The Texan Star September 16, 2024
Prairie Trail Elementary School Newsletter
Last Day for Fundraiser Orders Wednesday, September 18, 2024!
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this year's fundraiser! It is very much appreciated.
The last day to turn in orders is Wednesday, September 18th!
If you have any questions, you can reach out to our campus secretary, Judith Munoz at MunozfloresJ@lisd.net.
Thank you again!
Mrs. Vaughn
Kindness Week Sept. 16-20
Monday, September 16 - Shine Bright with Kindness:
Start the week off BRIGHT by wearing bright or neon colors!
Tuesday, September 17 - Kindness is a Superpower:
Show off the power of kindness by dressing as your favorite superhero!
Wednesday, September 18 - Be Kind. No Cap.:
No lie, it's cool to be kind! Wear your favorite hat and lead with kindness.
Thursday, September 19 - I'm on Team Kindness:
Rock your favorite team's jersey or colors and celebrate being on Team Kindness!
Friday, September 20 - Be Someone's Sunshine:
Brighten someone's day and wear your Kindness shirt, or any shade of red, orange or yellow!
Hey Dads and Father Figures! 🎉
Looking to make a difference in your child's school experience while having a blast? Join the PT Padres—our awesome squad of dads dedicated to creating the best educational environment for our kids! 🚀
Our big kickoff event is coming up on Thursday, September 19th at 6:30 pm! We’ll be grilling hot dogs at the school by the playground, hanging out, and sharing all the fun ways you can get involved with PT Padres. 🌭🔥 Bring the kiddos along because they’re invited, too!
Haven’t RSVP’d yet? It’s not too late! Let us know you’re coming and use the following link to secure your spot (and your hot dog)! 🌭 https://tinyurl.com/PTPadresRSVP
Email padres@prairietrailpta.org with any questions!
Class PIcture Day, Monday, September 23rd!
Class PIctures are EARLY this year! Instead of waiting until second semester, we have scheduled class pictures for Monday, September 23rd.
It will also be picture RETAKE day. If you did not like your child's picture, your child was absent, or your child wasn't enrolled yet for the first day of pictures, your child will have their picture redone on Monday, September 23rd.
What is Destination Imagination?
It’s that time of year again when we begin Destination Imagination. Destination Imagination is a program that encourages the use of the creative process to create unique solutions to different challenges. Please the above flyer regarding a parent virtual information meeting taking place this Thursday, September 19th. You can use the zoom link to access the meeting. If you need additional information about DI, HERE is the link to the main DI website and HERE is the link to our LISD DI website. You can also reach out to Kelly Roden directly at RodenKL@lisd.net.
Recognize Someone!
Recognize Someone submissions are open again! Would you like to recognize a staff member at Prairie Trail or LISD, click here to type a quick note. It will be printed on a nice post card and delivered to that staff member. It is free for you, but worth so much!! :)
After School Paid Student Experiences
We have THREE different paid programs being offered this year.
- Mondays - K-5th grades - Dynasty Dance Academy
- Tuesdays - 3rd-5th grades - Wize Robotics and Coding Club
- Wednesdays - K-2nd grades - Wize Robotics and Coding Club
- Fridays - K-5th grades - Sports Club
See below with specific information and how to register.
Important Dates
September
- 2nd - No School - Labor Day Holiday
- 4th-18th - School Fundraiser
- 11th - Marcus Homecoming Carnival & Pep Rally (FREE Family Event for entire Community)
- 16th-20th - Kindness Week
- 19th - PT Padres Kick-off (formerly Watch DOGS) - 6:30 pm
- 23rd - 21-Day Challenge Sign-ups begin
- 23rd - Picture Retakes
- 26th - PTA Family Game Night 6:00-7:00 pm
- 30th - 21-Day Challenge Begins
- 30th - Stuff the Pantry Begins (new time this year)
PTA Corner
Copy room and library volunteer spots are open! Whether it's one day or several, we’d love to have you. Flexible shifts make it easy to fit into your schedule. Click the links below to learn more and sign up!
Copy Room Helpers - September 2024
PTA Membership Drive Update!
The latest numbers are in, and the competition is heating up! Check out the graphic to see which teachers are leading each grade. Head to https://prairietrailpta.membershiptoolkit.com/membershipchallenge to see the full details on where each teacher stands and how close their class is to reaching 100% participation.
🎉 What's at stake?
● Top Class in Each Grade: Teacher gets a classroom gift card, and the students get donuts!
● 100% Participation: Any class with full membership will enjoy a popcorn party!
