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The Star Tracker
A publication of Stinson Elementary School PTA
Volume X, Issue 3
December 2010
Community Partners 10
From the desk of… 2
Grade Level News 6-8
Junior Investor 3
Literacy Corner 5
Treasurers Report 4
President’s Pen
January 2011
One of the most important things we can do as parents is set a good example. It starts within
the home; saying please and thank you, being considerate and consistent, and solving conflict
without anger. Our Stinson Cares campaign has given weekly opportunities to discuss kind-
ness with your children. This month reminds us also to be thankful for what we have, and to
help those less fortunate; great lessons for our kids.
At our schools, the example we set impacts, not just our children, but other children who are
watching us. Following the school rules shows the children you respect the school and ad-
ministration. Crossing only at the cross walk, parking only in non-reserved parking spaces,
and going through the carpool line all show the children you respect the school, and you un-
derstand everyone deserves the same treatment. Breaking those rules shows children you
think it is ok to break the rules when it is convenient for you, and when you think you will not
be caught. I know that is a lesson I do not want my children to remember when they are
teenagers!
It is important to show children how to help others and give back to the community, and I am
so proud of how the Stinson family always rises to the opportunity to help others. We’ve had
a coat drive and a clothing drive this year, both very successful. The school held a canned
food drive; my daughter raided the pantry every morning.
Donations of used goods and monetary donations should be discussed with even small chil-
dren. November always brings many opportunities not just to donate items or money, but
time. Community service with you leading the way, will instill in your children a life-long love
of helping others.
There are many small and large opportunities to be a good example every day. Watch for
them and take advantage of the easiest character building you’ll ever do for your children.
Thank you,
Julie Richard
Page 2
From the
Desk
of
Mrs. Salamone
The Star tracker
A Monthly Newsletter of the Stinson Parent Teacher
Association
Principal Barbara Salamone
Assistant Principal Tricia Lancaster
PTA President Julie Richard
Newsletter Editor Jennifer Neves
Stinson Elementary School 4201 Greenfield Drive Richardson, TX 75082
School Office 469-752-3400
School Website k-12.pisd.edu/schools/stinson
Stinson PTA Website www.stinsonpta.org
PISD Website www.pisd.edu
All correspondence should be directed to the PTA Newsletter Editor at the school
address or tracker@stinsontpa.org
HAVE YOU JOINED THE
STINSON PTA?
GO TO
WWW.STINSONPTA.ORG
UNDER ACTIVITIES TO
SIGN UP.
Order your Yearbook now!
For a limited time get the early
bird pricing of only $20! Hurry
that pricing ends on November
24th.
We have some fantastic programs available at Stinson.
Go to www.stinsonpta.org to learn about:
♦ Junior Investor program
♦ After school programs
♦ Watch D.O.G.S.
♦ Stinson Cares
Go to
www.stinsonpta.org
to sign up for the Star
to Star eNewsletter
Career Day is January 20, 2011. Our theme is "Preparing Today's Youth." Grades K-2 pres-
entations will be in the morning and grades 3-5 will be in the afternoon. We are looking for
speakers in order to make this day a success. This year we are anticipating many speakers
from a variety of fields so that our students will gain more knowledge about the possibilities
that await them in the future. If you would like to participate, please contact Carita Lyons
(469) 752-3415 or Bryan Smith (469) 752-3412 as soon as possible.
Letter from Mrs. Salamone
will be on a separate page.
Silent Auction meeting- Friday, November 19 @ 1pm
Lori Downey’s house 4729 Ravendale
ldowney5@att.net with questions
please join us if you are interested in helping
REMINDER
Please check the lost and found for jack-
ets, books, lunchboxes, scarves and
gloves.
Thanks
HEROES of the HALLWAYS
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the father involvement initiative of the National
Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father figures in order to provide positive
male role models for the students and to enhance school security. Who are WatchDOGS?
Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at
least one day each year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or
other administrator. If you think this would be the perfect spot for you, let Gerry Sam know
and he will get you signed up right away! For more information, got to www.stinsonpta.org.
See page 11 for additional information
Page 3
Choir rehearsals and
concerts are as follows:
November
Thursday, Nov. 18th, 2010 2:45-3:45 P.M. Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday, Nov. 23rd , 2010 NO CHOIR! Thanksgiving Holiday
Tuesday, Nov. 30th, 2010 2:45 – 3:45 P.M. Choir Rehearsal
December
Field Trip TBA Black & White Performance Dress
Thursday, Dec. 2nd, 2010 2:45 – 3:45 P.M. Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday, Dec. 7th, 2010 2:45-3:45 P.M. Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, Dec. 9th, 2010 2:45-3:45 P.M. Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, Dec. 9th, 2010 6:30 P.M. Dress Rehearsal (wear black &
white)
7:00 P.M. Concert for Family & Friends
Friday, Dec. 17th, 2010 8:15 A.M. Concert for Stinson Staff & Students
(wear Star Choir shirt and jeans)
Six Flags READ TO SUCCEED is coming!!
Stinson Stars…let’s all READ TO SUCCEED and earn a free ticket to Six Flags!! How you
ask?? It’s easy! Each student that completes six hours of outside reading can qualify. This
does NOT include reading for school or homework assignments. Students keep a log of
what they read and for how long…remember to have a parent/guardian or teacher initial
each entry. Once you’ve read for six hours, return the signed reading log to your teacher.
All forms must be turned in on or before February 25th
– no exceptions! Look for the read-
ing logs and instructions to be distributed before Winter Break.
The next monthly Junior Investors Day will be Friday, December, 3rd. We’ll be there to take your children’s deposit outside of the school office at 7:30a.m. You can also pick up your piggy bank if you
haven’t already done so. Investors should also be encouraging their friends to start saving. Bring your child to school; it only takes 5 minutes and $5 to open an account with Capital One Bank. Money saving concepts for kids:
Introduce the concept of “needs vs. wants.” Instilling good money values can begin very early
Help the children understand that money is required to pay for both needs and wants
Junior Investor Days are Jan 7, Feb 4, Mar 4, Apr 1, and May 6.
Page 4
The Stinson School
Store
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays
7:20am-7:40am
Buy fun school items and Spirit Wear
Small bills only please
Need to go to the school store before 7:30? The see Ms.
Gee about getting a pass.
CHICK-FIL-A NIGHT
Chick-fil-A will be hosting Stinson Spirit Night on Thursday,
December 8, 2010. Please say that you are supporting Stinson
when you order, and 15% of sales will be donated to Stinson
from the Chick-fil-A at Garland Rd. and George Bush Highway.
Book Fair
Once again our annual Fall Book
Fair was a great success. A big
thank you to all the volunteers
that helped set up, clean up, con-
stantly put the books back up
and helped tear down. A special
thank you to this years co-chairs,
Alpa Barevadia and Shalini Ka-
poor for all of their hard work.
The book fair may only last a
week, but these kids will remem-
ber it for a lifetime.
Volunteers needed to help with Thursday packs.
If you are interested please contact Katherine Gotcher
at workroom@stinsonpta.org
Stinson Elementary PTA
Financial Report
October 7 - November 4, 2010 Total
Operating Fund Beginning Balance 26,985.54
Total Income 16,474.12
Total Expenses 7,117.94
Operating Fund Ending Balance 36,341.72
Escrow - State and National Dues - Beginning Balance $1,332.25
Receipts and Adjustments $96.00
Payments $1,332.25
Escrow - State and National Dues - Ending Balance $96.00
Escrow - Sales Tax - Beginning Balance $224.60
Receipts, Refunds and Timely Payment Discount $466.85
Payments $0.00
Escrow - Sales Tax - Ending Balance $691.45
Cash in Bank $37,129.17
Petty Cash $100.00
Total Cash on Hand 11/5/10 $37,229.17
Please see www.stinsonpta.org for further detail on income/expenses.
