Dr. Green Elem Family Newsletter
April 20, 2026
April 20, 2026
Dear Dr. Green Elementary Families,
Thank you to the parents who attended Coffee with our Librarian. Mrs. Melchor shared important information regarding new state library laws, and we appreciate your engagement.
Link to Dr. Green Library:
https://hawkslibrary915.weebly.com/
If you would like current information about banned books in the US, visit the American Library Association site. https://www.ala.org/bbooks
Over the past few months, our campus has been focused on preparing students for the STAAR assessments in reading, math, and science. We are now approaching the end of this testing period. On Tuesday, April 21, students in grades 3–5 will take the Math STAAR assessment. We are confident that our students are well-prepared and ready to demonstrate their progress. We encourage you to review the testing tips shared below to support your child. Please send them to school with encouragement, confidence, and plenty of love.
Thank you to the parents who have supported after-school tutoring and Saturday school by ensuring their children attend. This valuable time has allowed students to strengthen their math and reading skills, and your support truly makes a difference.
Great News! Dr. Green Elementary will be opening a new Pre-Kindergarten section for 3-year-old children. We are excited to expand our services to support our youngest learners. Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2026, to qualify. If you know of a family who may benefit from this opportunity, we would greatly appreciate you spreading the word. Please contact our office for more information.
Student Registration Update: Registration opened on April 1. We kindly ask that you register your child as soon as possible. Timely registration helps our district plan for classroom capacity, staffing, and resources. Our goal is to have all current students registered by the end of this week.
Current registration rates:
- District: 31.8%
- Coronado Feeder: 32.5%
- Dr. Green Elementary: 22.6%
As you can see, we are currently behind. Please do not delay—your prompt attention to this important task is greatly appreciated. A QR code linking to the online registration page is provided below.
The coming weeks will be filled with energy, fun, and a continued commitment to building a strong school community.
This Wednesday, April 22, we invite you to join us for our Earth Day celebration immediately after school at 3:30 PM. Families are encouraged to work together with your children on an art activity focused on the power of solar energy. Student artwork will be submitted to the Electric Company for their art contest. Please see the flyer below for more details.
We are also excited to invite students to showcase their talents during our Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5 at 4:30 PM. If your child would like to participate in the talent show, please submit the form below to the Dr. Green Talent Show Committee. Be sure to review all participation guidelines carefully.
A special call to all our parents interested in serving our PTA. We are currently looking for a PTA President and a PTA Treasurer. If you would like to serve in any of these two positions for next school year, please let me know by sending me an email to gpineda@episd.org. We appreciate your support to continue our PTA serving our school and students.
Thank you for your continued partnership in making Dr. Green Elementary a wonderful place to learn and grow. Please feel free to reach out with any ideas, suggestions, or concerns.
Warm regards,
Guadalupe Pineda
Dr. Green Elementary, Principal
We Are Hawks, Watch Us SOAR!
2025-2026 Handbook
Acknowledgement Page
Registration Is Now Open! Help Us Reach our Goal
Please access our district online registration here: https://www.episd.org/o/episd/page/online-registration
Hello Families!
We are in our testing season, please find below some simple, effective activities you can do at home:
📚 Reading Tips for Home
1. Read Every Day (15–20 Minutes)
Let your child choose books they enjoy—comics, nonfiction, magazines, or chapter books all count!
2. Talk About What You Read
After reading, ask:
Who are the main characters?
What was the problem in the story?
What was your favorite part and why?
What do you think will happen next?
3. Practice Fluency
Have your child reread a short passage to build smoothness and confidence. Try reading it once together, then independently.
4. Build Vocabulary
When you come across a new word:
Talk about what it means.
Use it in a sentence.
Look for it again during the week.
5. Make Reading Real-Life
Read recipes, instructions, menus, road signs, or grocery lists together. Reading is everywhere!
➕ Math Tips for Home
1. Practice Basic Facts (5–10 Minutes Daily)
Quick practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts helps build math confidence.
2. Use Math in Everyday Activities
Cooking: Measure ingredients and talk about fractions.
Shopping: Add prices, estimate totals, compare costs.
Time: Practice reading clocks and calculating elapsed time.
