Paw Prints of Link Elementary
January 4-8, 2021
How to read this newsletter in your preferred language
Dear Readers: If you need this newsletter translated into Spanish or another preferred language, please click on the web link provided at the top of this newsletter itself and a new tab will automatically open in your browser and you will be able to access the Translation Feature at the top, right-hand side of the newsletter.
Cómo leer este boletín en su idioma preferido Estimados lectores: Si necesita este boletín traducido al español o otro idioma preferido, haga clic en el enlace web que se encuentra en la parte superior de este boletín o en cualquier parte del boletín y se abrirá automáticamente una nueva pestaña en su navegador y usted podrá acceder a la función de traducción en la parte superior derecha del boletín
Principal's Minute
This has been without question the most eventful year of my educational career. 2020 stretched us much further than we had ever anticipated, but through it all, you all have been exceptional, and for that, I am very appreciative. Take this time to spend with loved ones and enjoy yourselves. I look forward to seeing all of our little leopards on January 5, 2021.
Leopard Birthdays
Melany P. R. 12/22
Daniella C. 12/22
Moises B. 12/23
Josue T. 12/23
Iker C. 12/23
Anthony M. S. 12/23
Jesus G. 12/24
Ayleen F. 12/24
Emely R. 12/25
Ronald H. 12/25
Ronald J. 12/26
Catalina D. 12/26
Aamoni C. 12/26
Erik P. 12/27
Joanna A. 12/28
Matthew S. 12/28
Aneth P. 12/29
Maximus P. 12/29
Cesar R. 12/29
Steven S. 12/31
Alondra R. T. 01/01
Pablo L. M. 01/02
Me'kayla O. 01/02
William G. 01/03
Jovon U. 01/04
Anabelle M. 01/04
Melanie M. 01/04
Camila L. 01/05
Mario C. 01/05
Jovanny R. M. 01/07
Estefani C. O. 01/08
Katherine V. 01/09
Jencarlos M. 01/09
Brittany G. B. 01/10
Josue A. 01/10
Kassandra H. 01/10
HAABSE TEACHER OF THE YEAR- Mrs. Henry, Kindergarten
December Teacher of the Month - Ms. Celistan, 4th Grade ELAR
December Teacher of the Month - Ms. Rollins, 1st Grade
December Paraprofessional of the Month - Tanya Miller, SIMS Clerk/Registrar
Spring ISD Closed for Winter Holiday Dec. 21-Jan. 4
Spring ISD schools and offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 21 through Monday, Jan. 4 for Winter Holiday. District offices will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4 and classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 5. We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you again in the New Year.
Winter Break Meal Assistance
During the Winter Break, families can reach out to Texas Hunger Initiative for Houston for additional help with meal assistance. Families can find the nearest open sites by emailing food@freemealshouston.com and include their zip code. For Spanish, please email comida@freemealshouston.com. Families will receive a response back in less than three minutes with detailed information regarding the sites closest to them.
There is also a website--freemealshouston.com--that contains information about open sites including a map with current sites.
Winter Break Curbside Meal Distribution Schedule
With the WInter Holiday break approaching, there will be no curbside meal pickup on Friday, Dec. 18. Families will be able to pick up meals for Thursday, Dec. 17 to Sunday, Dec. 20 at any of the open curbside locations between the hours of 4 - 5:30pm on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Open Curbside Locations:
Anderson Elementary
Booker Elementary
Burchett Elementary
Clark Primary
Cooper Elementary
Hirsch Elementary
Jenkins Elementary
Marshall Elementary
McNabb Elementary
Ponderosa Elementary
Reynolds Elementary
Smith Elementary
Thompson Elementary
Curbside pickup will resume as usual after the Winter break on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
For more information on curbside locations and meal time please visit our website, www.springisd.org/nutrition or follow us on social media at @SpringISD_Meals.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Creating Holiday Learning Traditions
Winter Break is approaching fast and planning is underway! This is a great time to continue supporting your child and making learning fun. Reading Rockets shares ideas to create learning opportunities with your family.
Create new learning traditions. Listen to audiobooks, or begin story telling of past family holiday events.
Start your letter writing. Many children are writing letters to the North Pole but it doesn’t have to stop there. Write “thank you” cards or invitations to your next virtual celebration.
Put your family calendar to work. Not only can you teach the days of the week and months of the year, use your calendar to teach sequencing, vocabulary, and math.
Holiday singalong. Sing those favorite songs or turn on the captions to read the lyrics!
Prepare a meal together. Choose a recipe from a holiday cookbook, write a shopping list, and read the labels while at the grocery store. While the meal is cooking, write and decorate menus or place cards.
