Week of March 23, 2020

LIVING MUSEUM

Second graders did an AMAZING job bringing their historical figures to life at the Living Museum! Thank you so much for all your support at home, from editing paragraphs, to getting the speeches and costumes performance-ready! I hope it was not merely a project, but a valuable lesson and a special memory that will stay with your child for a lifetime!

SPRING BREAK READING

During Spring Break, I encourage your child to keep on reading whether you are at home or away! You do not need to record the minutes the Friday before our return, March 20.

SECOND GRADE MUSICAL

2nd Grade Parents,

The musical is coming up on March 31st at 6:00-6:30 pm!

Please also see the schedule for morning rehearsals, attached below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-pnekXDMsqCkhzw12uEZWw8HbCmqdpEni8Jvbrjbvbo/edit?usp=sharing

Rehearsals will be from 7:20-7:40 am!

ROBOLAB IS COMING AND WE NEED YOU TO (please) VOLUNTEER

Twice a year the second graders become engineers in the science lab and build moving objects according to specifications. These lessons are always favorites of the students. Please join us to help the students in this hands-on learning experiences. Our days and times are:

• Wednesday, April 1, at 1:45-2:45
• Thursday, April 9, at 10:15-11:15

Please sign up to volunteer here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4AAAA628AAFC1-2020

Thank you!

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning more about Grace this past week! We are looking forward to celebrating Andrew as our next Star of the Week next week!

SIX FLAGS READING LOG

Six Flags has extended their Read to Succeed reading deadline! You now have until April to complete the online reading log if you would like to earn a ticket to Six Flags Fiesta Texas* in San Antonio. Please find your student's classroom code here. Then, you can start the online log here. If you have already logged some reading, scroll down to "Already Registered" to log in. Please contact Mrs. Bamford in the library if you have any questions at julianne_bamford@roundrockisd.org.

*This is only for Six Flags. Our school's reading logs for Schlitterbahn have already been completed and submitted.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

There have been many concerns about health and wellness surrounding the coronavirus. I, like you, am curious to see how the district will respond. We encourage everyone to continue to practice good hygiene habits as well as exercise caution when it comes to travel and large gatherings. Over the Spring Break, the school building will be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned.

From Dr. Steve Flores: "We will communicate via email, text and phone any critical information you need to receive. You can also check for information on our COVID-19 web page and follow us on Twitter or Facebook for updates."

I wish everyone a happy, healthy Spring Break!

Lisa

Week of March 9, 2020

LIVING MUSEUM

The Living Museum will come to life on Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 am in the cafeteria.

Parents are invited to join the second grade students as they "become" the famous person they have been researching. I can’t wait to see the creative outfits as they arrive in character. Our program will begin promptly at 8:00am. Please allow ample time for parking and signing in at the office. I appreciate your support throughout this project, and thank you for arranging childcare for younger siblings.

The following week will be much lighter on the biography homework front, as they will just be practicing their speech.

SECOND GRADE MUSICAL

2nd Grade Parents,

We are still in need of your help! If you are able to assist in creating set designs and props for our upcoming 2nd Grade musical, It’s a Hit!, please sign up on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17HsqeWKAlzEP5356J7KqhFzB_uFwaYa_sXZplgh8TzU/edit#gid=0

Once you have signed up, Mrs. Williamson (music) or Mrs. Weir (art) will contact you to arrange for supplies and instructions. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Please also see the schedule for morning rehearsals, attached below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-pnekXDMsqCkhzw12uEZWw8HbCmqdpEni8Jvbrjbvbo/edit?usp=sharing

Morning rehearsals begin on Tuesday, March 10th from 7:20-7:40!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

Daylight Savings will arrive this weekend, on Sunday, March 8th. The temptation to stay out and start homework later is so overwhelming. Now more than ever, it will be important to try to keep bedtimes to a reasonable hour. We still have much to cover, so it’s important that these little folks are well rested and ready for their day.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning more about Guatam this past week! We are looking forward to celebrating Grace as our next Star of the Week next week!

SIX FLAGS READING LOG

Six Flags has extended their Read to Succeed reading deadline! You now have until April to complete the online reading log if you would like to earn a ticket to Six Flags Fiesta Texas* in San Antonio. Please find your student's classroom code here. Then, you can start the online log here. If you have already logged some reading, scroll down to "Already Registered" to log in. Please contact Mrs. Bamford in the library if you have any questions at julianne_bamford@roundrockisd.org.

*This is only for Six Flags. Our school's reading logs for Schlitterbahn have already been completed and submitted.

Week of March 2, 2020

TIME IS FLYING BY

I can’t believe that March has already arrived! It’s amazing to think back and remember the abilities of the children when they first arrived in second grade. We have seen so much growth! I appreciate all you have done, and continue to do, to make school and homework a priority. More success lies ahead and we’re so thankful to have your support.

LIVING MUSEUM

It has been amazing to see how your children have taken off with the research project so far! We began the research paper and will continue it this coming week. Thank you for your help with the homework of editing each paragraph we have written in class. Please continue to assist with that and help your child to remember all biography materials, notes, and written paragraphs. It is imperative that these things are returned to school on a daily basis to move forward on the project.

Please keep in mind that students will need to dress as their character during our Living Museum presentation on Thursday, March 12th. Please use the coming days and weeks to begin preparing your child's costume.

SECOND GRADE MUSICAL

2nd Grade Parents,

We are still in need of your help! If you are able to assist in creating set designs and props for our upcoming 2nd Grade musical, It’s a Hit!, please sign up on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17HsqeWKAlzEP5356J7KqhFzB_uFwaYa_sXZplgh8TzU/edit#gid=0

Once you have signed up, Mrs. Williamson (music) or Mrs. Weir (art) will contact you to arrange for supplies and instructions. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Please also see the schedule for morning rehearsals, attached below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-pnekXDMsqCkhzw12uEZWw8HbCmqdpEni8Jvbrjbvbo/edit?usp=sharing

Morning rehearsals begin on Tuesday, March 10th from 7:20-7:40!

SIX FLAGS READING LOG

Six Flags has extended their Read to Succeed reading deadline! You now have until April to complete the online reading log if you would like to earn a ticket to Six Flags Fiesta Texas* in San Antonio. Please find your student's classroom code here. Then, you can start the online log here. If you have already logged some reading, scroll down to "Already Registered" to log in. Please contact Mrs. Bamford in the library if you have any questions at julianne_bamford@roundrockisd.org.

*This is only for Six Flags. Our school's reading logs for Schlitterbahn have already been completed and submitted.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning more about Clemente this past week! We are looking forward to celebrating Gautam as our next Star of the Week!

