RISD Parent & Community Newsletter: August 23 - August 29, 2026

Posted Date: 08/23/26 (01:12 PM)

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RISD Parent & Community Newsletter

August 23 - August 29, 2026

August 23, 2026

Students run in front of Ricardo Elementary School at dusk.

Events Happening This Week at Ricardo ISD:

Poster for Ricardo Yellowjackets Football & Cheer Family Decal & Parent Night on August 26, 2026.

RISD Fall Picture Day

Date: Wednesday, August 26

RMS Football & Cheer Parent/Decal Night

Date: Wednesday, August 26
Location: GYM
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

School Board Meeting

Date: Wednesday, August 26
Location: Carol Radford Learning Center
Time: 7:00 PM

Substitute Teacher Training

Date: Thursday, August 27
Location: Carol Radford Learning Center
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

RMS Volleyball vs. Bishop

Date: Thursday August 27
Location: RISD GYM
Time: 5:00 PM

RMS Cross Country @ Falfurrias Invitational

Date: Saturday, August 29
Location: Falfurrias
Time: TBA

Information about Picture Day on Wednesday, 8/26/26, with tips on attire and colors.

Picture Day is this Wednesday!

Mark your calendars! Fall Picture Day is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

No money is needed on Picture Day. A proof or portrait package will be sent home afterward with information on how to order.

Please see the attached flyer for additional details, including helpful tips on what to wear.

We can’t wait to see those Yellowjacket smiles! 📸💙💛

Events Happening Soon at Ricardo ISD:

RMS Volleyball vs. Falfurrias - Parents Night

Date: Monday, August 31
Location: RISD GYM
Time: 5:00 PM

RMS Football vs. Ben Bolt - Scrimmage

Date: Thursday, September 3
Location: Ben Bolt
Time: 5:00 PM

Donuts With Grandparents Day

Date: Friday, September 4
Location: Cafeteria
PreK - 3rd Grade Time: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
4th - 8th Grade Time: 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM

RMS Cross Country @ Falfurrias Invitational

Date: Saturday, September 5
Location: San Diego
Time: TBA

Event announcement for 'Donuts with Grandparents Day' on Friday, September 4, 2026, with separate times for Pre K-3rd grade and 4th-8th grade.

Grandparent Sign Up Link

Student Drop Off & Pick Up Information

Thank You, RISD Families!

A simple THANK YOU to our amazing parents and families for your patience, cooperation, and support with our drop-off and pick-up procedures!

We truly appreciate everyone following the traffic and carline procedures we recently shared. The difference has been tremendous! Traffic is flowing smoothly, our carline continues to improve each day, and most importantly, we are working together to keep our students and families safe.

We are always looking for ways to improve, and your cooperation makes that possible.

Thank you for working with us—we truly have the BEST parents around!

Aerial map showing the RISD morning drop-off route with designated car lines and speed limits.

Map showing RISD afternoon pick-up routes and dismissal times for different grade levels.

Important RISD Afternoon Pick-Up & Traffic Information

Pick-Up Info LINK

Yellowjacket Spotlight

A volleyball team poses for a photo on a wooden court with 'RICARDO' visible on the wall.

A collage of images showing a girls' volleyball game, with players in action and spectators cheering.

Yellowjacket Volleyball Starts Strong!

RMS Volleyball opened the season at home against Orange Grove with a clean sweep! All four Yellowjacket teams—7B, 8B, 7A, and 8A—earned victories to start the season undefeated. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches on a great opening night!

Cross Country is Off and Running!

Our Yellowjackets have started early-morning practices as they prepare for another great season.

Practices are held Tuesday and Thursday mornings around 6:30 AM in and around the RISD campus. We ask all drivers traveling near the school during this time to slow down, stay alert, and watch carefully for our student runners and coaches.

We appreciate everyone helping us keep our Yellowjackets safe as they put in the miles!

A group of young women in matching blue and yellow athletic jerseys pose for a photo outdoors.

Two young women in matching tie-dye and blue shirts stand side-by-side outdoors.

8th Grade Volleyball Helping With Morning Drop-offs

Children smile and sit on a school bus, ready for their journey.

