Calhoun Ranger Report - 12/5

Dear Calhoun Early Childhood School Families,

What an incredible turnout we had for Winter Family Engagement Night! Ice skating, playing in the snow, and spending time together made the evening truly special. If you were able to join us, we’d love to hear your thoughts to help us plan future events. Please take a moment to share your feedback using the link below.

I also want to express how deeply grateful I am for your generosity with the staff gift card donations organized through PTO. Your kindness means so much, and I can’t wait to celebrate our team at our holiday party on Tuesday. Thank you for taking such good care of the people who care for your children every day.

Finally, I’ve included the link to our most recent Parent Training, led by Gulf Coast Blended Pre-K teacher Jennifer Thorpe. Mrs. Thorpe introduced me to the book I Love You Rituals by Becky Bailey, creator of Conscious Discipline. I read it in one sitting and immediately said, “We HAVE to share this with our families!” Mrs. Thorpe did a beautiful job explaining how these rituals have transformed the climate in her classroom. We encourage you to watch the video at home and explore simple ways to strengthen your connection with your child(ren).

Warmly,

Principal Anderson

December 19 - End of 2nd 9 Weeks

December 22-January 5 - Winter Break/No School

We are thrilled to celebrate our Blended Pre-K Teacher, Susan Caver, as our Teacher of the Year! Susan is truly the pre-k teacher we all wish we had—kind, gentle, patient, and endlessly caring. She creates a classroom environment where every child feels seen, supported, and loved, and her influence extends far beyond her four walls. Students adore her, families trust her, and our staff is continually inspired by her calm, compassionate leadership. Anyone who has the privilege of being around Susan can feel the joy and intentionality she brings to her work each day.

We are thrilled to celebrate Lainnee Robinson as our Rising Star Teacher of the Year! Even in her very first year, Lainnee has shown an extraordinary talent and passion for teaching. From the moment she stepped into her classroom, it was clear that she was born to be an educator. Her energy, dedication, and heart for her students are already making a lasting impact, inspiring both her students and her colleagues alike. We are so excited to watch her continue to grow and shine as she embarks on what is sure to be an incredible teaching career!

We are proud to celebrate Maddie Howe as our Paraprofessional of the Year! Maddie has stepped up in tremendous ways this year and has become a true leader on our campus. She consistently goes above and beyond what is expected, always putting the needs of her students first and modeling what wholehearted dedication looks like. We are grateful for the care, commitment, and excellence she brings to our school each day. Congratulations, Maddie!

We are thrilled to announce that Nurse Gabbie McBride has been named our Support Professional Staff of the Year! Nurse McBride is the definition of calm, caring support. She meets every student, staff member, and family with compassion, patience, and a warm smile. Whether she’s helping a little one feel safe, guiding a worried parent, or supporting our team, she does it all with grace. We are so grateful for the heart she brings to our campus each day. Congratulations, Nurse Gabbie!

🕢 Please remember that while our school time starts at 7:30am, we are outside and greeting kids starting at 7:00am. We have had very few cars arriving between 7:00am-7:20am. If you wait until the last minute to bring your child in the carpool line, you run the risk of arriving tardy. Please make sure to plan ahead and utilize the line before 7:15am. You will get in and out with no wait!

⏰ For safety and efficiency, students will not be released after 2:00pm. Please plan ahead for appointments or other time commitments to ensure your child is picked up before this time.

🚗 Please remember that we run two car lines at the same time:

From the North: Turn left into the left lane of the parking lot. This lane is for Piney Woods, Gulf Coast, and South Plains.

From the South: Turn right into the parking lot and use the right lane, which wraps around to the back of the building. This lane is for Big Bend, Hill Country, and Panhandle.

📵Please enter the parking lot with caution and avoid using your phone while driving. As you turn in, use your blinker to signal. This helps us clearly distinguish Calhoun families from neighborhood traffic and ensures a smoother, safer arrival for everyone.

Complete the form below to show your appreciation for our Calhoun staff!

Help me grow! I would love your feedback on how I am doing in my first year as principal. Thank you to those who have already completed the form. Your feedback has been so helpful!

If you attended our PTO events like Touch-A-Truck or our Family Engagement Night and had your picture taken by Panhandle Blended Pre-k Teacher, Adrian Gonzalez, he has kindly created a folder to house the great pictures he has taken of our families. I will keep this in the Ranger Report each week for you to be able to access at your convenience.