The Prairie Pulse ~November~
DPES Family Newsletter
Please be sure to revisit for updates throughout THE MONTH.
Tomball ISD - Where we focus on the Social-Emotional well-being of our staff, students, and families, High-Quality Instruction, and Collaboration to ensure learning for all of our Tomball ISD students.
DECKER PRAIRIE -
Mission: Decker Prairie Elementary is dedicated to high levels of learning for all.
Vision: We will create an environment where everyone takes risks and collaborate respectfully through innovative learning.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Decker Families,
We had such successful Donuts with Grownups! Our students were able to bring a special adult with them to school and that means so much to them. Their hearts beamed through their smiles. We hope you enjoyed the moment, fleeting as it was, as much as we did.
We also had a record turnout for our Family Engagement Night! HUGE success and we definitely know you were having a BLAST! We can't wait to have more fun in the spring!
We also would like to thank our staff for helping to coordinate this amazing event! The activities were so much fun!
Next, we would like to thank our librarian, Mrs. Watson, as she really ROCKED our book fair. Our book sales were at a record high and our students were elated with all of their purchases and finds.
Last, we would like to thank our amazing PTO for lending us a helping hand during the event in our cafe. They volunteered to help hand out the pizza and drinks so that our staff was available to greet parents and students. Thank you, PTO!
I know it left us all wanting more. More fun, more parents, more fun with parents and students.
We will see you all VERY soon!
Regards,
Mrs. Blackmon
Principal - DPES
THANK YOU --- OUR ATTENDANCE IS GOING UP!
HELP US KEEP IT GOING!
We have moved from 90.5 from earlier this year to 93.2%! Let's keep it going ALL THE WAY T0 97!!!
STUDENT QUOTE
"We come to Decker Prairie to learn things together and we grow together while we learn together."
~ Skylar Brown (2nd Grade - Mrs. Stevens)
Food Drive Nov 8-18
Book Fair Thanks
The book fair is still open online until November 16th: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/dpes. Thank you again for encouraging a love for reading in our students and for your support!
~Mrs. Watson, DPES Librarian
From our PTO -
PTO - Order your yearbook!
- Dasher’s light show is a magical drive-thru experience featuring more than 1 million sparkling LED lights! Bring your friends and family to sing-a-long and wiggle in your seats to your favorite holiday tunes merrily synced to the festive display of lights.
- Drive through the fabulous tunnel displays of dazzling colors, an amazingly grand light wall and of course, dancing reindeer.
- Purchase your tickets online during the week of November 14 - Nov 20 using our exclusive link: DPES DASHER LIGHT SHOW ( https://bit.ly/DPESCougs )
Dasher’s Lightshow entrance is located at: 22731 FM 2920, Hockley, TX 77447.
*PLEASE NOTE, if you attended in the 2020 season, this is a different entrance. They recommend using GPS navigation for turn-by-turn directions (Google or Apple Maps). You will see signs indicating when you are close to the entrance.
Great Expectations
An integral part of the culture of our campus is the Great Expectations program that promotes a Culture of Respect and Academic Excellence. This program pairs well with the Decker Prairie Motto: “We Can, We Will.” Teachers and students strive to practice the 8 Expectations for Daily Living and learn to integrate the 36 Life Principles of the Great Expectations program. GE also endorses 17 Teaching practices that promote critical thinking, speaking in complete sentences, display and celebration of student work, mutual respect, relevant connections between the curriculum and real life, enriched vocabulary, and other positive elements to advance student achievement through continuous instructional improvement.
Every day we have our Call to Excellence (CTE) within our classroom. It is a daily routine that incorporates Great Expectations, our pledges, multiple speaking and presentation practice opportunities and our moment of silence, and much more. Each week a different Life Principle is defined through our CTE. We also incorporate the 8 Expectations for Living into the CTE daily. Often these topics are incorporated into students’ circle time where they share their thinking. The impact of this program on campus has been profound, as evidenced by the positive attitudes of students and staff, as well as the extremely low number of student disciplinary incidences.
The Decker Prairie staff and students were able to achieve Model School status last year even with pandemic challenges. If you want to learn more about GE you can read about GE at www.greatexpectations.org or learn more about it at your next visit. Thank you for your continued support of Decker Prairie and the GE program on our campus.
Failing is another word for GROWING
- How does failing help us grow?
- What would happen if we never failed?
- What about instead of "I don't know how to do ____", we replace it with " I don't know how do to do _____ YET"
PARENT QUOTE
Mrs. Kaspar's..."enthusiasm for teaching the kids is inspiring, she is always encouraging them to be creative. Even just in meeting her a handful of times you can tell how much she loves teaching them. I know she’s busy but she always takes the time to answer my emails..." (Kindergarten Parent)
LUNCHROOM VISITORS AND CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS
November Schedule:
· Monday: Student Last Name= A thru F
· Tuesday: Student Last Name= G thru L
· Wednesday: Student Last Name= M thru O
· Thursday: Student Last Name= P thru Z
· Friday: Student Last Name G thru L
(December will be M-O)
REMINDERS - VISITORS MAY ONLY BRING FOOD FOR THEIR CHILD AND MAY ONLY SIT WITH THEIR CHILD.
