Principal's Update
Designing Excellence the Wrangler Way!
Great Start to the School Year! Thank you!
As we come to the end of the "official" season of summer and get ready for October, we know many of you are feeling that sense of relief that you made it through the first few weeks of school . By now, you are getting the routines in place and balancing out the after school activities. Soon you will be conferencing with your child's teachers. While this may cause a little worry, you can rest assured that our teachers are always working hard to put your child's needs first. Our goal at Granger is to know all students by name and need so we will soon be having meetings with teachers to talk about every child. We are so thankful to be able to serve in a community that supports our mission to put kids first and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep our school the best in Texas.
Next week, Mrs. Buce, Mrs. Wallace, and I will be traveling to Washington D.C. to accept the National School of Character Award on the school's behalf. National Schools of Character are schools, early childhood through high school, that have demonstrated through a rigorous evaluation process that character development has had a positive impact on academics, student behavior, and school climate. These schools become part of a network of Schools of Character that serve as models and mentors to other educators and hold their designation for 5 years.
Our Fall fundraiser kicked off last week. Some of the funds will be utilized to purchase technology, classroom resources, our Kid with Character signs, student incentives, outdoor recess equipment, resources and supplies for a sensory lab.
Character Education at Granger
Character Trait: Responsibility
We are focusing on the character trait – RESPONSIBILITY – for this six weeks. Through announcements, morning meetings, and guidance lessons, we are highlighting not only what responsibility means but also ways we can practice this trait in our lives: Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Be diligent • Persevere • Do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act • Be accountable for your words, actions and attitudes • Set a good example for others.
The guidance lessons for all grade levels will focus on making healthy choices for our bodies, minds, and behaviors.
The following article shares ideas for building responsibility habits at home:
https://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/character/responsibility
Wrangler Round Up
The purpose of our Wrangler Round Ups are to celebrate students each six weeks. Last year a survey was sent out to parents and teachers to get feedback on ways we can improve our assemblies as well as continuing to make it a meaningful experience for our students. As a result of the feedback we received from many of you as well as our teachers this year's assemblies will look a little different. Teachers will be sending out specific details about their grade level assembly in their grade level newsletters.
Our first classroom round up will be on October 5th All students will be recognized in their classrooms. Kids with character will be invited to a principal's breakfast, given a yard sign to take home along with a printed certificate. This year part of our fundraiser money will be used for Kid With Character yard signs so that every winner gets to keep their sign. You will not have to return it or pay for it.
Round Up Times:
Kinder 11:20-11:35
1st 11:45-12:00
2nd 12:05-12:20
4th 12:30-12:45
3rd 12:55-1:10
5th 1:20-1:35
Perfect Attendance pizza drawing will take place on the morning of round ups. Each grade level will have 1 winner recognized during morning announcements on Friday Oct. 5th
Kid with Character: all KWC students will be announced during morning announcements the morning following round ups. Tuesday Oct. 9th
We will do a Semester Wrangler Celebration on Friday January 11th.
Kinder and 1st grade 11:30
2nd and 3rd grade 12:30
4th and 5th grade 1:30
We will recognize Kid with Character winners for all 3 marking periods during this assembly, but will not read the individual comments on each certificate.
Citizenship Grades
This year at Granger we are aligning our citizenship grades campus wide. The goal is to provide a positive environment with minimal classroom interruptions and set each student up for success by providing consistent expectations.
A student’s citizenship grades will be determined by their success with the expectations specified below. All students will start with a “Satisfactory” citizenship grade. They will be given the opportunity to earn an “Excellent” citizenship grade based on their daily work habits and behavior.
As we go through this change, please help your student understand that “Satisfactory” means they are performing at a proficient level. If your child receives “Excellent” in any area, that means that they went above the average expectation. This a significant accomplishment and they have truly excelled in a specific area.
Citizenship
Excellent-
- Actively engaged
- Goes above and beyond in daily work habits and behavior
- Self monitors personal behavior and models classroom
- expectation
- Consistently contributes to the class
- Promotes a positive classroom environment
- Consistently models and encourages respect of others
Satisfactory-
- On task most of the time
- Is a member of a positive classroom environment
- Consistently respectful to others
- Exhibits work habits that meet the classroom expectation
- Minimal reminders about personal behavior
Needs improvement-
- Needs frequent reminders about behavior or work habits
- Occasionally disrupts classroom environment
- Behavior and/or work habits occasionally hinder the student’s learning or that of their peers
Unsatisfactory
- Student has been formally referred to the office
- Often disrupts classroom environment
- Behavior and/or work habits often hinder the student’s learning or that of their peers
September Teacher of the Month
Progress Reports and Parent Conferences
2. The time period after the progress report but before the report card is an important period to monitor a student’s cumulative grade. At any time during this time period, if a student’s grade falls below 75, the teacher shall initiate parent contact within two days from the time the grade falls below 75 in any content area. Contact should be documented and kept by the teacher. Follow-up communication with parents shall occur by the end of the fifth week of the six-weeks grading period for any content area where a student continues to have a 75 average or below.
October 9th is the 2018-2019 Free & Reduced Application Deadline
If your children received free or reduced-priced meals last school year, they are automatically receiving the meal benefits for the first 30 days of the 2018-2019 school year. On October 9th, only students whose parents submitted a 2018-2019 application and qualified for the program, will receive free or reduced-priced meals.
At any time during the school year, you may apply for your children to receive free or reduced rate breakfast and lunch meals. If your household income changes or a new member joins your family, you may apply for the first time or reapply with the update information.
To apply online
· Go to http://northwestisd.schoollunchapp.com
· Please follow the application directions carefully so your application can be processed quickly. If you have more than one child attending NISD schools, combine their names on one application.
· A new application must be completed each school year.
· An application cannot be approved until all requested fields have been completed and signed by an adult household member.
· If your Pre-K child was automatically enrolled on the free and reduced program, your other children will NOT automatically be on the program. You must complete an application for all other children.
Paper applications are available at all schools or at the NISD Food Service Office.
If you have any questions, please contact
Christina Day,
Free & Reduced Specialist,
(817) 215-0053
Emily Hamil
Marketing Manager
Northwest ISD Food Service - ARAMARK K-12
www.facebook.com/AramarkNISD
www.instagram.com/northwest_aramark
Reminder....please RSVP below or with the Office
Coffee with the Principal
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2018, 08:00 AM
Kay Granger Elementary School, Saratoga Springs Circle, Fort Worth, TX, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Thank you to North Texas HVAC for providing our welcome back sign for the first two days of school! The Slagles are parents of Hayden Slagle.
Granger Highlights the First Five Weeks....
Granger Gives!
Patriot's Day
Patriot's Day is a day when our Wranglers stop and pause to be thankful and proud to be an American. Thank you to our music teachers, parents, and fifth grade teachers for an outstanding performance.
Watch Dog Pizza Night!
https://www.grangerpta.org/watch-dogs/ or you can email Angelo Santiago at kge.dogs@gmail.com
Michelle McAdams, Principal
Email: mmcadams@nisdtx.org
Website: http://granger.nisdtx.org/
Location: Kay Granger Elementary School, Saratoga Springs Circle, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Phone: 817-698-1100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grangerelem/
Twitter: @grangerelem