Central Informer
Family Newsletter- March Issue
We engage, equip, and empower all scholars to achieve their unique potential.
Newsletter Translations
- At the top right of this page you can choose to see this newsletter in your preferred language.
- En la parte superior derecha de esta página, puede elegir ver este boletín en su idioma preferido.
Stay Informed
Please make sure you join your student's Class Dojo, Central's Facebook, and Central's Twitter page to stay informed on current and upcoming events.
Mark Your Calendars
- February 21- March 28: TELPAS Testing Window (2nd-4th grades) See below for details.
- March 8- Parent Workshop (Self-Care) See flyer below.
- March 13- 17: Spring Break
- March 24- Report Cards post to Skyward
- March 27- 31: Book Fair
- March 30- District Art Show
- April 6- PK Roundup
Central Families,
If you ordered a spirit shirt for your student, the shirts will be delivered one day this week and we will give the shirts out to the students on Friday.
The end of the 9 weeks is Friday. Grades will be posted to Skyward Family Access on March 24.
At Central, we have high expectations for all students and we look forward to seeing their academic achievement over the last 9 weeks of school.
Reminders:
- Tardies start at 8:00. If your student arrives to school after 8:00 AM, the student must be signed in by an adult at the main office.
- The main office closes at 3:00 PM to prepare for dismissal. Please note that parents will not be allowed to pick up students early after 3:00 PM.
- Dismissal tags are required for all parents during dismissal.
- Don't forget to join Class Dojo. Click HERE to join.
Reading Challenge
Snacks at School
Let’s take a moment to understand why you should send your student to school with a healthy snack each day.
Research suggests that when students have access to a healthy and nutritious diet, they are positively impacted in the areas of overall health, cognitive skills, and academic performance. Snack time is not designed to interrupt the day, but rather provide students with the energy they need to participate in the day's activities. It also helps to control their mood. Here’s a list of minimally processed snacks you can send to school with your student to help them make it through the day.
Small piece of fruit: apple, banana, berries, etc
A small bag of crackers: cheez its, goldfish, etc
A sandwich or snack sized bag of dried cereal
Water ( not sugary or flavored drinks)
Remember the purpose of snack time is to help regulate their energy and mood levels throughout the course of the day. A small snack each day can have a positive impact on your child’s academics.
PreK Roundup
2022-2023 Pre-K Registration is now open! Apply Today!
March 1: Pre-K online enrollment opens for the 2023-2024 school year.
April 6: Pre-K Roundup
Guardians must bring the required documents.
9:00 am - 12:00 pm: By Appointment Only (Appointment Sign Up Coming Soon)
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Walk-Ins Welcome
Message from Our Parent Liaison- Mrs. Romero
TELPAS State Assessment
TELPAS is an assessment program for students in Texas public schools who are learning the English language. TELPAS annually assesses the progress that English learners (ELs) make in learning the English language.
TELPAS Parent Tips (English)
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/TELPAS_Parent_Tips_English.APPROVED_FORWEB.pdf
TELPAS Parent Tips (Spanish)
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/TELPAS_Parent_Tips_Spanish.APPROVED_FORWEB.pdf
FAQ’s for Parents in English:
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2020-2021_TELPAS_FAQ.pdf
FAQ’s for Parents in Spanish:
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/2020-2021_TELPAS_Spanish_FAQ.pdf
STAAR 2.0: Redesign Information
Did you know the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test is changing? The STAAR redesign is a result of House Bill (HB) 3906 passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019. The redesign will be implemented in the state summative assessments administered in the Spring of 2023.
Major changes:
- Online testing
- New Question Types (no more than 75% of the STAAR test can be multiple choice questions)
- Cross-curricular passages
- Evidence-based writing
Click on the link below to see more information regarding the changes to the test.
https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/assessment-initiatives/hb-3906/staar-redesign
Report Cards- Skyward Family Access
Progress reports and report cards are posted in Skyward Family Access. To access your scholar's grades:
- Log into Skyward Family Access
- Turn on notifications for assignments, attendance, and grades
Teacher of the Month
Parents and students are encouraged to complete the form below by March 10.
Nominate using this link: https://forms.gle/qGvTJzWErgjyU94Y7
Are you looking for a great math resource to give your scholar some extra practice at home?
