Dr. Green Elem Family Newsletter
February 16, 2026
February 16, 2026
Dear Dr. Green Elementary Families,
I hope you enjoyed a wonderful and fun weekend! Our students had a fantastic Pre-Valentine’s Day celebration on Friday—thank you for helping make these special moments meaningful for them.
Last week, students in grades 3–5 completed the STAAR Interim Assessments in reading and math, with fifth grade also taking an additional science assessment. These assessments measure student learning at their current grade level and provide valuable data to guide instruction and targeted interventions as we prepare for the STAAR exams in April. We are moving forward with an intentional focus on high-quality instruction, strengthened interventions, and a shared commitment to a successful testing season.
This week, students in grades 2–5 who are identified as Emergent Bilingual will take the TELPAS assessment. TELPAS measures students’ progress in acquiring English proficiency from one year to the next. The assessment evaluates listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and will be administered over two sessions this week to ensure students remain comfortable and focused.
Students in grades 3–5 will be sharing their Interim assessment results with you in reading and math, and fifth-grade students will also share their science results. Based on these results and teacher recommendations, some students will bring home a permission slip for after-school tutoring, Saturday tutoring, or both, depending on their individual needs.
Focused Intervention Programs:
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Afterschool Tutoring: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00–4:00 p.m. (All grade levels). Please contact your child’s teacher for specific details.
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Saturday Tutoring: 8:30–11:30 a.m. (Grades 3–5 only).
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Interventionist Support (Mrs. Sims): K–5 students may receive 45 minutes of intervention during the school day based on MAP and Interim Assessment results in reading and math. Students who scored below the 29th percentile on MAP or “Did Not Approach” on the Interim assessments qualify for this support.
If you have any questions about these interventions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
Attendance Matters:
Last week, our school attendance rate was 93.88%. Our campus goal is to maintain attendance above 95%, and we appreciate your partnership in helping us reach that goal. If your child is absent, please email the reason for the absence to: green_notes@episd.org
Thank you for your continued support in making Dr. Green Elementary a wonderful place to learn and grow. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any ideas, suggestions, or concerns.
Respectfully,
Guadalupe Pineda
Dr. Green Elementary, Principal
We Are Hawks, Watch Us SOAR!
2025-2026 Handbook
Acknowledgement Page
Hello Families,
I hope you’re doing well! Last week, students completed the STAAR Interim Assessments in Reading, Math, and Science. We are so proud of their hard work and perseverance. These assessments help us identify strengths and areas of need so we can continue to support every student’s growth. We are very eager to continue necessary interventions so we can close the gaps and make every student successful to the best of their ability.
📘 Reading Intervention Update
What We’re Working On
Strengthening comprehension through questioning and summarizing
Building vocabulary with multisensory strategies
Practicing fluency and accuracy
Practicing targeted TEKS that we have identified
How You Can Help at Home
Read with your child for 15 minutes each night
Ask questions like: “What is the main idea?” or “Why did the character do that?”
Encourage them to reread tricky passages
🧮 Math Intervention Update
Current Skill Focus
Fact fluency (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division depending on grade level)
Problem‑solving using models and diagrams
Strengthening number sense and flexible thinking
Practicing targeted TEKS that we have identified
Home Practice Ideas
Use flash cards or math apps for quick fact practice
Have students explain their thinking while solving problems
Incorporate math into daily life (cooking, shopping, measuring, etc.)
Reading: Practicing reading comprehension at home involves active engagement with texts through strategies like summarizing, questioning, and visualization. Key methods include discussing the story, making predictions, reading aloud, and summarizing key points, ideally for 15–30 minutes daily.
Core Strategies for Active Reading:
Ask "Wh" Questions: Use the five fingers (who, what, where, when, and why) to discuss characters, setting, and plot.
Summarize and Retell: After reading, have your child explain the main idea in their own words.
Predict Next Steps: Stop periodically to guess what will happen next based on clues.
Visualize ("Mind Movies"): Encourage creating mental images of scenes to improve engagement and memory.
Make Connections: Relate the text to personal experiences, other books, or world events.