LOST AND FOUND

Our Lost & Found area is overflowing with jackets and other unclaimed items. Please check this area and take your items home before Spring Break!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

Daylight Savings will arrive next weekend, on Sunday, March 8th. The temptation to stay out and start homework later is so overwhelming. Now more than ever it will be important to try to keep bedtimes to a reasonable hour. We still have much to cover, so it’s important that these little folks are well rested and ready for their day.

Week of February 24, 2020

LIVING MUSEUM

This past week, I introduced the Living Museum project to the students. Thank you already for all your help with the research process as the students dive deeper into their historical figure’s life. Please note that both the biography needs to be read and note-taking packet needs to be completed by Wednesday, February 26th.

Later in the week, we will begin crafting the research paper in class and will require your help at home with editing each paragraph. You could help your child each day by checking that your child arrives at school each day with all biography materials, books, notes, and written paragraphs. It is imperative that these things are returned to school on a daily basis to move forward on the project.

Please keep in mind that students will need to dress as their character during our Living Museum presentation on Thursday, March 12th. Please use the coming days and weeks to begin preparing your child's costume.

Thank you for your help!

SECOND GRADE MUSICAL

2nd Grade Parents,

We need your help! If you are able to assist Mrs. Williamson (Music) and Mrs. Weir (Art) in creating set designs and props for our 2nd Grade musical, It's a Hit!, please sign up on the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17HsqeWKAlzEP5356J7KqhFzB_uFwaYa_sXZplgh8TzU/edit?usp=sharing

Once you have signed up, Mrs. Williamson or Mrs. Weir will contact you to arrange for supplies and instructions. If you have any questions, please contact us. Thanks for your help in making our musical an amazing production for our students!

-Mrs. Williamson and Mrs. Weir

STAR OF THE WEEK

We are looking forward to celebrating Clemente as our Star of the Week!

CLASSROOM NEEDS

Second grade learning is overflowing out of our notebooks! Many students are close to finishing their reading and/or math notebooks and are needing a second one. Please ask your child if this is the case and, if so, please send them with a new composition book next week. Thank you for your support for all the learning happening in our classroom!

Believe it or not - we still need glue sticks!

Lucky for us, Amazon has a great deal on glue sticks. 30 Elmer's glue sticks for only $5.82 for prime members! That's 61% off the original price!

If you'd like to contribute glue sticks to our classroom, know that they will be used and appreciated!

Thank you to the families who donated.

MULTICULTURAL FAIR

Please join us on Friday, February 28th at 5:00 p.m. for our 13th Annual Multicultural Fair. You can visit informational booths representing the many cultures of our school. Dinner will be served from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. ($4 adults, $2 kids - exact change please). The cultural performances will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. During the week the students can participate in activities which will help them learn about other cultures as well as share their heritage with their classmates.

Please consider participating in the following activities (optional):

Monday, February 24th - Bring a picture of your favorite food from your culture.

Tuesday, February 25th - Bring in a photo of your ancestors, grandparents or relatives to share your ancestry. Photos will be returned at the end of the week.

Wednesday, February 26th -Mark your country of origin on a map provided in your classroom

Thursday, February 27th - Wear something representing your culture or a culture you love, have visited or lived.

Friday, February 28th - Bring your family and attend CCE's Multi-Cultural Fair from 5-7:30pm.

Week of February 17, 2020

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Our Project Based Learning project to celebrate and appreciate the seniors in our community and lives was a huge success. The students shared stories of smiles, hugs, and many acts of service. Throughout this unit, students were able to think about and understand a specific community of friends among us, and we worked hard to understand the feelings of others. Young and Young at Heart came together to share stories, hold a warm hand, and share a smile. Sometimes we forget how powerful the gift of time and service can be.

It's amazing how a simple act of kindness can have such a profound impact on so many! The best news of all is that it doesn't have to end here. Take some time continue these acts of service to other people. Thank you for supporting our vision, and remember to always stay -- Young at Heart!

I am making a class book for our classroom library with the students' writing and pictures. I will send the writing home in a few weeks. They did a fantastic job!

SWEETS AND LOVE

Thank you to all who helped with our Valentine’s Day party. The celebration included cupcake decorating and snacking, a lively game of Valentine Bingo, and ended with the opening of Valentine’s Day cards—always the highlight of the celebration. We were all showered with cards, chocolates, and delicious treats. Thank you all for my cards with sweet sentiments, yummy treats, and love!

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning about Juliette as our last Star of the Week! As next week is a 3-day week, we will resume the following week.

LIVING MUSEUM

The Living Museum project is one of the most special parts of second grade here at Canyon Creek! Your child will be studying the life of a famous historical figure, writing a research paper to share their learning, and “bringing to life” their chosen person at our Living Museum. Please be on the lookout for more information when we introduce our project on Wednesday, February 19th. The day of the Living Museum will be Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 am. Space is limited for this event, so please arrange for child care for younger siblings.

MULTICULTURAL FAIR

The Multicultural Fair is an annual celebration at CCE to showcase the diversity of our student community. There will be booths representing different countries, international food, and cultural performances.

The event will be on Friday, February 28 at 5:00 pm!

Event Details:

• 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Dinner (Adult tray $4 and Kids $2 - exact change please)
• 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Country Booths are open
• 6:00 pm - Performances begin

Contact Supriya Naidu-Ferris at canyoncreekmulticulturalfair@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.

Week of February 10, 2020

YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART

This past week, we have been looking at the older community of Grand-friends around us. We have read about nursing homes, discussed neighbors, thought about the people we see in public, and have tried to internalize how they may think and feel. Towards the end of the week, we posed the question, “What can you do when it comes to the “young at heart” in our community?” The students came up with a powerful list of ideas and creative gestures to show friendship and love. Now, the challenge is on!

Students have challenged themselves to each do one act of kindness towards a Grand-friend in our community. This could be a card for an elderly person you know, baking cookies for a neighbor, holding the door for someone at a restaurant, inviting a grand-friend to lunch on Valentine’s Day, or drawing a picture and leaving it on someone’s doorstep. As a class we have brainstormed several great suggestions. Our challenge went a step further as students will take a picture of themselves either creating the gesture or completing the act. Challenge should be completed and the pictures are due by Wednesday, February 12th. The children will be writing about the experience from planning, preparing and completing the kindness. The picture will illustrate this work.

Please feel free to email the picture to me, rather than printing them at home.

VALENTINE’S DAY BAGS

I am so excited to see the creative ways your children have decided to decorate their Valentine’s bags! Bags are due in class on Monday, February 10th. Valentine cards may be brought to school starting on that same date. Please be sure your child prepares a Valentine card for every student in the class. Our class list was included in last week’s Tuesday folder. Since Valentine's Day is a party day, your child may attach a small piece of candy or treat to their Valentine cards.

VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY

Our Valentine’s Party will be this Friday, February 14th from 2:00-2:55 pm.

