News from the Creek
Hippo Nation...Better Together! March 2020
A Note from your CCE Principal
Dear CCES Families--
Time is flying by this school year! As we begin the month of March, there are lots of things happening at the Creek! This month, our English Language Learners in grades K-1st will be taking the TELPAS (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System) test which measures students attainment of English in the areas of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Our Dual Language campus continues to grow and next year we are excited about adding 2nd Grade Dual Language to our campus! We are proud of all of our students in our Dual Language Classrooms for working to enrich their love and learning of language in English and Spanish!
The Dual Language Enrichment model was implemented in Hutto ISD as the Bilingual program. The goal of bilingual education under this model is designed to promote bilingualism, biliteracy, and grade-level academic success. Students maintain their language and have the opportunity to learn another language while developing pride in their own culture and appreciation and understanding for other cultures. The model places great emphasis on setting high expectations for all students regardless of language background. Want to know more about DALE (Dual, Accelerated Language Enrichment Program)? Check out the district website linked here and follow the HISD Dual Language Facebook Page.
This first week of March, we also kick off Dr. Seuss Week. Please see the link below for the information that was shared in February with all parents by our librarians. We begin Dr. Seuss Week on March 2nd and are excited to see how much we can learn with Dr. Seuss stories and activities this week!
Students will be taking a progress measure in Reading and Math this month using a program called RenSTAR. The screener allows teachers to plan with current student data needs in mind and allows for progress monitoring to track student growth compared to the beginning of the school year and middle of the school year. Our students in grades 3-5 will also take interim assessments as an additional measure of student learning. Teachers are skilled in using these types of student data to drive their instruction and provide just in time support and intervention for students. Parents are welcomed to ask questions about the screeners and the progress their child is making any time. Reach out to your child's teacher at any time, we are here to support you and answer your questions.
As you plan for family time during Spring Break, we here at The Creek want to wish you and your family a safe and healthy time together!
Cottonwood Creek Elementary has the BEST Staff, Students, and Families! We truly are "Better Together"! Our students are "Legendary" at Cottonwood Creek Elementary!
With Hippo Nation in Mind,
Linda Pachicano
Principal, Cottonwood Creek Elementary
Notes and Reminders from....
What's Happening at the Creek...
March: TELPAS Testing Begins
March: RenSTAR Screeners K-5th (Reading & Math)
March: Interim Assessments 3rd-5th (Reading, Math, Science, Writing)
3/5- DALE Application Opens Online March 5th-May 3rd
3/7- Vex Robotics State Tournament (2 Teams from CCE Attending, see Robotics Coaches for details)
Explore UT Day (Free to all to visit)
3/12- Texas Heritage Day at the Creek (Be on the lookout for more Info this week)
PTA Bush's Chicken Spirit Night, Thank you for supporting and mentioning CCE when you order!
Attendance 101 Truancy Meeting @ 5:00 PM/CCE Front Office
Open Gym Night at the Creek @ 6:30 PM, Come on out and Join Us!
3/16 - 3/20 SPRING BREAK (Student & Staff Holiday/No School)
3/25- DL Author Visit Date for Library: Joe Hayes visits CCE
3/26- Hutto ISD School Board Meeting 6 PM- 10 PM
3/30- Day of Awesomeness, Celebrating our Fundraising Efforts! Begins at 12 PM - 3 PM.
4/1- HippoWay Awards Assembly 3rd 9 Weeks
PK- 2nd Grades 8:00 AM- 9:30 AM; 3rd- 5th Grades 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Every Friday students are encouraged to show their Campus Spirit along with Staff! Wear your favorite Hutto or Cottonwood Creek T-Shirt! If you are interested in purchasing a campus shirt, please check out the PTA Store Here. Thanks!
Linda Pachicano, Principal
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Mark your calendar for Explore UT 2020!
Saturday, March 7, 2020
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The University of Texas at Austin
FREE. No registration required (except buses).
Everyone is welcome.
We look forward to hosting all students for a day of academic adventure!
For questions, contact exploreut@austin.utexas.edu
Email: linda.pachicano@huttoisd.net
Location: 3160 Limmer Loop, Hutto, TX, USA
Phone: 512-759-5430
Gregory Althoff, Assistant Principal
We now have speed bumps and a crossing walk rail to promote further safety in our front parking lot. Some things to note:
1. Remember that all vehicles must be displaying car tags in order to pick up a student.
2. Safety is our priority, please DO NOT get our of your vehicle if you are in the car line. Let's keep the traffic flowing.
