Silvercrest News

GO STALLIONS!

March 2016

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Ms. Campbell, Principal

The administration of the STAAR Writing test is on Tuesday, March 29th. Please help your child do his/her best on the STAAR test by making sure they eat a balanced breakfast and arrive to school on time both days. Appointments should not be made on testing dates. Silvercrest will be focused on maintaining a calm testing environment for our 4th grade students. Please note that we are requesting that parents and volunteers not visit the school during regular hours on STAAR testing days including make-up days. We thank you for your support in helping us reduce distractions and create an optimal testing environment.

Dates to Remember: March: 1- CLOSED CAMPUS – Reading Simulation

2- Schlotzsky’s Spirit Night

3-4- Ability Awareness

3- Literacy Night 6:15-7:30pm

7-10- Book Fair 7:30am-2:30pm

10- Late Night Book Fair 7:30am-6:30pm; PTA Meeting 6:30pm

14-18- Spring Break

22- Chipotle Spirit Night

23- Report cards go home

25- No School

29-April 1- CLOSED CAMPUS – Writing STAAR

Kindergarten Early Enrollment April 4th – 7th

8 – 11am and 1 – 3pm

Late night enrollment – April 5th 5 – 7pm

Checklist for Kindergarten Enrollment We must have the following items to register your child:

Original birth certificate

Social security card

Immunization records

Deed of trust or Lease

Leases must show:

* Beginning date and length of lease

* Physical address of lease

* Occupant list for apartments (will be verified if not shown)

* If utilities are included, it should be stated

* Leaser’s name with address and phone number where they can be contacted

Parent/Guardian Texas Driver’s License w/ current address

Utility Bill w/ current address (electricity, gas, or water)

Completed enrollment packet

Pre-Kindergarten does not participate in early enrollment as eligibility for Pre-K must be

established at the start of the school year during regular registration period.

Affidavit of Residence and Power of Attorney paperwork may be submitted during the regular

registration period in August.

Attendance reminders: Texas compulsory attendance law states that a child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend each school day for the entire period of the program of instruction is provided. Please remember to send a parent or doctor’s excuse note within 3 days of your child’s absence. You have several options for your convenience.

You may send it with your child to turn into his/her teacher.

You may fax it to the attention of Stephanie Mattes at 713-436-2209. You may scan and email the note to mattess@pearlandisd.org.

Please make sure to get your child to school on time. The front doors open at 7:15am every morning. Students arriving after 8am will be considered TARDY. An attendance hearing and/or referral to the justice of the peace will be required for excessive absences, tardies, and early removals of students.

Music Notes Mrs. Houston & Mrs. Loosemore

The spring semester is off to a great start! The 4th graders are playing their recorders again and have already started earning “belts” as they master their songs. The 3rd graders are learning about form and the division of beats and different genres of music. The 2nd graders kicked off rodeo season with a fantastic music program! First graders are incorporating drama into their music experience and practicing stage presence. Kindergarten is learning about rhythm and beat. So much to learn and so little time left in the year!

PE PRESS

Coach Cox We’ve kicked off a busy new year with the state mandated Fitnessgram test for all 3rd and 4th graders and are now

preparing for our fourth Juvenile Diabetes Walk on March 11th. Our kick off date (receiving packets for take home) is Friday, February 26th, so please be watching for your child’s JDRF packet that day. We have been learning about helping others through community service projects such as these and our goal is $20,000 this year. I proudly report that Silvercrest Elementary is the top fund raising school in Texas for this wonderful cause. Next up is preparation for our annual district elementary track meet to be held on Tuesday, May 17th at The Rig for qualifying 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students in PISD. As the school year passes quickly, here is a friendly reminder to help your student(s) have the most successful PE class: Wear rubber soled tennis shoes that can be tied or fastened securely and comfortable dress code clothing every PE day.

ART NEWS Ms. Baker

This is YOUTH ART MONTH! During Youth Art month, I choose a theme and the whole school works on compositions based on the theme.

Our theme this year is U.S.A. Landmarks. Kindergarten: Transportation in the USA: trains, sailboats or hot air balloons

First grade: Astronauts, the space needle or space shuttle

Second grade: The Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Memorial or Mt. Rushmore

Third grade: The Alamo, the Whitehouse or the Liberty Bell

Fourth grade: The Empire State Building, the Willis Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge or Independence Hall I will choose the top art, and it will be displayed at a business in Pearland. Usually our art is displayed at Firestone Tires. If your child is chosen, I will send out permission slips and directions.

Library News Mrs. Kish, Library Manager Spring Book Fair!!!

Our Spring Book Fair will be March 7th through March 10th from 7:30am until 2:30pm. Our late night will be March 10th from 7:30am until 6:30pm. See you there!

NURSE NEWS

Mrs. Rice, Health Care Assistant March is National Nutrition Month. You can help your child stay healthy and fit by promoting healthy eating and

exercise habits. Some examples are: Making sure that your child gets their daily serving of grains, fruits and vegetables, oils, dairy, and meats.

Limiting junk food

Starting the morning off with a healthy breakfast

Getting involved in sports or other activities that help you stay active

Beginning in 5th grade, students have the opportunity to participate in advanced classes. Advanced classes are

designed to lay a foundation for Pre-AP and Advanced Placement classes at the junior high and high school levels. Middle school advanced classes have a faster pace, will explore topics in depth, and will require additional homework or projects to be completed outside of the regular school day. If a student chooses to take advanced courses in middle school, all of their courses will be advanced.

