Deretchin Digest
February 2025 Edition
A Note From Mrs. Oliver
WOW! It is hard to believe that we are already in the month of February! This is the perfect month to celebrate our students for continuing to demonstrate their LOVE for LEARNING! We are extremely proud of all of their hard work! Our amazing teachers have many exciting lessons and events planned this month that our students will definitely LOVE! As always, thank you for your continuous support in helping us to build a caring and supportive school community.
Sincerely,
Tina Oliver
Upcoming on the Deretchin Calendar
February 3- 100th Day of School!
February 3-7- School Counselors Week-Thank you to Mrs. Kieke, Mrs. Hendon, and Ms. Correa!
February 4- 5th Grade Science Released STAAR Test, Ambassador Awards-Dr. Null and School Board members will be here to honor a teacher, paraprofessional, and student, 10:00
February 6- 3rd grade program, 6:00
February 8- Science Festival, 9:00-4:00 at College Park HS
February 11- 3rd and 4th Released Math STAAR Test, 6th grade Game Night, 3:30
February 12- 5th and 6th Released Math STAAR Test
February 14- No Students
February 17- Holiday
February 20- PTO Meeting, 8:30 in cafeteria
February 21- Student spring pictures
February 26- Coffee with the Counselors rescheduled, 9:00 in cafeteria
February 28- Spotlight on Kindness, 9:15 in cafeteria, Deretchin Rodeo, 5:00-8:00
Counselor's Corner
Character Pillar of the Month: KINDNESS
Habits of the Week:
Be caring and helpful.
Be a bucket filler.
Be sensitive to others feelings-show empathy.
Celebrate others’ successes.
UPCOMING DATES:
2/3/25 - 2/7/25 Student Council Candy Grams
2/5/25 Character Club 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
2/6/25 Healthy Relationships Presented by the Montgomery County Women’s Center
(Register here) (Join Webinar Here)
6:30 PM-7:30 PM
This presentation helps parents understand how to support their children in building healthy relationships, focusing on communication, respect, and boundaries.
Rescheduled Coffee with the Counselors-February 26 at 9:00 in cafeteria. RSVP will be sent out again.
2/28/25 Spotlight Ceremony “Kindness” 9:15 AM in the cafeteria
3/3/25 McCullough Counselor Visits for 6th graders
Parent Access Center Transition
Parent Access Center Transition to Home Access Center
Home Access Center (HAC) will is now live and will operate alongside the Parent Access Center (PAC) until at least Spring Break. During this transition, parents will have access to both applications. As HAC launches, PAC will display a notification informing users that HAC is now online and that student information in HAC updates in real time.
Link for Home Access Center and other related information:
https://kb.conroeisd.net/kb/powerschool-home-access-center-hac
Community Presentations
Healthy Relationships
Webinar: Thursday, February 6, 2025
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Healthy Relationships_English 2-6.png
Healthy Relationships_Spanish 2-6.png
Hidden in Plain Sight (Current Alcohol, Drug, and Concealment Trends & Identifiers)
Registration Required!
In Person: Thursday, March 20, 2025
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ADULTS ONLY)
Hidden in Plain Sight Flyer.pdf
Crossing Guard Appreciation Day February 10th
Pre-K & ECSE News
Kindergarten News
Happy February Kindergarten Families!
We are looking forward to seeing your student's LOVE of learning continue to grow this month.
In reading, we will be finishing up our fiction unit, and begin exploring multiple different genres of reading. We will also continue to work on expanding our reading stamina while using our reading strategies independently.
In writing, we will finish our narrative writing unit and begin to work on procedural writing. For procedural writing, students will be writing to teach others how to do something step-by-step.
In math, we will work on using comparative language to compare two groups of objects. Students will work on telling which set is "more than' and which set is "less than". We will also be reviewing money (penny, nickel, dime, and quarter), and continue working on joining and separating numbers.
In science, we will identify patterns of the seasons of the year day and night. We will also learn about objects in the sky such as the clouds, moon, stars, and sun. In social studies, we will learn about historical figures and presidents.
