Copper Creek Elementary
School Newsletter - Week of August 26 - 30, 2024
Schedule
*Items in BOLD are new*
August 27 - Parent Information Night teacher presentation (Cafeteria)
5:00 - Kindergarten
5:30 - 1st Grade
6:00 - Pre-Kindergarten
August 28 - Parent Information Night teacher presentation (Cafeteria)
5:00 - 2nd Grade
5:30 - 3rd Grade
August 29 - Parent Information Night teacher presentation (Cafeteria)
5:00 - 4th Grade
5:30 - 5th Grade
August 30 - National College Colors Day
September 2 - Staff and Student Holiday - no school
September 3 - Student Holiday ; Staff Professional Development - no school
September 9 - GRANDs Day Lunch
September 11 - Patriot Day (wear red, white, and blue!)
September 20 - Early Release @ 11:50
Announcements
Parent Information Nights - this week!
Don’t forget about our Parent Information Nights this week (see above for schedule). Parents are invited to attend a brief presentation about curriculum, procedures, and grade level information. Teachers and campus leadership will give helpful tips on what to expect during the school year and be available for questions immediately following the presentation. Students are welcome to attend; however, the intended audience is parents. A copy of each presentation will be messaged to parents in grade level newsletters for those unable to attend. Each presentation will be in the cafeteria; please enter through the cafeteria entrance on the southeast side of the school.
College Colors Day - Friday, August 30
Please join us in celebrating by wearing your favorite college shirt or college colors and show support of your future goals.
GRANDs Day Lunch - Monday, September 9
All GRANDs (Grandparents, Relatives, Aunts & Uncles, Neighbors, and Devoted Caregivers) are invited to join their student(s) for lunch on Monday, September 9th. Designated tables will be available for GRANDs to sit with their student(s). Other students will not be allowed to join families. Please provide a valid ID to the office to obtain a visitors' badge.
The lunch schedule will be slightly adjusted on Monday, September 9th to accommodate our guests. Details coming soon!
Patriot Day - Wednesday, September 11
Please join us in wearing red, white, and blue in honor of Patriot Day, Wednesday, September 11.
An Update From PTA
Join our PTA for $10 and help us make this year great for our students and staff! As a member, you are not required to physically volunteer, however we will have sign ups for volunteer opportunities soon if you're eager to help us out for events!
Scan the QR code below or visit JoinPTA.org to sign up!
PTA Spirit Store
Our Online Spirit Store is open August 13th-27th! We have a glitter and non-glitter gold design.
Order at https://stores.spiritworx.com/18170
Student Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Device Policy
Student cell phones and personal electronic devices are to be turned off and remain in student backpacks. Students may use their device after dismissal is complete. Bus riders are not permitted to access their device until they board the vehicle. Please see the EMS ISD Student Handbook for further details.
Are Smart Watches treated like Smart Phones? Yes, if they are capable of telecommunications, then they fall under the district policy. This includes Apple Watches.
If a Smart Watch is being used to monitor a health condition such as glucose, blood pressure (seizures or epilepsy) or heart monitoring then the student must have a health plan, or 504 plan, on file with the campus/nurse. Please contact Nurse Davis or Mr. Dodson if there is a documented health concern related to the device that needs to be considered.
Smart watches are expected to remain off and in student backpacks. We recognize that some of our students have worn smart watches daily; thus, teachers and staff will be providing reminders and opportunities this week for students to place their devices in the backpack; without consequence. Full implementation of the EMS ISD policy on Smart Watches, along with violation consequences, begins Wednesday, September 4th.
Thank you for your support as we strive to provide a learning environment free of distractions.
Arrival and Dismissal
Dismissal Times
Dismissal Times
2:40 - Pre-Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Siblings
2:50 - Car Riders
2:52 - Bus Riders
2:55 - Walkers, Bike Riders, Daycares, YMCA After-School Program
Walkers and Bike Riders - students are given 'free release' if a walker or bike rider. This means that we do not verify that a child is united with their parent/guardian before leaving campus. When making a family decision about your child's dismissal method, please consider his or hers readiness for a safe, independent walk home.
Change to your child(ren)'s dismissal method? Please call the front office
We know that there are times you will need to change your child(ren)'s dismissal method for the day. All transportation changes are documented through our front office. Please call our front office at 817-847-2940 to make this change.
Our teachers are focused on meeting the instructional needs of your child(ren) during the school day; email messages are typically returned after dismissal or the following day. Teachers will not be reviewing email messages for dismissal changes during the school day. Prior to dismissal, our front office provides notice of transportation changes to teachers.
