FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Happy February! This month is full of exciting events that celebrate kindness, community, and new experiences for our students. We are so grateful for your ongoing support in making our school a wonderful place to learn and grow.

❤️ Heart Dance & Heart Challenge Fundraiser ❤️
We invite our students to join us for our Heart Dance, a fun-filled event where they can dance, laugh, and make special memories with friends. In addition, we are kicking off our Heart Challenge Fundraiser, teaching students the importance of heart health while giving back to a great cause.

💌 Valentine’s Day Celebrations 💌
Our classrooms will be filled with kindness and friendship as we celebrate Valentine’s Day with class parties. Teachers will send out more information about any treats or activities planned, so be on the lookout for details from your child’s teacher.

🏫 5th Grade Middle School Visits 🏫
A big step is ahead for our 5th graders! On February 19th, they will have the opportunity to visit their future middle schools, tour the campus, and learn more about the exciting journey ahead. This is a wonderful chance for them to feel prepared and confident for the transition.

As always, we appreciate your partnership in making our school community so special. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to a fantastic month ahead!

Warm regards,
Shawn Joseph
Principal

Dear Families,

As we move through the school year, I want to share a few important reminders and updates to help keep everything running smoothly. Please take a moment to review the following:

Student Information Updates

If your contact information has changed (phone number, address, or emergency contacts), please notify the front office as soon as possible. Keeping this information up to date ensures we can reach you when needed.

Attendance Matters!
Consistent attendance is key to student success! If your child will be absent, please remember to report the absence by calling the front office or submitting a note within 48 hours of their return. If your child has a medical appointment, a doctor’s note will help excuse the absence.

Enrollment for 2025-2026
It’s time to start thinking about the next school year! If you have an incoming kindergartener or know a family who will be new to our school, early registration will begin soon. Stay tuned for details on how to complete the process.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help!

Best regards,
Cheryl Rutledge
Registrar

Dear Families,

February is here, and we have some exciting events and important learning opportunities for our students this month. Here’s what’s coming up in the counseling department:

Gifted & Talented (GT) Interviews
Students who were referred for the GT program will participate in interviews on the following dates:

📅 February 21st & 24th

This is an exciting step in the process, and we look forward to meeting with each student as we explore their unique talents and abilities!

Middle School Visits – 5th Grade
Our 5th-grade students will visit their future middle schools on February 19th from 9:00-11:00 AM. During the visit, they will learn about core subjects, elective classes, and how to complete their sixth-grade choice sheet. That evening, your child will bring home:

✅ Their choice sheet
✅ A Middle School Parent Night flyer
✅ Information on instrument tryouts for band

📢 Reminder: Permission slips have been sent home and are due by February 7th to ensure your child can attend this important visit.

The middle schools will host a Middle School Night for 5th grade families on Tuesday, February 25th. I'll provide more details as we get them.

Guidance Lessons – Managing Worry & Anxiety
This month’s classroom guidance lessons will focus on worry and anxiety, helping students recognize their feelings and learn strategies to ease their worries. These skills will support their emotional well-being and confidence both in and out of the classroom.

As always, I am here to support our students and families. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Warm regards,
Leslie Atherton
School Counselor
512-594-4526

leslie.atherton@pfisd.net

National School Counseling Week is Feb. 3-7, 2025. The theme this year is "School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Counselors make a unique contribution within their school and this week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve social and academic success.

School Counselors are actively engaged in:
-helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents;

-working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world;

-focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development;

- working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves.

School counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.

Dear Parents & Guardians,

This month is all about heart health, kindness, and staying well through the winter season. Here are some important reminders and health tips for the month:

Cold & Flu Season Continues

We are still in peak cold and flu season. Please help prevent the spread of illness by:

• Keeping children home if they have a fever over 100°F, vomiting, or other contagious symptoms.
• Teaching proper handwashing—20 seconds with soap and warm water.
• Reminding kids to cover coughs and sneezes with their elbow.

Common Illnesses in February
If your child is feeling unwell, it's important to know when to keep them home. Here are a few common conditions that tend to increase during the winter months:

• Stomach bugs: If your child has vomiting or diarrhea, they should stay home for at least 24 hours after symptoms subside.
• Ear Infections: If your child has pain in the ear, fever, or trouble hearing, please contact your doctor.
• Lice: While not common, lice outbreaks can happen. Regularly check your child's hair if they are experiencing itching.

Cold Weather Safety
With the winter weather in full swing, please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the weather. Layered clothing, hats, gloves, and warm jackets are essential for outdoor recess.

Valentine’s Day & Allergy Awareness

With Valentine’s Day approaching, please be mindful of food allergies. If your child is bringing treats for classmates, consider non-food items like stickers, pencils, or allergy-friendly snacks. Check with your child’s teacher if you have questions about safe options.

Upcoming Events & Reminders

• Health Screenings: PK, K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade hearing and vision screenings will continue.

Thank you for helping keep our students happy and healthy! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at Samantha.Vano@pfisd.net or at 512-594-4535.

Stay well,
Nurse Sam

We are kicking off Kids Heart Challenge with the American Heart Association next week, and we need your help!

Over the next few weeks, students will learn how to take care of their hearts, raise awareness for the fight against heart disease and stroke, and raise funds to help kids with sick hearts, like Finn.

Register today

We invite you to grab a sneak peek of our quacktastic Heart Hero Team to begin learning their messages and practice implementing their heart healthy habits!

We aim to have 100% of families join our team and learn Hands-Only CPR. Your support is crucial in making this mission a success!

Thank you for supporting this service - learning program and helping our students learn about heart health while giving back to the community.

Together, we can make a difference!

Keeping them laughing, learning and moving!

Melissa Malinowski

aka Coach Malo

512-594-4544

Go Eagles!

As we get closer to Valentine's Day, please look for information from your child's teacher regarding classroom celebrations and directions for sending Valentines to school. Part of your child's classroom celebration may include treats. Please be aware of any food allergies of students in your child's classroom. Also, there are no balloons allowed on campus. Thank you in advance for understanding the importance of this policy.

The Special Education Department is hosting several Special Education Family Engagement Events in February. If you have any questions, please contact me. Julie.Schwarz@pfisd.net or 512-594-0162

February Special Education Family Engagement Events

• Feb. 10th - PDSES Parent Clinic

• Feb. 11th Conscious Discipline - Empathy, Virtual, 6:30-7:30

• Feb. 13th Spanish Parents Supporting Parents Meeting at Delco Elementary, 9:00-10:30

• Feb. 18th Coffee Talk at West Pecan Coffee 8:30-10:00

• Feb. 25th English Parents Supporting Parents Meeting, Virtual, 12-1

• Feb. 25th, 6:30 pm Inclusiveness - Ensuring ALL Students are Successful webinar for all PFISD families; link and flier coming soon.

• Feb. 27th Pathways to Transition Lunch -N- Learn Training, Virtual, 12-1

• Feb Engagement Events Flier with Families

Email: DRES@pfisd.net
Website: https://www.pfisd.net/Page/4479
Location: 4301 Gattis School Road Round Rock, TX 78660
Phone: (512) 594-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DearingES
Twitter: @DearingES_PfISD