Shark Tales

Hey Shark Family!

First off, a HUGE shoutout to everyone for making the Superintendent's visit a success! He enjoyed popping into several classrooms and was super impressed with all the great things happening here at Schmalz. Way to shine, team!

This week is going to be a busy one:

• Monday: The Scholastic book fair opens up in the library for staff and student previews. Make sure to create your wish list so that parents and staff may gift you a book! See more information below in the updates and the library newsletter.

• Tuesday: C&I will be visiting during your planning periods. Be ready for some good discussions and collaboration! See the updates below of how to prepare for the visit. After school tutorials for our upper grade students begin as well.

• Wednesday: We’ve got a jam-packed day. One of our board members will be stopping by in the afternoon, and we’ll also be welcoming Toro, the Texans mascot, for an anti-bullying presentation in the gym. We know the kids are going to love it! After school, we’ll have a staff meeting to go over test security. We promise it will be as painless as possible!

As always, we appreciate everything you do. Let’s make it another great week!

Have a great week ahead,
-Admin Team

All district and campus calendars and schedules are linked in the Sea of Information

How to add the SES Outlook Calendar

BOY Windows:

Running Records (2nd & 4th): August 19-September 27

Dreambox Launchpad (K-5th): September 3-19

TX-KEA (Kinder): August 26-October 4, 2024

CLI Wave 1 (PreK): September 16-October 11, 2024

Staff Shout-outs

If you have a staff member who deserves a shout-out, please let us know. We want to recognize all our Sharks for everything they do to make SES a great place to work and to be. Shark Shout-Out Form

District C&I Literacy Visit this Tuesday

Dee-Anna Kitson, one of the Elementary C&I Literacy Instructional Specialist, will be coming to grade level plannings. She will walk teachers through the internalization protocol for Structured Literacy (K-2) and Shared Reading (3-5). Internalization is a step-by-step process for teachers to understand what students will learn in a specific lesson . It is a method to facilitate collaborative discussion about teaching the lesson to support all students in their success.

K-2 teachers will be taking a closer look at the Phonics Focus Skill and Decodable Text portions of the lesson. Please bring your curriculum guide, laptop, Structured Literacy teacher’s edition, printed copy of the decodable for the lesson (attached to this email), and sticky notes. Please read through the lesson portions that have been selected for internalization before the planning meeting.

3-5 teachers will be examining the lesson cycle for Shared Reading. Please bring your curriculum guide, laptop, HMH teacher’s edition, Teaching Pal, and sticky notes. Please read the lesson and the text associated with the lesson before the planning meeting.

Below are the upcoming lessons being considered for each grade level.

KG: Module 4 Lesson 1

1st: Module 4 Lesson 8

2nd: Module 4 Lesson 6

3rd: Module 3 Lesson 3

4th: Module 4 Lesson 12

5th: Module 4 Lesson 3

Toro Takes the Bull out of Bullying Presentation this Wednesday

We are thrilled that the Houston Texans Football team's mascot, Toro, will be visiting our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. He'll be here on Wednesday in the gym from 1:30-2:15 pm to talk about bullying prevention. Teachers, please read over the emails from Mrs. Ihediwa and speak with your students about appropriate audience behavior prior to the presentation. We encourage all staff and students to dress in Texan gear or red, white, and blue to show our Texan spirit!

Board of Trustees Member Visit this Wednesday

We are excited to welcome Board Member, Amy Thieme, who will be visiting our campus from 1:00-1:45 pm on Wednesday. She began her term representing Position 3 on the Board in 2023. She is a Katy ISD graduate and a Katy ISD secondary math teacher and is actively involved in the Katy community. You can read more about her on this website page: Meet the Board Members.

Staff Meeting on Wednesday for Certified Staff & Long-Term Teacher Substitutes

We have a staff meeting on Wednesday right after school at 4:10 pm. Sharia Ballard, our Campus Testing Coordinator, will be training staff on Test Security. This is a required training. She will share the presentation after the meeting, but you may still want to take notes. Ms. Ballard will send paraprofessional staff an invitation to their session for test security training to be held during the school day within the next week or two. If you have questions after the training, please direct them to Ms. Ballard. Our own campus assessment expectations can be found on the Campus Assessment Checklist.

Book Fair is September 30-October 11

The Scholastic Book Fair begins on September 30th. Students will have an opportunity to preview the book fair, make a wish list, and learn about using the eWallet to pay. Only students whose parents have "opted-in" to the book fair may shop. Please read the emails that Keris Christie-Law, our librarian, for information about the schedule, volunteer opportunities, etc., and the Library Newsletter found below. Late Night at the Book Fair will be held during our Family Academic Night on Thursday, October 10, from 4:30-7:00 pm.

