Lions Lines
March 2017 * Hamilton Elementary School
UPCOMING EVENTS
Yearly Calendar at a Glance: http://tinyurl.com/Calendar1617HES
March Fitness Calendar: http://tinyurl.com/HESmarchFitness
MARCH
6 2nd Grade Field Trip
8 3rd/5th Grade Nature Trails
9 3rd/5th Grade Nature Trails
10 Student Council Mtg, 8 AM-Officers, 8:10 AM-Reps
13-17 Spring Break
21 5th Grade Day Parent Mtg at 7:00 PM
24 Cultural Arts Program: UH Dance Ensemble for PK, Kdg, 1st & 2nd
27 4th Grading Period Begins
28 5th Gr. STAAR Math
4th Gr. STAAR Writing
*NO VISITORS DUE TO TESTING*
1st Grade Field Trip
29 5th Gr. STAAR Reading
*NO VISITORS DUE TO TESTING*
30 STAAR Make-Up Testing
*NO VISITORS DUE TO TESTING*
31 Cultural Arts Program- Day of Drumming for 3, 4, 5
Report Cards go home
Mark Your Calendar - No Visitor Dates
Please mark your calendar for the following days that we request there be no visitors in the building. In addition, we need your help! Due to limited available staff, we will not be able to deliver dropped off lunches. Please be sure to plan ahead and send lunch or lunch money to school with your child. Thank you so much for your understanding!
March 28, March 29, March 30 due to STAAR testing for our 4th & 5th Graders
Have you purchase your 2016-17 HES Yearbook?
Yearbook are still available to purchase at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com Yearbook ID Code: 12985517 The deadline to purchase is March 17.
Student Council Pennies for Patients
This past February Student Council held its annual fundraiser to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The week prior to Valentine’s Day students were able to purchase Valentines Grams to send to friends and staff. All of the proceeds from these sales went toward the fundraiser. The following week students were encouraged to collect change for our pennies drive which also benefitted the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Those funds will be used to further research a possible cure and benefit those worldwide fighting cancer. We are so proud of all the efforts of our Student Council students during this fundraiser and the total amount to be donated will be announced soon.
Box Tops Collection Contest
Spring Box Tops Collection Contest: Start saving your Box Tops for Education for a fun contest. Box Tops will be collected the on May 12.
**The homeroom from each grade level that collects the MOST BOX TOPS will
receive a prize**
Prizes include: pizza parties, cookie parties, and ice cream parties!
There are prizes for the homeroom teacher as well!!!!
Our Goals
-To raise $7,000 in free money for our kids!
-100% participation – even if it’s just one coupon!
We can do this!
Collection Rules
- Clip your box tops from participating products.
- When clipping include the entire Box Top$ for Education® Logo, containing the words “Official Coupon”, the monetary value and expiration date for each box top.
- Please make sure that the box top has not expired!
- Each Box Top$ for Education® is worth 10 cents toward our school.
- Send to school with your child. You can use a ziplock baggie or secure the box tops to a collection sheet. Be sure to mark the bag or sheet with your child's name and teachers name.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Kelly Mock at kmojmo@gmail.com
PTO Open Board Positions for 2017-18
Our PTO will be filling several open board and committee positions for next year. These positions are the backbones to the wonderful support our PTO and its members provide our school and students. Without our PTO many of our educational activities would not be possible including Cultural Arts events, Junior Achievement, Literacy Library, Animal demonstrations, IPads, Storytellers, Garden Days, Interactive Theatre and Fire Department visits.
Please consider volunteering for one of the openings. Getting involved with our school is incredibly rewarding!
If you are interested in any of the open positions, please let us know by MARCH 31st.
Pam Kuhn pamskuhn@gmail.com
Lindsay Marsh lindsaymarsh28@gmail.com
The open Board and chair positions are as follows:
Vice President of Cultural Arts: Shall be in charge of coordinating individuals or groups from outside the school to promote further understanding and enhancement of curriculum. A faculty member will serve as advisor/calendar coordinator.
