Cheetah Connection
A PRINCIPAL UPDATE FOR OUR CHANDLER FAMILIES
January 8, 2021
Cheetah Families,
I hope that you and your families had a restful break and are ready for a great second semester. We were super excited to see all of our students' smiling faces on Tuesday.
Have a great weekend! Stay warm!
Bobbie Allen
Principal
Chandler Elementary
#inthistogether
Save the Date!
- 1/13- Crazy Socks and Crazy Hat Day!
- 1/18- Martin Luther King Day- Student and Staff Holiday
- 1/19-1/22- College and Career Week
- 1/19- Virtual PTA Meeting & Science Night
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day this year will be celebrated at Chandler on February 12th. As in years past, we do not have a party on that day, but rather just allow students to exchange valentines with other students. This year we are asking that if you chose to send valentines with your child, that you send them by Monday, February 8th. This will allow them to sit untouched for several days prior to your child opening their box/bag. In addition, we ask that you not send a container for the valentines. We will be providing that for students this year. More specifics will be sent home from the teachers in the coming weeks.
Expectations for AT-HOME Learners
As we have returned from the break, I want to take a moment to re-establish some expectations for success in ‘At-Home’ learning. Below are ‘At-Home’ learning expectations for all students. Students must be actively engaged in the learning for the entirety of class. Active engagement includes the following:
- Logged into the Google Meet or Zoom at the start of class and remain in the meet for the entirety of all synchronous learning times
- Cameras must be on for the entirety of class. In addition, students need to show their entire face...we should not just see part of it or backgrounds.
- Students will complete and submit all assignments by the due date
- Students are expected to attend all asynchronous small group/intervention as assigned by the teacher
- Complete activities assigned in music, PE, and art each week
Please remind your child of these expectations. We are here to ensure your child is successful. Let us know if you have any questions or we can help in any way.
Damaged school issued computer or device?
- Should your school-issued computer become damaged, please submit a help ticket here, https://allenisd.on.spiceworks.com/portal/tickets
- We will then be able to get you a replacement while repairs are being made.
- The school will then create an invoice and send it to you to pay for the damage, repairs, or a replacement through SchoolPay.
- Should you have further questions about this process, please let us know.
STEAM Ambassador Tutoring
General Overview:
STEAM Ambassadors will provide flexible, one on one online peer tutoring services to students 5-12 with homework help and science and math concept comprehension.
Goals:
Assist students with math and science concepts through virtual tutoring sessions.
Provide accessible student support that would typically be offered in a face to face setting but has become increasingly difficult as students learn away from campus.
Establish a virtual tutoring model that successfully addresses the diverse needs of learners across Allen ISD.
Who are the tutors?
Tutors are 10th-12th grade STEAM Ambassadors that excel in science and math.
STEAM Ambassadors were chosen by board members, administrators, and teachers during an extensive interview process last spring.
Tutors have completed classroom observations and were trained on best instructional practices.
Please visit the STEAM Ambassador website to learn more about the leadership program and tutoring
How to sign up:
**Parents and students may view available times for tutoring sessions and sign up for a session here**
Students can learn about the available tutors by viewing their bios.
Students will sign up for a session at least 24 hours in advance, providing details regarding material they would like to cover during the session. Additionally, graded quizzes/assignments, homework, etc. can be submitted here for the tutor to review in detail with the student (reworking missed questions, clarifying/reteaching when necessary)
Prior to the first tutoring session a parent/guardian permission slip will be submitted
Reminder- Allen ISD Resources
Counseling Connection
Virtual Watch DOGS - Video Request
Attention Dads, Grandfathers, Uncles & Adult Male Role Models! Watch DOGS (Dads Of Great Students) are such an important part of our day-to-day business at Chandler, and with this school year being so different, we are missing out on having our amazing Watch DOGS here in person to mentor in the classroom and bring extra fun to our school day. Please consider joining us “virtually” by sending in a Watch DOG video that will play on our morning announcements show for all students --both virtual and in-person-- to enjoy! Be on the lookout for a flyer in Thursday folders with the following info and more specific tips:
- Make a video (less than 2 minutes, please) of your Chandler student interviewing you OR with you talking and introducing yourself and your special student/s.
