Blackland Prairie Leadership Academy - Round Rock ISD

Four circular badges showing certifications: HRS Level 1 Certified in blue, Level 2 Certified in yellow, Level 3 Certified in green, and a gold Leader in Me Lighthouse School seal.

A Note from the Principal

Hello, Blackland Prairie Families,

This week, our campus focused on Habit 4: Think Win-Win, which encourages students to look for solutions that benefit everyone. At school, students practice Habit 4 by collaborating, listening to others’ perspectives, and working together toward shared goals. Families can support this habit at home by encouraging conversations about compromise, fairness, and problem-solving, asking questions such as, “How can everyone feel successful in this situation?” or “What would a win-win solution look like?”

On Friday morning, students enjoyed participating in their DEAL (Drop Everything and Lead) Groups. These groups provide students with opportunities to build leadership skills, connect with peers across grade levels, and engage in meaningful activities. We encourage families to ask their child about their DEAL group and what they participated in. Students love sharing their experiences!

As a reminder, Monday is a holiday, and we hope all of our families enjoy a safe, restful, and extended weekend together. With cooler weather approaching, please remember to label jackets, sweaters, and layers with your child’s name so we can help ensure items are returned to their owners.

As always, stay safe and take care out on the Prairie!

Did You Know?

Did you know that being proactive means taking responsibility for our choices, actions, and learning?

In "Teacher Believed in Me" by David K. Hatch and Muriel T. Summers, students describe how a teacher’s belief in them helped them recognize their control over their future. When teachers consistently encourage students, set clear expectations, and remind them of their potential, students begin to believe in themselves.

At Blackland Prairie, we teach students to be proactive by:

-Encouraging them to take ownership of their learning and behavior

-Helping them set goals and reflect on their progress

-Teaching them that their choices matter, both in and out of the classroom

When adults believe in students, students learn to believe in themselves. That belief empowers them to take initiative, persevere through challenges, and make positive choices, key elements of Habit 1.

New This Week

Reminder: Monday, January 19th. 20626 – No School for Students and Staff. We hope everyone has a safe and fun day!

BPE 4th graders composed over 140 winter-themed poems and created hand-drawn holiday greeting cards. These heartfelt creations were delivered to residents at Sundara Senior Living, Primrose Assisted Living, and Legacy Senior Living, spreading joy throughout our community. Please use this link to learn more about Blackland Prairie Elementary’s 4th grade LIM service project and see how our students are making a positive impact.

Spring Picture Day – Wednesday, January 21st. Bring your best smile and dress snazzy for Spring Picture Day on Wednesday, January 21st. We need more volunteers to help picture day run smoothly by keeping lines moving and checking for yogurt, pizza sauce, or smudges on faces. Sign up here and thanks for your help, in advance!

2nd Grade Wildcat DADS Teaching Day – Friday, January 23rd. We’re excited to invite you to participate in Wildcat Dads Teaching Day! This is a unique opportunity for dads to step into the role of “Teacher” and share a fun, engaging lesson with their child’s class. Sign up here!

You can order the 2025–2026 BPE Yearbook through Jostens. Shop online by visiting jostens.com or by clicking HERE. Order your copy now before the price goes up on February 21st!

BPE Online Silent Auction Donation Request. BPE’s Spring Carnival is coming March 27th and PTA has started preparing for the online silent auction, which is part of the festivities. We welcome donations including sports game tickets, Airbnb or vacation stays, gift cards, services, products, or discounts. Do you own or know a local business who would like to support our school? All donating businesses will receive promotion and recognition via our auction website and social media channels. If you would like to make a donation please reach out to bpesilentauction@gmail.com. We appreciate your support!

5th to 6th Grade Transition Information

Below you will find important dates and times for upcoming transition events from Blackland Prairie Elementary to Ridgeview Middle School.

January 27th from 6-7:30 PM @ RMS ~ Fine Arts & Elective Information Night Incoming 6th graders will have the opportunity to learn more about PE/Pre-Athletics, Choir, Band, Theatre, Orchestra, Dance, LOTE, and CTE classes offered at RMS.

January 27th ~ BPE Students (only) take a field trip to RMS. Students need to complete a field trip form prior to this visit.

February 4th ~ RMS counselors will visit with BPE Students (only) @ BPE during the school day. Counselors will visit 5th grade classrooms to present information about RMS and course selections.

February 12th from 6-7 PM @ BPE ~ RMS hosts Parent Information Session . RMS Counselors will provide a Q&A session to answer parent questions.

Choice Sheets (where students select electives) Choice sheets are live from January 30th until 4 PM on February 20th. The timing of choice sheet submissions is NOT a deciding factor in course selection. Please note, that information meetings are on the 4th of February for students and the 12th of February for parents. Students that have not submitted a course sheet by 4 PM on February 20th will make selections with the counselor. Course sheets will be emailed to the student’s email address and must be completed while logged into a RRISD account. Your student will need their student ID (s#) and password.

Band/Orchestra Placement

Students will have an opportunity to try out instruments in the band/orchestra April 10-11. Time slots will be available for families to sign up during the January Fine Arts & Elective Information Night.

Arrival and Dismissal Reminders- Part 2

Thank you for your continued support and adherence to our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal procedures.

We are excited to share the progress we've already made in 2 weeks! On the first day of school, dismissal took us almost until 3:35 p.m. to have all students exit the building. By the week during normal dismissal (outside the rainy day/lightning delay) we improved to 3:08. So impressed with all of your efforts with following the rules. Below are a few reminders to keep us safe and one update (shared above as well in the NEW this Week Section):

Reminders

Our student safety patrol is back on schedule. You will see students in yellow vests assisting with opening and closing doors.
Back carider lane does not allow for left turns out of the parking lot. This is posted on the STOP sign and can cause a serious collision for those traveling on Fernspring.
Back walkers should enter the campus via the sidewalk closest to the pond. No walkers should cross from Trailing Vine to this location. All walkers need to utilize the crossing guards that are stationed at the two 4-way stops located at the front of the school and in the back by the pond.

Update

You will now see cones placed in the front parking lanes next to our crosswalk for our district busses during MORNING drop-off. There has been additional busses add to our campus this year and the times are adjusted where they are not coming in right at 7:10 am. Car rider parents, please be aware of this change and following staff directions to keep this section open for this campus need once the busses arrive on campus.

Any student arriving late (after 7:35 AM) must be signed in at the front office by a parent or guardian. Please do not drop off your child without signing them in if they are late, as we will need to call you to return and complete the process. Thank you for your understanding.