Dearwilliamselementary School Community

January2015

Newsletter

DearWilliamsElementary School Community,

I hope everyone’s holiday season was filled with fun and family. Our Second Nine Weeks closed on December 18th. Beginning January 5th, our Third Nine Weeks begins, bringing one of our busiest periods of the school year.

Williams continues to offer incredible experiences for students. In December, all students learned proper etiquette to use in a formal dining environment, culminating with our very successful Holiday Fine Dining luncheon and Third graders took a magical ride on The Polar Express.

Many parents comment on the love, caring and professionalism of our staff members here at Williams. Each member has a heart for bringing positive and relevant educational opportunities to students, educating the whole child. They work hard everyday to make learning a positive experience. We are very fortunate to work with such an incredible group of professionals.

As we continue, our challenge is to make sure that all students are academically prepared to progress to the next level and

remain on track to meet our district and state goals of college readiness.

STAAR testing dates will begin sooner than we think! A list of dates is attached with the calendar. Promotion standards require students to meet the standards on their appropriate assessment as well as pass all their core curriculum classes with a grade of at least a 70. 5th Graders must meet the STAAR passing standard in Reading in order to move on to the 6th Grade. Continue to encourage children to read at home on a daily basis and practice math facts. Fluency in these two areas is a key indicator for success in more difficult concepts.

One important event occurring in the upcoming month is the campus Science Fair on January 28th. This is a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the scientific process in a fun and exciting way. Winners of the campus fair go on to the Austin Regional Fair on February 21st. We encourage all students to try some type of project.

With PRIDE,

Natasha Drumgoole

Principal

From the Counselor: Terri Boccella

A-N-N-O-U-N-C-I-N-G……

Look for information to come home soon regarding a Parent Night titled, “Everything you wanted to know about ADHD”. This is a wonderful opportunity provided by Bridges to Growth Resource Center.

Terri Boccella

Counselor

943-5162

A list of assets, known as the 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS, highlights the building blocks that children need to increase the likelihood of them growing up healthy, caring and responsible. Children who have more “assets” are more likely to avoid “high risk” behaviors as they go through middle and high school and are more likely to succeed in school and LIFE.

This month, the focus is on “Empowerment” which includes:

Community Values- Youth-young person perceives that adults in the community value youth

Youth as resources-young people are given useful roles in the community

Safety-young person feels safe at home, at school and in the neighborhood

Service to others-young person serves in the community one hour or more per week

Box Tops for Education

America’s schools have earned more than $525 million through all Box Tops for

Education® earnings programs since the program started in 1996, including $47 million

just since March 2012. More than 90,000 schools use that cash to purchase items such

as computers, library books, art supplies and playground equipment. Schools can earn

up to $20,000 by clipping Box Tops coupons from 240 products and can earn eBoxTops

by shopping online through the Box Tops Marketplace.

Box Tops for Education is one way Williams Elementary raises additional funds for our school.

The program has been an easy way for parents and students to earn cash that goes directly to the school. Last year we raised more than $300 which went toward student resources and supplies. This year the money will go to purchase additional resources and software. To learn more about eBox Tops visit BTFE.com/marketplace: You’ll find over 300 stores where you can earn eBox Tops with your purchase. Make sure you signed up to support our school at BTFE.com

Collecting Box Tops is easy as 123….

• Buy your favorite Box Top product
• Cut out the Box Top from each package
• Bring to the Williams Elementary Library or give to your classroom Teacher

The wonderful Williams Warrior Choir will be starting their 2nd semester with all new music! Come out and join this semester. Look for an invitation soon in your student’s take-home folder

Nurse’s Nook

What is MRSA?

MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and may cause skin and other infections. As with all regular staph infections, recognizing the signs and receiving treatment for MRSA skin infections in the early stages reduces the chances of the infection becoming severe. MRSA is spread by:

Having direct contact with another person’s infection

Sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin

Touching surfaces or items, such as used bandages, contaminated with MRSA

What are the signs and symptoms?

Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that may be:

Red

Swollen

Painful

Warm to the touch

Full of pus or other drainage

Accompanied by a fever

What if I suspect an MRSA skin infection?

Cover the area with a bandage and contact your healthcare professional. It is especially important to contact your healthcare professional if signs and symptoms of an MRSA skin infection are accompanied by a fever.

How are MRSA skin infections treated?

Treatment for MRSA skin infections may include having a healthcare professional drain the infection and, in some cases, prescribe an antibiotic. Do not attempt to drain the infection yourself – doing so could worsen or spread it to others. If you are given an antibiotic, be sure to take all of the doses (even if the infection is getting better), unless your healthcare professional tells you to stop taking it.

How can I protect my family from MRSA skin infections?

Know the signs of MRSA skin infections and get treated early

Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered

Encourage good hygiene such as cleaning hands regularly

Discourage sharing of personal items such as towels and razors

© Bernard Cohen, MD, Dermatlas;

Developed with support from the CDC Foundation through an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.

Christine Johns, RN

Phone 512 943-516

Forget the homework assignment or want to check your child’s progress? Call your teacher’s HOMEWORK HELPLINE at 943-5001 and then enter the extension.

Thanks to our wonderful PTA and volunteers for a very successfulfundraiser!

IMPORTANT DATES

Jan5

Students return to school

Jan 8

PTA Board Meeting

Jan 15

Report Cards go Home

Percussion Parent Meeting-6:00 pm

Jan 19

School Holiday

Jan 20

Choir Performance GHS-7:30 pm

Percussion Begins

Jan 21

UIL Ready Writing (Benold)-4:30 pm

Jan 22

Lockout Drill

Jan 23

UIL Academic Competition (EVHS)

Jan 26

Science Fair projects due

Jan 28

Science Fair

Jan 29

Acts of Kindness Day

Jan 30

Choir performance at EVHS

Spring Pictures

Feb 5

PTA Board Mtg-6:00 pm

Feb 7

Barnes and Noble Book Fair

Feb 9-27

Gifted & Talented testing window open

Feb 12

Progress Reports go Home

ADHD Parent Seminar-5:30 pm

Feb 13

FMNV Day

Deadline for Future Chef Competition

Feb 16

Bad weather makeup day/School Holiday

Feb 21

Austin Regional Science Fair

Feb 27

Tacos with Mom

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:

March 16-20

Spring Break

STAAR TESTING SCHEDULE:

3RDGRADE: Math -4/21/15

Reading-4/22/15

4th GRADE: Writing #1-3/30/15

Writing #2-3/31/15

Math-4/21/15

Reading-4/22/15

5th GRADE: Math-4/20/15

Reading-3/31/15

Science-4/23/15

Reading Re-test-5/12/15