Good news! Once again, Imagine Math is available for all Central students to use at home!
For our 1st-4th graders, we also have Imagine Math facts, to help your child become fluent with their basic math facts.
Please contact your child's teacher for your child's login information.
Message from Ms. Tijerina our Library Media Specialist
SAVE THE DATE!
Book Fair - March 27th-31st Parents, you can create an eWallet or add money to your child’s account beginning March 6th!
If you missed out on reading previous monthly newsletters, check Central's webpage on Duncanville's website to catch up on communication.
Attendance Matters- Good attendance= Academic Success
Attendance whether it's excused or unexcused impacts the 90% rule. If your scholar misses more than 9 days of school, they are at risk of not earning credit for the school year and truancy may be filed.
Each week we recognize grade levels that have the highest attendance. If the grade level is recognized, each class in the grade level gets an attendance trophy for the week. We are also giving special treats to classes for having great attendance.
Please bring your student to school daily and help them have academic success.
What to Eat Lunch with Your Student?
- Due to the size of our cafeteria, we are taking a limited number of visitors for lunch on Fridays by reservation only.
- Call the main office (972-708-2600) to make a reservation to eat lunch with your student.
- We will begin taking reservations the week of September 6.
- Reservations will be taken Monday through Wednesday of each week from 9:00 am-2:00 PM in order to each lunch on Friday.
- Reservations can only be made for the current week.
- There will be a limit to the number of individuals who can come to each lunch with the student to allow for more families to come to the lunch period.
- Parents may eat during one lunch period only.
PTO Volunteers Needed
We are searching for parent volunteers to serve on our PTO board this school year. We currently have a president and vice president. If you are interested in serving our the school PTO, please click on the form below.
https://forms.gle/4KDL8vak7yB7pHUv6
What is PTO?
PTO stands for Parent Teacher Organization. The PTO is a nonprofit group comprised of parents, teachers, and staff dedicated to improving the educational experience of all students at Central Elementary School. Our goals are to encourage interaction between family and school, serve as a source of support, and work with teachers, staff, and the community at large to improve our children’s educational experience. The PTO works closely with the school administration to meet this goal.
What does the PTO do, exactly?
If you look up “PTO” in the dictionary you might find words like: organize, support, help, and volunteer. The PTO organizes special events such as the spring fling, teacher appreciation, spirit shirt designs and sales just to name a few.
Who can join PTO?
Any parent or guardian of a current student of Central Elementary as well as all current faculty and staff
How do I become a member?
All you have to do is complete our membership form and pay the yearly registration dues of $5.00 per family. It is never too late to join!
Do I have to pay for each child?
No your dues cover all children in your immediate household.
What are the benefits of membership?
First it gives you a voice! Your membership entitles you to vote at all meetings on PTO business. (There is one vote per household.) You may desire to volunteer to help with our many events throughout the year. Volunteering is encouraged but NOT required. In a way just paying your dues helps us fund programs that enhance your child’s learning experience.
What programs does PTO fund and support?
• Providing Field Trip Transportation Costs
• Designing and Selling Spirit Shirts
• Raising Funds for Campus Events and Campus Improvements
• Putting on Spring Fling
• Sponsoring Student Clubs
• Teacher Appreciation Luncheons
• Box Tops for Education
• Kroger Share Card
• Purchase and Pick Up of Perfect Attendance Treats
• School Fundraisers
Central Campus Hours
Dismissal is at 3:30 PM.
School Lunches- No longer free!
Parents,
The federal waiver that made lunch free to all students has expired. Families must apply to see if their child is eligible to receive free lunches for the '22-'23 school year. Apply at http://schoolcafe.com/duncanvilleisd. Breakfast will remain free to all students in the new school year.
New Dress Code
School Spirit Days
- Wednesday is College and Career Spirit Day! Scholars are encouraged to wear a college shirt of their choice or military branch
- Friday is school spirit day. Scholars are allowed to wear Central Elementary or Duncanville spirit shirts of their choice to represent their Panther Pride!
Campus Operations
ENTRY PLAN:
Campus doors will open at 7:30 AM.
Parents should drive to the rear of the school to drop off students. Staff members will be waiting to greet students as they arrive.
Students that walk to school may enter through the hallway located on the east of the campus.