Vice President of Volunteer Coordination: Shall oversee all committees for volunteer needs at Hamilton Elementary (i.e. classroom, homeroom parent, library, clinic, workroom). Volunteer Coordinators will prepare, in coordination with Membership, the annual information packet regarding PTO membership and volunteer opportunities to all Hamilton Elementary families.. In addition, the coordinator will work with the school liaison to ensure that all volunteers are invited to the annual VIPS luncheon sponsored by the District.
Vice President of Major Fundraising: Shall investigate options for major fund raisers to present to the Executive Board members for approval (and if possible the approval of the entire PTO Board) and then to coordinate and oversee all Special Committees needed to assist him/her. Vice President of Major Fundraising should present a budget of expected expenses and income and maintain written accounting records throughout each fundraiser.
Vice President Communications: Shall be responsible for maintaining the official PTO website and all other mass communications from the PTO Board. For example, mass e-mails to parents and additions to social media pages and district-related publications.
Fifth Grade Day Chairperson: Shall coordinate, in conjunction with the fifth grade teachers, the large end-of-the-year celebration for fifth graders; including activities, food, games, etc.
Fifth Grade BizTown Chairperson: Shall coordinate volunteers to staff this fifth grade event. Working in conjunction with a staff liaison, Chairpersons will schedule and perform interviews and schedule volunteers to work the event.
Fifth Grade Memory Book: Shall coordinate the production and distribution of a written memory book for the fifth graders.
Hospitality Chairperson: Shall coordinate the Back-to-School activities for staff; coordinate monthly Teacher Appreciation events
Junior Achievement Chairperson K-2 & 3-5Shall coordinate volunteers to present the formal Junior Achievement program to each classroom as scheduled by the teacher.
Library Fundraising Chairperson: Shall assist librarian with fundraising for the library.
Spirit Sale Chairperson: Shall select and coordinate sale of spirit items as approved by the PTO Board.
Art Helper: Shall assist art teacher in miscellaneous classroom tasks
Yearbook Coordinator: Coordinate volunteers to take pictures of special school events throughout the year and work with the Lifetouch company to produce the yearbook, coordinating the student sales via School Cash Online.
**** News from the Library ****
BARNES & NOBLE IN-STORE BOOK FAIR – Save the date! April 1st will be our Barnes and Noble in-store book fair at the Champions location. ALL purchases, including café items, will help put new books on our library shelves when you mention Hamilton at checkout. Our 5th grade choir will be performing and student artwork will be on display. Stay tuned to our campus Facebook page for more information!
READING WITHOUT WALLS – After Spring Break, our library will be participating in the Reading Without Walls Challenge created by Gene Luen Yang, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The goal is to spread the appreciation and understanding of others , and learn new and exciting things. Students will be encouraged to read 3 books, each meeting one of three criterea:
A book where the main character looks or lives differently than you
A book about a topic you don't know much about
A book in a format you don't usually read for fun
Students who meet all 3 goals will be invited to create a short video or a picture about one of the books to be put on display in the library and on social media. We encourage our families to participate as well. Stay tuned for more information, or check out the website: http://read.macmillan.com/mcpg/reading-without-walls/
EVERY KID IN A PARK – Many of our students listened to In the Canyon by Liz Garton Scanlon during February booktalks. 4th graders are eligible for a FREE PASS to visit hundred of parks, lands and waters for free through August of 2017. Check out the website below for more info and get outside! https://www.everykidinapark.gov/
NAME THAT BOOK –
Congratulations to our 4th grade Name That Book team who represented Hamilton Elementary at the Berry Center on February 27th. They displayed outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship, and we are so proud of them! Thank you to Brenda Barr Lightfoot, P.C. for donating shirts for our team! Team members include:
Anastasia Albarrado
Juhi Bhatt – alternate
Ravine Cohen
Ethan Lally
Elizabeth Lightfoot
Sanvi Kumpatla – team spokesperson
Elizabeth Vick
January Birthday Book Club
Kate Miller
Madilynn Alvarado
Gavin Carroll
Reddi Pranav Sai
Jeddie Rogers
Berkeley Kulp
Reynaud Seah
Laney Bovermann
Aidan Hrncir
Mia Alvarado
Samantha Reimers
Diego Vaca
Victoria Salah
Leighla Benton
Corin Patel
February Birthday Book Club
Jeter Valladares
Santosh Mandapati
Patrick Lombardoni
Lauren Higgins
Juan Martin Durante
Gavin Liu
Logan Truong
Kyler Goings
Reagan Fielder
Kate Zhao
Riley Wessels
Cadence Henderson
Cole Stanford
Mark Sagayababu
Claire Willis
Brenden Green
Vedhas Oltikar
Connor Hounshell
Zachary Witliff
Benjamin Hinojosa
Mia Minica
March Birthday Book Club
Srikar Karri
Noah Oulee
Michael Walker, Jr.
