The Scottie Scoop
October 26 - October 29
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
Attendance Counts
Morning Announcements: 8:30 a.m.
Elementary School Hours: 8:35 a.m. - 3:40 p.m.
Virtual students should be logged in and "Camera Ready" by 8:30 a.m.
Red Ribbon Week Is Here!
Spring ISD is celebrating National Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 23 - 30. During this week, schools across the nation are encouraged to discuss the importance of making positive, healthy choices and staying drug free.
This year’s theme is “Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free.” Campuses and virtual learners will celebrate the week with special dress days and programs.
Be sure to use the hashtag #SpringISDRedRibbonWeek and @SmithElem to showcase our campus and have the chance to be featured on our social media.
Words From The Principal
Thank you for your continued partnership and support! Please remember that communication is our greatest tool. It is very important that you continue to remain in contact with your scholar's teacher(s) via phone and/or email, along with reading any school communication to ensure that your child remains successful each and every day. Please continue to encourage your scholar to submit their Schoology assignments.
The health and safety of our scholars is always our number one priority. It is imperative that you partner with us to monitor your scholar's internet usage at home and make certain that he/she is following the district's policy. Please review the Smith Unacceptable Use of Technology Correspondence with your scholar and discuss the appropriate use of technology at home and/or during school.
Continue to practice social distancing, stay safe, and take care of yourself. Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns at season@springisd.org. Enjoy any Halloween festivities and the Intercession break this Friday with your family. Don't forget to exercise your right to Vote!
CAMPUS EVENTS:
- In alignment with our Social Studies curriculum, our Scotties will participate in a Presidential Mock Election. Pre-K-5th grade students will experience the process of voting on October 29.
- Smith Virtual Accountability Public Meeting for Parents (English/Spanish) on Thursday, October 29, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please join the meeting using the following Zoom link. Meeting ID: 830 1365 6370.
- Get your outfits ready as we prepare to celebrate Red Ribbon Week (October 26 - October 30). We can't wait to see that MAGNIFICENT Scottie spirit from our virtual and in-person scholars!
- Picture day for virtual students is on Wednesday, November 11. Please be sure to follow the instructions stated below on the Lifetouch flyer so that your Scottie is ready and "picture perfect". The students will take pictures during their scheduled Enrichment time.
Sincerely,
Principal Eason
Returning Students Annual Update
Learning Option
Safety Protocol
- In an effort to protect our staff and students, ALL visitors must wear a mask BEFORE entering the building and the front foyer.
- Please remind your students that they must bring and wear his/her mask to school every day!
- All staff and students will follow our Safety and Procedures and Protocols.
Scottie Counselor's Corner
Bully Prevention Week:
Last week during Bully Prevention week, our Scotties participated in learning about the different types of bullying and how to report bullying. Please enjoy the slideshow presentation below displaying our school's festivities.
Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/halloween.html
Gifted & Talented (GT) Parent Referral
Parents, If you would like for your child to be screened for GT testing, please complete the request form on or before Friday, October 30th. All students who meet the recommended score will precede to GT testing.
If Your Student is in 5th Grade, Consider Applying to a Spring ISD School of Choice
Parents,
Now’s the time to start talking about middle school with your 5th-grade student. From October 26 to October 29, the district is featuring School Choice Awareness Week with special virtual meetings for each of the two middle schools of choice at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. We encourage you to log on and learn more ahead of the application window, which opens on Nov. 2.
View the fliers below for all the details for each of the two options. You can also get more information, including FAQs and videos, at www.springisd.org/choice.
Scottie PTO Updates
How to Support Your Child with Special Needs
Mark your calendars for a special virtual event on Monday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. when award-winning comedian, advocate, and columnist Sheletta Brundidge offers her tips and strategies for supporting a child with special needs.
Brundidge, also known as “Autism Mom,” has three children on the spectrum and will share her experiences on securing services and support for her young children. She is committed to helping others and providing hope for any family struggling with the challenges of caring for children with unique differences. Brundidge also co-hosts a podcast on parenting. For more information about this acclaimed personality, visit her website.
National Principals Month
Join us in celebrating our fearless leaders Principal Shimona Eason and Assistant Principal Stacey Phillips during National Principals Month! Thank you for all that you do for our staff, students, and the Scottie Community! #WeAreSmith
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Election Day - Student Holiday
Nurse's Station
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.
Soccer Starts At Home
Join Spring ISD’s Physical Education department as they team up with Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash for the ‘Soccer Starts at Home’ virtual courses, kicking off on Oct. 13 and running every Tuesday through Dec. 8 at 6 p.m via Zoom. Physical education teachers throughout the district will utilize instructional resources in their courses and provide students increased opportunities to develop fundamental ‘ball mastery’ skills that help develop balance, coordination, agility, and a sense of achievement through fun and motivating activities.
