Monthly News
BROOKER CREEK ELEMENTARY
Thank You BCE Families
Allow me a moment to thank each of you for helping us complete a successful school opening. I appreciate your patience and kindness as we work through long car lines and bus stop changes. Dismissing 550 students does take some time.
We are entering the first testing session for the 2022-2023 school year. These tests are new to us as well as your students. We refer to the first session as PM1 (progress monitoring one). This testing window is open from 8/29-9/16 but most students will only test for ABOUT an hour on two days. There will be two other testing windows this year. PM2 will take place from 12/5 to 12/16 and PM3 will take place from 5/1 to 5/12. More testing information is described below.
Open House, August 31
We have scheduled our Open House for Wednesday, August 31. Teachers will communicate specific meeting locations directly with their families. PTA and local community agencies will be on campus as well. We will try to host the entire school on the same evening but we will stagger out grade levels start and end times. Our schedule is:
5:00-5:45- VPK, Kindergarten, First, and Second grades
5:45-6:15- Gifted services and select ESE services
6:15-7:00- Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade
School Advisory Committee (SAC)
Brooker Creek Elementary School SAC is a team of parents, students, teachers, administrators, support staff, business and community partnerships. As a member of a SAC, you will be instrumental in assisting with the evaluation of the school improvement plan, annual SAC budget and continuous schoolwide improvements. If you are interested, please complete the interest form attached below and return it by email to diviliop@pcsb.org or in paper form to the front office. Please note that there is a deadline of 9/2 for this interest form to be received. We are looking for about ten volunteers for this committee.
Great American Teach-In
The Great American Teach-In is scheduled for November 16. We have attached a form with QR-Code which you can use to show your interest in speaking with students. The students greatly enjoy hearing about careers and hobbies. We hope you consider sharing your time with us that day.
Brooker Creek Rays Day
Brooker Creek Elementary School Day at the Rays is taking place on September 25. The flyer for this event is located below.
All Pro Dads
We are excited to announce that we will be starting an All Pro Dad Chapter here at Brooker Creek Elementary!
All Pro Dad is a monthly gathering where dads get to intentionally engage with their kids! This of course is not just limited to dads, but all children must be accompanied by an adult. There will be fun activities and a character-based curriculum that helps dads start meaningful conversations with their kids.
Our first gathering is scheduled for Friday, September 2nd and we would love to see you there. We will begin at 7:50 in the cafeteria. Light snacks will be available.
If you would like to come, please RSVP here (https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/13279) Or scan the QR code attached below. For more information or questions, contact our team captain, Jason Vargas, at this email: jvargas@hiscoinc.com.
Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Grades Kindergarten through 2
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring tool that will be administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will take the Kindergarten, Grade 1, or Grade 2 Renaissance Star Early Literacy, Star Reading, and/or Star Math assessment(s) during the testing window of August 29, 2022 – September 16, 2022. Your student’s results from PM1 are for informational purposes only, and your student’s school will provide you with information about how to access the results after testing is completed.
FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions. If you or your student would like to review Star Early Literacy, Star Reading, and/or Star Math sample items at home, sample test items are available at https://flfast.org/resources/renaissance-star/renaissance-star.
The Star Early Literacy assessment typically takes less than 15 minutes to complete. The Star Reading assessment is usually completed in less than 20 minutes, and the Star Math assessment typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Mrs. Crabb at 727-943-4600.
For more information about the Florida Statewide Assessments program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Grades 3-5
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring tool that will be administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the first administration (PM1) of the Grade 3, 4, and 5 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Reading and Mathematics assessments during the testing window of August 29, 2022 – September 16, 2022. Your student’s results from PM1 are for informational purposes only, and your student’s school will provide you with information about how to access the results after testing is completed.
FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present 35–40 items that will cover the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. If you or your student would like to interact with the online testing platform or review FAST Reading and Mathematics sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Mrs. Crabb at 727-943-4600.
For more information about the FAST program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
Counselor Corner
Hello Bobcat families,
It has been wonderful getting to meet all our new students to Brooker Creek and seeing all our returning students this month! I thought it would be important to share that our district has changed our monthly character traits to meet the legislative requirements and to reorganize the character traits of the month to coincide with other required instruction from state statute 1003.42. Therefore, our commitment to character award program, “Prestigious Paws,” will also align to this change. Below is the list of traits from September through May that our teachers are recognizing in our students to earn the monthly award for their classroom. If you would like to read further information, please click on this link; https://www.pcsb.org/Page/24167
· September- Citizenship
· October- Tolerance
· November- Patriotism
· December- Charity
· January-Kindness/Caring
· February- Cooperation
· March- Responsibility
· April-Honesty
· May-Respect
Sincerely,
Toniann Prillhart
School Counselor
News from the P.E. Dept.
We’re excited to embark on another school year here at Brooker Creek! We would like the opportunity to introduce our ‘AWESOME’ P.E. Staff:
Mrs.Watt
Mr. Broome
Miss. Kuzio
Couple Of Reminders:
- Please have your child bring a water bottle with your first and last name on it
- On P.E. days, (WHICH WILL BE 3 DAYS A WEEK) have your child dress with proper P.E. attire (gym clothes/shoes, NO open toed-shoes Boots or Crocs)
- If your child needs to be excused from P.E. class for illness or an injury, they need to bring an excused note to class.
