The Leopard Tale
February-2019
Principal's Points
February is an exciting month at Andre’! I am so proud of our students helping with announcements each morning to share about famous African Americans in US history. Our junior counselors in 4th and 5th grade have also stepped up to share morning announcements about self-control, and for this month, service. Our students have already demonstrated a true Leopard understanding of service during the holiday season. Currently our students are working hard to raise funds for Jump Rope for Heart. Leopards will celebrate on February 22nd for their “Kids Heart Challenge!”
Our next big event is Safari Night! We can’t wait for this exciting family fun event. Students will be allowed to dress up in safari attire or animal print for school on Tuesday, February 12th. If you forget your animal face paint or exotic safari eyes, the Cypress-Springs Cosmetology Students will be here during the book fair from 4:30-5:30 to give you a Safari New Do! A snack supper of Frito pies and nachos will follow the book fair. Our two guest visitors include Bricks for Kids, who will engage the students in Lego building robotics activities, and the Singing Zoologist, who has an amazing animal inspired presentation.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Safari Night
Important Information
Benchmark Testing
In February, the benchmark testing cycle begins. The benchmark tests are similar to the STAAR test. They provide a practice opportunity for your child to experience the four-hour testing window. They also provide critical academic data that helps guide our instruction.
Our first round of benchmarks will take place on Tuesday, February 19th for 4th and 5th graders and Wednesday, February 20th for 5th graders. We will have no lunch visitors or deliveries on testing days. Please help ensure your children’s success by having them at school, on time and rested on Benchmark Testing Days. Thank you as always for your support!
Kids Heart Challenge
Our school has officially started the Kids Heart Challenge with the American Heart Association. Help us fight heart disease by earning our heart heroes Echo, Finn and Ruby right now! As a special BONUS at our school you can also earn plush FINN, by raising $150 online by 5 AM on 2/15/2019! Students who earn plush Finn will be recognized on this day! Get started now by downloading our APP called Kids Heart Challenge for iPhone and Android OR go online to CLICK HERE to View Our School Webpage and Sign Up (you can earn a glow in the dark bracelet just for registering).
CLICK HERE to watch the heart-healthy experience that students are having at school!
- Andre Elementary’s Kids Heart Challenge event day is: 2/22/2019
- Donations are due: 2/22/2019
- Need Help? View How to Sign Up!
- www.heart.org/kidsheartchallenge
When the students hit their goal to raise $10,000 toward the fight against heart disease, the TOP FUNDRAISERS will get to PIE COACH in the face!
Your heart heroes come to life through the APP!
Superintendent's Fun Run
The sixth annual CFISD Superintendent’s Fun Run and Festival is set for March 2, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Berry Center (8877 Barker Cypress Road) and the Towne Lake community. We are excited that our Andre' Running Club will participate, and our Step team and Twirler team will be featured.
Underwritten by Memorial Hermann Cypress, the fun-filled community event will include a *5K run and a family-friendly **1-mile. New courses include a 5K run through Towne Lake, Lone Star College CyFair and a family path through CFFCU stadium. The fun run will feature booth vendors, food trucks, entertainment and activities for children.
Proceeds from the Superintendent’s Fun Run benefit the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation (CFEF), which awards student scholarships and staff development grants.
The Fifth Annual Superintendent’s Fun Run and Festival held on March 24, 2018 generated $100,000 to the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation (CFEF).
* No strollers, bicycles, skateboards, or motorized vehicles will be allowed on the 5K path.
** Pets on leashes and strollers will be allowed on the 1-mile family-friendly path.
Register for the Fun Run at: https://www.cfisd.net/en/fun-run/
Valentine Exchange News
Our Valentine Exchange will take place on Thursday, February 14th. Each student will need to bring 25 valentines to exchange with friends during the class exchange. The Valentine exchange will be a student only event. Additionally, we will have no lunch visitors or deliveries on this day. Thank you for your support.
Spring Portrait and Class Photo Day
Thursday, February 21st
Students will be photographed with their class and also individually on Thursday, February 21st. Be sure your child wears something colorful on picture day.
Ordering information from Lifetouch will be sent home with your child.
