The Scottie Scoop
May Edition
Smith Elementary School
Email: season@springisd.org
Website: https://www.springisd.org/smith2
Location: 26000 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX, USA
Phone: (281)891-8420
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithelementary.springisd
Twitter: @SmithElem
School Hours
Attendance Counts
- Morning Announcements: 8:35 a.m.
- Elementary School Hours: 8:35 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Virtual students should be logged in and "Camera Ready" by 8:35 a.m.
**Mask Wearing Guidelines**
Masks!!!
Dear parents,
Please continue to have your student bring their masks from home every day. The disposable masks we have are only intended for students who forgot their mask from home. Our supply is getting low.
We appreciate you!
Protocol for Notifying Our Campus with COVID Updates
Words From The Principal
Dear Scottie Parents,
As this very unusual school year draws to a close, I would like to take a moment to share a few thoughts with you. None of us could imagine that this school year would have had so many disruptions.
In spite of that, I have been amazed by the flexibility, tenacity and creativity that our scholars have shown as they have navigated this new 'normal' and different way of accessing their education. They are resilient and I know that they will come through this difficult time having learned important lessons about themselves.
Thank you to the faculty and staff for providing quality learning experiences for our scholars and to support their efforts to learn face to face and virtually.
Parents, as our Scotties prepare for STAAR this month, keep them motivated and encourage attendance every day.
Please remember to continue to practice social distancing, stay safe, and take care of yourself and one another!! Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns at season@springisd.org.
Sincerely,
Principal Eason
Join Us for our 2021 Summer School Program
Join Us for our 2021 Summer School Program
Registration for Summer School is now open and we hope to see all students needing extra help in class this summer. We also are offering a self-paced enrichment program for those students who want to accelerate their learning.
For students who need grade recovery, we are offering an in-person experience at select school sites that will focus heavily on literacy and math. For students who want to enrich, we are offering an online experience accessible through the Spring ISD website and Schoology.
If your student is participating in person, the main summer school session will run from Monday, June 14 through Friday, July 2. Students in pre-K and Kindergarten will run through Thursday, July 8. The 21st Century after-school program and Special Education Extended School Year (ESY) program will be provided until July 22.
The online self-paced enrichment program will be available all summer long with a set of courses being offered in June and a second set in July.
Visit www.springisd.org/summerschool for more information and to register.
The Window to Submit a Transfer Application is Now Open!
The Window to Submit a Transfer Application is Now Open!
If your student is seeking to attend a school in 2021-22 for which they are not zoned, the window to submit a transfer application will open on Monday, May 10 at www.springisd.org/transfers.
Just a reminder, students attending the district’s schools of choice (Roberson Middle School, Spring Leadership Academy, Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, P-TECH at Dekaney High School, and Spring Early College Academy) are NOT considered transfer students since these schools do not have attendance boundaries. Students accepted into these programs receive transportation.
The district offers different transfer types depending on the situation. Regardless of transfer type, transportation will NOT be provided to students. More information on each of the transfer types is available at www.springisd.org/transfers.
Should you have any questions about the online transfer application, please reach out to your student’s current principal.
Applications for transfers will be accepted through Friday, June 4 and will be processed as submitted. Parents should receive a notification if the transfer request is approved, denied or waitlisted within 10 school days from when submitted. Notification will be sent via email or phone call.
Please make sure we have an updated email address and phone number for you in the Home Access Center.
STAAR on the Horizon
The May administration of STAAR is upon us! During the week of May 17th our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Scotties will be taking the STAAR Math assessment!
Our 5th grade Scotties will be taking the STAAR Assessment on May 21st.
During the week of May 24th our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Scotties will be taking the STAAR Reading assessment!
Please discuss the STAAR assessment with your child. Talking about the assessment and practicing at home can help ease your child’s worries and show him/her that you are interested in their success.
Link: Grade 3 Math 2019 Sample Test and Test Questions
Grade 4 Math 2019 Sample Test and Test Questions
Grade 5 Math 2019 Sample Test and Test Questions
Grade 3 Reading 2019 Sample Selection and Test Questions
Grade 4 Reading 2019 Sample Selection and Test Questions
Grade 5 Reading 2019 Sample Selection and Test Questions
Grade 5 Science 2019 Sample Selection and Test Questions
In the days leading up to the STAAR assessment, please:
● Make sure your child goes to bed early, gets plenty of rest, and has a good breakfast. Students’ minds and bodies need to be ready for a full day of trying their best.