Volunteers -
All school volunteers must complete a volunteer application.
BIRTHDAYS
We are NOT allowing birthday cupcakes.
If you are interested in sending a birthday treat, please a Pre-wrapped/Store-bought items to share.
Ex. Litte Debbie, Ding-Dongs, Twinkies, etc.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
This year, your child will be using Lexia® Core5® Reading—a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their literacy skills. The activities in Core5 support and build on your child’s classroom curriculum and focus on developing
reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
We encourage students to utilize Lexia at home. Our goal is for all students to have an average of 60 minutes per week. This is a great activity for your child to do at home. Below you will find steps on how to access Lexia from tablets and computers.
- Go to the DPES homepage at dpes.tomballisd.net
- Click Academics
- Click ClassLink
- Login with username (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
- Ex: 123456, tisd01012011
- Click the Lexia Core5 icon
- Click login with Google
- Enter email (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#@elem.tomballschools.net) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
- Ex: 123456@elem.tomballschools.net, tisd01012011
- Lexia Core5 will then open.
To ensure students are making sufficient and adequate progress toward reading growth, it is important that parents do not provide students with support related to the content presented.
We hope you share in our excitement about this program and will support your child
in completing lessons at home!! Additionally reading each night with your child helps build oral language, vocabulary, and concepts of print. This is so important. We appreciate all that you do parents and families!
To learn more, visit www.LexiaLearning.com
Sincerely,
Decker Prairie Elementary School
Math Fact Fluency
Mastering basic facts is essential to being proficient mathematicians. Below is more information about the importance of fact fluency.
*What is fact fluency?*
Math fact fluency, or the ability for students to recall basic math facts quickly, accurately, and effortlessly, is an essential component of students’ math knowledge. It would take you ages to write a paper if you had to look up the spelling of each individual word. In the same way, lack of fact fluency can slow down students’ processing of more complex math problems and situations.
*How do we build fact fluency?*
It is important to realize that fact fluency is not just memorizing the basic facts. It is building students’ conceptual understanding of the basic math facts, rather than focusing solely on memorization. We encourage children to focus on looking for patterns and relationships between the facts, building on and connecting to what facts they already know (for example, if students know 5+5=10, then 5+6= one more than ten, or 11). This conceptual framework anchors students’ recall in meaning. In other words, students are making meaningful connections that make remembering the facts easier.
*What can you to help?*
Students should practice math facts at home. This extra practice helps the brain transition facts from short-term memory into long-term storage. Practicing can be as easy as creating and using flashcards or quizzing your child in the car on the way to school or while cooking dinner. They could also do the Fact Practice in Freckle. In addition, a quick internet search will provide tons of great websites and apps that provide practice opportunities.
Please reach out to your classroom teacher or Mrs. Finney if you have any questions about how to help your child master their facts.
IMAGINE MATH
Dear Parent/Guardian,
This year, your child will be using Imagine Math—a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their math skills. The activities in Imagine Math support and build on your child’s classroom curriculum and focus from basic numeracy to Geometry.
Imagine Math PreK-2 is designed for young learners and focuses on early math skills like counting, numbers and operations, and logical reasoning. Early learners are immersed in a storybook environment with lovable characters that engage students and illustrate how math exists throughout their world. As your student plays Imagine Math PreK-2, they can visit different locations like a treehouse, playground, forest, or barn to play math lessons and solve problems.
Imagine Math Grade 3+ focuses on math skills for students in Grade 3-8, Algebra 1, and Geometry with conceptual, standards-aligned lessons. If your student needs extra help, they can text chat with live, state-certified math teacher and see calculations on the screen. As your student completes math lessons, they earn points that they can use to contribute to class competitions, donate to qualified local and national charities, or buy enhancements for their avatar
We encourage students to utilize Imagine Math at home. Our goal is for all students to have an average of 60 minutes per week. Below you will find steps on how to access Imagine Math from tablets and computers.
Go to the DPES homepage at dpes.tomballisd.net
Click Academics
Click ClassLink
Login with username (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
Ex: 123456, tisd01012011
Click the Imagine Math icon
Enter email (student 6-digit lunch#/ID#@elem.tomballschools.net) and password (tisd+8-digit birthdate)
Ex: 123456@elem.tomballschools.net, tisd01012011
Imagine Math will then open.
To ensure students are making sufficient and adequate progress toward math growth, it is important that parents do not provide students with support related to the content presented.
We hope you share in our excitement about this program and will support your child
completing lessons at home!!