Opt-In to Book Fair

During the enrollment process this year, parents were asked to OPT-IN to Book Fairs. If there is a Y selected for the OPT-IN, then the student is allowed to shop the book fair during the instructional day. Those that did not OPT-IN, can shop with their parents during the Late Night at the Book Fair. Parents may log in to MyKaty Cloud to access the authorization tile to allow participation in Book Fairs. It takes 24 hours to update in the system. The book fair icon in TAC is the yellow triangle with a "C" on it. Please read any emails from Keris Christie-Law and the Library Newsletter found below.

Hispanic Heritage Month Potluck on Monday, October 7

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage with a staff potluck. Participation is voluntary. You may sign up at this link.

Digital Citizenship Week is October 14-18

During Digital Citizenship Week, teachers are to share four hands-on mini lessons created by the district's team of Classroom Technology Designers with students. These lessons will take about 10 minutes each day. All elementary staff will be enrolled in the Canvas course where they will find each day's lesson and all the information needed for the week.

• Monday, October 14: Introduce Digital Citizenship Week (no lesson)
• Tuesday, October 15: Digital Footprint (wear crazy or cool socks)
• Wednesday, October 16: Media Balance (wear sports gear)
• Thursday, October 17: Cyber Kindness (wear red, pink, or hearts)
• Friday, October 18: Digital Literacy (wear a school spirit shirt)

District Curriculum Canvas Links

The district is providing curriculum on a district grade level Canvas page. Once you open the list, click on the curriculum you want access to and then enroll in the Canvas (course). All content teachers are to enroll in the Canvas page for all the subjects they teach. It'll then be accessible through Katy Cloud > Canvas. Click here.

Little Miss/Mister Sunshine Award

The Sunshine Committee recognized staff who were nominated for the first Sunshine Award of this school year at our last staff meeting. If someone brought you some "sunshine" this month which could be big or little acts of kindness, we want to know. The staff member with the most nominations will receive a special "Sunshine" Award, and those nominated will be recognized at our staff meeting. Little Miss/Mister Sunshine Nomination Form

Sea of Information

Please refer to the Sea of Information for any information you may need. You'll find the staff phone list, schedules, grading information, and a whole lot more!

Win the Golden Apple Award and Receive concierge service to your classroom

The PTA has set a goal of earning the National PTA's Golden Apple Award. This award is given to PTAs who have 100% staff membership. When we reach 100% staff membership (because we're going to do it!), the PTA will treat us to Travelin' Tom's coffee truck and HAND DELIVER your order to your classroom. No waiting in line 😏 So far, the Admin team, the AST/Title I team, 3rd grade team and Specials team are leading. Sign up by clicking here: JOIN PTA FORM. First department with 100% earns Sonic drinks!

Parent Teacher Conferences

Please continue to hold parent teacher conferences. Make sure to keep your conference form copies for student records at the end of the year. Parent conferences are to be completed by the end of November.

Parent & Community Volunteers

Parents may volunteer in the Workroom or become "mystery readers" in the classroom. Parents and community members may contact the school counselors or PTA for more information.

Monitoring Lunch Visitors in the Cafeteria and in the building

Parents may begin visiting with their student at lunch this week by signing up through a link on the Shark News. Cafeteria monitors may need to remind visitors to follow lunch guidelines: 1). Sit with their child at the visitor table; 2). Not have interactions with students other than their own child; 3). Only provide food for their own child; 4). Follow the Cafeteria's NO-PHONE ZONE policy; and 5). Only visit the cafeteria during their child's lunch time - no visiting the playground, recess area, or classrooms. Visitors who disregard the guidelines repeatedly may lose the privilege of having lunch with their child.

TCP Time Clock

Thank you so much for your patience with TCP. The transition has had a few hiccups but rest assured the district is working on correcting these issues. If you are unable to input an absence into TCP, please let Ana Wright and the APs now so that it can be entered. Please follow all policies and procedures for being absent.

Your House representative has information to share about all the House activities planned for the year. Bi-weekly house meetings are being planned. If you have suggestions, please give them to your House representative.

Purposefull People lessons may be accessed on the Character Strong website:

https://login.characterstrong.com/login

Username: schmalzelementary
Password: character2020

Mindfulness is also taking a moment to reflect and take the temperature of your life. Of course, we can't control those around us, but we do have control over our own actions. Let's harness this power to bring joy to our lives!

Here is the Community Circle video and Community Circle Questions to use as we begin building relationships with our students and forming a strong classroom community here at Schmalz.

