The Pink Press
Here's What's Happening at Pink
Pink Elementary School: 2017 National Let's Move Active Schools Award Recipient
National Let's Move Active Schools Award
Did you know that moving your body for 60 minutes of day can lead to higher academic achievement, improved attendance and greater focus? This is why, Pink Elementary School is committed to ensuring that our physical education and physical activity programs are part of your child's educational experience.
Because of our outstanding efforts and commitment to helping students learn, focus and grow through the integration of at least 60 minutes of physical activity before, during and after the school day, Pink Elementary School was recently recognized as a National Let's Move Active School, the only school in Frisco ISD to receive this coveted award.
Active Schools is a national movement with a mission to help schools provide active school environments. To earn a Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award, a school must have met significant benchmarks in five areas:
physical education; physical activity before and after school; physical activity during school; staff involvement; and family and community engagement.
We are proud to be an Active School because we know that physical activity translates to student success both in the classroom and in life. Please join us in celebrating this achievement. Talk with your kids about the importance of physical activity, and ask them how they move during the school day.
Social/Emotional Learning
At Pink, we are committed to teaching our students skills and strategies to assist them in effective self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision-making and relationship skills. These skills are critical to students success and proven to enhance the learning environment in school. Below are the ways in which we embed social/emotional learning into the daily schedule at Pink.
- Daily Morning Meetings: Every morning for 15 minutes, teachers lead students in a classroom community meeting focused on character traits, emotional regulation strategies, topics of interest to the students and/or concerns of the classroom with regard to behavior.
- Daily Emotion Check-In: Students check in privately each morning by sharing with the teacher their current mood. This is important for the teacher to know in order to best meet the students learning needs for the day. This is handled very delicately and students are identified by their class number.
- Mindfulness Breathing: Mindful Breathing is a technique used to calm and focus the brain. Teachers incorporate time for students to cool down at their discretion. This is typically most effective after recess to focus students on learning. Go-Noodle is the most common resource used for mindfulness breathing as well as classical music.
- "The Chill Spot": Each classroom has a designated area that is called The Chill Spot. This is an area in the classroom that students can retreat to if they need a few minutes to re-focus, think or calm their brain. Thanks to PTA, all classrooms have a Chill Box at this location with several tools used to settle nerves, get fidgets out and re-focus students on learning. The Chill Spot is not used for punitive purposes. It is a proactive strategy rather than a reactive strategy.
- Morning Greetings: Each teacher is expected to stand at the door to the classroom each morning to greet each student as they enter. This is a great time for connection and also a time for the teacher to quickly check-in with students to ensure that they have the best day possible.
For information regarding SEL, please view the video below or visit Mrs. Dragoslavic's School Counselor Website.
October Character Trait: GRIT
Watch DOGS 2017
We are very excited to begin our Watch D.O.G.S. program this school year at Pink beginning mid-October! Thank you for the enthusiasm you all show and for your overwhelming support with this program each school year. This year, we will not have a scheduled Watch D.O.G.S. Orientation and Sign Up Night. However, all who are interested are expected to review the orientation slideshow posted on our Pink website under the Watch D.O.G.S. tab and complete the FISD volunteer process at least 2 weeks prior to your day of service. We want to ensure that you are well prepared to serve and volunteer on your selected day and that you understand the expectations of the program.
There are a few changes to be aware of this school year listed below. These changes are based on feedback and observations made with the program over the past few years. Please make note of these changes as you review the schedule and make arrangements to volunteer.
All interested dads, grandfathers or father figures must complete Watch D.O.G.S. orientation online.
Watch D.O.G.S. are permitted to volunteer one day only per year on a designated Tuesday or Thursday. Due to the decreased number of days this year and high interest, multiple days may not be scheduled.
Only 3 Watch D.O.G.S are permitted to volunteer on a designated day.
The Watch D.O.G.S orientation, schedule and sign up will be posted on the Pink website on Friday, October 6th with available service days beginning on Tuesday, October 17th. There are a few things that can be done now to prepare. You may complete the required FISD background check and order a Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirt. You may access the background check form by clicking on the title below. If you are interested, you may purchase a Watch DOGS t-shirt online on the program website however this is not a requirement to volunteer. http://www.fathers.com/watchdogs/
Frisco ISD Background Check Form
Thanks again for your support! We can't wait to have you join us for a day of fun at Pink!
Warrior Dash 2017: October 20th
The Pink Warrior Dash is our obstacle fun run fundraiser scheduled to take place October 20, 2017. There will be obstacles to crawl under, jump over and balance across. It is sure to be a challenging and fun course! The Warrior Dash raises money through sponsored pledges. This is Pink Elementary PTA’s main fundraiser this year and will continue to support the STEAM lab, provide special programming for our students throughout the year and purchase technology. Information regarding adopt a class and inflatable sponsorship was sent home in Thursday folders. The link for this type of sponsorship will be on first come first served basis and will go live on Monday, October 2nd at 12:00 p.m.
At this time, we are looking for interested volunteers to assist on October 20th. Please contact Lidia Nunez-Yancey at pinkptafundraiser@gmail.com to learn more about volunteer opportunities or visit the Pink PTA website.
PTA Reflections Contest 2017: Within Reach
Call for Entries
http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/
Reflections is a FREE program the National PTA offers students to create works of art for fun and receive recognition each year by submitting original pieces of art in:
· Literature
· Photography
· Musical Composition
· Dance Choreography
· Visual Arts
· Film/video
Students can submit original works of art in any of the six areas, with no maximum number of entries. (One in each category) Participation in the Reflections Program is organized by school grade. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate development age and skill levels.
Grade division in elementary school are:
· Primary (Kindergarten-Grade 2)
· Intermediate (Grades 3-5
National PTA also offers the Special Artists division which is limited to students who have physical, cognitive, or mental health challenges as defined by the American with Disabilities Act. The challenge of the Reflections Program is to create art that interprets the specific theme for the year. Our theme this year is “Within Reach.” The deadline to submit an entry is Monday October 16, 2017.
If you would like more specific information regarding contest rules, category guidelines, and entry forms, please check out website http://pinkelem.my.pta.org/ and click on our Reflections tab. Students can also obtained an entry form from Mrs. White, Art Teacher or Ms. Bannworth, Music Teacher. You may also contact the Cultural Arts PTA Committee Leader, Megan Kundivich mkundivich80@gmail.com for more information.
Pink 101
We appreciate your cooperation!
-Arrival/Dismissal Traffic Flow Map
Wanted: Volunteers
For returning volunteers, please remember that the background check form must be submitted each year.
Click below to access the new FISD volunteer clearance and tracking program. You will need to set up an account to access the background check form.
Just a reminder: Whenever you stop by to visit whether it is to volunteer, eat lunch with your child, or to simply drop off something with the nurse, you must bring and show your driver's license. Each year your license will be scanned to register you in our system. This is a district-wide protocol to ensure our students safety.