Thank you for all of your support. It's going to be a wonderful month in Kindergarten!
First Grade News
Dear Parents,
Happy February! We have an exciting month ahead in first grade, filled with engaging activities, new learning experiences, and special celebrations. Here’s what we’ll be working on throughout the month:
Social Studies
In February, we will dive into learning all about our great state of Texas! We'll explore Texas customs, state symbols, and some of the important historical figures who shaped our state’s history. This will be a fun opportunity for students to connect with our state’s past and present.
Celebrating Milestones
We will be celebrating the 120th day of school this month! It’s a special milestone that will include fun activities and reflections on how much we’ve learned so far.
Presidents’ Day
We’ll also be studying about our U.S. Presidents. Students will learn about the role of the president and the impact of important historical figures on our country.
Language Arts
In language arts, we’ll continue to focus on spelling long vowel patterns and high-frequency words. We’ll work on recognizing these patterns in words and using them in our writing. Students will also practice writing persuasive pieces where they’ll state their opinions and support them with reasons.
Math
In math, our focus will be on comparing and ordering 3-digit numbers. We’ll explore place value concepts and work with numbers. Your child will develop a stronger understanding of how numbers are organized and how to compare their sizes.
Science
In science, we’ll study how plants, animals, and humans use rocks and soil. We’ll learn about the different types of rocks and how they are important to the environment.
Valentine’s Day
We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a class Valentine exchange! Please check with your child’s teacher for any specific details on how to participate in this fun event.
We are excited for the month ahead and look forward to all the learning and growth that will take place. As always, thank you for your continued support at home!
Warmly,
The First Grade Team
Second Grade News
We’re thrilled for the exciting month of February ahead! There are plenty of fun activities, events, and learning opportunities in store for the students. We can’t wait to make this month memorable together. Stay tuned for more details!
In math, we will begin the month focusing on fractions! We will be partitioning fractions into equal parts and naming the parts such as halves, fourths, and eighths. We will end the month by circling back to addition and subtraction focusing on three digits with and without regrouping. In science, we will be measuring, recording, and graphing weather information such as the precipitation and temperature.We will investigate the different types of severe weather and the areas it is more likely to happen in. In social studies, we will be looking at how historical figures shaped the community, state, and nation. In language arts, we will be working on our fiction unit. We will focus on the author's purpose such as persuading, informing, and entertaining. In writing, we will conclude our poetry unit and start informational.
Third Grade News
In math, we are continuing our Fraction Unit and then diving back into more multiplication and division. This second half will contain more complex word problems with 2 or more steps in addition to 2 digit x 1 digit multiplication. Students still need to be practicing their math facts at home to help them commit these facts to memory.
In science, we are finishing up our Space Unit and beginning learning about weather and how it affects the earth’s surface.
In social studies, we will continue learning about the history of our country. We will learn about people like: Helen Keller, Juliette Gordon Low, James Lovell, and Ellen Ochoa and how these individuals, events, and ideas have changed communities.
In reading, we will be reviewing our Nonfiction Unit. We will also be discussing text structures such as cause and effect, problem and solution, and chronological order (timelines and sequencing).
In writing, we will be learning about correspondence or letter writing. We will discuss different people to correspond with and ideas about what to write to them about. Please talk with your child about people they could write to (family or friends that live in another state or country).
Fourth Grade News
We are back in the swing of things and the month of January flew by!
This month in math, we will focus on measurement. The students will solve problems that deal with measurements of length, intervals of time, liquid volumes, mass, and money using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division as appropriate. We will also identify relative sizes of measurement units within the customary and metric systems and convert measurements within the same measurement system, customary or metric, from a smaller unit into a larger unit or a larger unit into a smaller unit when given other equivalent measures represented in a table.
In science this month, the students will describe patterns, cycles, systems, and relationships within environments. We will investigate and explain how most producers can make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide through the cycling of matter. We will also learn about the flow of energy through food webs, including the roles of the Sun, producers, consumers, and decomposers.
