Calhoun Ranger Report - 10/10

Dear Calhoun Early Childhood School Families,

My mind has been stuck on something a teacher shared with me this week. It was a post explaining how speech delays are increasing among young children — and one of the leading factors is the amount of screen time they experience each day. The post shared a powerful reminder: screens speak, but they never listen.

Children learn language through modeling, conversation, and the back-and-forth rhythm of human interaction — something no screen can truly replicate. When a screen takes the place of our face, children miss out on key ingredients for language learning: connection, tone, turn-taking, timing, emotion, and the mirroring of facial expressions. Over time, this can also impact social skills, attention span, and emotional regulation.

At Calhoun, we see language and communication as one of the most important foundations for lifelong learning and success. Last week, our Prosper ISD Language Programs team and our very own ESL Specialists led a fantastic parent training on ways to support your child’s language development at home.

If you weren’t able to attend, I encourage you to watch the recording linked below. And if you’d like more ideas or personalized support for helping your child grow as a communicator, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re here to partner with you.

Warmly,

Sara Anderson

Complete the form below to show your appreciation for our Calhoun staff!

October 13 - Columbus Day - School Holiday

October 14 - 1st Day of 2nd 9 Weeks

October 14 - Campus Tours (9:15-10:00am)

October 16 - Childhood Cancer Awareness - Wear GOLD!

October 22 - PTO School Spirit Night at Chipotle (5:00-9:00pm)

October 23 - Prosper Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness - Wear PINK!

October 23 - Family Engagement Night (5:30-6:30pm)

🕢 Please remember that while our school time starts at 7:30am, we are outside and greeting kids starting at 7:00am. We have had very few cars arriving between 7:00am-7:20am. If you wait until the last minute to bring your child in the carpool line, you run the risk of arriving tardy. Please make sure to plan ahead and utilize the line before 7:15am. You will get in and out with no wait!

⏰ For safety and efficiency, students will not be released after 2:00pm. Please plan ahead for appointments or other time commitments to ensure your child is picked up before this time.

🚗 Please remember that we run two car lines at the same time:

From the North: Turn left into the left lane of the parking lot. This lane is for Piney Woods, Gulf Coast, and South Plains.

From the South: Turn right into the parking lot and use the right lane, which wraps around to the back of the building. This lane is for Big Bend, Hill Country, and Panhandle.

📵Please enter the parking lot with caution and avoid using your phone while driving. As you turn in, use your blinker to signal. This helps us clearly distinguish Calhoun families from neighborhood traffic and ensures a smoother, safer arrival for everyone.

Mary Merryman is our incredible Music & Movement teacher here at Calhoun. Through engaging songs, rhythm, and creative movement, she helps students build coordination, confidence, and a lifelong love of music. One of the best parts of her role is that she gets to work with every single student on our campus—and she makes each one feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Ms. Merryman truly is a champion for all students at Calhoun!

Renee Chenier is one of our amazing English as a Second Language (ESL) Specialists here at Calhoun. She plays a vital role in building strong connections across our campus community—supporting students, families, and staff alike. Ms. Chenier partners with teachers to plan effective strategies that help students grow in their English proficiency, and she often joins classrooms to model these strategies in action. Her work ensures that every multilingual learner feels supported, confident, and ready to thrive!

Zakeia Kennedy is our amazing Instructional Coach at Calhoun! From capturing photos of the great learning happening across campus to leading professional growth, she plays a key role in supporting both staff and students. Her primary focus is helping teachers grow—and she does it all with such grace, energy, and style! She also leads our mentor program for new Calhoun teachers, and her dedication to staff growth makes her an invaluable part of our Calhoun family.

Remya Jayaram joined us this year as a Blended Pre-K teacher, and she has quickly become an invaluable member of the Calhoun family. One of our campus goals this year is to share the amazing work happening in our classrooms—and Ms. Jayaram has been doing a fantastic job representing us! We love keeping up with her posts and seeing all the wonderful learning and creativity in her class. Follow her classroom story on X at @RemyaPreKMagic to see the magic for yourself!

Updated Forms for Health Conditions and Medication Administration for the 2025-2026 School Year

As we settle into the school year, I’d like to remind everyone of the state-required health rules that help keep our students and staff healthy. These illness exclusions are mandated by the Texas Department of State Health Services, and are especially important in a preschool setting where illnesses spread quickly.

Please keep your child home if they have any of the following:

Fever – A temperature of 100°F or higher requires your child to stay home until they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without medication (like Tylenol or Motrin). These medicines take 4–6 hours to wear off, so the 24-hour clock begins after the fever has resolved without meds.

Vomiting or Diarrhea – Your child must be symptom-free for 24 hours without medication before returning. Even if they feel better, they may still be contagious.

Pink Eye, Rashes, Skin Infections – A doctor’s note may be required to return, depending on the condition. These exclusions follow state public health rules and protect the health of everyone at school.

Sniffles and Coughs – Mild sniffles are okay if your child feels well. Please keep them home if they have:

· A heavy cough with thick mucus

· Fever with a cough

· Labored or rapid breathing

If your child has a persistent cough lasting several weeks, even if symptoms are mild, it may be time to check in with your child’s doctor to rule out any underlying conditions.

COVID-19 – Children who test positive must stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication, per state requirements.

We know it can be difficult to miss work or find alternative care, but following these rules helps protect your child, your family, and our entire school community. If you have any questions or need help determining whether your child should attend, I’m always here to support you.

Wishing you continued health this school year!
Nurse Gabbie BSN, RN
Calhoun Campus Nurse