Embedded Files
November 17 - November 21
Week 14
Courtney Brandel
Principal
courtney.brandel@kellerisd.net
Take a peek at the fun we had during our Principals Camp Out this week! Our students earned a PJ day and a principal camp out and we were excited to share all the fun with them during announcements this morning!
Dear Florence Falcon Families,
This might just be one of my favorite weeks I have ever during my 13 years of being a principal! When people ask what I do, I always tell them I have the best job ever and this week had so many moments that brought me immense joy, pride, and gratitude!
Some of the major highlights of the week in the life of the principal of the BEST school ever:
I have always felt that an elementary school should be a pillar in a community and a place where families can connect. Last Friday- We shared in seeing all of the laughter, smiles, and fun our students had during our Fall PTA carnival. I saw kids running from game to game, playing together, having a great time at a place they love. I saw a community who came together to gather baskets for our silent auction with the best selection I have ever seen. I saw families enjoying a night of fun and community at our school! I saw parents connecting with Thank you to our PTA for making it such a magical night!
On Tuesday, we had the privilege of honoring our FES heroes on Tuesday during our Veteran's Day program. We heard precious young voices join in unity, gratitude, and celebration of those who have dedicated their lives to serving others through the military or as a first responder! Our PTA provided a delicious spread of breakfast treats so we could share in time with our military families!
Every single day, I saw students engaged in learning, high quality teaching, incredible expertise of our teachers, and students who are thinking, sharing, writing, and growing! It's amazing to see the impact that consistency, routine, and hard work create and to see the growth in students over these first 4 months of school.
On Thursday, we were awarded with a Keller Education Foundation Grant that will greatly enhance our students in phonics! The Keller High School Drumline came through our building to lead the way, and we got to celebrate the excitement with the entire school!
On Friday, our teachers took part in on-the-job training as they visited and observed one another's classes, taking away valuable strategies, feedback from one another, and instructional wisdom as they shared in conversation about the incredible things happening at Florence Elementary school each day!
On Friday, we also got to enjoy a PJ Day, as a whole class celebration of meeting our $30,0000 fundrasing goal! Mrs. Price, Mrs. Jones, and I had some extra fun during our night at school, the reward for our students meeting their goal! Check out the video below to see just how much fun we had at school!
These were some of the major moments, but there were so many other important conversations, celebrations, connections, milestones, and moments in the week that make me grateful for the job I get to do each day! Thank you, as always, for your support and role in helping our students shine!
In Falcon Spirit,
Courtney Brandel
Principal, Florence Elementary
Congratulations, FES on receiving a grant from the Keller Education Foundation that will directly impact phonics and literacy instruction as well as assessment! Thank you to the foundation for the incredible support of our students and staff!
Did you know?
Did you know?
Our Kindergarten through 3rd grade students spend about 45 minutes each morning focused on phonics- through daily review, instruction on phonetic skills that help students learn and identify patterns of letter sound correspondence, consonant combinations, vowels, syllabication, and application through reading. There is daily review and practice through dictation. This makes reading predictable, and allows students to develop the skills to attack any word, no matter how big!
While most of our phonics time is spent writing and applying our skills verbally, orally and visually, interactive student software also connects student learning with teacher instruction through daily activities and skill checks during the last few minutes of each lesson. This provides teachers with real time insight on student learning transfer and allows them to instantly pull students for further support and to monitor their progress over time!
Want to recognize a FES staff member?
Want to recognize a FES staff member?
Fill out a shout out on this Staff Shout Out Form to help us celebrate excellence among our FES teachers and staff!
*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.
2nd 9 Weeks Events and Activities (Oct-December)
2nd 9 Weeks Events and Activities (Oct-December)
November 17- 2nd Grade Performance/PTA Meeting (6 p.m.)
November 20- Kinder Feast
November 21- Thanksgiving Lunch
November 24-28- Thanksgiving Break- No School
December 1-4- PTA Penguin Patch
December 3- College Spirit Day
December 3- PTA Executive Board Meeting
December 3-5- MOY MAP Window (Reading- in reading class)
December 4- Marimba Choir Performance
December 8- School Spelling Bee
December 8-12 Students can begin bringing Nutcrackers for Nutcracker Day
December 9-11 MOY MAP Window (Math - in math class and Fluency Dec. 11th)
December 9- Angel Tree Due
December 10- ROCK Club 3:15p.m. - 4:15p.m.
December 12- Nutcracker Day (during Co-Curr)
December 16- CEIC Meeting
December 19- Christmas Parties- (in classrooms) Early Release Day/ End of the semester
December 22- January 4- Winter Break, no classes
*View our full calendar on our website.
2025-2026 District Calendar
2025-2026 District Calendar
InstructionalCalendar_2025-26.pdfStudent Lunch Times
Student Lunch Times
Kindergarten: 10:25-10:55
1st Grade: 10:55-11:25
2nd Grade: 11:25-11:55
3rd Grade: 11:55-12:25
4th Grade: 12:25-12:55
Pajama Drive - Google Docs.pdfPAJAMA DRIVE Sponsored by R.O.C.K. Club
PAJAMA DRIVE Sponsored by R.O.C.K. Club
Nov. 10th - 20th
Nov. 10th - 20th
ROCK Club will be participating in the Great Bedtime Story pajama drive November 10th through November 20th.
