Principal's BLOG
~Gratitude ~Resilience ~Integrity ~Tenacity
One more week until Spring Break!
This week is a short week. Students will be released early on 3/7 @ 11:45am.
Please join us the evening of March 7th for Showcase at Azle High School.
Friday is a Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday.
As always, let your student's teacher or myself know if you have questions or concerns.
Shelly Wynns, Principal, Cross Timbers Elementary
Texas Strategic Leadership Program Pilot
Azle ISD has partnered with our local service center, Region 11, to pilot a program focused on strategic leadership strategies. In order to help the guide the work we will be doing this school year we are asking for your feedback on this survey:
Thank you for your participation
Congratulations to Kandi Hawkins, Teacher of the Year, and Stormi Lawson, Paraprofessional of the Year!
CAMP INVENTION 2024 REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 4
Camp Invention® returns to Azle ISD during the weeks of June 3-6 and June 10-13 with an all-new program!
Current Azle ISD students in grades K-5 will team up for exciting STEM challenges, like designing a light-up ball game, starring in a prototyping game show, and more!
The cost is $175 per student/per week.
Registration opens on Monday, March 4. Spots will fill up quickly, so register soon!
Camp Invention will be held at Azle High School this year from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- June 3-6 - Illuminate Week 1
- June 10-13 - Explore Week 2
Contact Azle ISD GT teacher Breanna Reed at breed@azleisd.net with any questions.
What's Cookin' in the Cafe
PTO Needs Your Help!
CT Families:
If you love our school and are looking for ways to help make it even better for our students and our staff please consider joining our PTO!
Please use the button above to let us know you are interested!
-Mrs. Wynns, Principal
Happening in March, April and May
March
March 7 - Showcase @ AHS
March 8 - Student Holiday
March 11-15 - Spring Break
March 29 - HOLIDAY
March 28 - Report Cards 3rd 9 wks
March 28 - 1st Grade Music Performance 2pm & 6pm
April
April 1 - Teacher Work Day
April 3 - Para Appreciation Day
April 4 - Librarian Appreciation Day
April 8-12 - AP Appreciation Day
April 11 - Kindergarten Music Performance 2pm & 6pm
April 12 - Progress Report 4th 9 wk 3 wk
April 16 - STAAR Reading
April 19 - Kinder Graduation Pictures
April 15-19 - Volunteer Recognition Week
April 24 - Administrative Professionals Day
April 23 - STAAR Math test
April 26 - K Field Day
May
May 3 - Cafeteria Hero Day
May 3 - Progress Report 4th 9 wk 6 wk
May 3-10 - Spring Book Fair (BOGO)
May 6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 8 - Nurse’s Day
May 16 - Talent Show 2pm & 6pm
May 23 - EOY Parties/4th Grade Clap Out
May 24 - Report Cards 4th 9 wks
May 24 - Teacher Work Day
May 27 - HOLIDAY
May 28 - Bad Weather Day
Click calendar above for a printable version.
We will be learning about cooperation across campus this month. With spring break on the horizon, children will have additional opportunities to practice cooperation at home. Students will be learning how to handle conflicts with each other, work together, and win or lose appropriately.
We use cooperation for everyday activities but most of us do it without thinking. What do you want for dinner? What game do you want to play? Do you want to go first? Can you help me clean the living room? These are all uses of cooperation that may happen in your home routinely and great opportunities to speak with children about how to resolve conflict and celebrate cooperation.
If you have questions regarding Play it Safe, information can be viewed here and I am happy to answer further questions or concerns. Families must opt a child IN for children to participate. Play it safe will take place March 22, 2024 on our campus. If you wish for your child to participate you may opt in here.
We are beginning to gather parent requests for Gifted and Talented testing. If you have a student that you feel may qualify for the Gifted and Talented program, please let the teacher or myself know. We will make sure you get the information necessary. This is a lengthy process and you can expect to find out if a student qualifies or not in June.
As always, I am happy to help students and families however possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 817-444-3802 or cflynn@azleisd.net.
From our Azle ISD Handbook on Attendance:
Parents must document reasons for an absence for the absence to be considered excused. Parents of students in all grades shall provide written notice of why an absence occurred within two days of the absence unless there are extenuating circumstances as determined by the principal. Notice received after two days of the absence shall not be considered for establishing excused absences except in extenuating circumstances as determined by principal or superintendent.
Please email mshotwell@azleisd.net with parent/doctor notes.
Attendance makes a difference!
School starts at 7:45am and ends at 3:15pm.
Please help your child attend every minute they can.
Attending school every day = 100% attendance
Attending 4 days a week = 80% attendance = more than half a term missed per year.
Attending 3½ days each week = 70% attendance = more than a quarter of the school year missed.
An average attendance of 80% or less across a child’s school career adds up to missing a whole 2 years from school.
Being late for school reduces learning time. If your child is 5 minutes late every day they will miss three days of learning each year. If your child is 15 minutes late every day they will miss 2 weeks of learning each year.
-Mrs. Mahoney, Assistant Principal
Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation and readiness to return kindness.
Students will practice demonstrating gratitude in all areas of the school, ie. the cafe, the classroom, and at recess.
Resilience is defined as the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. I will be describing resilient people, those that can bounce back from any setback and have a positive attitude and are optimistic about challenge.
Resilience at school looks like taking chances to learn new things, knowing that mistakes are ok, following directions the first time, and being "teachable".
Integrity is the practice of being honest and consistently doing what is right.
Students can demonstrate integrity by following directions the first time, making choices that will make the student proud, telling the truth and treating others kindly and fairly.
Tenacity is being persistent, never giving up, doing whatever is required to accomplish a goal.
