FAlcon FAMILY

Weekly Newsletter

May 20-23

Week 36

Courtney Brandel

Principal

Mrs. Brandel's Message

Dear Falcon Families,

It's week 36, our final week of the 2023-2024 school year! Can you believe it!?! That's 36 weeks of growing, of learning, of making memories, of building character, of strengthening friendships, of cultivating talents, of sharing, and of serving others! What a wonderful year it has been!

It was such a pleasure to end our week with one of the community's favorite traditions: Mayfest! Thank you to all of our volunteers for helping to make it a great day for our students and to our PE teachers, Mrs. Castranova and Mrs. Bolton, for adjusting the plan according to the weather forcast! Fortunately, we had a beautiful day of sunshine and were able to enjoy the courtyard while avoiding our muddy fields and outside areas! We loved having our families join in on all the fun!

This week has also been filled with fun and enriching learning experiences for our students. From science experiments and observations of living things to reviews of previously learned skills, and the culmination of our students' research projects in RLA, it's been a week filled with engaging learning opportunities! Next week, we will wrap up this AMAZING year and celebrate our students' achievements together!

Next Friday, you will receive your final issue of the FES Family Nest Newsletter for the 2023-2024 school year that will showcase our final week and include information for the summer!

In Falcon Spirit!
Courtney Brandel

HIGHLIGHTING THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AT FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

R.O.C.K. Club Service Project

Our R.O.C.K. club students visited Truewood to share in creating some crafts and to share some smiles with the residents! Both our students and the residents had a wonderful time together! Click on this photo album to see more of the fun!

4th Grade and 1st Grade Buddies

Mrs. Parkerson and Mrs. Anderson's 1st grade classes joined our 4th graders in their exchange space to share the things they learned with their buddies. 4th grade students shared their Dog Unit Files and Biography Bobblehead year end projects with their 1st grade buddies. 1st graders read their books to their 4th grade buddies. It was a fun time for all learning together.

1st grade living things

The baby chicks are moving to their new home! As a part of 1st grade's science unit of living things, they have been observing eggs in the incubator. This week the chicks were busy moving around, eating, and playing together. Students have observed and shared in this exciting view of the life cycle! Thank you Mrs. Stetz and Mrs. Peters for helping students in Mrs. Thompson class say farewell to the baby chicks.

MayFEst 2024 Video

Oh what fun we had at this year's Mayfest! Thank you to our co-curr team, our teachers, our support staff and all of our volunteers for making today a memorable and fun day for our students! Take a peek at the video below to see the fun!

Mayfest 2024.MOV

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!

End of the year events

May 20- Senior Walk

May 21- EOY Award Celebrations (Kinder 8:00 AM, 1st Grade 9:15 AM)

May 22- EOY Award Celebrations (2nd Grade 8:00 AM, 3rd Grade 9:15 AM)

May 23- EOY Award Celebration/Clap Out (4th Grade 9:30 AM)

May 23- Early Release/Student's Last Day (11:55 AM)

2024-2025 School Year

August 9- Class lists finalized- Teachers will contact students and parents

August 12- Meet the Teacher Night (Last names A-L 5:00-6:00 and M-Z 6:00-7:00)

August 14- First Day of School 2024-2025 School Year

August 14- Boo-hoo/ Woo-hoo PTA reception for Kindergarten and New to FES parents

More 2024-2025 information and dates to come in our July Summer Newsletter!

*NEW 2024-2025 District Calendar

Click here to access the district Academic Calendar.

Current/new News

Water fun in Co-curr- all grades on Monday!

ALL grade levels will have water fun during their co-curr time on Monday. *4th grade was previously planned for Tuesday, but will do it on Monday at 10:15 instead.

Please send your child with a towel, a change of clothes, and a bag for wet clothes.

Calling all Falcon Seniors!

End of the year Awards Ceremonies

May 21- EOY Award Celebrations (Kinder 8:00 AM, 1st Grade 9:15 AM)

May 22- EOY Award Celebrations (2nd Grade 8:00 AM, 3rd Grade 9:15 AM)

May 23- EOY Award Celebration/Clap Out (4th Grade 9:30 AM)

During the final week of school, we look forward to celebrating our students on their accomplishments this year. Parents are invited to join us for the ceremony where each student will be called up on stage to receive their recognition envelope.

Guest Check-in:

We invite parents to join us as we celebrate the end of the school year! Upon arrival, please check in with your government issued ID at the front door to receive your visitor sticker. If you have not previously checked in on raptor, you will need to check in through the front office.

For our 8:00 AM ceremonies, parents may begin checking in at 7:30.
For the 9:15 AM ceremonies, we will begin check in at 9:00 AM.

Due to capacity and to ensure that students are able to participate in their class activities, FES student siblings of other grade levels may only attend their own assembly, with the exception of the fourth grade assembly and clap out.

