The Texan Star September 22nd
Prairie Trail Elementary School Newsletter
Service Saturday - TOMORROW
Join us for our first Service Saturday of the year! EVERYONE is welcome, but 4th and 5th grade families are especially encouraged to attend this one! This is a great opportunity to come together and show the kiddos how we can all give back to our Prairie Trail community!
We’ll be meeting in the covered pavilion in the courtyard behind the school. Feel free to bring rakes, work gloves & anything else you think may be useful as we work to clean up the school yard and make it a safe, beautiful space for all our students and community members. See you there!
FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Bring the whole family and join us on September 26th @ 6:00pm in the Prairie Trail cafeteria for an evening of FUN & GAMES!
We’ll be playing LA LOTERÍA with our very special guest game caller: Señor Saucedo!
Featuring popcorn, prizes & more!!! This is a family event you won’t want to miss!
Kindness isn't just one week a year!
Need some ideas to keep the kind acts going? Check out the Random Acts of Kindness Calendar below. One kind act can change someone's day!
PICTURE RETAKES, MONDAY, SEPT. 25
Monday, September 25th is Picture Retake Day! If you order pictures and did not like the way they turned out, you can send the pictures back with your child on or before September 25th to have retakes done. If you enrolled at Prairie Trail after the first picture day (August 17th), you will also have your picture taken. AND if you were absent on the first picture day, you will also have your picture made on Monday. These will also be the pictures used in our yearbook.
You can order pictures at mylifetouch.com and enter the Picture Day ID: EVTFG2V39
Don't hesitate to call the office if you have questions, 469-713-5980.
LISD DRESSED TO LEARN COAT DRIVE
Winter is coming and LISD students will need coats!
Dressed to Learn is working with LISD Counseling to make sure they have coats for students who need them. Their goal is to deliver the coats in late-October and they need your help!
• Donate a gently used or new coat — they need boys and girls sizes 4/5-6/7-8/9-10/11 and men's & women's sizes S-M-L-XL. Coats should have a hood, a warm liner and be waterproof or water resistant.
• Don’t have any coats on hand? No problem! You can also donate via Square so that Dress to Learn can purchase a coat to keep a student toasty warm this winter: https://checkout.square.site/buy/BRAGAFFQTRPK4SD3Q5PDEPTI
• PLEASE DROP OFF IN THE BOXES IN THE FRONT LOBBY BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH & we will get them over to LISD Dressed to Learn. :)
Together we can make sure every child in LISD stays warm this Winter!
PTA Corner
FEED THE MONSTER! CANDY DONATIONS NEEDED!
Are you as excited for Trunk or Treat (Thursday, October 26th, 6-7:30pm) as WE are??? Help us make sure we have enough candy AND non-candy donations to make one of our favorite annual events a success!
The CANDY MONSTER will be just inside the front doors beginning on Monday, 10/2, just waiting for your CANDY DONATIONS! Send in a bag (or more!) of candy or fun non-candy items and help us feed this hungry beast!
Want to donate non-candy & nut-free items so we can make Trunk or Treat a FUN & SAFE event for all of our friends? You can send items directly to Prairie Trail through our Amazon list here!
WALK & BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH
Join us as we WALK, BIKE & ROLL to school together on Wednesday, October 4th!
Why walk or bike? This annual event promotes walking and bicycling for sooo many reasons!
● Physical activity is good for everyone!
● Teaches safe pedestrian & bicycling skills to kids
● Promotes awareness of how walkable/bikeable our community can be
● Reduces traffic congestion, pollution & speed near schools
● Promotes time spent together with community leaders, parents & children
AWESOME TIMES SPIRIT NIGHT UPDATE
WAY TO GO PRAIRIE TRAIL! We asked and you really SHOWED UP! Our Awesome Times Spirit Night 💵RAISED $300💵 for the 5th grade field trip!
Check out the graphic above for a sweet note from the founder/owner of Awesome Times. We know the wait times were a little bit long, but that’s okay because everyone had SUCH a great time! And we all know what it’s like to have “one of those days” when a printer goes out, a car breaks down, your keys go missing, or something unexpected happens and you have to adapt and make the best of it, and that’s just what they did. The owners are Awesome Times are SUCH great people & the food is delicious, so show ‘em a little love the next time you’re deciding where to take the crew for dinner! 💛
FOURTH GRADE GIVES BACK
Fourth Grade! This is your time to shine! Each month we’re asking one or two grades to be good citizens and give back to the Prairie Trail community. For the month of October, we’re asking 4th grade to help.
