Dr. Green Elem Family Newsletter
January 6, 2026
January 6, 2026
Dear Dr. Green Elementary Families,
Happy New Year-2026! I hope you were able to have a fun and relaxed winter break anticipating a prosperous and healthy year ahead of us. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a wonderful new year of learning. Students return on Wednesday, January 7th.
Student Tutoring Sessions:
This second semester we are aiming to begin student tutoring sessions. Your teachers will be sending permission slips if your children will benefit from these interventions. We are planning after-school tutoring and Saturday tutoring. We are scheduled to begin in February.
After-School Clubs:
We are excited to continue offering after-school clubs every Wednesday. We are in the process to send NEW permission slips for this semester as we may have different after-school clubs. Keep connected and check your children backpacks/folders for the new permission slips.
New Library Regulations:
Due to the Texas regulation HB900-which refers to regulating explicit or sexually relevant books in public schools libraries, we no longer be able to allow students to bring books from home to read and share in the classroom or classmates. Fortunately, we haven't had any issues among students; however, as a preventive measure and to avoid findings to law lack of compliance, we are making the decision to ask you to keep any personal books at home. We thank you for your support. If you need further clarification on this matter, please reach out to your children's teacher or our school librarian Mrs. Melchor at: evvega@episd.org
Attendance Matters:
Parents our overall attendance rate has fallen below 90%- last school week before the break, our attendance rate was 88.61%. This is extremely low as the district and campus goal is to maintain the percentage above 94%. Attending school offers many important benefits for children’s academic, social, and emotional development as follows:
Academic growth
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Builds strong foundations in reading, writing, and math
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Develops problem-solving, critical thinking, and study habits
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Introduces science, social studies, art, and technology concepts early
Social development
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Teaches children how to work and play with others
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Builds communication skills (listening, sharing, taking turns)
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Helps children learn empathy, respect, and cooperation
Emotional growth
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Encourages independence and confidence
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Helps children learn to manage emotions and routines
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Provides support from teachers and counselors
Structure and routine
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Establishes daily habits that support learning
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Helps children understand expectations and responsibility
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Prepares children for middle and high school success
Health and well-being
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Provides access to physical education and recess for activity
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Offers nutrition programs in many schools
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Identifies learning or developmental needs early so support can be provided
Life skills
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Teaches organization, time management, and goal setting
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Encourages creativity and curiosity
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Provides opportunities to try music, art, sports, and clubs
Overall, elementary school is not just about academics—it helps children learn how to learn, how to get along with others, and how to feel capable and confident in themselves. I urge you to bring your children to school to support their ongoing development in all areas. I also welcome and appreciate any ideas you may suggest to boost our attendance rate.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Tuesday, Jan. 12- First Basketball Intramurals Meet for 3rd grade.
- Wednesday, Jan. 13-First Basketball Intramurals Meet for 4th and 5th
- Thursday, Jan. 15- Second Basketball Intramurals Meet -4th and 5th
- Friday, Jan. 16- Science Fair
- Monday, Jan. 19-No School in Observation of Martin Luther King
- Wednesday, Jan. 28-Math Night 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Thank you for your ongoing support in making Dr. Green a great school to be. Please know that I foster an open-door policy for continuous communication. Do not hesitate to reach out to me with ideas, suggestions or any concerns you may have.
Respectfully,
Guadalupe Pineda
Dr. Green Elementary, Principal
We Are Hawks, Watch Us SOAR!
2025-2026 Handbook
Acknowledgement Page
Dear Families,
Thank you for all you do to help your child succeed. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy New Year 2026!
I will continue to pull students that were identified based on NWEA MAP scores and STAAR scores. I pull the students during WIN time.
Reading Update
We are focusing on comprehension and fluency. Students are practicing:
Making predictions before reading.
Identifying main ideas and details in stories.
Using context clues to figure out new words.
Making inferences based on passages.
At home tip: Read together for 15–20 minutes daily. Ask questions like, “What happened first?” or “Why do you think the character did that?” to build understanding.
Phonics Tips
Phonics helps children connect letters to sounds for better reading and spelling. Here’s how you can support:
Practice letter sounds daily (e.g., “b” says /b/).
Blend sounds together: Say “c-a-t” and have your child put it together as “cat.”
Look for patterns: Point out word families like -at (cat, hat, bat).
Use real-life practice: Read signs, labels, or menus and ask your child to sound out words.
Math Update
Our goal is strengthening number sense and problem-solving. Students are working on:
Addition and subtraction strategies using number lines and fact families.
Understanding place value for larger numbers.
Explaining their thinking when solving word problems.
Solving multi-step problems.
At home tip: Play math games like rolling dice and adding numbers or ask your child to explain how they solved a problem—it reinforces learning.
