Flight Plan

Dear Adkins Families,

Happy New Year! We hope your winter break was filled with joy, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. As we step into this new semester, we are excited to continue partnering with you to support the academic and social growth of all our students.

January will serve as a soft landing after our wonderful winter break, giving everyone time to transition back into our school routines. During this time, our focus will be on reteaching classroom expectations, setting new learning goals, and laying the foundation for deeper levels of learning.

Together, let’s make this semester one of growth, discovery, and success for every student. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to all the great things we will accomplish as a school community.

Warm regards,

Dedra Adams and Katie Vaughan

We are thrilled to share that our very own Assistant Principal, Katie Vaughan, has earned her Doctorate in Education! This incredible achievement is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and passion for learning.

Dr. Vaughan worked tirelessly to earn this degree while balancing her commitment to supporting our staff, students, and her family. We are so honored to have such an inspiring leader on our campus, and we know her expertise will continue to enrich our school community.

Next time you see her, don’t hesitate to congratulate her—and feel free to call her by her well-deserved new title: Doctor Vaughan!

A Historic Achievement for Our School!

We are delighted to announce that Mrs. Sarah Overstreet has become our very first National Board Certified Teacher!

Earning this prestigious certification is no small feat—it reflects Mrs. Overstreet’s tireless dedication to her craft and her unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching.

Over the past two years, Mrs. Overstreet worked diligently to meet the rigorous criteria set by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This process required her to demonstrate deep expertise in her subject area, analyze her teaching practices, and showcase the positive impact of her work on student learning. Achieving National Board Certification is considered the gold standard for educators and signifies a commitment to the highest level of professional growth and teaching excellence.

Having a Nationally Board Certified Teacher on our campus is both impressive and an incredible honor. Mrs. Overstreet’s achievement sets a high standard for all of us, and we couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishment.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Overstreet on this outstanding milestone!

A Warm Welcome to Our New Counselor, Mrs. Jennifer Duncan!

We are excited to introduce Mrs. Jennifer Duncan as our new campus counselor! While we are sad to bid farewell to Mrs. Alvarado, who has decided to retire after an incredible 30 years in education, we also want to take this opportunity to celebrate her lasting legacy. Mrs. Alvarado’s love, support, and guidance created a safe and nurturing environment that has made Adkins a special place for so many. Her impact on our campus will always be cherished.

As we say goodbye to Mrs. Alvarado, we are thrilled to welcome a familiar face in her place. Mrs. Duncan has been an integral part of the Adkins community for years, first serving as our very first PTA president and later as a 4th-grade teacher. Over the past year and a half, she has been studying and completing her counseling internship under Mrs. Alvarado’s mentorship, preparing for this important role.

Mrs. Duncan brings a deep understanding of our school community, a heart full of compassion, and incredible passion for supporting students and families. Her strengths are a perfect match for Adkins Elementary, and we are confident she will carry on the tradition of care and excellence established by Mrs. Alvarado.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Mrs. Duncan and in celebrating the remarkable career of Mrs. Alvarado!

As we settle back into our routines, we’d like to remind everyone of our morning arrival procedures to ensure a smooth and positive start to the day.

We have two drop-off locations available for your convenience:

1. Front of the School
2. Cafeteria Entrance – If your child can hop out of the car independently, we encourage you to use this location to help streamline the process.

Please remember, students are considered tardy if they are not in their seats and ready for learning by 7:40 a.m. To avoid a last-minute rush, consider arriving early – the drop-off line moves much quicker earlier in the morning, ensuring your child arrives at school ready and prepared for the day ahead.

We also encourage you to work with your students to establish a consistent morning routine that helps your family start the day on a positive note. Preparing the night before, setting a regular wake-up time, and leaving home early can make mornings much less stressful for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to making mornings successful for all. Let’s start this semester strong together!

At Adkins Elementary, we believe that regular attendance is essential for your child's academic success and personal growth. Every school day counts, as consistent attendance helps build good habits and ensures students are actively engaged in learning.

That said, we also understand that there are times when children may need to stay home due to illness. If your child is absent, please remember to upload a parent or medical excuse note through our Adkins website. This helps us keep accurate records and ensures your child’s absences are appropriately documented.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child's education. Together, we can help our students achieve their best!

If you have any questions about attendance policies or need assistance with uploading an excuse note, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office.

With colder weather upon us, we’d like to remind everyone to label all cold-weather garments with your child’s name. This includes jackets, coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. Adding a name inside these items helps us quickly return them to their owners if they are misplaced.

We work hard to reunite students with their belongings, but any unclaimed items in our Lost and Found will be donated at the end of February. To prevent loss, please check that all clothing your child wears to school is labeled clearly.

Thank you for helping us keep our students warm, organized, and ready for the day!

The Morris Brothers are coming to Adkins Elementary on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 8:45 AM for a fun filled, anti-bullying packed assembly sponsored by the Adkins Elementary PTA. The assembly will be in the cafeteria.

