The Prairie Pulse - FEBRUARY
DPES Family Newsletter
Please be sure to revisit for updates throughout THE MONTH.
Tomball ISD - Where we focus on the Social-Emotional well-being of our staff, students, and families, High-Quality Instruction, and Collaboration to ensure learning for all of our Tomball ISD students.
DECKER PRAIRIE -
Mission: Decker Prairie Elementary is dedicated to high levels of learning for all.
Vision: We will create an environment where everyone takes risks and collaborate respectfully through innovative learning.
WHAT'S NEXT?
2/28-3/4 Book Fair
3/3 -
- "Best in Show, Come See What We Know!" Family Education Night and Family Book Fair Night (More Information Below)
- Names / Times
- A-M 5:45-6:30
- N-Z 6:45 7:30
3/4 Tomball Reads (Sign up below to be a guest reader)
3/11 - Deadline for GT testing nominations by 3:00 pm //
- Field Day- (bring sack lunch / see guidelines and more information below)
- 9:00-10:30am Prek, Kinder, 1st grade
- 1:30-3:00 2nd, 3rd, 4th
3/14-3/18 Spring Break
Looking for Guest Readers: Tomball Reads
DPES is excited to announce that "Field Day" will be held on March 11, 2022!
Our field day will consist of two big sessions.
The morning session will be for pre-k, kinder, and 1st grade.
The afternoon session will be for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades.
Please make sure your child comes prepared to participate with tennis shoes, comfortable clothing, and ready to be outside for a while. Teachers will be in charge of their homerooms, and all students will need to bring or purchase a sack lunch from the school cafeteria.
Volunteers
We are in need of parent volunteers to help the pe coaches. Parent volunteers will help fill the roles of various field day jobs such as leading an event station, helping with equipment, etc. If you are interested in helping, please sign up at the following link below:
"Field Day" Volunteer Sign Up Sheet
Field Day Guidelines:
- All visitors will be required to provide identification and will check in at identified posts at fenced entrances around the school.
- Our parking options will be similar but not identical to our parties earlier this year due to the need for the playground. (Staff parked on the grass to allow for as much parking for parents/visitors as possible)
- Our checkout procedures will also be the same - checkout with the teacher by parent and/or guardian or emergency contact with prior written approval.
- Students checked out of previous field day session may not attend the later session, and must exit the campus.
PIcture Ordering Information
GIFTED & TALENTED CORNER
Spring GT nominations for Grades 1-4
If you would like to have your child tested for GT this spring, please, contact Tricia Gonzalez, GT Specialist at triciagonzalez@tomballisd.net
The nomination window closes on March 11th at 3:00pm.
Remember if your child was already tested this year, then they are not eligible to test again until the spring of next school year.
A little Decker spirit shared in a local neighborhood...WE LOVE IT!
Order your yearbook from our PTO!
Hear from our Prairie Parent Partners!
We had another great visit with our Prairie Parent Partners!
" - Kobmann
Prairie Parent Partners
This is an opportunity for our parents to walk our campus and see what Great Expectations looks like, our campus improvement plan efforts, implementation of professional development, and just the day-to-day inner-workings of an elementary campus.
SIGN UP - HERE
THANK YOU --- OUR ATTENDANCE IS GOING UP!
START THE NEW YEAR ON THE RIGHT FOOT - HELP US KEEP IT GOING!
We have had a drop in attendance due to recent attendance. We are currently at 93.7%
We know you keep your students home when sick. Please help get your students to school when not sick to avoid missing instruction. See tips below.
Let's keep it going ALL THE WAY T0 OUR GOAL OF 97!!!
- Help your child select two outfits the night before to avoid conflict and the need to rush.
- Locate needed items and secure a location to put them that is the same place each day.
- Pack lunches ahead of time.
- Set alarms (and back-up alarms?) to help kids begin to manage time and morning tasks.
- Set timers to help kids learn time management (ex. about how long breakfast should take, so many minutes before the bus comes
Suggestion - Create a checklist near your exit door for the following:
1. Water Bottle (labeled)
3. Jacket, Scarf, Hat, Gloves
4. Backpack
5. Lunch
6. Notes for School
LABEL all of your student's items with their name. (first and last and preferable teacher/grade)
- Last - send them off with a smile and positive encouragement!
We would like to welcome Dr. Barbi Seals - Interim Counselor
She has already begun to schedule her groups, check-ins and supports.
Please let her know if you need anything.
You can also let us know if you are needing anything and we will get you to the right person.
We are here for YOU!
Please let us know if your family needs support!
Library News
Battle of the Books Winners
We had 45 students sign up to read books, and 21 compete in our campus' Battle of the Books competition. I am proud of all of our students! Here are our top 6 winners who will represent Decker Prairie in our district's Battle of the Books Competition on Thursday, March 10th. Congratulations!
- Jayci C. (Ms. Wenzl's class)
- Kirsten R. (Ms. Wilson's class)
- Kenzie M. (Ms. Race's class)
- Shelby J. (Ms. Silva's class)
- Brenna H. (Ms. Wright's class)
- Lucas H. (Ms. Heniff's class)
Book Fair Volunteers
Coming Soon...
- Book Fair: February 28 - March 4, 8:10 am - 3:00 pm
- Tomball Reads: We will invite members of the community to come read to a class on Friday, March 4th (sign up above)
- "Adopt an Animal": add a nonfiction animal book to the Decker Prairie Library in honor of your child (April- in place of Birthday Book Club this year)
LUNCHROOM VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS
LUNCHROOM VISITORS
Assigned alpha days are as follows:
February Schedule:
Monday: Student Last Name A thru F
Tuesday: Student Last Name G thru L
Wednesday: Student Last Name M thru O
Thursday: Student Last Name P thru Z
Friday: Student Last Name A thru F
(March will be G-L)
Assigned lunch visitors will be divided over 4 days, Monday through Thursday, with Friday’s rotating each month for an assigned alpha. (Based on campus numbers and spread in the alphabet)
Visitors ARE REQUIRED to be listed as an emergency contact if not accompanied by a parent/guardian. Identification IS REQUIRED to enter any TISD building.
