Parent Newsletter

It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to the 2023-2024 school year! I hope that you have enjoyed your summer, and are looking forward to a new year as much as we are. A special welcome to the families who are new to Romulo D. Martinez Elementary and the Sharyland Independent School District. This year promises to be a year full of productivity, achievement and growth for our students. Together, we will create a year if excellence for our students as we maintain a positive school culture and rigorous instruction. Our focus continues to be the successful learning, safety and emotional well-being of all of our students.

R.D. Martinez Elementary staff strongly believes that the education of our children is a partnership between the home and the school and that parental involvement is crucial to the success of our students. Parents are a vital part of the Martinez School Community and we truly believe that communication is the key to a successful educational experience. We look forward to working with you and developing a relationship that will assist in the growth of your child/children.

August

• Aug. 17, 2023 Meet the Teacher
• Aug. 21, 2023 First day of School - Welcome Back to School

September

• Sept. 4, 2023 Labor Day No School
• Sept. 10, 2023 Happy Grandparents Day
• Sept. 11, 2023 Patriots Day - Remembering 9/11
• Sept. 14, 2022 Fall Pictures
• Sept. 15, 2022 International Dot Day
• Sept. 16, 2023 Deis y Seis Septiembre
• Sept. 18, 2023 Say Hello! Wear yellow/sunglasses
• Sept. 19, 2023 Kindness Always Wins: Wear a Kindness Shirt
• Sept. 20, 2023 Say Aloha! Wear Hawaiian Theme shirt/outfit
• Sept. 21, 2023 Kindness Always Wins: Wear a Kindness Shirt
• Sept. 22, 2023 Stay Connected Wear School Colors
• Sept. 23, 2023 Fall is Here!
• Sept. 24, 2023 Happy Human Resource Professional Day
• Sept. 28, 2023 Family Reading Night

DEAR FAMILIES:

At Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH), we believe that it’s an entire community’s responsibility to help equip and empower students to grow into adults who are ready to lead with heart. We also know how challenging it can be to create intentional time and space to help grow students’ leadership skills and prepare them for success. The truth is, it’s never too early (or late) to start, and we are here to help!

Your child’s school believes in the importance of establishing an environment where every student

feels valued. Capturing Kids Hearts and Lloyd and Dolly Bentsen Elementary will be working together to build a high-performing school culture where students know they are loved and are challenged to grow.

Capturing Kid's Hearts Parent Newsletter English -August

Capturando los corazones de los niños Boletín para padres Español - Agosto

Capturing Kid's Hearts Parent Newsletter English - September

Capturando los corazones de los niños Boletín para padres Español - Septiembre

Purpose

The purpose of AR to help motivate students to read more books at an appropriate level of difficulty that will encourage and challenge their reading ability.

What is Accelerated Reader?

Accelerated Reader is a computer base, reading management and motivational system designed to encourage students to read. Each student is given an individual reading goal based on their reading abilities. Student’s reading ability is based on their reading grade equivalent (GE) score from the STAR Reading test. The GE score is used to determine each student’s zone of proximal development (ZPD) range which is used to determine the level of book difficulty for the students.

Goal Setting

Martinez Elementary uses both a 30-minute AR daily practice and the student’s ZPD to determine a student’s six-week point goal. Example, a student with a 2.5 ZPD would have a point goal of 5.5 points. This is determine by using an AR Goal-Setting Chart.

The following are some AR guidelines to keep in mind: 1. During virtual learning may take AR quizzes at home. 2. Parents are not permitted to help children while they are taking quizzes.

3. Students may take a quiz on a book only one time.

Family Reading Nights

September 28, 2023

November 9, 2023

December 21, 2023

February 22, 2024

March 30, 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized spending that allowed schools to serve free meals for all students. Those funds were not authorized to continue for the 2023-2024 school year. As a result, Sharyland ISD must return to charging for school meals and offering free and reduced-price meals based on student eligibility.

Sharyland will distribute household letters and applications to the households of the children in the district about eligibility benefits. Families are encouraged to complete the Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals, also available on the child nutrition webpage. Meal applications are also available at our CNP office and campuses. Certain campuses are eligible to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The CEP is a federally funded option that allows all students to eat breakfast and lunch during the school day for free. Please see our Child Nutrition webpage for more details.