Making A Difference

Rummel Creek Elementary is fortunate to have an awesome group of students that form the Student Council.  Each year, students in fourth and fifth grade are elected to serve on Student Council.   This year - the students have been amazing.  They have come up with all kinds of service ideas to make Rummel Creek an outstanding school.  Along with assisting during the move, Student Council members were the ambassadors at the Open House when our new building opened. 

Once we were in the new school, Student Council came up with the idea to make Backpack Blessings for students in other schools.  During the brainstorm session, they came up with the foods to be put in the bags, an idea to add books, as well as an execution plan.  Then they came up with their number to make - (I was expecting 50 and was only halfway listening at that point)... Then I heard the number - 500!  I may have gasped!  Immediately they began making a plan and we decided to collect items for 500 BackPack Blessings. 

Remember - the students made the plan - so...the food included in the BackPack Blessings were the following items:  granola bars, cheese its, filled crackers, applesauce, slim jims, goldfish, and water.  The last item added was a book!  Yes...a book for every child who would receive the 500 BackPack Blessings.  

At first, the students wanted to have them completed by Spring Break.  Quickly they realized that three weeks was not enough time to plan, collect and bag.  (Thank goodness - I was still exhausted from the move.)  We stepped back and made plans to collect and deliver at the end of school.

The Student Council made posters, talked to classrooms, sent home notes, made advertisements for KRCE and generally talked up the plan.  We asked our Heroes and GAP groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to join in the effort.  After weeks of planning and working hard, the group collected all of the necessary donations - even more than we needed.

Yesterday, from 3:15 - 4:00 a group of students including the Student Council, Fourth Grade GAP, and Fourth Grade Heroes (Bible Study groups at RCE), stayed after school to pack up the BackPack Blessings.

Not only did they finish the 500 bags with all of the items, they counted and sorted the books by age and gender.  We had a few extra items so they counted them and bagged them for the after school programs at the schools the BackPack Blessings are going to be distributed.

This morning, Urban Outreach came and loaded up their truck with the materials with the help of Student Council Members.  The Backpack Blessings will go to three SBISD schools - Shadow Oaks Elementary, Treasure Forest Elementary, and Ridgecrest.  A few more of the bags will go out to a Cy Fair school off of 290.

Thank you Rummel Creek Family for making a difference.  Thank you Student Council for taking the risk and meeting your goals.  

Enjoy the photos below:

Opening boxes and getting ready to pack.

Organizing the lines to create the BackPack Blessings.

Student Council, Fourth Grade Heroes, Fourth Grade GAP

Making the bags...

Students going down the lines...

Sorting and Counting

Working hard!

A finished box with the finished product!

It took teamwork to get it all completed.

The boxes at 4:15!

Student Council with Sid Smith and Gordon Whitworth from Urban Outreach

Urban Outreach is excited to receive the BackPack Blessings

Ready to load the truck!

Student Council

Moving it out

Everyone has a job

Teamwork!

How the students kept up with donations.

Rummel Creek Dedication and Ribbon Cutting

Oh my, what a glorious day we had for our building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.  We had lots of visitors - many teachers, students, and PTA members from the past as well as families enjoying the school today spent time walking around the new RCE.  it was like a reunion!
The district created a great promo video about Rummel Creek.
The Student Council took a leadership role in the day.  As greeters, they had fun meeting each visitor as they walked in and handed out programs for the event.  They were also armed with cameras and ipads to record the events of the afternoon. (RCE had it's own Paparazzi!)
The RCE Singers performed during the ceremony and  Boy Scout troop #598 posted the flags.  It was beautiful.  To top it off - the RCE Fiddlers played in the front hall as visitors entered the building.

The district featured Rummel Creek in the School Zone this week as well!    Read the article posted on the SBISD School Zone.

Here is an animoto using the photos and videos taken by Student Council members.

Congratulations Rummel Creek on your new facility.  It is BEAUTIFUL!

Friday of the First Week in the New School

It's hard to believe that we have only been in the new building for a week.  It feels like home already!  The students have quickly learned the layout of the building and our first fire drill was a huge success.  We're still learning a few things, but school is definitely back in session!

Our Open House and Meet the School was a huge success, we had lots of students and former students show up.  The first day was over too quickly.  Enjoy this short video about the first day and meet the school event.

Today, Friday was also the first PTA meeting at the new school.  Dr. Muri came out to visit with our PTA!  What a great way to start our time at the new building.  The PTA meeting was filled with parents learning about our new school, the PTA, and of course hearing from Dr. Muri.

Friday was also the first day to fly our flags at the new campus.  This is very exciting.  We have not had a working flag pole for a long time.  It was so nice to see the colors flying at Rummel Creek this morning.  Abby Gannon, Ashley Cooper, Veena Patel, William Marks, Hayden Houser, Paxton Terveen, & Regan Olson, helped to raise the flag this very foggy morning.