REMINDERS - VISITORS MAY ONLY BRING FOOD FOR THEIR CHILD AND MAY ONLY SIT WITH THEIR CHILD.
Volunteers - WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS BACK ON CAMPUS.
All school volunteers must complete a volunteer application.
BIRTHDAYS
We are NOT allowing birthday cupcakes.
If you are interested in sending a birthday treat, please a Pre-wrapped/Store-bought items to share.
Ex. Litte Debbie, Ding-Dongs, Twinkies, etc.
How to log into Lexia:
- Go to the DPES homepage at dpes.tomballisd.net
- Click Academics
- Click ClassLink
- Login with username (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
- Ex: 123456, tisd01012011
- Click the Lexia Core5 icon
- Click login with Google
- Enter email (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#@elem.tomballschools.net) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
- Ex: 123456@elem.tomballschools.net, tisd01012011
- Lexia Core5 will then open.
Math Fact Fluency
Mastering basic facts is essential to being proficient mathematicians. Below is more information about the importance of fact fluency.
*What is fact fluency?*
Math fact fluency, or the ability for students to recall basic math facts quickly, accurately, and effortlessly, is an essential component of students’ math knowledge. It would take you ages to write a paper if you had to look up the spelling of each individual word. In the same way, lack of fact fluency can slow down students’ processing of more complex math problems and situations.
*How do we build fact fluency?*
It is important to realize that fact fluency is not just memorizing the basic facts. It is building students’ conceptual understanding of the basic math facts, rather than focusing solely on memorization. We encourage children to focus on looking for patterns and relationships between the facts, building on and connecting to what facts they already know (for example, if students know 5+5=10, then 5+6= one more than ten, or 11). This conceptual framework anchors students’ recall in meaning. In other words, students are making meaningful connections that make remembering the facts easier.
*What can you to help?*
Students should practice math facts at home. This extra practice helps the brain transition facts from short-term memory into long-term storage. Practicing can be as easy as creating and using flashcards or quizzing your child in the car on the way to school or while cooking dinner. They could also do the Fact Practice in Freckle. In addition, a quick internet search will provide tons of great websites and apps that provide practice opportunities.
Please reach out to your classroom teacher or Mrs. Finney if you have any questions about how to help your child master their facts.
DPES Problem Solving Model
Here are examples to familiarize yourself with our model. If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to Mrs. Finney at BrandyneFinney@tomballisd.net
IMAGINE MATH - Math at Home
Below you will find steps on how to access Imagine Math from tablets and computers.
Go to the DPES homepage at dpes.tomballisd.net
Click Academics
Click ClassLink
Login with username (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
Ex: 123456, tisd01012011
Click the Imagine Math icon
Enter email (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#@elem.tomballschools.net) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
Ex: 123456@elem.tomballschools.net, tisd01012011
Imagine Math will then open.
Do you want to be a Watch Dog?
OUR WATCHDOG DAD SIGN-UP IS BACK UP AND READY TO GO!
- Link to sign up - BE sure to have your VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK approved through the district volunteer background check prior to your visit to ensure you are cleared for this school year's visits.
- Please check in with Mrs. Watson prior to signing up more than once. This may be allowed when Watchdog attendance is down.
ALL-NEW :
- 5 DAYS A WEEK
- FULL DAY SCHEDULE
- ALL NEW ACTIVITIES
Also, mark your calendars for our upcoming Donuts with D.O.G.S. on Friday, January 28th from 8:10-8:40am. On this day, we will have a Q & A session and opportunities to sign up. We look forward to having our Watch DOGS program back up and even better than ever! Please RSVP here by Wednesday, January 26th if you are able to make it.
NURSE
Clinic
If your child will require medication administration during school hours, please note that all prescriptions must have a written/signed order from a medical doctor licensed in the state of Texas. Medication will not be administered without the correct documents.
Please contact the clinic in advance to drop off medication. Students should NOT be sent to school with the medication. Please contact the DPES nurse, Lance Culver, at 281-357-3134 EXT 3006 if you need to schedule a time to present documents and drop off medication for your child.
COVID
Isolation and Readmission Criteria for a Positive Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Student Students who test positive for COVID-19 must enter isolation.
Parents must notify the school nurse if their student is lab-confirmed positive via the District’s online reporting tool.
● Isolation/ Return Criteria- please see most recent guidance sent 1/4/21 to all families in regards to updates
Please refer to the district website for updates,
Decker Prairie PTO
Child Nutrition - District Menus
We are excited to announce for the 2021-22 school year ALL Tomball ISD students will receive FREE school meals, regardless of eligibility! #DestinationExcellence
More info from Child Nutrition: https://www.tomballisd.net/apps/news/article/1469018
Technology Help
All DPES Families - Stay Updated!
Join our Twitter - @TISDDPES
Join our Decker Prairie Facebook PTO page - https://www.facebook.com/ptodpes
Decker Prairie Elementary
Principal - Brenda Blackmon
Pk-2nd grade Asst Principal - Tammy Sebesta
3rd-4th grade Asst Principal - Justin Pluckhahn
Librarian - Mandy Watson
Email: cynthiawallace@tomballisd.net
Website: https://dpes.tomballisd.net/
Location: 27427 Decker Prairie-Rosehill Road, Magnolia, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 357-3134
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TISDDPES
Twitter: @TISDDPES