The Leopard Tale
April-2019
Principal's Points
Have you heard the news? Andre’ Leopards are Pop STAARS! All Leopards are welcome to dress in their favorite 80s/90s attire on Monday, April 8th, as we kick off the STAAR season with our annual parade, featuring the popstars of decades past. We are so proud of our Leopards and their continued commitment toward excellence. Our 4th graders will have the opportunity on Tuesday, April 9th, to show the State of Texas their brilliance on writing STAAR, while our 5th graders will take the math STAAR. Fifth graders will then take the reading STAAR the next day on Wednesday, April 10th.
Even though it’s testing season, our Leopards are engaged in many other exciting learning adventures. Pre-K students enjoyed many visitors at their barber shop, “Pre-K Cuts,” for a realistic dramatic play. Kinder “gardeners” just planted seeds to observe the plant cycle. First and 2nd graders kicked up their heels for rodeo dances, while 2nd graders had a fabulous garden day, as well, planting tomatoes and peppers. Third graders did a fantastic job presenting their book trailers, and the amazing 3rd grade Name That Book team won three rounds at our District competition! Ask your 5th grader about elective selections. They were excited to meet with the administrative teams from Anthony and Hopper to hear all about life at middle school.
Make sure you mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 3rd! We invite you to join us April 3rd for an important meeting at Cy-Springs H.S. about the upcoming Bond election on May 4th (Early voting will be between April 22-30th). We are anxious to share with you everything you need to know about the Bond election and how it will impact Andre’, your feeder middle school, Cy-Springs H.S., and our District as a whole. Please join us Wednesday, April 3rd, in the auditorium.
Important Information
STAAR Testing
Our first round of STAAR tests will take place in April for 4th and 5th graders. Please help ensure your child’s success by having them rested, on time, and at school on STAAR testing days. We will have no lunch visitors or deliveries April 8th-April 12th.
April STAAR Testing dates are:
April 9th- Writing STAAR- 4th Grade
Math STAAR- 5th Grade
April 10th- Reading STAAR- 5th Grade
Stay Connected
We want to stay connected with you! Please visit our website at www.cfisd.net, select schools and facilities, elementary schools, and then Andre’. This will take you to our website. We will also regularly post photos and news on the Official Andre’ Facebook page. To locate our page, search @CFISDAndre. Make sure you follow us on Twitter, @CFISDAndre, as well.
Lost and Found
Have you been searching the house for your child’s missing jacket or lunch kit?
We have quite a collection of found items that we have on display in the cafeteria. Students will have an opportunity each day during lunch to look through the items to reclaim things that belong to them. It is getting cooler outside, and jackets will be needed.
Please remind your child to look for missing items. Thank you for your support.
District Guidelines for Keeping Sick
Children Home from School
A sick child who is unable to participate in school in a meaningful way should be kept home to rest and recover until symptoms resolve. Keeping a sick child home also protects other children, school staff, and visiting community members from contracting an illness that can be spread from person to person. Please be aware of the following guidelines for school attendance.
· Fever: A child should remain home with fever greater than 100° F and should only return after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin.
· Diarrhea/Vomiting: A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom free for 24 hours.
· Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Following a diagnosis of pink eye, a child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication has been administered.
· Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a healthcare provider has made a diagnosis and authorizes the child's return to school in writing.
If you take your child to a healthcare provider for an illness, please be sure to request a written letter stating when your child may return to school.
A healthy school community requires parents and schools to partner with each other. To prevent/minimize local outbreaks of contagious disease, parents must keep children at home who have an illness that can be spread from person to person, and CFISD school nurses will exclude from school attendance, any students with symptoms of a communicable illness.
Student Holiday
Friday, April 19, 2019
No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries on Thursday, April 18th or Monday, April 22nd
Students return on Monday, April 22nd
2019 Bond Information
2019/2020 Pre K and Kindergarten Pre-Registration
New Student Registration will begin April 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at all campuses. Visit your campus website or contact your school for further information. To register your child for prekindergarten or kindergarten, parents must provide the school with the following items:
· Certified copy of the child’s birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics (see City of Houston Bureau of Vital Statistics to obtain a birth certificate if born in the city of Houston)
· Current immunization record
· Proof of residency (a current electric, gas, or water bill or a lease agreement)
· Social security card for each child, if available
· Photo ID of parent or guardian
To be eligible for the Prekindergarten program, your child must be 4 years of age by September 1, 2019 and meet an eligibility requirement as determined by Texas law. No exceptions can be made.