3. Play Math Games
Card games, board games, or simple dice games help strengthen number sense in a fun way.
4. Talk Through Problem Solving
When solving a word problem, ask:
What is the question asking?
What information do we know?
What strategy can we use?
5. Encourage a Growth Mindset
Remind your child: “Mistakes help our brains grow!” Praise effort and perseverance.
Thank you for your continued support at home. Working together makes such a difference! I’m excited to see all the progress our students will make during the rest of this semester.
Parents,
One more state assessment this week! You can help your child prepare by doing the following:
Prepare children for testing by maintaining a calm, positive home environment, ensuring adequate sleep, and providing a healthy breakfast on test days. Encourage steady studying rather than cramming, mark test dates on the calendar, and encourage them to do their best without applying undue pressure.
Preparing the Night Before
Sleep & Routine: Ensure a full night's sleep to avoid fatigue, which can hinder performance.
Prepare Items: Pack all needed materials (backpack, snacks, eyeglasses) to avoid morning stress.
Calm Atmosphere: Maintain a normal, calm routine to reduce anxiety.
Test Day Tips
Healthy Breakfast: Provide a nutritious breakfast, avoiding heavy foods that cause sluggishness or high-sugar items that cause hyperactivity.
Be Punctual: Ensure your child arrives at school on time to prevent anxiety.
Encouragement: Offer a quick encouraging word and a hug; let them know you are proud of their effort, not just their result.
Positive Mindset: Frame the test as a chance for them to show what they have learned, rather than a high-stakes ordeal.
Attendance: Ensure your child is present on test days.
This Tuesday our students will be taking the STAAR Math assessments, we want to partner with you to ensure your child feels confident, prepared, and ready to succeed!
Now is the perfect time to build strong study habits and reinforce key skills at home.
✅ How You Can Help at Home
1. Encourage Daily Practice
Just 15–20 minutes a day can make a big difference! Students can review class notes, complete practice problems, or use online resources.
2. Use Helpful Online Resources
Here are some trusted websites for extra support:
Khan Academy (Math & Science practice):
https://www.khanacademy.org/
Texas STAAR Practice Resources:
https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/testing/staar/staar-released-test-questions
IXL Practice (if your child has access):
https://www.ixl.com/
Math Games for Review:
https://www.mathplayground.com/
🧠 Tips for Student Success
Get a good night’s sleep before testing days
Eat a healthy breakfast
Take your time and show your work
Read each question carefully
Stay positive and confident—you’ve got this!
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
Dear Families,
I am happy to share with you the flyers for our culminating event for our district wide initiative It Starts with a Book. I will be making paper flyers for the week of 4/27. But getting this out now helps you parents to plan in advance. There will be free books given away to the first 150 kids of ALL ages, and the many of the authors will be there to sign books. It's going to be a great time, free, and I myself will be working at a table, so be sure to come out and see us.
The Core Value for April is- Honor: Letting others know you see how valuable they really are.
SAY IT:
Honor: Letting others know you see how valuable they really are.
KNOW IT:
ASK A GROWN-UP:
• Who are some people we should honor in our community?
• Talk about a time when you felt honored by someone else.
ASK A KID:
- How can you honor people who are valuable to you?
• How does it make you feel when someone shows you honor?
SEE IT:
It is easy to look back through history and learn about people who have earned our honor.
In school, we learn about great people who have made important contributions to our
community and our country.
As a family, watch “Liberty Kids: Honor and Compromise.” ( https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=6P1h17S1bZI ). As you watch, pause the video when you see examples of how the
characters show honor to others. Take time to discuss how and why each of these characters
show honor.
BE IT:
Make a list of people in the community who you can honor as a family. Come up with some
ways your family can let these people know you see how valuable they really are. Maybe you
can make some thank you cards, bake cookies, find a way to help them with an important
project, or purchase a small gift. Start a family habit of identifying people who deserve your
honor and let them know they are valuable to you.
PTA WANTS YOU!
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of our students, we invite you to consider running for our PTA Board. We are looking for a PTA President and a few VP positions. Please talk to Mrs. Mulukutla or any other PTA officer for more information.
Please join our PTA