Morton Ranch Elementary

Altitude Spirit Night Hosted by the MRE Parent Teacher Association

Need something to do with your family on Thursday night? Come out to Altitude Katy between 10am and 9pm on Thursday, September 19th. Don’t forget to mention MRE PTA when making your 2 hour jump pass purchase. ***Thirty percent of all proceeds are donated to MRE PTA.

Altitude Trampoline Park

24952 Katy Ranch Rd

Katy, TX 77494

REMINDER: Friday, September 20th is a Professional Learning Day in Katy ISD

Students will not have school on this day! See you on Monday!

Parent Conferences

A strong parent-teacher relationship can have many benefits for students, including improved academic success, better behavior, and greater social skills. Please make sure to schedule a time with your child's teacher to discuss their progress thus far in the school year.

School Fundraiser...begins soon!

Our school fundraiser is named BIG KAHUNA. Students will participate in a kick-off assembly on Wednesday afternoon. They will be PUMPED and ready to sell goodies! Please make sure to take a look when the information comes home after the assembly. We sold chocolate bars last year but we are switching up the items for this fundraiser. You won't want to miss out on these treats!

• Don't forget to order your pictures as the link will close in four days.
• Did your child miss picture day? No worries, we will have retakes on October 22nd.
• Students will also take group/class pictures on October 22nd.
• Don't forget to mark this date on your calendar so that your child is dressed appropriately for the photo.

Curating a love of reading is important to educators and families in Katy ISD. Campuses host book fairs to encourage the love of reading and build excitement around literacy. It is important for parents to assist their child in selecting books that garner student interest and engagement in reading.

Participation in the book fair is voluntary, and parents must opt in students to purchase books and other items included in the book fair.

• During Power School enrollment, parents had the opportunity to “opt in” to Book Fairs.
• Parents may choose to change their child's designation.
• This can be found on the “Partnering with Parents” link on the district website HERE.

• We will take orders through October 4th!
• Your student will be able to represent their "house" when we rally together!
• Orders will take approximately two weeks and will be delivered to your child's classroom.

Make an impact in your community! Donors who give blood in September will receive limited-edition Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center socks as a thank you for helping patients in local hospitals. Walk away knowing you've made a difference by donating blood!

Sign up link **APPOINTMENTS PREFERRED

Don't forget your ID and to drink plenty of water before and after donation!

If you have any questions, please call the clinic at (281) 234-0326.

Morton Ranch Elementary's Parent Teacher Association will host a "Build-A-Mav Experience" on November 7th. Although the event isn't until November, pre-order sales begin Wednesday. These 16 inch mascots were a huge HIT last year. You won't want to miss your chance to get your hands on one this year!

• Information will be sent home in your child's folder on Tuesday.
• Pre-Sale for the mascot begin Wednesday, September 18th and end on September 30th.
• All orders must be reserved in advance (no sales on the night of the event, November 7th)
• Students who have pre-ordered will be able to "build" their mascot during Title I Math Night on November 7th. For more information click here.

• Parents can pay $16.00 to sign their child up for the monthly popcorn club!
• The cost covers a monthly delivery for the 2024-2025 school year (September-May)
• Students receive a monthly delivery of popcorn to their classroom.
• Unique flavors such as kettle corn, blue raspberry and pink vanilla!

September 17th

Fall Pictures (Individual)

Order Pictures Here* (link will expire 4 days after picture day)

Child Absent? Retakes will be October 22nd

Wellness for Growth Begins (in the LGI)

10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

September 18th

Student Kick-Off Assemblies for Big Kahuna Fundraiser

Big Kahuna Fundraiser Begins

September 19th

• GT Parent Checklists Due (KINDER)
• 3rd Grade STEM Day at the SHAW CENTER

• Fundraiser at Altitude Trampoline Park (Organized by PTA) (10 am-9 pm) **30% of proceeds will be donated to MRE PTA.

Friday, September 20th

KATY ISD Campus Professional Learning Day

(NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)

Blood Drive at MRE in LGI

9:00-1:30

September 25th

World School Milk Day

September 26th & 27th

Book Fair Preview for Students

September 30th

Pre-Sale Ends for "Build-A-Maverick" Experience

PTA Sponsored

September 30th-October 4th

Fall Book Fair in Library

October 4th

Big Kahuna Fundraiser Ends

House Shirt Orders End

October 7th

Lunch Visitors May Begin for Pre-K and Kindergarten

October 11th

Volunteer Work Day in LGI 9:00-2:00

October 14th

Holiday for Students & Staff

October 16th

• Unity Day (Wear Orange)
• Coffee with the Counselors

October 17th

Spirit Night at La Machaka Tex-Mex

Hosted by PTA

October 18th

Kinder-Third Walk to MRHS for

Junie B. Jones Performance

October 22nd

Class Picture Day

Retakes (for Individual Pictures from Sept.17th)

October 25th

• 50th Day of School
• GT Parent Checklist Due for Grades 1-4
• Evening : Trunk Or Treat (Sponsored by PTA)

October 31st

During School Hours: Book Character Parade INDOORS

(Students may dress up + bring book to match costume)

November 1st

PTA SILENT AUCTION ENDS

Campus Professional Learning Day

No School for Students

November 4th

60th Day of School

November 7th

MATH Title I Night for Students & Families

Build-A-Mav Experience during Title I Night

November 15th

Volunteer Work Day in LGI

As we continue our exciting school year, we want to remind everyone of our dress code guidelines to ensure a respectful and focused learning environment. Please make sure that students wear clothing that is appropriate for school activities, with no distracting graphics or slogans. No "crop tops" or very short dresses or shorts. For safety reasons, footwear should be closed-toe and secure.

Let’s work together to help our children dress comfortably and appropriately, allowing them to concentrate on their studies and enjoy their time at school.

