April 21 - 25, 2014

The Little Bulldogs Tidbits

Principal’s News

Contents

Principal’s News 1 Upcoming Events 1 Pre-K News 1 Kindergarten News 2 First Grade News 2-3 Second Grade News 2-3 Third Grade News 3 Fourth Grade News 3 Fifth Grade News 3-4 Sixth Grade News 3-4 Counselors News 5 P.E. News 5 Cafeteria Menu 5

Mrs. Elisa Santos

La Pryor Elementary Campus

Happy Birthday! April 18 – Laila Perez April 18 – Juan Valdez April 19 – Manuel Gonzales

Parents,

Students will be testing again on April 22nd & 23rd and we ask for your continued support. Please be sure your child is on time and eats a nutritious breakfast. We will need 100% attendance on our testing days. With parent and students working together, this will be an easy task to accomplish.

I challenge all grade levels to increase their attendance participation. We will have our attendance trip “Race to Desert Lanes” at the end of May for the class with the highest attendance participation. Students need to attend school daily to succeed. Achievement is very sensitive to attendance and absence of even two weeks during one school year matters. Attendance also strongly affects standardized test scores. We want all our students to succeed.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS WITH THESE IMPORTANT REMINDERS: April 18th – NO School April 22nd – STAAR MATH TESTING – 3rd, 4th, & 6th GRADES April 23rd – STAAR READING TESTING - 3rd, 4th, & 6th GRADES April 23rd – STAAR SCIENCE TESTING – 5th GRADE April 25th – Ag Day – 4th Grade April 28th – 4th Grade Field Trip to Natural Bridge Caverns May 1st – 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Rain Forest Café and Alamo May 2nd – Lou the Lightening Bug Presentation PK & K @ 1:00 p.m. May 2nd – Lou the Lightening Bug Presentation 3rd - 6th @ 1:45 p.m. May 2nd – 1st & 2nd Field Trip to The Magik Theatre May 6th – Kinder Field Trip to Sea World May 9th – Mrs. Stephen’s Classroom Field Trip to Morgan’s Wonderland May 15 – Field Day For All Grades – AM HOURS ONLY May 16 – Field Day For All Grades – AM HOURS ONLY We hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you, Elisa Santos, Principal

Science Lab

Makenzie, Makayal,

Dariella, & Melanie

Pre-Kindergarten News

Kindergarten News

First and Second Grade News

Little Bulldog Tidbits Page 2 of 5 Grade Level News

Third & Fourth Grade News

Mrs. Dube & Mrs. Gonzales’ Pre Kinder News:

This week’s letter was Xx. Students learned all about experiments. We read “Curious Kate Wonders Why”. Students participated in a penny experiment & learned about what a scientist is. Students were are continuing to work on letter recognition, sounds, number counting & recognition. We would like to thank all of our parents for Easter egg donations

& attending our Easter Egg Hunt. Have a Happy Easter!

Ms. Rodriguez’s (April 7-11):

Next week in math, students practice using a number line to compare greater than or less than, create their own addition and subtraction word problems and developing an appropriate problem-solving strategy. They also continue to practice spelling numbers 0-20, select pennies, nickels and dimes to pay for items, and daily routines (months of the year, days of the week, counting/ recognizing coins, number chart *1-100, skip count by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s, solve problem of the day and counting tally marks). In Science, students will review and explore properties of solids and liquids through, videos, real objects and hands on activities.

Mrs. Elrod:

Spring is in the air! We are learning and writing about life cycles and insects. Come see our latest additions

to our walls in the hallway!

Mrs. Mireles: First grade will be reading the Mystery "A Boat Disappears" and in Social Studies we will be reading/discussing "Expressing Culture". 1st grade began to celebrate Easter with an Easter egg hunt on Wednesday, April 16th. Students had a blast finding close to 450 eggs. The excitement continued with the mystery of what they discovered inside each Easter egg. HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!

