Embedded Files
December 15 - December 19
Week 17
Schools, Offices Closed for Winter Break Dec. 22-Jan.5
Keller ISD will be on Winter Break from December 22 through January 5. Schools and administrative offices will be closed, with high schools releasing early on Thursday, December 18, and all campuses observing an early release on Friday, December 19. Offices reopen Monday, January 5, and classes resume Tuesday, January 6.
Courtney Brandel
Principal
courtney.brandel@kellerisd.net
Dear Families,
As we wrap up this joyful season, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the generosity, kindness, and enthusiasm that make our school community and students shine so bright:
💝 Generosity & the Spirit of Giving
Thanks to the incredible compassion of our families, we were able to support 60 Angels from three schools in our district—Florence Elementary, Freedom Elementary and North Riverside Elementary Schools, donating over 240 gifts to help make Christmas brighter for children in need. This beautiful outpouring of love truly reflects the heart of our community. A special thank-you to Mrs. Jones, our amazing WatchDOGS, our dedicated PTA volunteers, and our hardworking office staff for making our Angel Tree project such a meaningful success!
🎅 Holiday Spirit Around Campus
Our staff has been spreading cheer each day with fun, festive holiday attire. From twinkling sweaters to creative costumes, their joyful spirit has filled our hallways with laughter and light.
☮️ Peace & Joy
A warm thank-you to our wonderful PTA for showering our staff with peace and joy this season. Their thoughtful spa day and festive gift bundle—complete with a candle, ornament, and cupcake—brought comfort and smiles to all. We are truly grateful!
📚 Excellence in Academics
Congratulations to all of our Spelling Bee participants! Your hard work, courage, and dedication to excellence make us incredibly proud.
✨ Glowing & Shining Bright
Our teachers have been uplifting one another through classroom visits, observations, and meaningful conversations about teaching strategies. Their commitment to learning from one another ensures that our instruction continues to glow and grow.
🩰 Fun & Festivity
Nutcracker Day was a magical success! Students enjoyed a ballet performance, face painting, games, and even explored our very own Nutcracker Museum. It was a day filled with creativity, wonder, and delight.
All of these things are a result of the heart and love that our teachers, staff, and community have for our school and are just a few examples of excellence at Florence! As we head into the winter break, I wish each of you peace, joy, rest, and time to enjoy the company of loved ones. Thank you for making our school a place where kindness and learning shine bright.
Warmest holiday wishes,
Courtney Brandel
Principal, Florence Elementary
Congratulations Spelling Bee Winners!
Congratulations Spelling Bee Winners!
Congratulations to all of our Florence School Spelling Bee participants! We had a morning of I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E spelling fun on Monday as our 3rd and 4th grade finalists each took turns showing off their spelling skills. All of our participants did an outstanding job! After 8 rounds, two remained:
First Runner Up: Elliot Lebel (4th Grade)
Spelling Bee Champion: Elizabeth Eisenrich (3rd Grade)
Elizabeth will represent Florence at the upcoming Keller ISD spelling bee!
Thank you, Mrs. Howell, for being our spelling bee sponsor and guiding our spellers to confidently take the stage through practice, guidance and encouragement! Thank you, Mrs. Aldredge for supporting our students in practice for the spelling bee. We would also like to share our appreciation for our caller, Mrs. Price, and to our judges, Mrs. Sargent (FES Special Education), Mr. Crawford (Director of Student Services), and Dr. Williams (Executive Director of Human Resources).
National Board-Certified Teacher at Florence Elementary!
National Board-Certified Teacher at Florence Elementary!
Congratulations, April Hetherington!
Congratulations, April Hetherington!
Our very own 4th grade teacher, April Hetherington is one of seven KISD educators that have recently achieved National Board Certification!
National Board Certification is one of the most respected professional certifications available in education, providing numerous benefits to teachers, students, and schools, Earning the certification is the culmination of a two-year process that included content exams, video analysis of their teaching, reviewing student learning artifacts, and consideration of a professional portfolio.
Only 40% of teachers who apply achieve certification the first time they submit, and these teachers are part of that elite group.
The National Board-Certified program was designed to develop, retain, and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. All seven of Keller ISD's National Board-Certified teachers worked with Keller ISD's own National Board Certification Cohort, leading up to their certification. We are so proud of Mrs. Hetherington's hard work, perseverance, and dedication to excellence!
Our Classrooms are G.L.O.W.-ing!
Our Classrooms are G.L.O.W.-ing!
