📢 The PDSES Application is NOW OPEN!

The Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) program provides a one-time $1,500 online grant for eligible students receiving special education services in Texas public schools.

Families can use these funds to purchase:
✔️ Educational materials (textbooks, curriculum, technology)
✔️ Services like tutoring or therapy

🗓 Application Window: April 1 – April 30, 2026
⏰ Don’t wait — applications close April 30!

👉 Apply and learn more here: https://pdses.tea.texas.gov

If you have questions or need support with the application, please reach out. We’re happy to help! 979-543-9051

about 22 hours ago, Ricky Ricebird
Logo for PDSES (Parent-Directed Special Education Services) featuring a blue house icon over an open book. The logo is flanked by illustrated diverse children and adults holding hands, representing family and community support.

🗽 Start spreading the news! 🍎

The Derby Dolls are bringing the magic of the Big Apple to the stage! Join us for an unforgettable evening as we present our spring show: "New York, New York."
From the bright lights of Broadway to the bustling city streets, come support our talented dancers for a night of incredible performances!

📅 When: April 9, 2026
🕕 Time: 6:00 p.m.
📍 Where: El Campo High School Auditorium
🎟️ Tickets: $8 Adults | $5 Students - Available via Venmo or Cash at the door!
We can’t wait to see you there!

2 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
Poster for El Campo High School Derby Dolls presentation of "New York, New York" on April 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the El Campo High School Auditorium. The image features a New York City skyline at night with the Statue of Liberty, a yellow taxi, and a silhouette of a dancer.
Students in the ECHS Health Science Phlebotomy Program are working to get their license to draw blood as phlebotomists, and they need your help. Each phlebotomy candidate must complete 30 successful venipuncture sticks to earn certification! Please help them out by volunteering.

All participants who volunteer to allow a future phlebotomist to “stick” their arm will be entered into a drawing for gift cards ranging from $50 to $250. One entry per stick! You can participate more than once.

Location: Building H at the high school, at the corner of Ave F & Ash Street.
Volunteer days and times are
April 7: 4:00-6:30
April 11: 9:00 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 3:30
April 14: 4:00 - 6:30
April 20: 4:00 - 6:30
April 22: 4:00 - 6:30
April 23: 4:00 - 6:30
April 25: 9:30 - Noon
April 27: 4:00 - 6:30
April 28: 4:00 - 6:30
For more information, email Ms. Kacer at kkacer@ricebirds.net or 979-533-2686
2 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
echs health science phlebotomy program sticks for students flyer
FAQ flyer for the Phlebotomy program. Key points: No age requirement (under 18 needs parental consent), blood is disposed of in biohazard containers, for questions contact Kaydi Kacer at kkacer@ricebirds.net

Happy Assistant Principals Week!

Our APs wear more hats than a whole hat store and somehow make every single one look good!

From supporting students and staff, to solving problems on the fly, to keeping our campus running smoothly, they do it all with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of grace.

We are beyond grateful for everything you do each and every day.

Hats off to Mrs. Jung and Mrs. Marek!
❤️ Hutchins

3 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
A collage of photos featuring two women, Mrs. Jung and Mrs. Marek, wearing various digital hat overlays including a sombrero, a crown, a chef's hat, and a cowboy hat. The central text reads "Hats Off to Hutchins Elementary Assistant Principals" surrounded by white stars.
Today, we celebrate the School Librarian! As the heart of our learning community, these unsung heroes are vital to the educational journey. They foster a love for books, encourage creativity, and skillfully guide us through the world of information.

Thank you to Janel Marcial at Myatt, Leslie Kolojaco at Hutchins, Cynthia Maffett at Northside, Lupe Callies at the middle school, and Shelby Gadake at the high school. You are all vital to our mission of empowering Ricebirds!
5 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
collage of the 5 ladies
Check out the Egg Toss winners from Myatt, Hutchins, and Northside!
Myatt Elementary:
Jensen’s class winner- Cayne
Maldonado's afternoon class winner- Francisco
White’s class winner- Ariah
Hutchins:
Shumbera’s class winner- Jonathan
Weathers’ class winner- Caiden
Northside:
Wright’s class winner- Karter

8 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
cayne
francisco
ariah
Jonathan
Caiden
Karter

Calendar reminder: No School Friday, April 3rd, due to Good Friday!
Enjoy the long weekend and see you back in class on Monday, April 6th.