To learn more, visit https://www.imaginelearning.com/math
Sincerely,
Decker Prairie Elementary SchoolPE
Click on the picture below to sign your student up for skating and look at volunteer options!
PARENT QUOTE
"Mrs. Franklin is kind, compassionate, and truly exemplifies what a teacher should be. She loves her students and I can rest assured that my son is in good hands!"
(Kindergarten Parent)
ESL Spotlight
Speaking and Listening Skills
The more time and exposure ELL students have in a language-rich learning environment in English or their native language, the greater their language development and retention.
- Find free learning opportunities around the community and share them with your ELL students’ parents. They could be as involved as summer reading programs at the local public library, or single weekend events at the city park. Look for multi-lingual programs also, since parents will be more likely to sign their kids up for programs that can provide kids with inclusive experiences.
- Provide parents with lists of other “learning” resources in the community, such as zoos, museums, restaurants, and other public places. The more time and exposure ELL students have to language-rich learning environments, the greater their language retention, including opportunities in students’ native languages too. The more time and exposure ELL students have in a language-rich learning environment in English or their native language, the greater their language development and retention.
- Consider apps that students can download onto personal devices. Duolingo is one language app which is completely free.
- Introduce students to age-appropriate podcasts.
GIFTED GUIDE
Fall GT testers had a letter along with results went home this past week. If you have questions, contact Tricia Gonzalez. If you would like to appeal, you will do this by sending a letter to Ashley Schlafly at the District level. The information is on the letter sent home.
COUNSELOR
Decker Prairie Food Drive
We will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to TEAM (Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministry.) We will start to collect donations on Monday, November 8th until Thursday, November 18th. Please help us help others this holiday season.
Do you want to be a Watch Dog?
If you are interested in joining Decker Prairie Watch Dogs, please sign up at:
Our Counselor is here to help you!
- Questions about school supplies
- Family social-emotional needs
- Support through family hardships
- or just a listening ear
Please contact our counselor Zakiya Bircher @ 281-357-3134 ext 3076
NURSE
Clinic
If your child will require medication administration during school hours, please note that all prescriptions must have a written/signed order from a medical doctor licensed in the state of Texas. Medication will not be administered without the correct documents.
Please contact the clinic in advance to drop off medication. Students should NOT be sent to school with the medication. Please contact the DPES nurse, Lance Culver, at 281-357-3134 EXT 3006 if you need to schedule a time to present documents and drop off medication for your child.
COVID
Isolation and Readmission Criteria for a Positive Lab-Confirmed COVID-19 Student Students who test positive for COVID-19 must enter isolation.
Parents must notify the school nurse if their student is lab-confirmed positive via the District’s online reporting tool. In order for the student’s absence during isolation to be exempted, a student must provide to the school a physician’s note and a positive COVID-19 lab result. Individuals in isolation should meet the readmission criteria outlined below before returning to school. 3
● Isolation: Students must not come to school and should isolate themselves from others for a period of 10 days after symptom onset or a positive test date (whichever occurred first) in accordance with the Texas Department of Safety Health Services (DSHS) Exclusion and Readmission criteria for Schools and Childcare Centers.
● Return Criteria: Per CDC guidance, students can return to school after 10 days of isolation, if all symptoms are improving or resolved and the fever has been absent for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
Please refer to the district website for updates
Student Quote
"I love my friends and teachers. We get to learn and have fun together!
~ Grace Anderson (1st Grade - Mrs. Polasek)
Spirit Nights
Decker Prairie PTO
Child Nutrition - District Menus
We are excited to announce for the 2021-22 school year ALL Tomball ISD students will receive FREE school meals, regardless of eligibility! #DestinationExcellence
More info from Child Nutrition: https://www.tomballisd.net/apps/news/article/1469018
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
11/16- Blackmon's Bedtime Story; Mr. Pluckhahn reads a Fall-themed story 7:00-7:30 pm (Facebook LIVE) // Mel's Spirit Night
11/17 - Lindo Spirit Night
12/7- Mel's Spirit Night
12/13- Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
12/14 - 4th Grade Holiday Program
12/16 - Winter Wonderland
12/17 - Classroom Parties / Early Release Day
12/20-1/4 Holiday Break - NO School // School Resumes January 5th!
1/17 - Staff and Student Holiday; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day- NO School
Technology Help
All DPES Families - Stay Updated!
Join our Twitter - @TISDDPES
Join our Decker Prairie Facebook PTO page - https://www.facebook.com/ptodpes
Decker Prairie Elementary
Principal - Brenda Blackmon
Pk-2nd grade Asst Principal - Tammy Sebesta
3rd-4th grade Asst Principal - Justin Pluckhahn
Counselor - Zakiya Bircher
Librarian - Mandy Watson
Email: cynthiawallace@tomballisd.net
Website: https://dpes.tomballisd.net/
Location: 27427 Decker Prairie-Rosehill Road, Magnolia, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 357-3134
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TISDDPES
Twitter: @TISDDPES