SMITH PARENT NEWSLETTER

• April 20-24: STAAR TESTING--CLOSED CAMPUS--NO VISITORS

• April 24: Smith Spirit Night LT Baseball @ 7:30 PM

• April 29: Smith Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast @ 7:30 AM in Library (RSVP below)

• April 30-May 1: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

• May 6: Walk or Roll To School Day

• May 8: ALL SMITH LIBRARY BOOKS ARE DUE!

• May 8: 3-5 Nine Week Awards & K-2 April Principal Awards @ Celebrate Smith; DJ Youngcat & Hernandez-T Glow Dance Party During Lunches; 5th Grade Field Day

• May 5 & 6: Incoming Kindergarten Assessments (Signup below)

• May 11: Incoming Kindergarten Orientation @ 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM in Smith Cafe (RSVP Below)

• May 15: K-2 Nine Week Awards & 3-5 April Principal Awards @ Celebrate Smith

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

Link to Order: www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks

Enter the School ID: SMI044 (3 letters /3 numbers)

Link: https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=PPD_S26_Po15_US&utm_content=redeem

https://www.smithpta.net/watch-dogs

RSVP & STUDENT INFO FORM:

Please review the available slots below for each day, May 5th and May 6th. Click on the button to sign up and leave a comment with your CHILD'S NAME! Thank you!

Sign Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA5AF2FA2F8C43-63314816-incoming

Hey, 5th grade families! Get involved at Clark next year and make an impact. 💛
Learn more about Clark PTA: https://clarkpta.my.canva.site/
Fill out the Clark PTA Board interest form: https://forms.gle/aG4v3UPieAygYUEy6

RSVP Link: https://forms.gle/amdWiv3cqMWv9CNk8

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE BOARD INTEREST FORM: https://bit.ly/smith-pta-interest

Frisco ISD will offer a variety of weeklong summer camps for Kindergarten-6th grade students, with options in athletics, fine arts, STEM, leadership and more, led by Frisco ISD teachers, coaches and staff. Special education camps are also available to support students with diverse learning needs.

All camps will take place at Hunt Middle School throughout June and July. Camps include half-day morning and afternoon options, as well as full-day experiences, with a la carte add-ons available for before and after care and lunch. Space is limited.

Families can explore available camps and register by visiting friscoisd.org/summercamp and reviewing the 2026 Summer Camp Guide.

FEF is hosting two summer camps at the CTE Center:

• Mindbender Academy: Open to rising middle school students

• Entrepreneurship Track with One I/E: Open to rising fourth through sixth graders

Both camps will run June 1-4, 2026. Mindbender Academy costs $200 per session, while the Entrepreneurship Track costs $250 for the week.

Sign me up: Registration opens on the FEF website at 7 a.m. on Friday.

• Visit the FEF website for the link and more information about each camp.

Email FEF with any questions.

Families moving to Frisco ISD, registering incoming kindergartners or re-enrolling former students can now enroll for the 2026-27 school year on the 2026-27 New Enrollment webpage.

Parents of current students, including those enrolled in the FISD prekindergarten program, will receive invitation emails to register for the 2026-27 school year in April. Also starting in April, Frisco ISD will begin registering qualifying 4-year-olds for pre-K.

Every 3rd-5th grader in the state of Texas is required to take the STAAR tests. Please refrain from making any appointments for your child on his/her testing dates. The campus will also be closed to visitors and parents during the 2-week testing period (April 13 - April 24).

April 14 - 4th & 5th RLA STAAR

April 15 - 3rd RLA STAAR

April 21 - 4th & 5th Math STAAR

April 22 - 3rd Math STAAR

April 23 - 5th Science STAAR

All STAAR tests are administered online. If you would like your child to practice the format of the test at home, please follow these directions.

New student registration for the 2026-27 school year opens online starting Tuesday, Feb. 10, including those newly enrolling in Frisco ISD, incoming kindergartners, and re-enrolling former students.

Parents of current FISD students, including those enrolled in the FISD prekindergarten program, will receive invitation emails to register for the 2026-27 school year in April.

Also starting April 1, Frisco ISD will begin registration for 2026-27 pre-K. Find out more about free pre-K for eligible families, as well as tuition-based pre-K.

The online enrollment process requires parents of new students provide the following:

• Certified copy of birth certificate
• Immunization records
• Proof of residency
• Last report card or unofficial transcript (high school)
• Driver’s license of enrolling parent

In FISD, students are assigned to schools based on where they live. Students may opt to attend another campus by utilizing the school transfer process or enrolling in one of the District’s Schools and Programs of Choice.

