Skaggs E-News
May 3, 2019
A Note from the Principal
Dear Parents,
If you have a fifth grader, you may have heard that their grade level wing is looking amazing! We are so glad that they are back to their rooms.
In case you didn't know, next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Every teacher at Skaggs dedicates themselves in bettering children. They don't teach to be appreciated, but to grow and mold children to reach their potential. If you want to express your appreciation, however, next week is a good time to do it :) Thank you PTA, in advance, for the special week you have planned for teachers.
STAAR Tests
STAAR tests for 3-5 grades will be on May 13-15. Thank you, in advance, for not scheduling doctor appointments on these days. No visitors will be allowed into the building during that week, so please plan accordingly if you were thinking about joining your child for lunch. Should your child's lunch time shift, you will receive the information from the classroom teacher's weekly newsletter. We appreciate your understanding as this is due to the high security levels of STAAR testing.
Classroom Assignments for 2019-2020
It is time for teachers to make plans for next school year. Assigning students to the best teachers is one the most important items. What I mean by “best teacher” is that we match the student and teacher by reviewing the student learning style, teacher teaching style, personalities, amount of structure needed, emotional needs, etc. The list goes on. Should you feel strongly that your child needs a certain type of teacher, you can send me, in writing, about the type of teacher that your child needs. Out of respect and trust for all of our teachers, a request with a specific name of the teacher will not be accepted. Thank you, in advance, for your trust in us. If you choose to submit teacher characteristics, please have your written request in by Friday, May 17, 2019.
Thank you,
Karen Lee
Principal
North Texas Robotics Summer STEM Camp
Looking for a fun camp this summer? Come work with the Academy High School Robotics Team and the Plano Senior High School Robotics Team to learn about engineering and problem solving by having fun at this hands-on camp!
Summer is not only about good weather, it’s also about great ROBOTS! Titan Robotics and Chain Reaction Robotics will be hosting the NTX Camps of Engineering that will give you an opportunity to build, solve problems and create using LEGO® Mindstorms, and complete a variety of other engineering challenges.
Campers will also get a chance to check out robots built by high school students! Find out more at https://www.ntxrobotics.com
Morning Traffic
Breakfast at Skaggs
7:15-7:40 am
Skaggs School Safety
Please take our survey - your feedback will help us learn how we can meet the needs of our students and families better.
2017-2018 Federal and State School Report Cards
The 2017-2018 School Report Cards for Skaggs Elementary has now been released, and posted to the school website- https://www.pisd.edu/skaggs_ar. The report provides information concerning student performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), as well as information on student enrollment, class size averages, and financial expenditures. The information contained in the School Report Card is described in the “School Report Card Definitions.” The Federal Report Card is also available at https://tea.texas.gov/FRC.aspx. If you have any questions concerning the School Report Cards, please let us know.
Important Dates
April 15 Breakfast begins
May 6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 13-17 Free Breakfast offered
May 13 STAAR math for 3rd & 4th
May 14 STAAR reading for 3rd & 4th
May 15 STAAR science for 5th
May 16 & 17 Make-ups for math, reading and science (3rd, 4th and 5th)
Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10th
Our PTA would love your help in showing our Teachers and Staff how much we appreciate them.
Thursday May 9th - Bring A School Supply
Friday May 10th - Bring A Gift/Gift Card
Teacher's All About Me list can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Iy4hppa4YXB8R4x_CXxu5m1KrtZafBc/view?usp=sharing
Upcoming Staff Birthdays
May 4 - Alyson Zembower
Work In Progress
We are excited about the refurbishment which we have begun already. We will be getting new flooring, bathroom areas, lockers, paint, furniture, and much more by the start of next school year.
Summer PASAR registration is opened!
SUMMER SCHOOL - PEP PROGRAM
The Plano Enrichment Program, known as “PEP”, offers more than 30 varied enrichment classes in addition to reinforcement classes for language arts and mathematics. Students are able to enroll one or two courses of their choice in a variety of areas, including art, cooking, and science. Classes are designed for students who are able to be participate independently in a 20:1 student to teacher ratio.
There is financial assistance for students who are receiving free or reduced lunch.
