FAlcon FAMILY
Weekly Newsletter
February 5 -February 9
Week 22
Courtney Brandel
Principal
Mrs. Brandel's Message
Dear Falcon Families,
Happy Groundhog Day! I hope that everyone has enjoyed this beautiful week of warmer temperatures and sunshine, as it seems that the groundhog is, as well! This type of weather reminds me of what comes to mind when I think of Florence: it's just right, feels good, makes me smile, and has the warmth and sunshine of the Falcon spirit that I see each day in our AMAZING students, the BEST teachers and staff you could ask for, our incredibly involved and supportive families, and the traditions that provide memorable experiences!
A few highlights of the week included:
Monday was a perfect day for our monthly fire drill and our students and staff did an outstanding job of evacuating quickly and quietly as a part of our safety practice.
On Tuesday, our Campus Educational Improvement Committee (CEIC) met in order to look over our campus improvement plan, campus data, and to work collaboratively on some of the goals and areas of opportunities in preparation for next year! I am grateful for each of the committee members who represent the various important perspectives and partnerships in our school and am excited to move forward in our continuous improvement journey together!
On Wednesday, I spent quite a bit of time in different classrooms, and saw our students working collaboratively in every room I went into. It is so much fun to hear their ideas, see their creativity, and watch their minds at work! From maker space projects where students used different objects to design and build something new, to first grade classrooms where students were researching different historical figures using a district software tool and writing their own sentences, to math classes where students used tools and manipulatives to represent different numbers and solve problems; our students are problem solving, and strategizing in order to become masters at their learning!
On Thursday, our 2nd grade students went on a field trip to the Dallas Children's Theatre to see Mo Willems' "Elephant and Piggie's 'We are in a Play!" I even heard from the director of the theatre who had amazing things to say about our 2nd grade students' audience skills and great behavior! Our PTA board also met and shared in preparations and ideas for the upcoming months at FES!
Today, I loved seeing our students in PE kick off their Jump Rope for Heart program! Students are eager to jump rope and to support being heart healthy! We had so many students and staff donning their red today, in support of The American Heart Association's "Go Red!" day!
I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!
In Falcon Spirit,
Courtney Brandel
upcoming events
February 5- STAAR Field Test (4th Grade Only)
February 5-9 National School Counselor Week
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 15- School Resource Officer Day
February 16- Student Holiday- Staff Professional Development
February 19- District 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!)
HIGHLIGHTING THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AT FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!
Learning Spotlights
We love having watchdog dads join us at FES! Our students get to enjoy enrichment experiences and games as a fun way to learn and grow! Mrs. Hoage's class was hard at work in maker space, creating new items out of existing materials and their creativity is so impressive!
CEIC
Our campus education improvement committee met on Tuesday and learned more about FES programs, procedures, and processes. The team also worked on making some of our conversations into a reality in preparation for next year's goals. We also took a deeper look into how FES supports learners with ongoing progress monitoring and tiered interventions.
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!
Mrs. McIntire- Music Teacher
"I am so impressed With Mrs. McIntire’s continuous efforts to provide creative and engaging learning opportunities for the students. She is always coming up with a new and exciting ways to broaden the kids exposure to music. Not only does she provide a great variety of experiences during her classroom time but she’s also offering many different extracurricular opportunities. I can’t imagine the extra amount of time she has to put in to make it all happen. I feel so grateful that my kiddos have the vast opportunities available through Mrs. McIntire."- Cassie- FES Parent
New News
Register for the AHA Kids Heart Challenge The Heart Challenge will take place Feb. 1 - Feb. 23rd.
https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=KHC_2023_print
We ♥️ Mrs. Bowen!
National School Counseling Week is February 5-9, and we are excited to celebrate our School Counselors, Special Education Counselors, and Intervention Counselors in Keller ISD. National School Counseling Week highlights counselors' positive impact on students, the school climate, and our community. We are grateful to have such amazing counselors and look forward to celebrating their positive contributions. Please show your appreciation for Mrs. Angelina Bowen and share how you are celebrating them on social media by using #CelebrateKISD.
Q3 Progress Reports
Parents- progress reports for quarter 3 are now available for students in grades 2 through 4. Please check Aeries for your students progress report. Your child's teacher has or will be reaching out to you if there are any specific concerns regarding your child's progress, but please also feel free to contact your teacher if you have any questions regarding any assignments or grades.
STAAR Field Test
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.
Volunteer opportunities. https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C084FABAE2FA4F9CE9-47458882-valentines
💌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. 🎒
Mark Your Calendars!+
Hello Florence Families!
The Casey’s Kids 5K Fun Run and Family Health Expo is quickly approaching! The event is Saturday March 2, 2024 at Bear Creek Park in Keller. We are hoping to ramp up our involvement as a campus this year, and inspire our students to be serving members of their community! We need your help!
Here is a snippet about Casey’s Kids:
Casey’s Kids was created in 1997 when Janie Casey, a former Keller ISD counselor, discovered that a student was missing school because of a lack of clothing. This student’s need led Ms. Casey on a mission to find a way to provide clothing to students in need. Shortly thereafter, the Keller ISD Council of PTAs took on this endeavor and along with the PTA's mission to make every child's potential a reality, Casey's Kids continues to provide students with clothing, plus school supplies, grants, and other essential items so our students don't have to miss school.
Here is a link to register for the event and find out more about Casey’s Kids:
27th Annual Casey's 5K and Fun Run & KISD Family Health Expo (runsignup.com)
To incentivize our students to get involved in Casey’s Kids, we are planning a fun, friendly grade level competition with a COIN WAR! We had such a great response with our coin war in 2023 with over $2000 raised! All coins brought in will be counted and go directly to Casey’s Kids, to help support children in our district, and the many district-wide programs that benefit the students of KISD.
Our Casey’s Kids COIN WAR will kick off on Thursday February 22 and go through Thursday February 29. We are asking the students to bring coins (of any denomination) to school and collect them as a class. Each day the class coins will be emptied into a grade level jug in front of the cafeteria. The students will engage in some friendly competition and raise money for Casey’s Kids! After school on Thursday Februaru 29, the coins will be counted and the winning grade level will be announced! The grade who wins the COIN WAR will be awarded with a grade level play-day during their Co-Curr period with all the Co-Curr teachers! So fun!
We will also have an after party with treats for all Florence students who register and participate in the Casey’s Kids event!
Thank you in advance for all your help and support of Casey’s Kids!
Yearbook Updates
Attention 4th Grade Families!
Upload your child’s photo to the ‘4th Grade Baby Photos’ folder on TreeRing! Please remember that every student gets two extra blank pages to customize, so don’t forget to add pictures on the website! https://web.treering.com/school/243502/2023/school-content/school-photos/302244593
School code : 1016599729561880
PTA Events and Volunteer Opportunities
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! ➡️
Signup on the PTA Website!
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
Reflections participants and parents, please join us! Light refreshments will be provided and students will have the opportunity to share their work. February 6th, 2023 2:30-3:00 Florence Cafeteria
save the date for bci parent night
✔️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.
In case you missed it
Winter Weather and Outdoor Activity
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.
HEalthy Falcons
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!
How to help with math at home>
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...
3rd 9 Weeks - SMORE Math Curriculum Overview - 2023-2024.pdf
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.
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!
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.
Cafeteria Menu- February 2024
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.
Contacts
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
Connect with and Follow Us!
FES PTA Facebook
FES on X (formerly Twitter)
Also, be sure to follow @MrsBrandel
Blackboard Communications
Be sure that your email is correct in your infosnap to be sure you receive all of our Blackboard communications (emails and texts).