Mrs. Vera:

First Grade- Science: Students will observe and explore ways that young animals often resemble their parents through coloration, body structure, and behavior. First Grade – Math: Students focus on what it means to measure, rather than the traditional method of “how” to measure. The attributes of area, weight/mass and capacity are explored through use of direct comparisons. Students measure length by partitioning and unit iteration ( leaving no gaps between units or overlapping adjacent units) with physical non-standard units. Mrs. Valdez

Reading: Students this week read "Two of Everything" by Lily Toy Hong. A folktale that has been told over and over again for many years, and usually something magical happens in the story. The magical thing that happens in this folktale is a farmer finds a big pot that when things are dropped inside, two of everything comes out. The second graders thoroughly enjoyed this folktale. As the students were reading the folktale they had to understand the ways characters act and feel toward each other. Saxon Phonics: The students continued to discuss the history of the English language; to practice letter recognition, letter sounds, and sight words; and introduce digraph /ey/. Social Studies: Continued with Unit 6 People at Work - to examine the development of a product from a natural resource to a finished product.

Mrs. Vera’s – First Grade:

Esperanza, Mariah, & Kyra –

Computer Time

Pre Kinder

Page 3 of 4 Little Bulldog Tidbits Grade Level News

Test taking time…

Miss. Sandoval-ELA/READING

3rd graders will address research skills and processes in order to support the organization and presentation of ideas. Please encourage the students to read at home 30 minutes a day. 4th graders will focus on the relationships across and between genres including literary works and informational text in order for students to make connections and summarize information. We will have the STAAR Reading Test on April 23, 2014. Please give your child some words of encouragement throughout the weekend break. Have an enjoyable Easter break. Mrs. E. Lopez – 3

rd

& 4th

3rd Grade -Third Grade will continue to read, "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" by Judy Blume. During reading we will be focusing on various reading skills, like comprehension, identifying clues, using background knowledge and learning to make predictions before and during reading. They will also be working out of the Measure Up to the STAAR workbook where they will be working on specific skills for reading. 4th Grade - Fourth grade continues to read the book, "There's A Boy In The Girls Bathroom" by Louis Sachar. During this time we will be focusing on specific reading skills, like comprehension, characterization, identifying clues, using background knowledge, learning to make predictions before and during reading, and making connections across texts. They will also be working out of the STAAR Master workbook where they will be working on specific skills for reading. Note to all 4th grade parents: STAAR TESTING: TUESDAY APRIL 22, MATH, and WEDNESDAY APRIL 23, READING TEST. 4th grade will be going to AG Day in Crystal City on Friday, April 25, 2014. We will be taking off at 7:15 a.m. please make sure your child is here early n eaten breakfast. They will also be having their 4th Grade Fieldtrip to Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio on April 28.

Mrs. Espiritu – 3rd

& 4th

Grade

3rd Grade - The students collected, organized, recorded, and displayed data in pictographs and bar graphs, Next week, the students will take STAAR Math and Reading test. 4th Grade - The students used concrete objects or pictures to make generalizations about determining all possible combinations of a given set of data or of objects in problem situations. Next week, the students will take STAAR Math and Reading test. Mrs. Meyer’s Math Classes

1 School Day till STAAR Testing in Mathematics! Third grade students have prepared and practiced for the STAAR Test. They have worked diligently in order to know the objectives covered on the STAAR Test. At home, parents and family members can help the students by practicing multiplication facts, counting money, both coins and bills, reading analog clocks and reviewing practice materials that students are bringing home daily. There is an excellent app (Multiplication Rock) on your cell phone for practicing multiplication facts. 1 School Day till STAAR Testing in Mathematics! Fourth grade students have prepared and practiced for the STAAR Test. They have worked diligently in order to know the objectives covered on the STAAR Test. Fourth grade students need to practice the multiplication facts order to do well in math. There is an excellent app (Multiplication Rock) on your cell phone for practicing multiplication facts. They need to continue working on adding and subtracting fractions and equivalent fractions.

