Prestwick STEM Academy
Prestwick Profile - Community Vol. 18
Prestwick 3-5 and 6-8 Choirs Reach the Community
Important Upcoming Dates This Week
Monday, Dec 12th
- College Swag Monday
- School Board Meeting @ Zellars, 6:30pm
Tuesday, Dec 13th
- Final Exams begin
- Beard Park Christmas @ 6pm - LE family friendly event
Friday, Dec 16th
- Holiday Celebration start times:
- K/1 9:30 am
- 2nd 10 am
- 3rd 10:30 am
- 4th – 8:15 am
- 5th 8:30 am
- 6th – 10:00 am
- 7th – 10:00 am
- 8th – 10:00 am
- Early Release K-8 @ 12:05 pm
- MS grades get lunch at arrival time 7:45-8:05 am
Final Exam Schedule for grades 6-8
myOn Reading Challenge
Students in grades 3-8 - get ready, get set and read! Winter break is a great time to read and have your imagination taken to new places. Use your chromebooks or home computers to access your myOn app and choose a book of your choice. We hope Prestwick students will lead the way in this LEISD challenge.
Keep Track
Students should utilize the MyON Reader Program to keep a record of the number of minutes they read over the winter break.
Challenge Timeline
Winter Break: Saturday, December 17 - Monday, January 2
Categories
The challenge will be split into two categories:
Elementary (3rd-5th grade) and Middle School (6th-8th grade).
Winners
Prizes will be awarded to the top three elementary students and the top three middle school students who read the most minutes
Prizes
The winners from each category will receive:
First Place: iPad Mini 2 (32 GB)
Second Place: Four tickets for rock climbing at North Texas Outdoor Pursuit Center
Third Place: Four tickets to a Texas Legends game
Spotlight on LEarning
How do we know that students are moving forward in their learning? One measure that Little Elm ISD uses is MAP testing for K- 12th grades. This assessment tool is used at the beginning, middle and end of year to measure progress in a variety of areas depending on grade: Language Usage, Reading, Math, and Science. Over time we have not only immediate data but longitudinal data to assist us in reaching students in their learning goals and most importantly growth.
First to fifth grade students have tested last week and this week. Sixth- Eighth grade and Kindergarteners will test in January. Your child may talk about taking an online check or assessment. This site out provides you with details if you are interested in learning more: www.nwea.org.
Students in Mr. Castillo's Tech Applications II class presented their web design proposals to some members of the Tribute STEM Education Foundation. Each group used backend programming to build their proposals based on learning from the class. A couple of students were asked how they thought the presentations went, and if they were nervous. One student, Vivian Stevens, an 8th grader at PSA stated, "I really wasn't nervous. Mr. Castillo had us practice presenting and I felt prepared." She shared that her take away was for this assignment was that being prepared makes the difference. Great reflection Vivian!
This is definitely a characteristics needed to be successful in life!
A BIG thank you also to the board members from the foundation that were giving good feedback and asking questions to each group: Christine Thompson, Melanie Leach, and Frank Niekamp!
We are hopeful that one of the proposals with final tweaks will be selected for the website.
Think Through Math Challenge Winners
Mr. Vochatzer's 6th period Compacted Math class nails It! In less than half the school year, the class combined their individual ThinkThroughMath points to meet and exceed the 500,000 point goal. 6th period has a chance to do this a second time. Yes, groups can have 2 chances at meeting a 500,000 class goal. No, doubt this group is up to the challenge.
Madison Marsh in the 1st period class has just completed all of the lessons the 6th grade Pathway and several more assigned by Mr. V. She emailed Mr. Vochatzer to ask for more lessons, so she could continue learning and contributing to her class goal. Her class has reached about 356,000 (71%) of their goal. In a few more weeks their class will also enjoy the reward of a pizza party.
I've never had a class in my 11 years even get close to this. To both accomplish such a feat in less than half a school year is just remarkable. As prizes, 6th period picked a $50 Pizza Hut certificate and 1st period chose a $50 Domino Pizza Certificate as the enticements to work hard. ThinkThroughMath representatives should be contacting Mr V. this week about meeting the class goal.
We are #PrestwickProud! Enjoy your pizza this week 6th period. :)
Lost and Found Items Donated
Staff Spotlight- Mr. Vargas
Greeting Lobos! In this week’s staff spotlight, we would like to introduce, and for some of you, reintroduce, Assistant Principal, Mr. Felipe Vargas. Mr. Vargas is the proudest member of the Fightin' Texas Aggies and a Veteran of the United States Army. Mr. Vargas holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in History from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.
In 2009, Mr. Vargas left his teaching job at Mesquite ISD to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Signal Officer. In 2010-2011, he was deployed to Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his outstanding leadership, successful missions, and for maintaining the lives, health, safety, and morale of the personnel entrusted to him. After serving nearly five years, CPT Vargas made the decision to return to the education profession. Prior to coming to Little Elm ISD, Mr. Vargas has taught as well as served in various leadership positions within Mesquite, Plano and Dallas ISD.
Community Organizations & Events
Prestwick 6th Grade Lottery
Little Elm ISD will give parents two opportunities in January to attend a Mandatory Parent Meeting for the Prestwick Sixth Grade Lottery for the 2017-2018 school year.
Parents of current fifth grade students, who do not reside in the Prestwick school zone and are interested in applying for the upcoming lottery for sixth grade, must attend a parent meeting to have priority in the lottery draw. The lottery will only be open to current residents of Little Elm ISD and District employees.
Please note that ALL current Prestwick 5th graders will roll up to 6th grade and are NOT required to attend these meetings. For questions give our office a call at 972-947-9450