The most significant difference between on-level courses and advanced courses is that Advanced Math is accelerated, meaning 5th grade Advanced Math will include both 5th and 6th grade TEKS (Texas standards for curriculum). Then, a student in 6th grade taking Advanced Math will learn 7th grade Math TEKS. Enrolling in Advanced Math in 5th grade opens up math choices for higher grade levels. If a student starts with on-level math in 5th grade, the opportunity to then move in to Advanced Math at a higher grade level may be difficult because of the instruction that will be missed.

Your child may be interested in advanced classes if he/she enjoys challenges, is inquisitive, demonstrates initiative in learning, or will likely attend a four year university after high school. While students who have typically made A’s and B’s in elementary school and scored Level 3 on the STAAR are most successful in advanced classes, there is not a requirement for entry into advanced courses. ANY student may enroll in advanced classes. Students identified as gifted in Pearland ISD will automatically be placed in advanced classes. If a student begins to struggle in advanced courses, there is an expectation that students will work to improve their grades by going to tutoring and correcting assignments. These are also good habits to develop for future academic success.

For more information regarding advanced courses, please visit the Advanced Academics webpage of the Pearland ISD website (www.pearlandisd.org – Departments – Advanced Academics – Quick Links), contact us, or contact your attendance zone middle school campus counselor.

Melanie Grote Pearland ISD Advanced Academics Specialist K-4 281-485-3203

What’s going on in PTA? Silvercrest PTA

We’re springing into March here at Silvercrest with exciting events and lots to look forward to in the next few months of school! Go Stallions!

PTA General Meeting Please take note that our next general meeting will take place on Thursday, March 10th, at 6:30pm in the school cafeteria. Our PTA does great work, and we look forward to seeing old friends and new so come along and find out how the PTA works on behalf of our school and how you can help. PTA Membership

Please remember to join our PTA! We are so proud of the number of parents who get involved, but there’s always room for more! If you would like more information, please contact Lindsay Rodriguez at lindsayhope00@hotmail.com. At Silvercrest, we enjoy being part of the local community, and we also welcome any community members who would like to participate in our PTA. Please visit the PTA website, silvercrestpta.org, for more information. To join, simply stop by the front office at Silvercrest or contact Lindsay for details. Spirit Nights

Who wants to have to cook dinner after another busy day? If you’d rather be out having fun with other Silvercrest families and helping our school, look no further! Spirit nights are so important in raising funds and a really easy way for you to contribute. Eat at the restaurants below on the date listed, and the restaurants will kindly donate funds back to our school. We will remind you of these Spirit Nights by sending home flyers in your students’ folders, listing them on the marquee, and through our school website. Hope to see you there.

Mar. 2: Schlotzsky’s

Mar. 22: Chipotle

Apr. 7: Big Horn BBQ Book Fair

Our spring Book Fair is fast approaching! The Feelin’ Groovy Book Fair will be held March 7th – 10th from 7:30am-2:30pm and March 10th from 7:30am – 6:30pm. We love to encourage reading, and this is a great opportunity to buy some fantastic new books. During the weeks leading up to the Book Fair, the children will be watching a video during their class library time of the fair’s highlighted books. They will also be bringing home a Book Fair flyer so look for it in your child’s folder.

Please note, parents cannot pull their child out of class to shop. Parents have the option to come in before school and shop with their child or come after school until 6:30pm on Thursday, March 10th, for the late night. This is a great way for parents to share in the experience and help your child select from the huge selection of titles and other items available at the Book Fair. Volunteers are needed to help with Book Fair set-up and during the week of the event. Please contact myratijerina@yahoo.com for more information, or if you would like to volunteer. Hope to see you all there! Stallion Stampede

The Silvercrest Elementary PTA will be hosting our 11th Annual Stallion Stampede Fun Run, Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction on Saturday, April 9th, 2016, at the Silvercrest campus. This fun-filled, family morning is open to the whole community! There will be a timed 10K and 5K race, as well as a non-timed 1K race. Runners and walkers of all ages, abilities and speeds are welcome! Breakfast and shopping at the Silent Auction is open to runners and non-runners alike, and a DJ will be on hand to entertain the kids. Proceeds from this event benefit the PTA’s annual Year End Gift to Silvercrest. We hope to see you there! For more information, email SilvercrestPTAinfo@gmail.com. On-line registration for runners and for the pancake breakfast is now open at www.signmeup.com, and paper registration forms are available in the front office at Silvercrest Elementary. Follow our event page on Facebook to stay informed: “Silvercrest Stallion Stampede”.

March 2016 – Silvercrest Student Sunday

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

CLOSED

CAMPUS

Reading

Simulation

2

Schlotzsky’s

Spirit Night

3

Ability Awareness

6:15-6:30 Writer’s

Celebration

6:30-7:30 Literacy

Night

4

Ability Awareness

5

6 7

Book Fair

7:30am-2:30pm

8

Book Fair

7:30am-2:30pm

9

Book Fair

7:30am-2:30pm

10

Book Fair

Late Night

7:30am-6:30pm

General PTA Mtg

6:30pm

11

JDRF Walk

during Specials

Spirit Day

3rd gr period ends

12

13

Daylight Savings

Time Begins

14

15

Spring

16 17

Break

18

19

20 21

4th gr period

begins

22

Chipotle Spirit

Night

23

Report cards

24 25

No school

Good Friday

26

27

Easter

28

29

STAAR Writing

CLOSED

CAMPUS

30

CLOSED

CAMPUS

31

CLOSED

CAMPUS