February 10-14
Dear FES Families,
This week we celebrated 100 days of school! I could not be more proud of our students and the growth I have seen in our students over these last 100 days of school!
This week, we completed the STAAR Interim for our 3rd and 4th grade students, taking both our reading and math tests in preparation for the state test coming up in April and May. We also enjoyed a visit from Texas A&M Ag-ventures and learned about the impact agriculture has on our daily lives in the food we eat and the products that we use. Take a peek below to see some snapshots of the fun! Besides seeing incredible learning in our classrooms and enthusiasm for learning, the highlight of the week was sharing with the Falcon family in our PTA Multicultural night and learning all about the family customs, traditions, and experiences that make up our Florence community! Thank you to all of the families and to our performers for making it an evening to remember and to celebrate the diverse backgrounds and stories that make Florence so special!
We also recognize and celebrate our amazing counselor, Mrs. Jones! She is truly a magical addition to our school and brings joy and comfort everywhere she goes! She is a listening ear, a helpful hand, and a motivator to all! We are so grateful for the ways in which she guides and supports our students!
Next week, we will continue our celebration of kindness and friendship during our grade level valentines day parties, which will take place during co-curr. If you would like to come and watch your child rotate through the PTA provided activities or to volunteer to help, you are more than welcome!
In Falcon spirit,
Courtney Brandel
Principal, Florence Elementary School
Mrs. Jones is truly magical! We are so grateful for her incredible spirit, her wisdom, her comfort, and her magical Mary Poppins bag of strategies. She is an incredible support in helping everyone feel and do their best and to help navigate any challenges that arise. She goes above and beyond in helping our students and staff and has added so many fun things in support of our school spirit, kindness and fun!
Our kindergarten studnets celebrated the 100th day of school in style- the style of their 100 year old future self, that is! They enjoyed practicing counting to and representing 100 in their activities, snacks, and crafts! They are 100 days smarter and had a blast showing off all they know!
Looking at the ways in which agriculture is in all the things we use!
Mrs. Harris' students earned falcon bucks and lunch with the principal for great behavior!
We enjoyed exploring our love of reading at our Spring Scholastic Book Fair! Thank you to our PTA volunteers and to Mrs. Sustaita for organizing and creating a fun experience for all of our students!
What fun we had celebrating the different cultures and customs of the Falcon Family! Thank you to all who helped and contributed to the night of fun!
"Ms. Howell has been such a gift to our Falcon this school year! She cares deeply about each one of her students & has a careful eye on their needs. Our daughter has faced challenges, and Destiny is always right there to help her to persevere. She’s an extremely gifted teacher who is dedicated to making her classroom a fun & safe place for everyone to learn & grow. We are beyond grateful for Ms. Howell."- Lauren, Parent
"Mrs. Anderson is an outstanding teacher and part of Florence Elementary. Not only does my son look forward to school every day, but he constantly raves about how nice his teacher is. She exudes warmth and approachability to all students while giving them the structure and tools that they need in order to learn. I’m constantly amazed at her patience and have never seen her without a smile. She is a safe place for her students and a bright light in the school. Shout out to the amazing Mrs. Anderson!"- Sarah, Parent
We love celebrating the tradition of excellence at FES! As a part of that process, we will be recognizing our amazing staff members and would like your help.
Please share the name and information of the staff member you feel who is deserving of recognition along with some words that share the reason they are being recognized. Please note, your response with be shared with the staff member and may be featured in our publications/ social media and any student names that are included may be omitted for confidentiality.
Fill out a shout out on this Staff Shout Out Form to help us celebrate excellence among our FES teachers and staff!
February 10- 4th Grade Keller Shake Auditions (7:25 am)
February 11- CEIC 3rd Meeting (3:45pm-5:15pm)
February 14- Valentines Parties
February 14- School Resource Officers Day
February 17- President’s Day- No School
February 19-20- TELPAS Testing
February 20- Open House
5:00-5:45 Last Names A-J
6:00-6:45 Last Names K-Z
February 28- Wear RED for Go Red Day!
