Family Connection
Parent Conference Editon|October 2025
Dear Thunderbird Families,
Weβve had a phenomenal start to the 2025β2026 school year here at Thornton Elementary! From joyful learning to meaningful events, our Thunderbirds are soaring. Highlights from our first six weeks include:
β Successful completion of Beginning-of-Year testing
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MAP testing completed β giving us a strong learning starting point
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Full implementation of the Bluebonnet Curriculum
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Unit assessments underway and progressing well
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Fantastic PTO meetings full of collaboration and energy
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Fall Festival planning in full swing
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A super successful Book Fair β thank you for your support!
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A packed house for Open House β what a turnout!
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3rd grade had their first field trip to the CAC
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Engaged, exciting learning happening across all grades β Kinder through 5th!
We couldnβt have done it without the support of our families, staff, and students. ππ
π¨βπ©βπ§ Parent Conference Month
October is Parent Conference Month β if you haven't scheduled a conference with your childβs teacher yet, please reach out. We look forward to meeting with you to share:
π Your studentβs accomplishments
π§ Beginning-of-year assessment data
π Samples of their classwork
When families and teachers work together, students thrive. Your involvement makes a big difference β and your child benefits from seeing us work as a team!
Meet our Primary Grades
Kindergarten
Our kindergarten team is truly one of the hardest-working groups on campus. Just imagine a room full of 22 five-year-olds β each with their own personality, energy, and learning style! Our incredible teachers meet students at all different levels and patiently guide them as they learn essential skills: how to line up, sit in chairs, raise their hands, listen attentively, and begin learning their letters and sounds. By the end of kindergarten, the growth these little Thunderbirds show is nothing short of amazing!
First grade
First grade is where the magic of reading truly begins! Our talented first grade teachers take students from recognizing letters and sounds to reading books and writing full paragraphs. These dedicated educators work tirelessly to help our Thunderbirds grow into confident readers, writers, and mathematicians β mastering skills like addition and subtraction along the way. The transformation that happens in first grade is nothing short of inspiring!
Second Grade
Second grade is a year of incredible growth, especially in reading and language development. Our dedicated second grade teachers ignite a love for literature by helping students dive deeper into comprehension and uncover the meaning behind the words. They guide students to make meaningful connectionsβboth within the text and to real-life experiences. For our bilingual students, second grade marks a major milestone: during the second semester, they transition to reading entirely in English. Itβs a year of remarkable progress, and our Thunderbirds rise to the challenge!
π October Events Calendar π
Mark your calendars β October is packed with learning and fun!
October 3:
π© United Way Hat Day
π Hispanic Heritage Parade
October 6:
π₯ K-2 Firetruck Presentations
October 8:
πΈ Picture Day!
October 10 & 13:
π« No School
October 22:
π K, 1st, and 2nd Grade Field Trip
October 23β29:
β€οΈ Red Ribbon Week β Celebrate Being Drug-Free!
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Oct 23: Reach for the Sky β Toy Story Theme
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Oct 24: Be Incredible β Superhero Theme
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Oct 27: Race to a Drug-Free Life β Cars Theme
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Oct 28: Paw-sitively Drug-Free β Cars Theme
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Oct 29: Make Waves Against Drugs β Nemo, Little Mermaid, Moana Theme
October 27:
π₯ PTO Meeting | 5:30β6:00 PM
October 29:
π§ Snow Cone Day
π Kindergarten Field Trip
October 30 & 31:
π« No School
π Fall Learning Festival on Oct 30
Tiffany Vestal
Email: tiffany.vestal@tisd.org
Website: https://thornton.tisd.org
Phone: 254-215-5704