· The child is unable to speak and comprehend the English language and are Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students. Students must complete a Home Language Survey and the child must qualify on the Pre -IDEA Proficiency Test (Pre-IPT),which will be administered at registration.
or
· The child is educationally (economically) disadvantaged: Eligible to participate in the National Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program based on family income.
or
· The child is educationally (economically) disadvantaged: Eligible by having a food stamp or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Eligibility Group Number (EDG#).
or
· The child is homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11302.
or
· The child has a parent or official guardian that is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority. This includes uniformed service members who are Missing in Action (MIA).
or
· The child has a parent or official guardian that is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty.
Kindergarten Registration Requirements:
For the 2019-2020 school year, children entering kindergarten for the first time must be five years old on or before September 1, 2019. Due to Texas state law on age requirements, no exceptions will be made. The district provides full-day kindergarten.
Students currently enrolled in the District’s pre-kindergarten program are automatically registered for kindergarten. The student’s permanent folder, which contains the student’s birth certificate and immunization records, will be sent to the student’s home school for the kindergarten year. Therefore, there is no need for parents of current pre-kindergartners to attend the kindergarten pre-registration.
Student Transfers
2019-2020 CFISD Open Campus Transfer Request Form ~ [Español]
Completed transfer requests along with the requested proof of residency may be submitted to studenttransfers@cfisd.net or delivered to your child’s current campus registrar. Parent/guardians may also deliver the completed application and supporting documentation directly to the Office of Students Services/Admissions. Requests will be accepted from April 1-June 3, 2019.
Counselors' Corner
A big thank you to all of our 4th and 5th grade student council members, Jr. Counselors, Backpack Buddy assistants and teachers who participated in our first annual Andre’ Spring Clean in mid-March. Forty-eight students and eight staff members did a trash/litter pick up of the exterior grounds. In less than 30 minutes, Andre’ was looking better than ever. Our participants were rewarded with glazed donuts and juice. Many participants shared how great they felt about making a difference at their school.
On Friday, April 5th, results from gifted and talented testing that took place in February will be sent home with students. If your child qualifies for the Horizons program, the letter will include a permission slip that must be signed and returned to the Counselors' office. Students who qualify will begin their program at the beginning of the next school year. Please contact your child’s counselor if you have questions.
During the month of April, counselors will be facilitating classroom guidance lessons related to the concept of hope. Feel free to support our efforts and have discussions with your child about this topic.
Notes from the front desk
Lunch Visitors
Please limit your lunch visits with your child to one time per week. We have close to 1,000 students and want to make sure we have space for all parents who would like to eat lunch with their children. A note is required from a guardian for anyone other than a guardian to have lunch with your child.
Absences
If your child is absent, please send a note on the first day of your child’s return to school stating the reason for the absence. Thank you.
Transportation Changes
If a child’s end-of-day transportation changes, the parent/guardian must send a note with the date, necessary changes and parent/guardian signature. If a note is not received, the usual method of transportation will be followed.
For safety purposes, no changes will be made after 3:30 P.M. and PHONE CALLS or E-MAILS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
Student Council
Box Tops for Education
Each Student’s Goal= 10 Box Tops in April!
Did you know that Andre’ receives 10₵ for every General Mills Box Tops for Education we collect? Please remember to cut out Box Tops from participating products and send them to your child’s homeroom teacher.
You can send box top clips and certificates in a bag, envelope or on the attached collection sheet.
If each student turns in 10 box tops, our school will earn over $1,100! Wow!
Our next collection date is May 1st!
Kindergarten News
Kindergarten News
On Tuesday, April 23rd, Lifetouch will be at Andre’ for kindergarten graduation pictures. All Kindergarten students will be photographed in a cap and gown. These portraits will be available for purchase.
Kindergarten Recognition will take place on May 20th at 9:00 a.m. Like all Andre’ events, this will be a student-centered activity with limited space for guests. No infants, toddlers, or school aged siblings will be allowed to attend the ceremony. Instead the spotlight will be on our kindergarten Leopards. Thank you for your understanding and support. Look for more information soon.