● Top Grade Overall: Earns an extra recess led by the PT Padres!
PLUS: 🏆 We’re currently at 477 memberships – only 23 more before Mrs. Vaughn has to spend a night on the school roof! We are getting so close! (And I’m hearing through the grapevine there may just be a new level unlocked with a fun school-wide incentive if we get past 500 memberships!) 🌟
Parents, if you've already signed up, remember your child and their siblings can also join to boost their class’s numbers!
Visit https://prairietrailpta.membershiptoolkit.com/join by September 30th to join and help your class win! (Don’t forget to select your child’s teacher so they can get credit!)
🎉 Family Game Night: Uno Tournament Edition! 🎉
Ready for some family fun? Join us for an exciting Uno tournament on September 26th!
🍿 Popcorn for everyone and 🎁 prizes for the top 4 players will keep the competition fierce and the fun going all night long. Once the tournament begins, no new players can join. But don’t worry! A free play area will be open to all eliminated and non-tournament players for nonstop fun. Families can even bring their favorite board game or card game to share in the free play area.
📅 Date: September 26th
⏰ Time: Cafeteria doors open at 5:30 PM, and game play starts at 6:00 PM sharp!
We’ll also have $2 pizza slices from 5:30-6 to help with dinner! It’ll be first come, first served but RSVP here so we can get an estimate on how much pizza to order: https://tinyurl.com/PTEGameNightPizza
You can check out the game play rules here ahead of the tournament so you’ll be ready to play.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable night of fun with family and friends. Let the games begin!
Box Tops for Education
Giving back to the school is easier than ever when you link your Box Tops and Walmart accounts!
Connect your accounts and you can help us earn Box Tops every time you purchase a participating product, WITHOUT having to scan or submit a receipt! And for a limited time, we will also get bonus Box Tops through 8/31 for every new connected account. That's $5 per account!
The more families that connect, the more we'll earn:
● 1 new connected account = $5
● 5 new connected accounts = $25
● 20 new connected accounts = $100!!
Scan the QR code above to download the Box Tops app and input referral code LFU67ALT to earn PTE an extra $2.50!
Head to the Box Tops website to see how easy it is to link your accounts: https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/how-to-earn/walmart-connected-accounts
PTA Membership Drive! JOIN Today!
Our PTA membership drive is in full swing, and we need YOU to make this year the best yet! We had such amazing support from our families last year. Can we do it again this year?
We will have fun prizes for our kids and their teachers!
Popcorn Party for each class with 100% participation!
Donuts for the top class in each grade PLUS a special gift card for their amazing teacher!
Extra Recess for the top grade, led by our incredible PT Padres!
Ultimate Challenge: If we reach 500 memberships, our very own Mrs. Vaughn will spend the night on the roof!
Sign up tonight at Meet the Teacher or skip the line and sign up online now! Just make sure to select your child's teacher so their classroom can get full credit. Scan the QR code or just head over to https://prairietrailpta.membershiptoolkit.com/join
Let’s come together, support our school, and make Prairie Trail shine!
🍕 Save the date: Pizza Night for Prairie Trail! 🍕
Join us for a Prairie Trail Spirit Night at Heavenly Crust Pizza on Tuesday, September 17th from 5-9 PM! Mention Prairie Trail Spirit Night when you place your order, and 20% of your purchase will be donated to support Prairie Trail Elementary. In-store pick-up or home delivery only - no dine-in service available. Let's come together and enjoy some delicious pizza while supporting our school! 🍕❤️
PTA Reflections Submissions!
Only one more month before Reflections entries are due!
Please watch the video below to learn more about Reflections and meet one of our Reflections winners from last year!
The deadline for submissions is October 15th. For complete rules and regulations, follow this link for English and this link for Spanish, or go to the Prairie Trail PTA Website. Submit your entries here or email them to artsineducation@prairietrailpta.org.
Call for Judges! If you know anyone who works in the Reflections Arts categories (dance teacher, photographer, someone who works at a news station, etc.) and they would be willing to act as one of our judges, please email artsineducation@prairietrailpta.org for more information.
Lewisville ISD's volunteer site, VOLY, is up and ready for the new school year. If you plan to volunteer on campus at any point in the 2024-2025 school year, please either create a VOLY account or renew your account from last year. LISD's VOLY site is Lewisvilleisd.voly.org. There is also a VOLY app you can use, found in the app store for your phone provider.
Remember that our VOLY site allows for the site to be translated to your family's home language. Look for the language drop down button at the top of the page.
