Welcome back to the Castle! I love seeing the halls filled with students. I want extend a special welcome to all our new CHE families. We are excited that you are here and hope you enjoy being a part of our school. I hope everyone has had a smooth transition back to school and are finally settling into a routine. 

As you may have heard, our PTA was awarded the National PTA School of Excellence Award. This is a two-year designation for 2018 – 2020 commending the joint efforts of YOU our parents and our phenomenal school to welcome all families, communicate effectively, support student success, speak up for every child, share power, and collaborate with the community. I am so excited that our PTA received this honor. Our community is so dedicated to our students, and it is nice to be recognized for it. Thank you and Congratulations! 

Please be sure to check the calendar on CHEPTA.net regularly. The PTA Board members have been planning another year filled with fun events and excellent programs. We hope to continue to bring meaningful programs to our students through building on the relationships we have established with our parents, school, and community. Stay connected by liking our Facebook page, following us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribing to our newsletter. We appreciate all the feedback we have received over the past year. It has helped us improve our efforts to ensure that all our members stay informed.

While you are visiting CHEPTA.net, make sure you JOIN the PTA! Your contribution, whether it is your time, knowledge, or resources makes a difference. I invite you to become an involved member at the Castle – whether it is attending meetings, volunteering, providing feedback or planning an event. We welcome and appreciate every effort! 

I am also enthusiastic to share that based on member feedback, we will continue the same simplistic approach to our fundraising efforts. Stay tuned for more information about our One & Done check writing campaign within the coming weeks.

Join us Thursday, September 20th at 6:30 in the CHE Cafeteria as we kick off the first PTA Meeting of the year with a popsicle social and a 1st grade performance! This meeting is for everyone, so please come and learn how to get more involved in your PTA. 

I am looking forward to meeting each of you. Thank you for keeping engaged and showing your children the importance you place on their education. Hoping for another year filled with learning, building relationships, and celebrating our successes. On behalf of the PTA Executive Board, we wish everyone a successful year and look forward to your continued support. If you have any questions, please contact me at president@chepta.net.

Truly,
Nina Samuel
2017-19 CHE PTA President

September used to be my favorite time of the year growing up. That’s when we went back to school. I loved the smell of new crayons and the colors of the new notebooks.

Our students are already past that stage. The crayons have been used and they are in to some serious work already. The start of the year has been wonderful. Our returning students got right back in step with our Great Expectations and our new students fell right in with the bunch. I want to share a resource with you…

https://www.cfchildren.org/blog/2018/08/back-to-school-resources-for-parents

This is the company who make the Second Step Curriculum on which I base my lessons. I will see every class about every two weeks.

Thanks so much, Parents, for all the work you do to send us incredible children.

Carol Rains, M.S.
Counselor
rainsc@lisd.net
972.350.5322
www.lisd.net/counseling

September monthly calendar
in your Tuesday Newsday folders coming soon!

Hello, Castle Hills Elementary Parents! We wanted to personally reach out to tell you about the improved Kingdom Tales Program. Registration is NOW OPEN at http://chepta.net/Kingdom_Tales. We might be a little biased, but Kingdom Tales is our favorite program at CHE because it allows our children to become published authors! What’s cooler than that?

Why Participate?

Kingdom Tales authors have the unique opportunity to…

• Build creative-thinking skills
• Develop writing and reading skills
• Write about something fun and interesting to them
  illustrate their own story
• Be recognized at an invitation-only author’s reception at school
• Receive $3 credit for the Book Fair held at school in the Spring
• Receive a Dragon Awards pin at the end of the year
• Receive a special trophy their 5th grade year (must have completed 4 KT books including 5th grade)

Don’t need to read more?

Great! Register your child(ren) here: http://chepta.net/Kingdom_Tales

What is NEW this year with the program?

We are having the hardcover books professionally bound by an experienced publisher of children’s books (for the same price!) instead of having them bound at CHE by the PTA team. What this means to you, is that your child will get a book of greater quality for the same price. Softcover books are still free and continue to be bound by the PTA.
We have simplified the process: Instead of submitting a rough draft and a final draft, you will only submit your final draft. Fewer things for you to keep track of!
At the moment of registration, you will only be allowed to order ONE book-making kit. We will send an order form in the kit for you to purchase additional copies starting at $19 each. You can also order additional copies AFTER you get the book and check out the quality.

Kingdom Talesregistration ends on Friday, 9/21 PLEASE do us a solid favor and do not procrastinate. The sooner you register, the fewer emails you will receive from us :) Here is the link to register: http://chepta.net/Kingdom_Tales

You can read our Frequently Asked Questions here. Any additional questions you may have can be directed back to us at cheptakt@gmail.com

The PTA thank you in advance for your support.

All our best,

Maria Baradell and Angela McCarthy
CHE PTA – Kingdom Tales

The PTA Volunteer Program is one of the best ways that parents can support the students and staff at our school. 

Don't forget your background check! It's required for all volunteers that will be at the school. It takes about three weeks to complete and is active for three years. Click here or below to complete the LISD form.

Here are sign-up opportunities to support our school, teachers, and students:

YEAR-ROUND

Enrichment classes are offered at the Castle Hills campus immediately after school by LISD-approved vendors. The programs are extra-curricular, with fees paid directly to the vendor, and students are escorted to and from classes by a teacher or instructor. WE ARE PAPERLESS and flyers will not be going home via folders.

This month we would like to honor the Wrap Pack Coordinator Laurie Clay and her team of Juhy Daniels, Liza Howard, Christie Groves, Jaime Chavez, Chi Trieu, and Nina Samuel! Laurie works closely with the teachers and the school supply vendor to get the lists/pricing set! This year about 500 packs were ordered and delivered to Castle Hills Elementary! This team is 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! Also, during the first few weeks of school, they make sure all the teachers have received all of their proper supplies.

Volunteer of the Month Spotlight: Let’s Get to Know Laurie Clay!

• If I could go back in time, I’d like to go to dinner with Jesus.
• I’ve always wanted to take a road trip around the U.S.
• My favorite place to travel is Paris. I always people watch and eat chocolate croissants and ice cream for days.
• My favorite activity with my family is traveling. I love watching my kids grow and learn from new adventures!

PTA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

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