Panda Prints
WPE Community Newsletter - Week of September 26, 2022
Whispering Pines Elementary
We are PREPARED, We are RESPONSIBLE,
We OWN OUR ACTIONS,
We are UNIFIED, We are DISCIPLINED
WE ARE PANDAS
Email: wpe_connect@humbleisd.net
Website: https://www.humbleisd.net/Domain/1690
Location: 17321 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble, TX, USA
Phone: 281-641-2500
Twitter: @HumbleISD_WPE
Message from the Principal
Greetings Panda Family-
The year is moving quickly and we are soon to have our first week long break during the first semester. Students are working in small groups to improve their reading and math. Working collaboratively in groups to solve problems and reading some great novels. Counselors are conducting guidance lessons in classrooms and we are wrapping up our first Great 8 Skill this 9 weeks of DECISION MAKING.
Decision Making: A child’s approach to problem solving that involves learning from others and from their own previous experiences, using their values to guide their actions, and accepting responsibility for their decisions.
A good process for decision making has a significant impact on a child and learning how to make a decision that is in their best interest will be a skill that can open doors for them as they grow up. If you believe that teaching Decision Making is important here are some ways to support this learning at home:
5 Practical Tips To Help Kids Develop Good Decision–Making Skills
Encourage goal setting
Teaching kids to set SMART goals from a young age will instill self-awareness and confidence. It will help the kids focus on finding solutions that align with their goals. Start with something simple and help them arrive at a decision that will help them achieve their goals.
Make questions that make them think
Asking thoughtful questions will help kids hone decision-making skills. Questions like ‘why do think that’s the best choice’, or ‘why would the first option work better than others’, will make them think deeply about all aspects of their decision.• Give them choices
Give them choices
Consider these two questions: “Which sweater do you want to wear today?” and “Do you want the red sweater or the black one?”
The first question requires the kids to choose from numerous options which can overwhelm them. The second question is simpler and clearer, thus allowing them to decide on the choices successfully. Ensure you present situations that will set them up for success when you start teaching this skill.
Practice age-appropriate decision-making skills
Be mindful about teaching age-appropriate decision-making skills. When they are toddlers, ask them to choose between just two simple things like which colored socks or shoes they want to wear.
As they grow older, you can ask them to pick an extra choice of clothing until they can put together an entire outfit together. Practicing making good choices and taking small steps from a young age helps develop their reasoning skills.
Include them in budgeting decisions
Budgeting shouldn’t be an ‘adult skill’. Teach it to your school-going kids by giving an allowance and enabling them to decide how to spend it wisely.
For instance, if they are to spend the allowance on snacks for the week, they should be able to make budgeting decisions to ensure the allowance lasts them through the week. If they spend it all in two days, they cannot have extra money.
Budgeting decisions will teach them how to make smart decisions that will benefit them. ~Planetspark
Wendy Anaya
Panda Proud Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER:
30: End 1st Nine Weeks
30: School Custodian Appreciation Day
OCTOBER:
3-7: Student/Teacher Break - No School
10: Begin 2nd Nine Weeks
14: Report Cards in HAC (3rd - 5th)
18: 2nd Nine Weeks PEP RALLY
19: PreK Field Trip to the Houston Zoo
24-28: Red Ribbon Week (more information coming soon)
26: 5th grade field trip to IFly - Murz/ Dempsey
27: 2nd grade Performance (more information coming soon)
28: 5th grade field trip to IFly - Burington/ Celistan/ Marshall
31: Book Character Parade
WPE Important Information 🐼
Counselor Corner:
This 9 weeks we are focusing on Decision Making. Try this at home to support this skill - Talking with the grownups we trust, and who take care of us, helps us think about what is important and what we value. It stretches the way we think about the world and makes us more confident about how to handle ourselves. Talking often about ideas we have and choices we’re making helps make it more comfortable when it comes time for a big decision.
Think about some things to talk with them about—something you’re interested in or want to get advice about. Here are topics that you could discuss with your child this week. You could share your ideas and give them the option to share theirs with you.
• “I’m curious about…”
• “I’m interested in…”
• “How can I…”
• “What do you think about…”
• “What’s important to you when you’re thinking about making a big decision?”
