Adventure Awaits
Flour Bluff Elementary School
October Newsletter
Dr. Nikol Youngberg, Principal
....OCTOBER IS HERE! As we enter October, Fall, and the second six weeks of school, FBE teachers and students have been working hard on a smooth transition to the 2019-2020 school year. We also want to thank you parents for your help with this transition. Communication between teachers and parents is crucial to our students’ success.
As a campus we meet regularly to discuss and problem solve specific concerns that arise; we want each and every student to have a positive year. The key to work through any concerns that may arise is to address them early and as a collaborative team. Official parent conference day is November 11th, however don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if you need to meet before then.
We also are HUGE believers that fun activities together during and even after school is a wonderful way to help build our school community. There are a several activities planned for the year we encourage you and your child to join in on the fun! Our first school activity will be our Family Literacy Night on Tuesday, October 29th. We hope you can join us!
Flour Bluff Football Games
Dear Parents,
Safety of our students is a primary focus for Flour Bluff ISD. Through the years we have discovered the volume of students not engaged in watching the football game determines the amount of safety and discipline issues security addresses on Friday nights at Hornet Stadium. Over the last two years, we have implemented a 6th grade and below policy/practice that has helped the safety and well-being of our students. For the 2019 football season, we will continue the policy of not allowing students in 6th grade and below to attend football games without a parent/guardian present to supervise the student. We appreciate your support as we strive to make football games at Hornet Stadium fun and enjoyable for everyone.
Thank You
Flour Bluff Athletic Department
Positivity Project
Mrs. Hoover, Curriculum Supervisor
When parents say positive things about math, kids feel more capable and confident — and they tend to succeed at higher rates. Here are some ways to sneak math (and your positive attitude toward math) into your child’s day.
1. Ask why
Kids love to ask Why? Now, you can turn it back on them! Ask your child to explain her reasoning about everyday things: Why did you make that move (in a game)? Why did you build the Lego tower that way? Why is that the right amount of change? This will help get your child in the habit of explaining her thought process.
2. Practice those times tables!
If you practice together, it really can be fun. Focus on 1-12, but feel free to go a little higher if your child can handle it. When your child has trouble solving one, ask What answer would be reasonable? Listen to your child’s reasoning — and share your own. For example, if 4 times 6 is hard, think about 4 times 5 — what is that? Would 4 times 6 be more or less? Why?
3. MultiPLAY!
Pick a number target, like the number 24. Ask your child what pairs of numbers can be multiplied to equal 24 (3 x 8, 6 x 4, 2 x 12, and 1 x 24). If this is tough for your child, use beans or coins to build models placed in columns and rows (like 3 rows of 8 pennies). Take turns picking the target number and trying to stump each other with numbers that have many factor pairs.
4. Problem Solving
When your child encounters a problem — in homework or in real life — resist the urge to jump in and solve it for him. Instead, ask him What do think you should try first? Working through challenges on his own is one way he’ll boost his problem-solving skills
5. How many, how much?
At the store, ask your child how much it’ll cost to buy six boxes of cereal if each one costs $3.99. Or ask how many loaves of bread you can buy with $16 if each loaf costs $4.25.
6. How tall are you?
Hand your child a tape measure and have her figure out everyone in the family’s height down to the 1⁄4 inch. Then, have her plot the numbers on a number line and see how everyone’s heights compare.
7. Sports stats!
If your child is into sports, look at a website together for some great data analysis and modeling. The practice you’re looking for here is with the four operations. For example, How many more points did this team score than that team? For now, steer clear of anything involving averages or decimals — save that for fifth grade.
8. Reading chart
If reading is your child’s favorite thing, help her make a table that shows how many pages she reads each day. Analyze the data together. On which day does your child read the most? Can she estimate how many pages she’ll read in the next week?
Mrs. Villarreal, Counselor
Welcome back to school! I am Veronica Villarreal, the Elementary School Counselor. I will be assisting students transition back to school and provide classroom guidance lessons. I am also available to meet with students individually on a wide range of concerns, including goal setting, family issues, grief and loss, and bully prevention/intervention. I will also have small group counseling to help students with conflict resolution, social skills training, test anxiety, and anger management.
This Month we will talk about RESPONSIBILITY. Being responsible means being reliable, dependable, and trustworthy. With each new grade level, we are met with new responsibilities and challenges. During this month, we will explore ways to be responsible for our homework and agendas, for our personal belongings, and for our safety and health. We will also discuss being responsible for our own actions and consequences. We will also review this month's P2 characteristics of teamwork and curiostity covered during the Positivity Project lessons
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call me.
Ms. Paxton, Military Counselor
DOD/Military Lunch Bunch is Thursday, October 17th for all DOD/Military students.
Please return the signed program letter that is being sent home if you are currently DOD or active military.
Mrs. Veronica Cristan, Assistant Principal
Lunch time is always an exciting time for our students. Not only are they ready to eat, but they are also ready to talk with their friends. It is important for our students to know that in the cafeteria, we instill the same core expectations from Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) that we have for all areas of the school. Here is how these expectations manifest themselves in the cafeteria:
Follow Directions - Stand in line patiently and quietly. Watch and listen for your turn to enter the kitchen area. Raise your hand for permission before getting up. Leave your area clean. When your teacher arrives, watch and listen for instructions. Dismiss quietly.
Be Polite - Eat using good manners. Say please and thank you. Use inside voices. Keep your lunch box or tray neat and tidy in front of you.
Be Safe - Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Walk. Sit properly with feet under the table. Eat your own food. If you spill something, be sure to clean it up or ask for help.