- Share your video with Mrs. Horton, School Counselor, at : Dawn.Horton@allenisd.org.
- Mrs. Horton & Mrs. Rios, Librarian, will choose a day to add your video to the Morning Announcements. Unfortunately, we cannot accept requests for certain days, but know that ANY day your video plays, YOUR student will smile and feel important!
Cheetah Champions - 2nd Nine Weeks
At Chandler, we have a tradition of celebrating students who are exemplary in many ways each 9 weeks! These students make good choices, are leaders, are kind and respectful to all, follow all Cheetah Expectations and are students we want to honor for their outstanding behavior and contributions made to their classroom. Teachers are asked to select one student each 9 weeks grading period, for a total of only 4 students this school year, so this award is quite special. Students are presented with a certificate and cheers from their classmates as Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Abboud and Mrs. Horton visit each classroom to congratulate these special students! ❤️
Congratulations to our 2nd Nine Weeks Cheetah Champions:
Kindergarten - William Wilson, Rafah Chawdury, Brooklyn Crouch, Lydia Wang
1st Grade - Reece Nersesian, Alexa Stroup, Austin Pinsook, Raunav Aggarwal
2nd Grade - Minha Kim, Mobeen Elgouhari, Aaron Whitehawk, Kane Seagraves
3rd Grade - Caleb Parr, Erina Alam, Yumi Etter, Caleb Jenkins, Arman Kalam
4th Grade - Adrian Moran, Madison Sharpe, Sanika Khan, Zipporah Isom, Cheribium Lewis
5th Grade - Esma Ibrahim, Max Hull, Drew Dollyhigh, Shola Agbesola
6th Grade - Zarriyah Douglas, Hailey Boling, Kelsie Smith, Olivia White, JC'Aan Zeno
College & Career Week coming soon! - January 18-22
You'll find a flyer about this special week in your child's Thursday folder NEXT week, but we wanted to give everyone some notice that we have some fun theme days coming up to encourage future-focused thinking, even at the elementary level! Students will be learning about staff members and their paths to a current career at Chandler, as well as some tips to help consider interesting grown-up jobs and how to reach a goal of a favorite career!
Please join us for these theme day activities:
- Monday, 1/18 - No School
- Tuesday, 1/19 - College & Career Begins Right Here! (Wear Chandler Spirit Wear!)
- Wednesday, 1/20 - Which College Wednesday??!! (Wear a shirt, hat, or colors from your favorite college!)
- Thursday, 1/21 - Soar Like Eagles Into The Future (Wear Allen Eagle Spirit Wear!)
- Friday, 1/22 - Future Friday - Three Cheers For Careers! (Dress up as a career or job you are interested in!) Please be sure attire is school appropriate and that students have correct footwear for P.E. and recess.
Be The One Character Value for January - DETERMINATION
Our Allen ISD definition of determination is: Deciding it is worth it to finish what you have started! Stick with things and persevere!
Determination means never giving up on a goal. How we spend our time and energy tells others what we consider important in our lives. By sticking with a task and finishing it, we show others that we think it is worth it. Talk to your child about being determined to do their best. Help your students set goals and track their progress.
Some PARENT TIPS for teaching determination at home:
- Praise the effort more than the accomplishment.
- Look for difficult but doable situations for your child to engage in and try not to help them too much - give them the opportunity to work hard at a task.
- Model determined behavior.
- Teach children to recover and grow from failures. Model and talk about your own failures and show children how you learn from failure, and how you tried again.
Updates From Specials
3rd -6th grade students who read 5 or more of this year’s Bluebonnet books will be able to vote for the Bluebonnet Award in early February. Learn more here: https://www.allenisd.org/Page/23219
Learn more about our Birthday Book Program here: https://www.allenisd.org/Page/2701
Learn more about out ebooks and audiobooks here: https://www.allenisd.org/Page/20542
Coach's Clipboard
It is that time of year again!! This year’s run is virtual, but you can still help us out and here is how.
