Good evening PTE families!

It sounds like everyone had a great Thanksgiving break. It was fun to hear all the exciting things students did over their breaks. My favorite was, "I got to ride my bike to the park at my grandparents' house." Simple and sweet!

Tis the season of giving, but sometimes the giving can feel overwhelming. Please feel free to donate and/or volunteer for what you are comfortable. We have 650 students enrolled at PTE. I know we can get the spots filled if everyone pitches in a little. If you haven't had a chance this year to donate or volunteer, there are plenty of opportunities for you over the next two weeks. See all the options below!

Jingle Bell Jog is next Friday, December 8th. Be sure to pre-register using the link below. Can't wait to see everyone for one of my favorite days of the year!

Tomorrow our choir is singing at the Flower Mound Tree Lightning between 6:45-7:15 pm at the Highland Village Shops. PTE Choir will sing right after Bridlewood ES. Check it out if you get a chance.

That's it for this week's Texan Star!

Wendi Vaughn

Principal

If your child comes home in the next couple of weeks and says we have a robot roaming the halls, you can believe them. Libby will allow one of our students to attend school virtually who can't come in person because she is battling cancer.

Our sweet student is able to control Libby with an app on her iPad. She is able to move her around the classroom and up and down the halls. She can see what Libby sees and hear what Libby hears. It does not have the ability to take pictures or video in case you are wondering about that.

You may even catch a glimpse while you are here.

Today was PTE's Spelling Bee! We had 22 outstanding 4th and 5th graders spell it out to represent us at the district Bee. It was a fierce competition that went 29 rounds!

Congratulations to our champion, Jadin Kumar and our runner-up, Elisha Min!

We are very proud of you!!

ADOPT AN ANGEL HERE! (OPEN FROM NOV. 6-DEC. 6)

As of this morning at 7:00 am, there are 725 Angels left to be adopted on the LISD Angel Tree. Please share with those who can help. Usually each angel gets $100 worth of items, so we don’t want to over extend anyone, but if they are able, please share. Donations appreciated – Venmo, Zelle, Cash, or Check to LHS-ABC.

We started with over 2500 students on the Adopt an Angel list from Lewisville ISD. We understand if you don't have time to shop for the angels. The donations are used to purchase the items needed for each Angel.

QUESTIONS: stameya@lisd.net OR CALL 214-543-6717

OTHER WAYS TO DONATE

Here is the website with all information on how to adopt, donate, deliver, and more. https://bit.ly/LISDADOPTANANGEL

It is that time of year for the annual Staff Cookie Exchange. This is an absolute favorite of staff members. They enjoy the sweet treats you share each year. Please review the available slots by clicking on this LINK. Thank you!

WHY THE JINGLE BELL JOG?

● This 28-year Prairie Trail tradition promotes lifetime fitness & wellness! 💪

● Kids develop a lifelong love of running 🏃‍♂️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏿🏃🏽‍♀️

● Marcus XC runners have served as PTE role models & school partners for 28 years. This partnership is still going strong! 💛

THE DETAILS:

Due to increased security, parents must pre-register to attend. Please click HERE to register.

Each grade level will jog during their designated time listed below. Please note, this may not be their regular Specials time. Kinder will be spectators this year and participate next year.

● 8:00-8:50 4th grade

● 8:55-9:45 2nd grade

● 9:50-10:40 3rd grade

● 10:45-11:35 5th grade

● 11:40-12:30 1st grade

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

● Penny Fridays! Penny Fridays raise $$ for scholarships for the Marcus XC runners who have partnered with Prairie Trail for more than 25 years!

● GATORADE NEEDED: We need gatorade donations to rehydrate those thirsty kiddos after they run! Click the link to donate gatorade, then drop it off at the school at any time through Wednesday, December 6th.

Following Prairie Trail PTA holiday tradition, we’re hosting our annual holiday staff luncheon on Thursday, December 7th.

Show your appreciation for the favorite teacher(s) in your life and click HERE by Thursday, 12/7 to sponsor their holiday meal.

$15 pays for a staff member’s lunch, catered from Salerno’s.🇮🇹

$5 pays for a delicious pie from Buttermilk Sky Pies. 🥧

$20 covers both! 😋

So far, we’ve sponsored meals for just over half of our teachers. We would LOVE show those teachers our Prairie Trail holiday spirit and sponsor a meal for every teacher at Prairie Trail! ❄️❤️

Are you ready for our EPIC annual holiday party with the kiddos?! The grade-wide class holiday parties are back in the gym at PTE this year complete with snowball fights & more!

We’ll need all the volunteer help we can get to make it the BEST party ever for our kiddos. Each grade will rotate through the party during their regular specials time (times listed below), but there are 3 volunteer shifts to choose from. Feel free to sign up for 1 (or 2) shifts and then stick around to hang with your child during their party time.

Click HERE to volunteer and help us make this the best holiday party ever! Please note, ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE AN APPROVED BACKGROUND CHECK IN VOLY TO SIGNUP

Can’t volunteer but just stopping by to hang out with your kiddo during the parties?

Pre-registration for volunteers AND visitors is required this year. CLICK HERE to pre-register for class parties.

Party Times:

• 2nd Grade - 8:50 am - 9:40 am
• 3rd Grade - 9:45 am - 10:35 am
• 5th Grade - 10:40 am - 11:30 am
• 1st Grade - 12:05 pm - 12:55 pm
• Kinder - 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm
• 4th Grade - 1:55 pm - 2:45 pm

Not sure if you have an approved background check on file? Go to https://lewisvilleisd.voly.org/volunteer/login.html and click "My Applications". If you see 4 green boxes, then you are good to go. If not, please complete the necessary steps for approval before signing up.

