GJM Family Connection
May 2022
Summer Is Near
Thank you so much to all the families that came out for Family Fun Make and Take Night! It was amazing to see all of you, the smiles on your kids faces, and the learning that was happening! We had a packed house that night! We will be doing more of these events next school year!
In May, we have our STAAR tests for Reading, Math, and Science (5th only). You can help your child do their best on these state tests by making sure they go to bed early the night before, get to school on time, and have a healthy breakfast. You can also remind them to show the strategies that their teachers have taught them and take their time so they can do their best since they only get once chance to pass it. Test dates are: May 10 - Math STAAR - all grades, May 11 - Reading STAAR - all grades, May 12 - Science STAAR - 5th grade only. We will be having summer school for students that do not meet passing standards on STAAR for our HB 4545 requirements.
May 2nd through May 6 is TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK. Please help us honor our teachers and staff next week. On May 3rd we would like for your child to dress like their favorite teacher and/ or bring them a thank you card, or gift card to celebrate them. We have special things planned for each day.
Family Fun Night
Did we really eat all those pizzas?
Family Fun NIght
A person who won't read has no advantage over someone who can't read. - Mark Twain
Nurse News by: Nurse Handley
Please remember to pick up any medication your student may have in the Nurse's Office BEFORE the last day of school. Any medication that is left in the clinic will be destroyed on 5/27/22 per the Ingleside ISD Medication Plan.
Our daily Healthy Tips for this month includes tips about Fitness and Physical Activity. Ask your child what they learned today from Nurse Handley's Healthy Tip on the announcements, every morning!
After a 28 year career of School Nursing, I will be retiring at the end of this month. I have thoroughly enjoyed being your student's School Nurse and will miss them all!
San Patricio Soil and Water Conservation District #324 Winners
Camila P. -Poster Contest 2nd-3rd Grade - Third Place Winner
Emerie C - Poster Contest 4th-5th Grade - First Place Winner
Carla C-Q - Essay Contest 2nd - 3rd - Third Place Winner
We are so proud of you! Keep on conserving and showing your peers how to be kind to our Earth!
Important Events for May
May 4th - Class Picture Day
May 5th - Family Engagement Fair at high school for all families
May 6th - School Lunch Hero Day
May 8th - Mother's Day
May 10-13 - STAAR testing
May 11 - School Nurse Day
May 24 - Field Day
May 26 - Student's Last Day Early Release
May 26 - Report Cards go home
June 6 - Summer School Starts
Counselor News by: Mrs. Jimenez
Tips for Filling Summer Break with Fun & Learning
When the school year is winding down, parents are usually busy planning vacations, signing kids up for summer sports and activities, and figuring out how to keep their children busy and safe for the summer. While it is not a good idea to over-schedule your children, it is very important to make sure you have some ideas planned that will keep their minds thinking and learning – using that fabulous brain! Children’s minds are like sponges, there are opportunities everywhere for them to learn something new. Here are a few ideas: Definitely join the summer reading program at the public library! They plan lots of fun activities and reward kids for reading books. Make sure you set aside time to read each day. Pick out a couple longer books to read aloud this summer – let your child help make the choices! If you attend a family reunion this summer, plan to look through old photos before attending. Talk with your children about your memories with siblings, cousins, and other relatives. Make them a part of your family conversations when everyone gets together. Visit museums or zoos with your children. Spend more time at their favorite exhibit or near their favorite animal and really learn some facts about it. Encourage your child to start a collection – maybe rocks, shells or other natural objects. You can help them to do research on the internet or in books and learn interesting facts about the items they are collecting. Play games that require children to count. Board games, card games, wiffleball on the beach, or counting somersaults in the pool – whatever it is, they’ll be using their math skills! Make sure to limit “screen time” to no more than one hour per day. Too much time spent on video games and computers will have a negative effect on their learning, physical health and social skills. Learn some new recipes together. There are many kid-friendly recipes that don’t even involve using the stove. Go camping! There is so much to learn from nature. Tell stories around the campfire and sing songs. Take hikes in the woods. Stroll along the beach.
STAAR PREP
Every Spring, students throughout Texas participate in the STAAR Test. According to the Texas Education Agency, TEA, “STAAR is the state's testing program and is based on state curriculum standards in core subjects including reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. STAAR tests are designed to measure what students are learning in each grade and whether or not they are ready for the next grade. The goal is to ensure that all students receive what they need to be academically successful. Meeting these individual needs depends greatly on schools, parents, and community members working together.” All parents want their children to do well in school. You play an important role in helping your child perform their very best on the STAAR test. Here are a few tips to help your child before and after testing.
THE NIGHT BEFORE:
Make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep.
Be encouraging - let your child know that you think he/she will do well on the test.
Plan for the morning ahead – lay out clothes to wear; have backpack ready to go.
THE DAY OF THE TEST:
Get up early to avoid rushing.
Have your child eat a good breakfast. Free breakfast is served from 7:30-7:55.
Remember – sugary foods can make your child drowsy.
Have your child dress in something comfortable. If your child wears an assistive device, such as a hearing aide or glasses, be sure that he/she remembers to wear them to school.
Be sure that your child attends school each day and arrives on time.
Please try to avoid scheduling doctor or dental appointments on test days.
Be positive and supportive. Acknowledge that test taking can be hard and explain that doing your best is what counts.
Send your child off to school feeling confident. “You’ll do a great job!”; “Believe in yourself!” and “I love you!” are always nice to hear.
AFTER EACH TEST DAY:
Talk to your child about his or her feelings about the test, making sure that you acknowledge that taking a test is a great effort.
Talk about what was easy and what was hard; ask what your child may have learned about taking the test.
Let your child know how proud you are of them
WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE TEST RESULTS:
Visit https://www.texasassessment.gov/staar.html to understand your child’s score
Sit down with your child and go over the test results and what they mean. Talk about areas of success and the areas that are challenging.
Talk with your child about three things he/she will work on in the upcoming school year.
Promote reading during the summer to improve comprehension.