Panda Prints 🐼
WPE Community Newsletter - Week of March 22, 2021
Whispering Pines Elementary
We are SAFE, We are KIND, We are RESPECTFUL
WE ARE PANDAS
Email: wpe_connect@humbleisd.net
Website: https://www.humbleisd.net/Domain/1690
Location: 17321 Woodland Hills Drive, Humble, TX, USA
Phone: 281-641-2500
Twitter: @HumbleISD_WPE
Message from the Principal
Whispering Pines Community,
With the governor's mask lift there was much concern in the community about safety of students and continuing to protect them from COVID 19. We want to assure you that masks are still the policy at WPE and Humble ISD. There are some slight changes that impact sports and events in the middle and high schools (please see mask policy in district updates below) but nothing has changed at WPE. If your child is receiving face to face instruction we asked that you continue to trust us and if your child is virtual we would love to see them return to instruction face to face to finish out the year. Thank you for your continued support and has navigate this unusual year. I hope you are able to have some time off this upcoming Spring break week so that you may enjoy your amazing children!.
Panda Proud!
Wendy Anaya, Principal
281-641-2501
UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH 2021
- Monday, March 15 through 19th - Spring Break Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
- Monday, March 22nd - Elementary Holiday (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
- Wednesday, March 24 5th Grade Reading MOCK STAAR
- Thursday, March 25 5th Grade Science MOCK STAAR
- Friday, March 26- Final Day to make Learning Location Changes for the year
- Monday, March 29 5th Grade Math Mock STAAR
- Tuesday, March 30 3/4 Grade Math Mock STAAR
- Wednesday, March 31 3/4 Grade Reading Mock STAAR
PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK IF YOUR CHILD IS AN ONLINE LEARNING AND YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO COME IN AND TAKE THE MOCK STAAR TEST
APRIL 2021
- Friday, April 2 - Good Friday Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
- Tuesday, April 6- 4th GRADE WRITING STAAR
- Friday, April 9 - Spring Pictures (more information to come)
- Thursday, April 15 Kindergarten Round-up, 5:00-6:00pm WPE Cafeteria
- Friday, April 23- Super Kid's Day
MAY 2021
- Wednesday, May 19-5th Grade Manner's Banquet
Guidance Lessons
Virtual Fieldtrips
Safety Patrol
CAMPUS UPDATES🏫
MOCK STAAR TESTING
If your child is an online learning and you would like to have them participate in the MOCK STAAR (practice) testing on campus please sign up HERE
GYM/Multipurpose room coming to WPE!
With the last bond our campus is scheduled to have a beautiful Gym built where our current concrete slab is behind the school. The construction will begin early May and be completed early January 2022. See District updates for more information.
Safety Upgrades:
To enhance the safety of our students and staff a new fence has been installed around the perimeter of our grounds over the break.
Super Kids Day @ WPE
We are planning a modified version of SKD in April this year that addresses COVID and still allows students to participate in this special annual event. Flyers are going home today on how you can help! FLYER
Manner's Banquet for 5th Grade Students
Despite the challenges of COVID we feel it is important to continue with our important grade level or campus events such as Super Kids Day and Manner's Banquet. The students remember these special events for years. Manner's Banquet marks the end of your child's time in elementary school as they move into middle and high school. We will be adjusting this event to meet the district and state guidelines.
- Face to Face learners will be seated at a table with their classrooms which we call 'school families'.
- Servers will be limited to school personnel.
- Any entertainment or speakers will be WPE staff or students
We would like to include our online learners at much as possible while respecting parent's choice of learning environment. The following opportunities will be offered to our 5th grade online learners.
- The manner's lesson from the district will be offered in the virtual setting in a zoom format
- We will live stream the manner's luncheon so students can watch the banquet.
SCIENCE LAB
Musicians
Campus Reading Challenge
COUNSELOR CORNER
Karla Corpus
Check out below to see how our counselors are supporting WPE students!
Words of Affirmation
Studies show that positive affirmations lead to positive thinking. Get our Panda’s day started on a positive note by having them say this positive affirmation everyday this week.
I have the power to make my dreams come true!
