Hall & Fire Department on FM 1565 in Royse City
• Community Baptist Church at 6012 CR 276 in Royse City
• First United Methodist Church  at 305 N Josephine St  in Royse City

LESSONS
The lessons and assignments for the full week will be publicly posted each Sunday evening by 8:00 p.m. at www.rcisd.org/digitaldawgs. They will be sorted by grade level from PreK-6th and by subject area in grades 7-12. These will also be communicated through Google Classroom and Seesaw.

PHONES
Our campus offices and departments continue to be closed. While we do have an auto-director in place for voicemails, we encourage emails rather than calls at this time to ensure delivery. You can find emails for each staff member in our Staff Directory at https://www.rcisd.org/domain/59. 

MEDICATION PICK
Medication pick up will take place at Ernest Epps Education Service Center at the daycare entrance off of the parking lot. The address is 810 Old Greenville Rd. in Royse City.This is for your child’s daily medications, inhalers, EpiPens and over the counter medications. Please pull up to the curb and stay in your car. A nurse will come to you for student information and medications will be brought to the car. Please follow the signs 

Scheduled Days and Times:

• Friday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday from 10:00 am. to 3:00 p.m. 
• Monday from 8:00 a.m. to noon 

BRIEF SITUATIONAL RECAP
At this time, we have made the decision to continue to keep our schools closed through April 3 and implement online learning aka “Digital Dawgs” beginning Monday, March 23. Please note that the return date of April 6 could change as we continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19. 

DIGITAL DAWGS ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM
Our staff is spending the remainder of this week developing this online platform through Google Classroom (Grades 2-12) and Seesaw (Grades PK-1).  You and/or your child (depending on grade level) will receive all Google Classroom and/or Seesaw access codes by Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. Our educators are preparing diligently for this launch. If you are not device or internet ready by next week, please don’t stress. Your child will have a chance to go back and make up any missed work. We are continuing to work to identify and support families in need. 

LESSONS
The lessons and assignments for the full week will be publicly posted each Sunday evening by 8:00 p.m. at www.rcisd.org/digitaldawgs. They will be sorted by grade level from PreK-6th and by subject area in grades 7-12. 

QUICK LINKS & QUICK FACTS

• Digital Dawgs info www.rcisd.org/digitaldawgs
• Meal Programs to Continue: https://www.rcisd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=721
• Device Support for School Issued Devices: http://bit.ly/c4lsupports
• Grades K-1 will use Seesaw: https://web.seesaw.me
• Grades 2-12 will use Google Classroom: classroom.google.com
• No extracurricular events or practices allowed https://www.uiltexas.org/
• No STAAR or EOC Tests this Spring

PHONES
We ask for your patience at this time with phone calls. Our offices and campuses are closed. There is an auto-directory in place for each school and administration. You may use the directory to leave a message for certain departments. Those will be monitored as much as possible. We encourage emails rather than calls at this time to ensure delivery. You can find emails for each staff member in our Staff Directory https://www.rcisd.org/domain/59. 

MEDICATION PICK UP STARTS FRIDAY!
Medication pick up will take place at Ernest Epps Education Service Center at the daycare entrance off of the parking lot. The address is 810 Old Greenville Rd. in Royse City.This is for your child’s daily medications, inhalers, EpiPens and over the counter medications. Please pull up to the curb and stay in your car. A nurse will come to you for student information and medications will be brought to the car. Please follow the signs 

Scheduled Days and Times:

• Friday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday from 10:00 am. to 3:00 p.m. 
• Monday from 8:00 a.m. to noon 

En Espanol

Today’s update holds some accountability and testing updates as well as answers to some of your most frequently asked questions. We have also included some guidance from the Texas Education Agency on accountability measures for the remainder of this semester.  

BRIEF SITUATIONAL RECAP
At this time, we have made the decision to continue to keep our schools closed through April 3 and implement online learning aka “Digital Dawgs” beginning Monday, March 23. Please note that the return date of April 6 could change as we continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19. Additionally, all extracurricular activities, practices and athletic events are suspended while we are closed. 

ACADEMIC UPDATES PROVIDED BY THE STATE

• STAAR requirements waived for all students (no testing to be administered this year)
• EOC requirements waived for all students (no testing to be administered this year)

WHAT IS DIGITAL DAWGS? 
Our staff is spending the remainder of this week developing this online platform through Google Classroom (Grades 2-12) and Seesaw (Grades PK-1). A Digital Dawg webpage is also in development and will be published soon. This website will house weekly Digital Dawg lessons by grade level.  Please know that we understand the challenge that on-line learning presents for students and families. We are working with our teachers to provide family friendly materials and setting reasonable requirements for assignments.  

