Stephens Stallions Newsletter
May 4, 2021
Yearbooks Are Here!
- Pay for the yearbook ($17)
- Return the yearbook
Payment can either be made in cash by returning payment in the envelope provided or by paying online. If you choose to pay online, please write your confirmation number on the envelope provided and return to school.
Please return your payment or the yearbook by the last day of school. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
3rd-5th Grade STAAR - May 11-13th
To limit testing disruptions and to ensure safety measures are in place, 1st and 2nd Grade students will remain at home and engage in Intermittent School to Home instruction on Tuesday, May 11th, and Wednesday, May 12th, while PK & Kindergarten students will continue with the normal school schedule. On Thursday, May 13th, 4th Grade students will remain at home and engage in Intermittent School to Home instruction, while PK-3rd Grades will continue with their normal schedule.
- KVA students may ride district transportation to and from Stephens on their scheduled campus STAAR administration day(s). KVA parents may pick up their KVA students to transport home prior to the end of the school day. KVA students may opt to stay at the campus and ride the bus home after school hours; however, students will be placed in a large room setting after the assessment.
- KVA testing students are eligible for meals served on the scheduled STAAR administration days or may bring their lunch from home.
- Students are required to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols including the wearing of a facial covering when on campus and participating in the STAAR assessments.
- Students will report to their home campus on the specific testing days as noted by the home campus. Eligible test takers who do not participate in testing will have an answer document submitted which will reflect this decision.
- Be on time on testing days. If eating breakfast at school, try to be here right at 8:00am!
Be sure students get a good night's rest the night before testing and eat a good breakfast the morning of testing.
Don't forget to bring a light jacket as room temperatures can vary slightly.
Field Day - May 18th-20th
It’s that time of year again! Stephens Elementary Field Day will take place on May 18th, 19th, 20th.
Volunteers are needed. Due to COVID, we may only accept 4 volunteers per shift. Shifts are 8am-12pm and 12pm-4pm. If you would like to sign up, please visit the website:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084aaca62aa5f94-field
Please make sure to send your child with water, sunscreen, and a towel. There will be water game activities, so a change of clothes is suggested. Let’s have some fun!
Students will also have their PTA-sponsored class party on the same day as Field Day. Students will be served an all-beef hot dog, chips, bottle of water, and an ice pop.
5th Grade Challenge Virtual Showcase
As part of the Katy ISD Challenge program, students are required to complete a research project during their fifth grade year. While students complete many research projects over a wide variety of topics during their time in challenge, the fifth grade showcase project is special because it is self-selected by the student and is showcased at the district level.
This year, our students have worked to select topics, craft deep thinking questions, research using a variety of tools, write detailed papers, and create presentations on their chosen topic.
Check out this year's projects here: https://sites.google.com/katyisd.org/5thgradeshowcase2021/home
Registration for Pre-K & New to Katy ISD for 2021-2022 Now Open
Online registration for the Katy Independent School District Pre-Kindergarten program for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. Parents must complete the online registration process through Katy ISD’s PowerSchool Registration website in order for their child to be screened for program eligibility.
The Katy ISD Pre-Kindergarten program follows the state Pre-K guidelines which focus on oral language development, reading and math readiness, as well as science and social studies knowledge and skills. Click the Katy ISD Pre-Kindergarten program link for a list of eligibility requirements or call the Office of Interventions, at 281-237-7062.
2021-2022 New Student Registration
Online registration for students new to Katy ISD for the 2021-2022 school year (not currently enrolled) is also ongoing. All documentation will be uploaded through the PowerSchool Registration site during the online registration process. Please visit the Katy ISD registration site for full details.
Are You Moving?
HAVE YOU MOVED? or WILL YOU BE MOVING THIS SUMMER?
If your child/children will be attending a school other than Ursula Stephens Elementary for the 2021-2022 school year, please fill out the form at the link below. If you have moved into a new home that is zoned to your child’s current campus, please send a current electric, gas or water bill when prompted. Information provided in the form. Please complete this form by Friday, May 28, 2021.
Courage
K-2 Home Connection - English
K-2 Home Connection - Spanish
3-5 Home Connection - English
3-5 Home Connection - Spanish
Previous Topics
Morning Computer Lab
Parent & Family Engagement Brochure and School/Parent Compact
Parent & Family Engagement Brochure - English
Parent & Family Engagement Brochure - Spanish
PTA Membership *REMINDER*
Great News! Our PTA membership drive is underway for the 2020-2021 school year. This year all membership registration will take place via the official PTA registration site, JoinPTA.org. Just click on Join PTA, select Katy ISD and then scroll down until you come to Stephens Elementary.
From the Clinic...
Parents,
My number one goal as our students continue to attend class on campus is to maintain the health and safety of our Stallion students, staff, and their families.
The measures below have been implemented by the district to facilitate the safest environment possible. If your child does not feel well, please keep them home to rest and recover.
If you are keeping your child home for any reason, it is imperative that you contact the front office to notify the school of the absence, rather than contacting the teacher directly. The front office staff will need to gather information about the absence and discuss readmission criteria (stated below) with you.
Illness Policy During COVID-19
A student who has symptoms listed below will be assumed to have COVID-19, unless evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19. The student will not be able to return to the campus until he/she has completed the 3-step criteria below and cleared by the campus nurse for re-entry. A student who wants to return to school before completing the conditions listed below for staying at home must either submit a medical professional’s note clearing the student on an alternative diagnosis OR a negative acute infection COVID-19 test result from an approved testing location. Documentation must be submitted to the campus nurse for school re-entry clearance.