February 28- Keller Shake- District Event
March 1- Casey’s Kids Fun Run
March 5- College Spirit Day
March 6- PTA Executive Board Meeting (9:15am-10:15am)
March 11- Program- PTA Meeting/Film Festival
March 13- Kindergarten Field Trip- Zoo
March 14- Library Author Visit
March 14- End of the 3rd 9 weeks
March 17-21- Spring Break- No School
*More 2024-2025 information and dates to come. Plan ahead by visiting our new website to access our full year FES Campus Calendar.
Please be sure that your child is wearing shoes that have fronts and backs for P.E. Tennis shoes or athletic shoes that can be secured with laces or velcro are preferred. Please avoid slides, slippers, clogs, sandals, crocs or other backless or open shoes that might easily come off or pose a safety risk while running and playing during P.E.
We have had an increase in students requesting snacks from the front office. Please continue to send your child with snacks, as our teachers allow daily snack time throughout the day at a designated time. (2 snacks are suggested for Kindergarten) As our students are growing quickly, some students have been sharing that they are increasingly hungry, and might benefit from a bit more to help sustain them with the energy they need to learn through the day! While we have a limited amount of snacks in the office for those who may be in need, we are unable to consistently provide students with daily snacks.
-PTA is providing bags for students to collect their valentine's day cards. Please see your teacher's newsletter for specifics regarding the card exchange, which will take place during the school day, as planned by each teacher.
-Student will be having sack lunches in their alternate lunch locations. We will not have visitors on Friday for lunch and encourage parents to visit their students on a different day for lunch.
-FES students will not be permitted to attend their siblings' parties and will participate only in their own grade level's party. If you wish to check out your child(ren) early, you may do so at the conclusion of your child's party time (any siblings will be called down to the office at that time). Early check-outs will be counted as a partial absence.
Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Check out with the teacher using the sign-out sheet. (Siblings will need to be called down to the office after the grade level event has concluded).
2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade: Check out through the main office.
We are so excited for this year's Open House where we will celebrate all of the learning, literacy and arts at FES this year! Parents, you and your child will begin your safari adventure in your child's homeroom class where you will get to share in some of their work and will receive your Safari Guide booklet. From here, you will move around the building to visit our library, our gym, and our fine arts areas! As students and parents complete the activities in each Safari location, you will receive an animal sticker.
Our goal is for our parents and students to share in each experience together, so parents, you must participate with your child to receive your sticker! Upon completion of all of the events in each of the rings, we will have a treat for students to pick up on their way out in the courtyard. We can't wait for you to share in this experience with your child!
*Weather permitting, we plan to have the side gate open for overflow parking, but ask that families, please plan to arrive by last name in order to help ensure that there is enough parking and space in the building for all of our Falcon families!
We’re thrilled to announce that award-winning children’s author Tammi Sauer will be visiting our school! Tammi has written over 30 beloved picture books, including Nugget & Fang and Mary Had a Little Glam. During her visit, she will inspire students with her fun, engaging stories and share what it’s like to be an author.
To make this event even more special, families have the opportunity to pre-order signed copies of her books! Order forms are attached and must be returned by Monday, February 24th. Don’t miss this chance to bring home a personalized book from a fantastic author!
Thank you for supporting our Casey's Kids Pajama Jam! We raised $440 dollars for a great cause!
Casey's Kids is a non profit organization that uses funds to support KISD students in need via the Counseling Department. Counselors can purchase clothing, shoes, backpacks, grocery items, and other essentials to ensure students have what they need to learn and be successful!
Casey's Kids Annual 5K/Fun Run is March 1st! Sign up HERE
Alliance for Children will be at FES on February 24th to present a lesson on internet safety. Please click the link HERE if you would like to preview the lesson. Students opted out of regular counseling guidance lessons will be given an alternative activity during the presentation time.
Schedule
3rd grade - 8:30
2nd grade - 9:00
Kinder- 9:30
1st- 10:00
4th - 10:30
4th graders will enjoy a special visit from KCAL on February 20th for a unique guidance lesson featuring career exploration, hands on STEM activities, and an introduction to what the Keller Center for Advanced Learning has to offer KISD students!
