Dr. Green Elem Family Newsletter
April 5, 2026
April 5, 2026
Dear Dr. Green Elementary Families,
I hope you enjoyed the three-day weekend and had meaningful time creating family memories during Easter Sunday.
Over the past months, our campus has been focused on preparing students for the STAAR assessments in reading, math, and science. Through intentional instruction, strong collaboration, and high expectations, we have worked with a clear plan and a shared commitment to excellence. We are confident that our students are well-prepared and ready to demonstrate their growth and progress.
To encourage and celebrate our students in grades 3–5, we will host a pep rally on Tuesday, April 7. This will be a fun and inspiring event designed to build confidence and excitement as they approach testing. We invite parents to join us and surprise their child with a motivational poster.
Event Details:
- The program will be inside the gym. All our students will be attending and participating. The program inside the gym is only for students and teachers.
- Parents will join us for the last 10 minutes outside the gym.
- The gym gate will open at 9:15 a.m.
- Parents will gather outside the gym while the program concludes.
- Please position yourselves along and around the fence area.
- After dismissing grades K–2 to their classrooms, students in grades 3–5 will parade outside the gym where you can cheer them on with your posters.
- We expect the parade to begin around 9:20 a.m., please plan to be lined up no later than 9:20 a.m. This will be a brief but meaningful moment for our students. After the parade, students will return to their classrooms.
Saturday Intervention Sessions:
Students participating in Saturday Intervention Sessions have two remaining opportunities before testing:
- April 11
- April 18
- Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
We also encourage you to review the important testing tips shared below by our AP, Mrs. Bencomo to help support your child during this time.
Student Registration began on April 1st. Please ensure you register your children as soon as possible. Registering your children will help our district and campuses plan for classrooms capacity, number of sections, number of teachers and support personnel.
In addition to registration, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Green Elementary will open a new Pre-Kindergarten section for 3-year-old children. We are excited to offer this program to our community and support our youngest learners. Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2026, to be eligible. Please call our office if you need additional information.
Please do not delay. We appreciate your time and attention to this important yearly task.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping make Dr. Green Elementary a wonderful place to learn and grow. Please feel free to reach out with any ideas, suggestions, or concerns.
Warm regards,
Guadalupe Pineda
Dr. Green Elementary, Principal
We Are Hawks, Watch Us SOAR!
2025-2026 Handbook
Acknowledgement Page
Hello Families!
As we are getting ready for our testing season, please find below some simple, effective activities you can do at home:
📚 Reading Tips for Home
1. Read Every Day (15–20 Minutes)
Let your child choose books they enjoy—comics, nonfiction, magazines, or chapter books all count!
2. Talk About What You Read
After reading, ask:
Who are the main characters?
What was the problem in the story?
What was your favorite part and why?
What do you think will happen next?
3. Practice Fluency
Have your child reread a short passage to build smoothness and confidence. Try reading it once together, then independently.
4. Build Vocabulary
When you come across a new word:
Talk about what it means.
Use it in a sentence.
Look for it again during the week.
5. Make Reading Real-Life
Read recipes, instructions, menus, road signs, or grocery lists together. Reading is everywhere!
➕ Math Tips for Home
1. Practice Basic Facts (5–10 Minutes Daily)
Quick practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts helps build math confidence.
2. Use Math in Everyday Activities
Cooking: Measure ingredients and talk about fractions.
Shopping: Add prices, estimate totals, compare costs.
Time: Practice reading clocks and calculating elapsed time.
3. Play Math Games
Card games, board games, or simple dice games help strengthen number sense in a fun way.
4. Talk Through Problem Solving
When solving a word problem, ask:
What is the question asking?
What information do we know?
What strategy can we use?
5. Encourage a Growth Mindset
Remind your child: “Mistakes help our brains grow!” Praise effort and perseverance.
Thank you for your continued support at home. Working together makes such a difference! I’m excited to see all the progress our students will make during the rest of this semester.
