Bulldog Blog
Week of May 13th
All year long, our teachers and staff work towards reaching a goal and preparing for the STAAR test for our bigs! As time ticks on, we begin our countdown and leave fate, confidence, and skills all in the students hands. We know how well prepared the students are, because we have been lucky enough to watch them grow throughout the year. The Pep Rally is the perfect time to let the kids know just how much we believe in them and shake out all of the heeby jeebies they might be feeling!
The teachers kicked off the Pep Rally with their dance, and if you watch the video below, you can hear the excitement from the students in the crowd. Being one of the teachers on stage, the feeling you get from hearing the kids become so excited to see their teachers dancing in front of them is one unlike any other. I suspect this is the same feeling when a child reaches a goal they have been working toward and their parents or teacher reach out to high five or hug them. The excitement is contagious, and causes a boomerang effect.
Boomerang effect- "a sense of joy, happiness, and excitement started by an individual that expands through a large crowd and comes back in two folds."
The Pep Rally portrayed the perfect image of a Boomerang effect as the show went on and you could sense all worried visions of the STAAR go out the door. At Alkek, our main goal throughout the entire school year is to reach students and guide them in the right directions to reaching goals. With only a few short weeks left of school, I am confident we have accomplished all of the above.
With the last of the STAAR test beginning this week, I want to make sure each of you reading this, whether you are a parent, student, teacher, admin, or so on; will consider finding your own boomerang and throwing it in the crowd to shower others with excitement and pride. Continue to stay positive and help rid of any fear some might be feeling! The pep rally boomerang effect still has me all giddy, so go ahead, throw that boomerang and you'd be amazed to find who you are actually reaching!
-Special thanks to BHS Cheerleaders who also helped to amp up our Pep Rally! It means a lot to our students to have such inspirations to look up to!
Listen to the students excitement!
Alkek Elementary STAAR Video Premiere!
Alkek Student Council inspires students with some Seussy Knowledge!
What's Happening This Week?
Tuesday- 3rd & 4th READING STAAR
Wednesday- 5th SCIENCE STAAR
2nd Grade Field Trip to Science Mill
Thursday-Make Up STAAR Testing
Progress Reports go home!
Stay up to date with grades by visiting our parent portal!
Friday-3rd Grade Field Trip to Singing Winds Park!
15 Day Attendance Challenge!
Starting this Monday, encourage your friends and yourself to come to school every day for 15 days and we could all be laughing our way into Summer with some great memories!
REMINDER:
**Please be sure and make alternate transportation changes for your children before hand!
Save the Date:
MAY 20- 5th Grade Middle School Campus Tour-1pm
MAY 24- UIL/Student Council Participants Field Trip
MAY 28-5th Grade Flying L Water Park
MAY 31-PK/HS/PPCD Field Trip to the Zoo!
5th Grade Olympic Field Day at BHS 9am
JUNE 4- 4th Grade to Mansfield Park
Upcoming Activities:
May 27- Student/Teacher Holiday
May 29-Annual Chess Tournament
May 30- Career Day
May 31- Perfect Attendance Party
JUNE 3-Math/Science Night 5PM
June 3- 3rd Grade Spelling Bee 2pm
June 5- 5th Grade Completion Ceremony 9am
Have you heard the buzz?
New bell schedules and calendar for the 19/20 year!
Meet Laura!
Mrs. Lopez is a Kindergarten Teacher here at Alkek!
She graduated UTSA in 2000!
This is her 19th year teaching, 15th for Bandera ISD. All of her teaching has been in PreK and Kindergarten!
A little about Mrs. Lopez:
She has been married to her husband; Jason for 19 years. They were high school sweethearts! How sweet!
They have two kids- Elizabeth and Michael. She says they are "teenagers....ugh!" Haha!
She is a Gemini born on May 28th!
Fun fact- As a Gemini born on May 28th, you enjoy and take pride in your ability to effectively communicate. There are rarely times when you can't quickly spin private ideas into concepts for those around you to understand. Interacting with the world around you excites you on a daily basis and people seem to gravitate to these qualities.
Her favorite hobby outside of school and teaching is watching movies!
Laura's favorite book is The Giving Tree!
Laura says she likes to watch The Office on T.V.
Mrs. Lopez says they are animal lovers! They have many fish, 3 dogs, 1 goat, 1 turtle & 1 horse!
Her favorite holiday is St. Patricks Day because she is "a full 50% Irish!"
Laura's favorite quote or words she tends to live by are:
"In this world where you can be anything, you should be kind."
When asked if she has a hero, Laura says, "Nancy Pelosi... You go girl! I LOVE smart, strong women!"
I asked Mrs. Lopez to tell us a little about how she ended up where she is now and she said, "Both my parents (Coach Payne and Mrs. Payne) are teachers and my sister and I are both teachers. My dad's mom was a teacher, too! I am a BHS graduate!"
We adore Mrs. Lopez and love how she inspires our littles!
Thanks for all you do, Laura, we appreciate you so much!
Enjoy your spotlight!