Stay Connected
We want to stay connected with you! Please visit our website at www.cfisd.net, select schools and facilities, elementary schools, and then Andre’. This will take you to our website. We will also regularly post photos and news on the Official Andre’ Facebook page. To locate our page, search @CFISDAndre. Make sure you follow us on Twitter, @CFISDAndre, as well.
Lost and Found
Have you been searching the house for your child’s missing jacket or lunch kit?
We have quite a collection of found items that we have on display in the cafeteria. Students will have an opportunity each day during lunch to look through the items to reclaim things that belong to them. It is getting cooler outside, and jackets will be needed.
Please remind your child to look for missing items. Thank you for your support.
District Guidelines for Keeping Sick
Children Home from School
A sick child who is unable to participate in school in a meaningful way should be kept home to rest and recover until symptoms resolve. Keeping a sick child home also protects other children, school staff, and visiting community members from contracting an illness that can be spread from person to person. Please be aware of the following guidelines for school attendance.
· Fever: A child should remain home with fever greater than 100° F and should only return after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin.
· Diarrhea/Vomiting: A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom free for 24 hours.
· Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Following a diagnosis of pink eye, a child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication has been administered.
· Rashes: Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a healthcare provider has made a diagnosis and authorizes the child's return to school in writing.
If you take your child to a healthcare provider for an illness, please be sure to request a written letter stating when your child may return to school.
A healthy school community requires parents and schools to partner with each other. To prevent/minimize local outbreaks of contagious disease, parents must keep children who have an illness that can be spread from person to person at home, and CFISD school nurses will exclude students with symptoms of a communicable illness from school attendance.
Student Holiday
In observance of Presidents Day, students will not attend school on Monday, February 18, 2019.
Students and staff return on Tuesday, February 19, 2019- No lunch visitors or deliveries on February 19th.
Counselors' Corner
During the month of February, our classroom guidance lessons will center around the importance of service to others and our greater community. Our Jr. Counselors will be reading morning announcements that support the idea of service throughout history and ideas for service at home, school and the greater community. Our student council is currently planning a few events that emphasize service at Andre’.
We are currently in the middle of GT testing and will be finishing up mid-month. We should have results for Kindergarten by the end of the month. Only students in Kindergarten who qualify for GT will begin their program this year. Students who qualify for GT in grades 1-5, will begin their GT placement at the beginning of the next school year.
Words From the Library
Book Fair
Shopping Feb. 8, 11, 12. Fliers and wish lists will be sent home on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Please send enough money to cover tax for the purchases at book fair.
Family Night Feb. 12 4:30-5:30. Stay after the book fair for Safari Family Night!
Name that Book
Grade level contest for 3/4/5 teams is Feb. 25 during large group (no audience). School level contest for winning grade level teams is Feb. 27 at 9:30 in the cafeteria, 3/4/5 classes, parents and teachers are the audience.
Notes from the front desk
Lunch Visitors
Please limit your lunch visits with your child to one time per week. We have close to 1000 students and want to make sure we have space for all parents who would like to eat lunch with their children. A note is required from a guardian for anyone other than a guardian to have lunch with your child.
Absences
If your child is absent, please send a note on the first day of your child’s return to school stating the reason for the absence. Thank you.
Transportation Changes
If a child’s end-of-day transportation changes, the parent/guardian must send a note with the date, necessary changes and parent/guardian signature. If a note is not received, the usual method of transportation will be followed.
For safety purposes, no changes will be made after 3:30 P.M. and PHONE CALLS or E-MAILS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.
Student Council
Box Tops for Education
Each Student’s Goal= 10 Box Tops in February!
Did you know that Andre’ receives 10₵ for every General Mills Box Tops for Education we collect? Please remember to cut out Box Tops from participating products and send them to your child’s homeroom teacher.
You can send box top clips and certificates in a bag, envelope or on the attached collection sheet.
If each student turns in 10 box tops, our school will earn over $1,100! Wow!
Our next collection date is March 1st!
PTO
Ahoy Andre' families! Our family movie night was a HUGE success. With almost 700 in attendance, a great time was had by everyone. We loved seeing all of the families together to support our amazing students.
Coming up, on March 1st, will be our father-daughter dance - the theme will be Enchanted Garden. Please be on the lookout for details on our Facebook page and coming home in your students’ folders.
