TeSA

TeSA Families,

We had a great first week of school! The first week was all about learning procedures and routines, and our students have now been to all five Fine Arts/P.E. rotations, experienced some very humid recesses, and gotten to know their new classmates. This week, our teachers will be diving into the curriculum and starting beginning of the year testing to gather data and make informed decisions of how to best meet each child's needs.

Hopefully, your child has also told you about being a TeSA STAR. We're using the acronym STAR in a variety of ways this year to help reinforce our behavior expectations. Our theme is "Shoot for the Stars" and we are encouraging our students to be:

Self-Aware

Teachable

Artistic

Responsible

Thank you for talking with your child about how you exhibit these qualities at home!

Artistically & Academically Yours,

Betsy Compton, M.A., M.A.T., M.Ed.

Principal

We are using Remind to help us connect with our TeSA Families. If you did not automatically receive this Monday Message through the Remind system, or you'd like to add additional family members, you may join your child's grade-level group by texting the following code(s) to 81010.

K = @a427c4kgaa

1st = @cd9g9dhgeh

2nd = @ha8g8c38d4

3rd = @b6fhcg264f

4th = @ed63kad238

5th = @hfae672chd

Click HERE to learn more about the Remind platform. Click HERE to download the optional Remind App.

Arrival and dismissal went better and faster each day last week. We still have a few safety issues we need to correct immediately for the safety of everyone at TeSA. Thank you for providing this information to anyone who may be dropping off or picking up your child.

Arrival

*Parents should only enter the building if going directly to the front office.

*Parents must go through the driveline or park in the front & walk their child to the side door.

*Driveline is one way only In the morning. We only use the outside lane.

*Students must exit the passenger side of the vehicle.

*Students need to be ready to exit the car immediately after stopping.

*Students are welcome to get out of the vehicle on their own. Our staff is there to help those who need it.

Dismissal

*K-1st will begin exiting the building at 3:30.

*2nd-5th (& younger siblings) will begin exiting at 3:45.

*A car sign needs to be visible from turning into the lot until your child is in the vehicle. A pants hanger is strongly recommended for easy access. (This is both how we help direct traffic coming in AND know your child is with you and that you can be directed out).

*Vehicles may not cut in front of others or change lanes.

*Students must enter the car on the passenger side.

*Vehicles should move forward as soon as possible. Extra time for buckling can be taken on the white lines past the dismissal area.

Breakfast is ready when our doors open at 7:30. We recommend all students eating breakfast walk in right at 7:30. The breakfast line will close at 7:55 and any remaining students will be asked to leave the cafeteria at 7:59 to arrive in their classroom at 8:00.

We want all of our families to be well informed and understand everything we are doing to keep our students, staff, and visitors safe on campus. Let us know if you still have questions after reading these documents on our website.

Read the latest TCA+A update for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Read the TCA+A Health & Safety Plan to understand our school procedures.

Visit our COVID-19 Information Center for up-to-date statistics.

Even though it's hot outside, some of our students are chilly in their classrooms. Only TeSA sweaters, jackets, or sweatshirts may be worn in the building. Any other outerwear may only be worn during arrival, recess, and dismissal. If your child does not have any TeSA outerwear, please purchase the cardigan sweater through Flynn O'Hara and all other items through the Spirt Shop, or shop all items for a discounted price on the PTO Resale Facebook Page.

The Spirit Shop for purchasing NEW Dance/P.E. uniforms and spirit shirts is ONLY open through Wednesday, August 25th! Click HERE to order!

Items will be shipped to the school early/mid September and will be sent home with students. Items will NOT be shipped to individual homes. New students may wear their own dance/athletic wear until orders arrive.

All 1st-5th grade students must wear the required Dance/P.E. uniform. Items may be purchased through this sale or through the TeSA Uniform Resale Facebook Page.

TeSA

· Child Nutrition Assistant (part-time)

· ESSER Instructional Aide

· Substitute Teacher

FWAFA

· Elementary Counselor & 504 Coordinator

· Secondary French Teacher (part-time)

· ESSER Instructional Aide

· Cafeteria Aide (casual part-time)

· School Bus Driver (part-time, as needed)

· Production & Operations Assistant

Thank you to everyone who has taken care of this form already. We are still missing this from about 50 families.

