back to newsletters

Originally delivered on 2/4/2019 7:04 am

SUBJECT: Castle Courier Vol. 17, No. 13 - Feb 4, 2019


 

Volume XVII, Issue 13 - February 4, 2019

 

We have had some crazy weather these past few weeks.  I am hoping Punxsutawney Phil is right and Spring is coming early! 

I hope you were able to join us last Thursday for Science Night.  Vivian Williams and her team put together an amazing night full of fun and learning.  I also wanted to thank Mrs. Horiates and all the 5th graders who presented their science experiments on force and motion.  The students did a phenomenal job!

The PTA will be providing a Valentine’s Day cookie for each student again this year.  And Kingdom Tales receptions will start at the end of this month.  Keep an eye out for the official invitation that will provide more details.

We are officially recruiting for the open PTA positions for the 2019-2020 school year.  Think about what you love to do and how you could share your talents with us.  See below for the list of these opportunities.  If you are interested in any of these or would like more information, please contact our Nomination Committee chair, Kelly Little (kellybrantleylittle@yahoo.com).   

Truly,

Nina Samuel
CHE PTA President 

THIS WEEK - Mon, Feb 4 to Sun, Feb 10

 

Keep scrolling down for more information, and click graphics for details!

Killian Parent Info Night - Feb 5 

 

 

 

Kinder Coffee with the Principal -  Feb 6
 

 

5th Grade Dedication due Feb 8

NEXT WEEK  - Mon, Feb 11 to Sun, Feb 17

 
  • Wed, 2/13: Marcus High School Drum Camp registration deadline, sign up here 
  • Thu, 2/14: Breanna's Buddies Pediplace Donation Drive Ends
  • Fri, 2/15: 4th Grade Austin Field Trip

Keep scrolling down for more information, and click graphics for details!

AND BEYOND  - Mon, Feb 18 to Sun, Mar 3

 
  • Tue, 2/19: PTA Board Meeting @ 9:30am
  • Thu, 2/21: PTA Founders Day
  • Thu, 2/21: Kinder Info Session @ 5:30pm Career Center East
  • Fri, 2/22: College/Career Day
  • Fri, 2/22: Boxtops Due
  • Sat, 2/23: Destination Imagination Tournament
  • Sat, 2/23: Marcus High School Drum Camp; register by 2/13, sign up here 
  • Tues, 2/26: LISD Choice Parent Ed - Social Media and Cyber Safety

Keep scrolling down for more information, and click graphics for details!

College/Career Day Feb 22

 

 

 

 

Boxtops Due Feb 22



 


 

 

LISD Choices Feb 26

 

SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS

'18-'19 Yearbook Submissions

Share your child's favorite moments from this year in the CHE yearbook!

More info here


Book Studies


Please note the date of the No More Mean Girls session has updated from 3/21 to 3/28.

 

Last Chance
Yearbook Sales

Deadline to Order: May 1

 

 

 

Kinder Registration

 

 

KMS PTA
Needs You
!

Calling All Current and Future Killian Parents!  

How would you like to be involved next year?  Multiple positions are available.

For more information,
visit here.

 


STEM Thanks

Thank you for all your empty paper towel/toilet rolls and k-cups!


Ms. Sulak has all that she needs for the projects.
We are excited for what the students will be creating in upcoming month.


More to come on project progress and updates.

 

The following are positions opening starting in the next school year.  Please contact Kelly Little (kellybrantleylittle@yahoo.com) if you are interested in serving.  

Open Positions include (updated 2/3/2019):

  1. President (Officer)
  2. 2nd VP – Ways & Means (Officer)
  3. 3rd VP – Communications (Officer)
  4. Secretary (Officer)
  5. Parliamentarian (Officer)
  6. Internal Communications (Newsletter)
  7. Website – Content
  8. Faculty Appreciation
  9. Hospitality
  10. KT Coordinator
  11. School Enrichment
  12. Special Events

Availability may change daily, so for more information on positions or currently open positions, please visit CHEPTA.NET.  


 

The Texas Legislature is currently in its 85th Legislative Session. Texas PTA is organizing a rally at the Texas Capitol building in Austin on February 25. At least 2,000 PTA members are expected to gather on the Capitol steps to raise awareness and support of Texas PTA’s legislative priorities, and to visit with our lawmakers. A full list of Texas PTA's legislative priorities can be found at https://www.txpta.org/legislative-priorities

Lewisville ISD Council of PTAs has selected the following four legislative priorities to emphasize.

Adequate and Equitable School Funding
Pursue an adequate and equitable solution for school funding while maintaining accountability and responsibility for educating the whole child.

What this actually means: Texas school districts recently lost a school finance lawsuit. Thus, the legislature has to voluntarily decide to evaluate school funding. The current funding system is outdated for example, the base of the formula is derived from a number that has not been evaluated since 1981. Texas needs to insist our legislators evaluate the funding provided to our students.

State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness
Advocate for reduced emphasis on state-mandated testing, focusing on grades 3-8, and monitor changes to STAAR for high school students, and limits on benchmark testing for all tested grades.

What this actually means: Texas has seven additional tests not required by federal law: 4th grade Writing, 4thgrade Social Studies, 7th grade Writing, 8th grade Social Studies, English I Writing, English II Writing, US History. Texas parents should advocate to reduce state-mandated tests.

State Accountability System
Pursue a new accountability system that is valid, reliable and balanced, focuses less on state assessment, and recognizes other attributes of a strong school program, including arts instruction and physical activity.

What this actually means: the state accountability system, how schools and districts are rated by the state, are primarily focused on STAAR. This gives too much weight to a test given on one day. The accountability system needs to include a variety of items that parents feel are important when they are evaluating their child’s school.