3. Cell Phones are a distraction when driving~ We have had 2 minor accidents due to parents being on the phone while dropping off or picking up their children. Help us stay safe & focus on the drive instead.
4. Daycare vans arrive late sometimes, please share with your daycare vans/services that dismissal time is 3:00 PM. Dismissal time for vans is before 3:15 PM, this allows staff to continue with their after-school duties/responsibilities/meetings.
5. Drive Safe - Please drive slowly when leaving the school pick up lane. Let's not race, let's be safe.
6. Please use our crosswalk, it ensures safety for all.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. I am here to support our processes at the campus! Thank you!
Email: gregory.althoff@huttoisd.net
Location: 3160 Limmer Loop, Hutto, TX, USA
Phone: 512-759-5430
Valerie Kozak, Counselor
Mentor Program-
Would your child benefit from having an adult mentor or are you interested in becoming a mentor to one of our students? Please email me for additional information at valerie.kozak@huttoisd.net
Recently Divorced? Separated? Moved to a New Home/State?
Sometimes changes like these can cause a bit of uncertainty, mixed emotions, and/or insecurity in a child. If you have recently gone through something like this and you feel that it may have had a difficult impact on your student and would like to see what supports you can tap into for yourself, family, or student, please reach out and ask me. I am here to support you!
Lost an Item? Come to our "Lost at the Creek" area located in the cafeteria. Our amazing PTA has organized all student items in a friendly way to help families locate their missing things. Thank you!
Email: valerie.kozak@huttoisd.net
Location: 3160 Limmer Loop, Hutto, TX, USA
Phone: 512-759-5430
Billie Duncan-Smith, Principal's Secretary
Interested in subbing at our campus?
Please ask me how to get started, we would love to have you on board here at The Creek!
Volunteering or Chaperoning?
CCE Families,
Can you believe field trips will start happening next month? Just a friendly reminder, if you would like to attend your child’s field trip, please make sure you are registered as a Level 2 volunteer.
Clarification of the different Volunteer Levels
Level 1 - Function examples--cafeteria/office helper, lunch guest, guest speaker, class party, awards ceremony, supervised teacher helper.
Level 2 - Function examples--event chaperone, one-on-one student assistance, field trips, tutor, field day, and any other unsupervised activity.
Level 3 - Function examples--district mentor, out of town or overnight event chaperone, one-on-one student assistance, any other unsupervised activity.
If you need to register, go to: https://www.hipponation.org/Page/1971 this can take up to 2 weeks to be processed. Please make sure if you are going on a field trip you register as a level 2. Once this has been processed you will receive a confirmation email.
Field Trips Procedures:
Please make sure you come to the office to get a volunteer badge to attend the field trip.
You are more than welcome to follow the buses.
Upon arrival back to the school, please turn in your volunteer badge.
Thank you in advance for your understanding with our security for the students.
Students will only be allowed to leave with their parents from the field trip upon principal approval. Please email your child's teacher and Mrs. Pachicano if you are interested in this option after the field trip has ended. Thank you!
A note from our PTA~
If you not had the opportunity to sign up for being a volunteer, please go to https://www.hipponation.org/Page/1971 to register.
General Information about CCE:
- Please check in at the front office & check out at the front office; exit through the front doors when leaving the building; return your badge upon exiting
- Office Hours are from 7:10 AM - 4:00 PM
- School Hours are from 7:40 AM - 3:00 PM; Please pick up students on time each day
- Instructional Day begins at 7:40 AM; Please drop off your students in the cafeteria before that time. Visitors to classrooms are discouraged to protect student learning during instructional times. Teachers are available to conference with parents during their conference times.
- Transportation changes need to be made by 2:00 PM to allow our office staff enough time to notify teachers and staff of any changes. Please call the school office, send an email to our front office staff & teacher, or in person.
- Families are welcomed to join their students during lunch. We have parent tables available for your convenience.
Estella Alvarado, Registrar/PEIMS/Attendance
Online application for NEW PK & KG will be available March 2nd!