Students can demonstrate tenacity by giving their best effort, setting goals, using their time wisely and learning with purpose.
When we put the characteristics together, they make GRIT.
GRIT is strength of character; firmness of mind or spirit; unyielding courage in the face of hardship; the drive, stamina, and fortitude to push through ANY challenge or obstacle until success is achieved.
Please join us by teaching these characteristics at home!
First Day Procedures and Beyond...
The first day of school is Wednesday August 16th. Approximately 450 students will arrive at Cross Timbers each day by bus or car. Be prepared for a crowd! Courtesy and patience is appreciated as we all get accustomed to the routine! It gets better as we all get better at it!
Morning Drop Off:
Doors will open at 7:30am. Parents are welcome to walk students to their classrooms on the first day of school. We ask that parents have all photographs taken and hugs and kisses given by 7:45am, so that students can eat breakfast and get into the routine of school.
After the first day, beginning Thursday August 17th, per district policy, parents will need to drop off students in the parent drop off loop. Cross Timbers staff will be outside waiting to open car doors and make sure that students enter the building. Students will be counted tardy after 7:45am. Parents are required to sign in all students that are tardy in the office.
Afternoon Pick Up:
School dismissal is at 3:15pm. If students are checked out early for an appointment, it must be before 3pm. Checking out early (even at 3pm) affects student perfect attendance and star student eligibility.
If you need to change how your child is going home, this must be submitted prior to noon.
K-1st grade students will be picked up on the north side of the school where the kindergarten playground is located.
2nd, 3rd & 4th grade students will be picked up on the south side of the school where the cafe is located. (2nd, 3rd & 4th siblings of K-1st students will be picked up on the K-1st side)
Staff members will load students into the cars while parents remain in their vehicles.
Parents MUST have a school issued car tag hanging from their rearview mirror, otherwise the parent will be asked to pull around, park and go inside the office to present a photo ID.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is served FREE to all students each morning 7:30-7:45am in their classroom. If your child plans to eat breakfast at school, please have them here before 7:45am.
Lunch with Your Student:
You are welcome to come eat lunch with your student! Make sure to check in through the office and get a visitor’s badge. Please sit at the parent booths with your student. You may bring in outside food, but only for you and your student. No other guests may eat with you at the parent table. No lunch visitors will be permitted the first week of school to allow your child some time to make friends and learn cafeteria procedures. The campus is closed to lunch visitors on various days throughout the school year. These dates will be communicated with our families in advance. Please make sure to get your student back in line with their class to return to instruction on time.
You can add lunch money to your child's account by sending it in their daily folder (Please make sure that it is clearly marked for the cafeteria account. We cannot make change or break large bills. All money sent will be applied to the account.) or online. To add money online, visit the School Cafe page.
Visitors to Campus:
Campus doors will remain locked throughout the school day, and visitors are buzzed in from outside the main office. Inside the office, visitors will need to present an ID to receive a visitor’s badge that must be worn while in the building. Please return your visitor’s badge to the front office as you leave campus so that you can be signed out through our visitor tracking system.
Volunteering:
We love and appreciate our volunteers! If you want to help make copies or volunteer for events, we encourage you to get in touch with your child's teacher or the Cross Timber's PTO. An Azle ISD approved background check is required for all volunteers on our campus. To protect instruction time, parents and volunteers are asked to go directly to the workroom after obtaining a visitor's badge in the front office. If you have a question for your child's teacher, please send them an email or leave them a message to call you during their conference time. While students are in the classroom, we ask that you understand and respect that the teacher's focus and attention should be on their students. If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher, please contact them to schedule a time to meet in advance.
Attendance:
Attendance is important. Make sure to be on time everyday and stay the entire time. Anytime a student is not in class from 7:45-3:15 a note is required. After three days of absence, a doctor’s note is required.
*Missing just 15 minutes of instruction every day equals 2 weeks of missed learning per year!
Birthdays:
You are welcome to send store bought, pre-packaged snacks/cupcakes to school, so that your student can celebrate their birthday with their classmates. Please do not send any homemade items.
I have so many questions...who can I talk to?
Registration Questions - email the campus secretary Loida Burcie or call the campus (817) 444-3802 - office hours are 7:45-3:15
Nurse - email Savannah Renfro
School Supplies - email our NEW counselor Cindy Flynn
Attendance - email our NEW attendance clerk Margie Shotwell
How do I sign my child up to receive bus services to or from school?
New Bus Riders:
- Parents will need to register for an account on the Traversa Ride 360 website or app and then register all students with their student ID number.
- After registering on Traversa Ride 360, email or call the Azle ISD Transportation office to activate your student.
- Please allow up to 48 hours for activation. Please turn on notifications for important updates and changes to student routes.
Returning Bus Riders:
- Parents will need to check their Traversa Ride 360 app for any changes to student routes from the previous year.
- Turn on notifications for important updates and changes to student routes.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Azle ISD Transportation Department at (817) 444-1322.
What time does school start daily?
Please note that FREE breakfast in the classroom is served daily to ALL Cross Timbers' students 7:30-7:45 AM. If your child plans to eat breakfast at school, please make sure that you drop them off early enough to give them time to walk to class and finish eating before instruction begins at 7:45 AM.
What time does school dismiss daily?
*While our students are settling into their new routine, it is likely that parent pick-up will be slower the first few days of school. Please be patient with us as we work to load everyone safely into their vehicle. It will get better!
Cross Timbers Elementary
Email: swynns@azleisd.net
Website: azleisd.net
Location: 831 Jackson Trail, Azle, TX, USA
Phone: 817-444-3801