Identify Vocabulary: Discuss new or tricky words in context.
Activities to Boost Comprehension:
Read Aloud Together: Take turns reading, which aids in fluency and allows for pauses to discuss complex parts.
Compare Media: Read a book and watch the movie version, then compare the two.
Reread Favorite Books: Re-reading improves fluency, confidence, and deeper understanding.
"Brain Dump" Method: Write down everything remembered from a text within 5 minutes of finishing.
Math: Helping Your Child Succeed at Home
Dear Parents,
As we continue to support our students in their math learning journey, we understand that practicing math at home can be both fun and challenging. We’ve put together some helpful tips and activities based on your child's grade level to make math a part of your daily routine and build strong foundational skills.
PK-2nd Grade (Ages 4-7)
For younger children, the focus should be on building a strong understanding of basic concepts such as counting, number sense, and simple operations. Here’s how you can help:
1. Foster Number Sense Through Everyday Activities
Count Together: Counting is the cornerstone of early math learning. Count everyday objects with your child, like fruits in the kitchen, toys in their playroom, or steps as you walk. As they become more comfortable, introduce skip counting (by 2s, 5s, 10s) for a challenge.
Use Visuals: Number lines, ten frames, and counting blocks (like LEGO pieces) are great tools to help visualize numbers and quantities. For example, "How many more blocks do we need to reach 10?" or "Can you count by 5s to get to 20?"
2. Make Math Fun with Hands-On Games
Math with Toys: Use toys (e.g., stuffed animals, action figures, or building blocks) to practice simple addition and subtraction. For example, "You have 3 bears. If you add 2 more, how many do you have now?"
Shape and Pattern Recognition: Point out shapes around the house and discuss their properties (e.g., “This is a triangle; it has 3 sides”). Have fun with pattern recognition, such as making patterns with colored blocks or drawing repeating shapes.
3rd-5th Grade (Ages 8-11)
At this stage, children begin to tackle more complex math concepts like multiplication, division, fractions, and word problems. It’s important to continue reinforcing foundational skills while introducing these new challenges.
1. Use Math in Real Life
Math and Money: Have your child practice using real money. Ask them to calculate how much change they would get from a purchase or to add the total cost of a grocery list. This helps develop their skills with addition, subtraction, and understanding of decimals.
Measure Together: Engage your child in measuring items around the house. Use a ruler to measure furniture, or practice using a thermometer to check the temperature and convert measurements between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
2. Focus on Multiplication and Division
Flashcards and Online Games: Use flashcards or interactive math apps to help your child master multiplication and division facts. Daily practice will help them become quicker and more confident.
Real-World Application: Help your child see how multiplication and division work in real life. For example, "If you have 4 bags of cookies, and each bag has 6 cookies, how many cookies do you have in total?" This helps them connect the abstract concept to tangible experiences.
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
It Starts with a Book
Dear Families,
Please read the book activities below for the next two weeks.
The Core Value for February is: Respect – Showing others they are important by what you say and do.
SAY IT:
Respect: Showing others they are important by what you say and do
KNOW IT:
ASK A GROWN-UP:
• How are some ways you show respect to people at work or in the community?
• How does it make you feel when people show you respect?
ASK A KID:
• How can you show respect to teachers at school?
• How can you show respect to other students at school?
SEE IT:
Most of us have seen what happens when we fail to show respect to people in authority or our peers. We have either experienced it ourselves or seen others who were not respectful. In the story The Boy Who Always Talks Back we see the consequences of choosing not to show respect. Through this story, the main character Max, learns what it means to have respect, but also grows to understand the benefits of being respectful to those around him. Take a few minutes and watch this video and see the valuable lessons Max learns as he understands how and why to have respect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3arGjg0Hk
BE IT:
Set a family goal to always try to have respect for each other. Give each other permission to talk about times when you feel disrespected or when you find it difficult to show respect. Be creative and write your own short story about a student who is struggling with respect. What lessons can he/she learn about the benefits of showing others they ar e important by what they say and do?
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Please join our PTA General Meeting on Tuesday, February 24th from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
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