Palmer Publication
2nd Nine weeks Edition
Message from Mrs. Clay
Dear Palmer Family,
Happy New Year and what a great time to be Palmer Proud! It feels as if we have just completed the first nine weeks, but here we are, ending the first semester of a school year. As I reflect over first semester, I can say with satisfaction, that Palmer Elementary has had an awesome first semester.
Our Spring Creek Spirit Night was a HUGE success, raising our targeted amount. Thank you so much for your support in this event. In addition to our spirit night, we have had several other parental involvement activities at school that were a big success, Palmer’s Pumpkin Patch in October, Grandparent Luncheon in November, and Pajamas, Papas, and Polar Express Day in December. I want to send a huge shout out to the 30 plus Dads who volunteered toread to our Kinder through 2nd grade students. The teachers and students absolutely loved having you here. We are looking forward to your continued participation as we will have another Dad’s reading day in February.
I am proud to see our teachers and staff doing whatever it takes to make sure that Palmer students are successful. As I visit the classrooms, I am encouraged to see higher-order thinking and student-centered learning taking place.
As we head into the second half of the year, it is a perfect time to work on resetting habits with your children. Making education and learning the TOP priority in your house is crucial to developing in your children the ability to prioritize their own learning and success. A reasonable bedtime is encouraged for every child to ensure they are well rested each day for their learning. Establishing an evening routine and quiet location in your home is critical to your children having the support they need to study effectively. Being at school on time is essential to every child being prepared and ready to learn each day. All of these are excellent habits that when instilled in your children, will help them well into their teenage and young adult lives.
Please continue to read my Monday morning messages, your child’s weekly grade level newsletter, Tuesday folder and other communications regularly. When you have a concern or question, write a note, send an email, or make a phone call to the teacher or me. As always, thank you for your continued support and for choosing Palmer Elementary for your child’s education.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Clay, Principal
Palmer's Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Nikia Battle
Volunteer Dads for Pajamas, Papas, and Polar Express
Palmer advertises Spring Creek BBQ Spirit Night
How did we do this semester?
Parents please take time to provide us with feedback on how we did this first semester by completing this brief survey. Click on the link to access the survey.
Outclass Teachers News
Art
Artist studies are always fun as the students begin to learn about them and make possible connections. Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Rousseau were two artists featured recently in art class. Fifth graders drew their own version of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. Students had their choice of medium. While most selected to finish with tempera or watercolor, Alex T. completed his beautiful version with crayon and colored pencil. Rousseau painted such interesting jungle scenes that our second graders were surprised to learn that he had never even been to a jungle! His ideas came from visiting the zoo and the botanical gardens. He had a great imagination. Elias C. has a wonderful one, too, as you can see from his creative jungle scene. Please enjoy the artwork from these two talented boys.
Tracey Hite
Art Teacher
Library
The Palmer library is a busy place! In October and November, 4712 books were checked out! Because we are a busy, booming library, Palmer library needs your help. If you are interested in donating your time please contact me about volunteering at 281-634-4767 or melannie.boullion@fortbendisd.com. Any help would be much appreciated!
Atomic Learning is now available to all families! Atomic Learning includes nearly 50,000 step-by-step tutorials on common software, workshops and technology integration projects. This can be a useful resource for your household. Please consider using Atomic Learning from home. The web address is: https://www.atomiclearning.com/k12/en/login/fortbend . Parent username is: parents-fbisdPE. Student username is: students-fbisdPE. The password for both students and parents is: Fortbend.
The Palmer library hosts Early Bird Reading for grades 2-5 and Matchbook! for grades 3-5. Early Bird reading happens on Mondays for grades 4-5 and Fridays for grades 2-3. Students who arrive at 7:30 on their designated morning check in with their teacher, then come to the library for 20 minutes of silent sustained reading. Matchbook! is a club for advanced readers. Students in this club are expected to read 35 books from the district Matchbook! list. The list can be located here: http://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/607. Students selected will participate in the Matchbook! Competition on April 9th at the district Annex. We meet once a month. There is also a club for teachers! Teachers in the “Palmer Techie Teacher Technology” Club will begin meeting in January and will meet once a month to learn about integrating technology into the curriculum.