Enrollment for the current school year is ongoing. Visit this page to register if your child will start school before May 22, 2026, the last day of the 2025-26 school year.

Student transfer window

New K-8 students are welcome to begin the transfer process after their registration is submitted and they have a Portal account. The second transfer window of the year runs Feb. 10-24, coinciding with new student registration.

• Access the list of campuses.
• Learn more about the process.

Helpful Links

New Student Registration

• Prekindergarten

Returning Student Registration

2026-27 School Attendance Zones

2026-27 School Calendar

Proof of Residency Requirements

Immunization Requirements

Student Transfer Process

Schools & Programs of Choice

Secondary Academic Guide & Course Catalog

Kindergarten Readiness Resources

zen den:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45ADA92AABFECE9-57819838-friday

Want to make someone’s day extra special? Now you can display your personalized message on the school’s digital sign outside! Whether it’s a birthday, an achievement, or just a shout-out, your message will shine for all to see. Plus, your contribution helps support school programs and activities.

How It Works

1. Fill out the form below with your message details.
2. Choose your message type (subject to approval).
3. For a donation of $10 (or $25 for specialized message), your message will appear on the digital sign for one full day.
4. All proceeds go to support our school’s programs and events!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqpfACp29lS2nRWbaP54wbtyODXlHdcMYi1S6rLZmSKqthgQ/viewform

https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards

It's time to join the Smith PTA and support the students, staff, and programs at Smith Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year. Membership is $12 per person. Parents, grandparents, community members - all are welcome to join! Volunteering is NOT a requirement of members

Register here:

https://www.smithpta.net/product-page/join-your-pta

You can now follow the Smith PTA on Instagram! Find us @NoelASmithPTA

Morning Arrival Map

Afternoon Dismissal Map

JOIN SMITH PTA!

It's time to join the Smith PTA and support the students, staff, and programs at Smith Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year. Membership is $10 per person. Parents, grandparents, community members - all are welcome to join! Volunteering is NOT a requirement of members

Register here:

https://www.smithpta.net/product-page/join-your-pta

You can now follow the Smith PTA on Instagram! Find us @NoelASmithPTA

HAC Access for Parents

Frisco ISD frequently evolves to make sure parents are informed and can support their children’s academic needs. Home Access Center (HAC) provides parents with access to their students’ attendance calendar, grades, and STAAR scores (if applicable).

Parents of K - 1 grade level students will be able to see their attendance calendar only. Parents of 2 - 5 grade level students will be able to view their attendance calendar, grades and STAAR scores (if applicable).

Progress Reports will not be emailed to parents (viewable in HAC for grade levels 2-5). Report cards will be emailed to parents (all grade levels) (also viewable in HAC for grade levels 2-5).

Make sure you have set up your parent Portal account so that you can access HAC and other parent apps. https://www.friscoisd.org/about/resources-and-information/portal

For more information, please view the below links:

HAC Help Document:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xzitQr2Ru4V6psx9COA0LV85UUflNJf3SM202shFrBc/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

HAC Video:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1skraAFvavN-f4TQPf-WNpsW1rER0DYZ_/view

No pets are allowed on FISD property while students are at school unless authorized by the principal for a pre-approved instructional purpose. Those walking students to or from school with pets will not be allowed on FISD property. Those on city sidewalks/public easements should still be cognizant of students walking/riding bikes to and from school for safety considerations. This does not apply to service animals.

Last year, our cafeteria returned to charging for school breakfast and lunch based on eligibility for meal benefits. The federal waiver that allowed schools nationwide to offer free meals to all students regardless of income expired last school year.

Breakfast is $2 and lunch is $2.75. Families with low household income are encouraged to apply for meal benefits.

Visit www.schoolcafe.com/FriscoISD or download the app to:

• Create a café account

• View menus

• Make payments

• Apply for free & reduced meals

• Set purchase restrictions

Students can purchase lunch in the cafeteria, or they can bring their own lunch from home.

Set up an account for your child to purchase breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks in the cafeteria.

For menu and account setup, go to https://www.friscoisd.org/departments/child-nutrition/home

Frisco ISD urges families who may qualify for meal benefits due to low family income to submit an application. In addition to free school meals, there are a number of additional benefits, detailed below, that students can receive when a family qualifies and shares their eligibility status. In addition, Frisco ISD receives additional state and federal funding for each student who qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. These funds provide extra academic support and resources to students and schools.

APPLY ONLINE

Online Application Help Guide

Applications may be completed electronically at www.schoolcafe.com/friscoisd, printed directly from the Frisco ISD website, or picked up from your child’s campus or the Child Nutrition District office. Applications received electronically at www.schoolcafe.com/friscoisd are processed more quickly. NOTE: We can only process applications for the current school year. Please submit only one form per household. Applications for each new school year are available after July 1.