Today was also "Ride Your Bike to School Day."  Rummel Creek Roadrunners were so excited to be back at the neighborhood school where they could easily ride their bikes to school.  Even on a very foggy morning, the students and their parents cycled their way to 625 Brittmoore.

It's been an amazing first week at the new Rummel Creek!

Meet the School

The first of the year has come and gone, January 4th, the teachers will return to the NEW Rummel Creek Building to put on the final touches.  Meet the School is in the afternoon on January 4th from 4:00 - 5:30.  This time is to give everyone a peek into the new school before students arrive on January 5th.

The teachers (and volunteers) worked very hard in December to unpack boxes, organize classrooms, and prepare for January.  We are all so excited about the new building.  It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

We look forward to seeing you at Meet the School on Monday, January 4th @ 4:00.  Come and enjoy our new building.

To give you a little sneak peak - check out this website with photos and comments about the new school:  Rummel Creek 2015

Check out this article as well: Spring Branch Snapshots

Happy New Year!  Happy New School!

Red, White and Back the Blue

On most days at Rummel Creek you wouldn't want to see a Police squad car on the campus, however, on Friday October 30th, the students were thrilled to see the officers drive up.  Friday, the students were celebrating law enforcement officers.  Friday was our Spirit Rally for Red Ribbon Week, we just jazzed it up to Red, White and Back the Blue!

Sometime in September, the students began to prepare.  They wrote songs, poems, letters, and more to honor the officers.  A student lead team planned the event, created the invitation and followed through to make sure everything was in place.  A fifth grade Girl Scout troop even made special cookies to give to the officers.

The Stratford Band and Cheerleaders joined in the celebration and an RCE Boy Scout troop presented the flags.  Students shared their songs through video, the choir sang, the Rockin' Roadrunners performed and one student shared both music and writing.  It was a great celebration.

After the hour long Spirit Rally, the officers were treated to a reception sponsored by Chic-fil-a and Starbucks.  It was a great day for all.

Enjoy the photos and links below:

Song Writers

Song Writers

Song Writers

Song Writers

Song Writers

Student Lead Team

Student Leaders - Ross Stewart and Ethan Manry

Student photographers and videographers

Musician and Writer

Even some of our own are officers, Noah Godin was a Roadrunner - class of 2000, and Mr. Bacon.

Below are links to several videos and webpages....Enjoy!
Animoto of the day's events
Article from the Memorial Examiner
Video of the students performing their songs
Video in honor of the police and law enforcement officers
Slideshow of the words to the songs

Rummel Creek Roadrunners, you did a great thing on Friday, October 30th.  Thank you for supporting and honoring law enforcement officers!

Students and Technology (Social Media)

Last week the district brought in speakers to share about students and social media.  You really don't think about elementary students and social media - however after participating in the session last week and watching the CNN special last night, elementary parents need to be aware of social media and their children.

Technology is great - there are so many things that technology improves in our lives, but with that - have we become an addictive society?  Last night on CNN, several of the 13 year old students claimed to check their phones/social media 100 times a day.  One young lady said that in the middle of class she would check to see what was being said about her on social media.

The "normal" things of growing up - taunting, gossiping, spreading rumors - are all still with us...they are just now broadcast through the internet to thousands.  And ...the new piece with technology - they can't be thrown away and could resurface at any time.

This is not to scare you.  As the speakers shared a book "Should I smash my child's phone?"  It's not about removing all devices from your children, it's about opening a dialogue with your child -  talking about what is appropriate in your household, and how to use technology effectively.  Having an open conversation in elementary school can help when your child goes off to middle school - you have set your family's guidelines.  Are you setting a good example to your children with your own technology usage?

The CNN special last night was a great companion piece to the district presentation.  We're all in this together.

Some photos just to make you think....

Are you living and enjoying life...or being a spectator through your phone?

Gen Tex Week at RCE

Next week we celebrate Gen Tex Week at Rummel Creek.  It is a fun week of activities emphasizing careers and post-secondary education.

During the week, we encourage adults to share their post secondary education experiences with children.  You may have attended and / or graduated from a college or university, a junior college, a trade/ technical school or a specialized school such as the Police Academy.  You may also have had special seminars or on the job training since you have started your career.  Please take time to share with your children your memories and experiences of your education and training following high school.  At the same time share with them your hopes for their future education and careers.

Please join us in emphasizing the importance of post high school education by talking to your children about attending colleges and specialized schools.  To support our Gen Tex emphasis at RCE, please participate in the activities we have planned at RCE.

Monday - October 5th - "Our future is so bright we have to wear shades"  Wear sunglasses as a reminder of setting goals and focusing on achieving those goals.

Tuesday - October 6th - "Futuristic Tuesday" - Dress as your future chosen profession.

Wednesday - October 7th - "College Rocks" - Wear a college shirt, jersey and talk with your teacher about their college experiences.

Thursday - October 8th - "Dress for Success" - Wear your best business attire.

Friday - October 9th - "Hats off to College" - Wear a funny hat, visor, college hat etc and discuss different college choices.

What college does your child want to attend right now?  What profession are they thinking about right now?