In social studies, we will learn about the importance of the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas, and the annexation of Texas to the United States. We will also analyze the causes, major events, and effects of the Texas Revolution, including the Battle of the Alamo, the Texas Declaration of Independence, the Runaway Scrape, and the Battle of San Jacinto.
In reading, we will move into our drama unit. Students will identify the characteristics a text must have to be considered a drama. Then, the students will learn more about the features of dramas such as a cast of characters, stage directions, and scenes and how those features can help the reader better understand the characters, setting, and overall plot of the drama. From drama, we will move into our literary nonfiction unit. Students will draw on all that they know about reading fiction and nonfiction texts in order to read biographies (and other forms of narrative nonfiction) well. They will make inferences about a character using evidence from the text to support their conclusion. Students will also use their knowledge of nonfiction to connect information learned about world events to the character and how it may have shaped his/her actions.
In writing, students will use all they know about writing essays to write an opinion essay about a topic or issue of their choice (or teacher choice) They will revise to ensure claims are strong and supported by effective evidence. Students will learn strategies for writing introductions and conclusions that strengthen their essays. Students will publish a final piece. Informational writing will be our next unit, more specifically, correspondence writing. Students will be asked to write for various reasons and target audiences. In this unit, students write for different purposes and choose the best structure that suits their purpose.
FIFTH GRADE NEWS
Math
Students will begin their Unit on Geometry and measurement where they will learn to classify 2D shapes, solve for area, perimeter, and volume, as well as convert between units of measure. In our Advanced Math class, we will start our Unit on Data Analysis where we’ll learn different ways to represent data.
Science/Social Studies
This month, we will continue on with our earth science unit. We will be moving on from landforms and we will focus our attention on natural resources with an emphasis on fossil fuels and how they are formed.
In social studies, we will continue our journey in American history with Westward Expansion and the Industrial Revolution.
Language Arts
This month, students will begin learning all about argumentative elements. This unit may surely be their favorite! They will not only identify the claim(s), reason(s), and evidence by analyzing multiple texts but also be writing their very own persuasive texts.
SIXTH GRADE NEWS
Sixth grade is as busy as ever! We have hit the ground running with our learning and are looking forward to all the exciting things ahead for the rest of the semesteras our students continue their journey as Deretchin Dragons.
In science, we are wrapping up our unit on space science. This unit has been a blast as we uncover how Earth’s rotation and revolution causes seasons, solstices, equinoxes, and tides! Now we are diving into Earth science. Learning about Earth’s layers, the atmospheres, and types of rocks. Next up, we’ll continue our global exploration in social studies, where we’re studying Russia. Students will learn about its unique geographic features like permafrost, tundras, and taigas, as well as the historical significance of the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Soon, we’ll be diving into East Asia, exploring everything from the Great Wall of China and the Silk Road to the region's distinctive geographic features and population policies.
In math, we’re nearing the end of our unit on proportionality, where students have been mastering how to compare sale prices and determine the best deals. After this, we’ll shift gears to two-variable relationships, which include input-output tables and the relationship between independent and dependent variables, providing students with more opportunities to strengthen their problem-solving skills before diving into area and volume.
In language arts, we’ve revisited fiction and introduced narrative nonfiction into our studies. This month, we’re wrapping up our literature study of A Long Walk to Water. Students have been engaged in thoughtful discussions about the journeys of Salva and Nya, and we can’t wait to see how their insights evolve. Our upcoming unit will focus on argumentative writing, where students will learn to express their ideas with organization and clarity.
Thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to another month of growth, exploration, and exciting learning experiences ahead!
Music News
We have so many great things happening in the Music Department in this new semester!
In kindergarten, we are adding to our songs and games to reinforce steady beat and note reading skills. 1st graders will start working on their musical “Pajama Party!”, which will be performed on April 3rd. 2nd grade is hard at work on their musical “Arf!”, to be performed on February 27th. 3rd graders are excited to perform their musical “Off Their Rockers” on Thursday, February 6th! 4th graders are continuing to work on reading note names and counting rhythms on numbered beats. They are also working on sight singing, learning the keyboard, and playing a little ukulele.