- If there’s any health concerns that are urgent that need to be brought to our attention, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
- No sunglasses allowed, unless doctors note. Hats and sunscreen are permitted.
- Students are expected to come to class giving 100 percent (which skill grades will reflect on their effort) “Conduct grades” will reflect on their behavior which will include respect to teacher/peers, Good Sportsmanship, and following all rules and expectations.
We would greatly appreciate any of these items for donations-
- Hand Sanitizer
- Disinfectant products
- Kleenex
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Dry Erase Markers
Sunscreen 30+
Sun protection cover to be placed in field
Thank you,
Your P.E. Department
Clinic News
Welcome back for another terrific year here at Brooker Creek. I just wanted to send out a few updates for the clinic this year. As you all may have seen, there are now student consent forms that have been sent out related to heath care in the school setting. These are due to a new law deemed, “The parents bill of rights,” that was signed by our Governor and went into effect July 1st. These consent forms are very important. These are what tell me what I can and cannot do for your student if they become sick while they are at school. While I hope that everyone would want all the available healthcare that the school offers, which is only what is listed on that form, I understand that some parents do not want that for their student. However, I still need to have a form on file. If I do not get a form for your student, you are opting out of all health care. This includes temperature checks, ice for minor injuries, head checks for lice etc. These forms can be filled out online in your parent portal or with a paper copy. If you need another form, I will be sending another one home for those that have nothing on file in the next few weeks. If you want to change your form because you misinterpreted it, please let me know. This is new for all of us this year, but we can get through it if we work together.
I know that it was communicated that you all were able to fill out the clinic card online, however, we are having difficulty viewing them online at this time. If you have not filled out a paper, yellow clinic card for your student please do so as soon as possible and send it back. This form is very important and ensures that we can contact you or a person designated by you in case of any illness or emergency.
Lastly, over the counter medications (OTC) include anything you purchase at the store to relieve a symptom. This list includes, but is not limited to: cough drops, medicated lip balm, (students are able to carry regular chapstick or lip gloss), Tylenol/Acetaminophen, Advil/Ibuprofen, anti-itch cream, eye drops, bug repellent, etc. These OTC medications must have an orange “Administration of Over the Counter Medication” card signed by the parent, accompanied by a prescription from the physician/dentist. This card is kept in the clinic along with the medication provided to the school in its original unopened packaging. There are no legal provisions that exist to allow students to carry OTC medication on their person. Therefore, students are not permitted to self-carry such medications on school property at any time.
All medication is to be transported from home to school by a parent/guardian and kept in the clinic for proper documentation of administration.
As always if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact.
Thank you for all your support and understanding.
Your school nurse Diana
August Art News
Welcome Back Brooker Creek artists and families. This is going to be a terrific year diving into the arts and getting messy. We have some exciting programs planned that I wanted to make you aware of.
**We’ve talked during each art class to remember what day of the week you have art and save those fancy clothes for another day. Art is messy (yippee for that) and we don’t want to ruin anything super special.
**5th grade Kids Tag Art~ 5th graders every year look forward to this art fundraiser sponsored by the Pinellas County Tax Collectors Office. Last year we earned over $2000.00 in additional art funds from our overwhelming participation. In addition, we had 3 top award winners in the county and their license plates can still be seen in person on display at the DMV in Palm Harbor. Students are currently working on their designs and will have until the 3rd week in September to complete them. 5th grade parents…be on the lookout in October for an email from Kids Tag Art releasing your child’s design for purchase. More information to come in the following weeks.
**Congratulations to the following students for having their artwork chosen to represent BCE in the annual All County Show at the School Board Building in Largo. The opening reception will be held on Tuesday, September 20th from 5-7. Your personal invitation to attend the show with your family will be headed your way soon:
1. Carson Smekal
2. Samantha Dion
3. Avri Goodlet
4. Anna White
5. Lily Kerley
6. Austin Mokhiber
7. Taylor Reinhold
8. Charlotte Mueller
9. Nora Kate
10. Charley Kaye
**Dali on The Fly Traveling Art Museum: We are excited to partner with The Dali Museum again this year to receive their traveling art museum the week of September 14-20th. Students K-5 will participate in hands on activities in “the museum” that will be parked on campus in the car line parking lot. We are so fortunate to live in Pinellas surrounded by an array of amazing art museums that partner with us in arts education.
**Open House~ Wednesday, August 31st 5-7pm. I’ll be here!!! Swing by the art room if you’d like to take a peek and see what we’re up to.
**How you can help support the arts at BCE:
Normally I do not send out a list of requested supplies at the beginning of each school year however…..you can contact the front office if you would like to “Adopt-a-Class” and specify the art or music department for sponsorship. I’m trying to raise enough funds to purchase some large, heavy duty permanent display panels so we can share more student work during school functions.
We could also use some boxes of “fresh juicy markers” as we like to call them in the art room. We have lots of the Crayola Classic Colors now but could use some of the fancy shades like the Tropical blends, Bold Colors, Pastels etc. Anything that offers a little more variety.
Thanks as always for your continued support and for making Brooker Creek the greatest elementary school in the county.
~Mrs. Livingston
Brooker Creek Art Department livingstons@pcsb.org
Brooker Creek Elementary
Email: Hodgesjo@pcsb.org
Website: https://www.pcsb.org/brooker-es
Location: 3130 Forelock Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, USA
Phone: 727-943-4600