Thank you to those parents who have already signed up to help with our party! We are still needing a few more helpers. You can sign up at this link: Volunteers for the Valentine's Party

FAST PASS FOR VALENTINE'S PARTIES: Please complete the form so we can preprint badges needed for the Valentine Party. This will help expedite the check in process for badges. If you have not had your driver's license scanned into our system before, you must bring your driver's license or some sort of picture identification in order to enter the building. Thank you!

Please click here for link to Fast Pass

*Reminder no child care will be provided for this party. Siblings (older and younger) are not allowed in the classroom so you will need to make alternate arrangements.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning about Isha as our last Star of the Week. We look forward to celebrating Juliette as our next Star!

STUDENT HOLIDAYS

Please remember that Monday, February 17th and Tuesday, February 18th are student holidays. Teachers will have 2 staff development days. Enjoy the long weekend!

MULTICULTURAL FAIR

The Multicultural Fair is coming on February 28th. What a great evening of sharing and learning about the cultures represented at school. It is always one of our most highly attended events here at Canyon Creek. Please look for more information in the next few weeks.

LIVING MUSEUM

The Living Museum project is one of the most special parts of second grade here at Canyon Creek! Your child will be studying the life of a famous historical figure, writing a research paper to share their learning, and “bringing to life” their chosen person at our Living Museum. The day of the Living Museum will be Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 am. Please be on the lookout for more information when we introduce our project on Wednesday, February 19th.

Week of February 3, 2020

VALENTINE’S DAY

This past week, I sent home Valentine’s bags and a class list in the Tuesday folder.

Bags are due in class on Monday, February 10th. Valentine cards may be brought to school starting on that same date. Please be sure your child prepares a Valentine card for every student in the class. Our class list was included in last week’s Tuesday folder. Since Valentine's Day is a party day, your child may attach a small piece of candy or treat to their Valentine cards. Please send the Valentine cards for others in a separate bag, not the bag that is decorated! Your child's bag needs to be empty so that classmates may put cards into it. Please make sure that your child's name is written on the front of the bag in large, legible letters so that his/her friends know where to put the cards.

FAST PASS FOR VALENTINE'S PARTIES: Please complete the form so we can preprint badges needed for the Valentine Party. This will help expedite the check in process for badges. If you have not had your driver's license scanned into our system before, you must bring your driver's license or some sort of picture identification in order to enter the building. Thank you!

Please click here for link to Fast Pass

*Reminder no child care will be provided for this party. Siblings (older and younger) are not allowed in the classroom so you will need to make alternate arrangements.

STAYING HEALTHY

Our school has experienced a high number of absences due to illness. Although germs are always around us, this is the season for even more illnesses than usual.

With flu season upon us, please remind your children to wash their hands on a regular basis. If they have any symptoms of an oncoming illness, please monitor and consider their school attendance. Although we want to see your child at school, illnesses need to stay home. Please remember our 24 hour policy:

• If your student has a fever, they cannot be at school. All students with a fever must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
• If your student has thrown up, they cannot be at school for 24 hours.
• If your child has diarrhea, they cannot be at school for 24 hours.
• If your student requires an antibiotics, they must be on the antibiotic for 24 hours.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school as healthy as we can be!

STAR OF THE WEEK

The class enjoyed learning all about Lauren this week! We will are looking forward to celebrating Isha as our Star of the Week!

CAMPUS FAMILY SURVEY

Please take a few moments to participate in the 2020 Parent Climate Survey. Each day staff, students and volunteers at Canyon Creek Elementary work hard to ensure academic programs and the campus environment meet the needs of all children.

The survey will be open until February 9th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020CampusBanner

Thank you for your participation. You are a critical part of our success!

Week of January 27, 2020

STAYING HEALTHY

Our school has experienced a high number of absences due to illness. Although germs are always around us, this is the season for even more illnesses than usual.

With flu season upon us, please remind your children to wash their hands on a regular basis. If they have any symptoms of an oncoming illness, please monitor and consider their school attendance. Although we want to see your child at school, illnesses need to stay home. Please remember our 24 hour policy:

• If your student has a fever, they cannot be at school. All students with a fever must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
• If your student has thrown up, they cannot be at school for 24 hours.
• If your child has diarrhea, they cannot be at school for 24 hours.
• If your student requires an antibiotics, they must be on the antibiotic for 24 hours.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school as healthy as we can be!

KINDNESS WEEK

Next week we will be highlighting and celebrating kindness at CCE! Each day of Kindness Week will have a theme and a challenge that our No Place for Hate Coalition of 5th graders has helped prepare. Each morning will include a student created video on broadcast sharing the daily kindness theme and challenge for students (listed below). On Friday, students will also create an "Ordinary Superhero" badge they will get to take home celebrating the wonderful superhero qualities they possess. Will your child be KINDNESS BOY, LISTENING LADY or CAPTAIN CARING? We hope you have fun and find ways to participate in the challenges as a family too!

Daily Themes and Challenges:

Welcoming Day (Monday, January 27): Say hello to five new kids you don’t usually talk to at school!

Affirmation Day (Tuesday, January 28): Say or write five affirmations to students or staff at school OR family members!

Encourager Day (Wednesday, January 29): Encourage someone who is having a hard time at something or who is feeling down.

Upstander Day (Thursday, January 30): Stand up for a classmate if you see or hear hurtful behavior going on!

Ordinary Superhero Day (Friday, January 31): Identify our own ordinary superhero quality to create your ordinary superhero badge. Going forward, your challenge is to LIVE THAT SUPERHERO LIFESTYLE! Be an ordinary superhero!

PICTURE DAY NEXT THURSDAY

We will take Class Pictures and Spring Individual Portraits on January 30th! Please send your child to school with his/her picture money on that day. You may order individual pictures with a more casual background, and/or a class picture. Profits from the sale of pictures provide additional funding for special projects and presentations at CCE! Thank you for your support!

STAR OF THE WEEK

We will are looking forward to celebrating Lauren as our Star of the Week!

YEARBOOK ORDERS

Have you ordered your 2019-2020 yearbook yet? The yearbook costs $25, with the option to personalize the front cover for an additional $5. As always, all proceeds go to support your CCE PTA! Order now, and yearbooks will be delivered to classrooms the last week of school. After January 31st, we cannot guarantee availability, so don't wait! Place your order now from the Balfour website.

To order, go to https://www.balfour.com/texas/austin/canyon-creek-elementary-school. Orders are due January 31.

Questions? Email ccetxyearbook@gmail.com.

ON THE HORIZON: VALENTINE’S DAY

Please be on the lookout this coming week for Valentine’s bags and a class list to be sent home in the next Tuesday folder.

