Torchlighter Times

Welcome to our Townley Torchlighter Family Newsletter.

This is a look at this month including updates, announcements and upcoming events.

News from the Principal, Ms. Clark

Happy New Year! We made it through the fall semester and we are ready to crush the spring semester! We are about to get goals and take mid-year assessments to see how much we have grown as learners. When testing is completed, additional information will come home to help families understand progress and growth.

Perfect Attendance celebration was awesome to see so many super heroes on campus. We had 285 students with perfect attendance for the 3rd six weeks. Terrific job families with helping keep your Torchlighter healthy. This is the time of year when students (and staff) get sick due to viruses and germs. Continue to talk to your child about hand washing and helathy eating and sleeping habits.

If your child is out and saw a doctor, please bring the note to school. Attendance Matters- we want to make sure we document the absence correctly in the system.

This year we have implemented a system to continue to reflect on Townley's core values. As a campus, we are divided into 6 color tribes. Each tribe can earn points through out the day by students showing great Torchlighter behaviors.

Tribe of Unity – Core Value: Relationships | ❤️ Red

Tribe of Gratitude – Core Value: Kindness & Gratitude | 💖 Pink & Green

Tribe of Compassion – Core Value: Empathy | 💜 Purple

Tribe of Grit – Core Value: Perseverance & Growth | 🖤 Black

Tribe of Honor – Core Value: Respectfulness | 💙 Blue

Tribe of Valor – Core Value: Responsibility | 🤍 White

Townley's Black Tribe was the winner of the 3rd six weeks points contest. They had an amazing time for their celebration. We are already starting to collect points for the 4th six weeks. Points can be earned anywhere and ay time. It is exicting to see how our Torchlighters are positively encouraging and celebrating one another.

STEM Night- Our new STEM Night is January 15. We are excited to invite families to this interactive night to connect with your child through different science games and activities.

Families, we also need your help with keeping dismissal running smoothly and safe. If you are walking to pick up your child, please use the crosswalks. It might take a little longer to get to your car or cross the street, but it keeps everyone safe. Again, we want everyone to be alert and focused on the cars and the directions of the adults supporting the crosswalks.

***Due to additional construction taking place on campus, the parent walk up will shift from the side door near MacArthur to the front office door. We will have cones up to support grade level line up. Thank you for being flexible as we continue to keep students safe.

Our Mission: At Townley, we ensure that all Torchlighters will learn and grow.

Our Vision: Torchlighters will shine brighter one day at a time.

We value: Relationships, Kindness & Gratitude, Empathy, Perseverance & Growth, Respectfulness, Responsibility, and A Positive Learning Environment

Here are a few important dates and reminders:

School hours are 7:45am - 3:15pm. Cafeteria Doors open at 7:15 for all students; other doors open at 7:30 for student arrival.
Dress Code: Monday- Thursday students wear school uniforms. Fridays are Townley Spirit Days. Students are welcomed to wear Townley t-shirts, other Irving ISD shirts or uniform polos and blue jeans. *No holes in jeans. More information on the student dress code can be located on the district's website. Special dress days will be communicated to families, and if students choose not to participate, the expectation is students are in uniform.
Dismissal Safety Protocols: Students will stay in the building if they are car riders or parent walk ups. You must have a car tag to pick up your child during the dismissal process for car riders and colored parent walk up tag for parent pick-ups. Please remain in your car or at the designated Parent Walk-Up Station. Please refrain from bringing your dog to campus for arrival and dismissal. We want to keep all Torchlighters safe- physically and emotionally.
Safety Drills: While at school, continuing to keep all Torchlighters safe is a priority. We talk about and practice different safety drills including: fire, shelter in place (for bad weather), and lockdown. As a family discuss these drills and create a plan for your home as well.
Early Pick Up: If you are picking up your child from school before 2:30, you will need your ID. Students will not be released after 2:30.
Cell Phones: We’re so proud of our students for doing a great job following the rules, and we truly appreciate your support in helping us maintain this!

Students should not use cell phones or any other electronic devices during the school day, in line with district and campus policies.
All personal devices, including cell phones and smartphones, must be turned off while on campus and kept in their backpack.
If a student is found using their phone during school hours, it will be collected and taken to the front office. A parent or guardian will need to come to the school to pick up the device.
For more detailed information, you can refer to our Student Code of Conduct.

Thank you, families, for allowing us to be a part of your child's educational journey. We cannot wait to see your child #ShineBrightly this school year.

