January 22-26
Week 20
Courtney Brandel
Principal
Dear Falcon Families,
Brrrr.... it's been a cold week outside, but our cafeteria and gym were on FIRE with science projects and activity last night! It was so much fun to celebrate and share in exploration, discovery, and fun with our students, families, and community organizations together! Our students wowed the judges with their scientific discoveries and all that they shared with their science projects! I am so proud of all of our participants and impressed by their hard work!
Even though it was a shorter week than what we had anticipated, students moved forward in their learning and continued to grow as as readers, writers, mathematicians, historians, scientists, performers, teammates, and great students! From letter writing, to opinion writing, to sentence construction, our students have been deeply expanding their abilities as writers across the grade levels. We are deep in the world of fractions in several grade levels and exploring attributes of shapes in others! It's been a fun week of learning at FES and we look forward to the week ahead.
Please continue to ensure that your child has a jacket/coat and monitor the weather to ensure they are dressed for the colder temperatures.
Have a wonderful weekend!
In Falcon Spirit,
Courtney Brandel
January 22 - PTA/3rd Grade Film Festival (6:00pm-7:00pm)
January 22-26- Kindness Week Activities During Morning Announcements and Morning Meeting
January 26 - Western Day
January 30 - CEIC Meeting
February- Black History Month
February- Jump Rope for Heart Begins (in PE)
February 1- 2nd Grade Field Trip to the Dallas Children's Theatre
February 2- National Go Red Day- Wear Read to support The American Heart Association
February 5- STAAR Field Test (4th Grade Only)
February 6- 100th Day of School (Kindergarten Celebration-more details to come from Kindergarten Teachers)
February 6- PTA Reflections Reception
February 7- College Spirit Day- wear your college colors
February 8- 1st Grade Dental Presentation
February 12- 3rd and 4th Grade STAAR Interim Reading Test
February 14- Valentines Activities During Co-Curr
February 15- 3rd/ 4th Math Interim
February 16- Student Holiday- Staff Professional Development
February 19- Distirct Holiday- No Classes
February 20- 3rd Grade Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Field Trip
February 24- Battle of the Books Competition at Fossil Ridge HS
February 26- FES Open House Olympics (more info to come!)
You can't beat a night of science exploration with slime chemistry, interacting with critters, exploring robotics, and sharing in fun with all of our vendors and special guests! Thank you to all fo our parents, judges, and guests for joining in this night of family fun!
Congratulations to all of our Science Fair participants and grade level winners on a job well done! We all learned new things as we heard about your fun and exciting experiments that used the scientific method!
Thank you, PTA voluntters, and STEM night committee chair, Jennifer Randklev, for organizing and facilitiating this fun night for our students!
Students, families, and district leaders enjoyed exploring all fo the great work of oru students at the science fair! Thank you to all of our judges!
🤠 Join us to share in the fun during your child's co-curr time! (see schedule below).
Students will perform a dance they have been practicing as a part of their PE class and then will rotate through fun, Western themed activities.
It’ll be a rodeo of a good time and y'all don't want to miss it!
Student Attire
Students are invited to show off their best western wear and usually dress in boots, hats, handkerchiefs and blue jeans!
Volunteers Needed:
We will need at least 4 Rodeo Clowns per grade level and volunteers this year, so make sure you signup to help! Yee-haw!🐴⭐️
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70A0F4DAFA62EA3FC1-western
Photo Ops
After the Western Day activities, there will be opportunities to share in enjoying all of the fun decorations in the cafe/gym that PTA has put together where you can commemorate the event with photographs.
Early checkouts on Western Day:
Grades 4,2,3 check out early in the main office.
Grades K and 1 in the classroom with the teacher- parents will sign out with teachers on a roster.
(*Older siblings must be checked out through the front office)
Exit
In order to ensure the effective transition of our students, we ask that parents kindly exit through door 20 (south side gym door) at the conclusion of your child's grade level Western Day. If you are staying for the next group, please return to the "Corral Area" to grab a front row seat!
Next week, our students will be participating in Kindness week and will share in discussions about kindness during their morning announcements. Throughout the week, FES students will be challenged to perform acts of kindness. We encourage you to join in on the fun as a family at home!
Florence Elementary was selected by the Texas Education Agency to participate in the STAAR Field test. As such, our 4th grade students will be taking the STAAR Field Test on February 5th during their regular class time. For more information, please review this information from TEA: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/8-why-does-texas-field-test.pdf
FES Valentine’s Day Parties 2024!
This year Valentine’s parties will be action packed, thanks to our wonderful PTA!
The Grade level parties will happen during designated Co-Curr time with activities in the Gym/Cafeteria.
* 2 Indoor Inflatable Obstacle Courses
* Photo Booth with a take home picture for each student
* Carnival style games
* Craft - beaded bracelet!!!
We would love to have our parents and families join to watch during their child's co-curr times.
Be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities.👀
💌Valentine Exchange and Snack will happen in the classroom at time designated by your classroom teacher.
❤️Your classroom room representative will be in touch with details about valentine exchange.❤️
🎒Due to all the fun activities, the Cafeteria will be closed to parent lunch with students…kids are to bring a lunch to school or the cafeteria will have sack lunches available for purchase that day. 🎒
Check out Membership Toolkit for valuable information concerning PTA events, dates, ways to volunteer, directory, teacher favorites list and much more. Check it out! ➡️
✔️Mark your Calendars for BCI Parent Night. This is a meeting is for our 4th grade parents transitioning to 5th next school year. Expect to learn about what it’s like to be a BCI Student, Meet the Principal and some Faculty and learn more about academics offered. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get answers. So please join us to familiarize yourself to the school and what lies ahead in the new school year for your student. If you are unable to make it, information will be available by a future link, please direct all questions to the BCI school office.