Spring Book Fair is scheduled for Feb. 29 – March 4. Be on the look-out for volunteer opportunities.
The Bluebonnet Bash will be celebrated in February. More information on this event will be given to the students who have read five Bluebonnet books from the following list: https://texasbluebonnetaward2016.wordpress.com/.
Melannie Boullion, Librarian
Music
This is America! Palmer Salutes Our Veterans! Our 3rd graders did such a wonderful job in their program. I love this picture because it says so much. There are students, teachers, principals, real soldiers. Active and Reserve soldiers, and future soldiers. Everybody coming together to honor the soldiers and say thank you. I see a father and his daughter, a mom and her son. I see people from the community and people in and from our school. I see all of the Armed Forces represented in our flags. I see hope for our future in the smiles on the faces of our 3rd graders. This picture is also on the Fortbendisd.com website along with another from the program. Thank you soldiers and thank you 3rd graders for your tribute.
Jingle Bell Jukebox was a success for the 4th graders. All of you did such a great job to put all of us in the holiday spirit. CONGRATULATIONS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!
Penguins on Parade is the next program in January-the last Friday-29th! It should be cold for the Penguins!!!
Carolyn Baker, Music Teacher
Physical Education
I hope that everyone enjoyed a relaxing holiday break. Now it is time to work off that turkey and pumpkin pie! As we start the new year, we will begin practicing and completing the FitnessGram. FitnessGram is a comprehensive fitness assessment for students in grades 3-5, that is administered state wide . It includes a variety of physical fitness tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and flexibility. The FitnessGram consists of five different tests; the PACER, Curl-Ups, Trunk Lift , the Flexed Arm Hang and the Shoulder Stretch. In order for students to perform their best, they will need to be dressed appropriately. Please make sure that your child is wearing tennis shoes and comfortable clothes on his/her P.E. day.
Faison Simmonds, P.E. Teacher
Front Office News
Clinic
Happy, Healthy 2016!!!! Remember to send your children to school with a full stomach or get them here early enough to eat breakfast. The students perform much better in school on a full stomach. If your child needs any type medicine given at school, a parent or guardian must bring it to school and sign the appropriate paperwork giving the nurse permission to administer it. Students are not allowed to carry any type of medications to school (including cough drops).
I have almost completed all my vision and hearing screenings. If you have received a referral letter from me, please remember to send the bottom portion of the letter back to me letting me know if you child has received glasses or not. I keep records of all this information. If you don’t have eye insurance and can’t afford an eye exam or glasses, I have vouchers which allows you to a free eye exam and glasses. Just notify me and I will send a voucher home with your child.
If you have any questions call me anytime during school hours. 281-634-4765.
Peg Adamczak, RN, BSN
Counselor’s Corner
The theme for this month is Self-Control:
Choosing to do what you should do, not what you want to do
Parent’s I would like to admonish you to encourage your child to use self-control. By learning self-control, kids can make appropriate decisions and respond to stressful situations in ways that can yield positive outcomes. Remind them everything can’t always go their way.
Teaching self-control is one of the most important things that parents can do for their kids because these skills are some of the most important for success later in life. But parents can help kids learn self-control and teach them how to respond without just acting on impulse.
So the next time an opportunity arises, Praise your child for not losing control in frustrating or difficult situations. If they don’t make the best choice; discuss what could have done differently and agree that they will try that next time.
Thank you for being the Change that you want to see
Katrina Branch Scott, Counselor
Palmer PTO News
Save the Date - Upcoming Spirit Nights!
Chick-fil-A:
- 1/12
- 2/9
- 3/8
- 4/12
- 5/10
Palmer Elementary’s Campus Improvement Goals for the 2015-2016 School Year
1. We will increase the overall percentage of 3rd-5th grade students meeting passing standards on STAAR Reading by at least 29%.
2. At least 90% of students in Kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade will read at least 2 levels above the required District Reading Level by the end of the school year.
3. At least 83% of our 3rd-5th grade students will meet passing standards on the 2015-2016 STAAR Math.
4. We will maintain a positive, organized, and bully- free learning environment which respects the individuality of all students.
5. Each student will create at least one technology based project by the end of the 2015-2016 school year.