April 28-May 2
(A Special message from Avery Smith, our Principal for the day)
Dear Falcon Families,
"These Florence Falcons have been very awesome and helpful for our school! I liked celebrating the Fabulous falcons and walking around the school to give out falcon bucks. I looked for people that were doing the right thing to give Falcon Bucks to. These students have been so kind and respectful and we are so thankful to have them here!" - Principal Avery
(Now, a message from Mrs. Brandel):
It’s hard to believe we’re already turning the corner into May! April has been full of excitement and memorable moments on campus, and this past week was no exception. We had a fantastic visit from Creature Teacher, where students got up close and personal with some amazing animals—there were wide eyes, big smiles, and lots of curious questions! Our talented 4th graders also took the stage in their Pirates musical, and wow—what a performance! Their energy, singing, and storytelling truly brought the high seas to life.
We also had a special treat this week with some of our students stepping into leadership roles as our Principal, Assistant Principal, and Counselor for the Day! They did a great job helping out around the school, making announcements, and spreading joy—it was so fun to see them in action! Looking ahead, next week marks a big milestone as we begin STAAR testing for our 3rd-5th grade students. Our campus will be closed to visitors from Tuesday to Thursday (April 29–May 1) to ensure a quiet, focused testing environment. We appreciate your support in helping your students get good rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and come to school on time those days.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we move into the final stretch of the school year!
In Falcon Spirit,
Courtney Brandel- Principal, Florence Elementary School
The 4th graders sailed straight into our hearts with their swashbuckling performance in the Pirates Musical! With treasure chests of talent, fearless singing, and enough charm to shiver anyone’s timbers, these young buccaneers put on a show worthy of the high seas. Bravo, mateys — you nailed it like true stars of the stage!
The Creature Teacher is known for bringing the classroom to life—literally! Specializing in unforgettable, up-close encounters with exotic animals, they taught our students about wildlife in the most paws-itively exciting way. During this wildly fun visit, students were chinchilla’d with joy, starry-eyed over petting a baby kangaroo, and brave enough to meet a sss-super-sized python. With scales, tails, and lots of giggles, it was a fur-midable day of learning and laughter! 🐾🎉
Madison Wright- Counselor
Wyatt Smith- Assistant Principal
Avery Smith- Principal
Our carnival auction winners were hard at work as Principal, Assistant Principal, and Counselor for the Day! 👏 They helped with a safety check alongside Officer Greg, handed out Falcon Bucks, assisted with the Creature Teacher visit, and even oversaw a fire drill like pros! 🦅🔥🐍 #FutureLeaders #FalconPride #LeadershipInAction
We are incredibly grateful to one of parents who works at Ferguson Home for their generous donation of a replacement ice maker for our teacher's lounge. Your kindness and support have made a significant difference in our daily lives, providing much-needed refreshment and convenience.
This act of generosity is a wonderful reminder of the strong bond between our school and the community. We are fortunate to have parents and local businesses who are always willing to step up and support us. Your contribution not only enhances our facilities but also boosts the morale of our dedicated teachers.
Thank you for being a shining example of community spirit and for helping us create a better environment for everyone. We appreciate you!
Today, we celebrate the backbone of our school– our fabulous administrative professionals! Your exceptional dedication, hard work, and unwavering support keep everything running smoothly. You are the unsung heroes who make it all possible. Thank you for being the backbone of our team and for your fabulous contributions every single day. Happy National Administrative Professionals Day!
Terra Peters - Campus Secretary
Leah Dimmitt - Sub Coordinator
Tyler Lamon - Attendance Clerk
Lexi Jencopale
"Mrs. Jencopale is amazing with my kiddo. My kiddo enjoys learning this year, which is amazing because of how much he's struggled in the past. She has given him a reason to enjoy learning and going to school. She encourages him and helps him work through his school work that he has a hard time with. She's the first teacher he's had that has taken time to help him refocus and make sure he not only completes his work, but understands it. Additionally, Mrs. J is kind, calming, thinks outside the box, and is always sees the best in her students."- Danita, FES 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!
April 29- May 1- STAAR Testing Window- No visitors on campus
April 30th- 3rd and 4th Grade STAAR (Math)
May 1- STAAR Make Up Test
May 1- School Principal Day
May 2- FES Spirit Store
May 2- FES Family Fun Night- Kindergarten Orientation
May 5-9 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 5- 4th Grade BCI Tour
May 6- 4th Grade Play Day at Keller High School
May 7- College Colors Day- Wear your favorite school gear!
May 7- School Nurse Appreciation Day
May 7-9 EOY MAP (RLA) Testing
May 13- STUCO EOY Party
May 16- Mayfest
May 19- Senior Walk (7:30-8:30)
May 20- Kindergarten EOY Celebration (8:00-9:00)
May 20- 1st Grade EOY Celebration (9:15-10:15)
May 21- 2nd Grade EOY Celebration (8:00-9:00)
May 21- 3rd Grade EOY Celebration (9:15-10:15)
May 22- 4th Grade EOY and Clapout (9:30-10:30)- with class presentation at 9:00
May 22- Early Release (11:45)
*More 2024-2025 information and dates to come. Plan ahead by visiting our new website to access our full year FES Campus Calendar.
Our 3rd and 4th grade students will be completing their STAAR Math test on Wednesday.
Due to testing, our campus will be closed to visitors Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so we ask parents of all grade levels to please choose another day to join us for lunch.