What can you do? There are 3 different ways you can help your Prairie Trail community this month:
1) Snack Drive: October 2nd-6th. Help us restock the snack pantry by bringing in snacks like individually wrapped bags of pretzels, goldfish, applesauce pouches, nutrigrain bars, nut-free granola bars or raisins/craisins. You can also shop directly from the snack wishlist at https://tinyurl.com/snack4th and select “Prairie Trail Elementary” to have it shipped directly
2) LISD Coat Drive: Help us make sure every child in LISD has a coat to wear this Winter. Bring a new or gently used coat to school to donate to the LISD PTA Dressed to Learn Coat Drive & drop it off in the bins in the front lobby by Tuesday, October 10th.
3) Chick Fil’A Spirit Night (Tuesday, October 10th): Head on over to Chick Fil’A and join the whole school for a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner (or all 3 meals?) benefiting everyone at Prairie Trail.
WATCH D.O.G.S.
Dad, Papá, Baba, Grandpa, Uncle, Papaw, Father, Abuelo, Daddy…whatever name the special kiddo in your life may call you, Prairie Trail NEEDS YOU!!!
Did you miss the kickoff event? No worries! You can still be a part of the Watch D.O.G.S.
How do you get started?
- Make sure you have an updated Background Check Volunteer / Home
- Background Checks have to be done every year.
- Read through the slide deck from last night's event: Linked HERE!
- Don't forget the Safety and Security slides: Linked HERE!
- Optional - Order a shirt https://shop.dadsofgreatstudents.com/shop-all/
***Need more info? Please email Matthew Kulik watchdogs@prairietrailpta.org or Amber Bearden, VP of Volunteers volunteers@prairietrailpta.org.
VOLUNTEERS
✋🙋🏽♀️🙋♀️HELP WANTED🙋🏻♂️🙋🏾♂️✋: We have two volunteer opportunities for the months of September & October and we would LOVE to see your smiling faces! Click the links below to learn more and sign up to volunteer. We can’t wait to see you! :)
📚📚September LIBRARY HELPERS📚📚
🔖🔖September COPY ROOM HELPERS🔖🔖
📚📚October LIBRARY HELPERS📚📚
🔖🔖October COPY ROOM HELPERS🔖🔖
PTA MEMBERSHIP CONTEST - LAST WEEK
Only ONE WEEK LEFT in our EPIC PTA membership showdown with Timber Creek Elementary and we’re currently in the lead! If we triumph, their principal wears our spirit shirt for the day! Plus, a PJ day for the WHOLE school!
But did you hear about the GRADE LEVEL COMPETITION??? The class with the highest participation in EACH grade WINS a DONUT PARTY!!!
Join us for THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE to sign up a GRANDPARENT or COMMUNITY MEMBER as a PTA member. The cost of dues is poured back into the programming and resources that directly benefit (or spoil…wink wink grandparents) each student at Prairie Trail. The more that join, the more we can do.
Don’t delay, join TODAY! Click HERE to join online! Let's make PTE proud! Spread the word, invite friends, and let's win this together!
GLOW Party! PTA Reflections Program
NATIONAL PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM: INSPIRING CREATIVITY
PTA Reflections has been a staple arts program in many schools for 50 years. Through the efforts of Local PTAs, millions of students have found a creative outlet in the areas of dance, choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts.
This year’s theme is “I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE…”
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- Click HERE to view a short video & more information about the program.
- Encourage your child to express their creativity by creating an original work of art related to the theme in any of the 6 categories.
- Submit your child’s art HERE by Monday, October 16 (artwork can also be emailed to artsineducation@prairietrailpta.org or turned in to their teacher along with the completed form)
PRIZES! RECOGNITION!
- Top class from each grade with the most participation will be rewarded.
- Advancing students and top classes recognized at daily announcements/assemblies.
- Showcase of entries in the library display case and on social media.
PTA Membership Award
Thanks to the amazing support so far, Prairie Trail PTA was awarded the Head Start award in August for jump starting the year with 75% or more of last year’s total membership. Way to go PTE Texans!
Common Sense Media Tip
Need a trusted review of a book, movie, tv show, game, or app your child is interested in getting? Check out the Common Sense Media Website for up to date information. "Review what your kids are into before they get into it! Trusted ratings created with families in mind."