Happy February from the Band Directors! We are BEYOND proud of the 6th Grade Band students who participated in the Honor Band clinic and concert in January. We are continuing our preparation for the Band Benchmark that is taking place on February 21st and 22nd at McCullough Junior High. All enrolled Band students are required to take the Band Benchmark. More information will be sent out from McCullough soon, including the sign up for times for the day of the Benchmark. Meanwhile, our 5th graders have been working incredibly hard to pick up more and more of their range and techniques for their instruments. Both 5th & 6th grade students are preparing solos and ensembles to perform in April. All of the kids are working so hard and we’re very proud of their hard work.
Ms. Chambers is very proud of the 6th grade orchestra students who performed in the Honor Orchestra concert in January. The performance was wonderful! February is a particularly busy month for the 6th graders, since they will continue to work on their benchmark music, which will be performed in late February at McCullough JH, as well as begin to look at solo and ensemble pieces they will perform in April. The 5th graders are continuing to work on new notes and techniques.
Intermediate General Music has had a great time working on their recorder, ukulele, piano and vocal skills and are beginning to combine some of these skills to play as ensembles in class.
Both the 3rd/4th Grade and Intermediate choirs are starting music for their spring concert. We are so proud of our 6th grade choir students who auditioned for the CISD Intermediate Honor Choir on Friday, January 31, 2025. Congratulations to the Deretchin choir students who qualified to sing with the Conroe ISD District Honor Choir that will perform on April 5, 2025.
Melody Childs-Music/Choir
Michelle Gastler-Music/Band
Andrew Wilson-Music/Band
PE News
Greetings, Deretchin students and parents! Welcome to the February edition of our PE newsletter. We have an exciting month ahead with various activities and events aimed at promoting fitness, fun, and overall well-being. Here's what you can look forward to:
Happy Healthy Heart Month: February is Happy Healthy Heart Month, and we are committed to promoting heart health among our students. Throughout the month, our PE classes will focus on activities that boost cardiovascular fitness, such as running, engaging warm-ups, and as always, active games. Let's keep our hearts healthy and strong!
The weather is very unpredictable but always be prepared to go outside. Please remind your child to bring good shoes and a jacket! If you do bring a jacket, take it with you when you leave!
We hope you're as excited as we are about the upcoming events in February. Stay tuned for more details and specific schedules in the coming weeks. As always, we encourage all students to actively participate and make the most of these opportunities to stay fit and have fun.
Stay active, stay healthy, and keep moving!
Coach Parra, Coach C, and Coach Langthorp
Library News
Library News!!
Thank you all for your support with the Book Fair. The funds we collected will help us pay for new books and for author visits in the future.
Speaking of author visits, due to our unexpected snow storm, we had to reschedule Tammi Sauer once again for PK-3rd grade. She is now scheduled to visit Wednesday, February 5. If you choose to purchase her books, you can send them with your child on that day, and then she will sign the books when she visits.
As always, I’d love to have you volunteer in the library. Here’s the Signup Genius for that: http://tiny.conroeisd.net/txAWw. **Please note there might be some days which will be cancelled due to testing during the school day.**
If you have any questions feel free to email me at CMattern@conroeisd.net.
Happy Reading,
Cristofer W. Mattern
Library Media Specialist
PTO News
Let's get ready to RODEO! Deretchin Rodeo will be held on Friday, 2/28 5-8pm. Tickets will be available online starting 2/4 - visit https://deretchin.membershiptoolkit.com/deretchinrodeo to purchase. Tickets will also be available to purchase by returning the Rodeo form 2/26 - 2/28. If you are interested in helping with ticket sales, donating a baked good for the bake walk or helping with the silent auction you can find additional information on our website.
Coming up this week - Spirit Night at The Republic Grille (2/4).
For additional events and activities check out the January 30th PTO general meeting presentation at https://deretchin.membershiptoolkit.com/minutes.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Michele Nicol
President, Deretchin PTOEmail: president@deretchinpto.org
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.