Torchlighter Times
Welcome to our Townley Torchlighter Family Newsletter.
This is a look at this month including updates, announcements and upcoming events.
Anne Clark
Principal
News from the Principal, Ms. Clark
Can you believe it? We are back in session!
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
We have been starting our year right with setting strong routines and goals. Students who are new to Townley are receiving a special keychain to hold their spirit sticks. Spirit sticks are one way we celebrate our students' successes. We also celebrate our students who show responsibility, respect, and readiness with Golden Tickets. Students will have goal folders in their classroom to set goals for the year and track growth.
Here are a few important reminders:
Dress Code: Monday- Thursday students wear school uniforms. Fridays are Townley Spirit Days. Students are welcomed to wear Townley t-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.
Dismissal Safety Protocols: You must have a car tag to pick up your child during the outside dismissal process or come in to the office to show your ID so a staff member can verify the student can be released to you. HOV tags are for the drive thru lanes only. Please remain in your car if you are using the drive thru lanes. Parents are to wait at the designated Parent Walk-Up Stations for a staff member or safety patrol student to assist with dismissal.
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.
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.
Upcoming dates and events to note:
Friday, Sept. 1- College Color Day and Nimitz Serves (be on time to see our special greeters!)
Monday, Sept. 4- Student and Staff Holiday
Tuesday, Sept. 5- Progress Reports post in HAC grades 2-5
Sept. 11-15- National Arts in Education Week
Tuesday, Sept. 12- Title I presentation at 9:00am in the Parent Center.
Wednesday, Sept. 13th - Dot day (student can wear clothing with dots)
Thursday, Sept. 14- Hispanic Heritage Month begins: Torchlighters may dress in Hispanic Heritage attire
Thursday, Sept. 14- Grandparent Breakfast- cafeteria 7:00-7:45am
Sept. 15- Student Holiday; Campus Planning Day
Sept. 18- 22- College Week, more information to come
Tuesday, Sept. 26- $2 Dress Day- Your child can pay $2 to have a day out of uniform. Attire must follow dress code guidelines with length and appropriate coverage. No pajamas. No holes in jeans. All funds collected from $2 Dress Day go toward the student activity funds. These funds are used to purchase various items for students including prizes and spirit sticks.
Friday, Sept. 29- Report Cards post in HAC
Kim Rivera
Assistant Principal- PreK (Sierra & Esparza), 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade
REAL TALK from RIVERA
Torchlighter Families,
Thank you sooo much for your patience and assistance as we work to make dismissal smoother, faster, and a safe process for all our kiddos! Moving our PK, Kinder, and 1st graders single walk-ups to the other corner has helped!
Perfect Attendance Parties - Our First Attendance Party will be held on Monday, 9/25/23. Students will be given an invitation on Friday, 9/22/23 if they had Perfect Attendance the first 6 weeks. *They will have FREE DRESS and parade through the school dancing and singing, and then they will be given a special treat to take back to class! Remember, we will do this every six weeks...so don't miss a day of school if you want to be invited to the next ATTENDANCE PARTY!!!
Golden Ticket Principal Board - If students are RESPONSIBLE-always have their supplies and classwork; RESPECTFUL-follow rules, don't talk back and are kind to everyone; and READY-to learn and give their 100%...then they will be earning Golden Tickets! We already had 10 students go to the Prize Closet!
Student Celebrations - Every 6 weeks, teachers recognize 5 students who have made gains and show effort in reading, writing, math, science, and "Top Torchlighter Student"-hardest working or most improved! These students are recognized during lunch on stage and are given backpack Spirit Sticks.
Tips to set your child up for success:
Create a special place for your child to do their homework, read, or just color and draw for fun with their own supplies. This gives them a sense of ownership, pride, and a place to call their own.
“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way.”
~ The Montessori Message.
COMMUNICATION TIPS from Ms. Wagoner
Maria Wagoner
Assistant Principal- PreK (Conley-Johnson & Zarate), Kinder, 2nd, and 4th grade
Howdy, Torchlighter families!
