2024-2025 FLORENCE FAMILY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Falcon FAMILY Nest

Weekly Newsletter

Week 29

March 31- April 4

Mrs. Brandel's Message

Dear FES Families,

Welcome back, everyone! After a refreshing Spring Break, our students returned to school full of excitement and eager to share their adventures. Whether it was a fun trip, quality time spent at home, or unique activities, it was wonderful hearing about all the memorable moments from our students last week.

Now that we’ve entered the final quarter of the year, it’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown. Once we return from Spring Break, the last nine weeks always seem to pass in the blink of an eye, and before we know it, we’ll be celebrating the end of the school year.

This week, we were greeted by an unexpected surprise – a nest of baby bunnies that had made their home underneath the north playground equipment! Our students were thrilled to observe these tiny, adorable rabbits, and we quickly took action to protect their nest by cordoning off the area. This surprise encounter was a perfect introduction to our upcoming life science units, providing a real-world connection to our learning. It also served as a fun and meaningful way to kick off our students' research projects in Reading and Language Arts.

As we look ahead to the final stretch of the year, we also take time to reflect on the many successes we’ve already achieved. This week, we are proud to announce that our school has been named an Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll School. This prestigious recognition is awarded to schools in the top 12% of Texas, based on outstanding student performance and our efforts in "closing the gap" – ensuring that all student sub-populations are making progress. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of our students, teachers, and families. I couldn’t be prouder of all that we’ve accomplished together!

The month of April brings with it STAAR testing for our 3rd and 4th grade students, the showcase of our students' talents in our talent show, and the excitement of serving together as a school in The Big Event on April 12th. We hope to see everyone there. I can't wait to see all that is to come and look forward to finishing the year strongly!

Warm regards,

Courtney Brandel- Principal, Florence Elementary School

Week 29 Snapshots

Start the day with play!

Thank you to our PTA for fulfilling a grant request for additional maker space and exploratory materials for our students to "start the day with play"! This has been such a fun addition to our mornings, as our students engage in play, problem solving, and creativity before kicking off the day between 7:25 and 7:45. We love seeing their collaboration, creativity, and smiles!

Recycle Club

Our recycle club students have done an outstanding job as leaders on our campus, ensuring that recyclable materials are collected and sorted!

Staff Shoutouts

Mrs. Aldredge

"My daughter absolutely loves Ms. Aldredge as a person (her classroom is amazing too) but she is not only a great teacher but a role model. She comes home everyday talking about how funny Ms. A is or the nice comments she has made to her students throughout the day. She constantly boosts her students up and always has a smile on her face. Her energy is contagious (because I see it everyday in my daughter) It is an honor to have Ms. A as a teacher. Thank you for always encouraging and empowering your students."- Marie, Parent

Want to shout out an FES Staff member for embodying the tradition of excellence?

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!

Upcoming Events

6-8

April 2- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 4- School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 7-11- National Assistant Principal Week
April 9- 1st Grade Field Trip- Nash Farms
April 10- Talent Show (6-8pm)
April 11- Volunteer/Watch Dog Breakfast
April 12- The Big Event
April 14-16- STAAR Testing Window- No visitors on campus
April 15- 3rd and 4th Grade STAAR (RLA)
April 18- District Holiday- No Classes
April 21- Teacher Workday- No Classes
April 24- 4th Grade Program and PTA Meeting
April 29- May 1- STAAR Testing Window- No visitors on campus
April 30th- 3rd and 4th Grade STAAR (Math)

*More 2024-2025 information and dates to come. Plan ahead by visiting our new website to access our full year FES Campus Calendar.

2024-2025 District Calendar

Click here to access the district Academic Calendar.

2024 Honor Roll School

We’re proud to be named a 2024 Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll school, which recognizes high-performing, achievement gap-closing schools across the nation. Florence Elementary is among only 12% of schools in Texas and is one of only 4 KISD schools to receive this honor! The Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll, sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence, is the only school award given in collaboration with state and local business leaders. The Honor Roll is a valuable resource for all schools to identify successful peers and learn about best practices that are improving student achievement. For more info on @edresults and the ERP Honor Roll program, visit: www.edresults.org.

Math 4th 9 Weeks Home and School Connection

The Elementary Math (K-6) Department has created a 9 weeks newsletter using SMORE. The newsletter contains an overview for families of upcoming material, important concepts, student misconceptions, ideas for supporting their student at home, and DreamBox support.

Click below to access the 4th 9 Weeks Math SMORE Newsletter:

4th 9 Weeks - SMORE Math Curriculum Overview - 2024-2025.pdf

Q3 Grades

All grades for third quarter will be posted and viewable Friday, March 28th. Please take a look and reach out to your child's teacher with any questions you may have.

Ordering School Photos

Today, Glamourcraft took spring photos, class photos, retakes and yearbook photos for new students who enrolled after October.

Glamourcraft will send a proof card to the homeroom teacher for each student approximately two weeks after picture so that orders may be placed by parents using the Glamourcraft online. All orders will be shipped to your home.

*This year Glamourcraft is using a prop in our spring pictures!

Yearbook Spring Photos.pdf

2025-2026 Intent to Return

Parents, please take a moment to fill out the 2025-2026 Florence Elementary Student Intent to Return (Click here) form for each of your students. Please indicate one of the three options:

My child will or will not return for the 25-26 school year.
4th Grade Only: My child will or will not attend BCI for the 25-26 school year.
I am interested in discussing retention.

Please complete the form by April 25th. Each student will need their individual form response.