Personalized Counseling has started! Click here for a quick video from Dr. Fagan about Personalized Counseling! Fast forward to 6 minutes for the part on Elementary 1:1 meetings. If you have any questions about our 1:1 meetings, please feel free to contact me directly.
Have your child wear a college shirt or color every Wednesday to support our Wisdom Wednesday. On Wisdom Wednesdays, the students will focus on their future. Learning about careers, setting goals and looking ahead will help us to be successful and reach our full potential.
Contact Information:
Elain Dabney
281-641-2507
Jessica Foster
281-641-2583
NEWS from Nurse Lindsey
We have a lot of viruses going around right now. Fever, vomiting, congestion...all the things! Please do not send your child to school if they are vomiting, have diarrhea or have a fever. Fever is defined as 100 degrees or higher. Medicating your student with a fever reducer and sending them to school just continues to spread the germs and cause others to get sick. When someone is running a fever they are considered the most contagious. The policy, and best practice, is to keep your child home until they are fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of fever reducing medications. Thank you in advance for doing your part to keep others healthy!
As a reminder throat drops (cough drops) are not allowed on campus. Please do not send them with your student as they are not allowed to have them.
A. Lindsey Ferrell, RN, BSN
Whispering Pines Elementary
(281) 641-2505
Parent Involvement Activities and Programs
Please help us plan for more parent involvement activities/programs for you and your student by completing this survey.
School Marquee Celebration Requests
This is not limited to birthdays only. If you are wanting to celebrate any accomplishments for your child, please feel free to reach out.
Please complete this form and return it to the office with $5 (cash only)
Names are displayed for one week, Monday through Friday.
This is a fundraiser for Whispering Pines Elementary PAC (Parent Advisory Committee)
Pre K Team
LUNCH: 10:00 - 10:30
Angela SmithPamela Melvin
Ashli Marez
Jennifer Norton
Kinder Team
Olivia Lyons
Jaime Osborn
Meagan Schultz
Norma Woods
1st Grade Team
Anne DeGeorge
Courtney Doyle
Ahna LeClair
Naomi Przygoda
Elizabeth Stockwell
Donna Tassanario
2nd Grade Team
Cassandra Carpenter
Calli Daniel
Jessica House
Mandy Iverson
Chris Jones
Betsy Silvers
3rd Grade Team
Azuree Bernard
Autesha Davidson
Jessica DeGraff
Amy Jackson
4th Grade Team
Carletta Anderson
Caitlyn Carruth
Katherine Dalton
Kean Jones
Elizabeth Martinez
5th Grade Team
Tara Burington
Shavon Celistan
Michelle Dempsey
Jennifer Marshall
Kathleen Murz
Specials Team
COMPUTER: Lyndsey Kratzner
LIBRARY: Brandy Bedgood
MUSIC: Shelby Ferrara
PE: Coach Castle and Coach Wheeler
Front Office Staff
ASST PRINCIPAL: Celeste Myres
PRINCIPALS SECRETARY: Kris Rose
BOOKKEEPER: Brittany Rapsilver
REGISTRAR: Janette Lopez
RECEPTIONIST: Brianna Mendoza
NURSE: Lyndsey Ferrell
COUNSELOR: Elain Dabney
COUNSELOR: Jessica Foster
Instructional Leadership Team
Rebecca Clauss
Crystal DiamondAmy Dowies
Cristina Ford
Dena Marks
Laura Soileau
Arrena Svoboda
Leadership Support Team
Vera Adams
Andre BryantNadia Campbell
Abbie Heller
Cindy Sexton
SPED Intervention Team
Joe Cleveland
Grace Decker
Sagrario Gaitan
Vivian Gross
Angela Johnson
Anna Hill
Darrell Thompson
SPED Support
Chris Green
Taylor Marcel
Leah Moser
Vanessa Ortiz
Cynthia Piggott
Our Wonderful Lunch Ladies
Lourdes Blades
Crystal Cozine
Lucy Ochoa
Antoinette Williams
Amazing Custodians
Imelda Garcia
Karen Fuchs
Maria Jaimes
Behavior Continuum Program
Tamara Calhoun
Michael Carter
Victoria Fisher
Joy Otto
Tawana Weatherspoon