Kalieb Holms
Maddox Nguyen
Edie Dugger
Juan Carlos Orso
Colton Campbell
Claire Babbitt
Ashton Ellis
Abigail Wang
Watch Dog Dad Program
Thank you to the following dads for being our Watch Dogs for the month of February:
James Blocker
Paul Nuttall
Bart Black
Matthew Jablonsky
Rob French
Michael Hertsenberg
Nathan Ostermann
John Mego
David Rostron
Chris Newman
Brian Horak
Mario Meeks
Patrick Clary
Justin Rundell
Craig Alford
Jeff Warren
Quinn Wiseman
Colby Gravatt
**** Counselor's Corner ****
Word of the Month:
Our word for this month is “Forgiveness: Deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay.” As human beings, it is so tempting to want revenge, payback, or justice when we feel like someone has done us wrong. In those moments of anger, it is hard to remember what it is like to be on the other side. However, making the conscious decision that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to “pay” takes courage, and to let go and forgive is powerful; and it frees you, the forgiver, from more anger and resentment. Choose forgiveness over revenge. You will be better for it!
Message to 5th Grade Parents
The time to start thinking about 6th grade is here! Elective sheets were sent home on Friday, March 3. Please go over the choices with your child, sign the form, and return to Michelle Erickson by Friday, March 10.
Information about Level-1 classes for 6th grade:
Level-1 classes are designed to challenge students beyond grade-level academic courses and prepare them for success in future advanced coursework. They are more rigorous and have a more in-depth content focus than on-level classes. Level-1 classes often move at a faster pace, include different types of assignments, including additional outside reading, and may require more independent study skills.
Students are eligible for Level-1 classes in 6th grade (2017-2018 school year) if during their 5th grade year:
1. The student earns a yearly average of 85+ in the on-level class in the same subject level;
or
2. The student earns Level III-Advanced on the STAAR Reading test. This makes the student eligible for the Level-1 Language Arts/Reading block and Social Studies; or
3. The student earns Level III-Advanced on the STAAR Science. This makes the student eligible for Level-1 Science;
and
4. The student has parent permission to enroll in the Level-1 class(es).
Students who provisionally qualify for any Level-1 class(es) at the end of the 3rd nine weeks will receive a Level-1 letter. If you and your child choose to participate in any Level-1 subject area, you must sign the form and return it to Michelle Erickson before that placement can made.
***Please note that it is the final end-of-year average that qualifies your child for any individual Level-1 subject. If your child provisionally qualifies in the 3rd nine weeks for a subject(s) area, and that subject drops below the 85 average, your child will no longer qualify for Level-1 in that subject area. On the other hand, if your child’s final average for a specific subject meets the requirement for Level-1, but it did not meet it at the 3rd nine week period, you will be receiving a Level-1 letter for that particular course that your child now qualifies for. You will need to sign that new letter and return it to Michelle Erickson in order for that final placement to be input for your child’s next year’s schedule.
