Welcome Back to School
Brave Bulls Newsletter
Message from the Principal
Sincerely,
Michelle Casillas, Principal
Counselors Corner
Hello Brave Bull Parents,
Welcome back to a new school year! My name is Una Millan I have been working as a Counselor at Tom Lea Elementary since we opened the school in the 2008-2009 school year. I have been in the field of education for seven-teen years including my experience as a classroom teacher for six years. Recently, another counselor joined our team! Ms. Rebecca Montoya has twenty-five years of experience in education including being a classroom teacher for seven years. It has been a true blessing to have her on our team.
As counselors, we provide a wide variety of services to parents and students. Our main role is to provide direct services to the students with guidance lessons (character education), small group counseling and individual counseling. Our main goal is to address any social, emotional, personal, behavioral or academic needs of the students. We look forward to interacting with all of our students virtually and eventually in person. *Please don’t forget to have your children log on to our character education lessons. This instruction is imperative in establishing rapport with our students. We will be addressing the BIG 3: Treat Others Right, Make Smart Decisions and Maximize Your Potential using our Core Essential values program. https://coreessentials.org/values2021
Contact information:
Una B. Millan M.Ed. (915)843-8774 ubmillan@episd.org
Rebecca Montoya M.Ed. (915)308-4664 rxmontoy@episd.org
Feel free to contact us; we’re here to support you!
Thank you! Counselors Corner
Nurse News
Welcome back! This past spring we experienced a year like no other and will continue to make history with our first ever, virtual re-opening of public schools across the nation. I want to let you know that although the education of our children is important to us, so are you and your child’s health. There will be an abundant amount of information coming out over the next few weeks as we finalize plans to open the schools and provide face to face instruction in the safest and healthiest way. I want you all to be confident that when you send your child to school, whether it be later this fall or spring, I will have your child’s best health interests at heart. Not only am I your child’s school nurse, but I am a resident of this community and have my own two children attend our community’s schools. My daughter will begin her kinder year here at Tom Lea and my son has moved on to 6th grade at Nolan Richardson. I will do my best to serve OUR community and families the best way I can during this uncertain and stressful time.
I have attached some documents and tools for you and your families to use in beginning this school year. It is important that we support our children and talk with them about the current situation. We do not know the long term effects this will have on their generation as we are in new territory.
If you need to reach me, please contact me via school phone: 915-230-5450, email: algutier@episd.org, or my google voice phone number (work from home number) 575-322-2861.
About Your School Nurse
Name: Angelica Gutierrez, but I go by Angie (Nurse Angie)
Experience: I have my Bachelors of Nursing from the University of Texas at El Paso and was licensed as a Registered Nurse in Texas in 2008. I have been an elementary school nurse for a total of 8 years. I am currently working on my Master’s Degree as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
Family: I have a husband of 14 years, who served in the U.S. Marine Corp, a 5 year old daughter, and an 11 year old son.
Likes: I love to read a good leisurely book, series, fantasy, and historical fiction are my favorites (huge Harry Potter fan), craft, bake, and spend time and support my kids in their sports and extracurricular.
Curbside Library is Available
Want Your Child to Read......
The Library will offer curbside pickup for students to check out books to read. You may look at the books in our catalog and then email the books that you would like to checkout for your child’s reading pleasure. Then send me an email of the books that you would like. If you are not sure of what to select, then let me know your child’s grade level and reading interest or subject. I will collect the books and check them out to your child. I will return your email with a schedule day and time for you to pick them up. I will then provide curbside pickup of our books to your vehicle. Please look at the Tom Lea online library catalog at the following link: https://elpaso.tlcdelivers.com/?config=178#section=home
Pick up days: Wednesday and Thursday
Time: 2:40 pm to 4 pm
Contact: Lisa K. Gailey Email: lkgailey@episd.org
I hope this will help our children to continue reading and enjoying a great book.
Sincerely,
Lisa Gailey, Librarian
Tom Lea Elementary School
Military Community
Military Family Liaison
My name is Tessie Vallez and I am the Military Family Liaison (MFL) here at Tom Lea Elementary. I have been in this position and serving our community for almost 8 years. I have the pleasure of being an El Paso native and growing up right here in the Northeast. I was also an Army wife for 15 years and lived in San Antonio, Ft. Leonard Wood, Grafenwoehr and Mannheim, Germany. We are now happily retired. One of my sons is in the Airforce and currently stationed in Germany so I am a military mom as well.
My main role is to help military families transition to our school and provide any resources they may need. I am here for you and your student. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have.
This school year looks very different for all of us and I miss not seeing our returning families or meeting and welcoming new families to our wonderful school. I look forward to seeing and meeting all of you, hopefully, soon! Until then stay safe!
Sincerely,
Tessie Vallez MFL
Office # 915-230-5450
Virtual Office # 915-317-6744
Parent & Student Resources
The Instructional Technology Team has been creating videos that can be shared with students on how to setup and use their iPads.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZeArVXZl_4mZcdRhgDfnndfvkQ4jthHm
EPISD@Home iPad Tips - YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
*Please note Meeting has been changed to zoom
ATTENDANCE
To report an absence, please email your teacher and Attendance Clerk- Mrs. Duran at tduran@episd.org