9 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
empty desks with the words "no school friday"
A group of 2nd graders from Hutchins showcased their vibrant Country Western songs and dances, bringing joy to Senior Citizen Day at the WCYF!
10 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
2nd-grade students from Hutchins Elementary smiling for a photo; they are wearing various straw and felt cowboy hats with colorful bandanas, seated in front of a festive gold and black balloon display.
2nd-grade students from Hutchins Elementary smiling for a photo; they are wearing various straw and felt cowboy hats with colorful bandanas, seated in front of a festive gold and black balloon display.
2nd-grade students from Hutchins Elementary smiling for a photo; they are wearing various straw cowboy hats with colorful bandanas, seated in front of a festive gold and black balloon display.
2nd-grade students from Hutchins Elementary smiling for a photo; they are wearing various straw cowboy hats with colorful bandanas, seated in front of a festive gold and black balloon display.

The March School Board Meeting was packed with celebrations and important decisions for our district, including:
📣 Special recognition of our ECHS Cheerleaders
⭐ Honoring our latest Remarkable Ricebirds
🏗️ Approval of new accessible playground equipment
📱 Approval of ParentSquare, our 26-27 district communication tool
👍 Extension of administrative contracts for our district leadership

Catch up on the full session and see the timestamps in the video description to jump to the topics that matter most to you.
📺 Watch here: March 2026 School Board Meeting

14 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
cheer squad in the board room
Kendra with admin
liz with admin
larson with admin

Reminder: No school on Friday, March 27th, due to Fair Day!

15 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
WCYF logo with the caption "fair day - no school Friday, March 27th

El Campo ISD's Regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 6:00 pm at the Administration Building, 700 W. Norris, El Campo, TX.

Board Agenda for the Regular Meeting: March Agenda

All Board meetings are open to the public and are posted on the District website. These meetings are your opportunity to witness the business of the school district, and you are always welcome to attend.

16 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
March 25, 2026 school board meeting logo

ECHS STEP II Plant Sale! Thursday, March 26, 9-noon. Entrance at the intersection of Ave F and Ash Street.
Prices
4" - $3 each or 2 for $5
Quart pots - $5 each or 2 for $8

Assorted Herbs, Veggies, Tomatoes -Roma, Beef steak, Cherry, and Spoon, Jalapenos- mild, Squash, Zucchini, Tomatillos.
Plants: Petunias, Mini roses, loquat trees, Mexican heather, aloe, hibiscus, lantana, and begonias.

16 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
blooming flowers in crates

Red shirts and bright smiles! Our Ricebirds had an absolute blast at Field Day! From parachute games to foot races, our students were beaming with joy all morning! ❤️ We're so thankful for the beautiful weather and that Rice, Wharton, East Bernard, and Boling joined us for all the fun!

Check out the video recap of the day.

20 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
A young boy in a red "Ricebird Field Day" t-shirt smiles brightly in the foreground while other students and a teacher hold up a large, colorful rainbow parachute on a sunny day at a turf athletic field.

🧦 Rock Your Socks – Friday, March 20! 🧦

We’re celebrating World Down Syndrome Day a little early this year!

Join us on Friday, March 20, by wearing your craziest, most colorful mismatched socks to show support and raise awareness.

💙 2026 Theme: Together Against Loneliness 💛
Everyone deserves connection, friendship, and a place to belong. Let’s be intentional about including others and making sure no one feels left out.

It’s more than just fun socks; it’s about building a stronger, more inclusive community.

#RockYourSocks #WDSD2026 #TogetherAgainstLoneliness #InclusionMatters #ChooseKindness

22 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
a set of feet wearing mismatched socks with the words world down syndrome day and a blue and yellow ribbon
22 days ago, Ricky Ricebird
This week, we’re excited to celebrate the amazing work of our educational diagnosticians during Texas Educational Diagnosticians Week! These passionate professionals are essential in assessing students who need additional support and empowering them with crucial skills for a brighter future. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated educators for their steadfast commitment to our students!

