Helms Elementary – Monday Memo ~ Week of April30, 2012
From the Principal’s desk: Now that we can have put the state’s STAAR testing behind us, we continue enhancing our children’s learning by adding rigor to the “final stretch” of the school year. Carrying out rigorous lessons will greatly benefit our children During the week of May 7th – 11th,our First – Fifth Grade students will take the STANFORD/APRENDA tests. We ask parents to continue encouraging and motivating their children to do their very best on all class assignments, homework, and final end-of-the year tests/evaluations.
I cordially invite you to attend a special presentation for Heights Pre-K – 2nd Grade parents, “Role of Dual Language on Houston’s Future”, tomorrow, May 1st. We will host a Spanish session at 5:00 PM and an English session at 6:30 PM. I look forward to having you join us.
From the Nurse’s Desk:As a community service, I am sponsoring a canned food non-perishable items drive to benefit the local food pantry
at Grace United Methodist Church. We are very grateful to their volunteers for picking up food bags from the Houston for our Backpack Buddy Program each week. To show our gratitude, I ask everyone to make a donation so that we can help fill their empty shelves. The food pantry is
in need of dry beans, peanut butter, rice, cereal, & canned soup. However, they welcome any donation. Please bring all donations to the nurse’s office.
From Ms. Hardin, Helms’ Librarian:It is that time of year to collect all library books. This week I will begin sending home “lost library book notices.” Parents who receive a note in your child’s Monday folder or backpack stating their child has lost a book are asked to please send $20 (cash) for the book replacement, addressed to Ms. Hardin. Receipts will be sent home with your child. Thank you.
HISD News: Let’s all send a great message on “GenTX Day” by wearing a t-shirt from our favorite college on Friday, May 4th:On Friday, May 4th, GenTX (pronounced "Generation Texas") asks everyone in Texas to celebrate this special day by wearing their favorite college t-shirts in a united show of support for building a college-going culture that encourages Texas students to continue their education beyond high school. HISD, the largest public school district in the state, is encouraging district-wide participation of their staff and students in wearing college t-shirts. Helms will be participating in this activity. Can’t wait to see you wearing your favorite college t-shirt this Friday! Read more at:

Helms wishes to congratulate its SIX winning students from the Houston Public Library’s 2012 Children's Book Celebration Illustration Contest. There were only 25 winners selected from the entire city of Houston and 6 of them were Helms Kindergarten students from Ms. Felder’s class – how exciting! The winners are: Brisa M., Matthew V., Jerry S., Alejandra F., Angelica F., and Sloane D. These students will meet and enjoy a catered lunch with children’s book author, Tom Angleberger, and receive an autographed copy of his book “The Strange Case of Origami Yoda,” on Saturday, May 5th. Way to go Helms Kindergartners!
What a wonderful experience! This past Monday,in collaboration with FotoFest, Helms hosted its first
movie
premier
screening
We wish to thank everyone who helped make this possible and those who went out and supported this great media/literacy project.
We are please to inform you that the funds generated from the VIP Passes & snack sales covered the expenses involved with this fun production, (ie. venue rental, red carpet rental, poster printing, DVD producing). There are still a few DVD’s available for sale at $8 each.
PTA UPDATES
This is it! The last day to turn in BoxTops for the Spring Collection Contest is this Friday, May 4th!The Helms PTA Board members wish to thank everyone who in one way or another contributedto the success of each fundraiserof this school year.It’s amazing that together we can raise over $700 yearly with just this fundraiser! Parents are asked to turn in all their BoxTops collected by this Friday for our final submission.
As much as we wish we could reward every class, regretfully, we have to narrow it down to only a few. Prizes for this last collection: ALL classeswho collect at least 250 BoxTops will win a no-cost Free Dress Day in late May. The grade level with the most wins extra recess time with ice cream.
Monday / April 30 Helms new website:  Ancillary day 4
  • April 30 – May 4: Canned foods & Non-perishable food items Drive, benefiting Grace United Methodist Church

Tuesday / May 1 Ancillary day 1
  • “Role of Dual Language on Houston’s Future”, presented by Ms. Sandra Wegmann – for all Heights Pre-K – 12th Gr. Parents
*** Spanish Session: 5 – 6 PM *** English Session: 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Wednesday / May 2 Ancillary day 2
  • “Cinco de Mayo” Program performers: get ready for tomorrow night!

Thursday / May 3 Ancillary day 3
  • 2nd Grade Field Trip to the movies to see the 2012 Earth Day Movie: “Chimpanzee”, 9 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Helms’ Cinco de Mayo Program, 6:30 PM (Songs by Pre-K – 2ndGrade students & more!)

Friday / May 4 Ancillary day 4
  • GenTX Day: Promoting a college-bound generation in Texas; students may wear a t-shirt of their favorite college
  • Social for the NEW 2012 – 2013 Pre-K & Kinder students & their parents – storybook time & healthy snacks; 8:30 – 9:15 AM

UPCOMING EVENTS
  • May 7 – 11, 2012: Teacher Appreciation Week
  • May 7 – 11, 2012: STANFORD/APRENDA Testing for 1st – 5th Grade
  • May 7 – Bring your teacher a piece of Fresh Fruit Day (fresh fruit will be sold for $1 from 7:30 – 8 AM; benefiting 4th Grade)
  • May 8 – Bring your teacher some Flowers or a Plant Day (carnations will be sold for $1 from 7:30 – 8 AM; benefiting 3rd Grade)
  • May 9 – Bring your teacher a Sweet Treat Day (sweet treats/desserts will be sold for $1 from 7:30 – 8 AM; benefiting 4th Grade)
  • May 10 – Write your Teacher a Poem or Letter OR Draw your Teacher a Picture Day
  • May 11 – Bring your teacher a “Teacher Gift” Day (common use teacher items will be sold for $1 - $3 from 7:30 – 8 AM; benefiting 4th Grade)
  • May 14 – 3rd Grade & Ms. Allietta’s class Field Trip to the Downtown Aquarium, 9 AM – 2:30 PM
  • May 17 – Helms’ After School Program Fine Arts Night, 6:30 PM
  • May 18 – Field Day for Kinder – 5th Grade
  • May 21 & 22 – Dual Language Testing for 1st – 5th Grade
  • May 21 – Pre-K Field Trip to the Houston Zoo, 9 AM – 2:00 PM
  • May 22 – Pre-K Awards Ceremony, 8:30 AM
  • May 23 – Kinder Awards Ceremony, 8:30 AM
  • May 23 – 2nd& 3rd Grade Parent Math Workshop on Multiplication, by Mrs. Dana Enriquez, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
  • May 24 – 1st Grade 1 Awards Ceremony, 8:30 AM
  • May 24 –Helms Talent Show, 6:30 PM
  • May 25 – Grade 2 Awards Ceremony, 8:30 AM
  • May 28 – Memorial Day; NO SCHOOL
  • May 29 – Grade 3 & Ms. Allietta’s Class Awards Ceremony, 8:30 AM
  • May 30 – Grade 4 Awards Ceremony, 8:30 AM
  • May 30 – 5th Grade End of the Year Bowling Field Trip to “Bowl 300”, 11 AM – 3:00 PM
  • May 31 – Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony at Church of Christ; arrive: 8:30 AM – ceremony begins: 9:00 AM
  • May 31 – Pre-K Games Day, in Helms small playground, 2:15 PM
  • May 31 – Last day of school for students