Cooking: Have your child help measure ingredients for a recipe. Ask questions like: “If we need ½ cup of sugar and double the recipe, how much sugar do we need?”
Grocery store math: Give your child a small budget and let them “shop” for items. Practice adding prices and estimating totals before checkout.
Phonics Tips
Phonics helps children connect letters to sounds for better reading and spelling. Here’s how you can support:
Practice letter sounds daily (e.g., “b” says /b/).
Blend sounds together: Say “c-a-t” and have your child put it together as “cat.”
Look for patterns: Point out word families like -at (cat, hat, bat).
Use real-life practice: Read signs, labels, or menus and ask your child to sound out words.
📧 Email: Landreas@episd.org
Lindsey Sims
Elementary Interventionist
Writing and creative activities
Cards: Have children create their own cards with messages for family and friends.
Letters to a Friend or Relative: Use this as a writing prompt for a letter to a friend or relative or to tell a story about gifts.
Reading and language activities
Cozy reading time: Set up a reading corner with blankets and pillows and have daily story time sessions with winter-themed books.
Discuss stories: After reading, talk about the story's key characters and events to build comprehension.
Hello, Math Families!
As we begin a new year, I wanted to share some fantastic resources to help your students sharpen their multiplication skills over the winter break. The key to mastering multiplication is consistent practice, and these websites offer fun, engaging, and most importantly free ways for students to practice their times tables and build fluency. Whether they’re just starting or looking to challenge themselves with more advanced problems, these sites have something for everyone!
1. XtraMath-Visit XtraMath
XtraMath is a well-known resource for practicing basic math facts, including multiplication. The site tracks your child's progress and adapts to their level, making it perfect for students who need consistent practice to master multiplication facts. It’s simple, effective, and completely free.
Why it’s great: Personalized learning, progress tracking, and an easy-to-use interface.
2. Multiplication.com
Visit Multiplication.com
Multiplication.com offers a variety of free interactive games, videos, and worksheets to practice multiplication. There’s something for every learner—whether your student prefers quizzes, memory games, or fun challenges.
Why it’s great: Lots of variety, easy to navigate, and engaging visuals for learners.
3. Khan Academy
Visit Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers free, high-quality video lessons, practice problems, and quizzes for students at all levels. The multiplication practice section allows students to practice specific multiplication tables and track their progress. They also offer plenty of tips and tricks for students who may need extra support.
Why it’s great: Well-structured, teacher-approved, and adaptable to any student’s level.
4. Math Playground
Visit Math Playground
Math Playground is a great site for engaging, hands-on learning. Students can practice multiplication through interactive math games, puzzles, and challenges. There are also timed tests to help kids improve their speed and fluency.
Why it’s great: Fun, interactive games with a focus on building speed and accuracy in multiplication.
Tips for Multiplication Mastery
Consistency is Key: Set aside just 10-15 minutes a day for focused practice.
Challenge Speed: Once your student is comfortable, encourage them to increase their speed to master the multiplication facts.
Mix It Up: Use different websites and activities to keep the practice fun and engaging!
I hope these resources will help keep your students excited about math as they prepare this year. Remember, it’s not just about practicing—it’s about enjoying the learning journey.
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
From the Dr. Green Library, I wish you a safe, healthy, and happy New Year! Looking forward to reading with you in 2026 ! If you have any questions regarding TX HBill HB900 please do no hesitate to reach out to me at: evvega@episd.org
The Core Value for January is: Commitment- Making a plan and putting it into practice.
SAY IT:
Commitment: Making a plan and putting it into practice
KNOW IT:
ASK A GROWN-UP:
• Describe a commitment you have made in your life. What was your plan and how did you
put it into practice?
• Why is it important to stick with your commitments?
ASK A KID:
• Describe a commitment you have to make at school or in an extracurricular activity.
• How can making a plan help you stick to your commitments?
SEE IT:
In the movie Up, Carl makes a commitment to take his wife Ellie on a dream vacation to
Paradise Falls. As life continues to move along, many obstacles arise making it difficult to
fulfill this commitment. When Ellie passes away, Carl is left alone, and decides to make a plan
and finally fulfill this commitment in memory of his wife. This movie is an excellent example of
the commitment Carl makes to his wife Ellie and his determination to follow through on their
dreams.
Take a few minutes to watch the trailer for Up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWEW_qTLSEE
BE IT:
Plan a family movie night to watch the movie Up. Discuss the power of making a commitment
and working hard to follow through to achieve that commitment. As a family, commit to
something you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s a vacation you want to take, a project around
the house, a person you want to help, or just to consistently spend time together as a family.
Write out a plan of how you are going to make this commitment become a reality. Encourage
each other as you work hard to put this plan into practice.
JANUARY 2026
Commitment
NEWSLETTER
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