Be Prepared - Remember your lunch and or lunch money. Be ready to make your selections in the cafeteria line. Before you leave the kitchen area, pick up your condiments and utensils.
By helping students practice good behavior, we build a school community where all students have an environment in which they can succeed and grow.
Nurse Cheryl
FLU SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER!
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Influenza activity often begins to increase in October and November. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and March and can last as late as May. It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine by the end of October. There are few new things about the flu vaccine this year, one new aspect being only an injectable form is available; the nasal spray that has been offered in past years is potentially not effective this season. www.cdc.gov/flu Part of keeping all of our children healthy and learning is to encourage frequent hand washing, sneezing/coughing into elbows, and drinking plenty of fluids.
We also have a district wide fever policy: If a child has a fever they may not return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc.).
Please contact your campus nurse if you have any questions about policies or keeping medications at school.
Mrs. Browning, Librarian
Our fall book fair will be held in the library October 3-10. We will be offering a new cash-free payment option for students that is safe, secure, and free to set up. To learn about ewallet, go to the Elementary book fair homepage at the following link.
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/flourbluffes1.
Students have been learning how to choose a “just right” books, or as I call them, “Yes,Yes” books. If they can answer yes to both of the following questions, that is a “good” book for them. Can I read the book? Am I interested in the book? Hopefully, this will promote a love of reading by helping students to find books they will love to read.
We are doing a bulletin board in the library entitled Readers Today—Leaders Tomorrow. When you catch your child reading at home, please take a picture, print it, and have your student bring it to the library.
Continue to send the clipped Boxtops for Education that you have. These clipped Boxtops are being gradually phased out for the new ones that involve scanning your grocery receipt, but are still on many products. Please check the expiration dates. If you have any that expire between now and January 2020, send these now. I will be sending a shipment the middle of October.
If you have a member of your family who is currently serving or has served in the military, please send a picture for our Wall of Honor. Along with the picture, please include their name, where stationed, or any other information you want to give. Also, note which student they are related to.
Elementary Events for October
Sept 30-Oct 4UIL Academic Team Try-Outs
Sept 30-Oct 4Math Six Weeks Test
Sept 30-Oct 4Positivity Project Open-Mindedness
1 Book It! Begins
2 National Custodian Day Thank You Ms. Brinda!
2 Science Fair Parent Meeting 6pm in Common Area
3-10 Book Fair
4 Lab Coat Parade in Hallway 8am
6-12 Positivity Project Being Present
7 Good Choice Funtrackers Daubenspeck, LaCour, Harris, Nelson, Stone, McPartlin, Dyckman, Wyrick
7-11 Fire Prevention Week
7 Homecoming Parade
8 PTO Meeting 5:30-6:00
8 Open House 6pm-7pm
8 Good Choice Funtrackers Beckwith, Wilson, Hurst, White, McClendon, Jones, Elliott, Bentz
9 Good Choice Funtrackers Featherby, Sykes, Barnec, Provence, Alvarado, Rowe, Flores, Ainsworth
9 3rd Running Club Try Outs
9 Campus Site Based Committee Meeting
10 Good Choice Funtrackers Atkinson, Falany, A. Morgan, Ready, Jackson, McAliley, Ames, Cooper
10 NAS Fire Department Demonstration on Campus (3rd Grade)
10 4th Running Club Try Outs
10 Report Cards Go Home
11 Good Choice Funtrackers Fordyce, Tweddle, Messina, S. Morgan, Robinson, Steward, Kaspar, Clark, Gusler
13-19 Positivity Project Integrity
14 Columbus Day
15 Fall Pictures
16 National Boss's Day
20-26 Positivity Project Perspective
22 4th Grade Writing Benchmark
23 Transportation Appreciation Day
27- Positivity Project Creavity
28 Red Ribbon Week
28 “Shade out Drugs”; Wear your cool sunglasses to “Shade Out Drugs”
29 “Two Cool For Drugs”; Pick a friend and dress like twins
29 Family Literacy Night 6pm-7pm
30 “RED-Y to Put A Cap on Drugs”; Wear Red and a Cap
31 Halloween
31 Progress Reports Go Home
31 3rd Grade Agriculture Awareness Day Field Trip
31 “Drugs Won’t Find Me”-Wear Camouflage clothing today
November 1“Lei Off Drugs”-Wear Lei and/or Hawaiian shirt
Family Literacy Night
Tuesday, Oct 29, 2019, 06:00 PM
Flour Bluff Elementary School, Waldron Road, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Perfect Attendance Parties
Fist Six Weeks
Time to Chill Out with Some Ice Cream...You had Perfect Attendance! October 11
Second Six Weeks
You are One Smart Cookie...Cause You had Perfect Attendance! November 22
Cell Phones
Campus Visits and Volunteers
We love to have volunteers and parents as visitors on our campus, however for the safety of our students and staff ALL visitors (including parents we know) check in EVERYDAY with our Raptor system. This system will provide a BADGE and all visitors are required to have it on and visible at all times.
DROP OFF TIME
Please DO NOT drop off students earlier than 7:00 am. There is NO adult supervision until 7:00am.
EARLY PICK UP
If a student is being picked up early from school, identification is mandatory. Again, even if we recognize you, we will ALWAYS ask for your ID, verify that you are on the pick up form, and have you sign the child out.
VOLUNTEER
Join Dr. Youngberg's Volunteer Remind Group Messaging below if you are interested in receiving text messages for volunteer opportunities at the Elementary.