While on campus, face coverings are recommended but not required.
ISOLATION SPACE:
In the event that a student has COVID-19 symptoms, they will be housed in a designated space until they are picked up by their parent/guardian or designated emergency contact.
PLEASE NOTE: Students are expected to be picked up from campus within one hour of parent/guardian or emergency contact being notified.
BREAKFAST:
- Students that choose to eat breakfast will go straight to the cafeteria to eat their breakfast.
- Students who are not eating breakfast will immediately walk to their homeroom class.
Breakfast will end at 7:55 a.m.
First period will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.
CLASSROOM SAFETY:
Each classroom will be cleaned nightly.
All classrooms will be provided with sanitation supplies to support surface and resource cleaning.
Materials and resources that need to be sanitized should be left out in the open.
Students are encouraged to sanitize hands as they enter and leave classrooms.
Students are recommended but not required to wear a mask during class.
RESTROOM/WATER FOUNTAIN PROCEDURES:
Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.
No other liquids will be allowed.
Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day.
LUNCHES:
Students will be directed to serving lines by lunch monitors to pick up their individual lunches.
Food delivery for lunch is prohibited for safety reasons.
Students will need to know their ID number to purchase lunch. Please help your student memorize their ID number.
Cafeteria will be cleaned often, and physical distancing will be enforced as much as is physically possible.
LIBRARY/COMPUTER LAB:
Students will sanitize entering, before browsing, and exiting the library.
Computers in the computer lab (keyboard, mouse, monitor, and table) will be wiped down after each class by the class/teacher assigned for the day.
Classroom assigned standards devices - Wipe down each device (keyboard, monitor, touchpad, and outer case) between classes and at the end of the day.
Encourage sanitizing before and after utilizing a device.
DISMISSAL:
Dismissal tags are required before releasing a student to an adult.
Student release will be staggered.
First--Walkers will be released by hallway.
Second--Students that will be traveling home by car (car riders) will be released by hallway.
1st--Students that ride a bus and daycare will be released to wait in the gym. Upon arrival of the buses and daycare, the students will be called to board their bus or daycare van.
2nd- Walkers will be dismissed
3rd- Car Riders and Parents that walk up to pick up their students will be released. Cars will need to have their dismissal tag displayed in the front window. Parents who walk up to the school will need to have their dismissal tag.
Dismissal tags are required for dismissal. ID will be required in the front office if there is no dismissal tag.
Teachers will be monitoring to ensure that students leave the campus safely and promptly at dismissal.
Car riders, bus, and daycare riders will be picked up in the rear of the building. Faculty will help supervise dismissal of students.
BUILDING SAFETY
Perimeter doors should never be propped open for any reason.
All staff must be able to present their ID at all times.
Under no circumstances will anyone open a door for another student, parent, or faculty member
All members of the community or any visitor are required to enter Central Elementary through the main entry doors located at the front of our campus.
OVERALL CAMPUS SAFETY:
While on campus, all stakeholders have the option to wear face coverings at all times.
Students and staff are encouraged to bring their own water bottles for personal use throughout the school day.
Hand sanitizer machines are placed throughout the campus for both staff and student usage.
Students will be encouraged to practice social distancing at all times throughout the school day.
STAFF
Staff Safety Guidelines:
Staff members that leave campus for any portion of the day are required to sign in upon return.
Staff members are encouraged to disinfect all common areas of their individual classrooms throughout the school day.
CAMPUS VISITORS:
Prior to entering the building all visitors (parents, school stakeholders) must ring the doorbell located by the front office.
Parents will not be allowed to drop off lunches with students during the school day.
If parents need to pick up a student early they will enter through the front office to sign their student out.
Student Drop Off (after the 8:00 bell)
Parents and students will enter through the front office
Parents will sign their student in and the student will be given a pass to enter class.
Student Early Pick up
The parent will come to come into the building to present their identification and physically sign the student out.
The student will be called to come to the front office to leave with the parent.
Central is on Instagram!
Central Elementary Digital Media and Performing Arts Academy
Email: aparker@duncanvilleisd.org
Website: https://central.duncanvilleisd.org/
Location: 302 East Freeman Street, Duncanville, TX, USA
Phone: 972-708-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralESDuncanvilleISD
Twitter: @Central_ElemSc