Important Dates:

We will have special dress days in the month of January. More details to come!
Monday, January 5- Student Holiday/ Staff Work Day
Tuesday, January 6- Students First Day Back!
Monday, January 12- Friday, January 16- Students take Middle of Year Reading and Math MAP tests in Kinder-5th grade
Thursday, Jan. 15 - STEM Family Night rescheduled- 4:30-6:00pm
Monday, January 19- Student and Staff Holiday
Tuesday, January 20-Friday, January 23- 5th grade Science Benchmark Test
Tuesday, January 27- Friday January 30- 3rd , 4th, 5th grade Reading and Math Benchmark Tests

Anne Clark

Principal

Kim Rivera

Assistant Principal- Pre-K (Sierra, Conley Johnson), 1st, 3rd, and 5th Grades

Campus LPAC Coordinator

Allen Edwards

Assistant Principal- Pre-K (Esparza, Zarate), Kinder, 2nd and 4th Grades

Campus Behavior Coordinator

📢 News from Mrs. Rivera

Dear Torchlighter Families,

As we begin the second semester and welcome 2026, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support. Your involvement makes a powerful difference in your child’s success, and we are excited to build on the growth our students have already made this year.

As a reminder, please help us start the semester strong by:

Ensuring students arrive on time every day—consistent attendance matters!
Checking backpacks and communication folders daily.
Encouraging students to read, write, and practice math skills at home.
Keeping us informed of any changes that may affect your child’s learning or well-being.

❄️ Staying Active, Learning & Safe During the Holidays

During the break, we encourage families to keep students active, engaged, and safe. A few simple ideas include:

Reading a book together each day or visiting your local library
Practicing writing by creating holiday or thank-you cards for family and friends
Family walks, bike rides, or trips to the park
Indoor movement games, stretching, or kid-friendly workouts
Limiting screen time and balancing it with hands-on activities
Reviewing safety rules for outdoor play, travel, and online activities

Keeping routines as consistent as possible helps students transition smoothly back to school.

🎉 Wishing You a Happy New Year!

On behalf of our entire Torchlighter staff, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe New Year 2026. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve your children and look forward to another semester of learning, growth, and Excellence in Action.

Thank you for being an essential part of our Torchlighter family!

Warm regards,
Kim Rivera

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

— Emilie Buchwald

Notes from Mr. Edwards!

Welcome Back to the 2nd half of the school year!! I hope you had a wonderful Winter Break and you are ready for a powerful and successful Spring Semester. We have covered a lot of content in the first semester and we have a lot more to teach. This month is a month for a variety of assessments and we want to make sure that your child is prepared. With this being said, please make sure that you are reminding your child of the importance of education and the importance of school attendance.

Some students will be taking the middle of the year MAP Test, Benchmarks, and the STAAR Field Test. Many of the teachers will be stressing writing more and they need your support at home and at school. We are also asking for your continuous support with making sure that your child is attending school on time daily and that they are here keeping up with there work. As a reminder, school officially starts at 7:45 am and ends at 3:15 pm. Since we know that you want your child to do their very best, let's make sure that they are here to get a full day of instruction. Thank you again for all that you do and for your support. Have A Great January!!

“Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”

― Brad Paisley

PTA Meetings:

January 13th -PTA $2 dress day

Please email if you have any questions, want to volunteer, sponsors, want to donate items to our Townley PTA.

ptatorchlighters@yahoo.com or jvasquez@irvingisd.net

This is not a commitment of time, it is simply supporting the organization that supports Townley.

ALL MONEY from memberships goes right back to Townley. (teacher appreciation/students clubs, school events)

*ADD STUDENT NAME/TEACHER NAME

PTA NEWS: Join the PTA! : Click Here!

https://txpta.my.salesforce-sites.com/JoinPTA

PTA will be having a sale for our 2025-2026 spirit shirts every Thursday 1:30-2:10 in the front office.

Students will be able to wear their Townley t-shirt every Friday with jeans.

$10- All Youth sizes

Adult S-XXXL

CASH or Zelle!

*Until supplies last!

NEWS FROM YOUR FRONT OFFICE

Students are considered late if they are not in the building at 7:45. Parents will need to come inside and sign their student in. Kids are missing out on valuable class time and activities when they are not present. Be here, everyday, ready and ON TIME!

The perfect attendance dress days have been such a hit! The kids look fabulous and there have been 300+ participating. That is amazing--Thank you parents for working hard on instilling good habits in our Torchlighters. Will your student get to participate next time? You will receive a message from Gallaga about details if they do :)

When your students appointment is early, bring them to school after. With a doctors note they will receive credit for the whole day.
If you need to pick up your student(s) early, please do so before 2:30.
Always have your ID available when requesting entry to the building or picking up a student from the office.
If your student is absent, please call the office or email Faith. A doctor's note is requested for three consecutive absences or any absence after four per semester (IISD Student Handbook pg 36)

Faith Gallaga: tgallaga@irvingisd.net 972-600-6865

Home Access Center (HAC). This is the best way to keep informed with your student's attendance and grades. Progress reports and report cards are only viewable through HAC. Your password was just updated with registration, log in often to keep it active.

Also, please do not "stop" text messages from Townley Staff or your teacher. You will miss out valuable communication.

Please contact the front office for any questions regarding HAC at 972-600-6800.