To ensure the safety of our students, please make every attempt to report ride changes before 2:15 pm. If your child requires an early dismissal, please make every attempt to check them out before 2:15 pm.
Arrival and Dismissal
Please see below for our arrival and dismissal map.
Arrival
Doors are opened at 7:05. Students should not arrive before that time as there is no one to supervise them.
To expedite the arrival process, we have three drop-off locations. Parents will drop-off their children at the same location they will use for pick-up at dismissal.
Drive A (right side of school, yellow arrows in the map) - 2nd Grade – 5th Grade
- Lane 1 – This lane is located closest to the sidewalk. Students are to be dropped off in this lane. For safety purposes, we ask that all students exit on the passenger side of the vehicle. This will prevent students from having to exit the vehicle into moving traffic.
- Lane 2 – This lane is open for vehicles driving through the driveway. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to exit the vehicle in this lane during arrival.
Drive B (front of school, green arrows in the map) – Youngest Child in Kindergarten/1st Grade & Older Siblings
- Lane 1 – This lane is located closest to the sidewalk. Students are to be dropped off in this lane. For safety purposes, we ask that all students exit on the passenger side of the vehicle. This will prevent students from having to exit the vehicle into moving traffic.
- Lane 2 – This lane is open for vehicles driving through the driveway. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to exit the vehicle in this lane during arrival.
Drive C (left side of school by cafeteria, red arrows in the map) – Youngest Child in Pre-K & Older Siblings, Bus, & Day Care
- Parents may park in the Drive C parking lot and walk their child(ren) to Door 13.
- Lane 1 – This lane is located closest to the sidewalk. Students are dropped off in this lane. For safety purposes, we ask that all students exit on the passenger side of the vehicle. This will prevent students from having to exit the vehicle into moving traffic.
- Lane 2 – This lane is open for vehicles driving through the driveway. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to exit the vehicle in this lane during arrival.
Dismissal
Pre-kindergarten is dismissed at 2:40
Car riders at 2:50
Bus riders at 2:52
YMCA, daycares, walkers, and bike riders at 2:55
To expedite the dismissal process, we have three car rider pick-up locations. Please clip your child(ren)'s car rider tag to your vehicles sun visor or rear view mirror.
Drive A (right side of school, yellow areas in the map)
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Grade
- Two Lanes for Dismissal
Drive B (front of school, green arrows in the map)
- Kinder, 1st Grade, & Older Siblings
- Two Lanes for Dismissal
Drive C (left side of the school, red arrows in the map)
- Pre-K & Older Siblings
- Bus Riders
- Day Care Riders
Crosswalk and Vehicle Traffic
Walker Dismissal
Walkers will be led by teachers to the crosswalk at the front of our school. Parents: please allow our staff to walk the student line to this point before receiving your child. Thank you for your partnership and support of our campus safety procedures.
Bus Transportation
School Bus Information
Please visit the EMS ISD Transportation website for information to request service and find your child's bus route. Gold Star Transit is the provider of bus transportation for the school district. They can be reached at 817-306-0684.
Immunization Requirements
Back to School Immunizations
Please visit the links below to learn more about back to school immunization requirements.
School Supply Lists
School Supplies
If you ordered the EPI school supply pack through our PTA, it will be in the classroom waiting for you on Meet the Teacher Night. The Copper Creek School Supply Lists are available. When buying #2 pencils, go with Ticonderoga, they’re the best!
Child Nutrition and Free/Reduced Meals Info
Breakfast and Lunch
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Child Nutrition Department will use SchoolCafé as our provider for online meal payments and free/reduced lunch applications. SchoolCafé is a safe and secure way for parents to monitor student(s) account balance, view purchases and payments, and set up low balance email alerts. Register for a SchoolCafé account.
For more information, visit https://www.emsisd.com/Page/49117 or contact the Child Nutrition department at 817-232-0880.
Please note you may also still send cash/check with your student or drop off in the office if you do not want to pay online with the fee.
Paper copies of the free/reduced lunch application are available in our front office.
Below this message are two help guides. The first document is a general overview of the software; the second document provides step-by-step instructions to fill out a free/reduced lunch application.