Oppose Vouchers
Oppose vouchers, including Education Savings Account Programs (ESA Programs), that allow state funds to be utilized in private schools that are not accountable to the taxpayer or the state.
ESA Programs allow eligible parents to use a portion of the funds the state expends for their student’s public school education to fund private school tuition, tuition at eligible institutions, and distance education, curriculum.

What this actually means: vouchers are public tax dollars that the government would allow students to use to attend private school rather than public school. Vouchers are not currently legal. This is a big priority for the the state’s budget is low.

Written by: Ancy Walsh, CHE PTA Council Delegate Representative

 

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

Please review the brief descriptions of each volunteer area and indicate your preliminary interests. Your contact information will then be forwarded to the CHE PTA board member or committee chair that is in charge of that activity.  Someone will be in touch with you soon.

Please be aware that Board Policy requires that each volunteer undergoes a background check before working with students.  You will need to complete the background check during your VOLY account creation process. Go to VOLY now to get started:  

 

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

Event-Specific

NameDateLocationCommitDetails

Feb Faculty Appreciation Lunch (2nd and 3rd Grade) NEW!

 Feb 4th-6th Drop-Off (house)15-30 mins The 2nd and 3rd Grade are hosting a Faculty Appreciation Lunch in February, and we are asking that the 2nd and 3rd grade parents help complete the shopping list. Thank you in advance for your help!
Cartons for STEMNEW!Feb 18th Drop-off (STEM)15-30 mins  2nd graders will be building windmills in a project called “Catching the wind.” They will experiment with different blade shapes and materials to see which properties enable the materials to catch the wind. Help Ms Sulak by donating empty paper juice or milk cartons. Please have your child deliver directly to the STEM class by Feb 18.

Year-Round

NameLocationCommitDetails
CHE PTA Board and Coordinators NEW!

Various

Starting 2019-2020 school yearCHE PTA has various PTA Board and Coordinator positions available starting the 2019-2020 school year. Half of our board rolls off each year, and we would like to fill these spots to keep all of our current programming available! For more information on spots available and position descriptions, visit here.
Toys and Trinkets for Specials (no sign-up needed)

Drop-off
(CHE front office)

0-15 minThe Specials teachers could use donated small toys or trinkets for their classroom treasure boxes (incentives for grand behavior)
Castle Courier Spotlight ArticlesHome30-60 minmax 1 per child; students write an article about a specific program, event, or club to be included in the bi-weekly Castle Courier newsletter.
Kindergarten Lunch DutyCHE30-45 min10:30am-11:00am lunch time; assist students and teachers in the cafeteria during Kindergarten lunch
WATCH D.O.G.SCHEAll DayWATCH D.O.G.S. is a one-of-a-kind school-based, father involvement program that works to support education and safety. For more information please email, CHEWatchDogs@gmail.com

  Thanks for volunteering! 

THE FUN STUFF (AND WHY WE'RE HERE)

This month we would like to honor Ann Villanueva Devera as our Volunteer of the Month for Art Support! She was always so helpful to Mrs. Stroud with putting up the kids’ art work throughout the school hallways and bulletin boards. She loved having this opportunity to stay connected with our kids’ imagination and dreams. Usually once or twice a month there would be new work to put up and previous ones to take down. It is heartwarming to see the kiddos’ eyes light up as they pass by and find their work on display, and also to see the nice post-it notes with special messages that teachers leave on their favorite art. Special thanks to Liza Howard, Angela McCarthy, and Way-Way Pee, who are so great at helping spread the word when we need volunteers to help out! Thank you again to Ann for all her help!

Volunteer of the Month Spotlight: Let’s Get to Know Ann Villanueva Devera!

Family: Rho and I met at the University of FL and have been married almost 22 years. Our kids are Randal (8th grade) and Annabelle (3rd grade). We are blessed to have lots of extended family here at Castle Hills and in the DFW area.

If I could go back in time, I would like to have dinner with: my mom. She was the heart of our family (I am the oldest of 6 kids) and we miss her everyday.

I have always wanted to: be an artist and/or a published author as a grown-up. (I saw myself as both when I was in elementary school, thanks to my parents framing my paintings and giving friends & family copies of a book that I wrote in 5th grade).

My favorite place to travel: anywhere that Disney Cruise or Royal Caribbean goes to! My family loves to cruise.

My favorite activity with my children/family is: going to the movies, especially to see Marvel & Star Wars films. We usually watch movies at theaters that also serve lunch or dinner and bring our cozy blankets.

 

 

Please watch the Castle Hills Final from MooreMonthly.com on Vimeo.

 

My name is Addison Dittfurth, and I am in 3rd Grade. My favorite thing about being in this grade is that we get to do specials early in the day. My homeroom teacher is Mrs. Madera, and my favorite thing about her is that she helps me learn. The name of the event is, “Science Night”.

Science Night is to teach you more about stuff like the human body. You can play fun games, activities, crafts, and more! All grades can participate. My favorite thing about science night is making the slime. I hope you participated because it was a lot of fun!

 

My name is Faith Ninan and I am in 3rd grade. My favorite thing about 3rd grade are my friends and my classwork. Mrs. Madera is my teacher and I love her because she is funny and kind. I am in the Breanna’s buddies program this year. This is a program where you help new students at CHE feel comfortable and welcome. My favorite thing about this program is the feeling I get when I make friends with a new student. Other students should participate in this program because it helps you to grow you social skills and to make new friends.

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

Become a fan on Facebook / Follow on Twitter / View profile on Pinterest

 



Castle Hills PTA
1025 Holy Grail Drive
Lewisville, TX 75056