Our FES teachers conducted their second round of G.L.O.W. (Grow, Learn, Observe, With Purpose) walks where they spent part of the day on Tuesday visiting one another's' classrooms. Teachers are grouped with a variety of grade levels, and shared and gleaned wisdom, experience, and strategies that will impact ALL students at FES! We loved getting to share in the excitement of learning, seeing the consistency of strategies, the unique approaches and creativity of all of our teachers! Common threads were woven throughout conversations as the experience of being in different grade levels and classrooms validated, inspired, and encouraged the work that our teachers are doing to support student learning each day! Take a peek inside our classrooms and meeting rooms this week!
Staff Holiday Celebration
Staff Holiday Celebration
Thank you to Doty Real Estate and Cherry Creek Mortgage for hosting our staff Christmas party, with a beautiful venue, delicious food and a time of joy and relaxation for our staff! It was a festive night of fun and togetherness, and we are grateful to these two businesses for your generosity and love for educators! We are grateful for the heart that your businesses have for supporting our amazing teachers and staff!
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)
December 16- CEIC Meeting
December 19- Christmas Parties- (in classrooms) Early Release Day/ End of the Semester
Kindergarten: 9-9:45 a.m.
1st grade: 9:30-10:15 a.m.
2nd grade: 10-10:45 a.m.
3rd grade: 10:15-11 a.m.
4th grade: 10:30-11:15 a.m.
December 22- January 4- Winter Break, no classes
January 5- Student Holiday/Teacher PD
January 6- Beginning of the 3rd 9 Weeks
January 7- College Spirit Day- Wear your College Colors
January 15- STEM Night
January 19- District Holiday
January 23- Western Day during Co-curr
January 28- 3rd Grade Performance/PTA Meeting
February 2- 100th Day of School
February 3-6- Spring Book Fair
February 4- Rock Club
February 4- College Colors
February 6-11- Valentine Gram
February 12- Valentines Parties (schedule TBA)
February 13- Student Holiday- No School/Teacher PD
February 16- Student Holiday- No School/Teacher PD
February 18-19- TELPAS
February 25- Open House
*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
Early Dismissal on Friday, December 19th
Early Dismissal on Friday, December 19th
Please note that Friday, December 19th, is an early release day for all students. Students that ride a bus will be dismissed at 11:45am, with walkers and car riders following. The FES cafeteria will serve a sack lunch, but students will not be required to eat lunch at school on this day. Thank you for making arrangements for your child to be picked up earlier than normal to start the holiday break!
If you wish to sign out your child early on Friday, please check them out with their teacher. *Note: any departure before 11:45 will be considered as an early check-out and marked as a parent note absence.
*Due to classroom capacity, FES students will only be permitted to attend their own classroom party (not that of a younger or older sibling) and should remain with their class until dismissal or until their parent checks them out to go home. Future falcon siblings are welcomed to join in the fun!
Theatre is Returning to FES for the Second Semester!
Theatre is Returning to FES for the Second Semester!
As we come back for our second semester, students will participate in the following Co-Curr classes: PE, Music and Theatre.
Students have enjoyed our Art class with Mrs. Wilson during first semester. As such, we look forward to welcoming our new theatre teacher, Mrs. and Mrs. Klein will switch locations to teach the second portion of Co-Curr. Mrs. Wilson will be teaching Art at Friendship Elementary and Mrs. Kleine will be coming here and will teach our Theatre Co-Curr class. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson, for cultivating the talents of our artists this semster!
New Staff Members
New Staff Members
Ashley Stickane
Ashley Stickane
Florence Nurse
We are excited that Mrs. Stickane will be joining our team as our new school nurse and look forward to the care and confidence that she will be providing to our students. Mrs. Stickane says,
"Hello Florence! My name is Ashlea Stickane.
I am a fellow Florence parent and am thrilled to join this amazing community as a staff member.
My husband and I have lived in the DFW area for the past 15 years. We found our HOME in Keller 5 years ago. We have three children in Keller schools: Florence, Bear Creek Intermediate and Keller High.
I graduated with my Bachelors in Nursing in 2008. I have worked at both in-patient hospitals and outpatient clinics. I am presently switching to Florence from a role as an elementary school nurse in a neighboring district. I find school nursing very fulfilling. It is a privilege to be entrusted with your precious little ones.
I'm looking forward to meeting and serving your children.
Madisen Piontkowski
Madisen Piontkowski
Theatre Teacher
Ms. Piontkowski will be joining us for the second half of the year as our students transition from art to theatre. She has been teaching at Friendship Elementary School and we look foward to having her join the Falcon family this spring!
"Hello everyone! My name is Madisen Piontkowski, and I am so excited to be your new theatre teacher at Florence Elementary School! Theatre has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I am beyond excited to grow your student's love for theatre. I graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and this is my first year in Keller ISD. My goal for your students is to grow their confidence, creativity, and communication skills while learning in my classroom. Theatre is such a fun way to express yourself and I am so excited to share that with your students. There are so many fun activities I have planned and I cannot wait to get started!"