*Junior High/High School require ID at all times.

Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

Love and Logic Parenting Classes will be offered at multiple campuses during the Fall semester of 2024. Professional Learning website.

In accordance with Texas Education Code 28.004 and Senate Bill 9, elementary students in 5th

grade will receive instruction from elementary school counselors on the required health TEKS specific to abuse and violence prevention.

Under Texas statute, parents must choose to “opt-in” their child to participate in the lessons that

address abuse and violence prevention.

Beginning September 2nd through September 30th , parents may elect to opt-in their child to participate in the lessons by logging in to MyKaty and selecting the KISD Option Portal icon.

Below is the opt-in window as well as the time frame when lessons will be taught:

Parent Opt-In Window: September 2nd – September 30th

Log in to MyKaty and select the icon KISD Option Portal

Instruction Window: November 2nd – December 20th

All lessons are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and meet the

requirements that are mandated by the state. Click here to review the elementary guidance lessons.

This content is intended to initiate conversations between you and your child about the physical,

emotional, and social changes that occur during adolescence.

In addition, awareness and education on abuse and violence are key to prevention and intervention. It is a priority for Katy ISD to partner with our families and community to create a safety net for our students.

MRE counselors play a critical role in promoting students' overall well-being by addressing their academic, personal, and social needs. Their primary role is to help students develop positive attitudes and behaviors, cope with challenges, and succeed academically. They collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to create a supportive and inclusive school environment. Counselors also provide appropriate referrals to outside resources when necessary. They also organize workshops and programs to address issues such as bullying and mental health. Overall, the MRE counselors advocate for students and work to ensure their success and well-being.

Karen Perez (Grades PK-2) *Bilingual*

281-234-0331

Ashley Warren (Grades 3-5)

281-234-0442

Click here to learn more about the Counseling Program at MRE.

As part of the Title III Initiatives, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is offering a parent engagement

event for parents of emergent bilingual (EB) and immigrant students in grades PK-12.

This parent outreach and training provides parents with the skills, activities and training needed to improve their English language skills and become more active participants in their child’s education. The engagement event details are as follows:

ALWAYS bring your physical driver’s license or passport with you when you come to school. We are video monitored by the Katy ISD Police Department to make sure we are checking identification for each person that enters the school to ensure the safety of your child and our staff. Therefore, we are unable to let you into the school without proper identification.

Our cafeteria doors open for breakfast at 7:30 AM. and our front entrance doors open at 7:50 AM. We’ve found that having “All Mavs in by 8:10 AM” has been a great help in making sure they are in class ready to learn prior to 8:10 AM. Please have your child ready to exit the car when you are in position to unload. Your child is encouraged to exit on his/her own, if capable. If your child is not in the building by the time the tardy bell rings (8:10 AM), he/she will be sent to the front office for a tardy slip.

Our morning car rider line ends at 8:10 AM. If you arrive at the school after 8:10 AM, please drive to the front of the school, park, and walk your student(s) into the front office doors for parent check-in and a tardy slip.

Likewise, in the afternoon, please be on time to pick up your child. Our afternoon car rider line ends at 3:45 PM. If you arrive at the school after 3:45 PM, please drive to the front of the school, park, and walk into the front office doors for student check-out. Please bring your car rider tag and/or a form of identification with you.

The teachers and staff are off contract at 3:45; therefore, we do not have anyone to stay late for those children who are not picked up on time.

Please make sure your child’s name is on all coats, jackets, backpacks, and lunch boxes. These items will be donated at designated times throughout the school year if not picked up.

If you plan to check out your child early, please do so prior to 2:30 p.m. but after 9:35 am. (This would be considered an early checkout for attendance purposes.) Our schools are funded based on many factors, one important factor being attendance. It is always in the child’s best interest to be in school a full day, but we know that is not always possible. If you need to check your child out for a doctor’s appointment, dentist, etc. towards the end of the school day, it must be done before 2:30 p.m.

Changes of Transportation can be (1) e-mailed to the front office with a copy of the parent or guardian’s driver’s license to MRECOT@katyisd.org (2) hand-written in the front office. Change of transportation requests must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. on regular days and 11:30 a.m. on early dismissal days.

Please report absences online when your child is absent on our Morton Ranch Elementary website under the Absence Reporting link. You may also call our front office on (281) 234-0300. Teachers are busy teaching our Mavericks and therefore not able to relay your phone or email message to the attendance clerk.

We understand emailing the teacher is the easiest form of communication. However, it is not acceptable for changes in transportation, reported absences, or early checkouts. You can always email the teacher a “heads up”, but please know that the teacher doesn’t always have time to check email/Dojo/voice messages before or during class.

Plan ahead for rainy/cold weather by sending jackets and umbrellas. (Please write your child’s name on all jackets and sweaters). Children who are bikers/walkers may want to keep a rain poncho in their backpacks. If your child is a biker/walker and there is a chance of bad weather, please make it easy on yourself by submitting the online change of transportation with your child, making him/her a bus or car rider.

You may choose to notify the teacher of changes of transportation.

However, you MUST notify the front office following the directions on the flyer below.

• This option is to facilitate changes in case of last minute needs.

• Children thrive on routines and systems put into place for them to follow daily.

• Creating too many changes can be confusing for any child.

• Please consider this when making changes of transportation.

If you have any questions, please call the front office 281-234-0300.

The vision shared by these Maverick-Educators has always been focused on three things: Strong Relationships, Authentic Experiences for Children, and a Quest for Lifelong Learning instilled within each and every Maverick. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

Website: https://www.katyisd.org/campus/MRE/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 2502 North Mason Road, Katy, TX, USA
Phone: 281-234-0330
Twitter (X): @MREMavs