RRISD Community Meetings Planned for Joe Lee Johnson and Wells Branch Elementary Schools
Corey Ryan, MBA, Executive Director, Communications and Community Relations, RRISD
To download the complete RRISD presentation from the March 31 meeting, click here: 03-31-16 RRISD Presentation at Wells Branch Neighborhood Association.
Wells Branch Elementary will hold its Parent Meeting THIS Wednesday, April 20 at 14650 Merrilltown Drive. See below for details.
The design and planning for Joe Lee Johnson and Wells Branch elementary schools (WBES), slated to open in the 2016-2017 school year as Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) academies respectively, are continuing in Round Rock ISD as part of its Strategic Plan.
The district is looking to add some new design features to WBES, including a stage, dance studio, and piano lab. The arts will be integrated into classroom instruction, allowing for students to participate in active and engaging learning opportunities. The district hosted its first budget workshop on March 3, which featured a line item for funding dance and theater teachers, as well as a VPA coordinator to work with teachers to incorporate performance and arts into instruction.
In addition to the VPA, WBES will continue to serve the community as a Dual Language Academy, a public school of choice and a destination campus for all of Round Rock ISD.
WBES Principal Belinda Cini will host a parent night on April 20 to discuss VPA at 6pm at the school.
The design at Joe Lee Johnson will feature flexible learning spaces and areas conducive to science lessons of all kind. The district recently shared an article and video highlighting the school’s namesake, a longtime educator and leader in RRISD and the first African-American to have a school named in his honor in the district. That information can be viewed at https://goo.gl/9cxdg1 and https://youtu.be/hGiFAWtb3iE.
Joe Lee Johnson Principal Gabi Niño will host a parent night on April 7 at 6pm at the WB Community Center, 2106 Klattenhoff.
Both schools will be seeking student, staff, and community input for updated branding and logos. WBES will be selecting a new look Explorer to match the VPA model, keeping the mascot name that has become a tradition at the school. Voting will open at the end of the month presenting 2-4 Explorer logo marks, offered online and in person at the school. Joe Lee Johnson will select a new mascot and color scheme through a voting process starting soon.
More information on Round Rock ISD’s Strategic Plan can be found at roundrockisd.org/strategicplan/ and the school’s websites at wellsbranch.roundrockisd.org and johnson.roundrockisd.org. The district will be hosting communities from both schools on March 31 at 7pm to discuss the future for the Wells Branch community at the WB Community Center, 2106 Klattenhoff.