Bags are due in class on Monday, February 10th. Valentine cards may be brought to school starting on that same date. Please be sure your child prepares a Valentine card for every student on our list. Our class list will be included in this coming week’s Tuesday folder. There will also be a white paper bag for your child to decorate at home, for his/her Valentine cards from classmates. Since Valentine's Day is a party day, your child may attach a small piece of candy or treat to their Valentine cards.

Week of January 21, 2020

FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK

Just a reminder that Monday, January 20th is a school holiday. Enjoy the extra family time!

STEAM NIGHT

We would love for you to join us on Thursday, January 23rd for STEAM Night from 5:45-7:00pm. ***Please note the time change! This is an opportunity for your student to share their learning with you and to experience learning from other grade levels. Due to the nature of the event and the importance of keeping all students safe, please remain with your children at all times.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning about Sid this week! We will not have a Star of the Week next week because it is a short week.

STAYING HEALTHY

Please remember that classroom snacks should be healthy and quick and easy to eat. Snacks should be consumed without making a mess on the tables or floors.

With flu season upon us, please remind your children to wash their hands on a regular basis. If they have any symptoms of an oncoming illness, please monitor and consider their school attendance. Although we want to see your child at school, illnesses need to stay home.

Week of January 13, 2020

WELCOME BACK

A new semester is here and it’s a time of new beginnings. I hope you had a wonderful break with your family and that you were able to make many new memories together. This week will be a transition as we get back into the routines of school again. We have a wonderful second semester of learning planned, and I’m sure you’ll be amazed at the continued academic growth of your child by the time our year ends.

READING AT HOME

Please remember to total and initial reading logs each week. Reading for one hour a week is a non-negotiable minimum. Most kiddos are now logging two+ hours of reading weekly. The more a child reads, the better they are able to comprehend. Math problem solving now requires our children to be critical readers, so the benefits of reading are far reaching.

The start of a new semester may be a great time to try a family book club. As we begin our semester with poetry in Language Arts, this is a great time to try a new genre at home as well! Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky are kid favorites, but the classics are amazing too. There are many collections of poems for children on the internet. Check out this genre for a change. Read the poem and discuss what you notice about the format. Does it rhyme, is there repetition, can you feel a rhythm when you read it? What do you notice about the author’s word choices? Do all poems need to rhyme? What can you infer from the author’s words? Poets, like other authors, often want you to “read between the lines”.

But mostly, have fun with reading! Bravo to all who make reading a priority at home.

STAYING HEALTHY

Please remember that classroom snacks should be healthy and quick and easy to eat. Snacks should be consumed without making a mess on the tables or floors.

With flu season upon us, please remind your children to wash their hands on a regular basis. If they have any symptoms of an oncoming illness, please monitor and consider their school attendance. Although we want to see your child at school, illnesses need to stay home.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We will are looking forward to celebrating Siddarth as our Star of the Week!

FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK

Just a reminder that Monday, January 20th is a school holiday. Enjoy the extra family time!

FAMILY STEAM NIGHT

Please make plans to attend Family STEAM Night on Thursday, January 23th from 5:30-6:30 pm

Week of December 16, 2019

WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY

Our class holiday party is on Thursday, December 19 from 2:00 - 2:50. All parents are invited to attend.

If you are planning on helping or attending our holiday party (parties start at 2pm on Thursday, December 19th) please fill out this short form and the office will pre-print your badge.

If you have not had your driver's license scanned into our system before, you must bring your driver's license or some sort of picture identification in order to enter the building.

Please make arrangements for your little ones. As per our school policy, siblings are not allowed to attend the party.

Fill out your "Fast Pass" Form here.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning all about Eleni! We will resume Star of the Week the first full week of January with Siddarth!

BROWN SANTA

Canyon Creek Elementary is a collection site for Brown Santa. There are barrels in the hallway where you can bring new toys or non-perishable foods. It is a wonderful cause and we are thankful for such generous families! Please help us fill the barrels!

LOST AND FOUND….GOING, GOING, GONE

Please come take a look at the lost and found items before are gone!!! Anything not claimed by December 19th will be donated to the RRISD Clothes Closet.

Week of December 9, 2019

​WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY

Our class holiday party is on Thursday, December 19 from 2:00 - 2:50. All parents are invited to attend. Hope to see you there! As another reminder, due to school policy and space limitations, siblings are not allowed at the party. This is a special time for second graders and their parents, so please set up childcare plans for your younger children.

LIBRARY BOOKS

Please have your child bring in all library books by this week for our Tuesday library lesson. We would like to make sure that each child has new library books before the Winter Break.

SECRET PAL HOMEWORK

On Monday, December 2nd, I sent home a Secret Pal Project with your child. This involves each student writing compliments to his/her secret pal. Complete instructions are attached to the materials. Please help your child with this activity. It is due on Tuesday, December 10th. I will begin to pass out the cards, one a day, starting Thursday.

As your child works on this assignment, please remember to include a small gift in the bag as a special surprise to your child’s secret pal. Check out Target’s $1 section or the Dollar Store for gift options. This gift should cost no more than one dollar. Please help your child select something that they would be happy to receive, which usually assures the Secret Pal will be equally delighted. All gifts should be wrapped and include their Secret Pal's name.

Students should also make a genuine effort to color or decorate their compliments and write compliments that will truly matter to their Secret Pal.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We are looking forward to celebrating Eleni as our next Star of the Week!

Week of November 18, 2019

BOOK FAIR

The CCE Book Fair is coming up Nov. 18 - 22.

We need YOU to help make it a success! All the information you need about volunteering AND shopping is on our BOOK FAIR WEBSITE.

Things to look out for:

Scholastic now has eWallets! You can go online to add money to an account for your child. Students can pay with a printed barcode or we can look them up. Find out how on the BOOK FAIR WEBSITE

You can pre-order Dog Man: Fetch 22 at the book fair. It should be delivered to school on December 10, the day it is released, and the library will get it straight to your student!

Please also note that the library will not be able to receive book returns until after the Book Fair.

THANKSGIVING FEAST

Our Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast is Wednesday, November 20th during your child’s regular lunch time. We love to have family members join us! The menu includes roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, orange wedges, cranberry sauce and homemade pumpkin bar. The vegetarian option is three-bean chili.

Please complete this quick google form so we know how many people to plan for.

Thank you! Click here to RSVP

STAR OF THE WEEK

We look forward to celebrating Logan as our next Star of the Week!

TAG REFERRAL INFORMATION

Parents who wish to have their student(s) tested for TAG services can fill out the following link to refer for testing. The referral window opens on November 11, 2019 and closes at 4:00 PM on December 6, 2019.

Please note, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has made changes to their policies, and students may now test annually.

Please contact Mrs. Hamilton or Mrs. Henrichs with any questions.