Please consider signing up your family with the PTO (via our webpage below) - we are still aiming for higher attendance and participation from all of our Andre' family. We've got a little over 4 months left in the school year and we want to make it great!
Stay warm,
Rose Cerny - Andre' PTO President
Upcoming Spirit Nights
March- McDonalds
Address: 10912 Fry Rd, Cypress, TX 77433
Date: 3/6/19
Time: 5PM-8PM
“McTeacher Night” Join us at McDonalds for dinner! The teachers will be working behind the counter, and Andre’ will receive 20% of all sales garnered during the three-hour period.
Save the Date
Father Daughter Dance
Where: Andre’ Elementary
Date: March 1, 2019
Time: 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.
Help Andre’ Earn “Free Money”
My Coke Rewards-: https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/ When you make Coca-Cola purchases, you simply enter the product codes on the website, or send them in a baggie to school with your child and we can scan them in for you.
Amazon Smile-http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-2612718 Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to Andre’ PTO. Please be sure to add Andre’ PTO as your charity.
Kroger Plus-www.krogercommunityrewards.com (You must select Andre Elementary PTO Inc. as your community rewards organization under ‘My account.’ )
Box Tops- The next submission date for Box Tops is March 1st.
PTO Membership
We currently have 145 family members covering 164 of our 900+ students. Spread the PTO Word! We would love to grow our membership to 100%. Your $15 membership fee is a show of support for all the programs and events the PTO puts on during the year, since PTO is primarily run off of funds from fundraising, donations, and volunteering. As a member, you are not obligated to attend meetings or volunteer.
YEARBOOK PICTURES NEEDED
Do you have pictures of your kids in their classroom or school events? Would you like to possibly see them in your child’s school yearbook? We would love to see pictures of kids in their classrooms, on field trips, with their friends, and any other special school event. Get your pictures in! You may just find your child’s photo(s) front and center! Upload images to: Community.lifetouch.com Access code: IOBHMC
Next PTO Meeting
Want to know more about what’s going on with PTO? Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 13, 2019 5:30PM at Andre’ Elementary School in the Library. Please join us!
PTO Contact info
Facebook: Andre’ Elementary PTO
Twitter: @AndreElemPTO
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/andrepto/home
Email: andreleopardpto@gmail.com
Healthy Bodies
Mark your calendar
2/1- 6:45-Girl Scout Meeting-Cafeteria
2/4-2/8- National School Counselor Week
2/4-Nature Trails Field Trip-3rd and 5th Grades
2/4-6:45- Girl Scouts-Cafeteria
2/5-Nature Trails Field Trip-3rd and 5th Grades
2/5-6:45- Cub Scouts-Cafeteria
2/6-7:50-Donuts for D.O.G.S.
2/6-100th Day of School
2/7-Book Fair Arrives
2/12-Dress Safari Day!
2/12-Book Fair Late Night/Safari Night
2/14-Valentine Exchange-Student Only Event-No Lunch Visitors
2/18-Student Holiday
2/19-Benchmark Testing-4th and 5th-No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
2/20-Benchmark Testing-5th-No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
2/21-Spring/Group Picture Day
2/22-JRFH Jump Off
2/23-DaVinci Day-Cy Ridge High School
2/25-Name that Book Grade Level Contest-3,4,5-Large Group
2/26-6:00-Multi Cultural Program-4th Grade
2/27-9:30-Name That Book School Level Contest
3/1-Character Parade-Kindergarten
3/1-Father Daughter Dance
3/2-8:00-Superintendent Fun Run
3/4-3/5-TELPAS Testing
3/4-3/5-No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
3/6-Weather Wonders-1st and 2nd
3/7-Go Western Day
3/7-Rodeo Dances-1st and 2nd
3/8-No Place for Hate Activity
3/8-No Lunch Visitors or Deliveries
3/11-3/15-Spring Break
About Us
Email: andre@cfisd.net
Website: andre.cfisd.net/en/
Location: 8111 Fry Road, Cypress, TX, USA
Phone: 281-463-5500
Facebook: facebook.com/cfisdandre/
Twitter: @cfisdandre