FES ROCK Club will be particpating in the Great Bedtime Story pajama drive November 10th through November 20th. If you would like to donate, bring brand new pajamas age ranges 0-12 all sizes from newborn to children's XL. Pajamas must be a complete set-top & bottom or onesie for all seasons.
Please have students bring their donations to their teacher.
Campus Thanksgiving Meal
If you plan to join us (even if you don't plan to purchase a meal), please pre-register using this FORM by noon on Monday, November 17th where you will RSVP and indicate if you will be purchasing a meal or not. See the flyer for more details about the menu, times, and payment for meal.
Please arrive around 10-15 minutes before your time to allow time for you to get checked in and get your sticker. If you are ordering through the cafeteria, you will meet your child in the main hallway and join them in one of our cafeteria lines before making your way to find a seat in our cafeteria. At the conclusion of lunch, please exit through our courtyard exit directly across from the cafeteria to allow for the next grade level families to enter through our main entrance.
Math Support at Home- KISD Smore Curriculum Overview
Math Support at Home- KISD Smore Curriculum Overview
We are continuing to work on mathematical fluency as a campus goal this year! We are jumping into some new math units over the next 9 weeks and encourage you to click on the link for your child's grade level SMORE. This document provides you with an overview of concepts that will be learned, common misconceptions, and ways you can help support your child's learning at home. There are also some fun games to help support our numerical fluency goals at home!
2nd 9 Weeks - SMORE Math Curriculum Overview - 2025-2026.pdfCounselor Connection
Counselor Connection
PTA Reflections Winners
PTA Reflections Winners
Congratulations to seven students whose Reflections entries have been chosen by the judging panel to advance to the Keller ISD District level! We had many talented Falcons enter this year, and the judges were so impressed by all of their fantastic work.
Primary Film Production - Duke Lovell
Primary Literature - Carter Caraway
Primary Photography - Gage Holmes
Primary Visual Arts - Bethany Lauck
Intermediate Film Production - Isabella Salicru
Intermediate Photography - Emma Blake
Intermediate Visual Arts - Henry Redding
SILENT AUCTION & CARNIVAL A SUCCESS; RAISES OVER $17K
SILENT AUCTION & CARNIVAL A SUCCESS; RAISES OVER $17K
The FES Silent Auction and Carnival were a massive success! After paying Bidding Owl fees, we raised approximately $17,674 for our school through our Silent Auction! We hope y'all had a wonderful time and were able to win some great baskets, items, and experiences.
Special thanks to our PTA Silent Auction Chair, Jocelyn Kaspar, and our PTA Carnival Chair, Deborah Fleming, for putting both events on -- and for all the time, effort, and energy that went into both. We're also thankful for all the parent volunteers who helped with every aspect of the events, from set up to take down to basket distribution and everything in between.
Until next year...!
FES VETERANS DAY CEREMONY HONORS HEROES
FES VETERANS DAY CEREMONY HONORS HEROES
It was a beautiful morning this Tuesday, Nov. 11, as we honored our veterans and first responders at our annual Veterans Day program! Our students did an incredible job during their performance, and we loved hosting our veterans and first responders at the special breakfast following. We appreciate all the veterans and first responders who spent their morning with us and truly thank them for their service and sacrifice.
Thank you to our PTA Veterans Day Chair, Jennifer Randklev, and all the PTA and parent volunteers for helping make this event possible. The Randklev family also spent Sunday afternoon planting flags across the FES campus in preparation for the Veterans Day ceremony; we appreciate your hard work! PTA also thanks FES Music Teacher, Michele McIntire, for her hard work in teaching our students the patriotic songs they sang and for leading Tuesday's performance!
Co-Curr and Lunch
Co-Curr and Lunch
Cafeteria Information
Cafeteria Information
What time is breakfast? Breakfast will begin at 7:30. 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.
Contacts
Contacts
FES Front Office: 817-744-4700
FES Front Office: 817-744-4700
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.brandel@kellerisd.net
Nicole Seidel - PTA President: ptaflorencees@gmail.com
Connect with and Follow Us!
Connect with and Follow Us!
Volunteers
Volunteers
We are grateful for our volunteers as an essential part of our school! If you are interested in volunteering this year, please fill out the Keller ISD Volunteer Application.
All FES visitors are required to enter through the front office, provide picture identification, and obtain a visitor badge before proceeding to any part of the building. This procedure ensures the safety and security of our campus as we know who is in the building at all time. Office staff will verify the visitor is a parent, guardian, or approved contact for the student.
Guests must have their visitor badge worn on their shirt and visible at all times.
Guests are only allowed in designated areas to minimize disruption of the learning environment.
Guests are required to exit the building through the front doors during school hours.
Parent Square Communications
Parent Square Communications
Be sure that your email is correct in your infosnap to be sure you receive all of our Parent Square communications (email, text, and app.)
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