2019-2020 TAG Referral Form

For information regarding the TAG program and/or referral process:

2019 TAG Referral Meeting Slideshow

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you do to partner with me in your child's education. From recording reading minutes, to looking over Tuesday folders, from sending in supplies, to at-home projects, you are a huge support to everything we do. Thank you for sharing your child with me each day! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family!

Week of November 11, 2019

HELP US HONOR OUR VETERANS!

Please join us as our CCE 5th Graders honor our VETERANS during the CCE Veterans Day celebrations. On Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11th, at 8:00 a.m., there will be a special Veteran’s Day ceremony. Please invite any Veterans that you know to attend. This is always a very special program for us.

THANKSGIVING FEAST

Thanksgiving Day Feast is Wednesday, November 20th during our regular lunch time, 11:20-11:50. We love to have family members join us! Please complete this quick google form so we know how many people to plan for. Thank you! Click here

Week of November 4, 2019

Our field trip to the Stunt Ranch is coming up on Wednesday, November 6th! Please remember to send your child with a sack lunch and disposable drink labeled with their name. They may also bring a snack for before we leave, but please make sure that the snack is packed separately from the sack lunch. Your child will need to wear closed toed shoes for this field trip and bring a change of clothes as they will be getting a little wet for one of the activities. Please look at the weather on Wednesday morning and dress your child for the weather, as we will be outside for the entire field trip. Ice chests are needed to carry our lunches. I am asking to see if we can have 2 rolling ice chests to borrow for the trip. Please email me if you can help with this. Thanks!

Thank you to our chaperones who will be helping out on our trip - Jenna Duke, Rimi Aich, Vijaya Dhavala, Leslie Kvasnicka! You are needed and appreciated! Chaperones - Thank you to those who have turned in your waiver form and payment for the trip. If you have not done so, please send these in on Monday. Remember to bring your own lunch and drink on Wednesday. The routine is for you to come by the school and pick up your volunteer badge and help get our ice chests picked up to take to Austin Stunt Ranch. Then please drive to meet us there. Our buses are supposed to leave here at 9:30. I will send you an email with the address. Thanks so much!

THANKSGIVING FEAST

Our Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast is Wednesday, November 20th during our child’s regular lunch time, 11:20-11:50. Please come a little early to sign in at the office and then meet us at the cafeteria. We love to have family members join us! Please complete this quick google form so we know how many people to plan for. Thank you! Click here

Week of October 28, 2019

TELLING TIME PRACTICE

Second graders have just begun learning about telling time on analog clocks this past week. For many students, this is a tricky concept to master! To reinforce the learning happening at school and provide some extra practice, please have your child practice telling time to five minutes and to the minute on any analog clock you may have at home this week.

FIELD TRIP INFORMATION

Our field trip to the Stunt Ranch is coming up on Thursday, October 31st! Please remember to send your child with a sack lunch and disposable drink labeled with their name. They may also bring a snack for before we leave, but please make sure that the snack is packed separately from the sack lunch. Your child will need to wear closed toed shoes for this field trip. Please look at the weather on Thursday morning and dress your child for the weather, as we will be outside for the entire field trip.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning about Swara this past week! We look forward to celebrating Nidheesh as our next Star of the Week!

50th DAY OF SCHOOL

Can you believe we have almost been in school for 50 days? Monday, October 28th will mark the 50th day of school at Canyon Creek. To celebrate, students and staff are invited to wear their best 1950’s attire. So let's find our poodle skirts, leather jackets, and saddle shoes to kick off a great spirit day!

TAG INFORMATION NIGHT

Parents who are interested in learning more about the TAG program and how to refer their children for testing can attend our TAG Information Night on Tuesday, October 29th from 5:30-6:30 in the CCE Library! This meeting is for parents of students who are NOT currently in the TAG program.

HALLOWEEN

Enjoy all the fun activities that Halloween brings, including parties and trick or treating. I know you will make every effort to keep your children safe as they go house to house. I’m excited to hear about their fun adventures on Friday morning! After all of the fun, please remember to send your child to school with a healthy snack, not Halloween candy.

HELP US HONOR OUR VETERANS

Please help our CCE 5th Graders honor our VETERANS during the CCE Veterans Day celebration scheduled for Monday, November 11th at 8:00 a.m., and during their musical "American Everyday" scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th following the PTA meeting. We would like to create a video montage honoring VETERANS in our CCE Community as we sing the song "We Will Not Forget" to close our program, AND with Mrs. Weir's (Art) leadership, the 5th graders will be creating a remembrance wall in the main CCE hallway using these photographs.

Please scan a photo of a VETERAN and include their name and branch of the service on or under the photo. Veterans can be family members, neighbors and/or friends. We would prefer a digital photo, but we are able to scan photos for you if needed.

Please email your photos to Emily Williamson (Music) ASAP! We must have all photos by Friday, November 1st for them to be included in the presentation.

Thank you for helping our CCE 5th graders honor our Veterans! We hope you will join us for the programs.

Week of October 21, 2019

RED RIBBON WEEK

Below please see the activities planned for Red Ribbon Week. A red flyer was sent home to put on your refrigerator but for now….

• Monday - “I Believe in Me” - Wear as much RED as you can!
• Tuesday - “We are Crazy about Healthy Living” - Crazy Hair Day
• Wednesday - “Turn Away from Unhealthy Living” - Wear a CCE t-shirt backwards
• Thursday - “Team Up for Good Choices” - Wear your team shirt or jersey
• Friday - “Be a CCE Superhero” - Wear a super hero t-shirt or cape

PUMPKIN BOOK CHARACTER PROJECT

Thank you for helping your child with our Pumpkin Project! I am looking forward to seeing the transformation of the pumpkins into favorite book characters as well as the book report that provides more insight into the character's traits and feelings!

This is a reminder that the pumpkin, book report, and copy of the book are due on Thursday, October 24th.

Parents are invited to visit and view our pumpkin-filled hallway in the morning of October 25th before the tardy bell rings at 7:40. The pumpkins will be on display in the library until Halloween if you are not able to come at that time.

STUNT RANCH FIELD TRIP

In the October 8th Tuesday folder, there was a permission slip for your child to attend the field trip to Stunt Ranch. Please make sure you filled out both the blue form for the school and the white form for Stunt Ranch. There will also be a place on the permission slip to indicate if you would like to join as a parent chaperone. Please remember that all parents must have completed the RRISD Volunteer Background check before participating in school events such as field trips. Parents will also provide their own transportation to Stunt Ranch and will not ride the bus with the students.

Please return your child's permission slip, along with $7 (cash or check) as soon as possible. All forms are due by Friday, October 25th.

TAG INFORMATION NIGHT

Parents who are interested in learning more about the TAG program and how to refer their children for testing can attend our TAG Information Night on Tuesday, October 29th from 5:30-6:30 in the CCE Library! This meeting is for parents of students who are NOT currently in the TAG program.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We look forward to celebrating Swara as our Star of the Week!