Paper applications are available in each school’s office and in the school nutrition office. In addition, applications may be downloaded and printed from our website. All paper applications must be submitted in the original form with the original signature. It is free to use SchoolCafé if you would like to apply for meal benefits.

Completed applications must be returned to Frisco ISD, Attn: Christie Lesnau, 12050 Rolater Road, Frisco, Texas. Any questions regarding the approval process should be directed to 469-633-6997 or lesnauc@friscoisd.org.

Download the Free/Reduced Meal Application(English)
Download the Free/Reduced Meal Application(Spanish)

• Lunch visitors must check in and provide a photo ID at the office to obtain a Visitor’s Sticker.

• Lunch visitors are NOT permitted to go anywhere else on campus other than the cafeteria.

• Lunch visitors are NOT permitted to use student bathrooms. Please ask to use the bathroom located in the clinic or the staff bathroom in the clinic.

• If waiting to eat lunch with your child, please wait in the cafeteria at the designated Visitor Table so your child can easily locate you.

• Since this is a special time for you and your child, we have reserved specific guest tables for parents to have lunch with their children. Due to assigned seats, and space at students’ lunch tables, you and your child sit at the visitor’s table.

• The Texas Department of Agriculture DOES NOT permit parents to bring food at lunchtime for any other child other than their own. Please help us monitor this guideline from the state.

We follow the state guidelines regarding regulations and

allowable foods at school.

Please keep in mind that the Frisco ISD School Health Advisory Council has stated that we, as a school district, continue to celebrate birthdays but discontinue the food and drink component of the birthday celebration.

When a student’s birthday arrives they will be recognized during morning announcements as well as during Celebrate Smith on Fridays. FISD schools celebrating birthdays will not include the distribution of snacks or drinks. Students issuing invitations to individual birthday parties or other celebrations may only do so at school if all students in the class are invited. These celebration invitations must be passed out at the end of the day with permission from the teacher. Deliveries from parents or grandparents of floral arrangements, balloons, cookie grams, etc., are discouraged. If deliveries are made to the front office, they will be delivered at the end of the day or the student will be notified to come to the office on his/her way out of school to pick up the delivery.

The concerns for student health have increased, with the issue of children and allergic reactions to certain foods and food ingredients growing in particular. The cupcakes and treats parents and grandparents are providing come from many sources and there is no real control regarding the ingredients and/or the processing of the treats. Thus, while we will continue to celebrate the birthdays of your children we will do so this year in a non-food oriented way. We hope that as you reflect on this you will understand our reasoning; many of you will probably feel some relief as it adds complications and stress to your day in order to achieve this expectation.

The Community Folder is intended as a resource for Frisco ISD families. Use this website to learn about activities, events and other programs available for your child within the FISD community. Opportunities do not fall under the jurisdiction of Frisco ISD; links are provided for your convenience and are not an endorsement.

Click Here to Access the Folder: https://www.friscoisd.org/departments/communications/community-folder/elementary-community-folder

Non-profit groups may post information at no cost, while for-profit groups pay a $50 donation to the Frisco Education Foundation in exchange for the opportunity to place information in the Community Folder. Click the ‘Create Post’ button if you wish to post on this website.

Frisco ISD facilitates several assessments to ensure the name and needs of each student are met. Whether the test is required by the state, federally mandated, or requested by the family, each campus works to ensure appropriate test administration and security procedures are followed at all testing sites.

DISTRICT GUIDELINES:

District Guidelines for Exam for Acceleration

SMITH ELEMENTARY CAMPUS POLICY:

We adhere to the district policy for 1st-4th grade-level acceleration. The only exception to the district policy would only apply to any newly enrolled Frisco ISD. *Once the student starts and attends school grade-level acceleration for the current school year is not available.

If parent requests are made to the campus outside the district’s testing window, then all criteria below MUST be met for grade-level acceleration to be considered. *If the student does not have a fall birthday, does not meet reading AND math End-of-Year (EOY) scores, or refuses to test the student, acceleration requests will be denied.

• The student MUST be a newly enrolled Frisco ISD student.

• The student MUST have a fall birthdate (before January 1).

• The student MUST come up to the campus to take the End-of-Year grade-level assessments in reading and math for the grade level requested to skip.

The student MUST pass the EOY math exam with a minimum of 80% AND pass the EOY reading assessment at the INDEPENDENT level. *If the student passes one assessment, but not the other, the request will be denied. Students who do not pass both assessments may not retake the test within the same school year.

WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT ACCELERATION TESTING:

Lauren Simko-Campus Instructional Support Facilitator (CISF)

simkol@friscoisd.org

469-633-2272 (office)

• She is our campus 504 and state testing coordinator. She can assist you with all things 504, advance placement testing, STAAR testing, CoGAT, and more!

Sherry Meeks--Smith Counselor

meekssh@friscoisd.org

469-633-2204 (office)

• She is our school counselor. She can assist parent inquiries on acceleration testing/advanced placement, students and families with individual and small group counseling, and crisis response services, help students develop personal goals and plans for the future, make referrals for outside counseling or assistance, and consult with parents and teachers to share effective strategies that support students and delivers core counseling curriculum lessons to students and staff.

It is very important to us that Smith students have a safe playing environment; therefore, we require that teachers on duty actively monitor the playground to ensure students' safety and confidentiality are maintained at all times. In order to maintain a high level of safety and student confidentiality, visitors, and siblings cannot attend recess.

An additional resource is available to assist Frisco ISD students and families in need. School support specialists provide personalized, hands-on support in securing assistance from community organizations or government agencies. The specialists ensure students’ basic needs are met, allowing them to focus on learning in the classroom. Contact your campus counselor to initiate the process if you’d like help addressing needs related to mental health, food insecurity, medical and legal services and much more.

These resources are intended to help families enhance their child’s experiences at home and in the community. You will find strategies, activities, visuals, and more in the links below.

Any links are intended as a resource for Frisco ISD families. Third-party opportunities do not fall under the jurisdiction of Frisco ISD; links are provided for your convenience and are not an endorsement.

• Autism Supports

• Behavior Supports

• Communication Skills

• Emotional Health

• Fine Motor, Gross Motor & Sensory Supports

• Safety

• Self-Help Skills

• Social Skills

• Toilet Training Resources

• Vision Resources

The Lending Library is a peaceful place for all Frisco ISD parents and educators to find resources, support, and inspiration. It contains books related to general parenting, parenting children with disabilities, children’s books about disabilities, and books specific to a variety of diagnoses. We also have books about sensory strategies, social skills, behavior strategies, raising gifted children, and siblings, teaching tools, and research. Parents and educators can also check out various sensory items, games, manipulatives, and self-care items to try at home or in the classroom.

The Parent Sanctuary & Lending Library is located within the Early Childhood School. We would love to welcome you in on Fridays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Parent Trainers will be on-hand to assist in exploring resources, checking out items, and providing support to parents. No appointment or referral is needed to access the Parent Sanctuary. All FISD parents are welcome, regardless of special education eligibility.

If you have questions regarding the Parent Sanctuary or would like to donate gently used items, please reach out to Parent Trainer Kimberly Goushey at gousheyk@friscoisd.org.

About the Parent Sanctuary & Lending Library

• Open to All Frisco ISD Parents & Educators

• Fridays: 9 a.m.— 2 p.m. (Parent Trainers Available)*
  *Open September through April, when school is in session

• Frisco ISD Early Childhood School

  10330 Red Cedar Dr.

  Frisco, TX 75035

Resources

• Resource to Families for the Breaks

• Video Resources

Supporting Your Child Brochures

• ADD-ADHD Brochure

• After a Suicide Brochure

• Calming Your Anxious Child Brochure

• Children and Divorce Brochure

• Cyberbullying Brochure

• Dating Violence Brochure

• Electronic Addiction Brochure

• Gifted or High Achiever Brochure

• Grief Brochure

• Grief in the Workplace Brochure

• Help to Deal with Bullying for Students

• Helping Kids with Bullying for Parents

• Middle and High School Transition Brochure

• Perfectionism Issues Brochure

• Reporting Suspected Child Abuse

• Self-Injury Brochure

• Seriously Ill Loved One Brochure

• Sexual Abuse Brochure

• Substance Abuse Brochure

• Suicide Ideation Brochure

• Web Pornography Brochure

Frisco ISD parents have access to the curriculum outline and pacing guides used Districtwide for each grade level. The curriculum outlines are created and revised each year by District educators and are rooted in the statewide curriculum standards provided by the Texas Education Agency called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS.) Access the curriculum and pacing page.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides curriculum standards statewide, which outline what students should know and be able to do in each course or grade, called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

The Frisco ISD scope and sequence documents below provide a brief outline of the standards and a recommended teaching order for the grade level or course. Frisco ISD teachers may change the order based on the name and need of students. Questions about the curriculum in your child’s classroom would best be answered by the classroom teacher.

As you go through the FISD scope and sequence documents, you will find a system of letters and numbers that reference specific TEKS covered in a unit or subject. This system of letters and numbers corresponds with standards within the TEKS. Access the TEKS to learn more about these specific concepts and skills.