Parents,
State assessments are just around the corner! You can help your child prepare by doing the following:
Prepare children for testing by maintaining a calm, positive home environment, ensuring adequate sleep, and providing a healthy breakfast on test days. Encourage steady studying rather than cramming, mark test dates on the calendar, and encourage them to do their best without applying undue pressure.
Preparing the Night Before
Sleep & Routine: Ensure a full night's sleep to avoid fatigue, which can hinder performance.
Prepare Items: Pack all needed materials (backpack, snacks, eyeglasses) to avoid morning stress.
Calm Atmosphere: Maintain a normal, calm routine to reduce anxiety.
Test Day Tips
Healthy Breakfast: Provide a nutritious breakfast, avoiding heavy foods that cause sluggishness or high-sugar items that cause hyperactivity.
Be Punctual: Ensure your child arrives at school on time to prevent anxiety.
Encouragement: Offer a quick encouraging word and a hug; let them know you are proud of their effort, not just their result.
Positive Mindset: Frame the test as a chance for them to show what they have learned, rather than a high-stakes ordeal.
Attendance: Ensure your child is present on test days.
As we approach the upcoming STAAR Math and Science assessments, we want to partner with you to ensure your child feels confident, prepared, and ready to succeed!
📅 Testing is right around the corner!
Now is the perfect time to build strong study habits and reinforce key skills at home.
✅ How You Can Help at Home
1. Encourage Daily Practice
Just 15–20 minutes a day can make a big difference! Students can review class notes, complete practice problems, or use online resources.
2. Use Helpful Online Resources
Here are some trusted websites for extra support:
Khan Academy (Math & Science practice):
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Texas STAAR Practice Resources:
https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/testing/staar/staar-released-test-questions
IXL Practice (if your child has access):
https://www.ixl.com/
Math Games for Review:
https://www.mathplayground.com/
🧠 Tips for Student Success
Get a good night’s sleep before testing days
Eat a healthy breakfast
Take your time and show your work
Read each question carefully
Stay positive and confident—you’ve got this!
https://www.episd.org/page/non-cep-meal-application-cep-information-copy
EPISD offers the Extended Daycare Learning Center at Dr. Green for a weekly fee.
Daycare Manager: Grace Gonzalez
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday
6:00 am to 7:30 am
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Please access the EPISD webpage for more information. https://www.episd.org/o/episd/page/extended-day-learning
Dear Families,
I would like to invite you to visit our library by attending coffee with Mrs. Melchor on Thursday, April 16, from 8:30 to 9:30 am. I hope to see you there!
The Core Value for April is- Honor: Letting others know you see how valuable they really are.
SAY IT:
Honor: Letting others know you see how valuable they really are.
KNOW IT:
ASK A GROWN-UP:
• Who are some people we should honor in our community?
• Talk about a time when you felt honored by someone else.
ASK A KID:
- How can you honor people who are valuable to you?
• How does it make you feel when someone shows you honor?
SEE IT:
It is easy to look back through history and learn about people who have earned our honor.
In school, we learn about great people who have made important contributions to our
community and our country.
As a family, watch “Liberty Kids: Honor and Compromise.” ( https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=6P1h17S1bZI ). As you watch, pause the video when you see examples of how the
characters show honor to others. Take time to discuss how and why each of these characters
show honor.
BE IT:
Make a list of people in the community who you can honor as a family. Come up with some
ways your family can let these people know you see how valuable they really are. Maybe you
can make some thank you cards, bake cookies, find a way to help them with an important
project, or purchase a small gift. Start a family habit of identifying people who deserve your
honor and let them know they are valuable to you.
PTA WANTS YOU!
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of our students, we invite you to consider running for our PTA Board. We are looking for a PTA President and a few VP positions. Please talk to Mrs. Mulukutla or any other PTA officer for more information.
Please join our PTA