Horizons/Gifted and Talented Testing Update
GT Testing results for all Kindergarten students were sent home on February 22. All grades 1st-5th will be receiving their results at the end of April.
Are you Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
We need you! Are you interested in making a difference in a child’s life? The Cy-Fair Mentor program is a cooperative effort of volunteers from buisnesses, faith-based and/or non-profit organizations, the community, and Cy-Fair ISD designed to encourage students (K-12) to finish school and to focus on future education goals and career choices. A committed mentor can be a wonderful role-model by helping a student with his/her academic and social development.
If you are interested in making a commitment to a child here at Hamilton Elementary, you will first need to attend a district training session at the Berry Center, and complete a mentor application. If you would like to get more information, or to sign up for a training session and access the mentor applications, you can log onto the CFISD website at www.cfisd.net/mentor, or contact Leslie Francis in the Community Engagement Department at leslie.francis@cfisd.net or at 281-894-3950.
School Cash Online Sales
Check your child's School Cash account - the following sales are currently active:
1st Grade Field Trip Admission Fee
You do not have to wait for a sale to register your account - go to
http://hamiltones.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/school-cash-online/ . If you have any problems, contact Cindy at cynthia.huggins@cfisd.net or 281-320-7064.
Thank you for your support in using School Cash. School Cash is our only method for payment.
Federal Report Card
Dear Parent:
Federal Report Cards for the state, the district, and each of the district’s campuses are now available on the district’s website at this link:
http://www.cfisd.net/en/about/know-your-district/school-ratings/
- · Select a campus
- · Select 2015-16 school year
- · Click Filter
- · Select Federal School Report Card
Information on these report cards includes:
- · Part I: Student Achievement by Proficiency Level
- · Part II: Student Achievement and State Academic Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs)
- · Part III: Priority and Focus Schools
- · Part IV: Teacher Quality Data
- · Part V: Graduates Enrolled in Texas Institution of Higher Education (IHE)
- · Part VI: Statewide National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Results
If you are unable to access the information from the website, hard copies of the reports are available at the district or campus office. If you have questions about the information, please contact 281-370-0990.
***School Information***
Update School Messenger Information
School Cash Online
- Pay your child’s school fees online! Anytime, anywhere.
- Avoid the hassle of having cash on-hand to pay for school fees.
- Receive email notifications regarding school fees and events.
- School Cash Online is our school’s preferred method of payment.
- Get started today by registering your account at https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/
Helpful Information & HES Calendar at a Glance
Helpful Information page 1: http://tinyurl.com/HEShelpfulinformation1
Helpful Information page 2: http://tinyurl.com/HEShelpfulInformation2
1617 HES Calendar at a Glance - dates are subject to change. Please refer to the Lions Lines for updates: http://tinyurl.com/Calendar1617HES
School Cash Online sign-up link: https://cypress-fairbanksisd.schoolcashonline.com/
Parent & Student Handbook
***CFISD Information***
CFISD District Information
2016-2017 Calendar: http://www.cfisd.net/en/calendar/
School Messenger: Text Message Sign Up
The directions for adding text messages to your School Messenger account are in the link below. All parents need to update their School Messenger Information:
http://www.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/contacts-communications/schoolmessenger/
Stay Connected
Follow HES on Twitter @Hamilton_Lions
Follow our HES on Instagram by searching for Hamilton_Lions
Don't forget to keep up to date with PTO events, news, and reminders by "liking" their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonElementaryPTO
Hamilton Elementary
Email: hamiltonelem@cfisd.net
Website: http://hamiltones.cfisd.net/en/
Location: 12050 Old Kluge Road, Cypress, TX, United States
Phone: 281.370.0990
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonLions
Twitter: @Hamilton_Lions