Please contact Maria Abraham, treasurer@stinsonpta.org with any questions
Page 5
FROM THE LITERACY CORNERFROM THE LITERACY CORNERFROM THE LITERACY CORNERFROM THE LITERACY CORNER
Have you ever wondered how to help your child be a better reader? Well there is good news. Strong
language can make your child a better reader, writer, and all around student. And the even better
news is that you can build those skills just by talking to your child. Try these ideas!
Narrate everyday activities like driving or cooking. The use of unfamiliar words in your conversa-
tion will help your youngster understand words in books. Remember, if he doesn’t know the
word to be sure and explain it.
Encouraging your child to join in the family conversations further develops his vocabulary. Ask him
questions to help him expand his answers. For example you can ask “Why do you think so? or
“What else happened?”
A Language Rich Home
Fun with Words (Newspaper Learning)
Newspapers are a great way to build your child’s vocabulary and proficiency in reading. With
thousands of words in each issue, there are many activities that you can do together to sharpen those
skills.
Matching Game: Have your child cut out several photographs and their captions sepa-rately. Mix them up. Matching the captions with the photos will improve her reading
comprehension. Scavenger Hunt: List items in the newspaper (car ad, crossword puzzle, weather forecast)
and ask your youngster to find and circle each one. She’ll build research skills as she looks through the pages.
ABC Order: Together, find the names of 5-10 countries, states, and cities in headlines or stories. Let your child copy each one onto an index card and arrange the cards in alpha-betical order. This will help her practice spelling and learn about geography.
Read the Articles: Read the stories in the paper together and discuss what is going on in the article. This helps to build comprehension.
Happy Learning from your Literacy Specialist!Happy Learning from your Literacy Specialist!Happy Learning from your Literacy Specialist!Happy Learning from your Literacy Specialist!
Carolyn AtkersonCarolyn AtkersonCarolyn AtkersonCarolyn Atkerson
The above ideas are from Resources for Educators.
Page 6
Kindergarten Korner
2nd
Grade
Scoop
Here’s what’s coming up
for the
weeks before winter
break:
Reading:
When reading a story, we
teach your child to
look for context clues to
help him find meaning in
what he is reading. Please
continue to listen to your
child read every night and
then ask them questions
about the
story. Challenge your child
by asking him questions
where he will have to
search for the answer or
even make inferences
based on what he read.
Math:
In math, students will
learn more subtraction
strategies. Students will
continue to work on solv-
ing story problems using
addition and subtraction.
We will also introduce
measuring items with non-
standard units of measure-
ment. We would like to
encourage
our students to practice
counting to higher num-
bers and finding missing
numbers to solve an equa-
tion.
First
Grade
Flash
Our second graders have been working very hard on a variety
of different projects, skills, and activities. Here are some things
that will be coming up in our curriculum:
*Language Arts/Writing skills: creative expression, summariz-
ing, context clues, making inferences, drawing conclusions,
main idea, supporting details, cause and effect, compare and
contrast, fluency, plot, setting, character, commas, punctua-
tion, combining sentences, synonyms, using a dictionary , ac-
tion verbs, present-tense verbs, past-tense verbs, prefixes,
ideas, word choice, narratives, expository writing, critical char-
acter, object, and setting.
*Math skills: addition, subtraction, number strings, story prob-
lems, multiple addends, combing groups, equal groups, place
value, number lines, 100 chart, doubles, near doubles, counting
groups, tens/ones, time, temperature, money, odd/even, and
exploring a variety of ways to solve problems.
It is hard to believe that our first semester of school is com-ing to an end. Kindergarten students have been working very hard to learn many new things. The students did a wonderful job performing at the Thanksgiving program. The teachers feel lucky to be teaching such “Super Tur-keys”!
