Outback Outlook

What a wonderful year it has been! Our students and teachers have worked so hard this year, and I could not be more proud of them. Thank you for sharing your children with us. It is always a privilege and honor to serve them. Wishing you the greatest summer ever! Hope to see you back in the Outback in August! Best wishes to our 5th graders as they move on to junior high and to our families relocating. We will miss you all.

Sincerely,

Malynn Rodriguez

OKE Principal

Thursday, May 23rd, will be an Early Dismissal Day. Students will dismiss at 12:45 p.m.

Students who attend half-day ECSE will follow the schedule below:

ECSE AM: 8:30-10:30 a.m.

ECSE FULL DAY: 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Congratulations to our Outbackers of the Month for May! We are so proud of you!

Melissa Lang (staff), Isabella Nguyen (5th), Ximena Merino Navarro (4th), Victoria Garcia (3rd), Mohamed Hammad (2nd), Jaxson Stanford (1st), Austin Garibay (Kinder), & Elena Hernandez (volunteer)

Summer is an important time for students to practice reading. Research consistently shows that independent reading (reading students choose to do on their own) significantly influences students’ reading performance. The amount of free reading done outside of school positively relates to growth in vocabulary, reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general information (Cullinan 2000). Katy ISD and the Fort Bend County Library system have provided resources to promote reading with your child this summer!

Katy ISD’s 2024 Summer Reading Program: “X” Marks a Good Book! (for students entering grades K-5):

Ahoy, readers! Beginning on May 24, 2024, check your Beanstack account (MyKaty Cloud) to participate in KISD’s Summer Reading Program titled “X” Marks a Good Book! Students who complete this Challenge during the summer break and record their reading in Beanstack for this Challenge will receive a pirate-themed dog tag and a chance to win a special “treasure!” This Challenge must be completed by August 13, 2024 to participate.

Fort Bend County Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge for Kids, Teens, and Adults:

The Fort Bend County Library system is offering special reading challenges to encourage summer reading for all ages. “Adventure Begins @ Your Library” is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

The Summer Reading Challenge online registration will begin on Monday, May 27th and continue through Thursday, August 31st. Library programs and activities for children begin during the week of June 3rd and continue through July 27th. You may register at any Fort Bend County library, or you may register online by going to https://www.fortbend.lib.tx.us/ and clicking on the “SRC Sign-Up” image, which will become available on May 27th. When the online registration form has been completed, readers will then have their own online page on which to record their books and reading time.

There is no charge to join the library’s summer reading program, and it is open to everyone, regardless of the county of residence.

The Cinco Ranch Public Library is located at 2620 Commercial Center Blvd., Katy.

Sora (Access in MyKaty Cloud):

Sora is a reading and listening app from OverDrive and Katy ISD. With Sora, students and staff can access a large collection of eBooks and audiobooks for independent, self-directed, or teacher-assigned reading. Login through MyKaty Cloud. Select “Katy ISD” and start reading! To access even more titles, you can link your account to the Fort Bend County Libraries by clicking on the three horizontal lines in the upper right-hand corner of your screen and selecting “Add a Public Library.” To apply for or renew a full-service library card, please visit any Fort Bend County Library location during business hours. You MUST provide one of the following forms for valid photo ID that is not expired:

· A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID

· Passports from any country

· Any state driver license

If the photo ID does not include your current address, bring a separate document to validate this information (mail, utility bill, etc. from the last 30 days).

Wishing you a healthy, safe, and wonderful summer! As always, Happy Reading!

Mrs. Audelo, OKE Librarian

Online registration for the Katy Independent School District Prekindergarten program for the 2024-2025 school year will open April 1, 2024. Parents must complete the online registration process through Katy ISD’s PowerSchool Registration website in order for their child to be screened for program eligibility.

The Katy ISD Prekindergarten program follows the state Pre-K guidelines which focus on oral language development, reading and math readiness, as well as science and social studies knowledge and skills. Click the Katy ISD Prekindergarten program link for a list of eligibility requirements or call the Office of Interventions, at 281-237-7062.

There is nothing more exciting to a difficult child than an adult angered and frustrated by back-talk.

Thursday, May 23

• Last Day of School
• Early Dismissal - 12:45 p.m.
• No Specials

All children 18 and under can eat breakfast and/or lunch FREE; they do not have to be enrolled in summer school or a KISD student. Free breakfast and lunch will be available at: MPE, SES, USE, HJH, OAC and lunch at MCHS, and PHS. Check the link for specific dates and times available at each site.

https://squaremeals.org/Programs/SummerMealPrograms.aspx

Physical/Hard Copy Government-Issued Identifications

As Katy ISD continues its review of safety practices and protocols, it's essential to stress the significance of physical/hard copy government-issued identifications for accessing campuses/facilities, student registration, and student pickup.

The district is strictly enforcing this requirement and will no longer accept paper or digital copies of driver's licenses, visas, and passports at any of its campuses or facilities, for these purposes. Katy ISD greatly appreciates the community's cooperation with these safety procedures and the ongoing partnership to maintain safe and secure environments across campuses.

Parents,

It’s time to order School Supplies for 2024-2025!

We have managed to secure 1st Day School Supplies company to provide and deliver top quality items directly to our students’ homes.

• You spoke and we listened, so this year we have not included hand sanitizer, tissues or paper towels in the packs. Please look out for any requests from individual teachers for these or other items and provide them when required.
• As always, our supply packs do not include pencil bags or planners, as we know Junior High students generally prefer to personalize these items, rather than using the generic ones offered.
• Note: your student will need WIRED earbuds/headphones. If you don't have those already, you will have the option to add them at checkout.
• Includes one BDJH PTA Membership per pack.
• Remember to order for the grade your student will be entering in August 2024.

Order today! Sales are open until June 28th. Any items ordered between June 28th and July 12th will have a $5 late order surcharge.

Click on the link below. (NO extra kits will be sold at Bear Blast this year)

Contact Sharon Kelly at bdjhptamembership@gmail.com with any questions.

Purchase School Supplies HERE