The 2021-2022 TeSA Student Handbook is available on the website. After viewing the handbook, parents must click HERE to acknowledge accessibility and understanding.

As we enter the 2021-2022 school year, we want to bring Senate Bill 1697 to your attention, which was recently passed by the 87th Texas Legislature. This bill gives parents the ability to decide if they would like a child to repeat a course (secondary students) or an entire grade level (elementary students) based on their child’s particular circumstances.

This consideration is of particular significance to those families who had an eligible kindergartener for the 2020-2021 school year, but did not enroll them, or believe their child’s kindergarten experience was not sufficient. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has offered this helpful resource for those parents who may be considering Restarting Kindergarten.

Senate Bill 1697 also creates an avenue for families with older children, who believe their child would benefit from repeating an entire grade level or a single course. Please refer to TEA’s guidance on Repeating a Grade/Course.

These decisions must be made as soon as possible, and families must inform Ms. Kiera Wallace, kiera.wallace@mytesa.org, in writing by September 3, 2021. This ensures that we will be able to properly discuss with each student’s family whether the student should be retained in a grade. We may need to convene a Retention Committee including the following individuals:

• The Principal (or designee),
• The student’s parent or guardian,
• The teacher who taught the grade for which the parent wants the student to be retained,
• And any additional teachers (at the discretion of the Principal)

Finally, for students in grade 4 and above, this retention option exists only for the 2021-2022 school year. For students from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 3, the retention option is permanent.

It is our intent to collaborate and work with families who have these concerns, so we can ensure their children receive the best education possible, especially in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19. You will find more information on Senate Bill 1697 at Senate Bill 1697 FAQ.

Please feel free to reach out to Ms. Kiera Wallace, kiera.wallace@mytesa.org, should you have any further questions about this process.

Follow these steps to ensure you are on our list and your child's class is getting 100% participation! Each class with 100% parent participation by September 10th will receive a popsicle party, and the grade that completes 100% first will receive a cookie party!

JOIN PTO!
Step 1: Click HERE to join.

Step 2: Pay the $10 membership fee ($15 per family with 2 adults)

Payment Methods: Cash or Check Made to TeSA PTO,
PayPal: tesa.family.pto@gmail.com
Zelle: 817-732-8372
CashApp: $tesapto
Venmo: @tesapto

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?
Step 3:
Fill out the background check form HERE. Return it to the school office with a color copy of your drivers license. (They can make a copy at the school if needed and can also notarize this for you.) This must be done if you want to help at the school for any reason or go on field trips!!!!!

STILL WANT TO DO MORE?
Step 4: Join the team! To talk about Open Positions, please email: SilveyFamily4@gmail.com

TeSA LOVES our volunteers! We'd like to give a huge shout out to our PTO parents helping with morning and afternoon dismissal this week. All parents are invited to volunteer as fits best. We can use help before, during, and after school. We can also create "take-home packets" for parents to cut, staple, fold, sort, etc., at home in the evenings. Fill out the Volunteer Application if you'd like to help on campus and reach out to see how you can help!

Arrival/Dismissal Help = broadwaysteph13@aol.com

Office Support = belinda.johnson@mytesa.org

Classroom Support = Your Child's Classroom Teacher

registration/enrollment = tammy.smith@mytesa.org

testing/curriculum = julie.murray@mytesa.org

counseling/special services = kiera.wallace@mytesa.org

medical forms/shot records = edna.robinson@mytesa.org

2021-2022 Health Plan = anika.perkins@mytesa.org

PTO membership/events = broadwaysteph13@aol.com

anything else = betsy.compton@mytesa.org

Click HERE to read past Monday Messages.

Email: betsy.compton@mytesa.org
Website: artsacademics.org
Location: 6025 Village Parkway, Edgecliff Village, TX, USA
Phone: 817-732-8372
Facebook: facebook.com/texasschoolofthearts