Questions? Reach out to Partnerships@Lisd.net and we will be happy to assist.
For all the latest information, upcoming events, and more, join us in our Facebook group, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and check out our PTA website!
Tardies
Getting to school on time is important. This is a life skill your child will need the rest of their lives. Putting good practices in place now will impact your children as they get older.
The tardy bell rings at 7:45 am. Your child needs to be in their classroom, in their seat at 7:45 am in order to be counted on time.
Cutting down on tardies is a goal. We have some fun incentives for the students who are getting here on time everyday. We also have some consequences for students and families who are struggling in this area.
We are sending warning emails and phone calls to families with 3 and 4 tardies. After the 5th tardy, parents will be asked to attend an Attendance Matters parent meeting.
After the 6th tardy, parents will start signing their child(ren) in every morning between 7:15-7:30 am for 21 days. It takes 21 days to break a habit and make a new one.
We want to work with you to ensure that your child does not lose credit because of excessive tardies. Our school nurse, counselor, attendance clerk, teachers, and administrators will work with you as necessary to address specific needs and family situations.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this letter or your child’s attendance, please call Monica Saucedo, Attendance Clerk, for assistance at 469-713-5980 or email her at prairietrailattendance@lisd.net.
Attendance Matters
When your child is absent be sure you are sending a doctor's note or a parent note so it will be excused. You can take a picture of the note or type a quick email if there isn't a doctor's note to Monica Saucedo at prairietrailattendance@lisd.net. This MUST be done within 3 days after the absent.
There are no longer pre-arranged absences in LISD. After the absence, you will need to be sure to send a parent note.
Each child can be absent up to 10 times with parent and/or doctor's notes. It is NOT recommended that you use all 10. Children do better in school when they are at school.
We are already seeing an uptick with students with fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. There are no additional protocols for COVID any more. We are to treat it like any other illness.
What does that mean?
Students must be fever free, vomit free, and diarrhea free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school with improving symptoms regardless of what the illness is.
For more information about Attendance and Absences: https://www.lisd.net/Page/22254
Common Sense Media Tip
5 Tips for Managing Media Devices for Kids Age 3 to 10
Wondering how much screen time is too much for kids age 3 to 8? Check out these five easy tips that can help you support your child's healthy development and make the best choices for your family. For more information visit: commonsensemedia.org
😋September Breakfast and Lunch Menus😋
Here are the menus for September:
Add Money to your Child's Lunch Account!
We have several students with outstanding cafeteria accounts. Please check to make sure your child does not owe any money. RevTrack Link
If you would like to donate to the Angel account, please see the link below. This goes to help those who might need a little extra help.
https://lewisville.revtrak.net/r6#/v/ptes-angel-lunch-account-donation
2024-2025 LISD Calendar
Check out dates for the 2024-2025 school year at this LINK.
Lunch, Recess, and Specials Schedule
Lunch Visitors Starts Monday, September 9th
Starting Monday, Sept. 9th we will welcome lunch visitors.
In order to eat lunch with your child, be sure to arrive at least 5-10 minutes before their schedule lunch time so you can park and get a visitors badge. The school schedule is linked on every newsletter at the bottom of the page, but listed below since this is the first week. Everyone must have a state issued identification card or a passport to sign-in. Some days are busier than others, so plan ahead and be here on time. We love to have you visit for lunch, but we recommend you limit your visits to no more than once a week. Lunch time is valuable time for students to learn communication skills in an unstructured environment with peers. We also ask that when you do come, try out some of our conversation starters and put the electronics away.
Remember at the end of last year we had to remove the majority of the tables around the library due to fire safety regulations from the fire marshall. There are four tables in the main hallway that will be available on a first come first serve basis. All other visitors will sit in the cafe at tables lining the walls around the outside of the student tables.
Can't wait to see you at Café PTE!
2024-2025 Lunch Schedule:
Kinder - 10:15-10:45
1st Grade - 10:50-11:20
2nd Grade - 11:30-12:00
3rd Grade - 12:30-1:00
4th Grade - 12:00-12:30
5th Grade - 1:00-1:30
Marcus Marquette Mini Dance Camp
Marcus Marquette Mini Dance Camp happening on Saturday, October 12th.
See the flyer for more information.
Order Your Yearbooks!
Yearbooks are now on sale for $28. Order yours today before the price goes up.
Stay Connected with us!
Email: prairietrail@lisd.net
Website: lisd.net/prairietrail
Location: 5555 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound, TX, USA
Phone: (469)713-5980
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prairietrailes
X (Twitter): @PrairieTrailES