Fifth Grade News
5th Grade News
Our Fifth Grade Recognition Ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 22nd, at Cypress Springs High School. All fifth grade students will be recognized in this ceremony. Fifth Grade Celebration Day will take place on Wednesday, May 29th, during the school day. Look for more information in the coming weeks about our Fifth Grade Recognition Ceremony and Fifth Grade Celebration Day. Please email andreleopardpto@gmail.com if you would like to offer support to our 5th grade parent committee.
PTO
Andre’ Family-
Thank you to everyone who attended the Enchanted Garden Dance. It was a huge success, and we look forward to our upcoming Mother-Son game night on May 10th.
As we look forward to closing out the year, please consider joining our PTO Executive Board. It’s a wonderful chance for you to get involved at the school, and we could use your help! Applications are due April 8th, before our Board meeting, where we will vote on next year’s PTO Board.
Reminder for 5th grade parents, please continue to look for reminders for the 5th grade Celebration Day. We need 100% participation to make it a wonderful finale for our 5th graders.
Thanks,
Rose Cerny
Andre’ PTO President
Upcoming Spirit Nights
April 6- Acute Workshop
Address: 20510 West Rd. and Fry
***Be sure to return the bottom portion of the flyer that was sent home with your child by April 3rd!
Help Andre’ Earn “Free Money”
My Coke Rewards- https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/ When you make Coca-Cola purchases, you simply enter the product codes on the website or send them in a baggie to school with your child and we can scan them in for you.
Amazon Smile- http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-2612718 Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to Andre’ PTO. Please be sure to add Andre’ PTO as your Charity.
Kroger Plus- www.krogercommunityrewards.com (You must select Andre Elementary PTO Inc. as your community Rewards organization under ‘My account.’ )
Box Tops- The next submission date for Box Tops is May 1st.
PTO Membership
We currently have 145 family members covering 164 of our 900+ students. Spread the PTO Word! We would love to grow our membership to 100%. Your $15 membership fee is a show of support for all the programs and events the PTO sponsors during the year, since PTO is supported by funds from fundraising, donations, and volunteering. As a member, you are not obligated to attend meetings or volunteer.
Next PTO Meeting
Want to know more about what’s going on with PTO? Our next meeting is Wednesday April 10, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at Andre’ Elementary School in the library. Please join us!
PTO Contact info
Facebook: Andre’ Elementary PTO
Twitter: @AndreElemPTO
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/andrepto/home
Email: andreleopardpto@gmail.com
Healthy Bodies
Mark your calendar
4/1- 6:45- Girl Scout Meeting
4/2- 6:45- Cub Scout Meeting
4/3- 6:30- Bond Election Informational Meeting at Cy-Springs H.S.
4/5- Report Cards Go Home
4/5- PTO Spirit Night- Bounce Bounce
4/8- 4/12- No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
4/8- STAAR Pep Rally
4/8- 80s or 90s Dress-up Day
4/9- STAAR Testing 4th/5th
4/10- STAAR Testing-5th
4/11- 5:30-7:30- Technology Festival- Berry Center
4/15- Step It Up Kids Fundraiser Kick-Off
4/16- 6:45- Cub Scout Meeting- Cafeteria
4/17- No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
4/17- 9:00-3:00- Pre-K/Kindergarten Pre-Registration
4/18- No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
4/18- 10:00- Reading Restaurant- 1st Grade
4/19- Student/Staff Holiday
4/23- Kindergarten Graduation Pictures
4/24- 7:45- Student Council Meeting
4/25- Field Trip-Oil Ranch- Kindergarten
4/26- Field Trip-Dewberry Farms- 1st Grade
4/26- College and Career Day- 2nd Grade
4/30- 6:00- Spring Showcase
5/1- Progress Reports
5/1- College Shirts or Colors Day
Looking Ahead:
5/7- Field Trip- Eco Adventures- 2nd Grade
5/7- 4:30-5:30- Leopard Academy
5/7- 6:45- Cub Scout Meeting
5/9- 6:00- Cy-Springs High School Awards Night
5/13-5/15- STAAR Testing (No Lunch Visitors)
5/17- Graduation Walks
5/20- Kindergarten Recognition
5/22- 5th Grade Recognition- Cy-Springs High School
5/29- 5th Grade Celebration Day
5/30- Last Day of School- Students Only Day
About Us
Email: andre@cfisd.net
Website: andre.cfisd.net/en/
Location: 8111 Fry Road, Cypress, TX, USA
Phone: 281-463-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/cfisdandre/
Twitter: @cfisdandre