Some important facts to considers:

• You will have everything you need for the week on Monday morning.
• Teachers will check in several times a week to provide support in learning.  
• You will have flexibility in when you do the assignments.  We will provide a suggested daily timeline for students, but you can choose as a family what works best for you.
• Workload will be much lighter than if students were on campus on a daily basis.
• We understand that many of you are not trained as teachers and our staff goal is to keep students moving forward in learning with as minimal stress on families as is possible.

We are committed to evaluating, and when necessary, tweaking our online learning system to best suit families, students and our educators. 

WHAT EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED AT HOME FOR DIGITAL DAWGS?
Any computer or tablet that has internet browsing capability will be sufficient for our lessons. Some internet resources are being offered to families through 3rd party providers. Efforts are underway within the district to help families in need of device and internet access. We appreciate your patience as we address this important part of the plan.

WILL STAFF CONTINUE TO BE PAID?
Yes. All staff, including hourly paid employees, will continue to get paid through the end of this school year regardless of the status of school openings. In times of closure, some would continue to report to work, like custodial, grounds and maintenance. Others would develop work-from-home procedures to best support district and departmental goals. 

MESSAGE FROM NURSING STAFF REGARDING MEDICATION PICK UP
Medication pick up will take place at Ernest Epps Education Service Center at the daycare entrance off of the parking lot. The address is 810 Old Greenville Rd. in Royse City.This is for your child’s daily medications, inhalers, EpiPens an over the counter medications. Please pull up to the curb and stay in your car. A nurse will come to you for student information and medications will be brought to the car. Please follow the signs 

Scheduled Days and Times:

• Friday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday from 10:00 am. to 3:00 p.m. 
• Monday from 8:00 a.m. to noon 

WILL SCHOOL EXTEND THROUGH THE SUMMER TO MAKE UP FOR LOST DAYS?
No. By developing a formal online and remote school platform for our students, we will not have to extend into the summer. TEA plans to waive the days we missed March 16-20 as well. Our online program will begin on March 23 and run through the duration of this situation. It is our goal to continue to help students grow academically through this semester in spite of these circumstances. 

ROCKWALL COUNTY AND CITY OF ROYSE CITY
Rockwall County and the City of Royse City have declared of local disaster of public health emergency. Please visit their websites
https://www.rockwallcountytexas.com/
https://www.roysecity.com/

WILL THE MEAL PROGRAM CONTINUE THROUGH THIS CLOSURE?
Yes. We are adjusting some of the Grab and Go Locations based on participation levels this week. Here's the dedicated webpage for Meal Programs. 

En Espanol

Royse City ISD Family,

At this time, we have made the decision to continue to keep our schools closed through April 3 and implement online learning aka “Digital Dawgs” beginning Monday, March 23. Updates from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coupled with those of our state and local health officials have factored into this determination. We believe that it is in the best interest of public health to support social distancing by closing schools for traditional instruction. As you may have seen, many of our fellow school districts are facing this same situation. Please note that the return date of April 6 could change as we continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19. 

In my career as an educator, this has been one of the toughest decisions I’ve faced. As a father, I know that this will directly impact your family dynamic and I understand your anxiousness about this significant change to your daily lives. Together we will get through this as a community and as a family.

I also know that you will have many questions and I assure you we will do our best to answer each one of them. Throughout the rest of this week, my administrative team will work to develop a meaningful and reasonable online learning platform for our students. That plan will be communicated to you in detail and we will share what you can expect from us and what we will expect from students. As we consider our online platform, we’re exploring all avenues to ensure that all students can access the resources and be successful. 

Lastly, I kindly ask you for patience and flexibility in the coming weeks. Our plan won’t be perfect in the beginning, but I can assure you that the educators who craft our plan love your children and wish for the success of every single child. Adjustments and modifications will be made to benefit children and families.

Please visit continue to check this website for an ever growing list of FAQ’s and a history of our updates throughout this situation. Again, please know that we will address your concerns and hear your ideas. You can continue to expect regular and transparent communications from us including details about online learning through “Digital Dawgs”.

Sincerely,

Kevin Worthy
Superintendent of Schools

En espanol

Thank you for your continued support of our district. The situation seems to change hourly, however, our steadfast focus remains on doing what is best for our students, staff and families. This serves as your daily update on the local impact of COVID-19. There are still no known cases in our district, but we are aware of confirmed cases in nearby counties. Also just in... Texas Governor Greg Abbott has waived STAAR requirements this year. We will learn more today on this and other impacts.