In the coming weeks, here are some major objectives we will be working on in Kindergarten3
Language Arts:
• Action words (verbs)
• Writing sentences with spaces and correct punctuation
• Counting syllables
• Increasing our word bank of sight words
• Continuing to read books in small group settings
Math:
• Creating and extending patterns
• Problem solving
• Using computer programs to explore graphs
Integrated:
• Continuing our unit on Systems (parts working together
to do a job)
• Discussing ways we communicate with each other
(continued on page 8)
Page 7
4th
Grade
Fun
5th
Grade
Facts
4th
grade is having a great time learning
and growing! Math is fun because we
are learning about volume and capac-
ity. We can use both customary as well
as metric units for measurement. In IC
we have been studying about renew-
able and non renewable resources and
the importance of conservation. In
writing we have learned that entertain-
ing beginnings provide a hook and el-
aborative details help create pictures in
the minds of our readers. During read-
ing we are able to identify various text
features such as sequencing and cause
and effect. We can state the main idea
of the story and provide supporting
details to prove it.
We've started our newest Connected Math unit called
Bits and Pieces.
It is all about Fractions, Decimals, and Percents. Like
our CMP unit
Prime Time, there are vocabulary words that need to
be memorized and
students are to keep this book in their binder at all
times. However,
there is no project tied to this unit. Also, be sure to
have your child
continue to study their Math facts, as it is essential
that they know
these to successful this year.
Language Arts and Reading rocks as our MIGHTY fifth
graders present
their Unit 2 Research Reports on their "-ology and -
ologist." Students
discovered interesting and unique facts about their
scientists as they
integrated the "worlds" of Science and Language
Arts. Using the laptops
is always a highlight to research, take notes and sum-
marize. As usual,
students read a variety of texts weekly and analyze
and discuss them.
Recently, we have finished persuasive compositions
about topics that
show our true "voice." Well-done fifth graders!!
In Integrated Curriculum the fabulous fifth graders are
doing a lot of
activities in class as they learn more about properties
of matter -
using triple beam balances measuring mass, graduated
cylinders to
measure volume, also experiments about density,
magnetism, and
solubility. One fun activity is building a boat out of
aluminum foil
that holds an increasing amount of pennies!
The Winter Party, Valentines Party, &
End of Year Party Schedule:
Kindergarten: 1:00 - 2:00 PM
1st Grade: 1:45 - 2:45 PM
2nd Grade: 10:00 - 11:00 AM 3rd Grade: 12:30 - 1:30 PM (recess moved to 2:15)
4th Grade: 1:30 - 2:30 PM 5th Grade: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
3rd Grade Tracks will be available
next month
Page 8
(continued from page 6)
2nd Grade Scoop
Integrated:
“Events Over Time” is our third inte-
grated unit. It
will consist of mostly science lessons
and activities.
Students will learn about matter, solid,
liquid, gases,
light, heat, energy, and magnetic force.
PARENTS!
Do you have your
Stinson Library Card?
PARENTS OF STINSON STUDENTS
may borrow books from
the Stinson Library.
Not only do we have great
books for your children –
but for you we have fun fiction,
educational non-fiction
and a Parenting Library as well.
Come in
soon.
5th Grade CAMP at the Collin County Adventure
Camp was a fun and exciting time for all as students were involved with hands-on
exploration of the forest ecosystem. They practiced journaling, data collection, and
deepened their understanding of how forest organisms are adapted to forest con-
ditions. During their water lab and canoeing adventures, students studied the wa-
ter cycle and gathered water samples to determine what life they discovered. Then
they identified it using
microscopes! Can you imagine the ooohhh's and ahhhhhh's during this activ-
ity? One of the favorite activities was the challenge course and archery station.