A group of young students stand in a line in front of a yellow school bus labeled 'RICARDO I.S.D.'

Safety in Motion: Bus Safety Training

Coach Butler led RISD students through school bus safety and emergency evacuation training this week. Students learned important safety procedures and what to do in the event of a bus emergency. This training helps ensure our Yellowjackets are prepared, informed, and ready to respond safely.

Students are engaged in a hands-on STEM activity, building models with craft sticks and tape.

RES Students Performing Science Experiments & RMS Students Working on Engineering Design Projects

Yellowjacket Sports

Poster for Ricardo Yellowjackets Football & Cheer Family Decal & Parent Night on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Ricardo ISD Gym.

Ricardo Yellowjackets Cross Country 2026 Schedule poster featuring runners and a mascot.

Ricardo Yellow Jackets Junior High Volleyball Schedule with dates, opponents, locations, times, and formats.

Ricardo Yellow Jackets 2026-2027 athletics information poster with sports app details.

Poster for 7th & 8th grade student athletes about locker security, featuring a mascot bee and the text 'ATTENTION STUDENT ATHLETES'.

Voluntary Student Accident & Athletic Insurance

This link provides information about an optional student accident insurance program that families may purchase to help cover medical expenses if a student is injured during school activities, athletics, or special events. This coverage is voluntary and not required.

Student Insurance Link

Counselor Corner

Poster promoting the character trait 'Respect' for August, featuring a bee mascot and ways to show respect.

Communities in Schools Corner

Breakfast Club is Back!

Breakfast Club kicked off this week with our 2nd–5th graders and some special helpers—our 8th Grade NJHS students! Our NJHS members are volunteering their time to mentor, encourage, and build relationships with our younger Yellowjackets.

What a great way to start the year with friendship, leadership, and Yellowjacket pride!

Maintenance, Custodial & Transportation Corner

A man holds a black snake he has safely removed from a building.

Keeping RISD Safe — Even When Things Get a Little Wild!

There is never a dull moment for our Maintenance, Custodial & Transportation team!

This week, Director Joey Vasquez and his team helped safely capture and relocate a Western Rat Snake that was found near our school buildings. The snake was moved to a safe location away from campus.

From maintaining our facilities and keeping our schools clean to transporting our students and handling the occasional unexpected visitor, this team works hard behind the scenes every day to keep Ricardo ISD safe, clean, and ready for learning.

Thank you to Mr. Vasquez and the entire Maintenance, Custodial & Transportation team for everything you do for RISD!

Cafeteria Corner

Ricardo ISD Cafeteria Menu for August 2026, featuring daily meal options.

RISD Bell Schedules

Ricardo Elementary School bell schedule with times for drop-off, school start, and student pick-up.

A rustic bell schedule poster for RMS, featuring a Western theme with a cowboy hat and boots.

Save the Children Corner

Safety Corner

Poster with bold text 'STOP (NO MÁS)' and 'HUMAN TRAFFICKING (TRATA DE PERSONAS)'.

Poster promoting safe gun storage with the slogan 'SAFE GUN STORAGE SAVES LIVES'.

A flyer titled 'Mental Health Training for School Personnel' features smiling school staff and program details.

A flyer titled 'Resources for Students and Caretakers' lists mental health support options with QR codes.

Parental Rights & Options Information

Infographic summarizing parental rights and options for Texas parents, covering school choices, curriculum, and instructional materials.

Parental Rights and Options LINK

Ricardo ISD is committed to keeping our families informed and involved in their child’s education.

Texas law recognizes parents as important partners with educators, administrators, and school boards in the education of their children. The Parental Rights and Options Information provided by the Texas Education Agency outlines many of the rights and choices available to Texas parents, including rights related to instructional materials, academics, attendance, health-related services, special programs, school options, and more.

We have included the graphic above as a quick overview of some of this important information. Because the graphic is only a summary, we encourage all Ricardo ISD parents and guardians to review the complete Parental Rights and Options Information document linked with this post.

Thank you to our Ricardo ISD families for staying informed, involved, and engaged in your child’s education.

Ricardo ISD — Yellowjacket Pride