Negley Navigator News

Email: melody.crowther@hayscisd.net
Website: https://www.hayscisd.net/Domain/17
Location: 5940 McNaughton, Kyle, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 268-8501
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NegleyElementarySchool/

The mission at Negley Elementary is for students, teachers, and parents to work together to build a foundation of respectful leaders, lifelong learners, and problem solvers.

Ahoy Navigator Parents!

Isn't this cooler weather delightful? I love that it is cool in the morning and then warm in the afternoon. Speaking of which, our lost and found is filling up! Please be sure to put your child's name in their sweaters, jackets, and hoodies! Lunchboxes and water bottles too! If there is a name, we can return the item to your child. Otherwise - it sits in the lost and found - very lonely. If you notice your child is missing something, please ask them to check lost and found!

Huge Security Concern! We have noticed that we are having an incredibly large amount of students who are being dropped off or showing up at the school early - either the front doors or the car rider doors as early as 6:20 am. Parents - this is not safe! Our staff does not begin their work day until 7:00 am - when the doors open. This is not safe for a variety of reasons:

1. Lack of Supervision:

Without staff present, students are unsupervised, leaving them vulnerable to accidents, injuries, or unsafe behavior.

2. Stranger Danger:

Early arrivals could encounter unauthorized individuals or strangers near the campus, posing a potential security risk.

3. Traffic and Parking Hazards:

Early drop-offs may increase congestion in the parking lot or streets, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and vehicles.

4. Exposure to Environmental Risks:

Students waiting outside may face harsh weather conditions, such as extreme heat, cold, or rain, which could harm their well-being.

5. Opportunity for Misbehavior:

Unsupervised students might engage in unsafe activities, such as running into traffic, rough play, or conflicts with peers.

The only students who are allowed in as faculty members come in are Safety Patrol or House Leaders.

Please do not drop your students off and leave them unsupervised before the school is open.

Our Thanksgiving lunch is Monday during your child's lunch time - please check the times below as some lunch times have changed!

One more week of learning before we have Thanksgiving Break!

Thank you for sharing your sweet little ones with us!

Mrs. Crowther

Negley Elementary is preparing for Career Day, one of our favorite events of the year. Career Day is great for elementary kids because it shows them early in their academic careers the importance and purposefulness of their learning. During Career Day, people from the community are invited to share their jobs and their passions with students. They provide a link to the real world, some hands-on experience, and concrete examples of how and what the students are learning in school as it relates to educational and occupational opportunities. This opportunity invites students to learn about college and career readiness without even knowing it. We want your help in making Career Day a success.

Career Day will be held on December 4th for PK, Kinder, 1st grade, and 2nd grade (starting at 7:45 AM) and December 5th for 3rd grade (starting at 12:45), 4th grade (starting at 8:40), and 5th grade (starting at 9:40). Students will rotate from classroom to classroom engaging with presenters. We encourage presenters to bring props and visual presentations, and to distribute anything they wish from their employment. The more hands-on demonstrations, the more the students will be involved. Each presentation length is fifteen minutes. Each presenter will present approximately six times.

We hope you will join us for this event. If you are interested but aren’t sure how to “organize” your presentation or what to do to make it interesting, give us a call. We are happy to help you with some planning and ideas! Please email if you are interested. We look forward to working with you!!!

Katie Taylor Katie.Taylor@hayscisd.net

512-268-8501

https://fb.watch/vUqSZ--82Z/

Here are Ms. Crowther's words to Dr. Wright about why Ms. Castaneda should receive the Coin of Excellence:

Ms. Castaneda is more than just a dedicated teacher - she is a cornerstone of our school community. In addition to her excellent instruction in the classroom, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that our campus runs smoothly. Whether it's identifying tasks that need to be done, or rallying others to help, she is always looking for ways to make a positive impact. Her commitment to our students extends beyond academics; she is deeply involved in supporting their social-emotional well-being. As a member of the district's Diversity Council, she helps foster an inclusive and supportive environment for all. A past recipient of the Negley Teacher of the Year award, Ms. Castaneda is a role model for students and staff alike, always radiating positivity and lending her smile to every challenge she faces. She absolutely exemplifies what the Coin of Excellence is all about.

Our cafeteria will be offering Thanksgiving Lunch for our families on November 18, during your child's ADJUSTED lunch schedule. See the schedule below.

Be sure to pre-register and receive your Visitor's Badge before the day of the event. It will be very crowded! You will need to present your driver's license, and any other guests who would like to attend, to the front desk. Early registration will begin Wednesday, November 13.