Student Attendance on Awards Assembly Days:

Please note- any student who is checked out before 9:55 AM will be considered absent for the day. We encourage you to keep your child at school for the remainder of the day as there are still end of the year class activities and tasks to complete as a part of the final week of school! If you do wish to check out your child after the awards ceremony on Tuesday or Wednesday, you will need to do so through the front office. We appreciate your patience, as we must process each check out one at a time through Raptor due to the time of day.

Fourth Grade Students and Siblings Only If you wish for the sibling(s) of your fourth grade student to join the fourth grade awards ceremony and clap out, please complete the form that will be sent out via email to fourth grade families next week to indicate your 4th grade student check-out and sibling participation preferences.

Yearbooks

Yearbooks will be distributed on Monday to students who ordered one. Each grade level has determined a time during the school day next week when students will share in signing their yearbooks- see grade level newsletters for your child's assigned day and time. Students who did not order a yearbook will receive an autograph page where they can collect signatures and notes from the students in their class and grade level.

Lost and found

Lost and found display tables

Please check the lost and found that will be spread out on tables in the hallway in front of the front office. please help your students reclaim their favorite sweater, stuffy, jacket, hair band, water bottle, bracelet, shoes and much much more! All items that are not claimed by May 23rd will be donated to Community Storehouse.

Kindergarten- 4th Grade School Supplies

Order your school supplies today!

Orders are due by July 1st

✏️📚✂️📓 FLORENCE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS: Order Your School Supply Kit Now! Your pre-built school supply kit is ready to order with the exact school supplies your teacher requested. ⤵️ https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=1179150

Parents, If you really want to save time and money on back-to-school supplies, order your kit from 1st Day School Supplies now! If you think you'd get a better deal shopping at Target, Walmart, or even on Amazon, don't even think about it! We have found that 1st Day School Supplies saves us up to 30%! Not to mention the time savings! In just a few clicks, get the exact supplies your teacher requested from the brands you trust and respect. Get your 1st Day School Supplies and save yourself time and money this year! 1st Day School Supplies is the BEST way to buy back-to-school supplies! Order Now. Your school store is now turned on and ready for orders!

http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/

BCI-5th Grade School Supplies

PTA Events and Volunteer Opportunities

PTA Year End Review

Thank you to all our PTA members for your dedication, your donations and for volunteering this year. There is no way we would be able to accomplish and fund all the events, school projects, teacher grants and appreciation without your help. I think we had a pretty wonderful year, looking forward to all we accomplish next year!

Have a wonderful end to the school year and summer! 😎

FES Spirit shirts are still available for sale!

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/

Signup on the PTA Website!

https://florenceelempta.membershiptoolkit.com/Volunteer

📚YEARBOOK DELIVERY 📦 The Florence Falcon Yearbook will be delivered on Monday. Each grade level will have a time to sign their yearbooks together, as determined by teachers.

Announcing the 2024-2025 PTA Reflections theme, "Accepting Imperfection," coming this fall! So much beauty can be found in life's imperfections, and we can't wait to see how this theme inspires our kids as they show their creativity through music, dance, film, photography, literature, and visual arts.

“'Accepting Imperfection’ is a reminder to myself that mistakes are welcome because they are a part of being human. Our flaws are as much a part of us as our strengths, so being imperfect should be perfect enough for us.” (Paige Opaska, Texas 8th grader and theme winner)

volunteer opportunities

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

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

Summer camps

Sports Camp at FES

Are you looking for a fun activity for your 2nd - 5th grade child to participate in June? Children will enjoy Basketball, Soccer, Tennis and Volleyball. Fill out the permission slip form and turn in your payment to Mrs. Castranova by Friday, May 24th.

PE Camp at FES

Are you looking for a fun activity for your 1st-5th grade child to participate in June? Fill out the permission slip form and turn in your payment to Mrs. Castranova by Friday, May 24th.

bear creek intermediate school summer camps

BCI has 3 summer camps this summer from teachers in the Co-Curr department. If you or your student are interested, please see the options below.

Week of May 28th 31st

Ukulele camp AM (younger grades are ok)

Our music teacher Mrs. Steele (Macie.Steele@kellerisd.net)

has a Ukulele camp that is open to younger students

grades 1-6.

Ukulele Camp Registration Form (google.com)

PE camp PM

Our PE teacher, Coach Todd (Frances.Todd@kellerisd.net)

has 2 PE camps, geared towards current 4th, 5th and 6th graders.
You can find more information here: https://forms.gle/S2qJ5AFJGL9Ji8vRA

Week of June 3rd-6th

Art camp (AM & PM options)

Our Art teacher, Mrs. Linder (Christy.Linder@kellerisd.net)

has 3 different themed art camps geared towards current 4th, 5th and 6th graders.

You can find more information here:

https://bciart.weebly.com/summer-art-camps.html

Week of June 10th-13th

Art camp AM

Our Art teacher, Mrs. Linder (Christy.Linder@kellerisd.net)

has 3 different themed art camps geared towards current 4th, 5th and 6th graders.

You can find more information here:

https://bciart.weebly.com/summer-art-camps.html

Cafeteria Menu- MAY 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.