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Originally delivered on 9/2/2022 10:30 am

SUBJECT: The Lion's Roar - Field PTO September Newsletter

September 2022 | Monthly Newsletter

La asociación de padres de Field Elementary prioriza la capacidad de proporcionar nuestra publicación mensual de boletines en español. Para leer este boletín, haga clic en la parte superior de su correo electrónico para verlo en el navegador web y seleccione "español" en el menú a la derecha de la pagina web. ¿Necesita ayuda para encontrar la traducción, envíenos un correo electrónico a fieldespto.communications@gmail.com? ¡Gracias!

A Message from Principal Hendrickson

We are off to a great start! There is a lot of positive energy from the whole Field Family. Everyone is excited and full of hope for the new school year. We are starting off the school year with all our teachers in place and over 440 students. Teachers have all essential materials and many "wish list" items as well. School administration and support staff will do their best to keep this positive attitude going all school year.

Field Elementary was given an "A" rating with a score of 96 from the TEA. Additionally, Field received all six distinctions from the TEA. Only 9% of all HISD schools received all eligible distinctions. Our teachers and students will continue to distinguish themselves this year.

Our PTO has provided the school with a new electronic sign. Additionally, the new PTO web page and newsletter are great communication tools. Our PTO is doing a wonderful job at supporting the school. I look forward to working with them and the community to make Field an even better school.

FIELD ELEMENTARY LION PRIDE

The PTO would like to congratulate our students, teachers, staff, and each of you reading this newsletter for your unwavering and supportive commitment to a standard of excellence! Field Elementary was awarded an "A" TEA academic rating and a gold certification for a Family Friendly School. It truly takes a village to raise our children and we couldn't be prouder!

Award given by the Family & Community Engagement team at HISD. Award is based on community feedback via the Possip survey pulse checks. For more on the FACE team awards visit:

https://www.houstonisd.org/face

The Texas Education Agency released its annual ratings for Texas schools. Criteria for the rating includes:

student achievement
school progress, which includes academic growth and relative performance, and 'closing the gap
STAAR test scores

NEW MONTHLY PARENT WEEK

Mark your calendars -- Parents/guardians who have been approved via the HISD VIPS program can now come to lunch with students! One week each month, parents will be afforded quality time at lunch. External food is allowed. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes before the student's lunchtime for check-in.

Parent Week Dates
September 12-16	October 10-14
November 14-18	December 12-16
January 9-13	February 13-17
March 6-10	April 10-14
May 8-12

VIPS Approved

Not VIPS certified? Volunteers in Public Schools, VIPS, is an annual background check through HISD for all volunteers who help assist public schools. ALL Field parents/guardians who want to volunteer or attend lunch visits for the 2022-2023 school year must register online. Turnaround for VIPS is about 2-3 weeks.

Ready to register? Click Here!

AFTER SCHOOL - UPDATE

NOW AVAILABLE - Bridge and Enrichment Activities

Lion's Den after school is now in full swing! Thank you, families, for all your patience as Field worked to adjust programming and Schoolpay options.

Did you know you can now sign up for enrichment activities? Beginning September 13, Field students can now participate in enrichment classes like art, science, running club, and more! These classes will be held on Tuesdays -Thursdays weekly from September 13 - December 8 from 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM. Each class is an additional cost to the after-school program. If your child is not enrolled in after-school but would like to enroll in the enrichment activities, bridge time is available for purchase. This will provide services from 2:50 PM - 3:45 PM in our Lion's Den Program. The cost listed for Bridge is for the class duration, September 13 - December 8. Families will be notified if a class is canceled by September 6, when you may choose another class that will have formed.

Questions can be directed to the Program Director, Sylvia, at ciasp2@sbcglobal.net, Mr. Zelaya, Wraparound Specialist & On-Site Lead at francisco.zelaya@houstonisd.org, or Theresa Dees, After School Program Liaison, at fieldespto.afterschool@gmail.com.

Program Details

After School Care Options

Half Time 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Full Time 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Extended Day Bundle (5-25x) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Enrichment Activities 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Enrichment Activity Bridge 2:50 PM - 3:45 PM

Enrichment Activities

Arts & Craft

Wednesday (K,1) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Knight School Chess

Tuesday (K-5) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Mad Science

Wednesday (K-5) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Girl Scouts

Thursday (K-5) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Outdoor Sports

Wednesday 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Running Club

Tuesday (K,1) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Wednesday (1-3) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Thursday (4,5) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Spanish For Life

Thursday (K,1) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Thursday (2,5) 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Boys and Girls Club After School Program - Registration Open!

