The Leopard Tale
October-2018
Principal's Points
Ahoy there, Andre’ Pirate Parents,
Thank you so much for your partnership as we set sail on our new journey this year. Our first annual APPLE Night was a huge success. We hope that you found this evening informative and were able to learn about all of the amazing learning opportunities that this year promises. We had a fabulous turn out at our VIPS orientation and at our W.A.T.C.H Dog Dads’ Pizza Night. Students and staff alike had a fun evening at our first McDonald’s spirit night, and several homerooms are nearing 100% for PTO membership. We hope that you will continue to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, as well. We love to share #AndreInAction! Additionally, it is important for you to OPT IN for @schoolmessenger emergency notifications. We will make every effort to not overload you with communication from Andre’, however, this is the platform where information will be used should there be a District or campus wide emergency. Please do not unsubscribe.
Parent conference day is October 8th, and allows our teachers dedicated time to share important information about your child’s progress. We will also have our book fair open for you, as an excellent opportunity to get ahead on holiday shopping. Before you know it, our library will transform in every nook and cranny, with pumpkin characters visiting for all to enjoy.
Please make plans to attend “Bring Your Parent to School Day” and visit your child’s classroom. Our Leopards are eager to show off their brilliance! Some of our pumpkins may still be visiting the library. Make sure you sneak a peek and find out! Meanwhile, our pirate Leopards are busy choosing adventures and seeking treasure during Genius Hour and all throughout the day. We have enjoyed individual presentations about the Eiffel Tower, interesting places to visit, ancient art, unusual snakes, and so many more. As October comes to a close and we wrap up the first grading period, we will celebrate student effort with “Dress Like a Pirate” day on October 31st. We are so proud of our pirate Leopards this year. “Aargg!”
News You Need to Know
Fall Portrait Day
All students will be photographed for our yearbook on Tuesday, October 16th. Be sure to have your child wear something colorful on Portrait day, and avoiding white clothing. Lifetouch order forms will be sent home soon. Order forms must be turned in, or an online order needs to be processed, on or before October 16th.
Bring Your Parent to School Day
We would like to invite you to “Bring Your Parents to School Day."
This exciting event will be:
· Thursday, October 25th for 2nd-5th grades
· Thursday, November 1st for AM/PM PK, LifeSkills, kindergarten and 1st grades
This is an opportunity for you to see what a typical day at school is like for students. If you would like to attend, please fill out the RSVP form that will be sent home later this month and return it to your child’s teacher. We will send home your sign-in sticker with your child on the day before the event. Due to the importance of preserving the instructional environment, as well as giving you the optimal experience, this special day is for parents only. No siblings or stroller-age children will be admitted.
Our days are scheduled so that parking will be available for each grade level timeslot. Therefore, we ask parents to visit during scheduled times only.
Due to our unique parking lot, we are unable to accommodate lunch visitors on these days. Please select another day to eat lunch with your child. Keeping in mind that this observation experience has been designed for you to see instructional expertise, no time will be available for parent questions or conferences. Please continue to communicate with your child’s teacher any needs to schedule additional conferences. Thank you for your understanding of our learning environment.
Andre’ Apple Night and Title I Meeting Updates
We were so excited to see the huge turnout at our Apple Nights/Title I meetings on September 11th and September 18th. Your attendance and support of your child’s school is greatly appreciated, as we form partnerships for your child’s success.
Notice to Parents
As a parent of a student at a campus receiving Title I funds, federal law allows you to ask for information about the certification, college major, and advanced degrees of your child’s teacher(s). You also have the right to request information about the qualifications of a teacher aide or paraprofessional providing direct services to your child. If you would like to receive this information, you may contact the Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D. Human Resources Department at 281-897-4099.
Counselors' Corner
Welcome to the Counselors' Corner. We have several events going on during the month that we would like to share with you. We will be hosting out first No Place For Hate (NPFH) activity mid-month. The lesson activity will focus on accepting individuals with disabilities. We are looking for two parent volunteers to serve on our NPFH advisory committee and would love to have you join us. The commitment is minimal; we meet twice during the school year. Please contact one of the counselors using the contact information below.
We will be celebrating our September attendance grade level homeroom winners this Friday, October 5. Each month we celebrate with the students in the homeroom that had the highest homeroom attendance for the previous month. The homeroom gets to keep the attendance trophy in their homeroom for the month, and we celebrate with a treat and fun activity. Our attendance last year was 96.9%, and we are making a concerted effort to boost Andre’ over the 97% mark.
Our core value for the month is CONTENTMENT – choosing to be happy with what you have. We will be delivering age-appropriate lessons to each classroom throughout the month. Please take the opportunity to add to our efforts with your own conversation about what it means to be content.