Nature Walk
Take time to go on a walk with your child as a way to connect with nature and with one another. As you head out, be sure to take time to encourage your child to engage in quiet reflection. Have them think about:
- What they hear
- What they smell
- What they see
- What they feel
Shout out to Global Outreach Community Church for supporting our students!!
Great 8
Counselors presented Guidance lessons this week on Self-Awareness. Ask your child what it means to be self-aware. Practice this skill of self-awareness with your child by playing a game of Who are You? Tell your child 3 words to describe them and in return let them tell you 3 words to describe yourself. Let the conversation begin!
DISTRICT UPDATES
Face Masks-
Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifted the state-wide mandate for masks and face coverings, and referred to TEA to establish guidelines for schools. TEA in turn established face covering protocols very similar to the Governor's former order, but empowered each local school board with the authority to modify, eliminate, or substitute a local face covering policy in place of TEA's version.
The following policy was approved at the regular March meeting of the Board of Trustees on March 9, 2021, and is effective immediately.
Every student, teacher, staff member, and visitor shall wear a mask or face shield over the nose and mouth when on school district property or at a district event wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household; provided, however, that this mask requirement does not apply to the following:
- Any person younger than 10 years of age;
- Any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a mask;
- Any person while the person is consuming food or drink, or is seated in a dining area to eat or drink;
- Any person while the person is actively exercising or engaging in physical activity;
- Any spectator at an outdoor event;
- Any person while the person is giving a speech for a broadcast or to an audience; or
- Any student while actively participating in an activity where it is impractical to wear a mask or face shield.
Multipurpose Rooms/Gym
One of the big changes for elementary schools will be the addition of Multipurpose Rooms/Gyms. Currently, our older elementary schools face challenges when they need to hold P.E. or a school assembly indoors because they don’t have a multipurpose room/gym. They only have a cafeteria.
The architect GPD Group was selected for the first group of six elementary schools that will be receiving a multipurpose room addition and the Community Learning Center that will receive a new gym space. Schools were grouped based upon their floorplans. Those with similar designs were placed into the same group to achieve economic efficiencies with bond funds.
First group of schools:
Community Learning Center (gym)
Deerwood Elementary
Hidden Hollow Elementary
Pine Forest Elementary
Shadow Forest Elementary
Whispering Pines Elementary
Willow Creek Elementary
Walk Run Discover Lake Houston, March 1-31, 2021
Walk, run, discover with us! This month-long community event encourages everyone to get out from behind their screens and out into nature! Register online at WalkRunDiscoverLakeHouston.com.CURBSIDE MEAL LOCATIONS - Mondays & Wednesdays (ONLY)
Virtual Learners & ALL children ages 1-18 years old
- Free Curbside Meals To Go will resume Wednesday, January 6.
- Meals distributed Mondays & Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- All virtual learning students regardless of meal eligibility (free, reduced, or full paid), will be able to pick up curbside meals at no cost.
- ALL children in the community ages 1-18 years old may pick up curbside meals at no cost
- Mondays: two breakfast meals and two lunch meals will be distributed.
- Wednesdays: three breakfast meals and three lunch meals will be distributed.
Foster Elementary, Park Lakes Elementary, Ridge Creek Elementary, Timberwood Middle School, Atascocita High School, Humble High School, and Kingwood Park High School.
*AHS meal distribution is near the cafeteria in the back of the main building. This parking lot entrance's access road is West Lake Houston Parkway. AHS Curbside Meal Map
* KPHS meal distribution is at the Larry Cooper Athletic Center entrance.
Families with multiple children within different grade levels can go to ANY one location. Each location will have slightly different meals. Some food may require cooking. Please see Humble ISD Child Nutrition’s Website for cooking instructions.
Parents and Guardians must bring student’s ID, proof of student enrollment in HAC, or Student Name and ID number. To speed up the process parents can display a sign with student names and ID numbers over the rearview mirror.
PRE-KINDER AND KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Parents enrolling students in Pre-Kindergarten will also have the option to register in-person at the Humble Civic Center, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 9, or from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 16.
Watch the Inspiring Moments video on Early Childhood Education and get a glimpse inside our Pre-K and Kindergarten programs!