**If you are planning on moving, please email Terra Peters, Campus Secretary at terra.peters@kellerisd.net**

25-26 New Student Enrollment

Pre-K, Kindergarten, or other incoming students planning to attend KISD for the first time during the 2025-26 school year can enroll starting April 1. You can find more information about enrolling your new student at www.KellerISD.net/Enroll.

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

We couldn't do what we do without all of our incredible volunteers and want to say "thank you" for all that you do!

If you have volunteered in any capacity at FES this year, please join us so that we can celebrate and recognize your incredible contributions!

Please RSVP using the link below by Monday, April 7th, if you plan to join us: https://forms.gle/qejN1kkHf6UcywLB8

Coming April 12th- The Big Event!

Supporting Cook Children's Hospital

This year, FES is supporting Cook Children's Hospital with toiletry kits for parents who are staying unexpectedly and with arts and crafts kits for kids who are staying in the hospital, as well as cards to accompany patient's meal trays. Our goal is to bring a bit of sunshine and Falcon Spirit to those who are facing difficult times.

We are excited to invite you to join us for The Big Event, Keller ISD’s day of service, on Saturday, April 12th, from 9:00-11:00 AM! This special day is an opportunity for Florence Elementary School to come together and give back to the community that supports us every day.

Our goals are to show gratitude, strengthen connections, and make a meaningful impact. Each service project reflects the unique character of each campus, but we all share a common goal: to say thank you to those who make our community such an incredible place.

This year, Florence Elementary School will be supporting Cook Children's Hospital. We would love for you to be part of this effort!

How You Can Help:

Join us on the day of the event – Bring your family and friends to lend a helping hand! Sign up today! Click here
Spread the word – Encourage neighbors, extended family, and local businesses to participate.
Donate supplies – click here for Amazon list

Together, we can make a difference and show our appreciation for the amazing community we call home. Let’s make this year’s Big Event the best one yet! #TheBigEvent25

This year's registration will be through a google form. Students must be accompanied by a parent, so make it a morning of family fun through service. Register here to join us on April 12th!

Donations Needed

Between now and then, we need your help in providing donations for the items that we will be assembling together on the Day of the Big Event! Our Campus Big Event Coordinator, Mrs. Hannah McLean, has made it easy and created an Amazon Wish List where you can see what is needed and purchase the items.

Here is the link. Click for Amazon Wishlist Link

Counselor News

Alliance for Children : PS It's My Body on April 16th

Florence will host Alliance for Children on April 16th for our required Senate Bill 9 lesson on Personal Safety. You opted your child IN or OUT of this lesson via Infosnap prior to the start of this school year during the registration process. Students who have opted out of the lesson will be given an alternate activity during that time.

If you cannot remember what you selected, you can view your child's authorizations in the Aeries Parent Portal. Click Student Info, Authorizations, Bill 9 (granted or denied).

Preview the lesson HERE. If after previewing the lesson, you would like to change your authorization, complete this FORM, and return to Christina.Jones@kellerisd.net.

Schedule

8:30 - 3rd

9:00 - 2nd

9:30 - Kinder

10:00- 1st

10:30 - 4th

Watch DOGS!

Thank you to all of our amazing Watch DOGS Volunteers. Our Watch DOG volunteer calendar closes on April 1st as we prepare for testing and a busy end of year season. If you missed an opportunity to volunteer and would like to support our campus, we would love to have dads help us open car doors and greet students each day from 7:25-7:55am. No sign up required.

PTA News

Every membership purchase will receive a 24-25 FES yard sign! **while supplies last** Memberships can be a parent, student, grandparent, sibling, and/or anonymous donation. No set limit on how many you can purchase.

Reach out to Anna Reyes for any membership questions at 817-673-6959.

Link: https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/

volunteer opportunities

Volunteers and Visitors

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!

yearbook

Purchase early to avoid the website overload closer to the due date. Your first two personal pages are free!

https://web.treering.com/create-account/1016599729561880?PassCode=1016599729561880

Cafeteria Menu

March Menu

Cafeteria Menu- Click Here

Cafeteria information

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.

Extracurricular and Club Opportunities

Student Club Times

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

iCode Tech Club: Unleash Your Child's Creativity Through STEM

Florence Elementary, in partnership with iCode Southlake, presents the Tech Club: Empowering students with essential STEM skills! Through hands-on activities in coding, game design, and digital arts, your child will build problem-solving abilities and real-world tech knowledge. From Minecraft creations to Python mastery, we're preparing them for future success – all while having fun! For more information, contact iCode Southlake at 817-527-5270 or email southlake108@icodeschool.com

iCode Tech Club.pdf

District Opportunities:

Florence Run (Outside).pdf

Dashstrom RACE and CHASE Run/Fun Club

The season is 6 weeks long (April 2 – May 8, 2025) and classes are held once a week on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 at Bear Creek Park. We are thrilled to offer this to Keller ISD kids in PreK –4th grade at Bear Creek Park. Taught by KISD 16-year veteran teacher, Lesli Craig. Special needs welcome!

Practice is divided into three main areas: warm-up and discussion/empowerment lesson, running/ active drill of the day, and a super fun end of class game/cool down. We want children to leave practice both sweaty and smiling. Let’s get kids outside and away from the screens after school!

The program costs $75. Mention this flyer and a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to your school.

*This external club will take place at Bear Creek Park and is not hosted by Florence Elementary School. Parents will be responsible for transportation of their child.

Investing into Tomorrow April 4 (1) (2).pdf

In Case you Missed It:

How to Report an Absence

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