Jessica Hooper – PK, 2nd, 3rd, 5th Brian Finnerty – Life Skills, K,1st, 4th
(281) 463-5564 (281) 463-5548
Horizon's Information
The window for requesting testing for your child for our Horizons (G&T) program commences on October 1 and ends November 30. During that time, you may nominate your child for testing. Please forward your request electronically or in writing to your child’s homeroom teacher. When we receive the request, we will send home a parent questionnaire/permission to test form. Please complete the form and return it in the envelope it came in, to your child’s homeroom teacher. When we receive the permission form, we will add the child’s name to our testing roster. Testing will take place in January and February of 2019.
Additionally, a teacher of the child may nominate that student. If that occurs, the teacher will contact the parent and ask permission for the child to be tested. If the parent agrees, we will send home the parent questionnaire/permission slip. All permission slips need to be submitted by November 30. We will not accept permission slips after that date.
If you have further questions, please contact Mr. Finnerty or Ms. Hooper in the counseling office.
Words From the Library
Book Fair will be held in the library October 5, 9, 10. Students will be able to shop during their reading class (see attached schedule). Please be sure to send extra money to pay for tax.We will also be open 9:30-3:30 during Conference Day on Monday, Oct. 8.
Book Character Pumpkins will be on display in the library from Oct. 22-29. Attached is information explaining how your family can participate.
The Mobile Library will be at the Yaupon Ranch Pool on Greenhouse and Dusty Yaupon on October 27 from 9:30-11:30. Students who visit can check out extra library books, while enjoying story time, snacks and prizes.
Notes from the front desk
Lunch Visitors
Please limit your lunch visits with your child to one time per week. We have close to 1000 students and want to make sure we have space for all parents who would like to eat lunch with their children. A note is required from a guardian for anyone other than a guardian to have lunch with your child.
Absences
If your child is absent, please send a note on the first day of your child’s return to school stating the reason for the absence. Thank you.
Transportation Changes
If a child’s end-of-day transportation changes, the parent/guardian must send a note with the date, necessary changes and parent/guardian signature. If a note is not received, the usual method of transportation will be followed.
For safety purposes, no changes will be made after 3:30 P.M. and PHONE CALLS or E-MAILS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
Student Council
Student Council Representative Election
On Tuesday, September 11th, 4th and 5th grade held elections for homeroom representatives. Congratulations to all of the following students:
4th Grade:
Kaitlyn Riley and Ximena Martinez-Kelly's Homeroom
Royston Love and Reghan Weatherton-Hobson's Homeroom
Rebecca Aguirre and Zhamani Ogunson- Secrease's Homeroom
Tomas Echeverria and Jonathan Velasquez-Delgado's Homeroom
Levi Malleto and Mauricio Powers-Gonzales' Homeroom
Brianna Frank and Levi Feith- Cones' Homeroom
London Bloom and Riley Riddle- Campfield's Homeroom
Pilar Flowers and Paityn Goodwin- Sabbe's Homeroom
5th Grade:
Isaac Duarte and Eliana Garces-Butler's Homeroom
Emma Ruffino and Julia Dang-Moreno's Homeroom
Cindy Mendoza and Leia Duncan-Alvarez's Homeroom
Maddisyn Saa and Tyler Burrell-Joseph's Homeroom
Mackenzie Henry and Emily Fraser-Bennett's Homeroom
Jayden Thomas and Kiki Tillman-Hahn's Homeroom
Officer Elections
On Friday, October 5th, 4th and 5th grade students running for officer positions will present speeches to all 4th and 5th grade students. All posters are due October 1st. Results of the election will be posted in next month’s newsletter.
PTO
Mark your calendar
October 4- Book Fair Arrives
October 5- 9:15-10:15- Student Council Officer Speeches-4/5
Spirit Day
October 8- Parent/Teacher Conference Day-Student Holiday
October 12- Spirit Day
October 15- PTO Meeting-6:30
October 16- Fall Portraits-All grade levels
October 18-Donuts with Dads-PK/PPCD
October 19- No Place for Hate
Spirit Day
October 22- Chick Fil A Night 5-8 (Town Lake)
October 24- Flu Shots
October 25- Bring Your Parent to School Day-2nd-5th Grades
October 26- End of the 1st 9 weeks
Spirit Day
October 31- Dress Like a Pirate Day
Vision and Hearing Screenings
November 1- Bring Your Parent to School Day-PK/K/1 and LifeSkills
November 2- Report Cards Go Home- Wear College Shirts or College Colors
About Us
Email: andre@cfisd.net
Website: andre.cfisd.net/en/
Location: 8111 Fry Road, Cypress, TX, USA
Phone: 281-463-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/cfisdandre/
Twitter: @cfisdandre