Save the date! We are excited to announce that The Big Event is returning on April 12, 2025! This districtwide day of service is open to all Florence Elementary School students, their families, teachers, and staff members. Learn more about The Big Event at www.KellerISD.net/BigEvent. We will make an announcement in March about what service activities are available and about our collaborative service project. Hope to see you there! #KISDBigEvent25 #CelebrateKISD
Parents are always welcome at FES! If you are interested in volunteering, you must fill out the Keller ISD Volunteer Application. All FES visitors are required to enter at door #1, go through the front office, provide picture identification, and obtain a visitor badge before proceeding to any part of the building which must be worn in a visible area for the duration of the time on campus. Office staff will verify the visitor is a parent, guardian, or approved contact for a student.
Guests are only allowed in designated areas to minimize disruption of the learning environment and may not go throughout the building, to the playground, or classrooms.
Guests are required to exit the building through the office during school hours. We value and appreciate guests and all volunteers at FES!
FES 2024-2025 yearbooks are on sale NOW! Everyone is a yearbook photographer with the Treering App. You can upload photos from FES events as they happen throughout the year to be included in the yearbook. Each book also comes with two free custom pages. Grab yours today! 📚📸
https://web.treering.com/create-account/1016599729561880?PassCode=1016599729561880
I smell prune juice and Werther’s Original! Hit me up with those 100 day pics!! 👵🏻👴🏻
Upload your Western Day photos here
Sodexo has received several concerns regarding the printed menu reflecting options which are either substituted or changed completely on the serving line due to product unavailability or use of State provided commodity items. While Sodexo strives to minimize the number of changes to the menu, they are still at the mercy of product manufacture shortages and logistical challenges from all providers which places a burden on the program to provide the menu as previously planned.
To improve the communication of menu changes Sodexo has recently launched new and improved online menus for Keller ISD through Nutrislice at https://kellerisd.nutrislice.com/menus-eula .
This change will provide students, staff and families the most up-to-date printable and digital menus that are reflective of any changes that need to be made to the menus.
Did you hear? There are FIVE choices for lunch each day this year!
https://kellerisd.sodexomyway.com/
What time is breakfast? Breakfast will begin at 7:25. The line will close at 7:50 for students to be in class at 7:55.
What is offered? This school year Sodexo will be offering 3 hot side options and 2 cold side options.
How do I add money to my child’s cafeteria account? You may place money on your child's lunch account by setting up an account for them on School Cafe. The link is below and you will need your student's ID # to do so.
Sodexo - Breakfast and Lunch.
Tyler Lamon- Front Office / Attendance: tyler.lamon@kellerisd.net
Leah Dimmitt Front Office / Substitutions: leah.dimmitt@kellerisd.net
Terra Peters- Campus Secretary: terra.peters@kellerisd.net
Sue Piehler - Nurse: susan.piehler@kellerisd.net
Jessica Sustaita- Librarian: jessica.sustaita@kellerisd.net
Christina Jones - Counselor: christina.jones@kellerisd.net
Chelsea Price - Assistant Principal: chelsea.price@kellerisd.net
Courtney Brandel - Principal: courtney.cullum@kellerisd.net
Nicole Seidel - PTA President: ptaflorencees@gmail.com
Esmeralda Gallegos - Cafeteria Manager: esmeralda.gallegos@kellerisd.net
Kindergarten: 10:40-11:10
1st Grade: 11:10-11:40
2nd Grade: 11:40-12:10
3rd Grade: 12:10-12:40
4th Grade: 12:40-1:10
4th Grade:8:10-9:10
3rd Grade: 9:10-10:10
2nd Grade: 10:10-11:10
1st Grade 12:50-1:50
Kindergarten 2:00-3:00
Marimba: 3rd, every Tuesday 7:25-7:50
Marimba: 4th, every Thursday 7:25-7:50
Falcon Choir: 3rd & 4th, every Thursday 3:25-4:15
R.O.C.K Club: 1st-4th, the last Wednesday of the month 3:15-4:15
Run Club: 3rd & 4th Grade, every Monday 3:25-4:00
Dear Florence Parents,
CookLearnGrow is returning to Florence with NEW curriculum and recipes for the spring semester. After-school enrichment classes for 1st - 4th grade will be on Mondays or Tuesdays, starting January 27 & 28 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM.
