The Prairie Pulse - October
DPES Family Newsletter
Please be sure to revisit for updates throughout THE MONTH.
Tomball ISD - Where we focus on the Social-Emotional well-being of our staff, students, and families, High-Quality Instruction, and Collaboration to ensure learning for all of our Tomball ISD students.
DECKER PRAIRIE -
Mission: Decker Prairie Elementary is dedicated to high levels of learning for all.
Vision: We will create an environment where everyone takes risks and collaborate respectfully through innovative learning.
Early Voting is going on NOW - 2nd Election Day
PTO Fundraiser - TWO MORE WEEKS BEFORE MONEY IS DUE
- PTO's Fall Fundraiser - We are excited to raise funds to improve our atrium, science lab, and outdoor track. Check out the flyer for details on PRIZES! You can also find more information on the PTO Facebook page.
Attendance Matters
- Prioritize school by trying to make dr. appts as early or late in the day as possible.
- Get ready the night before to ensure your student is ready.
- Attendance is CRITICAL to student success.
- Instruction upon return is not the same as when first instructed.
- The instructional day is packed and make-up time/work can be difficult for students.
- Attendance is also tied to our state accountability system and factors into all indexes.
Folktale Fun Day Hints
SPARK Up the School Year
~ Mrs. Watson, DPES Librarian
Decker Dashers
UPDATE - LUNCHROOM VISITORS AND CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS
Lunchroom Visitors:
Assigned lunch visitors will be divided over 4 days, Monday through Thursday, with Friday’s rotating each month for an assigned alpha. (Based on campus numbers and spread in the alphabet)
Visitors ARE REQUIRED to be listed as an emergency contact if not accompanied by parent/guardian. Identification IS REQUIRED to enter any TISD building.
Assigned alpha days are as follows:
October Schedule:
· Monday: Student Last Name= A thru F
· Tuesday: Student Last Name= G thru L
· Wednesday: Student Last Name= M thru O
· Thursday: Student Last Name= P thru Z
· Friday: Student Last Name A thru F
(November, Friday will be G thru L and December will be M-O)
REMINDERS - VISITORS MAY ONLY BRING FOOD FOR THEIR CHILD AND MAY ONLY SIT WITH THEIR CHILD.
Volunteers - WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS BACK ON CAMPUS. Volunteer opportunities will be coming soon from your child's teacher as needed. Please be sure to check out volunteer opportunities for future skating unit -see flyer below. Also be on the lookout for additional volunteer opportunities from our library, etc.
All school volunteers must complete a volunteer application.
BIRTHDAYS
We are NOT allowing birthday cupcakes.
If you are interested in sending a birthday treat, please a Pre-wrapped/Store-bought items to share.
Ex. Litte Debbie, Ding-Dongs, Twinkies, etc.
Family Engagement Night - Game Night!!!!
Start at one point in the school and end at another!
Activities to take home and try!
Food!
Drinks!
And Great Company!
We can't wait to see you all!
Dear Parent/Guardian,
This year, your child will be using Lexia® Core5® Reading—a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their literacy skills. The activities in Core5 support and build on your child’s classroom curriculum and focus on developing
reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
We encourage students to utilize Lexia at home. Our goal is for all students to have an average of 60 minutes per week. This is a great activity for your child to do at home. Below you will find steps on how to access Lexia from tablets and computers.
- Go to the DPES homepage at dpes.tomballisd.net
- Click Academics
- Click ClassLink
- Login with username (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
- Ex: 123456, tisd01012011
- Click the Lexia Core5 icon
- Click login with Google
- Enter email (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#@elem.tomballschools.net) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
- Ex: 123456@elem.tomballschools.net, tisd01012011
- Lexia Core5 will then open.
To ensure students are making sufficient and adequate progress toward reading growth, it is important that parents do not provide students with support related to the content presented.
We hope you share in our excitement about this program and will support your child
in completing lessons at home!! Additionally reading each night with your child helps build oral language, vocabulary, and concepts of print. This is so important. We appreciate all that you do parents and families!
To learn more, visit www.LexiaLearning.com
Sincerely,
Decker Prairie Elementary School
What is DI?
Destination Imagination (DI) is a project based, kid-driven program that teaches kids to be innovative problem solvers. Using STEAM, teams of students collaborate, think outside the box and create unique solutions to one of seven different challenges in preparation for a fun, problem-solving competition.
Students work together to develop creative solutions to short-term and long-term project-based challenges. Through this process, students gain the 21st century skills needed to succeed in school, their careers and beyond.
The Regional tournament lasts all day on Saturday, February 26th, 2022. It will be held at Davis High School in Aldine ISD and is usually an all-day event. All members are expected to attend.
All practices will be held before/after school hours and families are responsible for transportation. The team can only have 7 members. If there is great interest, auditions will be held for team placement. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Lambright the DI Campus Coordinator.
To complete the interest form and sign up for DI, use this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoq3PZXiJChbh9K_YI-EcFhqa4s4reCyB8tDPZ2vY7wlbVGg/viewform
Picture Day RETAKES - October 29th!
PE
Click on the picture below to sign your student up for skating and look at volunteer options!
Just Say YES! Character Development: Dreaming big dreams (Keith Davis - Motivational Speaker)
We have partnered with the Just Say Yes program and our school has been selected for the first empowering parents leadership series scheduled for Wednesday, 10/27/21. This program infuses motivational speaking into the session for parents and for students. The district will receive two (2) vimeo links with a password that will be available for 24 hours.
We will send the vimeo link with password so you as parents can view at your own preferred time October 27, 2021
COUNSELOR
Do you want to be a Watch Dog?