Lunch Schedule
Pre-Kindergarten: 12:30 - 1:00
Kindergarten: 10:20 - 10:50
First Grade: 10:50 - 11:20
Second Grade: 12:15 - 12:45
Third Grade: 11:20 - 11:50
Fourth Grade: 11:50 - 12:20
Fifth Grade: 12:50 - 1:20
Specials Schedule / Teacher Conference Periods
Kindergarten: 12:50 - 1:45
First Grade: 1:45 - 2:40
Second Grade: 7:35 - 8:30
Third Grade: 8:35 - 9:30
Fourth Grade: 9:35 - 10:30
Fifth Grade: 10:35 - 11:30
Recess - Summer Weather Guidelines
As a LiiNK Campus, we follow specific weather guidelines for outdoor play. According to the National Weather Service and the CDC, it is safe for children to play outdoors for 20- minutes or less when temperatures and humidity factors combined result in a temperature of 103° F or less.
Kindergarten through 5th grade have a recess time that is 30 minutes long.
When temperature and humidity factors are in the YELLOW ZONE: 20 minutes of recess will be outside, 10 minutes will be indoors. When in the RED ZONE: all recess will be indoors.
Items to consider sending with your child:
Water bottles
Sunscreen (apply before school)
Hats
Sunglasses
Volunteer & Substitute
Want to spend the day with the best kids? Join us as a SUBSTITUTE!!!
If you have a passion for kids and are interested in serving as a substitute teacher or instructional aide, please see the link below for more information about how you can serve at Copper Creek.
Once you complete your EMS ISD required training please notify Mrs. Stutz at 817-847-2940 or rstutz@ems-isd.net.
We need YOU! - Volunteer @ Copper Creek!
Volunteering is a great way to be involved and make a difference for our students, staff, and community. Prior to volunteering, a background check must be completed. Please click the link below and follow the information provided. A background check must be completed annually.
Volunteer opportunities are available today! One of the best ways to help out is join us for Kindergarten lunch (10:20 - 10:50) and help students with their eating utensils and opening packages!
PTA
Join PTA
We hope everyone is soaking up the last bit of summer and enjoying time with family and friends!
Membership for the 2024/2025 Copper Creek PTA is now open!
Membership is $10 per person
Each member must renew every year.
Anyone can join! Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Friends, students, neighbors!!
We receive part of the Membership Dues to help us fund events like Boo Hoo/Yah Hoo breakfast, Grandparents Day, Trunk or Treat, Spring Carnival, Cowboy Cart, etc!
Sign up below with the link! And please send to family and friends!! All support is so appreciated!!
Please help us make this school year AMAZING for all of our kids and the Copper Creek Staff!
Watch D.O.G.S.
*Updates coming soon!
If you are interested in becoming a Watch DOG on our campus, please refer to the links below. Watch DOGS is an innovative program focusing on education and safety in schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures. The two main goals of this program are to provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence, that education is important and provide an extra set of eyes and ears to enhance school security and build relationships. All Watch DOGS need to complete the district volunteer application and background check.
YMCA After School Program
YMCA After School Program
EMS ISD elementary campuses offer after-school programs through a partnership with the Northwest YMCA. Available for children in grades K - 5, the programs provide a range of academic enrichment activities, snacks, crafts and more. Pre-K is available at select campuses.
Program Hours
Monday - Friday, school dismissal - 6 pm
Daily Schedule
Child check-in: school dismissal - 3 pm
Snack time: 3-3:30 pm
Wellness activity: 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Academic support: 4:15-4:45 pm
Enrichment activities: 4:45 - 5:30 pm
Group play and pick-up: 5:30 - 6 pm
Pricing
$75 member/$90 non-member
For more information, download this program flyer.
Contact Information:
Northwest YMCA
5315 Boat Club Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76135
817-237-7237
*The After School Program is administered by the NW YMCA. EMS ISD employees do not administer the program and are not responsible for the content of the program. If you have questions or concerns about the After School Program, please contact the YMCA.
Attendance
As we welcome students back to school, we want to stress the importance of being on time and present at school. State law requires students to be in attendance 90% of the days that school is in session. It is important that you contact the school when your child is absent. You may do this by emailing your child’s teacher or our registrar at dwyly@ems-isd.net. Please include the student’s first and last name and the reason for their absence in the message. If your child is out due to illness, doctor’s appointments, dentist appointments, etc. these absences may be excused with appropriate documentation. Please send a note from the doctor if appointments were the reason for absence. The state does not permit us to excuse absences for vacations. You may also refer to the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct regarding attendance for more guidance. Also, for note, the state of Texas requires us to file truancy as it is considered criminal negligence by a parent/guardian when a child fails to attend school and has 10 or more days of unexcused absences within a six-month period according to Texas Education Code 25.093.