Here is the adjusted lunch schedule:

PK: 10:00 - 10:30

K: 10:15 - 10:45

2: 11:00 - 11:30

1: 11:15 - 11:45

3: 12:00 - 12:30

4: 12:15 - 12:45

5: 1:00 - 1:30

Revtrack is open for Thanksgiving Tickets. Here is the link. Tickets that are purchased for the wrong day or campus will not be honored.

https://hayscisd.revtrak.net/Catering-Services/#/v/Child-Nutrition-Catering-Services-Payment-237

• If anyone would like to purchase a meal the day of, adults will have to go through the same line as the children.
• We will have the separate line set up for guests who purchased tickets beforehand. The food is the exact same as the food in the cafeteria.

Negley Spirit Wear sale by popular demand has been extended! Get your Negley Swag ordered! We've added long sleeve T-shirt options!

Shout "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Half Birthday" to your kiddo on the brand new marquee? Birthday marquee sign is on sale NOW on the PTA website.

https://www.negleyelementarypta.com/store.html

PTA Contact:
NegleyPTA@gmail.com

PTA Text Announcements:

Text - PTA to 833-531-0029

Follow Us on Social Media for Updates and Announcements

Facebook @Negley Elementary PTA

Instagram @NegleyPTA

Hello awesome Navigator Families,

As we get ready to head into Thanksgiving break, the library is filled with fun and festive activities to get everyone in the holiday spirit! Here's what we have planned for the week:

Storytime: Balloons Over Broadway

This year, we're reading Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet. This beautifully illustrated book tells the fascinating story of Tony Sarg, the man behind the famous balloons at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s a perfect way to kick off the holiday season and learn about the magic of parades!

Before the story, we’ll watch a short video clip of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's always fun to see those giant balloons come to life, and this year, we’ll be able to connect what we learned in the book with the real parade!

Grades 3-5 will have a chance to participate in a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade craft.

We hope to see all of our library friends this week for some fun and creative activities.

Birthday Book forms went home!

Today we passed out December's birthday book club flyers as well as June's Birthday Book club flyers. Why, you ask? June is the half birthday, and we want to make sure that everybody has their opportunity.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and happy reading!

Amy Horn, Library Media Specialist

Our House Host for this month is Integritas! See the flyer below for our philanthropy project.

This Month's Philanthropy Project is called: Negley Nourishes Neighbors! We will be collecting food for the Food Bank.

Students will earn House Points for each item but the overall grade with the highest donated food items will earn EXTRA RECESS time!!!

Parents - we will be doing 9 days before winter break. We will have themed dress up days. Your child may participate in as many or as few of these as you want! We wanted to give you a heads up so you can be looking for items in your stash for these dress up days!

Hey Negley! Yearbooks will be on sale through February 21st for $30, then the price will increase to $35 for the remainder of the year.

Here's the link to order:

https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09801715

And the QR code to Jostens storefront:

H-E-B is now accepting applications for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, which awards cash prizes to educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and their communities. (The schools also receive a matching grant.)

All state-certified public school educators currently teaching in Texas, as well as Texas early childhood education centers/schools, are eligible to apply before December 2, 2024 at heblovesteachers.com/apply/.

Please check the calendar often as it will be updated on a weekly basis.

---------------------------------------------

NOVEMBER:

18: Thanksgiving Lunch - see info above

22: House Assembly - Wear your House shirt!

25-29: Thanksgiving Holiday - NO SCHOOL

--------------------------------------------------

DECEMBER

4: PK - 2nd grade Career Day

5: 3rd-5th grade Career Day

12: Hays Holiday Bus at Negley from 6:00 am - 7:30 am

19: End of the 9 weeks grading period

20: Student Holiday/Staff workday

21-31: Winter Break

------------------------------------------------------

JANUARY

1-5: Winter Break

6: Staff work day/ Student holiday

7: Students return to school

9: 2nd 9 weeks House winner party

13: Report cards go out

20: Student/Staff Holiday - MLK Day

Daily and timely attendance is important for your child's success. Being present in school helps students thrive and become the best versions of themselves. We encourage you to plan vacations, trips, and appointments during off-school times whenever possible. Your support in this helps us create a strong learning environment for all our students.

Hello parents!

Our next SEPAC meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2024 from 6:00-7:30 PM at the Academic Support Center (ASC). The ASC is located at 21003 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Kyle, TX 78640. We will meet in the mall area of the building located on the first floor behind the stairwell.

This month we will provide the opportunity for a Make ‘n Take session. We will have the resources available for you to create materials such as visuals, task boards, reward charts and other helpful items for you to use in your home. We hope to see you!

¡Hola, padres!

