FAlcon FAMILY

Weekly Newsletter

November 27-December 1

Week 14

Campus and District offices will be closed November 20-24 and there will be no classes for students! Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Courtney Brandel

Principal

Mrs. Brandel's Message

Dear Falcon Families,

This time of year, we often take pause to reflect upon all for which we are grateful! Along with my family, church, and home, among the top of my list is our FES family of students, teachers, staff, and families and the roles that each of you play in our school! I feel grateful to be able to serve alongside of our amazing team of teachers and staff and that we get to spend each day with your wonderful kids!

There were several highlights of this past week, but among those that stand out were:

This week began with an impressive performance by our 2nd grade students who took us on an adventure around the world as they shared exciting facts and performed songs in FIVE different languages including English, Spanish, French, Swahili, German and Sign Language!
Our R.O.C.K. club students led our canned food drive and the Falcon family showed up in full force to meet the needs of Community Storehouse! They also distributed "kindness cards" for the National Day of Kindness this week! Together, we collected 2032 items for our community!
Our Angel Tree was almost completely cleared off as we collectively serve the needs of students across Keller ISD!
Our incredible cafeteria staff served over 700 delicious Thanksgiving meals to our students and families that joined us! It was wonderful to celebrate with our Falcon families and students and to share in time together.
Working with our faculty during our faculty meeting to dig into and take inventory of all the different ways that we monitor our student progress.
Kindergarteners sharing in their conversational skills, social skills, and manners in their kinder feast activity as a part of their Social Studies unit.

We look forward to welcoming our students back on November 27th as we round out this month and dive into all of the excitement of December and the holiday season! Wishing you and your family a safe, wonderful, and gratitude filled Thanksgiving break!

In Falcon Spirit,

Courtney Brandel

Highlighting the tradition of excellence at Florence Elementary School!

2nd Grade Program

Kindness Day

Kinder Feast

Thanksgiving Celebration

STAFF SHOUTOUTS

Mrs. Linkka

Mrs Linkka is an amazing and kind soul. Every interaction I have had with her has been positive with encouragement and a smile. She goes above and beyond her duties to help out with students and parents that aren't even in her class. She embodies the excellence of FES. - Leah Dimmitt, FES Staff Member

Thank you, FES Custodians!

In addition to the incredible work that our custodians do each day, a very special thank you to our custodial staff for working quickly between meals during our Thanksgiving celebration! We are so grateful to have such an incredible team of custodians taking care of our builiding!

Thank you FES Cafeteria Team and Sodexo!

Thank you to our cafeteria team and Sodexo for sending additional support to ensure a delicious and successful meal for our community! This team went above and beyond as the "Turkey Squad" to make the day extra special and delicous for the FES families and students!

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

November 14- December 5 - Angel Tree Donations

November 20-24 -Thanksgiving Break- No School

November 27- Middle of the Year MAP Testing Window Opens- each teacher will determine their class testing dates

November 27- November 30th- Penguin Patch Store (Students will visit during their class' designated time- see below)

November 28 - CEIC Meeting

November 29 - KMS Band Performance Assembly

December 1 - FES Spelling Bee (8:30am-10:30am)

December 4 - Student Council Meeting (3:30pm-4:15pm)

December 4 - FES PTA / Choir Marimbas (6pm-7pm)

December 6 - College Spirit Days

December 7 - 3rd Grade Natatorium Field Trip

December 11 - Begin bringing Nutcrackers for Nutcracker Day

December 14 - Nutcracker Day - During Co-Curr

December 15 - Character Assembly (8:00am-9:00am) (Assembly Schedule) (Pajama Day)

December 15 - Class Parties: (Kindergarten 9:00am-9:45am, 1st 9:30am-10:15am, 2nd 10:00am-10:45am, 3rd 10:15am-11:00am, 4th 10:30am-11:15am)

December 15 - Early Release (11:55am)

Penguin Patch Schedule- Begins Monday!

Please be sure to send your child with their envelope and money if you wish for them to shop at the store!

Click here to access the district Academic Calendar.

college spirit days 2023-24 (1).pdf

New News

Community Budget Presentation

Keller ISD invites all parents, students, employees, and community members to a Community Budget Education Forum at 6 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Keller ISD Ed Center. Join us to learn more about Texas public school finance and KISD’s 2024-25 budget outlook. Find more information at www.KellerISD.net.

Advocate for Public School Funding

Act now! Without getting help from the state quickly, Keller ISD is at risk of making tough decisions to maintain our current baseline of operations. We need your help! Visit SaveKellerISD.net (https://p2a.co/iV1sZo1) and fill out a brief form to notify your elected representatives that you want them to prioritize adequate funding for public schools. This takes about 30 seconds and can make a big difference in KISD and Texas Public Education!