50th DAY OF SCHOOL

Can you believe we have almost been in school for 50 days? Monday, October 28th will mark the 50th day of school at Canyon Creek. To celebrate, students and staff are invited to wear their best 1950’s attire. So let's find our poodle skirts, leather jackets, and saddle shoes to kick off a great spirit day!

Week of October 14, 2019

FALL CONFERENCES

Conferences are a great opportunity to discuss your child's progress so far and set goals for the year! It is a time to collaborate and work together to help your child succeed this year!

On Monday, I have a very tight schedule so please help me keep my conferences on time. A gentle knock on the door would be very appropriate should the conference before you be still taking place at the start of your conference time. It will be our sign to wrap things up. I look forward to meeting with you!

UPCOMING FIELD TRIP

In the October 8th Tuesday folder, there was a permission slip for your child to attend the field trip to Stunt Ranch. Please make sure you filled out both the blue form for the school and the white form for Stunt Ranch. There will also be a place on the permission slip to indicate if you would like to join as a parent chaperone. Please remember that all parents must have completed the RRISD Volunteer Background check before participating in school events such as field trips. Parents will also provide their own transportation to Stunt Ranch and will not ride the bus with the students.

Please return your child's permission slip, along with $7 (cash or check) as soon as possible. All forms are due by Friday, October 25th.

REVIEW OF WORK

Each week students bring home graded class work in their Tuesday folder. Please have your child next to you as you review their work. My corrections and comments are to support your child as they take a second look at their assignments.

WATER BOTTLES

Again, many students are thirsty throughout the day and after our 11:55pm recess time. Please make a habit of sending your child to school with a water bottle on a daily basis. Not only is this a great habit to create for your second grader, but it will also limit our time spent at the water fountain and out of the classroom.

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning about Lily this past week! This week we will not have a Star of the Week as it is a 3-day week. Swara will be our Star the week of October 21st.

Week of October 7, 2019

PUMPKIN BOOK CHARACTER PROJECT

On Tuesday, I will introduce our exciting new project! Your child will be choosing a favorite book character and decorating a pumpkin to look like this character as well as completing a mini "book report" about their chosen character. The pumpkin should be medium sized and either real or plastic pumpkins are fine, though the plastic one will be easier to carry! Please be on the lookout for more information coming home next week!

FALL CONFERENCES

Conferences are such a wonderful opportunities to visit with parents. Thank you to those of you who have returned the conference sheet already. If you haven't, please send it back with your child as soon as possible so that I can take a look and prepare for our meeting.

I have a very tight schedule so please help me keep my conferences on time. A gentle knock on the door would be very appropriate should the conference before you be still taking place at the start of your conference time. It will be our sign to wrap things up. I am looking forward to visiting with you as we chat about your child and set goals for the year ahead. A reminder of your scheduled time should have come home in this week's Tuesday folder!

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed having Shanmukh as our Star of the Week last week! It was so much fun getting to know him better and celebrate him!

This week we will celebrate Lily as our next Star of the Week!

EARLY ARRIVALS

This year we have had very few tardies, and we appreciate you making every effort to get your child to school on time. Arriving close to 7:30 enables your child to enter the classroom in a relaxed manner which includes recording lunch count, getting his/her backpack unpacked, pencils sharpened, and starting Morning Work. The tardy bell rings at 7:40am.

WATER BOTTLES

Many students are thirsty throughout the day and after our 11:55pm recess time. Please make a habit of sending your child to school with a water bottle on a daily basis. Not only is this a great habit to create for your second grader, but it will also limit our time spent at the water fountain and out of the classroom.

Week of September 30, 2019

FALL CONFERENCES

Conferences are such a wonderful opportunities to visit with parents. Thank you to those of you who have returned the conference sheet already. If you haven't, please send it back with your child as soon as possible so that I can take a look and prepare for our meeting.

I have a very tight schedule so please help me keep my conferences on time. A gentle knock on the door would be very appropriate should the conference before you be still taking place at the start of your conference time. It will be our sign to wrap things up. I am looking forward to visiting with you as we chat about your child and set goals for the year ahead. A reminder of your scheduled time should have come home in this week's Tuesday folder!

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed learning all about Rajika! We are excited to celebrate Shanmukh this coming week and getting to know him better!

UPCOMING PUMPKIN PROJECT

As October is on the horizon, we will be needing a medium sized pumpkin for a project. This will be a project to work on at home. A real or plastic pumpkin is fine, but a plastic one is recommended. It will not be needed for a while, but please keep your eyes open for one as Halloween and fall decor starts to show up on store shelves!

FALL HOLIDAYS

As you plan ahead, please remember that there is no school on Monday, October 14th or Tuesday, October 15th.

Week of September 23, 2019

BOOK BUCK STORE and LUCKY SEVEN WEEK!

What an amazing class of readers I have! Your children have been working hard to read, read, read and earn their Book Bucks. I can't wait to open the store for the first time on Friday, September 27. Thank you to all the families who have donated to our Scholastic fund so we can stock our store full of the books your children want to purchase!

In honor of our first store opening, we will have our first LUCKY SEVEN week! Instead of a maximum of 3 Book Bucks that can be earned, I am increasing our maximum to 7 Book Bucks (for up to 7 hours of reading!) Please make sure to total up the minutes read and add your initials so that your child can earn their Book Bucks on Friday! Thank you for your help!

CONFERENCES

If you have not yet returned the conference sheet, please do so as soon as possible!

​My conferences will begin October 8th and continue through the following week. I have a very tight schedule so please help me keep my conferences on time. A gentle knock on the door would be very appropriate should the conference before you be still taking place at the start of your conference time. It will be our sign to wrap things up. I am looking forward to visiting with you as we chat about your child and set academic goals for the year ahead.Your conference time was written on the conference sheet sent home in this past Tuesday folder, if you had signed up. You can always check our sign up if you forget your time - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4aa4aa29a13-october1

PUMPKIN PROJECT NEXT MONTH

As October is on the horizon, you will be needing a medium sized pumpkin for a project. A real or plastic/foam pumpkin is fine, but a plastic or foam one is recommended. It will not be needed for a while, but please keep your eyes open for one as Halloween and fall decor starts to show up on store shelves! (I will be explaining this project to the class on October 8)

STAR OF THE WEEK

We enjoyed having Shivank as our first Star of the Week last week! It was so much fun getting to know him better and celebrate him!

This week we will celebrate Rajika our next Star of the Week!

Week of September 16, 2019

MONDAY LUNCH SCHEDULE CHANGE

On Monday, our lunch time will be earlier to accommodate an enrichment-filled afternoon for all second graders. Our Monday lunch time will be 10:50-11:20 AM.