● Give your child words of encouragement. Hearing, “You can do it!” or “I have confidence in you!” from you means a lot to your child.
● Have your child arrive on campus promptly at 8:30 a.m. Being late may cause your child to feel rushed and nervous. Arriving on time will help your child feel relaxed and ready to do his/her best!
Virtual Field Day Overview
Smith PTO Updates
Scottie Counselor's Corner
The Virtual Library
**Click the picture below for the slideshow...
Nurse's Station
Here are Some Tips to Stay Well this Cold and Flu Season
Flu season is here and it's important that we all stay vigilant and practice healthy routines to help lower the risk of getting sick. Many of these strategies are the same ones being used to protect against COVID-19 so they are especially important to follow.
The more you practice, the easier it becomes to protect yourself and the health of people around you. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy:
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a mask in public and when around people who do not live in your household. Ensure that your child wears their mask correctly and safely, over both the nose and mouth.
Avoid close contact with people. Staying at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live in the same household and people who are sick.
When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, throw your tissue in the closest garbage can, and wash your hands.
Keep up with well-child visits and vaccines with pediatricians.
Help your child stay active. Regular physical activity can improve your child’s physical and mental health.
Covid-19 Protocol
Parents are requested to monitor their students in the morning before school. Look for the
following symptoms:
• Take temperature 100.4 or over indicates an infection.
• Coughing or sneezing
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
If a student has any of the above symptoms, please notify the principal and/or seek medical attention. When a student arrives at school they must wear a mask. They will have their temperature taken and if 100.4 or below will proceed to the classroom.
If the student has a temperature over 100.4, they will be escorted to the nurse's office where they will then be escorted to an isolation room for an evaluation of symptoms which will include a questionnaire and parent contact. Please indicate to the nurse if the student has had an exposure that you are aware of.
Depending on the student's symptoms at the time, the parent can pick up the student or he/ she will be sent to class. If a student's symptoms are requiring immediate medical attention, 911 will be called. Every effort will be made to keep the students safe.
Spring ISD District Updates
Check Your Email on Monday to Take Our Virtual Academy Interest Survey!
There’s Still Time to Sign Up for Pre-K and Kindergarten!
If you haven’t already enrolled your child in pre-K, our seats are filling up fast! Take a moment today to complete the registration process by visiting: www.springisd.org/prek We can’t wait for the new school year and we want your child to be part of our community!
We are also accepting registrations of new kindergarten students for those who will be five years or older on or before Sept. 1.
If you know any other parents who have pre-K children who will be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021 and meet Texas Education Agency eligibility requirements, please encourage them to sign up TODAY.
Help us spread the word about our fabulous full-day Pre-K program, as well as our kindergarten program. We offer caring and certified teachers to ensure your child has a strong start to a bright future.
Spring ISD is Checking In on Chromebooks to Keep Students Connected
The district will be checking in on the status of all student Chromebooks in the coming weeks to collect any loaned out to students who are not returning in the fall, as well as those devices that are no longer working.
For students learning in person, this process will take place during the school day by May 14 or May 21 (for students in grades 3 -5) with teachers verifying the devices with the individuals in their classes. All returning students will be able to keep their Chromebooks over the summer so they can take part in learning activities. We encourage all returning students to hold on to their devices over the summer and take full advantage of the online self-paced learning opportunities available to all students.
Any in-person learners who are not returning to Spring ISD for the 2021-22 school year, including graduating seniors, will be asked to turn in their devices before the end of the year.
Remote learners will be able to complete the audit in one of two ways. If a remote student will be on campus for STAAR testing, the device will be checked at that time. Any other virtual students will be sent a survey to complete regarding the condition of their device, as well as upload a picture of the asset tag or serial number.
Should parents have any questions, they should contact their campus for assistance.
Important Update to Improve Your Student's Learning Experience
We have an important update to share with you as we close out this first half of our school year.
Four Remote Asynchronous Learning Days
In support of our frontline teachers, we are adding four remote learning days into the calendar this spring semester. These days will provide essential planning and preparation time for our classroom teachers, most of whom are teaching in-person and remote learners at the same time. In addition, we will be using these at-home learning days for all of our students so that we can enhance our deep cleaning protocols. These dates are:
- Wednesday, April 21
On these days, all students — both remote and in-person learners — will work from home on asynchronous assignments that have been provided by their teacher/campus. While no direct instruction will be provided by teachers on these days, all students must log into Schoology to be counted present and to complete assignments. Additionally, please let your campus know if you would prefer paper assignments for your child so they can prepare a packet in advance.