To be a place of "No Opt Out" will require that everyone--students, staff and families--show up and show up ready to engage! We want students and their families to be welcomed into our school with an eye on College and Career Readiness. We want our staff to push (and pull) students into Hard Work and Responsibility. We want students to ask good questions and turn in work on time and focus on success. We want staff to communicate often and to meet students needs and to create a challenging, yet achievable learning environment.

We will focus on our Big 3 (Academically):

Big 3 (Behaviorally):

I will share more with each of you in the coming days and weeks as we keep our focus on "No Opt Out" so that Every Raven receives an exceptional education Every Day.

-Dr. Ellis

I shared a message a few weeks ago that provide information about a change in our School Lunch Program for Meyer High Students ONLY. The full post is below in this newsletter again. Please read this information carefully as it affects your child starting the first day of school.

We will give EVERY Meyer High Family a School Lunch Application at Open House/Meet the Teacher on Tuesday next week. We want to ensure everyone who qualifies has the opportunity to get their application in as quickly as possible.

Read all the details lower in this newsletter.

Our first day of school is next Thursday, August 13, 2026. Below is your complete guide to getting ready for day one. We’ve laid out all the key information you need right here, with full details and quick links available on our website.

Our traditional Summer Orientation for families was moved to an online, virtual training. Explore the menu below to find essential updates on academics, carpool routines, getting connected, parent engagement, and more. Videos are organized by both campus- and district-wide topics, making it easy to find exactly what applies to your family.

Please take a few moments to watch through your relevant videos so we can kick off a successful school year together!

As we prepare to welcome our students back on Thursday, August 13, we want to share an important update regarding our school meal programs for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year.

Due to state and federal guideline changes beyond our school's control, Meyer High School will be transitioning from our previous all-inclusive meal program (CEP) to the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program.

Starting this school year, meals at Meyer High School will be priced as follows:

We care deeply about our students' health and readiness to learn, and we want to make sure every family who qualifies receives meal benefits.

Rapoport Primary, Rapoport Elementary, and Quinn Middle School (Pre-K through 8th grade) will continue to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Breakfast and lunch will remain free for all Pre-K–8th grade students without needing an application.

Beginning at Meet the Teacher on Tuesday, August 11, families can get applications at the Meyer High School front office to apply for eligibility.

Some families automatically qualify (for example, through SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or specific programs like foster care, Head Start, or migrant/displaced status). Our team is working directly with local agencies to identify these students. If your family automatically qualifies, we will send you a confirmation letter—you do not need to fill out an application.

If you do not receive an automatic qualification letter but fall within the income guidelines, we strongly encourage you to fill out an application. To complete the form, an adult household member will need to provide:

You can pick up a paper form at the school office (1020 Elm Ave, Waco, TX) or complete the form sent to your home. Completed forms should be returned to the high school front office.

Contact: Donna Byrd, PEIMS/NSLP Coordinator

dbyrd@rapswaco.org |  254-754-8000

Address: 1020 Elm Ave, Waco, Texas

Thank you for your partnership as we navigate these policy changes together. We look forward to a fantastic, healthy school year ahead!

You can access printable breakfast & lunch menus on our school website at

Also, you can subscribe to a digital calendar that you can access through your personal calendar.

8/11 Meet the Teacher Night, 5-7pm

8/11 HS Volleyball vs Axtell (home)

8/13 First Day of School

8/18 HS Volleyball vs Oglesby (home)

8/18 Board of Directors Meeting

8/19 Dual Credit Family Meeting

8/20 Varsity Volleyball Tournament

8/21 HS Cross Country - Hillsboro Invitational

8/21 HS Volleyball vs Providence Prep

8/22 Varsity Volleyball Tournament

8/24 MCC Fall Classes Begin

8/27 New Parent Pop In & Annual Title I Meeting, 8:30am - more details soon

8/31 Credit Recovery Begins

9/1 Senior Parent Meeting, 6pm

9/3 Junior Parent Meeting, 6pm

9/7 NO SCHOOL: Labor Day Holiday

9/10 Rock the Block & Title I Annual Meeting

9/21 NO SCHOOL: Staff Planning Day

9/25 School Picture Day

10/1 Hispanic Heritage Month Event

10/9 Quarter 1 Ends

For even more dates and all school holidays, visit: www.rapoportacademy.org/calendar