Cougar Connection
April 2024
Square 1 Art Fundraiser
Hello Keith Families,
Coming home to you soon will be your child's custom catalog for the Square 1 Art fundraiser. Get a head start, and start ordering keepsakes and gifts featuring your child's art online NOW, if you like! NEW - *Ship to Home FREE. (*Customer pays a small $1.99 processing fee at checkout and order ships to home.)
Simply search for your child's art using Art Search, and enter state, school name, and your student's name. Your student's art and code will appear, and you may order!
Order by: 4/16/2024
Upload additional art if you like, using Art Upload!
If you have questions, or need anything at all, contact customer care online .
Thank you for supporting our school!
Shannon Vandebrake
Square 1 Art fundraiser coordinator
Keith Elementary
2024-2025 Pre-K and Kinder Pre-Registration coming soon!
If you have a student who will be entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year, registration will take place April 8-12 online. Please help spread the word about registration. Early registration helps us to know how many teachers should be allocated to teach kindergarten.
April's Family Calendar
Please note, April is a busy month! We have music programs, field trips, garden days, STAAR tests and Pre-K/Kinder registration just to name a few! Please make note of the events that affect you and your family!
MOD Pizza PTO Fundraiser
5th Grade Parents
Counselor’s Corner - April
Hello Keith Families,
We are looking forward to a busy month. April includes a solar eclipse, Field Days, and STAAR testing. It's definitely a full month, and we want to finish this year strong!
Keith School Counselors
Lisa Sudtelgte (Grades PK, 1, 3, 5) Lisa.Sudtelgte@cfisd.net 281-213-1750 X1
Jodi Evridge (Grades K, 2, 4) Jodi.Evridge@cfisd.net 281-213-1750 X2
Counselor Tips
It helps students to be focused, ready, and alert. However, some students have so much anxiety that they shut down and are not able to do their best. For individuals experiencing test anxiety, the following tips may be helpful.
Encourage your child to ask for help. Ask your child questions about how they are feeling. Also, help your child describe how they are feeling when they are anxious. Listen and validate their feelings. Encourage them to talk to their teachers or a school counselor about their anxiety. These people can help your child figure out some solutions.
Expect the best. Help your child understand that they have learned the material, which will help them do well on the test. They are prepared. Suggest they tell themselves, "I studied, and I'm ready to do my best."
Block bad thoughts. Watch out for any negative messages your child might be thinking. Negative examples include "I'm no good at taking tests" or "I'm going to freak out if I get a bad grade." These thoughts can make anxiety worse and make it harder for your child to do well on the test. Positive phrases your child can say instead are listed below.
"I am calm, focused, and ready to try my best."
"I have studied, and I am prepared."
"I am doing my best, and my best is terrific."
"When upset or stressed, I can take deep, calm breaths."
"I will remember to breathe deeply during my test."
"Breathing deeply brings more oxygen to my brain, which helps my brain think better."
"Being calm helps me remember more."
"I will have enough time."
Accept mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Help your child understand that it is okay to make mistakes, especially if they are prepared for the test and have set out to do their best.
Help your child to take good care of themselves. Your child will feel their best if they get enough playtime, sleep, and eat nutritious foods. This is always important, especially the day before a test.
Put tests in perspective. A test is only a snapshot of one day and does not define your child's knowledge or intelligence.
Teach and practice calming strategies. Help your child find what works to help them feel calm. Help them practice different strategies, such as deep breathing, visualizing their happy place, taking a drink of water, or tensing and relaxing different body parts.
Reflect on successes this year. Help them remember 2-3 times they have been successful this year.
Help them feel their best on test day. Praise and encourage them for their hard work and ability to do well on the test. Don't praise them for being "smart." Instead, focus on their effort.
Counselor Lessons
In April, guidance lessons will include topics such as test-taking anxiety and problem solving.
Gifted and Talented Information
Nominations for GT testing for this school year have closed. If your child was tested this year, results will be sent home in April with your student.
To find more information about the CFISD Gifted Program you may visit this link: https://www.cfisd.net/Domain/2373
If you have any additional questions about GT testing or the GT program please email Lisa.Sudtelgte@cfisd.net
Credit by Exam Information
Students in grades K-5 will have four opportunities during the school year to use “credit-by-exam” (CBE) to accelerate to the next grade level. Students will only have one opportunity to test for each grade level considered.
Students who earn 80% or better on each component of the credit-by-exam will qualify to advance one grade. Only one grade level may be “skipped” each year. No retests will be given.
If you are interested in getting more information about credit-by-exam, please contact Lisa.Sudtelgte@cfisd.net
Notes from the Registrar's Office
Excused Absences
Please remember to provide a note for the Attendance Office from a parent/guardian for each absence within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. This note is to include student’s full legal name, date(s) of the absence, reason for absence, and signature of parent/legal guardian. A doctor’s note can also be accepted and should include the student’s full legal name, date(s) of the absence, and signature.
Tardies
Students who arrive after the 8:45AM bell rings are tardy. Parents must come into the front office to sign their child in and the student will receive a tardy slip and be sent to class.
Are you moving this summer?
If you are moving to a new address this summer (whether down the street or across the country) please email keith@cfisd.net to let us know.
5th Graders Headed to Goodson for 6th Grade!
2024-2025 CFISD Calendar
Scooter found on the playground.
tina.emerson@cfisd.net for pickup
Scooter found on the playground.
tina.emerson@cfisd.net for pickup
Scooter found on the playground.
tina.emerson@cfisd.net for pickup
Do you need to register for School Cash? Please click the link below.
Keith Elementary
20550 Fairfield Green, Cypress, TX, USA
281-213-1744
https://www.facebook.com/KeithCougarsCFISD
X (formally Twitter) @CFISDKeith