If you are interested in joining Decker Prairie Watch Dogs, please sign up at:
Our Counselor is here to help you!
- Questions about school supplies
- Family social-emotional needs
- Support through family hardships
- or just a listening ear
Please contact our counselor Zakiya Bircher @ 281-357-3134 ext 3076
NURSE
Clinic
If your child will require medication administration during school hours, please note that all prescriptions must have a written/signed order from a medical doctor licensed in the state of Texas. Medication will not be administered without the correct documents.
Please contact the clinic in advance to drop off medication. Students should NOT be sent to school with the medication. Please contact the DPES nurse, Lance Culver, at 281-357-3134 EXT 3006 if you need to schedule a time to present documents and drop off medication for your child.
COVID
Isolation and Readmission Criteria for a Positive Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Student Students who test positive for COVID-19 must enter isolation.
Parents must notify the school nurse if their student is lab-confirmed positive via the District’s online reporting tool. In order for the student’s absence during isolation to be exempted, a student must provide to the school a physician’s note and a positive COVID-19 lab result. Individuals in isolation should meet the readmission criteria outlined below before returning to school. 3
● Isolation: Students must not come to school and should isolate themselves from others for a period of 10 days after symptom onset or a positive test date (whichever occurred first) in accordance with the Texas Department of Safety Health Services (DSHS) Exclusion and Readmission criteria for Schools and Childcare Centers.
● Return Criteria: Per CDC guidance, students can return to school after 10 days of isolation, if all symptoms are improving or resolved and the fever has been absent for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
Please refer to the district website for updates
ESL Spotlight
What is an English as a Second Language (ESL) program?
- ESL is intensive English language instruction by teachers trained in effective language acquisition strategies who work with English Language Learners.
- ESL instruction shall be commensurate with the student’s level of English proficiency and academic achievement.
- An ESL program provides intensive instruction that develops competency in the listening, speaking, reading, and writing of the English language.
- An ESL program uses the academic and cultural background of the student as a platform to provide the appropriate instruction in English.
What is the purpose of an ESL program?
- An ESL program develops competence in English.
- An ESL program prepares the students to be successful in all academic subjects.
- An ESL program emphasizes the mastery of English language skills, as well as, mathematics, science, and social studies, using research-based methodologies appropriate for second language acquisition.
Who is eligible for an ESL program?
- Students in prekindergarten through high school who speak or hear a language other than English in their home and who are learning English are eligible.
- Students will be assessed in language proficiency and based on their results, a recommendation for placement will be made by the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC), and parent permission will be required for participation.
Will my child be taught the same subjects and learn the same skills as students in the regular program?
- Yes, all students in an ESL program will receive instruction in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in English with linguistic accommodations based on their English language proficiency level.
- Yes, language arts, reading, mathematics, science and social studies are integral parts of the state mandated curriculum.
- Yes, students will have a meaningful opportunity to participate in art, music and physical education which are part of a balanced curriculum.
Texas Education Code§29.051 – State Policy Public Schools are responsible for providing a full opportunity for all students to become competent in speaking, reading, writing, and comprehending the English language. The mastery of basic English language skills is a prerequisite for effective participation in the state’s educational program.
Who is responsible for teaching an ESL program?
- Teachers, who are highly qualified, specially trained, and certified to teach in ESL settings/ classrooms/programs in a manner or approach that meets the special language needs of the students.
How is an ESL program different from English language arts instruction?
- The focus is on learning social and academic English within the context of all content area subjects.
- State-adopted ESL materials and ESL certified teachers support students become proficient in English, learn the knowledge and skills in the TEKS, and reach their full academic potential.
How can parents help their child learn by participating in an ESL program?
- Parent approval is required to allow their child to participate and benefit from the program.
- Parents can participate as a member of the LPAC that helps determine how students are identified, placed, instructed and assessed.
- Parents can become involved at home by encouraging their child to achieve, providing him/her a place to study and showing interest in his/her schoolwork.
- Parents can volunteer and help in classroom activities.
Decker the Halls
Our AMAZING PTO has done it again!
Available for purchase until November 5th at Midnight, is the cutest shirt "Decker the Halls"!
Delivered to Decker Prairie Elementary on November 29th!
Just in time to wear or gift for the Holidays!
Click HERE or on the picture below.
Spirit Nights
Decker Prairie PTO
Child Nutrition - District Menus
We are excited to announce for the 2021-22 school year ALL Tomball ISD students will receive FREE school meals, regardless of eligibility! #DestinationExcellence
More info from Child Nutrition: https://www.tomballisd.net/apps/news/article/1469018
Upcoming Dates
Early Voting Going on NOW
- Oct 25th - 29th Red Ribbon Week (see details above)
- Oct 29th - Picture Retakes / PTO fundraiser ends
- Nov 2n - Election Day - No School for Students
- Nov 8th-12th Bookfair - all week
- Nov 9th - Donuts with Grownups - Student Last Name A-M 7:15-7:45 am
- Nov 11th - Donuts with Grownups - Student Last Name N-Z 7:15-7:45 am
- Nov 11th- 6:00-7:30 pm Family Game Night (More Information Coming Soon)
Technology Help
All DPES Families - Stay Updated!
Join our Twitter - @TISDDPES
Decker Prairie Elementary
Principal - Brenda Blackmon
Pk-2nd grade Asst Principal - Tammy Sebesta
3rd-4th grade Asst Principal - Justin Pluckhahn
Email: cynthiawallace@tomballisd.net
Website: https://dpes.tomballisd.net/
Location: 27427 Decker Prairie-Rosehill Road, Magnolia, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 357-3134
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TISDDPES
Twitter: @TISDDPES