For more information visit: commonsensemedia.org
For ALL the latest info & more upcoming events, hop on over to our PTA WEBSITE at www.prairietrailpta.org. 🌐👀
Follow us on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM for daily updates, fun content, photos & more!
Recognize Someone
September Menus
2023-2024 LISD Calendar
School Schedule
September
- 23rd - 1st Service Saturday 8:00-10:00 am (NEW DATE)
- 25th-Oct. 2nd - 21 Day Challenge Sign-up
- 26th - Family Game Night - 6:00-7:00 pm
October
- 4th - Walk/Ride Bike to School Day
- 4th - Marcus Homecoming Carnival - Free event lots of activities for K-5th children
- 6th - End of 9-weeks and Early Release (11:45), No Lunch visitors
- 9th - School Holiday
- 12th - 5th Grade PTA Performance 6:30 pm
- 18th - Unity Day - Wear orange - "United together against Bullying"
- 19th - Fire Safety Program: K-2 - 8:00-8:30 am and 3-5 - 9:00-9:30 am
- 23rd-27th - Red Ribbon and Stuff the Pantry Week
- 23rd - Be Kind to your mind..Live drug free- wear kindness shirt
- 24th - Lei Off drugs- Wear your Hawaiian/Floral Shirt and a Lei
- 24th - 4-5 - Opera Program (during the school day)
- 25th - Peace Out Drugs… Wear a Tye dye T-shirt
- 26th - Turn Your Back on Drugs… Wear your clothes backwards
- 26th - Trunk or Treat
- 27th - Celebrate Your Dreams- Wear PJs
- 27th - Progress Reports
- 27th - First Penny Friday
Big PTE Events
***Dates subject to change.
- October 4th - Walk/Ride Bike to School Day
- October 23rd-27th - Red Ribbon Week & LISD Stuff the Pantry
- October 27th - Trunk or Treat
- November 6th-10th - Book Fair
- November 9th - Family Fitness Night
- November 10th - Veterans Day Celebration
- November 13th-17th - College and Career Week
- December 8th - Jingle Bell Jog
- December 14th - Holiday Parties
- February 14th - Friendship (Valentine's Day) Parties
- February 27th - Talent Show
- March 7th - Open House
- April 12th - Spring Fest
- April 17th - Reading and Writing STAAR (3rd-5th grades)
- April 18th - Spring Picture Day (Individual and Class)
- April 24th - Science STAAR (5th grade)
- May 2nd - Math STAAR (3rd-5th grades)
- May 16th - Field Day
- May 22nd - 5th Grade Celebration
- May 23rd - Last Day of School
2023-2024 STAAR Paper by Request:
House Bill 1225 provides a new optional process for school districts to provide a paper administration of a STAAR assessment to any student whose parent, guardian, or teacher requests a paper version. A request for a paper administration of the spring STAAR 3-8 or STAAR EOC must be submitted by December 1, 2023, and will be considered on a first come, first serve basis. The number of students who are provided a Paper by Request administration of STAAR may not exceed 3% of the number of eligible students testing.
If you would like to request a paper spring STAAR 3-8 or spring STAAR EOC for your student for the spring STAAR administration(s), please complete this form by 4 PM on December 1, 2023. Requests will be processed in the order in which they were received. Applicants will be notified of status by 4 PM on December 14, 2023.
If you have any questions, please contact the LISD Assessment department at 972-350-4757.
2023-2024 STAAR en papel por solicitud:
El Proyecto de Ley 1225 establece un nuevo proceso opcional para que los distritos escolares ofrezcan una administración en papel de una evaluación STAAR a cualquier estudiante cuyo padre, tutor o profesor solicite una versión en papel. Una solicitud para la administración en papel de la STAAR de primavera 3-8 o STAAR EOC debe ser presentada antes del 1 de diciembre de 2023 y será considerada por orden de llegada. El número de estudiantes que reciban la administración de STAAR en papel por solicitud no puede exceder el 3% del número de estudiantes elegibles para la prueba.
Si desea solicitar una STAAR de primavera 3-8 en papel o una STAAR EOC de primavera para su estudiante para las administraciones de STAAR de primavera, complete este formulario antes de las 4 PM del 1 de diciembre de 2023. Las solicitudes se procesarán en el orden en que fueron recibidas. Los solicitantes serán notificados sobre el estado de su solicitud antes de las 4 PM del 14 de diciembre de 2023.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con el departamento de evaluación de LISD al 972-350-4757.