The symptoms of COVID-19 include: Flu-like symptoms such as nasal drainage, sore throat, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, headache, chills, loss of taste or smell, significant muscle pain/aches, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or fever of 100 degrees or greater. Please review the attached document, “Can My Child Go To School,” each morning with your student, along with a temperature check.
Students who experience any of the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed above, with or without fever) must stay home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until all of the following 3 criteria are met:
1. 24 hours have passed since recovery (no fever, no vomiting, no diarrhea) without the use of symptom reducing medication; AND
2. Symptoms have improved; AND
3. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
A student who lives with an individual who has tested positive for Covid-19 must stay home and self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the positive test date. If your student wants to return to school before completing the 14-day isolation period, the individual must obtain an acute infection test at an approved testing location that comes back negative for COVID-19, as well as a physician’s statement releasing the student to return to campus. The physician should address household mitigation measures in the statement. If your student receives a negative test result, he/she will need to wait until the following school day before returning to school. Test results/physician clearance must be submitted to the campus nurse for re-entry.
Documentation can be submitted to the nurse via fax (281-644-1681), email (saraburke@katyisd.org) or texting a photo of the documentation (346-800-1533).
Sara Burke, RN
Safety Reminders
Self-Screening Before Arriving Each Day
For the health and safety of all students and staff – parents are required to assist their children with a daily self screening for COVID-19 symptoms and fever before arriving to school, or boarding school transportation.
Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
Loss of taste or smell
Cough
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Headache
Chills
Sore throat
Shaking
Exaggerated shivering
Significant muscle pain or ache
Diarrhea
Morning Arrival
The doors to the building will open at 8:00am. Students dropped off by car should be dropped off in the front of the school. Please do not attempt to park in the staff parking lot to drop off your child. This area is used for bus and daycare drop-off and extra traffic creates safety concerns. Due to Phase 1 safety protocols, the playground will not be open before school. Parents needing an earlier drop-off option can see the YMCA information below. Before and after school care is available through the YMCA from 6:30am-6:30pm.
Cars stop at the designated cones where teachers are standing (Orange to Gray cones).
Cars MUST pull forward so that we can keep the line moving.
Parents MUST go through the line to drop off. Please do not get out of your car to drop off students.
Please do NOT block crosswalk.
Students should open and close their car doors. Teachers will provide assistance when necessary.
Students will be marked tardy if they are not in the building before 8:25am. Students arriving after this time must be signed in by a parent/guardian via online form. There will be a QR code in the front entry that you will scan to complete the form on your own device or you can use the iPad provided.
Breakfast
Grab N Go breakfast will be served beginning at 8:00am in both the cafeteria and front hallway. Students will then proceed to their classroom and will eat at their desk. Students arriving just after the tardy bell will be given 10 minutes to eat their breakfast. Please ensure students are on time if finishing breakfast within 10 minutes is a concern.
No Outside Visitors or Drop-Offs
Due to Katy ISD Phase 1 safety protocols, there will be no visitors allowed in the building without a prior appointment. Parents will not be able to walk students into the building nor will parents be allowed to eat lunch with students. There will be staff on hand at arrival to escort students to their classrooms. There will be no “drop-offs” of any kind allowed. This includes lunches, snacks, birthday treats, water bottles, backpacks, etc. If a student forgets their lunch, they will have to purchase one from the cafeteria. If you have medication to drop off, you will need to call Ms. Burke, the school nurse, at 281.234.0225 in order to set up an appointment.
Early Checkouts for Students
If a student needs to be checked out during the school day for any reason, a parent or guardian will need to come into the vestibule and complete the online checkout form on the provided iPad or by scanning a QR code on a personal electronic device. You will need to present your photo ID before students will be released. Parents/guardians will be required to wait for their student in the vestibule and the student will be escorted to the door. Please allow for extra time for this process to occur.
Dismissal
Walkers
Students who are walkers will exit the building with staff members until they are safely crossed at the Sundown Glen or Westlake crossings. After crossing, students in 2nd through 5th grade will be sent to walk on their own. For safety reasons, students who are in PK, Kinder, or 1st grade, must be met by an adult or older sibling who has the corresponding transportation tag. Staff members will match the students with the corresponding adult. Any PK, Kinder, or 1st grade student who is not met by an adult, will be brought to the front office and will have to be signed out by a parent or guardian with their ID.
Car Riders
All car riders will be picked up in the main car rider line that goes around the building to the main entrance. Please stay in line and follow staff directions. Parents/guardians must have their transportation tag hanging from the rear-view mirror. Please do not line up before 3:15pm as this blocks the fire lane. You must be in line before 3:45pm for your car rider number to be entered into the spreadsheet. Please do not get out of your car or go around cars in the line. This is a safety hazard. Please be patient. The line will move slower the first few days as students learn their numbers and the new dismissal procedures. Students will be required to open their own car doors. Please practice with them on how to do this. There will be adults there for assistance, but your help is greatly appreciated. Parents who arrive late will be required to park and come to the vestibule to sign out their child by showing the child's transportation tag or photo ID.
Box Tops for Education
Edulog Bus Tracking System
http://www.katyisd.org/dept/transportation/Pages/Bus-Track.aspx
Meal Benefits Applications
Stephens Elementary
Website: www.katyisd.org/campus/use
Location: 2715 Fry Road, Katy, TX, USA
Phone: 281-234-0200
Facebook: facebook.com/usestallions
Twitter: @usestallions