The district’s involvement in the Dynamo's ‘Soccer Starts at Home’ program will foster a family bond, with parents serving as instructors and motivators as their child begins to master a variety of exciting new skills. Parents who are interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to join the virtual meeting.
Soccer Starts At Home virtual classes
Every Tuesday beginning Oct. 13 - Dec. 8 at 6 p.m.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98898555219Diesel's Readers Program
Spring ISD is excited to team up with the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash for the Diesel’s Readers school readers program--a partnership that utilizes the power of the soccer teams and the sport of soccer to support teachers in their efforts to boost reading away from the classroom.
The program, which will run from Oct. 12-Nov. 20, is open for all kindergarten through 6th-grade students in the district. Students will have the opportunity to win various prizes, including a ticket per student to a Dynamo or Dash game in 2021. The school with the most read books combined over the six-week program will win the grand prize of having a Houston Dynamo or Dash player reading a book live!
To participate in the program, teachers must register their class here.
Teachers: Printable documents of the Diesel’s Readers scorecard will be available for students to keep track of progress here.
**Students who read five or more books will receive their earned complimentary ticket with a purchase of a parent fundraiser ticket. Link to redeem the complimentary ticket will be provided to classes to share with parents.
Gratis ReadyRosie
Spring ISD families of prekindergarten students can find some free help in providing meaningful activities at home through ReadyRosie, an educational tool that provides short videos to support Pre-K student learning in the house. ReadyRosie has over 1,000 "Modeled Moment" videos that are delivered to families via text, email, and website. By simply watching the video and doing the activity, parents are empowered to deepen their engagement in their child’s early learning journey.
The two-minute videos offer daily activities to have fun with children ages zero to six while building on learning. Content is available in English and Spanish with a growing Arabic library. Closed captioning is also available with subtitles in Arabic and Vietnamese.
Eligible Pre-K parents will receive an invite from their child’s teacher, who they can also reach out to if they have any questions. Register today to begin receiving this exciting new resource!
New Spring ISD Help Desk Hours
Spring ISD’s Help Desk currently has new hours to better support our parents and community. The Help Desk will now be open from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Friday for additional support. Parents also have the option to contact their student's campus for help during school hours.
Contact the Help Desk at (281)891-6249.
Spring ISD District Updates
Check out Spring ISD's District Tracker for the latest Data on COVID-19
Spring ISD is committed to providing parents accurate and timely information about COVID-19 in our schools and facilities.
Spring ISD unveiled a new data dashboard to augment the information that it is already made available to parents, staff, and the community related to COVID-19 in district schools.
The newest dashboard shows the percentage of students opting for in-person instruction versus at-home learning and is available at www.springisd.org/learningtracker. The learning tracker is the latest effort by the district to provide accurate and timely information about COVID-19 in schools and facilities.
Since the beginning of online classes on Aug. 17, the district has been tracking COVID-19 cases and is featuring that data on a special dashboard, located at www.springisd.org/covidtracker. The goal is to provide real-time information to our school community so that families and staff can have the latest data available.
Our tracker is updated whenever there is a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in our district, with total cases within the past week and cumulative cases since Aug. 17, 2020, featured. Users can filter and hover to learn specific locations.
As part of our communications protocols, we’re notifying families whenever there is a positive case that involves students on a campus. The district is also reporting all of the data to the Texas Education Agency each week as required. The state is updating its website weekly.
Revised 2020-21 Instructional Calendar Approved
“Fall back” on these Activities to Celebrate Autumn
Every fall season we expect changes: the leaves transition to different colors, temperatures drop and we set our clocks back with the end of Daylight Savings Time.
Adapting to change should be no different this year, but with COVID-19, some of our Autumn traditions may need to be adjusted a bit. Here are some tips and strategies, courtesy of The Association of Children’s Museums, to reimagine this special time of year as we focus on having safe and healthy celebrations.
Have a Virtual “Gourd” Time by inviting your family and friends to dress up and take turns reading your favorite scary story over Zoom, GoogleMeet or FaceTime.
Have an At-Home Costume Party while carving pumpkins with your “Scream Team” or hitting a piñata in the backyard.
Watch a Halloween-themed movie with Monster Pizza or Halloween Popcorn Balls.
Shake your Boo-ty with a “Thriller” Dance Party and end it with a scavenger hunt for treats.
Decorate your in-home learning space or any area in your home any “Witch” way.
Add some of these tricks to your treat bag to “Fall back” and remain safe!
PreK-12 Pre-Screening Attestation & Transportation Agreement
If your child will be returning to school this year for Safety First In-Person learning, please complete the Pre-screening Attestation form for each of your children that will be returning. Click here to complete.