BRIEF SITUATIONAL RECAP
Royse City ISD is not holding school this week in an effort to minimize potential spread of COVID-19. Currently, our efforts are in preparing for the potential need to deliver instruction remotely if returning to school is not possible. This can include low and high tech solutions. We will keep you up-to-date on the likelihood of this possibility. In the meantime, we continue to encourage academics at home and daily schedules. You can find some great ideas at: https://bit.ly/2vqInDn.

HAPPENING TODAY
District and campus administrators convened this morning to prepare for a formal online learning program. Throughout the afternoon and the rest of this week, we have task forces that are focusing on how to best serve all student groups. We will update parents and staff when possible on what this would look like.

DEVICE & INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY
Many of our PreK-6th grade families were contacted this weekend by teachers in an effort to discover their level of internet and device accessibility. Our middle and high school students were already issued a Chromebook for home use as part of our 1:1 program. We are aware that not all 7-12 students opted into the 1:1 program or do not have a Chromebook for a reason. We will work within our means to support all PreK-12 families who need support in these areas. Many internet providers are coming forward with free wi-fi opportunities. We encourage all families in need to take advantage of those opportunities and are working to compile a list of those 3rd party providers.

MEAL PROGRAMS
Food service team members served “grab and go” style breakfast this morning. Lunches, and breakfasts for the following day, will be served this week from school buses at nine locations beginning today. You can find them between 11:30 and 12:30 at:

Miss May Vernon Elementary
Downtown Fate
Harry H Herndon Intermediate
Cypress Creek Apartments
Scott Elementary
Royse City City Hall
Davis Elementary
Fort Elementary
Verandah Amenity Center

En espanol

We can’t thank you enough for all of your offers to volunteer and help in this unusual time. Royse City ISD is special because of the people like you! Please continue to watch for updates and communications from Royse City ISD. This serves as your daily update on the local impact of COVID-19. There are still no known cases in our district. 

BRIEF SITUATIONAL RECAP
Royse City ISD has extended Spring Break and plans to return to class on Monday, March 23 in an effort to minimize potential spread of COVID-19. As with many of our fellow districts, we are preparing for the possibility to deliver instruction remotely if returning to school is not in the best interest of public health. This can include low and high tech solutions. We’ll continue to keep you informed every step of the way. 

QUICK UPDATE FOR RCHS STUDENTS
The SAT Make Up Day at RCHS is now planned for April 28. RCHS has many high school students in dual credit coursework. Our higher ed partners are emailing those students on their college issued email addresses and through their online platforms with instructions and messages from instructors. More at TAMU-Commerce & Paris Junior College.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?
Campus administrators and directors are meeting on Monday to begin to develop remote and online learning opportunities for students PreK-12. In the event of a continued closure of schools, we’ll be ready to provide resources by Monday, March 23. 

Yesterday, we launched information on our School Meal Program where students can grab breakfast and lunch each day from March 16-20. You can find those details at www.rcisd.org/flu, on social media and on our mobile app. 

3 EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT & FACILITATE ONLINE LEARNING THIS WEEK
While we continue to work on an online program, here are some sample daily schedules for students based on grade level. There are tons of free resources through Khan Academy other other online learning platforms. You can also encourage reading especially in areas of student interest. Get started by clicking teh button below!

En espanol

Royse City ISD Family,

Thank you again for your support and patience as we navigate this unusual situation. At this time, there are still no COVID-19 cases within our community or school district. 

BRIEF SITUATIONAL RECAP
Royse City ISD has extended Spring Break through next week and plans to return to class on Monday, March 23. With preparedness in mind, and at the advice of the Texas Education Agency, we are positioning our district for the possibility of continued disruption to school. We’re preparing for all scenarios at this point which may include an online program similar to what universities are currently implementing.  In the coming days, we will reach out to families to learn more about online capabilities and how we can best support students. We will continue to update you every step of the way.

MEAL SERVICE PLANS FOR EXTENDED SPRING BREAK
Many staff and community members have reached out with messages of support for the school meal plan for next week. Thank you for that! Below you will see the RCISD School Meal Plan for March 16-20. We could use your help in encouraging those families who you think might benefit from breakfast and lunch availability to visit one of the 9 designated locations. 

BREAKFAST ON MONDAY, MARCH 16
Grab & Go Breakfast in the foyer of Davis Elementary and Scott Elementary from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.

BREAKFAST ON MARCH 17-20 
Grab & Go Breakfast from one of 9 locations outlined below. You’ll be picking up breakfast for the next day as you pick up lunch.  