Introduction Video to Community Circles for Students: Be sure to show this video about community circle to your students before starting.

SES Community Circle Questions: Be sure to read over the first few slides before using the questions. Click on picture below for this week's community circle questions.

Please continue teaching the First 21 Days of the Calming Corner. As we've walked through classrooms we've seen students using them and being successful at self-regulation. If you need some assistance in successfully implementing the calming corner, please see Freda Ihediwa (PK, K, 2nd, & 4th) or Kathryn Johnson (1st, 3rd, 5th).

Staff Hours are 8:05 am to 4:05 pm. Please arrive on campus early enough to be at your duty station on time. Staff who are late will begin to receive reminder emails from admin this week.

If you plan to be absence, please make sure you input your absences as soon as you know you'll be absent. You will need to inform your Team Lead, your AP, Mrs. Fox and Ana via email.

Principal - Mrs. Fox

AP PK, KG & 3rd - Mrs. Belmarez

AP 1st & 4th - Mr. Noel

AP 2nd & 5th - Mrs. Martinez

Personal Business Requests - Complete this form and place in Ana Wright's box at least 3 business days before the absence. There is a limit to how many can be approved per day, so plan ahead.

Personal Illness & Family Illness - Please input by 6:00 am on day of absence.

Jury Duty - Please ask for a receipt of attendance. If the receipt says 8am-10am, you must come back to campus or take the remainder of the day off using your accrued time off.

School Business or Staff Development: Please complete this form and return to Ana Wright's box.

Paraprofessionals - Missed punches: Please complete the Time Correction Request as soon as you can.

Professional staff should have an Exit the Tank Early pass in their box. They were passed out Friday, August 16th. Please make sure you read and follow the instructions before you turn them in to Ana's box.

Click on Classroom Management PD blue bar above to access registration links for trainings.

Click on GEM PD Sessions blue bar above to access registration links for trainings.

Shark Store Orders are due each Thursday by 5:00 pm on the PBIS Rewards App. Please make sure you approve your student orders so that students show up under your name when the counselors run the report. The counselors will process the orders and place the items in bags and place them in your mailboxes. Teachers must return their bags to the BLUE BIN shown in the picture below after distributing the rewards to students.

• 1. Please return your big plastic bags to the blue pin. Orders will be processed by the counselors on Friday.
• 2. Please approve student purchases on the PBIS Rewards App. See video link for instructions.
• 3. When students purchase the "Be on the Announcements" Pass, you will receive a calendar invite. Please accept it so that you know which day to send the student(s) down to be on morning announcements. (If you haven't received an invite from either counselor, please let them know that your student has purchased a "Be on the Announcements" Pass so that they can send the invite.

If you missed it, check out the previous Shark Tales by clicking on the link:

• Week of September 15
• Week of September 8
• Week of September 1
• Week of August 25
• Week of August 18
• Week of August 11
• Week of August 4
• Week of July 28
• Week of July 15

If you've missed an issue of the parent newsletter, Shark News, please click below:

• Week of September 19
• Week of September 12
• Week of September 5
• Week of August 29
• Week of August 22
• Week of August 15

• Week of August 8
• Week of August 3
• Week of July 28

Stay connected with what's happening in the Shark Tank by downloading the REMIND app and texting @jeanbetty to 81010 to join the Schmalz 24-25 group. Principal Fox sends out communications using Remind for event reminders, weather emergencies, traffic updates, etc.

Information on how to apply here!

The Sunshine Committee sponsors the Sunshine Award which recognizes staff monthly. To nominate a staff member who has brought you sunshine, please complete the Mr. Sunshine or Ms.Sunshine Nomination Form.

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The Sunshine Committee also plans staff events, and provides gifts for staff showers and meals or gifts to staff members who are ill or have lost an immediate family member.

Be entered into our Sunshine Drawing by paying your dues before September 30th. Annual dues are only $25.00 for professional staff and $15.00 for paraprofessional staff paid on the Pay N Go App or scan the QR Code to pay.

You are invited to join our PTA! Your membership dues may be bundled to include a PTA T-shirt!

PTA "My Favorite Things": PTA loves to surprise our teachers and staff. You won't want to miss out, so please fill out "My favorite things" survey.

Our Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is jaw-some! This past school year, they sponsored several breakfasts and lunches for us. They also sponsored Sammy's Tip Top Holiday Shop and paid for the 5th grade end of year party, among other activities they sponsored. They have even better plans for this year. Sign-up as a member now for this school year and wear your PTA shirt proudly!

PTA Website

If you have any questions, please reach out to membership@schmalzpta.com or any of your board members for assistance!

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