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

We are off to a great start! Thank you families for supporting the community with crossing at crosswalks and staying in your cars during arrival and dismissal.

We have been talking about our routines and setting goals. Students who are new to Townley received 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. I cannot wait to see how we grow this school year!

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. Car Tags are for car riders only. Car Tags will not be used for the Parent Walk-Up Station.
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:

Monday, Sept. 1- Student and Staff Holiday
Tuesday, Sept. 2- Progress Reports post in HAC grades 2-5
Week of Sept. 8- Grandparent Lunches, more details to come
Thursday, Sept. 11- Title I presentation at 4:30pm in Townley Cafeteria; Curriculum Night in classrooms 5:00-6:30pm
Friday, Sept. 12- Student Holiday; Campus Planning Day
Week of Sept. 15- College Week, more information to come
Monday, Sept. 15- Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff: Torchlighters may dress in Hispanic Heritage attire
Wednesday, Sept. 17- Title I presentation at 8:30am via zoom
Thursday, Sept. 18- PTA /Lotteria 5-7pm at Townley
Monday, Sept. 22 - Dot day (student can wear clothing with dots)
Week of Sept. 22- Parent Lunches will begin, more details to come
Friday, Sept. 26- Report Cards post in HAC

Anne Clark

Principal

Kim Rivera

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

Allen Edwards

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

Campus Behavior Coordinator

Welcome Back from Mrs. Rivera!

Welcome back Torchlighters! I'm so excited for the 2025-2026 school year to begin! I loved seeing all the smiles and getting all the hugs on Meet the Teacher night. I know it's going to be an exciting year with all the celebrations we have planned... just to name a few:

Perfect Attendance Parties - where we dance and eat yummy treats!,
Golden Ticket Principal Board - where students place the tickets they earned for excellent behavior to make a Tic-Tac-Toe, then all 12 students get to go to the Prize Closet and pick ANY TOY they want!
Student Celebrations - where every 6 weeks, teachers recognize 5 students who have made gains and show effort in reading, writing, math, science, and "Top Torchlighter Student"(is always Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn.) These students are recognized during lunch and are given backpack Spirit Sticks.

Tips to set your child up for success:

Make sure you are checking your child's HAC(Home Access Center) often to stay informed about your child's grades, attendance, and tardies.
Make appointments after 9:30am so they will not be counted absent, and always bring a doctors note so absences will be excused.
Communicate with your child's teacher often so your child knows you are partners in their education.

Together, we will help your child grow to their fullest potential, build their problem solving skills, and ignite a passion for learning! I look forward to another year where all our Torchlighters will Shine Brightly!

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – WB Yeats

Welcome Back from Mr. Edwards!

Welcome back for another year of learning, growing, and excitement. I hope you had a wonderful summer. As we start this new school year, let's start off supporting our students and staff. We have an amazing staff that are excited about seeing and teaching your child this year. Parents please remember that every child needs to be in uniform everyday and need to be at school no later than 7:45 and picked up no later than 3:30. This year the curriculum can also be accessed online to help you better help your child keep up academically. Parents please make sure your child is at school everyday possible. If your child has a fever or truly sick, please follow doctors' orders. Your child attendance is important to his/her learning and growth. Parents please make sure you signed up for Kinvolved for communication purposes and make sure you sign up for HAC so that you can keep up with your child's grades and attendance. Again, welcome to Townley Elementary or welcome back for those of you that were with us last year.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will be more than happy to assist you.

"It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently." —Anthony Robbins

PTA NEWS

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

ptatorchlighters@yahoo.com

SAVE THE DATE:

SEPTEMBER 18, 2025

Loteria Night 5-7PM

Townley Cafeteria

PTA NEWS: Join the PTA! : Click Here!

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 and fun students events)

PTA will be selling our 2025-2026 spirit shirts during Curriculum Night: September 11, 2025:

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

$15- All Youth sizes

Adult S-XL

$20- (Adult XXL-XXL)

CASH ONLY!