LUNCH MONDAY-FRIDAY (MARCH 16-20)
School buses will set up in 9 separate locations to provide lunch and breakfast for the following day. This grab-and-go service will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

LOCATIONS FOR LUNCH PICK UP

• Miss May Vernon Elementary
• Downtown Fate
• Harry H Herndon Intermediate
• Cypress Creek Apartments
• Scott Elementary
• Royse City City Hall
• Davis Elementary
• Fort Elementary
• Verandah Amenity Center

PAYMENT
Normal meal payments apply to students. Those on free lunch will be free. Those on reduced will have a normal reduction. Full meal prices for all others. Students will need to supply their ID numbers. (We can help look that up if needed.) You may pay on-site or be charged as normal. Meal Pricing

ADDED INFO
If a family cannot make it to one of the 9 locations, they are advised to call 972-636-9570 to make further arrangements. It is our goal to serve all families!

Thank you for sharing these details with fellow RCISD families! Please also continue to use our RCISD Covid-19 Form to submit your unanswered questions. 

Royse City ISD Families, 

I want to thank you for your support of our school district during this unprecedented time in education. Our communities and our school district are special because of our shared love for children. I want you to know that we will continue to make tough decisions that we feel are in the best interest of students and staff. I  know that your family is being directly impacted and I understand the difficulties that this may cause for you. Our main goal is safety of staff and students. Throughout this situation, you can count on regular and transparent communications from myself and my team. Please read this update and locate our form for additional questions at the bottom. 

EDP or Childcare Availability:
One of your most asked questions is about the availability of EDP childcare next week. Unfortunately, we cannot offer EDP services at this time. Health officials recommend limiting large crowd opportunities for the public. For those families who participate in EDP, you will not be charged for next week.

Making Up the Lost Days:

• Our school calendar is built on minutes and not days.
• We have 5 days to “make-up” for the extended spring break
• We will have school on April 13-14 to make up for days 1 and 2. April 13 was a Bad Weather Day and April 14 was a staff development day that will now serve as a regular school day.
• Our calendar has 2 Bank Days built in that will satisfy two additional days with no impact to staff or students. This makes up days 3 and 4. 
• The 5th day will need to be made up. We will determine and communicate that plan asap.

Food Services:
The federal government is relaxing the restrictions for school districts which can allow for food services outside of our campuses. We are working on a plan to provide meal services for students and will communicate that ASAP.

Other helpful updates from RCISD:

• No known cases of COVID-19 in Royse City ISD as of 3-13-2020
• All campuses and offices will be closed during this extended spring break
• All extracurriculars and UIL events postponed for now
• No EDP or childcare available during extended spring break
• Custodians will continue with facility cleanings
• Staff will not see any change or interruption of pay
• Royse City ISD chose to extend spring break by one week to allow extra time to determine where and when students and staff traveled over the original spring break. 
• Superintendent is participating in daily phone calls with TEA (7 days a week) 
• Superintendent is in coordination with fellow districts, Region 10 and county officials to best plan for student and school health and safety
• Administrative team is planning for all scenarios moving forward, including the potential for more interruption to traditional school services

Please continue to practice good hygiene practices, hand washing and social distancing recommendations from public health officials. Today’s update hopefully answered some of your pressing questions. Moving forward, our Communications Department will issue a daily update to parents and staff. Still have more questions? Please use this FORM to submit them to our administration. 

Lastly, I want to thank you again for your patience and support in this unusual time. Together, we will do our absolute best to serve you and your children. 

Sincerely,

Kevin Worthy
Superintendent

Out of an abundance of caution, Royse City ISD will extend Spring Break one extra week to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19. Beginning Friday, March 13, no extracurricular or UIL activities will take place until further notice. This extended break allows officials more time to assess the situation. These precautionary measures were made with student and staff safety in mind.

At this time, we are planning for students to return on Monday, March 23. We understand that this decision will directly impact students and staff and we thank you for your support. 

Many more details will be released in the coming days. The safety of students and staff is our highest priority. We will continue to work to keep you updated on our website at www.rcisd.org/flu as well as our normal communication tools. 

In the event that there is a confirmed COVID-19 case in the community, Royse City ISD will coordinate with state and local health officials, city governments and healthcare providers so that timely and accurate information can guide appropriate responses. The district’s goal is to protect all students and staff while minimizing disruption to normal operations for as long as possible. Royse City ISD will continue to provide updates when there are changes in the current situation or additional steps are needed.  

While there are no known or suspected Coronavirus cases in our area, we do want you to know that we are monitoring reports and are connected with county and state officials on this matter. Keeping students and staff safe is and will always be our highest priority.

We could use your help! The best practice for preventing the flu is proper handwashing and staying home if high fever is presented. Students must stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications. Additionally, we are working closely with our custodial team to ensure clean schools and provide added attention to classrooms and campuses in need.

If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse. We appreciate your support and partnership in keeping our schools safe!