The Scottie Scoop
January Edition
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
SISD Board Appreciation Month
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.
Protocol for Notifying Our Campus with COVID Updates
Requests to Change Your Student's Learning Location
Spring ISD parents/guardians: All families who wish to change their learning option must do so by Friday, Jan. 8. No changes will be allowed again until the next grading period (Thursday, April 1). Click here to fill out the form.
Padres/tutores de Spring ISD: Todas las familias que deseen cambiar su opción de aprendizaje deben hacerlo antes del viernes 8 de enero. No se permitirán cambios nuevamente hasta el próximo período de calificaciones (Jueves 1 de Abril). Haga clic aquí para llenar el formulario.
Words From The Principal
I hope that everyone had a blessed Winter Holiday with your family! Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our students, staff, and community. 2020 has been a long and tough year, but we made it through thanks to your partnership and support during this unprecedented time. It amazes and humbles me when I think about all that we have overcome and accomplished together for our student's safety, emotional well-being, and success. We graciously adjusted to our new normal and should remain encouraged that we will have a MAGNIFICENT remainder of the school year in 2021!! Please continue to remain connected with our school community! Here's to the MAGNIFICIENT future ahead!
CAMPUS EVENTS:
- Report Cards are available in the HAC. Please continue to encourage your scholar to submit their Schoology assignments. Your scholar's attendance and participation during class matters.
- Virtual PTO Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.
NO SCHOOL in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 18, 2021
- Remote -Asynchronous Learning for ALL students on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
- Calling ALL Scotties to participate in the January Cardboard Gingerbread House Contest! Be sure to click on Mrs. Ellis's virtual gingerbread house below for more information!
Please remember to 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.
Sincerely,
Principal Eason
Welcome To Our Newest Scotties!!
Welcome, Mr. Douglas!
Let's give a warm Scottie welcome to our new 2nd/3rd Bilingual Teacher, Mr. Douglas!! He joins us from Eickenroht Elementary. Click here to learn more information about him and his passion for Math and Science.
Welcome, Mrs. Groshans!
Greetings everyone,
My name is Jodi Groshans. This is my first year at Smith Elementary! I have been married for 22 years and have 2 boys. We are a huge baseball family. I love to go to the beach, or the pool, and relax. I have been subbing at Smith and I am so excited to be a full-time Scottie! This is such a blessing for me and I am thrilled to get started. I welcome and encourage open communication.
Smith PTO Updates
Coming Soon!!
We are so excited about our Valentine’s Day Photo Booth. More information will be provided soon.
Scottie Counselor's Corner
Fairness
Fairness is treating others the way you like to be treated. Fairness is also taking turns, sharing and following the rules. Please take a moment and view this video on fairness.
Check Out the New Education Planning Guides and Start Preparing for the Future
The new Education Planning Guides are now available for our rising 5th-graders.
These 2021-22 course guides are designed to help our students and families see all the options available to them as they make decisions about their courses and pathways. The guides contain detailed information on a range of topics, including graduation requirements, advanced placement (AP) and dual credit alternatives, career and technical education (CTE) classes, exams and testing, grading and class rankings, credit recovery options, sports and academic eligibility, and the college admissions process. It also features a “Planning for the Future” section that contains yearly checklists to help students make the most of their education and ensure that they are college and career ready when graduation day arrives.
In January, counselors will start working with students in 5th grade and above to start selecting their classes. Until then, we encourage you to spend some time flipping through the books on our website and getting familiar with what’s available.
Celebrate MLK Day with Service
Did you know Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially recognized as National Day of Service in 1994? The idea was for volunteers across the country to come together to make a difference in their communities. Americorps gives us some safe ways to help our neighbors during this difficult time.
Donate or volunteer at your local food bank.
Volunteer with Meals on Wheels, to deliver food to senior citizens in the area.
Stay in touch with your neighbors, friends, and family.
Help a School. Call your home campus and ask how you can help.
Let us honor the life and civil rights work of Martin Luther King Jr. by giving back to our community with service.
Calling All Scotties for the Cardboard Gingerbread House Competition!
The PTO and Library will be sponsoring a January Project - Cardboard Gingerbread House Competition.
Online and in-person students are encouraged to participate (with their families as well), by either displaying their creations in the Library or simply by submitting photos. Just a friendly reminder, that this is a cardboard competition. NO EDIBLE DECORATIONS. Be sure to click on Mrs. Ellis's gingerbread house for more information. We cannot wait to see your creations! Have fun!!
Nurse's Station
Here are Some Tips to Stay Well this Cold and Flu Season
Flu season is here and it's important that we all stay vigilant and practice healthy routines to help lower the risk of getting sick. Many of these strategies are the same ones being used to protect against COVID-19 so they are especially important to follow.
The more you practice, the easier it becomes to protect yourself and the health of people around you. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy:
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Wear a mask in public and when around people who do not live in your household. Ensure that your child wears their mask correctly and safely, over both the nose and mouth.
Avoid close contact with people. Staying at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live in the same household and people who are sick.
When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, throw your tissue in the closest garbage can, and wash your hands.
Keep up with well-child visits and vaccines with pediatricians.
Help your child stay active. Regular physical activity can improve your child’s physical and mental health.
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.
Spring ISD District Updates
MLK Day Curbside Meal Distribution
In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there will be no curbside meal distribution on Monday, Jan. 18. Instead, families will be able to pick up four days of meals on Friday, Jan. 15 at any of the open curbside locations between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Two Important Updates to Improve Your Student's Learning Experience
We have two important updates to share with you as we close out this first half of our school year.
Four Remote Asynchronous Learning Days
In support of our frontline teachers, we are adding four remote learning days into the calendar this spring semester. These days will provide essential planning and preparation time for our classroom teachers, most of whom are teaching in-person and remote learners at the same time. In addition, we will be using these at-home learning days for all of our students so that we can enhance our deep cleaning protocols. These dates are:
- Wednesday, Jan. 27
- Wednesday, Feb. 24
- Friday, March 12
- Wednesday, April 21
On these days, all students — both remote and in-person learners — will work from home on asynchronous assignments that have been provided by their teacher/campus. While no direct instruction will be provided by teachers on these days, all students must log into Schoology to be counted present and to complete assignments. Additionally, please let your campus know if you would prefer paper assignments for your child so they can prepare a packet in advance.
Consistency in Learning Option
Additionally, in support of our entire community, changes to a student’s learning model (In-Person or Remote) will now ONLY be allowed at the end of each grading cycle. This update, which goes into effect on Friday, Jan.8, will help ensure campuses are better able to plan for and accommodate on-campus student levels and stabilize both in-person and remote group sizes.
As such, we ask all families who want to change their learning option for the spring semester to notify their campus by Friday, Jan. 8 using this form. After Jan. 8, changes will NOT be allowed until the end of the grading cycle for your student’s grade. For most of our students, the next change opportunity will be in April. For more information, please visit our Testing and Report Card Calendar.
Lastly, if your remote learner has been struggling academically or with attendance, we’d encourage you to consider in-person learning. Should you need any additional information before making this decision, please reach out to your child’s teacher or your school principal. They would be happy to talk with you about what’s best for your child.
Thank you for your ongoing support during these challenging times. We appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we continue to make changes to improve the learning experience of our students.