Nuestra próxima reunión de SEPAC está programada para el 19 de noviembre de 2024 de 6:00 a 7:30 PM en el Centro de Apoyo Académico (ASC). El ASC está ubicado en 21003 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Kyle, TX 78640. Nos reuniremos en el área del centro, ubicado en el primer piso detrás de la escalera.

Este mes brindaremos la oportunidad de una sesión Make ‘n Take. Tendremos los recursos disponibles para que usted cree materiales como elementos visuales, tableros de tareas, cuadros de recompensas y otros elementos útiles para que los use en su hogar. ¡Esperamos verlo!

Thank you,

Michelle Velasquez
Hays CISD
Executive Officer of Special Education
512-268-2141 ext 46902

Parents/grandparents that want to come in and help teachers/volunteer in the classroom/workroom, MUST go to the Hays website to have a background check run and become a registered VIP Volunteer. You will also need this if you want to chaperone a field trip in the future.

Here’s the link!

https://hays.ezcommunicator.net/edu/hays/ezcomm/VolunteerRegistration.aspx?app=0

We will let you know if your child needs a new badge.

https://hayscisd.revtrak.net/campuses-and-instruction/es/negley-elementary/#/v/NES-Student-Badge-Replacement-1817

$5.00 to replace a House Lanyard or Bus Badge

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUqRdQDe4X_uVwCeck7MWrt-ke_TAemWT4txgsxQg-g/edit?usp=sharing

Parents - thank you for being more mindful as you are driving your child to school! Let's keep it up. Hopefully, this is the one last item to address: PLEASE SLOW DOWN (SLOWER THAN THE 20 MPH LIMIT) WHEN APPROACHING A CROSSWALK! KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE CROSSING GUARD! Ms. Taylor was almost hit by a van as she was in the crosswalk this week! Mr. Vanatter has also had close calls in the past.

We understand that student drop off is" a pain" due to the amount of traffic and the small neighborhood roads we all drive to get to Negley. Rushing through or being impatient is not going to help the reality of the situation, only hinder it. Honking at the cars in front of you will not make the traffic go faster. Cursing or giving the "South Austin salute" is not going to get you there any faster and you've just ruined someone's day. My guess is that it really doesn't make you feel any better either.

Ms. Taylor and Mr. Vanatter, our amazing crossing guards, are providing a service for our campus - one that is CRITICAL for our Negley students in getting to school safely. They are paid a very small salary and they STAY because they LOVE our Negley families! Please be KIND to them, and keep them safe too by driving slowly through the school zone.

Many of our Negley drivers do a fantastic job of being safe on a daily basis. You know who you are. Please keep it up! We see you and you are appreciated.

So let's be nice to each other. We are all in the same BOAT together as we NAVIGATE the traffic around Negley. WE can do better - our children deserve it!

We've had several close calls involving cars and pedestrians over the past few weeks. I'd like to take a moment to remind our parents and guardians about the importance of safe driving especially in our school zone. The safety of our students is our top priority, and we need your help to ensure that everyone can arrive and leave school safely each day.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind when driving near the school:

1. Slow Down : Observe the speed limit in the school zone, especially during drop-off and pick-up times.

2. No Phones: Avoid using mobile phones while driving. Keeping your attention on the road ensures that both pedestrians and other drivers are safe.

3. Crosswalks: Always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, and be patient with students and crossing guards helping children cross the street. BE KIND to our crossing guards! Their job is to keep our students safe.

4. Don't Jaywalk! Yes, jaywalking is illegal in Texas:

• Definition

  Jaywalking is crossing the street outside of a designated crosswalk or where you are not supposed to cross.

• Penalties

  A jaywalking citation in Texas can cost up to $200, and you may also be required to perform community service if you're crossing a highway.

• Exceptions

  There are some exceptions to the jaywalking law, such as in emergency situations, or if you're directing traffic or working in a construction zone.

• Right-of-way

  Pedestrians only have the right-of-way when crossing at a pedestrian crossing.

• Pedestrian safety

  Pedestrians should always prioritize safety, and some tips include using crosswalks, waiting for the walk signal, and looking both ways before crossing.

Pedestrians who are hit while jaywalking are likely to be found at fault for the accident. However, Texas has a modified comparative negligence system, so you may still be able to receive compensation if you can prove the driver shares some responsibility.

5. Parking: Only park in designated areas. The front lot is closed from 7:00 - 7:30 am. Once it opens, please enter SLOWLY and watch for students who are crossing the office crosswalk.

6. Follow School Staff Directions: Our staff is present to manage the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of our students. Please respect and follow their directions.