UIL STUDENT SIGN UP

If your student is interested in participating in UIL this year please click the link below to register. Practices will begin the week of September 23rd. Please contact Mrs. Henrichs or Mrs. Hamilton with any questions. Sign up ends on September 16th at 3:30. Thank you!

Link UIL Student Sign Up

THANK YOU FOR DONATING!

Thank you to those who are donating items for our upcoming science experiment. We have been enjoying our sciences lessons! You are appreciated!

QUALITY WORK

Children are encouraged to do their best work right from the start. For many, this simply means slowing down and checking over their work before turning it in. Family discussions at home regarding this topic is an important part of the puzzle. When looking through your child's Tuesday folder, please help them understand all errors, allowing the "correct and return" work to be returned polished, corrected, and complete. Please sign the top of the assignment. This lets me know that you’ve seen the assignment and checked it for completeness and accuracy. Thank you for supporting your child at home.

BOOKS WILL BE COMING!

In the next couple of weeks, I will place our first order from Scholastic as I work to stock our Book Buck Library. I can't wait to show the children our fully stocked Book Buck store! If you had not yet donated, please send in your donation so I can place additional orders in the future. Suggested donation for each family is $10-$20, payable by check to Scholastic. Thank you to the families who have already generously donated!

Week of September 9, 2019

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Open House for parents is Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 5:45pm. Please make plans to be here and to arrange childcare for your children. I look forward to seeing you!

TREASURE CHEST

The children are earning red bottle caps to earn a trip to our little treasure box. I am asking for donations of small, fun items for this box. Any little toy your child might enjoy will surely be seen as "treasure" by another child. Party favor type toys are wonderful. You can peak at what we have at our Open House/Back to School Night on Tuesday.

TOYS/POKEMON CARDS in OUR CLASSROOM

Please help your child remember that students are not to bring toys to school in their backpacks. This includes Pokemon cards. Toys and cards have already led to some distracted behavior in our classroom this year. Because of this, I will be taking up these items and holding them on my desk for the day. Thank you for your help with this!

LIBRARY BOOKS

Please help your child to remember to return their library books each Tuesday. Please also encourage your child to select a variety of genres. That’s one of the keys to learning to LOVE reading! That, and finding a “just right book”, one that is not too hard nor too easy.

READING MINUTES

As reminder about our reading homework, your child will be required to read at least 60 minutes each week. This assignment will involve some record keeping from home. I am asking that you (or your child) record the minutes read nightly. This notation should be made in the yellow box on the right side of the student planner for that day, and parents should initial reading each night. Sixty minutes is a weekly minimum, but I encourage your child to read nightly for 15-20 minutes.

On Thursday evening, when you are initialing your child's homework notes in the planner, please take a minute to total the minutes read from the previous week (Friday night – Thursday night). Record this total in Friday's yellow box opposite the nightly homework page and include a parent initial.

Nightly reading is crucial to your child's overall reading success, and I appreciate your support!

TIME FOR BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION!

Welcome to Box Tops for Education! Through this fundraiser, we can earn cash for our school to help fund enrichment programs, field trips, educational materials, and more!

Our annual Box Tops fundraiser plays a critical role in funding enrichment opportunities for our school. This year, the PTA’s goal is to raise $3000. Here are easy ways that you can help:

BUY — Buy Box Tops Products. A complete list of the products participating in Box Tops for Education can be found here.

SCAN — The Box Tops program is going digital. All receipts MUST be scanned within 14 days of purchase. Please see the attached flyer for submission details.

CLIP — Have you been clipping and saving Box Tops? That's fantastic! Please check the expiration date and submit them to your child's teacher.

Classrooms that collect the MOST Box Tops will win a fun prize!

1st place - Pizza party (donated by Papa John's)2nd place - Ice cream party (donated by HEB)

3rd place - Donut party (donated by HEB)

4th place - Popsicle party (donated by HEB)

5th place - Free ice cream coupons (donated by Dairy Queen)

Wondering how your child will get credit for digital submissions? Please take a screenshot of the 'My Earnings' tab in the Box Tops mobile app. Print and submit it to your child's teacher.

*Digital submissions may be submitted for more than one child. Please specify each child and their teacher on ONE printed copy of the submission sheet. The total number of Box Tops will be split evenly among siblings.

There are several promotions running now with the Box Tops program:

HEB - Earn 80 Box Tops when you purchase 10 participating products (offer ends 9/17/19)

Sam's - Buy 1, Earn 12 Box Tops (offer ends 9/30/19)

Costco - Buy 1, Earn 10 Bonus Box Tops(offer ends 9/30/19)

* All offers are visible through the Box Tops mobile app

Sweepstakes:

Scan a receipt with the Box Tops app to automatically enter Canyon Creek Elementary in the Double Up and School Makeover sweepstakes.

Please contact Lauren Martinez at soccer20@gmail.com with any questions or concerns!

September 2, 2019

OPEN HOUSE/PARENT NIGHT

Open House for parents is next Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 5:45 pm. Please make plans to be here and to arrange childcare for your children. I look forward to seeing you!

HOMEROOM PARENT and VOLUNTEER THANK-YOU

I wanted to thank Nikol Michailos (Eleni's mom) for volunteering to serve as our classroom’s homeroom parent! Thank you also to all the parents that donated items for our classroom! You are so appreciated - I can tell this is going to be an outstanding year!

TUESDAY FOLDERS

Each Tuesday afternoon, please spend some time going over your child's Tuesday folder work with them. It's important that the children see how well they completed their work. The corrections I make are really to benefit my students. If there is a “Correct and Return” paper in the folder, please spend time going over that work with your child, making corrections, then put a parent signature on it and return it the next day. Sometimes all it takes is a little more practice, as mastery is around the corner.

CHOICES, CHOICES

Each day there are four daily lunch entree choices available from the cafeteria. Several students continue to arrive unsure of their decision. Please review the menu each morning, and send your child knowing which choice they’d like, #1, #2, #3, or #4. Also, I have a few students buying treats or ice cream on a daily basis. You may want to have a discussion about this at home if you wish there to be limits.

Week of August 19, 2019

ARRIVALS

Students may enter the building as early as 7:20am. Please note, our tardy bell is at 7:40am. Any students arriving after this bell should report to the office for a tardy slip, before entering the classroom.

​

DISMISSALS

Dismissals will take place at 2:55pm. Please discuss a consistent meeting place for your child. All walkers and bike riders are to exit the school through the front door by the main office. Our side doors will be for our car and van riders only. Teachers will be walking all students to their destination. Car riders will walk with a teacher out to the car lines, walkers will walk with a teacher to the front door and be released after making contact with a parent, and a teacher will walk all YMCA students to the cafeteria. This arrangement will make for a safer dismissal for all. Please remember that no students should be released from cars, or walk to cars, unaccompanied in the large staff and visitor parking lot. Should you wish to park there at the beginning or end of day for arrival and/or dismissal, please be sure to walk your child across the parking lot and driveway. At both times during the day, this is a very active driveway and students traveling across the driveway and into the parking lot are in harm's way. We very much appreciate your attention to this.

