Jackrabbit Journal
October 2018
FROM MRS. FRANK
Dear Jackrabbit Families,
Thank you for a great first six weeks of school! Our scholars and teachers are working hard every day! Did you know that our school earned 4 distinctions from the state based on our STAAR scores? We earned distinctions in reading, math, science and academic growth. I am so proud of our amazing staff and students. It is so important for our Jackrabbits to be here every day. Thank you for ensuring that your students get enough sleep, are prepared for school and get to school on time each day. Our goal is for our Jackrabbits to attend college in the future so we encourage our students to wear college t-shirts on Fridays.
Thank you for sharing your children with us.
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.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
October's Tip is:
ACT, DON'T TALK
If you decide to act more and talk less, your children will begin to notice the difference. Instead of asking your children to be quiet over and over, you can try waiting quietly for them to give you their attention. If your children are fighting over a toy, quietly remove it and put it where they can't reach it. You don't to say a word for them to get the idea that they can have the toy back when they stop fighting over it. If your child is banging his fork on the table or reaching for an object you don't want the child to have, ask the child to stop once. If the child persists, remove the object instead of repeating yourself incessantly.
HORIZONS MID-YEAR TESTING/ STUDENTS K-11
Open Referral Period
October 1, 2018 through November 30 2018
Parents/guardians who wish to refer their child for HORIZONS testing must follow the process described below:
· Please access the parent information within the HORIZONS website at http://www.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/academics/gifted-talented/ to review the PowerPoint presentation entitled, Should I Refer My Child for the HORIZONS Program?
· If testing is appropriate, request a HORIZONS Parent Survey and Permission to Test form no later than Friday, November 30, 2018. Students will not be screened unless the parent permission form is returned by the November 30 deadline.
· Kindergarten students will be tested on their campuses during the school day in January 2019, and students 1-11 will be tested on their campuses during the school day prior to Spring Break. Specific testing dates will be provided to parents by the campuses.
· Kindergarten students who qualify for HORIZONS will be receive services beginning in March 2019 with parent permission.
· Students in grades 1-11 who qualify for HORIZONS will receive services at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, with parent permission.
FROM THE CLINIC
Screenings
Please consider volunteering for our school's mandatory student screenings happening in October on Wednesday, October 10th and Thursday, October 11th. No training needed for many spots. We need help with certified vision and hearing screeners, and LOTS of volunteers to help as vision screener aides, take weight and height measurements and mover specialists (getting kids to and from where they need to be). Please call Nurse Gaubert at 281-463-5917 if you have any time to help out with this.
Medication Rules
CFISD Medication Policy: Children are not allowed to transport any medications, over the counter or prescription, in or out of the school; this includes Neosporin, cough drops, canker sore medication, etc.
Parents need to bring medication that is in the original container, unopened and unexpired, to the clinic. Prescription medication must have the pharmacy label on it with the doctor's written directions as to how to administer the medication and time medication is to be given. All medications must be FDA approved for acceptance by the Nurse. No herbal formulations or vitamins will be accepted. If more than a children's dosage is requested, a signed note by the doctor must be provided along with the medication. EpiPens will not be accepted without a corresponding MD signed Emergency Plan.
Thanks,
Tania Gaubert - RN, BSN
School Nurse
Owens Elementary
7939 Jackrabbit Road, Houston TX 77095
Phone: 281-463-5917
Fax: 281-463-5526
RED RIBBON WEEK
October 22-26, 2018
We are excited about all the activities we have planned at Owens for the red Ribbon Week. This week gives us a chance to have some focused discussions and activities about how important it is for our students to make great choices.
OWENS FALL FESTIVAL
On Saturday, November 10, 2018, Owens Elementary will be hosting a Fall Festival. Not only is this a fun-filled activity for students and their families, but it is a fundraiser to help support our school’s instructional programs and the physical education department. We will have fun activities and food for everyone to enjoy.
We are looking for people or companies to be a t-shirt sponsor. For $250, you can put your company logo or even your child's name on the back of the t-shirt. Deadline for sponsors is October 5th. Please contact Coach Kramer at janet.kramer@cfisd.net if you are willing to be a t-shirt sponsor.
We are also looking for donations for our auctions. Any gift certificates for merchandise or services would be greatly appreciated. Also, any products that could be displayed and bid on are also encouraged. Even if you personally cannot provide these items, we need help soliciting gift certificates and items from restaurants, recreational venues, stores, etc. If you are good at soliciting and have some free time, we would definitely appreciate your help. Please contact Coach Hughes at lisa.hughes@cfisd.net if there is any way you would be able to support our fundraiser by assisting with the auction items.
Thanks in advance,
Lisa Hughes and Janet Kramer
FAMILY FITNESS DAILY MOVEMENT CALENDAR
CHILD FIND SERVICES
The Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District Special Education Department provides educational services to an estimated 8,000 students with special needs.
Teachers, instructional aides, speech pathologists and related service personnel provide instruction and related services to students who have a disability. Students are eligible for special education services from the age of 3 through 21. Students who have hearing and vision disabilities may receive services from birth.
To be eligible for special education services, students must meet eligibility requirements as a student with an orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, auditory impairment, visual impairment, diagnosis of deaf/blind, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance, learning disability, speech impairment, multiple disabilities, autism, non-categorical early childhood, or traumatic brain injury.
Cypress Fairbanks ISD instructional arrangements for elementary school-aged students include in-class support, resource classes and speech/language therapy. Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD), adaptive behavior, and LIFE Skills classes are offered as cluster services at the elementary level.
In-class support, resource classes, LIFE Skills, adaptive behavior and speech/language services are available at all secondary level campuses.
Related services may include psychological services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, orientation and mobility training, school health services, adaptive equipment and special transportation.
Other special education service options include the Dorothy Carlton Center, the Adaptive Behavior Center, homebound, adaptive physical education, itinerant and on-site services to the visually impaired.
As part of the Northwest Harris County Cooperative for the Hearing Impaired, services for students who have auditory impairments are offered at Birkes Elementary, Hancock Elementary, Spillane Middle School and Cy-Ridge High School. In addition to receiving instruction at the on-site campuses, students may be served by itinerant teachers, speech pathologists, and/or an audiologist at their home campus.
Are you the parent of a pre-school (3-5 years) or school aged child and have concerns regarding your child’s physical, speech, and/or emotional development? Is your child experiencing academic problems which could interfere significantly with educational success? If so, contact the Special Education Department at 281-897-6400 to discuss your concerns and learn more about the referral process.