BRIGHT TIMES
August 30, 2021 Volume 6 - Edition 5 - Back to School Edition
A Newsletter for Families of Solar Preparatory School for Girls
August 30, 2021 Volume 6 - Edition 5 - Back to School Edition
A Newsletter for Families of Solar Preparatory School for Girls
IN THIS ISSUE...
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:20am - 4:30pm
(972) 749-4300
In order to prioritize the health and safety of all of our students, staff and Solar families, visitors will need to sign-in in the vestibule/entryway and will be allowed in two at a time to the main office as needed. Parents will not be allowed inside the building. We ask that you call or email first to see if your questions can be answered over the phone.
Exploring and Growing!
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL SANTOS
We look forward to another wonderful week with our Trailblazers. Our launch units have come to an end as we move into much more content and instruction. We are excited to get into the work and hope that you are able to make it a habit of checking the grade level newsletters weekly to get the most up to date information from our fabulous teachers. Next week, the MAP window opens and students will begin taking their beginning of year assessments. We look forward to using this data to watch them grow all year long! Cheers to another wonderful week!
All the latest Solar news
in ONE place!
Click HERE to read the weekly news coming straight to our families from each grade level.
Solar Student HOURS
7:45 - Earliest Drop-off Time
8:15 - Sisterhood Circle Begins
8:20 - Classes begin - students are counted tardy if they arrive after this time.
3:40 - PK-K ONLY Dismissal (@Henderson doors)
3:55 -Carline, 1st-7th Walkers, YMCA Dismissal
WELCOME, MS. LADIPO!
We are proud to announce the newest member of our leadership team, Ms. Bridgett Ladipo! Ms. Ladipo will begin her new role as assistant principal on Tuesday. She will be joining Ms. White and Ms. Santos and this team could not be more eager for her to bring her amazing skills to our Solar family. She comes to us with nine years of middle school experience at Young Women's Leadership Academy where she has served as an assistant principal since 2017. She will be over our middle school and has already worked with our leadership team to truly understand the vision for our trailblazers. If you would like to find out more about Ms. Ladipo or have questions - she will be a featured guest this week at the first PTO community meeting on Wednesday @5:30 PM via zoom. Join us and get to know what makes her the perfect fit for our Trailblazer family!
CAR LINE SUPPORT NEEDED
OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE REACHED OUT AND ARE ASKING FOR SOME HELP. When you are in carline on Henderson, please refrain from stopping in front of a driveway or street access to Henderson in order to maintain the ability of our neighbors to get in and out of their homes.
Parents are the most important role models for our students. Help us model leadership, empathy and self-awareness during our arrival and dismissal by respecting our safety expectations. Please watch this brief video for car line expectations:
Thank you for your cooperation! It takes an entire village to keep our girls safe every day and we look forward to your continued support!
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION -
Between the hours of 7:45 and 8:15, parents of ANY grade level students wishing to avoid the carline/prefer to walk their students up to the door may walk them to the doors on Henderson.
To allow time for teachers to login to our virtual Sisterhood Circle, at 8:15 the doors on Henderson will close and all remaining parents should expect to utlize the carline.
In order to keep ALL of our students safe, parents should not walk their kids up to the doors on Manett during arrival (7:45-8:20) OR walk to pick their child up at the doors during dismissal time (3:30-4:15).
If a parent arrives AFTER 8:20 am to drop off their child, or AFTER 4:10 pm for pickup (and carline is complete for the day), they must park in a parking spot and walk up to sign the tardy log/late pickup log.
Parents should NOT, under any circumstances, park their cars on Henderson. After meeting with the City of Dallas it was determined that the parking spots on Henderson should ONLY be utilized outside of school hours.
SOLAR GIRLS DESIGNATED BUS STOPS
Click on the link below to contact the office of transportation with any questions or requests.
TRANSPORTATION METHODS
& DISMISSAL CHANGES
HAVE YOU SHARED YOUR CHILD'S PERMANENT DISMISSAL METHOD WITH US? We have the most wonderful Solar community with working parents from all over the metroplex. We understand that things come up and arrangements need to be made. We are happy to accommodate last minute needs, but as we continue to grow, it is crucial that your transportation methods at the end of the day are as consistent as possible.
Keeping your end of school day transportation method as consistent as possible helps US:
free up the phone lines for parents
limits classroom interruptions
keeps staff's time focused on the academic needs of our scholars!
Click Here to share your consistent end of day transportation method.
