Chalmers Chronicle

Hello Leopard Family!

It's always a great week at Chalmers Elementary! Students need to be dropped off from 7:15-7:35. If you arrive after 7:35, you must walk your student inside and get a tardy slip. When visiting for lunchtime, please park in a parking spot. This will keep the driving lane clear. You will be required to show your ID when checking in. Students will not be allowed to be checked out after 3:20. This allows us to make sure all students are packed and ready for their buses.

Reminders:

School Times: 7:35 A.M. - 3:40 P.M. (This is 15 minutes EARLIER than last year.)

Doors Open for Drop Off: 7:15 A.M.

Tardy Time: 7:45 A.M.

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Not Pictured: Sophia Landeros

Congratulations to Mrs. Allen for graduating from the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Gainesville program! The 10-month program educates the participants on all things Gainesville, from city, county, arts, schools, and so much more!

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind learning experience coming to Chalmers Elementary The @LearningUNDFTD Texas Mobile STEM Lab will be visiting our school from May 13-15. We’re so excited our school was selected for this traveling field trip, a mobile lab that brings science, technology, engineering, and math right to our school parking lot. We can’t wait for our students to see what’s inside!

May 19- Regular School day, 2nd Gr. (1/2 classes) make up field trip & Bluebonnet Party (4th gr.)

May 20-3rd Grade Field Trip (1/2 the classes)

May 21- End of Year Awards (2nd @ 2:00, 3rd @ 8:15, and 4th @ 9:30)

May 22- Last Day-FULL DAY, Talent Shows @ 8 & 10

May 23- Service Awards @ GJH Auditorium

*Student must remain in vehicles every morning until 7:15 AM. Students are getting hurt from running and playing without supervision.

*Do not drop students off in the morning from the main highway and walk over. This is very dangerous. You must pull through the drop off lines.

* When dropping students off each morning, students need to exit vehicles BEFORE reaching the crosswalk. Especially, the lane next to the sidewalks.

*DO NOT ENTER THE WRONG WAY FROM RADIO HILL ROAD. THIS IS CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES.

All students have a red plastic "Take Home Folder" that comes home every day. This provides a communication method between home and school. Please check your child's folder each night for important notes and homework. You can also send any important notes to teachers, office, or other school personnel in these folders. This is also where students keep their homework.

One of our goals at Chalmers Elementary is for students to read and comprehend text on their grade level. In order to meet this goal, we need some help from our families. Students at Chalmers Elementary bring home leveled reading materials everyday. The reading stays the same for 2 weeks. In addition to the reading material, there will be a page of discussion questions for families, and a reading log. We ask that you read and engage in conversations about the reading with your student for at least 20 minutes a day. Please keep the questions and reading items in students' red plastic take home folders in the section labeled "Return to School."

Students will have a few math and reading questions for homework each day/week. This will help reinforce and develop skills that have already been taught to the students in class. This is designed to take 10 minutes or less for each subject per day.

The Texas 90% rule dictates that students must attend at least 90% of their classes to be eligible to receive credit for a course. This rule is in place to ensure that students have consistent access to the educational content and classroom interactions necessary for their academic growth. Unfortunately, over the years, we have noticed a rising number of students falling short of this attendance requirement, leading to the need for summer school to catch up on missed instructional time.

Beginning the summer of 2024, we will be implementing a change in our summer school policy. Regrettably, we will no longer be offering summer school as a means to make up for excessive absences. We understand that this policy change might pose challenges for some families, and we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly. Our primary goal is to provide students with the best possible education during the regular school year, and consistent attendance is crucial for achieving this goal.

We kindly ask for your partnership in this effort. Here's how you can help:

1. **Prioritize Attendance**: Encourage your child to attend school regularly. Explain the importance of consistent attendance and how it contributes to their academic success.

2. **Open Communication**: If your child is facing challenges that might impact their attendance, please let us know. We are here to provide support and explore solutions to help them stay engaged in their education.

3. **Establish Routines**: Establishing consistent routines and schedules at home can greatly aid in ensuring your child's regular attendance.

4. **Monitor Progress**: Stay informed about your child's attendance record and academic progress. Regularly reviewing their grades and attendance in the GISD parent portal can help you address issues promptly.

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La regla del 90% de Texas dicta que los estudiantes deben asistir al menos al 90% de sus clases para ser elegibles para recibir crédito por un curso. Esta regla existe para garantizar que los estudiantes tengan acceso constante al contenido educativo y a las interacciones en el aula necesarias para su crecimiento académico. Desafortunadamente, a lo largo de los años, hemos notado que un número cada vez mayor de estudiantes no cumplen con este requisito de asistencia, lo que lleva a la necesidad de que la escuela de verano recupere el tiempo de instrucción perdido.

A partir del verano de 2024, implementaremos un cambio en nuestra política de escuela de verano. Lamentablemente, ya no ofreceremos escuela de verano como medio para compensar las ausencias excesivas. Entendemos que este cambio de política podría plantear desafíos para algunas familias y queremos asegurarles que esta decisión no se tomó a la ligera. Nuestro objetivo principal es brindarles a los estudiantes la mejor educación posible durante el año escolar regular, y la asistencia constante es crucial para lograr este objetivo.

Le solicitamos amablemente su colaboración en este esfuerzo. Así es como puedes ayudar:

1. **Priorice la asistencia**: anime a su hijo a asistir a la escuela con regularidad. Explique la importancia de la asistencia constante y cómo contribuye a su éxito académico.

2. **Comunicación abierta**: Si su hijo enfrenta desafíos que podrían afectar su asistencia, háganoslo saber. Estamos aquí para brindar apoyo y explorar soluciones que los ayuden a mantenerse comprometidos con su educación.

3. **Establezca rutinas**: Establecer rutinas y horarios consistentes en casa puede ser de gran ayuda para garantizar la asistencia regular de su hijo.

4. **Monitorear el progreso**: Manténgase informado sobre el registro de asistencia y el progreso académico de su hijo. Revisar periódicamente sus calificaciones y asistencia en el portal para padres de GISD puede ayudarle a abordar los problemas con prontitud.