The Pony Express
Parent Newsletter: Week of January 25th-29th
COVID-19 Reminders
Parents, if you or your student are ill, stay home. Please always check your child’s health before sending them to school, and if they show any signs of illness, such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever, please keep them home. Here are some additional reminders:
If your student has been potentially exposed to someone who is sick, please do not send them to school.
For the safety of our students and staff, if your student has been tested and is awaiting results, please consider switching to remote learning until their results come back negative.
If someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, do not send your student to school.
How Spring ISD is Preparing for the COVID-19 Vaccines
Parents, as we head into the spring semester, we are all looking forward to the availability of vaccines against COVID-19. Our school district is following the guidance of Harris County Department of Health, which has recently opened up the distribution of vaccines to educators over 65 or those with a pre-existing health condition.
Of course, we’re encouraging any eligible staff members to receive the vaccine when it’s available to them. We’ve been heartened that some of our employees have already been able to get the first dose. In the weeks to come, we expect more staff members will be receiving appointments for the vaccine and may need to take time off during the school day to do this. We want to minimize any impacts on our students but we wanted to let you know that in some cases, we may need to move classes (whether remote or in-person) to asynchronous learning if there are staffing/coverage issues.
We promise to keep you updated and give you the most notice possible should we need to move your student to asynchronous learning for a day, half a day, or a few hours. Thank you for your ongoing support as we all continue to work together to stop the spread!
Pony Reminders
- School Hours are 8:35am - 3:40pm
- Doors open at 8:10am (please don't drop students off prior to this time)
- Car riders may not exit the vehicle until all temperatures are checked
- Attendance Matters!
- Ensure technology is brought to school daily
- No transportation changes after 3:00pm
- Dismissal begins at 3:30pm
MAP Testing
Don’t Forget: Remote Learning Asynchronous Day on Jan. 27
This is a reminder that our first asynchronous day will be Wednesday, Jan. 27, and ALL students will be learning from home, including remote, in-person learners and SPED.
Students should log into Schoology from home to work independently on assignments from their teachers and to be counted present for attendance. In addition to Wednesday, Jan. 27, other asynchronous learning days will be held on:
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Friday, March 12
Wednesday, April 21
Remember, students will not report to campus on asynchronous days but will work on assignments independently from home.
Monitoring Student Grades
Staying connected with your child's academic progress is a great way to ensure your student's success this school year.
Keep in mind that Spring ISD's promotional standards require students to have a 70% or higher in all core classes (Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) and to maintain an attendance rate of at least 90% for the school year.
See Below for additional resources:
Free Internet Hotspots Now Available for Eligible Students
Spring ISD is excited to share that the district is providing free internet hotspots for eligible students. Families who take advantage of this free service will get unlimited data, so you won’t need to use your own. You can also connect up to eight devices on one hotspot. Most importantly, students will be able to complete their school work and homework and connect with their teachers with more reliable internet.
Spring ISD is also partnering with Comcast Internet Essentials to provide free internet services for eligible families. For more information and to sign up, please call 281-891-6850.
Get Involved During National Mentoring Month this January
This month is designated as National Mentoring Month and is a good reminder that adult mentors can make a key difference in the lives of young people by providing them with an important source of social and emotional support. During the current pandemic, it’s especially essential that the young people in our communities have dependable people to look up to and follow in their footsteps.
Ways to help mentor during the ongoing pandemic
Be mindful. As COVID-19 spreads it can trigger trauma for kids any age. Let students know that you are there for them.
Be intentional. Preserve continuity in the relationship.
Acknowledge what is going on and talk about it.
Understand their emotions.
Be in it together. Let your mentee know that you are in this together and here to help.
Be communicative. Healthy and supportive relationships are crucial during this time.
Want more tips? Check out the National Mentoring Resource Center.
Family Talks Improve Social-Emotional Health
It can be difficult to connect with children and teens, but you should know that by conversing with them, it has a great impact on their social-emotional health. Having family talks whether at home, over the phone or virtually creates positive emotions such as happiness and empathy. Healthier Generation gives us great communication points to get you connecting:
Start with shared experiences or interests.
Make sure the environment is quiet and free of distractions, such as phones and electronics.
Approach family conversations with an open mind.
Be willing to pause what you are doing to listen when your child initiates a conversation.
If kids are not talkative, do not give up. Share a story about yourself that relates to their interests.
As you take a walk, drive home or even share a meal with your kids, open lines of communication to begin sharing stories and building conversations.
January is National Blood Donor Month
The winter months have historically been a tough time for blood banks, with increases in seasonal illness raising demand while inclement weather and families’ busy schedules around the holidays often result in decreased blood donations. This past year, due to COVID-19, thousands of blood drives have had to be canceled, but the need – as always – remains.
The good news is that, no matter the time of year, giving blood is always in season! Donated blood can only be kept for a limited amount of time, making it important to continually replenish the supply. Someone in the U.S. requires a blood transfusion every two seconds, and National Blood Donor Month is an important reminder of this vital service that we can take part in to help others in their time of need.
Students and staff 17 or older may be eligible to donate, and students who are 16 years old may also be eligible with parental consent. For more information, check out Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, one of the largest community blood centers in the country. Their location finder can even help you find a donation opportunity near you!
Feedback Sought on revised 2020-21 Proposed Instructional Calendar Options
Parents, check your emails next Monday, Jan. 25, when the district sends out its calendar survey to help plan for the 2021-22 school year calendar.
Spring ISD will be presenting two calendar options and wants to hear from parents, community members and staff before bringing a recommendation to the board in February. The plan is to send out the survey on Monday and keep it open for responses through Feb. 3.
So check your email starting Monday, Jan. 25 and make sure your voice is heard!
Students to Recognize Black History Month with Research and Learning
With February marking Black History Month, students will have the opportunity to take part in the district’s annual program to recognize and encourage writing and oratory skills.
The theme is “Triumphs and Struggles You Might Not Know.” Students will be able to select a notable person or topic and conduct research individually or in a group with the goal of creating a skit, play, speech, rap, dance, poem or any other project that captures what they’ve learned.
The work will culminate with a campus competition that will qualify winning students to take part in a district-level contest. Your student will be researching their chosen topic in the coming weeks, so we encourage parents to talk with them about what they’re learning and how they’re planning to present their research.
At the end of February, the district will be putting together a digital exhibit to showcase select projects. Let’s encourage all students to spotlight their talents through exploration, imagination and presentation on whatever topic they choose!
Ponderosa Elementary School
Website: https://www.springisd.org/ponderosa2
Location: 17202 Butte Creek Road, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: 281-891-8180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/School/Ponderosa-Elementary-Spring-ISD-103333517987650/
Twitter: @PES_Spring