Round up dates are:
Thursday April 2nd 3pm-7pm
Thursday April 23rd 8am-1pm
Tuesday May 19th 3pm-7pm
Please refer to hipponation.org for update on location. Previously held at Hutto High School Library.
From our district specialist, Aliza Rivera:
Existing, currently enrolled PK and Kindergarten students, do NOT need to attend any of the 3 in-person registrations being held in April and May. They will automatically be enrolled in the next grade level. Here is more information about registration for PK/K this coming year.
Only PK/K students, new to the district, for the ´20-´21 school year, will need to complete both the online and in-person registration process that will be held at the High School on April 2nd, April 23rd, and May 19th.
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Have you moved?
If you have moved this semester please be aware that the district needs an updated proof of residency.
If it's in your family's best interest to stay at cottonwood you are welcome to finish the year off with us.
However if you wish to remain at cottonwood for next year you will need to apply for a transfer, transfers can be found on hipponation.org under the registration tab.
Hutto ISD will accept transfer applications for the 2020-2021 school year beginning at 8:30am, Monday, March 2, 2020, until 4:00pm, Friday, April 24, 2020.
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Need to know more about Attendance Laws: Click here for information that we share at our Attendance 101 Meetings.
Next Attendance Meeting is Thursday, March 12th, 2020.
- You can always email any doctor notes to estella.alvarado@huttoisd.net
Thank you!
Nicole Baker, Campus Receptionist
- Please pick up students on time after dismissal. 3:15 PM is considered a late pick up. Our students have had a long day and are ready to head home and our office staff is working to complete their day. We understand that sometimes emergencies may arise, but please make arrangements to have someone else pick up your students if you are running late and communicate changes to the front office at 512-759-5430 as soon as you know that you are running behind. Help us keep the office running smoothly. Thank you!
Parents- Please be aware that if the teacher is in instruction, they may not answer your phone call. You are more than welcome to leave a detailed message with them on their voice message.
Visitors, we do understand that there are times that you will forget your driver's license. Please try to remember that it is our district policy for visitors to be entered into our RAPTOR system each and every time that you visit. Thank you for your support and understanding!
If you would prefer not to wait in the pick up lines that we offer, remember that we also offer walk up pick located in the bus area. Please be prepared to show your car tag to one of our staff members and notify your child's teacher if you are going to change to this mode for dismissal.
Happy Birthday to Students!
Happy Birthday!
- Please let your child's teacher know at least the day before if you are planning on sending birthday cupcakes to celebrate your student's birthday. Our teachers plan/adjust their plans to accommodate cupcakes at the end of the school day.
- Birthdays are celebrated the last 15-20 minutes of the day to protect instructional time and keep us in compliance with school lunch & nutritional guidelines.
- Take advantage of our PTA Birthday Gram, for $5 students receive their personal Birthday Gram delivered to their classroom on their birthday. See the PTA facebook page or email them directly for more information.
- Latex Balloons are not allowed on our campus due to the potential for allergic reaction in our students. Thank you!
Rodney Mcelyea, Nurse
Flu season is upon us! Please help us fight the flu, here are a few things parents can do.
Please remember:
- If your student is diagnosed with Influenza (type A or type B), please inform the school nurse and keep your child home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever (above 100°F) is gone.
- Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
- If you have any questions, please contact your health care professional or the school nurse.
Please review the information at the links from the CDC website.
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/family/flu-guide-for-parents-2018.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/spanish/flu_guide_parents_flyer_sp.pdf
Thanks
Nurse Rod
Campus Mission, Vision, and Staff Belief Statements
CCE Mission:
Fostering Growth, Strengthening Relationships, Inspiring Excellence
CCE Vision:
Cottonwood Creek aspires to be a safe, positive, and innovative learning environment in which each unique individual is accepted, respected, encouraged, challenged and supported.
Cottonwood Creek Elementary Staff Core Belief Statements
We believe in creating a diverse school and classroom environment where emotional and physical safety and security is a top priority for all students and staff.
We believe that taking into consideration that every students’ educational needs are important, every decision should be made in the best interest of all students and their individual success.
We believe parents/guardians and community involvement are vital to the success of our students.
We believe character and social/emotional well-being is as important as academic achievement.
We believe communication is a two-way process for the school-home learning connection as well as for delivery of information.
We believe in enriching academics and the social-emotional environment by providing various innovative learning opportunities to prepare students for their individual pathways towards success.