Students were presented with physical and mental challenges as they solved prob-
lems as a team. The staff taught the children carefully how to use a bow and ar-
row. Pictures were taken, smiles were made and minds were thinking! Talk about
5th Grade Camp
WHAT: Spelling Bee Final Round
WHO: Final round contestants
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 7, 2011 (8:00-approx. 10:00)
WHERE:(held in the gym)
*School winner advances to district level (time/date TBA)*
PACE deadlines:
Kindergarten referral deadline was November 9, 2010
(assessed in November/December)
*PACE results mailed on Wed., Feb. 23, 2011*
Grades 1-5 referral deadline - March 10, 2011
(assessed in March / April)
*PACE results mailed on Friday, May 13, 2011*
For more information about PACE (thorough overview), please visit the
following website:
http://www.pisd.edu/parents/advanced.academics/gifted.pace/index.shtml
Contact information:
Heather Brzezinski
PACE Specialist
Stinson Elem.
PISD
heather.brzezinski@pisd.edu
469-752-3469
ext.23469
Page 9
Ideas for Teaching Your Child About Giving Thanks
Written by: Jennifer LeMaire
Think Beyond the Turkey and Help Kids Understand the True Meaning of the Holiday
Teaching your child about giving thanks and being grateful for what they have is one of the most important lessons you can teach
them this holiday season. Children don't learn about giving thanks from abstract ideas or having discussions. Children learn best by
doing, hearing, seeing and experiencing. Here are some ways you can teach your child about giving thanks this year.
Model Giving Thanks
It is a well known fact that kids do as you do and not always as you say. Modeling thanks and gratefulness to your children shows
them how to turn thankfulness into meaningful actions. Say thank-you to others, give hugs and kisses and write thank-you notes.
Make sure your child sees these expressions of giving thanks from you. Explain to your child the reasons why you are grateful and
why you show thanks to people in the ways that you do. Teach your child about giving thanks this holiday season by giving some
thanks to others yourself.
Create a Chain of Thankfulness
Children understand abstract concepts like giving thanks better when you can turn it into some tangible item. A great idea for
teaching your child about giving thanks is to work together with them to construct a thankfulness paper chain. We have all made
paper chains in school. First, cut strips of paper about one half inch wide. Then have your child write one thing that they are thank-
ful for on each paper strip. Discuss your child's choices with them. You may have to write for younger children. Then connect the
strips together to form a chain. See how long you can make your paper chain.
Bryan Smith, Counselor
Who: 4th
& 5th
Grade Students
What: Geography Bee
When: *5th
Grade preliminaries are Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 (in the grade level)
*4th
Grade preliminaries are Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 (in the grade level)
*Grade level teachers determine the time
*Final/Championship round is Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 @ 8:00 a.m. -? (Rm. 201/PACE)
Where: Stinson Elementary
*Useful websites to test your geography knowledge:
www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee
www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy
www.nationalgeographic.com/news
www.nationalgeographic.com/studentatlas
http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/
Page 10
STINSON COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Partners, We are looking forward to a fantastic 2010-2011 school year thanks to your contri-
butions to the STINSON PTA!!! We appreciate you so very much!
When you are on the website,
www.stinsonpta.org, be sure to look in the
Thank You section near the bottom of each
page where more information about many
of our Community Partners is available.
The Star to Star eNewsletter highlights
more of our partners as well.
Platinum Star Part-
ners
($1,000 OR More)
• Children’s Dental Care,
Dr. Dane Hoang
• Dentek Systems, Inc.
• Joyce Lynn Chandler,
Keller Williams
• Tiemeyer Team Realtors,
Keller Williams
• The Thomas Group, Remax
Gold Star Partners
($750 or more)
• Aloha Mind Math
• Breckinridge Park Animal Hospital
• FastERcare
• Primrose School of Breckinridge
Park
• Home Team Mortgage, Tammie
Mitchell
• SureSmile, OraMetrix, Inc.
Silver Star Partners
($500 or more)
• Carson Insurance – Farmers
• Russell Downey, M.D.
• Fesler Orthodontics
• Reliable Chevrolet
• Alan Yedwab, M.D. and Betty Ruiz-Yedwab,
M.D.