'Tis the season to spread joy! PTE PTA is teaming up with GiftCrowd to simplify holiday gifting for our incredible PTE teachers and staff this season! 🎁🎄✨

HOW IT WORKS: Go to www.tinyurl.com/pteGifts before 8am on Friday, 12/15, make a few clicks, and you’re done!

Then on the last day of school before break (Friday, 12/15), the teacher or staff member will receive an email with the list of participants (but not their individual contributions) and their messages.

They can then choose to redeem their total gift amount from hundreds of gift card options to the store/retailer of *their* choice. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Prefer to go the more traditional route and send an individual gift? You can find the list of favorites for each teacher & staff member HERE.

Don’t forget the specials teachers! Each grade is assigned a specials teacher to “adopt” for the year:

Kinder - Art (Ms. Bartel)

1st - PE (Ms. Massa)

2nd - STEM (Mrs. Ellis)

3rd - MUSIC (Mrs. Goldman)

4th - LIBRARY (Ms. Howell)

5th - PRINCIPAL (Mrs. Vaughn)

Dad, Papá, Baba, Grandpa, Uncle, Papaw, Father, Abuelo, Daddy…whatever name the special kiddo in your life may call you, Prairie Trail NEEDS YOU!!!

Did you miss the kickoff event? No worries! You can still be a part of the Watch D.O.G.S.

How do you get started?

• Make sure you have an updated Background Check Volunteer / Home
• Background Checks have to be done every year.
• Read through the slide deck from last night's event: Linked HERE!
• Don't forget the Safety and Security slides: Linked HERE!
• Optional - Order a shirt https://shop.dadsofgreatstudents.com/shop-all/

***Need more info? Please email Matthew Kulik watchdogs@prairietrailpta.org or Amber Bearden, VP of Volunteers volunteers@prairietrailpta.org.

✋🙋🏽‍♀️🙋‍♀️HELP WANTED🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏾‍♂️✋: We have a LOT of volunteer opportunities in the month of December, and we would LOVE to see your smiling faces! Click the links below to learn more and sign up to volunteer. We can’t wait to see you! :)

📚📚November/December LIBRARY HELPERS📚📚

🔖🔖November/December COPY ROOM HELPERS🔖🔖

🐶 WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Fall 2023 🐾

For ALL the latest info & more upcoming events, hop on over to our PTA WEBSITE at www.prairietrailpta.org. 🌐👀

Follow us on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM for daily updates, fun content, photos & more!

Recognize Someone submissions are open again! Would you like to recognize a staff member at Prairie Trail or LISD, click here to type a quick note. It will be printed on a nice post card and delivered to that staff member. It is free for you, but worth so much!! :)

https://www.lisd.net/recognize

Next week we will finish the lesson on goals setting with Lesson 5. Check out what your child is learning about setting goals.

English

Spanish

For links to all the lessons for the rest of the year, CLICK HERE.

• December Elementary Breakfast Menu

• December Lunch Menu

To get to your child's meal account: RevTrack link

Check out dates for the school year.

• 1st - Spelling Bee 8:30 am
• 1st - Dress like a Grinch/Wear Green
• 1st - Progress Reports
• 2nd - PtE Choir Performance at the Flower Mound Tree Lighting @ 6:45 pm
• 4th - Texan Santa (Western Festive)
• 7th - Lamar Concert Choir, Band, and Orchestra
• 8th - Jingle Bell Jog (wear JBJ or PTE spirit shirts and/or festive)
• 8th - Cookie Exchange donations due
• 11th - 2nd Grade Gingerbread Kid Caper Plays - 8:00 am Dual Hoodenpyle & Phillips
• 12th - 2nd Grade Gingerbread Kid Caper Plays - Pfeifer at 8:00 am and Crosby at 8:30 am
• 13th - 2nd Grade Gingerbread Kid Caper Plays - Benton at 8:00 am and Quezada at 8:30 am
• 13th - Wear Ugly Holiday Sweaters
• 14th - Holiday Parties - Wear Pajamas
• 15th - 11:45 am Early Dismissal - Last day of school for 2023
• 15th - End of the 2nd 9-weeks and 1st semester
• 16th-January 3rd - Holiday Break - No School

• 4th - Students report back to school
• 11th - PTA Meeting at 6:30 pm - Safety Program with Officer Bruno (PTE SRO)
• 15th - No School - MLK, Jr. Day Holiday
• 16th - PTA Room Reps Class Basket for Spring Fest Meeting @ 6:30 pm
• 17th-18th - Talent Show Tryouts - 3:00-5:00 pm in the Library
• 19th - Read Around the World
• 25th - 100th Day of School
• 25th - STEAM Night - 6:00-7:30 pm
• 26th - Progress Reports

• December 8th - Jingle Bell Jog
  
• December 14th - Holiday Parties
• February 14th - Friendship (Valentine's Day) Parties
• February 27th - Talent Show
• March 7th - Open House
• April 12th - Spring Fest
• April 17th - Reading and Writing STAAR (3rd-5th grades)
• April 18th - Spring Picture Day (Individual and Class)
• April 24th - Science STAAR (5th grade)
• May 2nd - Math STAAR (3rd-5th grades)
• May 10th - Field Day (May 16th is rain out day)
• May 22nd - 5th Grade Celebration
• May 23rd - Last Day of School

Need some ideas to keep the kind acts going? Check out the Random Acts of Kindness Calendar below. One kind act can change someone's day!

Email: prairietrail@lisd.net
Website: lisd.net/prairietrail
Location: 5555 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound, TX, USA
Phone: (469)713-5980
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prairietrailes
Twitter: @PrairieTrailES