Register here https://cooklearngrow.com/dallas-classes/
Spots are still available for both sessions!
Clayton's Spring Break Camp would like to request your help in spreading the word among Florence parents and families. This year's theme is "Color Explosion", and the camp will offer various activities, including arts and crafts, STEM, physical education, games, and more that will be specifically tailored to engage and educate students, ensuring a fun and memorable spring break experience! We have an early bird discount, so we encourage parents to register by February 7th to receive the discount.
Please see our Spring Break flyer, which includes the locations of our camps, and parents can learn more about these locations, pricing, and the theme for our camp on our website. (https://claytonyouth.org/holiday-camps)
While we appreciate a phone call letting us know your child is absent, with the updated Attendance procedures, we will now request a written explanation of absences for each day they were absent.
This may be an email sent to Tyler.Lamon@kellerisd.net or a written note that is sent upon your child's return. An absence is considered to be a partial absence any time that a student leaves early or arrives later than the first 15 minutes of the day and parents may utilze a parent excuse for these if there is not documentation. Please see the Keller ISD Attendance 101 for more information. https://www.kellerisd.net/students-families/resources/students-families-resources/attendance-truancy
Please be sure that your child is coming to school with weather appropriate clothing including a jacket or a coat, as they will continue to attend recess outside when the temperature falls within our district policy. Please be sure to label all coats, jackets, and winter accessories with your child's name as this is the time of year where our lost and found tends to grow!
As we monitor the temperature and weather, we may move to an alternate or indoor recess plan, depending on the circumstances.
We will continue to follow the KISD guidelines for outdoor activity including recess and PE:
Wind chill or actual temperature between 40-32 degrees Fahrenheit – Students must have the ability to cover all extremities. Limited outside activity not to exceed 20 minutes.
Wind chill or actual temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit – No outside activity.
Students will participate in activities in the classrooms or flex space and will have a choice of games, hands on activities, movement and other options. (Not an iPad time)
*** Please be sure your child is dressed for the cold weather with their arms, legs, and body covered and with a coat, gloves, and winter hat on cold days. ***
With the winter season here, Keller ISD’s emergency operations team will be closely monitoring upcoming weather conditions. Any decision about altering our schedules due to weather conditions will be made after considering the conditions of roads and sidewalks in the District and surrounding areas, building conditions, and forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Should there be any winter advisories that would impact the district, updates will be posted by the school district to www.KellerISD.net. An email notification will also be sent to all Keller ISD families, employees, and students. Updates will be posted to Keller ISD’s official social media accounts, as well (Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter).
We encourage everyone to remain weather-aware throughout the weeks ahead and throughout the winter season and to be sure that your contact information and emergency contact information is correct and up to date. (See your parent portal in Aeries to see all information and contact Terra Peters terra.peters@kellerisd.net if you need any changes or updates.)
- Clayton before-school programs will be unavailable when schools are delayed to open in the morning.
- Clayton will be closed when schools are closed for the entire day.
- Clayton will be closed when schools close early or cancel after-school activities with reasonable notice to families.
- *If schools cancel afterschool activities late in the day and close to dismissal times, Clayton employees will arrive at campuses at normal time and contact all families to pick up as soon as possible because we will be closing early. Clayton staff will stay until the last child is picked up.
The Elementary Math (K-6) Department has created a 9 weeks newsletter using SMORE. We will share the links with specific grade-level teachers. Please communicate this information as well with your teachers and families. The newsletter contains an overview of upcoming material, important concepts, student misconceptions, ideas for supporting their student at home, and DreamBox support.
Be sure that your email is correct in your infosnap to be sure you receive all of our Blackboard communications (emails and texts).