A huge focus of mine this year is to support our students in building positive relationships with their peers, as well as with the adults in their lives. Often conflict arises due to unmet expectations, so clear communication is essential to prevent misunderstandings and maintain a positive learning environment.
Below are some ways you can clearly communicate your expectations with your kids to set them up for success!
Set clear and realistic expectations about what you would like your child to do.
Praise good behavior when you see it.
Use calm consequences to encourage better behavior when needed.
Get your child’s attention before trying to communicate with them.
Make time to talk to your child frequently.
Listen to what your child has to say.
Ask open-ended questions that require more than a yes-or-no answer.
Tell your child exactly what you want or expect when giving instructions or setting guidelines.
It may take some practice, but these are skills we teach our students every day, and your support in reinforcing them at home will help all our Torchlighters burn brightly every day!
PTA NEWS: Join the PTA!
Membership Drive August 14-September 30th.
This is not a commitment of time; it is simply supporting the organization that supports Townley.
Save the date:
Next meeting will be Sept. 21st.
PTA Board Members
Membership and t-shirt forms will go home soon. We are excited about the great things to come and how we can support all students.
NEWS FROM YOUR FRONT OFFICE
Cafeteria door opens at 7:15. Other doors open at 7:30 am. Students are considered late if they are not in the building at 7:45. They are missing out on valuable class time and activities when they are not present. Be here, everyday, ready and ON TIME!
Visitors for lunch will start the end of September. Reserve your spot through our Sign-Up Genius Reservations.
If you need to pick up your student(s) early for an appointment, please do so before 2:30 pm. Make sure you have your ID.
If your student is absent, please call the office or email Faith. Doctors note are required for more than 3 consecutive days.
Faith Gallaga: tgallaga@irvingisd.net 972-600-6800
Home Access Center (HAC) is the best way to keep informed with your student's attendance, grades. It is the account you used for registration for the school year.
Please contact the front office for any questions regarding HAC.
News from the Nurse
Hi! It has been a great start to this school year, my second year as a Torchlighter.
Remember - if your child needs medicine, please bring the medicine to the clinic and complete a medication administration form. All medications must be given through the clinic. If you have an over the counter medicine you wish to give your child, per IISD policy I can give it for five consecutive days after you complete the OTC medication administration form. If your child needs it indefinitely off and on through the year, as in cases of orthodontics, I need a doctor's note stating to have it available for the school year.
Please do not place medicine in your child's backpack unless it is a refill and you have notified me about it. If possible, it is preffered an adult brings medicine to the clinic - for safety. However, what you can place in your child's backpack is a change of clothes. Your child may have been potty trained for years, and there is no need for a change due to that reason. However, we have milk spills, mud, bloody noses, all requiring clean, dry clothing. The change does not have to be a uniform; it needs to be something one can tuck to the bottom of the backpack and forget about until a need arises.
I am presently updating shot records. If we contact you regarding delinquent immunizations, please have your child receive these as quickly as possible. Whenever you receive a new updated shot record, even if we have not contacted you about a delinquency, please bring me a copy. I wish to keep your child's school immunization record as up to date as possible.
I am here for your children. Always feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Lynnpeters@irvingisd.net 972.600.6808
Also, please check out Telehealth through Childrenshealth. It is a time and money saver for parents. I cannot recommend it enough, and I would have loved to have had the opportunity when my daughters were school aged.
Lunch Menu for September *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.
Counselor's Corner
Cynthia Blood
Counselor for:
Pre-K ( Sierra, Conley Johnson), 1st, 3rd and 5th grades
972-600-6809
Yeini Weempe
Counselor for:
Pre-K (Esparza, Zarate), Kinder, 2nd, and 4th Grade
972-600-6810
DEVELOPING GOOD HOMEWORK AND STUDY HABITS
Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework starting at a young age. Children need a consistent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that is quiet, without distractions, and promotes study.
Schedule ample time for homework; build this time into choices about participation in after school activities.
Establish a household rule that the TV and other electronic distractions stay off during homework time.