7. Plan for Extra Time: Give yourself plenty of time during drop-off and pick-up. Rushed driving can lead to dangerous situations. If your child is already tardy, they will not get there any sooner if you are speeding through the circle drive.

We encourage all parents to talk to their child about pedestrian safety and being aware of their surroundings while crossing streets or walking near traffic. By working together, we can make our school zone a safer place for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to safety.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we continue to prioritize the safety of our students, staff, and families, we would like to remind everyone of the importance of adhering to safety guidelines, especially when operating golf carts in and around school zones.

With many families choosing golf carts as a convenient means of transportation, it is essential that we all work together to ensure the safety of everyone in our school community.

Please take note of the following safety reminders:

1. Observe Speed Limits: School zones have strict speed limits, and this applies to golf carts as well. Please drive slowly and cautiously at all times.

2. Yield to Pedestrians: Students and staff may be crossing the road or walking near school entrances. Always stop for pedestrians and be prepared for sudden stops.

3. Proper Licensing and Age Requirements: Ensure that the driver of the golf cart is properly licensed and meets the legal age requirements for operating a golf cart. No underage driving is permitted. In Texas, you must be at least 16 years old and have completed a golf cart safety course to drive a street-legal golf cart.

4. Stay on Approved Roads and Paths: Golf carts should only be driven on roads and paths that are designated for their use. Please avoid driving on sidewalks, grass, or any areas that are not approved for golf cart traffic. Our "golf cart zone" is the road beside Rocking Horse. You may park along the road and have your child exit onto the sidewalk and then cross at the crosswalk, or you may pull up to the other side of the crosswalk and have your child exit onto the sidewalk by the garden gate. Golf carts should not park in the grass on the school building side of this area. Golf carts may only enter the circle drive area after 7:30 am to drop off a student who is tardy.

5. Stay Vigilant and Minimize Distractions: Like any vehicle, it is important to stay focused while operating a golf cart. Avoid distractions such as cell phone use, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Our shared responsibility is to keep the school environment safe for everyone, and by following these simple guidelines, we can help prevent accidents and injuries. Thank you for being respectful to our school employees who are working these areas to keep our families safe. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to safety.

Parents must purchase a new one for $5.00. Preferably on Revtrak on the Negley website, or $5.00 cash. This is for House Lanyard Badges AND Bus SmartTags. Teachers will be contacting you if your child needs a new badge.

Here is the link if needed:

https://hayscisd.revtrak.net/campuses-and-instruction/es/negley-elementary/#/v/NES-Student-Badge-Replacement-1817

If you arrive after 3:15, please come to the front office to pick up your child.

Please remember that ANYTIME you come to school to join your child (other than just dropping off your child at the beginning of the day) you MUST check in at the front office and get your Raptor sticker. To receive a sticker, you must present a photo ID regardless if this is your first time or thousandth time to check in to the school. This is for student safety and for us to know who is on our campus at all times. Thank you for being nice to the front office staff as they enforce this safety measure.

This does not apply to evening activities - just the school day.

https://www.hayscisd.net/Page/16541

Click here for the student dress code in English and Spanish.

From our Student Services Director, Brian Dawson:

We are seeing students bring their toy weapons to school. Specifically, toy guns and lasers. They have not used them as a threat toward anyone. However, these items can cause fear with the current time we are living in.

A replica of a weapon, such as a toy gun, is not a weapon. However, a student can receive both campus consequences for bringing the item(s) to campus, on a bus, or a school-sponsored event. If the item is thought to be or represented as a real weapon, a student could go to our District Alternative Education Program.

In our student code of conduct, it states:

Possession of Prohibited Items

Students shall not possess or use:

• Fireworks of any kind, smoke or stink bombs, or any other pyrotechnic device;
• A razor, box cutter, chain, or any other object used in a way that threatens or inflicts bodily injury to another person;
• A “look-alike” weapon that is intended to be used as a weapon or could reasonably be perceived as a weapon;
• An air gun or BB gun;
• Ammunition;
• A hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown;
• A firearm silencer or suppressor;
• A location-restricted knife;
• A club;
• A firearm;
• A firearm silencer or suppressor;
• A stun gun;
• Knuckles;
• A pocket knife or any other small knife;
• Mace or pepper spray;
• Pornographic material;
• Tobacco products, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and any component, part, or accessory for an e-cigarette device (HB 114 requires mandatory placement in a DAEP for any offenses related to e-cigarettes);
• Matches or a lighter;
• A laser pointer, unless it is for an approved use; or
• Any articles not generally considered to be weapons, including school supplies, when the principal or designee determines that a danger exists.