Testing Reminders
Get a good night's sleep the night before.
Have a nourishing breakfast.
Please be sure that your child is at school at the regularly scheduled time. Testing process will begin at 7:55 AM.
Encourage your child to take their time and do their best.
Students may bring extra snacks to have at their desks; we are requesting that they bring healthy snacks that do not make their fingers or working space sticky, wet, colorful, or greasy.
They may also have a water bottle.
Students are encouraged to bring a jacket or sweater to wear in the classroom (no blankets or stuffed animals).
Students may not wear smart-watches or have any internet capable devices or have cell phones in the testing room. If they do bring them, we will collect them and lock them up until the end of the day.
If your child will be absent on testing day, the make-up day will be on May 1st.
Students will have the entire school day to complete the assessment.
Students will have a break for lunch time and may bring a lunch or order lunch from the cafeteria as they normally would.
Attention all seniors who attended FES! Be sure to save the date and upload your pictures for our FES Senior Walk on May 19th.
As a part of our commitment to safety and security, we conducted a FIRE DRILL this afternoon. We wanted you to be aware of this drill in order to reassure you that this was a PRACTICE and that there was not an emergency on our campus. We are proud of our students and staff for the level of attention that they gave to this important safety drill today.
Our goal in conducting these drills is to allow for our students and staff members to become familiar with these procedures and to identify areas of opportunity for improvement in our processes for the future. We conduct these drills under different scenarios in order to provide the opportunity for staff and students to experience the safety procedures in different places in the school. Throughout the year, we will continue to conduct these monthly safety drills.
We also wanted you to be able to talk to your child about their experience with the drill today, and should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us!
Here are some upcoming events and flyers from our friends at Bear Creek Intermediate.
Registration for New Braves on the Block Camp will open in May.
Spirit Night, May 14th 4-8pm at Sweet Frog's in Keller!
Our last Spirit Store of the year is next Friday, May 2. We are needing volunteers to make it a success. The shifts are not very long and this is a really fun volunteer opportunity. We’d love your help!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FABAE2FA4F9CE9-56370761-spirit
Florence is so close to being recognized for having a voice for every child! There is still time to purchase your membership. Right now, new membership purchases will receive a '24-'25 FES yard sign while supplies last! Thank you, parents and families, for helping us achieve this recognition!
We've all been there! Back-to school sneaks up on us, and suddenly we're running from store to store trying to find supplies. But what if you could check it off your list today? Order Here: https://cas5-0-urlprotect.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2f1stdayschoolsupplies.com%2fgs%2f1179150&umid=73469682-d99d-463e-a3c9-ed16ea789d90&rct=1744219910&auth=735fd6d2e0d58d5e2eb04bc8159d38fac3cacd87-aeb060e1820a4600f39539d33b66fc2432570600
1st Day School Supplies makes it easy. In just a few clicks, you can order the exact supplies your teacher requested, packaged in a beautiful new box and delivered on time, stress-free!
We’re thrilled to share that next year’s inspiring theme is “I Belong!”, submitted by Ben Morgan, a 6th grade student from Idaho. Ben shared:
“For me, ‘I Belong!’ means I know where I am accepted, and I know that I can be myself there without being criticized or judged.”
We can’t wait to see the incredible projects our talented Falcons will create! More details will be shared at the start of the next school year.
If your student decides to get a head start over the summer, please be sure to review the program rules by category to make sure their work meets the guidelines: www.txpta.org/reflections-participation.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to lyndsay.lovell@gmail.com.
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!
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.
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
Get Ready for an Exciting PE Camp This June!
Mrs. Castranova is excited to invite you to our upcoming PE Camp, where fun, games, and popsicles await! This fantastic event is scheduled for June, and we can't wait to see you there.
What to Expect:
Engaging Games: Enjoy a variety of games designed to keep everyone active and entertained.
Refreshing Popsicles: Beat the heat with delicious popsicles after a day full of activities.
Fun Activities: Participate in numerous fun-filled activities that promise a great time for all.
Important Date:
Registration Deadline: May 9th
Don't miss out on this opportunity to stay active, have fun, and make new friends. Register now to secure your spot!
Our Keller ISD locations are gearing up for the 2025 Camp Clayton program!
This year, we are offering STEAM Camp, Adventure Camp, Pre-K Discovery Camp, and Teen Leadership Camp—each providing a fun, safe, and enriching environment where kids can explore, create, and connect, with a new theme every week. We’re especially excited about our new locations and upcoming field trips! Our 2025 Keller Camp Clayton location are at the following locations:
Parkview, North Riverside, Hidden Lakes and Independence.
For more information, parents can visit our website for details on locations, pricing, and camp themes: https://claytonyouth.org/camp-clayton.
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.
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:
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
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
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
Keller ISD will observe summer business hours beginning Monday, June 2, with District and campus administrative offices and facilities open Tuesday-Thursday. Employees will work remotely on Mondays to close buildings on those days as an additional cost-saving measure for the District. On those days, campus employees can be reached by email but may not be able to return all phone calls received until they return to campus.
Public business hours will be 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday each week from June 2nd through July 21.
FES Campus will be closed:
Mondays and Fridays
June 19th- Holiday
June 23rd- July 7th
Be sure that your email is correct in your infosnap to be sure you receive all of our Blackboard communications (emails and texts).