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 first perfect attendance party (on time and present every day for the six weeks) is scheduled for September 23rd! Will your student be there?

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

It's been a wonderful start to the year! I have a few reminders below:

Please remember to pack your child an extra change of clothes; accidents happen and we want to be as prepared as possible. We'd rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them!

If your child has asthma, please bring an inhaler to me with the original box/label and a spacer if they use one. I also need a medication form; these are available in my office. I am not able to give medications, including inhalers, without the proper labels and forms. If you'd like me to email you a copy so you can send the form with your child to school, please let me know!

If your child is vomiting or has a fever the night before school, please keep them home so they can rest. Students must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before they can return; same with vomiting.

Feel free to email or call with questions or concerns, thanks!

samabrown@irvingisd.net (972) 600-6808

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.

Townley Counselors

September 15-19

College Week activities and dress up days will be posted by the district in a later date and will be also send via Kinvolved.

Benefits of Earning a College Degree

Higher Earning Potential:

College graduates generally earn more over their lifetimes compared to those with only a high school diploma, with advanced degrees often leading to even higher salaries.

Increased Job Opportunities:

A college degree often opens doors to a wider range of jobs and career paths, and can be a prerequisite for many positions according to Bay Atlantic University.

Job Security and Lower Unemployment:

College graduates tend to have lower unemployment rates and greater job security.

Career Advancement:

A degree can help individuals advance in their careers and potentially move into leadership or specialized roles.

Skill Development:

College courses help students develop a wide range of skills, including critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving, which are valuable in both academic and professional settings.

Networking Opportunities:

College provides excellent opportunities to build professional networks with peers, professors, and industry professionals.

Personal Growth and Independence:

College can be a time for self-discovery, personal development, and increased independence.

Exposure to Diverse Perspectives:

Being in a diverse college environment can broaden one's understanding of different cultures and perspectives.

Access to Resources:

Colleges offer access to libraries, research facilities, and other resources that can be valuable for academic and personal growth.

Healthier Lifestyle:

Some studies indicate that college graduates are more likely to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Improved Job Satisfaction:

College graduates often report higher levels of job satisfaction.

Contribution to Family:

A college degree can have a positive impact on future generations of a family.

Lifelong Learning:

College can foster a mindset of lifelong learning and a desire for continuous personal and professional development.

LIBRARY NEWS

This is a special note for our 3rd-5th grade families about Texas Bluebonnet Award Books. Each year, the Texas Library Association puts together a list of 20 picture books, nonfiction books, and novels. If your 3rd-5th grade child reads at least 5 books from the list, they can vote on their favorite book in January! Children's book authors from all over the U.S. aspire to receive the Bluebonnet Award, because the winner is selected by the children for whom they write. If your child reads at least 5 of the books and votes, they will also be invited to the Bluebonnet party in the library in January! Some of the books are long, so it's best to start reading now. Below is a list of the 20 books.

Happy Reading,

Ms. Carol Bullman

25-26 Texas Map template with lines.pptx

Instructional Interventionists Info & Tips

Rebecca Rice, Interventionist //

Melissa Hettish, Academic Specialist

Building Reading Fluency at Home

Improving our reading skills is similar to improving skills playing a game, sport, or instrument. It requires practice. To be a better reader, we need to practice.

Your help at home is so important to help your child become a fluent reader. What does it mean to be a fluent reader? A fluent reader can read at a pace similar to speaking, with expression, and reading words correctly.

Here are three ways you can help your child become a fluent reader:

*Echo reading - You read a sentence and then let your child echo and read that same sentence.

*Partner reading - You and your child take turns reading together. You can read a page and then let your child read the next page.

*Repeated reading - Listen to your child read a sentence (paragraph, or page). If it is not smooth and they struggle with a few words, help them and then have them read it again until they read it smoother with fewer pauses and more accurate pronunciation of words.

Reading with your child allows them to improve their reading skills and also allows you to spend time together as a family! Happy Reading!