Regardless of the reason for the absence, statistics show students who are chronically absent or tardy are far less likely to read proficiently on grade level. It is important that your student be at school on time consistently to receive the instruction needed to be successful. You can monitor your student’s attendance in Skyward Family Access. You will also receive automated emails when students hit set numbers of unexcused absences.
If you have any questions or concerns about attendance, please contact Mrs. Anderson, our Assistant Principal, or Mrs. Wyly, our Registrar.
Attendance Phone Calls
As a means of open communication and transparency in your child's education, we are now sending an automated phone call when your child receives an unexcused absence. This automated call will be made at 5:30 p.m. and will simply tell you that your child received an unexcused absence for the day. The system is set to make the call when an unexcused absence for that day is logged in Skyward. This is something we have done in the past, and we hope this will again be a tool to help keep you informed in your child's education.
Illness Policy
Illness Policy
Parents, please review the district's illness policy. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Nurse Davis. She does an amazing job keeping our students healthy and parents informed.
When your child is ill, please contact the school to let us know he or she will not be attending
that day. State rules require schools to exclude students with certain illnesses from school for certain periods of time. For example, if a child has a fever over 100 degrees, he or she must stay out of school until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications. Students with diarrheal illnesses must stay home until they are diarrhea-free without the use of diarrhea-suppressing medications for 24 hours.
A parent should contact the school nurse if a student has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
A full list of conditions for which the school must exclude children can be obtained from the
school nurse.
If a student becomes ill during the school day and the school nurse determines that the child
should go home, the nurse will contact the parent.
The district is required to report certain contagious (communicable) diseases or illnesses to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or our local/regional health authority. The school nurse can provide information from DSHS on these notifiable conditions.
The school nurse is available to answer any questions for parents who are concerned about whether or not their child should stay home.
Students should not return to school until they are fever-free for 24 hours without needing fever-reducing medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If your child tests positive for flu, strep, covid, etc. please call 817-847-2940, or email our nurse, Kristen Davis, at kdavis@ems-isd.net, for instructions about return to school protocol. Additional information is available at https://www.emsisd.com/Page/46907
Skyward Family Access - Gradebook and Attendance
What is Skyward Family Access?
Family Access is an informational resource made available to every family of the schools at no cost. This resource provides real-time information about your child's grades and attendance, class schedule, and demographic information. Family Access provides safe, secure and easy access to your child's school record. Please CLICK HERE for an overview of Skyward Family Access.
How do I sign up for Family Access?
Signing up for Family Access is easy! If you’re a parent to an existing child at CCES, you should already have an account created. Access the password reset process through the following link to have an automated reset email sent to your email on file: Password Reset Link. If you do not receive an email, please check your SPAM or JUNK folder to make sure it didn’t get sent there. If you do not have an updated email address on file or in the event you don’t receive a reset email, please contact our front office directly (817-847-2940) for assistance in verifying your email address and verifying your Family Access account is setup.
Please see the link below for more information!
Pro tip: You can set up an automated alert so you receive a notification any time a student receives a grade below a 70 or is missing an assignment.
Birthdays
Please do not bring balloons, flowers, or other party items to the school. You are welcome to bring outside party invitations to pass to your students' classmates as long as every child in the class receives an invitation.
PTA Birthday Gram
Order a Birthday Gram to be delivered to your student on their birthday!
The PTA will deliver a birthday surprise to your student on their birthday (or the next school day). Please return the order form to your student's teacher at least weeks before your student's birthday. If your student has a summer birthday, order for the beginning of the school year or end of the school year! The gift will include: a smencil, bracelet, bookmar, small treat, ribbon. The cost is $5 each.
Safety & Security Protocols
EMS ISD has adopted safety and security protocols from the I Love You Guys Foundation.
1. Standard Response Protocol for K-12 Schools - This protocol is based on five actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter.
2. Standard Reunification Method for K-12 Schools - This protocol outlines a reunification method for a school crisis or emergency.
All Copper Creek Elementary staff members were trained in both protocols during our in-service week. Students will be trained in the Standard Response Protocol throughout the school year.
If you would like more information about the I Love You Guys Foundation, please visit http://iloveuguys.org/index.html#home.
2024 - 2025 School Calendar
About Us
Doors Open at 7:05am
Website: http://www.emsisd.com/coppercreek
Location: 8801 Copper Meadow Drive, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Phone: 817-847-2940
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coppercreekcowboys/