Morton Ranch Elementary eNews
August 20, 2024
WELCOME TO MORTON RANCH ELEMENTARY!
Meet Our Staff for the 2024-2025 School Year!
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We have loved seeing our Mavs return to campus!
During the first few days of school, our staff worked diligently to ensure that ALL Mavs arrived and dismissed in a safe manner. We will continue to review arrival and dismissal procedures and provide updates in weekly newsletters AND on Class Dojo. Thank you for all of your feedback and patience!
Missed past newsletters? Click here to go back and review what we have sent during back-to-school.
Lunch Visitors at MRE for 2024-2025
Our students LOVE when someone visits them for lunch! We'd like to provide a refresher on our lunch and cafeteria procedures for visitors. Please make sure to read below as well as the rest of this newsletter.
Due to space and safety concerns, lunch visitors are restricted to parents/stepparents/guardians, non-school-aged siblings and grandparents (accompanied by a parent or with written permission from a parent), and campus mentors. The campus schedule for lunch visitors is posted below.
- Visits will be limited to the 30-minute lunch period.
- Due to space limitations at the elementary level, no exceptions to the list of approved visitors can be made and principals can limit the amount of visitors on a given day.
- Lunch visitors do not include aunts, uncles, friends, or neighbors.
- In addition, lunch visitors are limited to three (3) guests per student per day except on days designated by the campus as a special event (i.e. Grandparent Day).
- Unusual circumstances may be approved/addressed by the principal.
- Principals may designate a guest table for lunch visitors (these are the tables near the cafeteria exit doors at MRE)
- Only an authorized lunch visitor and the student for whom the visitor is approved may sit at the guest table.
We ask that you refrain from taking pictures/videos during your visit in the cafeteria:
Due to confidentiality issues related to directory information and to privacy concerns, parents, students, and visitors may not use video recorders, voice recorders, or cameras unless used during a performance open to the public or during a private conference with permission by an administrator. If a recording or photo is taken, the item in question will need to be deleted.
Visitors should:
★ sit with their child at the visitor table.
★ only bring in food for their child.
★ not have interactions with students other than their own child.
★ refrain from recording/taking pictures in the cafeteria.
★ only remain in the cafeteria during their child’s lunch period.
Visitors must enter the front office with a valid ID and check in 10-15 minutes before the scheduled lunch time. All visitors will exit the building through the front office.
Thursday, August 22nd
Technology Orientation for 3rd-5th (during Specials, students only)
Friday, August 23rd
Summer Reading Treasure Map due to library
Thursday, August 29th
Spirit Night Hosted by the MRE Parent Teacher Association
5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Monday, September 2nd
Labor Day-No School for Students/Staff
Thursday, September 5th
Grandparents Day- Hosted by MRE Parent Teacher Association
(PK/1st/3rd/5th)
Friday, September 6th
Grandparents Day- Hosted by MRE Parent Teacher Association
(Special Education/Kindergarten/2nd/4th)
Monday, September 9th
- 1st-5th Lunch Visitors May Begin
Monday, September 9th Meeting Via ZOOM
- Corral/Stampede (for parents/guardians of current 4th and 5th graders)
September 9th-13th
CATCH Week - Students will learn about healthy eating and physical activities
Thursday, September 12th is Back in the Saddle (Open House at MRE)
- Parent Teacher Association Member Meeting @ 5:00 p.m.
- 5:00-6:30- Open House (visit your child's classroom)
Friday, September 13th
9:00-2:00 (or sign up for an hour)
Sign Up Here: Volunteer Work Day
September 17th
Fall Pictures (Individual)
*Information coming soon
*Dress Your Best for Pictures!*
Friday, September 20th
KATY ISD Campus Professional Learning Day
(NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
September 30th-October 4th
Fall Book Fair in Library
To help improve the flow and ensure timely arrival for everyone, we kindly ask that all cars move to the very right side of the lane.
This will allow our teachers and YMCA students to enter through the middle lane and get to their destinations on time (please see the attached map).
Parking in the front of the building is for designated staff ONLY.
This is also our BUS entrance for students. Please do not drop off students near this area.
You may notice cars traveling through the middle lane of AM arrival.
Please allow STAFF & YMCA AM to proceed through the middle line.
We will begin utilizing signs for vehicles so that we can quickly identify cars that need to enter the staff parking lot.
Thank you for your cooperation!
DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTIONS OR DRIVEWAYS OF MRHS
Please do not block the intersections or driveways of Morton Ranch High School during parent pick-up. This is causing issues with their parent pick-up and staff trying to leave the building.
We appreciate you voicing your concerns and your concerns have been brought to leadership. Please remember to continue to exercise patience as we are less than a week into school and this will continue to improve with time.
UPDATED 8/20/24
If your child arrives as a WALKER in the mornings:
7:50-8:10 Arrival for Walkers
Students that arrive as WALKERS may begin entering at gate near the kindergarten driveway (north side along Mason Manor Dr). This will begin on August 21st. We hope this will help our Mavs arrive quickly and safely without having to go around to the cafeteria side.
This is NOT a location to drop children off in a car. This is for students that walk to school from the nearby neighborhood. We have a STAR marked on the map below. This is the same area that walkers dismiss in the afternoon.
A staff member will be at the gate at 7:50 and allow students to travel to the cafeteria for breakfast. The gate will not be open after 8:10.
Please walk to the front to sign your child in if arriving after 8:10.
Same day changes must be submitted before or by 2:00 pm.
You may choose to notify the teacher of changes of transportation.
However, you MUST notify the front office following the directions on the flyer below.
This option is to facilitate changes in case of last minute needs.
Children thrive on routines and systems put into place for them to follow daily.
Creating too many changes can be confusing for any child.
Please consider this when making changes of transportation.
**REMINDER** Morton Ranch Elementary does not have an alternate weather dismissal plan. It is the parent's responsibility to watch the weather forecast, decide if a change of transportation is necessary, and submit a change in a timely manner by or before 2:00 p.m.
Did you complete 10 or more activities over the summer?
Return the sheet to Mrs.Maddox or Ms.Copeland (in the library) by this Friday, August 23rd!
If you lost the map, just record your reading on ANY sheet of paper and turn that in.
We are proud of you and can't wait to hear about your summer reading!
MRE DISTRIBUTION PLAN FOR CLASS 1:1
Chromebooks will be checked out to 3rd - 5th grade students August 19-21.
The Library Media Specialist (Amy Maddox) and Library Clerk (MaryKate Copeland) will check devices out in the system, and campus staff members will assist in labeling devices and chargers and putting cases on each Chromebook. We will have an additional stations where students can log in to check device functionality and to allow their devices to receive updates.
Our campus Classroom Technology Designer will provide a student orientation to review Chromebook care and usage on Thursday, August 22. After their training, students will complete the required quiz in Canvas to demonstrate understanding of their responsibilities regarding district Chromebook use before they are able to take them home.
Click here for more information regarding Class 1:1: https://www.katyisd.org/domain/6152
CLASS 1:1 DEVICE INSURANCE PAYMENTS
Parents registering their students for the 2024-25 school year have the option to select the Class 1:1 Device Insurance Option. This option covers your student’s Chromebook device. All student fees, including the device insurance fee, will be sent to our Pay N’ Go system for payment on August 12th. You will be able to pay your insurance fee at that time.
Please note, this only applies to students in 3rd – 12th grades. For further information, please visit our Pay N’ Go website or for more detailed documentation, please view this Pay N’ Go Student Fee article.
If you would like to change your device insurance selection from NO to YES, please email changemyrequest@katyisd.org with your student’s Katy ID, name and campus and we will update your insurance option from NO to YES. Please note, you are only eligible to make this change and pay in full, 30-days after your student’s first day of attendance.
MRE TRADITIONAL (DARK PURPLE) SHIRT REQUIRED FOR FUTURE FIELD TRIPS!
*NEW SOFT MATERIAL NOW AVAILABLE!
MRE 2024-2025 THEME SHIRT AVAILABLE
FRONT OF THEME SHIRT (SOFT MATERIAL)
The front of the shirt has the MRE LOGO.
The shirt comes in a light heather purple.
BACK OF THEME SHIRT (6 Houses, 1 Ranch)
The back of the shirt displays our theme for this school year.
This shirt can be worn to school but the traditional dark purple shirt is the designated shirt for future field trips.
Theme shirt can also be purchased on Pay N Go!
Mission of Wellness for Growth:
Empower underprivileged Hispanic women through integral wellness education and skills for economic growth to improve their own and their families' wellbeing.
Planilla de Preregistro
Los cupos son limitados por lo que recomendamos que responda las preguntas y envíe este formulario lo más pronto le sea posible.