Registration packets went home with your student on Thursday, March 28. The same information can be found online: https://www.pisd.edu/Page/591. Registration can be completed by mail, dropped off at the Summer School office, or completed online through the parent portal: https://parentportal.pisd.edu/Login.aspx.
There are also other summer school programs, by invitation only, that your child’s teacher may contact you directly about if your student is eligible to attend.
Please contact Marie Harroff, 469-752-1053, if you have questions about summer school or need help getting your child registered.
Plano ISD to Begin Collections for Unpaid Meal Charges
April 2019
This month, families with unpaid meal charges will begin receiving notifications from Plano ISD regarding the amount owed and how to pay their balances. We want you to be aware of this impending communication and the related guidelines and payment options.
The goal of Plano ISD’s school breakfast and lunch program is to provide healthy meals to children during the school day. In order to serve healthy, high-quality meals to all children, we must make sure we are financially secure, and parents play a key role in this effort.
Procedures for Students with Unpaid Meal Charges:
If you are unsure if your family has a meal account balance, you can view your balance via the Plano ISD Mobile App (downloadable at www.pisd.edu/mobileapp), or you can access and pay the balance online using Paypams, https://paypams.com.
A student is allowed up to two reimbursable breakfast meal charges (where served) and two reimbursable lunch meal charges. Once a student incurs these charges, communication to the parents/guardian is initiated. This month’s direct notification will include comprehensive guidelines and instructions, and will be sent in addition to the regularly scheduled notifications.
· Parents/guardians may make payments in students’ accounts through the online payment system or in person at the campus site.
· For online payments, visit https://paypams.com. You will need to know your login information.
· To access the Free and Reduced Price Meal Application visit https://fans.pisd.edu/fma. Qualifying for the Free and Reduced Meal Program will apply only to charges incurred after successful enrollment, and cannot be applied retroactively to existing balances.
For questions or inquiries about payment plans, contact the food and nutritional services manager at your child’s school. You may access those phone numbers as follows:
· Elementary Schools: https://www.pisd.edu/Page/4521
· Middle Schools: https://www.pisd.edu/Page/4548
· High Schools/Senior High Schools: https://www.pisd.edu/Page/4549
Upcoming Parent Training Event - May 9th
Details:
Davis Elementary
May 9th
6:00 - 7:30pm
Tips for Parents for Online Safety
· Have general discussions about things your child may have seen online.
· Explain that many things that happen online can be misleading or frightening.
· Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult if they see something online or on social media that is scary or hurtful.
· Make sure your child knows that it is not okay to communicate with or follow directions from strangers online.
· Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name/location.
· Spend time online together to teach your child appropriate online behavior.
· Keep the computer in a common area where you can watch and monitor its use and monitor time spent on smartphones or tablets.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s counselor.
For more information, please visit https://www.pisd.edu/parentworkshops
Additional Resources:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html
https://www.netsmartz.org/internetsafety
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/children-internet-safety
https://www.mcgruff-safe-kids.com/2014/08/10-internet-safety-tips-for-kids/
Morning Circles
Word Collectors
___________________________
PTA CORNER
SKAGGS YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW
Interested in joining Skaggs PTA
Our nomination committee is looking for members to serve on next years board to make the 2019-2020 school year a wonderful one for our Skaggs Stars!
Available officer positions include:
- President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- VP of Membership
- VP of Family Programs
- VP of Student Programs
- VP of Ways & Means
- VP of Volunteers
- Communications Chairman
- Environmental Chairman
Please feel free to contact Avani Chokshi at avanichokshipta@gmail.com if you are interested in serving or would like more information about any of these positions.
Looking forward to a great year ahead!
Check writing Campaign: checks payable to: Skaggs PTA
Skaggs PTA: https://skaggspta.membershiptoolkit.com
PTA Fundraiser: Every year we have field trips, classroom parties, author visits and several other events coming up for school. We are in great need of funds, we need your help. Please support Skaggs PTA by writing a check. If you haven't made your contribution, please sign up in the above PTA link to pay the membership or just simply write a check. You are more than welcome to donate more to show your support.
We appreciate your donation very much! Every dollar goes back to our Children!
Thank you in advance for writing (any amount) a check to Skaggs PTA. Just have your child bring the envelope to the front office.
Connect with Skaggs
Phone 469-752-3300|Fax 469-752-3301
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