Additionally, these documents may designate specific standards as Essential or Power standards. These are TEKS that Frisco ISD educators have determined are the most important for students to know and be able to do in order to be successful in the course and progress to the next course or grade level. As a result, emphasis is placed on ensuring students understand these concepts with in-depth instruction. These standards and other, Supporting standards are all taught in the current grade or course. Some of the concepts and skills contained in the TEKS may also be emphasized in a subsequent grade or course.

Social-emotional learning curriculum can be accessed through The Gateway. Information can be found on the Social Emotional Learning page.

CLICK HERE FOR SPECIFIC GRADE LEVELS AND CONTENT AREA INFORMATION.

To learn more about the development of mathematical understanding in elementary school, please view the following short videos:

Early Number & Counting

• Video

Addition and Subtraction

• Video

• Progression

Multiplication

• Video

• Progression

Division

• Video

• Progression

Fractions

• Video

Learning Math Conceptually

Why are students taught conceptually before moving to the procedure?

• To understand the meaning, the use and connections between addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division;

• To understand the "why" and "how" of operations and not just memorizing steps (what most of us learned in school);

• To select from a repertoire of computational strategies (including mental computation) for each operation;

• To be proficient mathematicians;

• To promote students' capacity to think flexibly of numbers as sums and differences of other numbers with all mental and written calculations.

When do we teach procedurally?

• The procedure, also known as an algorithm, is sometimes a more efficient strategy for students when in written form.

• As students make connections and show understanding of the operation conceptually, they begin using an algorithm.

• Differentiated instruction in small group provides the flexibility for teachers to assess children's readiness to move to the procedure.

Research of Best Instructional Practices

• Nix the Tricks: Why we do not teach math tricks without teaching meaning.

• Dan Meyer, math practitioner/researcher, blog

• NCTM.org: National Council of Teachers of Mathematic

• National Academies: National Research Council, Adding it Up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics

• Christina Tondevold, math practitioner/researcher

Parents, please refer to these resources if you are looking for ways to academically support your child at home:

• Frisco ISD Math Information/Supports
• K-12 Math Teaching Strategy Videos
• Elementary Literacy

Frisco ISD is thankful to the more than 19,000 volunteers who donated their time in 2022-23! Those interested in chaperoning, volunteering, mentoring, and engaging with students on Frisco ISD campuses in the 2023-24 school year are encouraged to get their background check done before the school year starts.

Frisco ISD uses VOLY, a volunteer management system, to post volunteer opportunities and find volunteers. Create a VOLY account.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer with a Campus - Whether interested in chaperoning a field trip or volunteering in the library, you must create a VOLY account and complete a background check. VOLY allows volunteers to create a profile, sign up for specific campus/district-based opportunities, log volunteer time and track their total volunteer hours.
• Partners in Education - The Frisco ISD Partners in Education program aims to bridge the business community and schools together. Businesses and community organizations interested in donating time to the District and its staff and students can find information on the Partners in Education webpage.
• FISD Business Incubator Program - Centennial, Emerson, Frisco, Heritage and Lone Star high school students engage in an entrepreneurship program that brings learning to life by combining foundational business content with authentic entrepreneurial experience. The program helps students launch innovative businesses by turning a business idea into an actual pitch. Learn about how businesses and individuals can support the entrepreneurship program.
• Independent Study and Mentorship - Through the ISM program, students research a chosen topic of study with the help of a mentor while gaining real-world experience. Learn about the program and how businesses and individuals can volunteer.
• FISD Achieve Mentoring - The FISD Achieve Mentoring program unites caring and committed adults from across the community to provide student support, inspire future success in school and life, and to elevate students beyond any limitation. Learn more about empowering at-risk students through mentorship.
• Speaker’s Bureau - The District welcomes speakers to engage with students on various topics. Please sign up if you can lend some time, share your expertise and make a difference. Learn more about the Speaker’s Bureau.

Don’t Know Where to Begin?

The Frisco ISD Community Relations Department is happy to help get you started at volunteer@friscoisd.org or contact Sharon White at WhiteSh@friscoisd.org or 469-633-6866.

TOM THUMB: Fill out a form and turn in to the Customer Service Desk or email response to good.neighbor@tomthumb.com (Nonprofit Org. #6936)

KROGER: Online or call 800-576-4377 option 3 (Nonprofit Org. # 82997) You must re-link each year.

If you are interested in any after school programs, click the link below to access the district's elementary community folder with information!

http://www.friscoisd.org/departments/communications/community-folder/elementary-community-folder