News from Nurse Brown

Flu/RSV/Cold season is making its debut!

Please remind students to wash their hands. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness; handwashing should take 20 seconds. One way students can remember this is by singing Happy Birthday twice!
Cover those coughs & sneezes!
If your student is running a fever or has diarrhea/is vomiting, keep them home so they can rest and recover to make a strong return to school. Students should be vomit, fever, and diarrhea free without medication for 24 hours before they can return.
- This includes when students are sent home with these conditions from the clinic; when this occurs please make plans to keep them home the following day.

Please continue to send extra clothes with your students, just in case of an accident, we like to be prepared so they can change quickly and go back to class.

With colder weather coming along, students with asthma may have more frequent exacerbations. If your pediatrician recommends a change in your student's inhaler regimen, please let me know so I can administer their medication in a timely manner.

Please call or email with questions or concerns, thanks!

972-600-6808

samabrown@irvingisd.net

Lunch Menu for January *Subject to change due to availability.

Looking to print the lunch menu? Here are step by step directions. View breakfast and lunch menus at https://www.schoolcafe.com/IRVINGISD.

Townley Counselors

Nine Gifts You Can Give Your Child- For FREE

Talk less, listen more.
Spend 90% of the conversation with your child listening and 10% talking.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
FOLLOW THROUGH when it comes to discipline.
Think before you say it, but once it is said, no matter how hard it is, you must stick to it. If the punishment is dropped, they learn nothing. Be careful with the punishments, however. If you get angry and take away
your child's participation in a baseball game, you have put yourself in a bad position. Not only do you have to stick to what you said, but you are now punishing the entire team, which depends on each player.
Label the behavior, not the child.
Never call a child a bad boy or bad girl. There a are no bad children only bad behaviors/choices.

Give hugs and kisses often.
Show affection for your children, no matter what their age, in a way that is meaningful to them.
Be a parent, not a friend.
Be an advocate for your children.
Be a part of their educational experience. Be the voice for them when no one else seems to be listening
Establish expectations.
While I praise my children for good academic achievements, I will not give them rewards (too often). I tell them that
I expect them to do their best and bring home work that reflects their efforts.
Teach kids about money and investing.
To teach children about real-world choices, it is recommended to have children put money into two bank accounts/piggy banks, one for spending and one for saving.

Students at Townley Elementary are learning the importance of being respectful, responsible and ready at all times. Encourage your child to tell you about ways they can earn Torch Tickets by displaying the 3 R's at school.

Xello

Parents, you are invited to sign up to explore and discover your child's future goals and plans so you can better support their learning and development.

Cynthia Blood

Counselor for:

Pre-K ( Sierra, Conley Johnson), 1st, 3rd, and 5th Grade

I am looking forward to working with you and your kiddos. Let's make this new school year an exciting and outstanding year!

cblood@irvingisd.net

972-600-6809

Yeini Weempe

Counselor for:

Pre-K (Esparza, Zarate), Kinder, 2nd and 4th grades

It is my goal that this school year be full of successful experiences for all students! I am here to help with any concerns you may have. Feel free to reach out anytime.

yweempe@irvingisd.net

972-600-6810

LIBRARY NEWS

Dear Townley Families,

Happy New Year! After the happy hum of December, January is a quiet month, a month full of cold days meant for a warm blanket and a good book! Please encourage your child to complete a reading BINGO on the chart above!

Thank you to all of you who helped your child decorate a gingerbread house. They added such festivity and beauty to the library last month!

If your 3rd-5th grader has read 5 Bluebonnet books, I will be inviting them to my party in the library this month! Also, they will be able to vote for their favorite book and help a worthy author win a prestigious award.

With library joy,

Carol Bullman

Instructional Interventionists Info & Tips

Rebecca Rice, Interventionist //

Melissa Hettish, Academic Specialist

Talking About Your Reading!

When reading with your child at home, it is important to talk with them about what they read. Students can talk about stories that they hear you read aloud to them or stories that they read to themselves. Talking about what they read will help them understand and lead to better reading comprehension.

Here are some things you can talk about with your child:

Make Connections with the story -

"This story reminds me about_______."

Retell the story in sequential order - have then tell you the 3 most important things that happened - beginning, middle, end in order.

"First__________. Then_________. Lastly_________."

What was your favorite part of the story and why?

"My favorite part of the story was___________because_____________"

When you ask your child questions about the story, try to ask open-ended questions. Those are questions that require your child to give an answer with an explanation and not just a yes or no answer.

Example of a close-ended question...."Was the boy happy? Yes/No.

Example of an open-ended question...."How did the boy feel in the story?________ (The student would have to describe the boy's feelings.)

For both of these question types, you can follow up and ask your child, "How do you know?" That gives your child the opportunity to explain their answer and thinking from evidence in the story.

As you read with your children, take a few minutes after the story is over to talk about what happened and answer a few questions to strengthen their thinking and comprehension!