The PE department and PTA will receive money back for each person signed up. Signing up for the Eagle Run is a fun way to exercise with you family plus help the school out. Our goal this year is 100+ people signed up!
IF WE REACH OUR GOAL, WE EARN:
- 100 PEOPLE = CRAZY HAIR DAY
- 150+ PEOPLE = TURN COACH B. INTO A HUMAN SUNDAE
Cost:
- $25 if you sign up by February 5th (paper or online)
- $30 from February 6th – 25th
Click on the link to sign up online or check out Peachjar for a paper copy: Eagle Run Sign Up
Chandler Reminders
Arrival & Breakfast
- Doors open at 7:30 am for students to enter the building.
- Students will be counted late if they are not physically inside the building by the 7:45 am tardy bell.
- All outside doors will lock and students will need to enter at the front door after 7:45 am.
- Parents will need to sign their child in if they arrive after the 7:45 am tardy bell.
- Students who eat breakfast should be in the cafe no later than 7:40 am.
- Students should always exit the car on the curb side for safety reasons.
- If your child is walking to school, please remind them to leave with enough time to be inside the building by 7:45 am.
- All walker students should be utilizing the crosswalks at either Bur Oak or Shelley.
In-Person Absences
- Absence notifications to the school and excuse notes can be entered via Family Access in lieu of calling the school and/or sending a handwritten note.
- Please report your students' absence for “in-person” learning to Rhonda Ploubis by 10:00 am using one of the following methods:
- Family Access - notifies the school AND provides the excuse note (This feature cannot be used in lieu of a medical note to excuse students who leave school for a medical appointment or come in late from a medical appointment.)
- Email rhonda.ploubis@allenisd.org (follow up with handwritten note, medical note or Family Access note)
- Call 469.467.1400 (follow up with handwritten note, medical note or Family Access note)
Important Reminder: All notes must be received within 3 school days of the absence to be considered excused.
In-Person Changes in Dismissal
- Any changes in dismissal need to be communicated to your child's teacher in writing.
- If you are changing your dismissal in an email to your child's teacher, please also CC rhonda.ploubis@allenisd.org and jennifer.gee@allenisd.org.
- All changes need to be made prior to 2:00.
- Any changes that need to be made after 2:00 need to be called directly into the office.
Dismissal Car Tags
- ***VERY IMPORTANT*** Please make sure that car tags are displayed in your front window for EACH child.
- If you have more than one child, please display car tags for ALL children being picked up.
- In order for dismissal to go more quickly, we need to scan the QR code for EACH child. Thank you!
Masks
- Students in grades K-3rd are highly recommended to be wearing a mask during the instructional day.
- Students in grades 4th-6th are required to wear masks at all times. Please note teacher do plan structured mask breaks throughout the day.
- If a student in grades 4th-6th arrives without a mask students will be held up in the office until a parent is called to bring a mask up to school. Please ensure your child brings their mask daily.
ALLEN ISD COVID-19 DASHBOARD
Allen ISD has launched a COVID-19 dashboard to provide our families and staff with a transparent and up-to-date snapshot of lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in our district.
An active case indicates that a student or staff member has received a lab-confirmed positive case of COVID-19 and they have not yet returned to campus. Individuals who test positive are excluded from participation in any in-person/on-campus activity until the campus verifies that the individual meets the return criteria set by state and local health authorities. Once the individual is cleared to return, they are no longer considered an active case.
This data will be updated each school day. You can find the dashboard under the Back to School 2020 section of the Allen ISD webpage. Here is the direct link: https://www.allenisd.org/Page/59663
We appreciate your continued support and partnership as we navigate the 2020-2021 school year together. Go Cheetahs!
Thank you,
Bobbie Allen
Principal
Chandler Elementary
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Website: https://www.allenisd.org/Page/2390
Location: Chandler Elementary School, Water Oak Drive, Allen, TX, USA
Phone: 469-4671400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandlerelementaryPTA
Twitter: @cheetahchandler