If you are interested in signing your child up for the Boys & Girls Club, click here to learn more and access the application. It is first come, first serve. There are about 50 spots available in this program for after-school care.

NEW TO THE PTO SITE

Teacher and Staff Wish Lists & Favorites

Our amazing Teachers and Staff are pouring their hearts and souls into our little ones every. single. day! Let’s help clear their Amazon Classroom Wish Lists and Donors Choose items for these incredible educators!

Want to learn more about a Teacher or Staff Member at Field? Check out their personal favorites!

Want to help even more? SHARE THIS LINK!

We are so proud and appreciative of this incredibly generous community and we know that together we can help make a huge impact this year for our teachers (students and parents)!

REMINDERS

Visit the PTO site and update your student(s) classroom teacher. Select the teacher from the drop down under "My Account".

1. Log in and select "My account" > family info > verify parent info is up to date > select "next step"

2. Under the "active students" section, verify your student(s) have been added and select the homeroom teacher in the drop down.

3. Save

Note: Under the "Resources" tab, you should now see a "Classroom Message board" option. Stay tuned as the classroom message boards will be rolled out soon!

Looking for Field Gear?

Finish your back-to-school shopping with some Field branded gear! All sales support our school improvements and are also a part of the uniform dress code. Have you seen the new shirt designs?! For more information please visit the link below. Check back often as we continue to add new spirit items! Any questions, reach out to our Booster Sales team at fieldespto.sales@gmail.com

Field Online Store

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The PTO could not do all of the amazing things it does without the dedicated group of volunteers who are so generous with their time and efforts. Involvement with the PTO is a wonderful way to get to know the school, staff, students, and other parents.

There are many different ways to get involved. We encourage you to learn more about the events and activities that the PTO sponsors and volunteer where you can.

Please note that all volunteers who will be working with students on campus or on field trips need to be registered through the school district’s Volunteers in Public Schools program, or VIPS. VIPS requires all volunteers to register annually. For more information, click here.

Auction Planning Committees

Interested in volunteering for a planning committee? It takes an army of volunteers to assure that the Auction & Fundraiser runs smoothly. Interested in signing up for more than one committee?! Go for it! Sign up for a committee here.

Any questions, contact the VP of Fundraising at fieldespto.fundraising@gmail.com

Join a planning committee!

FUNDRAISING REMINDERS

Donations are always accepted! All donations go directly to support the programs and events our organization offers. No amount is too small - please consider making a donation today!

Field PTO participates in the Amazon Smile program. Shop the same great choices and pricing you’ve always received from Amazon while giving a percentage of your purchase to Field.

Link your Amazon account to Field Elementary PTO in Houston, TX and shop at http://smile.amazon.com.

BOX TOPS MAKES IT EASY! All you need is your phone! Download the Box Tops app, shop as you normally would, then use the app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will identify Box Tops products on your receipt and automatically credit Field's earnings online. Twice a year, Field will receive a check and can use that cash to support the school!

Once logged into your Kroger account, search for Field Elementary PTO or KX612 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.

*Customers must have a registered Kroger rewards card account

Don't forget your company's gift matching program!

Corporate matching gift programs match cash donations made by their employees (parents/guardians/family members) to non-profit organizations. Take advantage of this matching opportunity and your Field Elementary contributions can easily be doubled (or even tripled)! Corporate matching provides a substantial amount of extra donations to help our wonderful school. More information can be found here!

LOOKING AHEAD - SAVE THE DATE

Grandparent's Day at Field - September 8

Mark your calendar for Grandparents Day! Honor your special grandparent and invite them to lunch today! Grandparents of all students are invited to have lunch during their scheduled classroom lunchtime on Thursday, September 8! All visitors need to be VIPS approved. Lunch will be available for $5 per adult. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Field directly!

September PTO Meeting - September 14

Join us for the first PTO meeting on Wednesday, September 14 of the school year under the pavilion! (Bring your own chair or blanket)

Spirit Night @ The Burger Joint - September 20

Join us at The Burger Joint for our second Spirit Night of the school year ðŸ´. Can’t stay? You can still support Field by ordering yummy takeout! Be sure to use the online promo code: SPIRIT. 20% of the sales will be donated to the PTO. Dining in? — mention you’re with Field!

Free Dress Friday

Donate $1 donation to the PTO and receive a free dress stamp for the day. Students must wear school-appropriate clothing. PTO volunteers will be at the school to hand out stamps to fashionably dressed Field Lions! Note: Free Dress Friday is the 1st Friday of every month.