The Weekly Update #4

*MAP testing window 8/19-9/13

*Please make sure students have a water bottle each day.

*Parents will need their dismissal cards for all children each day in the car rider and parent walk-up lines. Thank you.

*Progress Reports will be posted to Skyward Family Access this week.

*September 2 - Labor Day Student/Staff Holiday

*September 5 - PTA Big Kahuna Fundraiser Begins through the 26th

PTA Updates

- Thank you to everyone who attended Thursday night's PTA meeting and back-to-school picnic. This is one of our favorite events of the year, and we're so glad the rain cleared out so we could meet our Keeley families. More than 250 people attended and enjoyed burgers and chips, courtesy of CUTX. If you have pictures from the event, please email them to keeleyyearbook@gmail.com and include "picnic" in the subject line.

- We still need Room Parents. If you're a party-planning extraordinaire or you just want to help your student's teacher, we need you. Sign up to be a Room Parent and then mark your calendar a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. for a quick meeting to go over the details.

- Big Kahuna kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5. This is a student-favorite fundraiser, and with good reason. Every year, students sell products to earn the collectible panda keychains, a pizza party at Cicis, a game truck experience, and so much more. Students will bring information home on Thursday, and the fundraiser will run until Sept. 26th. Last year, we earned $19,601 - let's see if we can top that!

- The PTA's Bylaws and Standing Rules are up for amendment. Per the Texas PTA's by-laws, the Keeley PTA is updating its Standing Rules (only for our chapter) and by-laws. We'll meet on Sept. 30 on the Keeley playground for a quick meeting to discuss and vote on them. Read over all of the documents here. Questions? Please email keeleypta@gmail.com.

- And if you haven't joined the PTA yet, well, what are you waiting for? Your $10 Membership due (adults, $5 for children) helps the PTA support Keeley's students, faculty and staff as we work to help every child reach their potential. Join today!

• Please do not block the parking spaces outside the front office from 2:00-3:00 as parents may need to come into the office or clinic during this time.
• We've noticed that some parents are still parking in the staff parking lot, which is where our buses come in and out. Last week, we had a close call between a parent and a daycare vehicle. For everyone’s safety, if you need to park at dismissal, please make sure to park off campus.
• We received several compliments at the picnic and from our crossing guards about how much smoother and safer our dismissal process has become. The way everyone is efficiently picking up their students and leaving promptly has really helped create a more orderly environment. Thank you so much for your continued efforts and support in making this happen!

We have an attendance goal of 98% in attendance each week. Unless your child is sick, please make sure they are at school. GISD is giving an award at the end of the grading cycle for the best attendance and we want Keeley Elementary to win! Students also win with their academics when they are at school each day.

Parent lunches will be Wednesdays and Fridays this year, starting September 18. Due to having staggered lunches and more students this year, we have limited space.

• We will use SignUpGenius as our scheduling tool. We are able to accommodate a limited number of guests each day.

• Only parents who have signed up will be able to visit for lunch.

• Parents/Guardians will be able to sit with their child only.

• Please allow all parents an opportunity to come have lunch with their child by limiting your visits.

• Parents will still need to check in and out of the office with a valid picture ID on the days they are scheduled to eat with their child.

Mrs. Alissa in the office is working on the SignUpGenius and it will be linked here when we return after Labor Day.

*September 12: WatchDOGS Meeting (6 p.m.); MOD Squad Meeting (6:30 p.m.); Room Parent 7:00 p.m.

*Week of September 16 - College Week

*September 18- Parent lunches start with Sign-Up Genius

*September 19 - General Membership PTA Meeting 6:00 p.m.

*Week of September 20-27 - Book Fair

*September 25 - Spring Creek BBQ

*September 27 - Western Day

Download the full PTA fall calendar here: https://www.dropbox.com/.../mfvjvh0jra1.../Keeley-PTA.pdf...

What is SHAC? Each school district shall have a health advisory council to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in health education instruction TEC Chapter 28, Section 28.004. The SHAC is made up of parents, district staff, and community members appointed by the district to provide advice on coordinated school health programming and its impact on student health and learning.

Interested in Joining the SHAC? GISD SHAC Member Application

SHAC Meeting Poster 24-25 GISD SHAC Meeting Schedule Poster

Running late? Picking up early? Need to pick up your child from the nurse? There's a form for that! Students who are dropped off or picked up late for school or who are being picked from office will need to be checked in/out using the QR code on the front door. An ID or a dismissal card will also need to be used to verify the person picking up the student.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, we kindly remind you that outside food deliveries, including fast food, are not permitted during school hours. If your child forgets their lunch and cannot eat in the cafeteria, you are welcome to bring a sack lunch for them before 10:00 a.m. in order for it to be received in time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

This year we will be using Class Dojo school-wide for communication and student incentives. Make sure you have joined!

Sign-up here if you haven't yet.

We are also using Parent Square for District and campus communication. Families can access ParentSquare via the online portal or on the app. Families received an email with login instructions for the new communication system, ParentSquare starting Aug. 9. Learn more about the tool and how to register on the ParentSquare Help page.

Keeley Elementary follows the GISD Extreme Heat Guidelines:

● When the Heat Index exceeds 100 degrees- all outside activities should be canceled.

● When the air quality level reaches Red or Purple- all outside activities should be canceled.

● When the air quality level reaches Orange- outside activities should be limited to 20 minutes with frequent water breaks.

Back-to-School Forms

Student Information Update Forms opened on July 22nd. Parents can log into Skyward Family Access to complete all of the Back-to-School/Student Information Update forms. They are located under the 2024-25 Student Information Update tab. If forms are completed online in Skyward before Tuesday, Aug. 6, middle and high school students will be able to see their schedules as soon as their campus makes them available.

GISD hours for elementary campuses are from 8:10-3:30.

We will open our doors each day at 7:30am. We ask that parents stay with their children in their vehicles until 7:30 since we have no staff on duty to supervise until that time.

There will be no outside visitors for lunch until September while we get our cafeteria procedures and expectations down. More information will be coming soon regarding visitors at lunch starting in September.

Here is where you can view your child's lunch account and add funds. You can also see the menu here: https://www.schoolcafe.com/GARLANDISD

Parents may bring food of their choice to school to celebrate their child’s birthday. GISD has determined that this food must be prepackaged, individually portioned, store-bought items with the ingredients clearly labeled. These birthday treats must be distributed after all lunch periods have ended and at the end of the day prior to dismissal. Parents will not be able to attend but can drop off the items in the front office.

All students are encouraged to develop and maintain good dress habits at school and school-sponsored activities. Extremes in modes of dress are not acceptable; e.g. exposed midriffs, see-through clothing, tank tops, or garments advertising products that are in poor taste. Shorts of a modest length and fit (approximately knee-length, loose fitting and hemmed) may be worn by students in all grade levels. The final decision for determining appropriate dress and appearance will rest with the teacher and principal.

Several spirit dress up days will be offered throughout the year if students would like to participate.

Please feel free to reach out to us at A144@garlandisd.net if you need anything.

If you haven't joined our Twitter and Facebook accounts please stay connected with us!

Garland ISD Twitter: @gisdnews

Keeley Website: https://www.garlandisdschools.net/keeley

Keeley PTA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieKeeleyPTA

https://secure.smore.com/n/rwemx