Put down the devices and make this holiday season joyful by making memories together this holiday season.
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES)
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) are on-line accounts made available to eligible parents of students with disabilities that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures. Families of students with eligible disabilities can use the on-line accounts to obtain goods and services up to a specific dollar amount that supplements what otherwise happens in school to help their child make more educational progress.
Families of students with eligible disabilities can use the on-line accounts to obtain goods and services up to a specific dollar amount that supplements what otherwise happens in school to help their child make more educational progress.
TEA has set up a portal for families to apply and access the STATE and TEA Funding.
Spring ISD Special Education would like to give parents information regarding SSES and TEA and assist them with access and navigation with the submission process with online and on-campus support on designated evenings and weekends.
Virtual GOOGLE meets: http://meet.google.com/uuu-yawf-ioh
Digital Learning Corner
Ms. Ledezma will be available to answer any questions related to your child’s digital learning during Tuesday’s PTA meeting.
Parent Tech Tip
Instead of having your child switch back and forth from their Google Meet tab to their work tab, you can have your child’s Chromebook show a split-screen. This will allow your child to have two tabs open at one time and decrease the need to click back and forth. To do this you may either:
Follow this link to learn more about the 4 steps to having a Chromebook split screen.
Have your child click the bracket button and Alt at the same time, and the screen will split into two tabs.
Hotspots are available
Spring ISD is planning the 2nd round of hotspot distribution. To ensure connectivity equity for Spring ISD families, the centralized distribution of hotspots will be based on registration and financial needs. The Spring ISD Technology Department will review the families that register for a hotspot and prioritize distribution based on economic data. Please be aware:
• Each family receive one hotspot that can be shared with all other students in the home
• The hotspots are setup for unlimited data
• The hotspots should only be used for Spring ISD academic coursework
• Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) mandated filtering is enabled on all the hotspots
If you are in need of a hot spot device to assist in connecting to your's child's virtual classroom please fill out the Hotspot Request Form.
Counselor's Corner
Reduce the Holiday Stress
Stress can increase during the holiday season and with all of the chaos of 2020 stress is sure to cause some health issues. Here are a few ways to help reduce your stress level during this holiday season.
Set boundaries for your schedule and spending. Decide where you go, how long you stay there, who you invite into your home, and how much money you’ll spend.
Focus on what you can control. When you choose to let go of what you can’t control, you’ll automatically reduce the amount of stress in your life by refusing to carry other people’s problems.
Know your role in the situation. We can experience stress by taking on roles we were never meant to shoulder.
Say “No”. Be honest with yourself on what you can handle, and speak up if it’s too much. Prioritize your family’s time and only commit to what you want to do.
Limit your time on social media. There’s an overwhelming amount of information, nonsense and news in our country right now which can cause you to stress.
Picture the Christmas you want to have this is the perfect year for a holiday reset.
Make a Christmas budget.
Do not overdo it on the sugar. Too much sugar can mess up your natural hormone responses, your blood and insulin levels, and your brain’s neurotransmitters. Mix that with a lack of sleep and a packed schedule, you’ve got the perfect storm for a rush of anxiety.
Get plenty of sleep. When you are not sleeping, your brain’s emotional centers become overactive, which increases anxiety levels.
Protect your downtime. Make time to enjoy the things you love.
How to Avoid the Stores This Holiday Season
This holiday season, keep your sanity and stay healthy by avoiding the crowded stores. Here are a few tips that will help you make it to 2020 without stepping foot in a store:
Almost everyone has Amazon Prime and it's for a good reason. You can pretty much order anything you can imagine, and it will arrive at your door in two days--free of shipping charge.
Grocery delivery is so convenient! You don’t have to wait in line and walk up and down every aisle.
Take advantage of online sales.
Curbside Pickup - Target, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap and others are offering curbside pickup. It is super easy! Order what you want online and drive up to the store, and a store associate will meet you outside with your order. You will never have to leave your car.
There’s Still Time to Get a Flu Shot So Make an Appointment Today!
It’s not too late to get a flu shot if you haven’t already done so this fall. In fact, flu season runs from October to May so getting a shot today will still benefit you and your family.
Harris County Public Health has organized events throughout the community where people can receive the flu vaccine free of charge.
An appointment is REQUIRED, so please, no walk-ins.. Please register by calling (832) 927-7350 and choosing an available appointment time
Joan Link Elementary School
Email: tstith@springisd.org
Website: https://www.springisd.org/link2
Location: 2815 Ridge Hollow Drive, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 891-8390
Twitter: @LES_Spring