Solar families, we need your help! Solar will always accept uniforms as long as they adhere to district uniform guidelines and we appreciate all of our families for going the extra mile and helping us continue to successfully implement one of the most important aspects of our culture! Our Solar uniforms help us to create an environment of unity and professionalism as we prioritize academic engagement and dress for success each day!
We will never pull a student from academic instruction due to a uniform violation, however parents may receive a phone call notifying them of the violation and the next steps. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid a phone call notifying you that your scholar is out of uniform.
Bottoms
Pants and skirts are uniform material (canvas, twill, cotton, polyester) and not too tight. (this helps us avoid accidental rips)
No Jeans, Jeggings or joggers from Monday-Thursday
Friday students may only wear jeans if they are wearing a girl scout uniform, girl scout shirt, or Solar spirit shirt.
Leggings may not be worn as pants (only under a skirt)
If leggings are worn under a skirt, they must be form-fitting (no sweat pants, pajamas or lounge pants).
Tops
Sweaters and jackets should fit properly (skirts should be visible beneath sweater/not oversized)
Students should always wear uniform polo underneath their sweaters.
Undershirts, if visible should be solid school colors (purple, pink, grey, black or white if worn on Monday-Thursday.
Shoes
Shoes should be closed-toe sneakers worn with socks (appropriate for physical education/gym.)
boots should only be worn during cold weather under 50 degrees.
Accessories
Hats and other accessories should not be worn inside (only outside on cold days)
Jewelry worn should not distract from learning environment. If teachers pick up any jewelry from students due to distraction, it will be returned by the end of the day.
Middle School
Students will not be allowed to wear hooded sweatshirts in middle school.
Hooded jackets/zip-ups are acceptable but students will not be allowed to have their hoods up for any reason while inside the building.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST TIPS WE CAN GIVE ALL PARENTS IS TO LABEL EVERYTHING! And we do mean EVERYTHING! shirts, pants, bows, skirts, jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles, backpacks, extra underwear, etc.!
Our dream would be to keep items OUT of the lost and found all year and in your children's possession at all times! Help us, help YOU!
Girl Scout Uniform Orders Open through September 1st
gsnetx.formstack.com/forms/solar_prep_uniform_order
CLICK HERE to sign up to be a Grade Level Rep for the 2021-22 school year!
After School Clubs are coming back this year - CLICK HERE for more info on the different clubs and how to sign up!
NEW UPDATE - WE HAVE 544 students who have completed registration for this year. We still have 150 to go!
Help us get to 100% and enroll today! Even if your child is a former Solar Student -
YOU MUST REGISTER EACH YEAR!
Contact Ms. Lopez with any questions regarding enrollment at sandrlopez@dallasisd.org.
All students must enroll annually.
(whether they are new or returning)
How can parents register for 2021-2022?
Using a computer, laptop, or smart phone . . .
Go to www.dallasisd.org/enroll
(or enter through POWERSCHOOL)
Click Enroll Here link
For Pre-K: www.dallasisd.org/prek
Contact Ms. Webster with any questions at 972-749-4308 to assist with account access and to obtain your student’s Access ID code.
Karate is coming back to Solar After-School Activities. Stay tuned for more information and look for the booth available on campus at Solar for sign-ups on Meet the Teacher Night!
Solar Girls & Boys will be following the DISD base calendar below for the 21-22 school year. Click on the image below to see a PDF version of this year's calendar.
2021-2022
SOLAR PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
KEY PRIORITIES:
Culture and Communication
Our goal is to clearly communicate the systems that reinforce the high-expectations and cohesive culture for students, parents, and staff. This focus on communication, data informed decision-making and consistency will elevate our staff and student culture to build the habits of mind and heart. These habits enable effective instruction, love of learning and excellence.
Project and Performance-Based Learning
Students will participate in meaningful and relevant learning experiences through the implementation of high quality project based learning across the campus. Students will make connections to the content they are learning. Instruction will focus on real-world situations with an emphasis on student agency, collaboration and students effectively communicating their ideas.
Math-Positive Culture
Math is for EVERYONE. A positive math culture will require that math is integrated across curriculum and contents throughout the school. We will work to improve campus-wide math mindsets, build fluency, and create a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, problem solving and ways to manipulate numbers.
Blended Learning Practices
A deeper focus on the highest leverage differentiated learning systems that increase student achievement across the campus. Through blended-learning students receive instruction specific to their learning needs. The purpose, best practices and progress of our blended learning systems will be consistently to all stakeholders involved.