Bronze Star Partners
($250 or more)
• Baylor Family Health Center at Richardson
• Richard H. Daniel, M.D., Reese A. Mathieu, M.D.,
Julie D. Poole, M.D. Pediatrics
• Elvebak Orthodontics
• Kids R Kids
• Mathnasium of Murphy-Plano
• Mogio’s Gourmet Pizza
• Springhill Veterinary Clinic
• Texas Plumbing
Shooting Star Partners
($100 or more)
• Campbell Park Vet Hospital
• Family Medical Center at Garland, Becky Chan-
dler, MD
• Yoga Synergy Spa
Co-Chairs for the 2010-2011 school year are
Michelle Schroeder and Jamie Moore. If you
desire to be a Stinson Community Partner or
want to make a donation to the PTA, please
contact them at
communitypartners@stinsonpta.org.
Page 11
All about WATCH D.O.G.S.
Background
WATCH D.O.G.S.® is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that was founded by Jim
Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR.
Moore wanted to help prevent violence from occurring at his children’s school or at any school. The first program was launched at George
Elementary in Springdale, AR, the school of Moore’s oldest child. Today, more than 1,500 programs in 36 states and New Zealand participate
in WATCH D.O.G.S.®
Program Goal
To help every school in America be positively influenced by the committed involvement of fathers and father figures in
lives of their children and students.
How WATCH D.O.G.S.® Works
WATCH D.O.G.S.®, a K-12 program, invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures to volunteer at least one day all day at their
child/student's school during the school year. Individuals sign up at a kick-off event such as a Dads and Kids Pizza Night; or Donuts with Dads
or in the office at any time throughout the school year. The program is overseen by a Top Dog; volunteer who partners with the school admin-
istrator to coordinate scheduling and identify opportunities for WatchDOGS to provide assistance at the school. WatchDOG volunteers per-
form a variety of tasks during their volunteer day including monitoring the school entrance, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and
cars, monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher's guidance by working with small groups of students on home-
work, flashcards, or spelling.
Program Effectiveness
- During 2003, WATCH D.O.G.S.® conducted a survey of 50 participating schools nationwide. Key findings:
- 89% agree that WATCH D.O.G.S.® is a valuable component of the school's efforts to promote a safe and positive
learning environment for students.
- 79% agree that since implementing the WATCH D.O.G.S.® program, the school has experienced an increase in father involvement in areas
other than WATCH D.O.G.S.® (parent-teacher conferences, volunteerism in the classroom or after school, PTA/PTO involvement).
Program Recognition
In its relatively short history, WATCH D.O.G.S.® has proven to be influential and effective in a number of venues:
- Involved in the U.S. Department of Education Father Involvement In Education Project beginning in 2005.
- Invited by the National PTA to be a founding member of the MORE Alliance (Men Organized to Raise Engagement).
- Recognized on the floor of Congress as a program that "can be a great tool in our efforts to prevent school violence
and to improve student performance because it can increase parental initiative and involvement in their childrens’ education." Congressional
Record, Feb. 7, 2000, page S-392.
- Involved in the U.S. Department of Education P.F.I.E. (Partnership For Family Involvement In Education).
- In 1999, invited by the United States Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to participate in a
nationwide teleconference called Fathers Matter.
- Recognized as a best practice; by Joyce L. Epstein, Ph.D., Director of Center on School, Family, and
Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University.
FATHERS.COM
Page 12
December 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
3
Jr Investor Deposit Day
PTA Board Mtg. 9am
2nd grade filed trip and
choir @ North Park Mall
4
5
6
7
8
9
Choir concert
7pm
10 11
12 13
Final Geography Bee
14
15
16
Class parties
17
Donuts with Dads
7-7:30AM
Early Release 12 noon
18
19 20
21
22
23
24
25
26 27
28
29
30
31
1
New Years Day
2 3
Teacher work day/
student holiday
4
Classes resume
on January 4th
WINTER BREAK
WINTER BREAK