SNACKS

The children will be given a few minutes to enjoy a small snack each day but there are a few reminders. The snack must be healthy, neat, dry, and easy to eat. Some examples include pretzels, apple slices, granola bars, raisins, fruit snacks, and string cheese. No fruit cups or yogurt, or anything requiring a spoon are permitted, and no drinks other than water. We are usually snacking and continuing to work with many papers and books around. Bringing the snack to school is your child’s responsibility. Should they forget to pack it, please do not bring it to the office.

JACKETS/SWEATSHIRTS

In addition to a snack, please send a lightweight jacket or sweater daily. Our classroom can get pretty cold at certain times of the day.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Back to School Night is Tuesday, Sept. 10. The meeting will start promptly at 5:45 pm. Thank you for setting up childcare arrangements for this evening so that all parents can hear the important information. I look forward to sharing more about second grade with you!

READING MINUTES

In second grade, your child will be required to read at least 60 minutes each week. This assignment will involve some record keeping from home. I am asking that you (or your child) record the minutes read nightly. This notation should be made in the yellow box on the right side of the student planner for that day, and parents should initial reading each night. Sixty minutes is a weekly minimum, but I encourage your child to read nightly for 15-20 minutes.

On Thursday evening, when you are initialing your child's homework notes in the planner, please take a minute to total the minutes read from the previous week (Friday night – Thursday night). Record this total in Friday's yellow box opposite the nightly homework page and include a parent initial.

I will send you an email with a picture of one suggested method for recording your child's reading minutes. If you would prefer to use the white lines on the left side of the page, that is fine as well. As long as I can see a number of minutes, a parent initial, and a total number of minutes (from Friday to Thursday), I am happy!

Nightly reading is crucial to your child's overall reading success, and I appreciate your support!

Planners will be sent home daily starting Monday, August 26.

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

Please use this link to register as a school volunteer. It is necessary for volunteers to RE-REGISTER EVERY year. I recommend that EVERY parent register, just so you are ready for volunteer opportunities as they arise.

WATER BOTTLES

Please help your child to stay hydrated by sending a water bottle every day, as our recess time is between 11:55 AM -12:25 PM. We want our students to stay hydrated during this hot time of the day.

ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent, please send an email to me and copy Cynthia Quesnel, our CCE registrar, to let us know. Please be sure to state your child’s first and last name, as well as the reason for the absence. Another option is to go to the CCE website. There’s a quick link on the parent page to report an absence.

CCE’s school policy is that all missed student work will be saved and given to the child upon their return. We do not prepare work ahead of time for absent students, whether the absence is due to illness or travel. When your child returns to school, the work will be given out and time will be given to complete the work.

IMPORTANT DATES

September 2

Labor Day, No School

September 10

Back to School Night

5:15 pm - TAG Information Night

5:45 pm - K-2nd Grade

6:15 pm - PTA meeting

6:45 pm - 3rd-5th Grade

September 19

Fall Picture Day

August 16, 2019

Welcome Back!

It's going to be a great year in second grade! I will send out weekly updates on this website with important information for each upcoming week.

We had such a wonderful beginning to our new school year! Everyone did very well learning classroom procedures and expectations, and we are off to a fantastic start! Our classroom friendships are strengthening each day!

Homeroom Parent

Our class is search of a homeroom parent. This volunteer helps the class and grade level plan and execute parties and special events. It is an excellent opportunity to be involved in your child’s school life. If you are interested in being the homeroom parent for our class, please email me at Lisa_Clarke@roundrockisd.org. I would be so appreciative and would love to partner with you!

Student Information

First I apologize for sending out a faulty link! I know your time is valuable. If you have not entered your contact information into our class form, please do so as soon as possible. This helps me to have all information in one location. I am sending this on paper this week as I am hoping to get more parents to enter the information. Next week I will be using those addresses to email this newsletter. Please enter your information! Thank you so much.

Link: https://tinyurl.com/contact-inf-r

Homework Folder and Planner

Students will be bringing home their planner and homework folder in their backpack each day, regardless of whether there was any homework assigned. Setting up good habits at home by having your child return the planner and homework folder to their backpack right after homework has been completed and the planner has been initialed will be helpful. Packing a backpack before bedtime is a wonderful organizational idea. On those rushed or sleepy mornings, your child will still arrive prepared.

Volunteer Registration

There will be many opportunities for you to volunteer this year. Please plan ahead by registering as a school volunteer as soon as possible. In the past, there have been many disappointed adults and children when admission to the classroom was denied due to failure to sign into the Raptor system. Please take a minute and take care of this before things get too hectic.

Please remember that applications to be an approved volunteer must be submitted every year. The District conducts background checks on every volunteer to help ensure the safety of our children. At this time of year, approval can take up to two weeks, better not to wait!! And, remember, all volunteers must be approved - room parents, classroom helpers, field trip chaperones, Watch D.O.G.S., etc., prior to volunteering.

Lunch News

Each day there are four daily lunch entree choices available from the cafeteria. With that many options, confusion and indecision can set in quickly. It would be so helpful if your child could arrive each day knowing what his/her selection will be before ordering. Thank you for having these discussions prior to drop off.

Also, please be sure to set guidelines with your child on which days they may purchase snacks, such as chips and ice cream from the cafeteria. Many children buy these items daily, quickly depleting lunch money accounts.

Dismissal Changes

Please be sure to contact the office by 2:00pm if your child has a departure change for that day. The office staff scurries each afternoon to make sure all departure update notes are delivered to the classrooms by the end of school. When the calls come in after 2:15, it makes it challenging to assure that your child will receive the message on time. Please don’t call the classroom with any changes for the day since I am not likely to be able to check my messages until the end of my day, after the children have departed.

Wish List

Many of you have already displayed such generosity in providing materials for our classroom. Thank you to the parents that have already sent in the Ziploc bags, sanitizing wipes, and other items that I requested at school supply drop off. There is one thing that I have found that I need. I need a package of AAA batteries to keep our flashlights working. Your generosity is so appreciated!

Parent Night

Meet the Teacher meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 10th. This is an important informational meeting for parents. Thank you in advance for setting up childcare arrangements for this evening, as this will ensure all parents will be able to listen attentively. Our classroom meeting will begin at 5:45pm followed by a PTA meeting at 6:15pm.

IMPORTANT DATES

September 2

Labor Day, No School

September 10

Back to School Night

5:45 pm - K-2nd Grade

6:15 pm - PTA meeting

6:45 pm - 3rd-5th Grade