First & Second Grade News Continued…

Mrs. Lopez:

Next week in math we will be learning about the relationship between multiplication and division by recognizing the fact families. We will also be working on subtracting money amounts and three-digit numbers, regrouping twice. We will also be taking our Fourth Quarterly Test to see how well students have mastered the concepts taught during this last quarter. In science we will be looking at how plants and animals depend on their environment and what the effects are from changes in temperature or precipitation. We will also be learning about hibernation, migration, and dormancy.

Third & Fourth Grade News

Isaias Lara

Angel O & Valentine G

Devin Cortez

Fifth & Sixth Grade News Continued… Mrs. Rangel -5

th

/6th

Grade Math Notes

*5th grade - Please continue to help your child at home with their multiplication facts. www.mathplayground is a good website for practicing facts. *MY HOMEROOM PARENT (5B) – Thank you for sending your child to school on time. We are improving on tardies. *6th grade students will be taking the MATH STAAR Test on Tuesday, April 22. Please encourage your child to do their best. *Have a great EASTER WEEKEND!!! Mrs. Howell

In 5th grade Science, we will wrap up unit 11 with an assessment on Adaptations and Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors. We will then REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW for the STAAR test that is on Wednesday, April 23, 2013. Parents please encourage your children to do their best on these tests… In the 6th grade, we will discuss the advantages and limitations of the models we built of the layers of the Earth. We will then move into plates tectonics. We will also continue with basic math skills in preparation for the upcoming math STAAR. Parents please encourage your children to do their best on these tests. Have a great weekend…

Ms. D. Gomez and Ms. E. Gomez:

STAAR Testing is upon us once again, and this time the 6th graders will be taking their Reading STAAR Test on

Wednesday, April 23rd

. Both Ms. E. and myself have been targeting ALL of the reading objectives and have FAITH that OUR 6

th Graders will rise to the challenge and CONQUER the STAAR Reading Test!!!! It is their TIME to

DEMONSTRATE their KNOWLEDGE using their Reading Skills, and their DESIRE to OUTSHINE the STAAR test!!! Parents be make sure that they get a GOOD NIGHT’S REST, a GOOD BREAKFAST, and come with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Quoting the famous athlete, Michael Jordan, “90% is ATTITUDE and 10% is SKILL.” LET’S ALL SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN, TO REACH FOR THE STAARS!!!!

It is VERY IMPORTANT that your child reads every day for at least 30 minutes. Ask them questions about the book they are reading to ensure that they indeed read the book. In school they can AR test for book points. In order for them to earn a free movie pass, they have to earn 20 AR book points.

We have been reading in the classroom, but I need your help at home. Monday’s is ELA homework day and Thursday’s is Social Studies homework day, so please check that your child does our homework. I need for you to express to your child just how important they need to focus in applying the taught reading strategies in everything that they do. Superintendent Hernandez has challenged both 5th & 6th grade student body to pass the STAAR Tests with an increase 20% for each STAAR test that they PASS. He will take them to Fiesta Texas and pay for their meals!!!!! Please encourage your child to PASS and get COMMENDED on their READING STAAR Test. I know We Can Do It!!! Thank you for investing in your child’s education.

After STAAR testing, students will embark in studying about Greek Mythology. At a later date, we will be doing research. The 6

th grade student body will get to view the film Old Yeller because the passed their AR test!! GREAT

JOB!!!

5th Graders will embark on their new unit on Media. We are still hard at work honing and sharpening our reading and

writing skills. They too did GREAT JOB passing their AR test!!! Their film will is entitled Tuck Everlasting.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that your child reads every day for at least 30 minutes. Ask them questions about the book they are reading to ensure that they indeed read the book. In school they can AR test for book points. In order for them to earn a free movie pass, they have to earn 20 AR book points.

We have been reading in the classroom, but I need your help at home. Monday’s is ELA homework day and Thursday’s is Social Studies homework day, so please check that your child does our homework. I need for you to express to your child just how important they need to focus in applying the taught reading strategies in everything that they do. Superintendent Hernandez has challenged both 5th & 6th grade student body to pass the STAAR Tests with an increase 20% for each STAAR test that they PASS. He will take them to Fiesta Texas and pay for their meals!!!!! Please encourage your child to PASS and get COMMENDED on their READING STAAR Test. I know We Can Do It!!! Thank you for investing in your child’s education.