Mary Miller
Mary Miller
Educational Diagnostician
Welcome, Mrs. Mary Miller, to Florence Elementary School! We are excited that she will be serving our campus exclusively, and will be her part time. She has been a diagnostician in a neighboring district and also has served at Tarrant County College as an educator. We are excited to have her with us as a part of our Special Education team!
Mrs. Miller says, "“Hello families! My name is Mary, and I am the new educational diagnostician at Florence Elementary School. I’m passionate about supporting students’ unique learning needs and partnering with teachers and families to help every child grow. I’m grateful to be here and look forward to a great year together.”
THE NUTCRACKER TOOK CENTER STAGE AT FLORENCE TODAY!
THE NUTCRACKER TOOK CENTER STAGE AT FLORENCE TODAY!
Our beloved holiday tradition, Nutcracker Day, was a success! A special thank you to our PTA Nutcracker Day Chair, Staci Leonard, for all her hard work in putting this special event on. Another thank you to Epicenter for the Arts for providing performers for today's special school-wide Nutcracker ballet performance our students got to enjoy.
In addition to the ballet performance, our students were treated to fun activities during Co-Curr, including face painting and Nutcracker-themed games. They also enjoyed looking at all the Nutcrackers their friends and classmates brought for our Nutcracker Museum. (Reminder: Nutcrackers will be sent home with your child on Monday, Dec. 15.)
Epicenter for the Arts has also provided a special December offer for our students (see the flyer below). When you register for a new Epicenter class during the month of December, you'll receive 50% off of January tuition for that class! Contact them at: (817) 778-8828 and mention this flyer.
PTA PAMPERING: MASSAGES, SIPS, & SEASONAL SNACKS
PTA PAMPERING: MASSAGES, SIPS, & SEASONAL SNACKS
Last week, the amazing Florence staff enjoyed a well-deserved treat compliments of your FES PTA: relaxing 10-minute chair massages from current and former PTA parents, Jill Martin and Stephanie Bartuch, plus a cozy lounge stocked with hot chocolate, apple cider, tea, and plenty of festive snacks. We love spoiling our teachers and staff! They pour so much into our kids every single day!
PTA GIFTS TEACHERS WITH CUSTOM KEEPSAKE ORNAMENTS, CANDLES, & CUPCAKES
PTA GIFTS TEACHERS WITH CUSTOM KEEPSAKE ORNAMENTS, CANDLES, & CUPCAKES
PTA was thrilled to provide our teachers and staff members with special gifts on Wednesday: custom keepsake ornaments handmade by FES parent Ana Avery, a scented candle, and a boxed cupcake from Legacy Cakes (owned by FES parent Megan Rountree). Thank you to Ana, Megan, our PTA Hospitality Chair Cassie Matthews, and the PTA Hospitality team for their hard work putting these special gifts together for our teachers and staff!
A HOLLY JOLLY PTA CHRISTMAS GATHERING
A HOLLY JOLLY PTA CHRISTMAS GATHERING
Last week following our regularly-scheduled meeting, PTA enjoyed our annual Christmas party at the home of PTA member Lindsey Roper, who so graciously opened her home to host. While we missed some of our members, we loved getting to celebrate with those who were able to join us. PTA wishes you all the happiest of holiday seasons!
SHOW US YOUR CREATIVITY: YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST
SHOW US YOUR CREATIVITY: YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST
It's time for our annual Yearbook Cover Contest, and we can't wait to see our Falcons' imaginations S.H.I.N.E.! All students are invited to design a cover for our 2025-2026 yearbook that reflects this year's theme: "Your Future is Bright.'
Entries should be created on 8.5 x 11 in. paper with a border left around the edges to ensure the artwork isn't cut off when uploaded. Please ensure your child's name and teacher are written in pencil on the back of their submission. All entries are due to the front office by Jan. 9. We can't wait to see what our students come up with!
SAVE THE DATE: STEM NIGHT & SCIENCE FAIR (JAN. 15)
SAVE THE DATE: STEM NIGHT & SCIENCE FAIR (JAN. 15)
Mark your calendars for our annual STEM Night and Science Fair on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 6-7:45 p.m.! Students can start brainstorming and planning their science fair projects now; more details about guidelines and participation will be shared soon.
If you work in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math) field and would like to share your expertise by hosting an informational table that evening, please contact FES PTA STEM Night Chair, Anna Reyes (anna.reyes@kellerisd.net) by Friday, Dec. 19.
follow fes pta on facebook
follow fes pta on facebook
Follow FES PTA on Facebook for up-to-date information and PTA news!
Extracurricular and Club Opportunities
Extracurricular and Club Opportunities
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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