Supervise computer and Internet use
Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child's homework for her.
Take steps to help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying. It may be helpful to close the books for a few minutes, stretch, and take a break periodically when it will not be too disruptive.
If your child is struggling with a particular subject, speak with your child's teacher for recommendations on how you or another person can help your child at home or at school. If you have concerns about the assignments your child is receiving, talk with their teacher.
If your child is having difficulty focusing on or completing homework, discuss this with your child's teacher, school counselor, or health care provider.
For general homework problems that cannot be worked out with the teacher, a tutor may be considered.
Some children need extra help organizing their homework. Checklists, timers, and parental supervision can help overcome homework problems.
Some children may need help remembering their assignments. Work with your child and their teacher to develop an appropriate way to keep track of their assignments – such as an assignment notebook.
DEVELOP A SLEEP ROUTINE- WHY ENOUGH SLEEP IS IMPORTANT
Getting enough sleep is critical for a child to be successful in school. Children who do not get enough sleep have difficulty concentrating and learning as well as they can.
Set a consistent bedtime for your child and stick with it every night. Having a bedtime routine that is consistent will help your child settle down and fall asleep. Components of a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, and tucking them in and saying good-night to them.
Have your child turn off electronic devices well before bedtime.
Try to have the home as quiet and calm as possible when younger children are trying to fall asleep.
Insufficient sleep is associated with lower academic achievement in middle school, high school and college, as well as higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness. The optimal amount of sleep for most younger children is 10-12 hours per night.
Carol Bullman, Librarian
LIBRARY NEWS
Hello Townley Families,
It has been a great start to the school year! Students have been learning how to care for their library books and how to find the books they want in the different sections of our library. We now have a "Wondering Wall" with a different topic each week. Library books on the subject are displayed nearby, so students can research the answers to their questions and be filled with more curiosity.
September 6th is "Read a Book Day," so use that as an excuse to read aloud a treasured picture book or children's novel with your child.
September 15th is "Dot Day," based on the book by Peter Reynolds. We will begin celebrating the special mark each one of us makes on the world next week.
Please follow all the wonderful things going on in our library on Twitter: @Townley_Library
Happy Reading,
Carol Bullman
Instructional Interventionists Info & Tips
Rebecca Rice, Reading Interventionist //
Lee Ann Watson, Math Interventionist
The Importance of Estimation in Math*
How long would it take to count to 1000 one by one? Probably longer than you care to bother! As children learn about larger and larger numbers, counting becomes less practical, but understanding numbers becomes more and more important.
One good way for your child to learn about larger numbers is to do a lot of estimating. There are many everyday opportunities to do this. You can guess the number of straws in a box or people in a crowd. Make estimating a game you play together. When grocery shopping, estimate the number of beans in a bag. At home, estimate how many items your child has in a collection of coins or stickers.
Numbers are all around you!
-excerpt from How Much, How Many, How Far, How Heavy, How Long, How Tall is 1000? by Helen Nolan and Tracy Walker
Ms. Rebecca Rice
Ms. Lee Ann Watson
Greetings from your Digital Learning Coach!
Hello Torchlighters! I am Rhonda Phillips Digital Learning Coach. I am starting my 27th year in education, all in Irving ISD and this is my 1st year at Townley. I am a product of Irving ISD also - I attended Otis Brown and John R. Good Elementary, Austin Middle School, and Irving High! I graduated from UT Arlington with my bachelors and masters. My whole family and I all live in Irving. I am looking forward to engaging students with STEM lessons and cool ways to use technology with a dose of digital citizenship and responsibility.
Hello! My name is Lucy Conde - Parent Liaison.
This is my 11th year at Townley Elementary! I enjoy working and helping our Townley families. We offer many parenting classes throughout the year. Please view our newsletter monthly so that you are informed.
If you can kindly complete the Parent Survey by scanning the QR code in the flyer or this link below:
We truly appreciate it!
If you have questions or would like to volunteer at Townley please feel free to contact me,
Lucy Conde - Parent Liaison
972-600-6800
Classes & Events for Townley Families
