HaPpY September:

As I write this article there is a cold front in our future. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the cooler temperatures. I know, I know, we live in Texas so the cooler temperatures will just be a tease, at least for a while. By the time you read this article we will have completed 2 weeks of school and even enjoyed a 3-day weekend. Our little Dragons (kindergarteners) have done a fantastic job integrating into the school and learning the routines. Kudos to all of our Kindergarten parents who did a great job leading up to Independence Day and on Independence Day. One of our most favorite days of the year is Grandparents Day which we had on Friday, September 8^th. As always, we had lots of Grandparents who came to have lunch with their grandchildren.  I just love seeing all the happy faces of our students and Grandparents.

Parking here at Castle Hills – As you are well aware there isn’t a lot of parking here at Castle Hills.  To help out with this situation, all staff members are now parking in the back parking lot so that you have more parking available to you in the front. In addition, for safety reasons we ask that you do not park in the front circle directly in front of the columns.  Signs are in the process of being made to remind you of the “no parking” area.  Thank you in advance for your help with the “no parking” area.

This year we will continue to support Great Expectations. For those of you who are new, the Great Expectations model is based on the “core belief that a climate of mutual respect and high expectations provide a foundation to increase learner involvement”. In a nutshell, educators provide learners with education that will enhance building self-esteem, insure that all children can learn and that teacher attitude, responsibility, and teacher knowledge and skill are determining factors in learner success. Make sure to ask your student about their creed, the word of the week, and quote of the week!

During the August orientations (grades 1-5), I shared with you a new program that we are starting here at Castle Hills called Ready to Learn. Ready to Learn supports students taking ownership of their learning, responsibility and student independence. It also supports one of our Campus Improvement goals to improve students being late to school (tardy) which has increased over the past few years.  Ready to learn means that ALL students are on time for school and have all their materials to help them be successful during the day. (i.e. pencils, technology, books, homework, athletic shoes for PE, etc…)

All students who are Ready to Learn for the entire 9 weeks will have their name put in for a drawing for that 9 weeks.  Five names will be drawn per grade level and announced during morning announcements. The students whose names are drawn each 9 weeks will also receive a prize. Any student who has been Ready to Learn three out of the four 9 weeks will receive a pin during Dragon Awards. Lunch drop off will NOT count against a student.  Each Grade Level, Specials and the office have chosen grade appropriate items that will be a part of this program.

Kindergarten: Backpack, daily folder, and library book on library day
1^st: Daily folder (empty), Tuesday folder returned on Wednesday (empty), library book on library day
2^nd: Planner, EFF, Homework, Library book on library day
3^rd: EFF organized with planner Ready to Travel, Homework completed and on time Ready to Review
4^th: iPad (charged), Earbuds, EFF, Silent Reading Book
5^th: iPad (charged), Planner assignments filled in and a parent signature daily
Specials      PE: All grades – wear tennis shoes to class
                   Library: All grades – library book brought back on time
                   Art: 4^th grade only – when asked, bring your iPad
                   STEM: Grades 2-5 – STEM journals                  
                   Music: 4^th grade only – Recorder

The office will monitor if students are in their classes by 7:45, binders/backpacks being dropped off as well as water bottles.  Water bottles are not necessary for school as we have water fountains. It is just one of the items that are dropped off all of the time that students should be responsible for if they want water bottles in school. 

Ready to Learn will start on Wednesday, September 13^th.

If you were not able to come to grade level orientations, I shared two books that I highly recommend anyone with children read -- The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey and How To Raise An Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims.

“It is never too early – or too late – to teach children how to contribute and problem-solve under their own power.”                                                 Jessica Lahey – The Gift of Failure

“When children aren’t given the space to struggle through things on their own, they don’t learn to problem solve very well.”                             Julie Lythcott-Haims – How To Raise An Adult

A BIG thank you to the PTA for the wonderful welcome back brunch and everything that you continue to do for us here at Castle Hills. Another BIG thank you to the Castle Hills Education Foundation. Your support of the students and teachers of Castle Hills is very much appreciated.

Here at Castle Hills, once the year starts our calendar fills up quickly. Please pay attention to all of the communications that go home sharing what is going on at “The Castle”. Remember to follow us on twitter #CHEDragonPride and on FaceBook @castlehillses.

It is going to be a GREAT year!

Donna J. Taylor, M.Ed
Principal

Hello, I am David Johnson the new Assistant Principal at Castle Hills Elementary. I want to welcome everybody back to a wonderful year at the Castle. It was nice to see everyone at orientation and at Sophia’s Kitchen for those who were able to make it.

I have been the Language Acquisition Specialist at Castle Hills and Indian Creek Elementary schools the past three years. This was an instructional coaching position and I worked with teachers and students who were learning their grade level content while acquiring the English language.

Prior to that I was the administrator of a small elementary school on a Department of Defense base know as the Dugway Proving Grounds in Dugway, Utah. I also spent 10 years teaching elementary school in 5th, 6th, and kindergarten.

I am the father of two wonderful adult children and one excellent Hebron Hawk. My wife and I celebrate our silver wedding anniversary this year.

I enjoy being outdoors. I play disc golf and ride my beach cruiser. I was spoiled growing up skiing Utah’s Greatest Snow on Earth. I still ski every winter. I enjoy spending time on the lake with friends riding SeaDoos and waterskiing. I follow college and PAC-12 football. I follow players and coaches at the pro level.

I am from Utah but have lived in Irvine, California, Scottsdale and Tempe in Arizona, as well as Plano and Carrollton Texas.

My favorite books are Fantasy and Science Fiction/Science Fantasy books. I am a huge Trekkie and collect Star Trek memorabilia.

Stop by and say hello. I am very proud to serve such a supportive community.

After School Enrichment sessions start the week of 9/18.
Visit our website for individual programs and registrations.

This fall we are so EXCITED to try a different way of fundraising. We have listened to your feedback for a no nonsense way of raising money, and we have the answer! We’re happy to announce our “ONE-AND-DONE” Fundraising Campaign, a tax deductible PTA fundraising initiative that is Easy, Fast, and Direct.  More info soon!

http://tinyurl.com/oneanddone2017

This month we would like to honor the Wrap Packsteam, Tammy Cullen and Laurie Clay! Thank you to this amazing team that really started their work back in January! Tammy and Laurie work closely with the teachers and the school supply vendor to get the lists/pricing set! This year 565 packs were ordered and delivered to Castle Hills Elementary! Laurie and Tammy are responsible for taking delivery of the Wrap Packs and labeling each one with a child’s name and then delivering to your child's teacher! Right before school starts, they sell planners and other items not found in stores for parents that did not buy Wrap Packs at all of the Parent Orientations! Also, during the first few weeks of school, Tammy and Laurie make sure all the teachers have received all of their proper supplies. A special thanks to Christina Bergman and Christie Groves for helping with Wrap Pack delivery!! Thank you so much for all the hard work ladies! We all appreciate being able to buy Wrap Packs and having our back to school shopping made so easy!

Also this month we would like to honor the Meet the Teacher teamKristi Curl and Becky Johannsen! Thank you both so much for all your hard work in drafting the Meet the Teacher Flyers, coordinating the resource and volunteers and of course helping with the set-up and clean-up for both Open Houses/Meet the Teacher events! A big thank you as well to the committee chairs for Kingdom Tales, Spirit Wear, PTA Volunteers & Membership, Great Expectations and School Enrichment!

Breanna's Buddies - Follow Breanna's Buddies online here