Let’s give a shoutout to our outstanding diagnosticians: Ginger Kacal, Taryn Staff, Laura Motal, Stacy Amestoy, and Stephanie Cortez. Your impact is truly remarkable!
about 1 month ago, Ricky Ricebird
kacel, staff, motal, amestoy, and cortez

Spring Break is just around the corner, Ricebirds! ☀️🌴 Mark your calendars: ECISD will be closed from March 9th through the 13th. We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing, and sun-filled break!

Don't forget:
March 6: Early Release Day
March 16: Staff Development (no school for students)
March 27: Fair Day

about 1 month ago, Ricky Ricebird
A March 2026 calendar overlaid on a background of colorful flip-flops lined up on a sunny beach. The calendar highlights March 6 as an "Early Release" day, March 9–13 as Spring Break - ECISD Closed," March 16 as a "Staff Development Day (no students)," and March 27 as Holiday - ECISD Closed

Mark your calendars, Ricebirds! Spring STAAR testing begins in April. Check the schedule below for your campus and grade level dates!

📍 Hutchins (3rd Grade): ELA April 14 | Math April 28
📍 Northside (4th Grade): ELA April 14 | Math April 28
📍 Northside (5th Grade): ELA April 14 | Science April 21 | Math April 28
📍 ECMS (6th-7th Grade): ELA April 14 | Math April 29
📍 ECMS (8th Grade): ELA April 14 | Science April 21 | S.S. April 22 | Math/Alg 1 April 29
📍 ECHS: English I April 7 | English II April 9 | Biology April 21 | US History April 22 | Algebra I April 29

about 1 month ago, Ricky Ricebird
A colorful "ECISD Spring 2026 STAAR Testing Dates" flyer featuring school-themed illustrations like notebooks, pencils, and paperclips. The flyer lists testing dates for April 2026 across various campuses. Highlights include: Hutchins 3rd Grade (RLA April 14, Math April 28); Northside 4th & 5th Grade (RLA April 14, Math April 28); ECMS 6th-8th Grade (RLA April 14, Math/Alg 1 April 29); and ECHS (English I April 7, English II April 9, Biology April 21, US History April 22, Algebra I April 29).

🗓️ It’s Official: The 2026-2027 Academic Calendar is Here! 🗓️

The El Campo ISD Board of Trustees has officially approved the calendar for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year! We know how important it is for our Ricebird families to plan ahead, so we are excited to share these key dates with you.

Key Highlights:

  • First Day of School: August 12

  • Fall Break: October 12-13

  • Thanksgiving Break: November 23-27

  • Winter Break: December 18 - January 1

  • Spring Break: March 15-19

  • Last Day of School: May 26

  • Class of 2027 Graduation: May 27

📍 View & Download the full calendar here: Link to 2026-27 Academic Calendar

about 1 month ago, Ricky Ricebird
sample of the calendar with a stamp of approval laid over it

Chase’s Chapters Brings the Gift of Reading

Today, Hutchins had the privilege of welcoming Chase’s Chapters to the campus, and what a special day it was. Their team traveled all the way from North Houston to put brand-new books directly into the hands of every one of our students. That’s not just generous, that’s impactful.

There’s something powerful about a child choosing a book that’s theirs to keep. It builds pride, ownership, and a lifelong love of reading. Watching the students light up as they picked out their books was a reminder that small moments can create big sparks.

Hutchins is incredibly thankful for Chase’s Chapter and their commitment to spreading the joy of reading. Our students left with more than just books in their hands. They left with stories, imagination, and opportunity.

about 2 months ago, Ricky Ricebird
A teacher and a group of elementary students gather around a table covered in a variety of colorful children's books. One student is smiling as she looks at a book she just picked out during the Chase’s Chapters event.
A large group of elementary students sitting on a gymnasium floor, smiling and excitedly holding up brand-new books they just received.
A large group of elementary students sitting on a gymnasium floor, listening to a woman present