Little Bulldog Tidbits Grade Level News Page 4 of 5

From the Counselor’s Desk: STAAR testing takes place next week. Parents be sure your children get a good night’s rest, eat a healthy breakfast (no sugar if possible) and reminding them to maintain a positive attitude and to stay focused. Below are the grade levels that will be testing and the subject areas. 3

rd Grade-April 22, 2014 MATH & April 23

rd READING

4th

Grade-April 22, 2014-MATH & April 23rd

- READING 5

TH Grade-April 23-SCIENCE

6th

Grade- April 22, 2014-MATH & April 23rd

-READING Should you have any questions please call us at 365-4009. Students will not be allowed to leave campus for they eat as a group at the cafeteria and resume testing to fulfill the 4 hr. time limit . Please have your children at school every day but these 2 days are very important for being well prepared for the test is the BEST way! HAPPY EASTER!!

Test Taking Tips for Parents 1) Encourage your child to do well but do not pressure him/her. You may stress them out. It is important for your child to stay relaxed for the test. 2) Keep a positive attitude about tests. 3) Make sure that your child gets enough sleep on the night before the test. 4) Talking about the test with your child can relieve stress about test taking. 5) Ensure that your child eats a healthy breakfast and avoid heavy foods that may make them feel groggy and also avoid high sugar foods that may make him/her hyper.

Reducing Test Taking Anxiety

1) Being well prepared for the test is the best way to reduce test taking anxiety. 2) Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test. 3) Stay relaxed, if you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself and then

get back to work. 4) Chew gum(if allowed) during the test to help relieve test anxiety. 5) Don’t worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test. 6) Read the directions slowly and carefully. 7) Get a good night’s sleep before the test. 8) Focus on the question at hand. Don’t let your mind wander on other things. 9) Eat before a test. Having food in your stomach will give you energy and help you to focus. Avoid

heavy foods which can make you groggy or foods/drinks with high sugar intake.

La Pryor Elementary 201 N. Miller P. O. Box 519

La Pryor, TX 78872 Phone:

(830) 365-4009 (830) 365-4017

Fax: (830) 365-4021

E-mail: www.lapryor.net

PRE-KINDER MENU

April 14 - 18

21

Chili Dogs

Choice of Chips

Baked Beans

Fresh Baby Carrots

Fruit Cup

22

Pepperoni Pizza

Seasoned Corn

Fresh Garden Salad

Fruit Cup

23

Steak Fingers

Hot Roll

Mashed Potatoes

Seasoned Veggies

Fruit Cup

24

Chicken

Sandwich

Baked Fries

Lettuce & Pickle

Fruit Juice

25

Crispito

Seasoned

Veggies

Spanish Rice

Tossed Salad

Fruit Cup

ELEMENTARY MENU

April 14 - 18

21

Chili Dogs or Cheese

Burger

Choice of Chips

Baked Beans

Fresh Baby Carrots

22

Cheese or

Pepperoni Pizza

Seasoned Corn

Fresh Garden Salad

23

Steak Fingers

Hot Roll

Mashed Potatoes

Seasoned Veggies

24

Chicken

Sandwich

Baked Fries

Lettuce & Pickle

25

Crispito

Salsa

Seasoned Veggies

Spanish Rice

Tossed Salad Or

Build Your Sack Lunch

Coach Gonzales’ and Coach Lopez’s PE News:

In P.E. we have been working on conditioning where students will build their endurance in running from 1 to 5 minutes. We are testing students in a “Fitness Gram” from the state. Parents please talk to your child about the benefits of wearing the appropriate attire for P.E. We have had incidents where students have hurt themselves because of inappropriate attire for P.E. Students can bring their choice of shoes to school but please bring running shoes to change into while in P.E.

Message from Nurse Becky: Please check your children's hair for lice. We have had a few cases in multiple grade levels.

Happy Easter from

Ms. Rangel’s 5th

Grade

Class.