Le esperamos para comenzar este viaje de crecimiento y aprendizaje.
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR FIRST SPIRIT NIGHT OF THE YEAR!
School may have started but MRE PTA isn’t ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. Come hang out with your family and friends and support your PTA while enjoying the best ice cream around. Now that’s what we call a WIN-WIN!
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream Katy, TX
Thursday, August 29th
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
20920 Katy Freeway
(Additional parking in back)
**BE SURE TO MENTION MRE PTA so that 20% of your purchase comes back to us**
Homework for Parents/Guardians:
By clearly labeling your child's items with their name, you significantly reduce the chances of things getting lost or confused with those of other children. This not only saves time and frustration but also ensures that your little one's belongings find their way back to them promptly.
Mid-Tier Campus Bell Schedule
MRE follows the Mid-Tier start time which means our instructional school day is 8:10-3:20 p.m.
Students may choose to bring their water bottle to school (refillable thermos). Students that enter the campus with coffee, juices, milk, etc. will be asked to finish their drink in the cafeteria. The only "open" drink in classrooms is water.
Students that enter the building with donuts, fast food breakfast, etc. will be invited to finish their food in the cafeteria.
We love our new carpet and want to keep it in great condition by avoiding these treats in the classroom.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR CHILD TESTED FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED?
Calling all kids in grades 1-5! Destination Imagination groups forming soon!!
What is DI?
Destination imagination is the world’s largest creative problem-solving program for kids. It is a community- based, school– friendly program that builds participant’s creativity, problem solving ability, and teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful ways. This year every state in the US and 42 countries will have teams. Competitions begin at the local level and proceed to state and national level competitions. Go to Destination Imagination for more information.
Who: Students and families interested in Destination Imagination (DI)
What: Informational and team formation meeting about DI
When: August 27, 2024 - Click link to attend meeting
Where: Via TEAMS app
*You will need to download the TEAMS app
Why: To learn more about DI and hopefully join a DI team!
TEAMS WILL BE FORMING ON August 27 AT 4:00pm online
Contact person: Sue Wilson - sueewilson@katyisd.org
Parents can help by:
- Becoming a team manager (training provided)
- Supporting the team manager
- Ensuring their child attends practice sessions and actively participates when instructed by the manager.
Important websites are linked below!
Morton Ranch Elementary
Website: https://www.katyisd.org/campus/MRE/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 2502 North Mason Road, Katy, TX, USA
Phone: 281-234-0330
Twitter (X): @MREMavs
School Colors: Purple & White
School Mascot: Maverick
Founding School Year: 2008-2009
Saddled with grit and determination to provide a legendary learning experience for a most deserving group of children, a posse of educators rode into town in 2008, aimin’ to leave their mark on the land called Morton Ranch.
The vision shared by these Maverick-Educators has always been focused on three things: Strong Relationships, Authentic Experiences for Children, and a Quest for Lifelong Learning instilled within each and every Maverick.
Relationships are everything at “the Ranch.” Connections among human beings are at the center of all decisions: who is hired, how teams are formed, how teachers begin their day in every classroom, why administrators spend most of their time engaged with colleagues and children, how community members are welcomed into the building, even how the front office furniture has been arranged. In order to impact others professionally or educationally, we must impact them personally. Until a student feels he/she is cared for in the schoolhouse, academic success is unlikely.
We encourage you to read more about our history!
We are THRILLED about our school theme this year at MRE: "Six Houses: One Ranch."
We cannot wait to share what we have planned for our new House System, ranch style!
The campus mission of our elementary school is to:
maintain and strengthen the promises we have made to our children.
Our Promises to Our Students are as follows:
- We promise to read to you daily.
- We promise to make our school a place that is welcoming and safe.
- We promise to provide significant time for rich and relevant learning in all content areas.
- We promise to provide opportunities for discussion in order to grow your thinking.
- We promise to value mistakes as important learning steps, just as we celebrate progress along the way.
- We promise to be passionate about what we teach, modeling the life of a joyful learner.
- We promise to give you honest feedback about your learning.
- We promise to value who you are, where you’ve been, and where you are going.
- We promise to expand your view of the world and support you in realizing your dreams.
- We promise to honor, accept, and welcome who you are and what gifts you have to offer.
- We promise to cultivate positive values to make you a good person, friend, and community member.