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
Nurse Sue needs clothing donations please!
We have plenty of New Underwear thank you to those who donated! We still need the items below:
Small long shelved unisex shirts- New or Gently used
Girls' leggings size medium, large and extra large-New or Gently used.
Signup on the PTA Website!
We will continue to follow the KISD guidelines for outdoor activity:
Wind chill or actual temperature between 40-32 degrees Fahrenheit – Students must have the ability to cover all extremities. Limited outside activity not to exceed 20 minutes.
Wind chill or actual temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit – No outside activity.
Please be sure your child is dressed for the cold weather with their arms, legs, and body covered and with a coat, gloves, and winter hat on cold days.
We are in the midst of cold and flu season and recognize that many of our families have been impacted. Our custodial team is continuing to disinfect and clean our school according to the district guidelines and processes. We also continue to encourage healthy practices of handwashing, covering your cough/ sneeze, taking care of your body, and remaining away from others you are sick. Thank you for your partnership in supporting a healthy environment! We are hopeful that this nice, long weekend will allow everyone time to rest, enjoy time together and to return fully ready to learn!
Dear Keller ISD Community,
Keller ISD is facing a $27 million budget deficit due to the Texas Legislature’s failure to support public education. The state had a surplus of more than $30 billion and chose not to spend a single penny to address inflationary costs (which have increased by 17%), provide pay raises to our hard-working educators (the only state employee group that did not receive raises this year), adequately address safety and security of school campuses, and properly fund much-need programs like Special Education.
The KISD Board of Trustees held a Special Meeting for a Budget Workshop on Thursday evening, January 11. The administration provided an update on the District’s financial outlook for the 2024-25 fiscal year. You can click here to watch the Workshop in its entirety
At the Budget Workshop, Keller ISD’s new superintendent, Dr. Tracy Johnson, updated the community and the Board about how the administration is approaching this challenge, along with the District’s unwavering commitment to continue providing an exceptional education for all students. Keller ISD is united, and we will use this historic budget crisis as an opportunity for innovation. The School Board and District are committed to:
Ensuring Excellent Opportunities for Student Academic Success
Providing and Maintaining Student Programming
Supporting KISD’s Amazing Educators
Ensuring the Safety and Security of KISD Campuses for All KISD Students
Protecting the Interests of Taxpayers by Passing a Balanced Budget
Using this Historic Budget Crisis as an Opportunity for Innovation
Over the next two weeks, District leaders will be working directly with campus and district-level administrators to look at new ways to continue offering exceptional learning opportunities and impactful instruction in Keller ISD. The plan is to then share additional updates at the Board’s Regular Meeting on January 25.
We need our state lawmakers to rise the occasion and we will continue to encourage and challenge them to do so. Keller ISD is an exceptional district with exceptional people, and we are going to get through this challenge together.
As a reminder, please visit www.SaveKellerISD.net to send a quick message to Governor Abbott, encouraging him to call a fifth special session to fund Texas public schools.
Thank you for continuing to stay engaged and please make sure to visit www.KellerISD.net/BudgetUpdates to find all of the latest budget information.
Dr. Charles Randklev
President
Keller ISD Board of Trustees
Dr. Tracy Johnson
Superintendent
Keller ISD
Upload your child’s photo to the ‘4th Grade Baby Photos’ folder on TreeRing! https://web.treering.com/school/243502/2023/school-content/school-photos/302244593
School code : 1016599729561880
See the 3rd grade
Get familiar with what your student will be learning this 9 weeks by clicking on the grade level link in the document above.
This provides:
An overview of learning
Common misconceptions
Important concepts
Ways to help your child at home
And more...
✅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.
Cook Learn Grow
Dear Parents,
CookLearnGrow is returning to Florence with NEW curriculum and recipes for the spring semester. After-school enrichment classes offered MONDAY OR TUESDAY. Class dates are Jan 22nd or Jan 23rd- April 15th or 2nd for 1st - 4th. Registration is still open and parents can register online here. We still need 2 more students for each class to meet minimum number requirements.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!! Ask a friend to register, email your child's classmates, post on GroupMe and other social media. Here is the registration link and the informational flyer is attached.
https://cooklearngrow.com/dallas-classes/
Thank you, and we hope to see your child in classes this spring!
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.
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.
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!
FES Front Office: 817-744-4700
Allison Stetz- Front Office / Substitutions: allison.stetz@kellerisd.net
Leah Dimmitt- Front Office/ Reception/ Attendance: leah.dimmitt@kellerisd.net
Terra Peters- Campus Secretary: terra.peters@kellerisd.net
Sue Piehler - Nurse: susan.piehler@kellerisd.net
Esmeralda Gallegos - Cafeteria Manager: esmeralda.gallegos@kellerisd.net
Kelly Roberts- Librarian: kellene.roberts@kellerisd.net
Angelina Bowen - Counselor: angelina.bowen@kellerisd.net
Tammy DeLeon - Assistant Principal: tammy.deleon@kellerisd.net
Courtney Brandel - Principal: courtney.cullum@kellerisd.net
Jessica Fry - PTA President: ptaflorencees@gmail.com