{"id":5116,"date":"2026-07-28T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/LakeHighlandsES\/?page_id=5116"},"modified":"2026-07-28T14:55:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T19:55:33","slug":"elementary-handbook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/LakeHighlandsES\/elementary-handbook\/","title":{"rendered":"Lake Highlands Elementary School Family Handbook 2026-2027 \u200b"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Lake Highlands Elementary School Family Handbook \n2026-2027\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Dream\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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This campus handbook contains information to help students and parents understand school specific expectations for our students at LHE. Students and parents also need to be familiar with the <\/span>RISD Code of Civility<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>RISD Student Code of Conduct<\/span><\/a>, which are separate documents provided by the district, and used to make decisions at the campus level. These documents contain detailed information important to all families such as attendance, truancy, school expectations, policies, and bullying.\u00a0 Both handbooks are available on the <\/span>Student Services Policies Page<\/b><\/a>. Please take time to read and discuss this information with your child\/children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Richardson ISD is a beautiful community in which safety, respect, and responsibility are an active part of the fabric of our schools, community, and staff. In order to have an environment conducive to learning, we will all follow the statements on the Code of Civility.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We are Safe<\/span><\/p>

We promote safety, consideration, and kindness by refraining from threatening or harming others, damaging property, or engaging in bullying behavior.<\/span><\/p>

We are Responsible<\/span><\/p>

We foster a culture of respectful communication, inclusivity, and empathy by actively listening, calmly sharing opinions, addressing each other courteously, and embracing diversity.<\/span><\/p>

We are Respectful<\/span><\/p>

We uphold a positive learning environment by avoiding disruptions, resolving conflicts peacefully, managing negative responses, seeking help when needed, and adhering to school policies.<\/span><\/p>

Thank you, and we look forward to a great year!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Emily Forte, Principal <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tARRIVAL INFORMATION <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

School hours are from 7:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. every day. All students will enter and exit the building through their assigned grade level door. Doors open in the morning at 7:30 a.m.<\/span> Children dropped off before 7:30 a.m. are unsupervised. It is HIGHLY encouraged that students do not arrive on campus BEFORE the doors open at 7:30 a.m.<\/b> All students are welcome to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Parents are not allowed to escort child(ren) to the classroom when they arrive on time or if they are tardy. Parents need to say goodbye to student(s) in the car or at the door. Please be mindful of the traffic flow in the morning and afternoon. This is a difficult area to navigate and all drivers, walkers, and bike riders must follow the traffic rules. Do not park in the drop off\/pick up lane on Ferndale or the back drive, and do not exit your vehicle. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSTUDENT BADGES<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

All students must wear a RISD badge around their neck, all day, every day. RISD will provide the badge and a lanyard.<\/span><\/p>

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Students riding the bus will be given a second badge attached to their backpacks. Starting the 3rd week of school, the RISD expectation is that every bus rider must have a current RISD badge with RFID technology to swipe\/scan on and off a RISD bus.<\/span><\/p>

The campus will issue one replacement badge at no charge. A charge of $3 per badge will occur after the first badge replacement.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The school day concludes at 3:10 p.m. for Pre-K-5th grades. Students are expected to leave school grounds at that time unless they are involved in tutoring or other after-school activities. If you are going to be late, please contact the teacher or office to inform them of your pickup plan. Our staff and teachers have meetings and professional development classes after school and it is imperative that students are picked up on time. Students who are not picked up ten minutes after their dismissal time will be brought to the office to wait for their ride.\u00a0 Parents who are late for pickup must enter the building, show their state issued ID, and sign their child(ren) out.\u00a0 If school personnel are unable to contact the parent, guardian, or someone on the emergency card to pick the student up, the police department will be contacted by the school. Repeated, habitual, late pick up will be referred to Student Services. If your dismissal plans change, please make every effort to let your child(ren) know before school begins. If the change happens during the day, we ask that you notify the teacher directly before 12:00 p.m.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Children and adults on bikes or scooters must WALK with their equipment on school grounds at all times. It is strongly advised that all bikes are locked at the bike racks. Please bring all helmets inside to store in lockers.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL DRIVER EXPECTATIONS<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

Our traffic pattern at LHE is unique and can get very congested at arrival and dismissal. All drivers must adhere to the expectations as explained in our arrival\/dismissal map <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. Please practice patience as you follow the traffic rules. Our children need our attention for their safety.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Xplore is a RISD sponsored after school program.\u00a0 Students are supervised in the school from 3:10-6:00.\u00a0 Contact the website <\/span>www.risd.org\/xplore<\/span><\/a> for more information.\u00a0 Drop off for morning Xplore is 6:30am at the 1st\/2nd grade porch\/Computer Lab.\u00a0 Pick up for Xplore is located at the southernmost door adjacent to the teacher parking lot.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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A picture ID is required to pick a child up from school. Only adults listed on the child\u2019s emergency form may take the child from campus. Students will not be released from the office after 2:45 p.m. If you need to pick up children early for an appointment, please do so before 2:45 p.m. The student will not be released from the classroom until after the parent has arrived and presented the necessary identification.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Every effort should be made to make sure your child is in school daily and on time at 7:50 am.\u00a0 If your child is absent, an upload absence note to Focus Parent Portal or email is required within 3 days of absence.\u00a0 The note should include your child\u2019s name, date of absence, reason for absence and parent signature.\u00a0 Email <\/span>nancy.saavedra@risd.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>

State law requires that students must attend school 90% of the required school days.<\/i><\/b><\/p>

Absences that count toward the 90% rule:<\/span><\/p>