Snacks for sale

The cafeteria will be selling snack items in addition to the regular lunch every Wednesday until winter break. Please make sure that students have money in their account to purchase snacks.

If you do not wish for your student to have the option to purchase snacks, please log onto your Sodexo account and select that preference which will alert the cafeteria system. Please also communicate your expectations to your child.

Students who purchase lunch may choose snacks as they go through the line, and those who bring their lunch may join the line to purchase snack items, as well.

R.O.C.K. Club Canned Food Drive- THANK YOU, FES!

We have more than DOUBLED our goal for our R.O.C.K. club's canned food drive for Community Storehouse! Thank you to all of our students and families for your generosity and support of this important cause! It was a close race all week, but in the end, KINDERGARTEN came out on top!

The final number of items donated:

Kindergarten: 623
1st Grade- 393
2nd Grade- 438
3rd Grade- 160
4th Grade- 418

Great job to everyone! Since we have not only met but exceeded our goal, our students have earned a unique game day celebration in addtition to their grade level

📸Glamour Craft Proofs Available

School proofs are now online for parents to view. Please see the flyer below with instructions to go online to view and place your order. A proof card was sent home with each student code on it. This is a second reminder for parents to order. We want all parents to have an opportunity to view their child image.

We LOVE VolunteerS!

✅Get Cleared to Volunteer! All volunteers must complete a yearly background check. Click the link to apply for a volunteer position through KISD.

Click here to access the KISD background check application.

✅ Check out the PTA Website for upcoming Volunteer opportunities.

https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/Volunteer

Do you love to cook? The spring Cooking Class, through Cook Learn Grow is open for registration. Sign up now before the slots are taken.

Add your photos to the yearbook

Upload all your pics from the Veterans Day! Don't forget to purchase this year’s yearbook. www.TreeRing.com

School code : 1016599729561880

Watch D.O.G.S.

Calling all dads, uncles, grandparents, etc. to join our campus for a day! If you would like to volunteer for Watch D.O.G.S., please complete a KISD background check and forward your approval email when you receive it to Mrs. Bowen at angelina.bowen@kellerisd.net to get access to the sign-up.

PTA Events and Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers Sign up Below:

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70A0F4DAFA62EA3FC1-penguin

Information Central for PTA!

Check out Membership Toolkit for valuable information concerning PTA events, dates, ways to volunteer, directory, teacher favorites list and much more. Check it out! ➡️

https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/

We are thankful for our faculty, students, their families and all of our Florence Elementary staff! This month, we will make sure that we have left no stone unturned. You will be entered in a raffle to WIN a FRONT ROW SEAT to HOLIDAY performances (4) when you joinpta.com this month!

👉🏼Don’t forget that we still have two designs available for purchase on our PTA Website Spirit Wear page! 💛💙 https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/759

Every year Florence families donate gifts to our Angel Tree; these gifts go to students at Florence and our Sister campus, North Riverside. Angels will be available November 15th and placed on the Angel Tree. Students may not choose an Angel without a parent. A binder will be placed near the tree to record which which Angel you have chosen. All gifts should be wrapped and returned to the Front Office by December 5th.. Always remember to check in at the Front Office before entering the school. Thank you!

If you have any questions regarding the Angel Tree please contact Samantha Preston: Samanthajpreston@gmail.com or

text 972-839-5793

Mrs. Robert’s is needing volunteers to help reshelve library books for the months of October, November and December! The signup is now posted on our Florence PTA Website! ➡️ https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/Volunteer

Signup to be a Workroom Volunteer!

⭐️Please remember you must complete a volunteer app and background check prior to volunteering on our FES campus.

Important information regarding duties of volunteering:

***Attention volunteers: to protect instructional time and the privacy of the students, volunteers are asked to complete their service in the workroom in the front office or in their designated volunteer area. Please do not go into the classrooms or other areas of the building during instructional time unless pre-arranged with your teacher.

Each teacher has a box in the workroom (located in the island cabinets) with tasks they need help with for the week. Teachers sometimes plan and prep curriculum together as a grade level, so some teachers may have more in their boxes than others. Some teachers have lots of volunteers for their class and some don't have any! We want to make sure all of FES staff benefit from our wonderful volunteers. So, when you visit the workroom, please help to:

Clear your individual teacher's box/grade level boxes
- 2nd Grade drops tasks in boxes on Thursdays
- 3rd Grade drops tasks in boxes on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Clear any boxes belonging to Co-Curr teachers
Ask Office staff if they need any assistance

*Kindergarten & 1st Grade Volunteers - Please contact your Room Rep for sign ups and instructions*

Signup on the PTA Website!

https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/Volunteer

Cafeteria Menu- November 2023

Cafeteria information

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.

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.