This assembly is a 55-minute-high energy live concert that includes original music, social-emotional learning strategies and audience role playing geared to age of attending audience. The Morris Brothers share the importance of self-confidence, having great character, being a superhero bystander showing kindness, empathy, and acceptance of others. They also explore different types of bullying, cyberbullying, and leadership skills. The curriculum was developed by licensed counselors and teachers using research-based strategies.

The following link has a demo video of the anti-bullying assembly. https://themorrisbrothers.com/anti-bullying-school-assemblies/.

As we step into 2025, we are excited to focus on the core value of collaboration for the months of January and February. At Adkins, we are committed to fostering an environment where students not only thrive academically but also grow as thoughtful, cooperative individuals.

Collaboration is a vital skill that empowers students to listen, share ideas, solve problems together, and appreciate the strengths that diversity brings to a group. Throughout these two months, teachers and staff will emphasize lessons, activities, and discussions that highlight the importance of teamwork and collective success.

We encourage you to join us in this mission by promoting collaboration at home. Engage your child in activities like group decision-making, family projects, or teamwork-focused games that reinforce these skills in their everyday lives.

Together, let’s inspire our students to understand that when we work together, we can achieve amazing things. Thank you for your continued partnership in shaping a collaborative and inclusive school community.

Our next Awards Ceremony will be on Thursday, February 13th.

Parents will be notified of students who will be receiving the monthly characteristic award and the learn, connect, serve award. It will be a secret for our sudents ~ but those tparents will be invited to our awards assembly to celebrate their students.

Chess Club resumes for a second semester. Chess Wizards is a program run by a master guest teacher and offers challenging lessons, fun group activities, and exciting tournaments. Students range from Kinder to 5th, from beginners to haven’t beat Mrs. Whipple yet, LOL!

The club meets in Mrs. Whipple’s classroom, from 3:15-4:15 pm on Wednesdays (1/5, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/26, 3/5, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, and 4/16).

The cost is $250. Registration is online, https://chesswizards.com/register/ and select location (Texas, Lantana, Dorothy P. Adkins Elementary School, 76226). Questions? Ask Mrs. Whipple kwhipple@dentonisd.org

At Adkins our vision is to Learn, Connect and Serve each day. These qualities were shaped after our namesake, Dorothy P. Adkins who was a lifelong learner who strived to make deep connections with each and every person while serving her community and beyond.

As educators we are always in the learning cycle and we take part in a learning lab each month. We wanted to offer our parents and families an opportunity to learn as well. In these section each month we will add in an article, video or link to a great website that might bring you something new!

This month we are bringing you a few articles from one of our most used positive behavior supports, Love and Logic.

The Subtle Power of Questions

Dear Families,

Denton ISD will provide engagement for students on the upcoming early release day, January 17th, 2025, from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm for elementary children. The Extended School Day program will coordinate with each campus to provide engaging activities for students while teachers are participating in Professional Learning Communities. In addition, Denton ISD transportation will be provided at both the early release time (12:00pm) and the regular release time (3:00 pm) for all eligible elementary bus students.

If you indicate on the form that your child will ride the bus, please notify the ESD office 24 hours prior to the Early Release Day if there has been a change in pick up plan.

Parents must sign up each month to participate.

If your student currently attends ESD, you do not need to sign up.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the Extended School Day office at 940-369-0080.

Participation in this opportunity will require completion of the form below. All forms must be submitted no later than midnight on Saturday, January 11th, 2025 to participate.

English

https://forms.gle/Ni53BW7ja89Upvcw5

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Estimadas Familias:

El Distrito Escolar Independiente de Denton brindará actividades escolares para estudiantes las día de salida temprano, 17 de enero de 2025 de las 12:00pm hasta las 3:00pm para niños de primaria. El programa Día Escolar Extendido se coordinará con cada campus para brindar actividades escolares para estudiantes mientras los maestros están participando en grupos de aprendizaje profesional. Además, se proporcionará transporte de Denton ISD tanto a la hora de salida temprano (12:00pm) y a la hora de salida regular (3:00pm) para todos los estudiantes de primaria elegibles para utilizar el autobús. Si indica en el formulario que su hijo viajará en el autobús, notifique a la oficina de ESD 24 horas antes del día de salida temprana si ha habido un cambio en el plan de recogida.

Los padres deben inscribirse cada mes para participar.

Si su estudiante atiende actualmente ESD (Día Escolar Extendido, por sus siglas en Inglés), no necesita registrarse.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, favor de comunicarse con la oficina de Día Escolar Extendido al 940-369-0080.

Para participar en esta oportunidad, requerirá completar el siguiente formulario. Todos los formularios deben ser enviados a más tardar el día 11 de enero de 2025 para participar.

español

https://forms.gle/wDxcayHczJ67Whv86

• Yearbook and Shoutout Sales Close

Do you have something that has made you have the "Awww" feeling lately? Has your teacher or another staff member left a positive impact on you or your child? Have you seen something that you feel needs to be praised? We believe at Adkins that words are powerful and matter! Affirmation can make someone's day!

We share these kudos during our Thursday staff meetings! It is so fun to share your words with our teachers. :)

Let's Give KUDOS and KIND WORDS!

Use this link to share the good!