March 7, 2025 Parent Newsletter

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Attention Spring Creek Parents!

It's that time of year again—time for the 2025-2026 PTA Executive Board nominations! We are excited to announce the nominees for the upcoming board positions:

• President: Audrey Ray
• Aide to the President: LeeAnn Morris
• Treasurer: Stephen Knebel
• Membership: Monica Morgan
• Parliamentarian: Jarrod Ray
• Teacher Appreciation/Hospitality: Sydney Michel
• Volunteer Coordinator: Nicole McCrary
• Secretary: Sarah Conner
• Communications/Social Media: Charlene McNabb
• Fundraising: Jennifer Knebel & Kelly Richards
• Programs & Grants: OPEN
• Council Delegate: OPEN
• Teacher Representative: Donesa Rodriguez

We encourage parents to consider these nominations and be ready to support the PTA’s efforts in enhancing our school community! Thank you for your continued involvement!

Dear Parents,

We want to emphasize the importance of open communication between home and our campus, Spring Creek, especially when it comes to your child’s progress and well-being. We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teachers first with any concerns you may have. Building strong relationships with our teachers is essential, as they can provide valuable insights and support tailored to your child’s needs.

If you have been working closely with the teacher and implementing strategies to address your concerns but find that the situation persists, please do not hesitate to contact our admin intern, Angela Sanchez, or our Counselors (Delma Johnson & Kimberly Hendricks). They are the second level of support and can provide assistance in all areas. They can also facilitate communication with our Assistant Principal, who is also available to address any ongoing issues. Our Assistant Principal, Austin Escobedo, can work with you to explore additional resources, provide guidance on effective strategies, and ensure that your child receives the support they need to thrive.

In the rare case that concerns continue to escalate beyond this point, the final level of support will involve the Principal, Angie Ariza. We genuinely value your partnership in this process, as it plays a crucial role in ensuring the best possible experience and outcomes for your child. Together, we can create a nurturing and effective learning environment for all our students.

We welcome any questions, concerns, or comments you may have, as we believe in working together to find solutions. Open communication is essential, and we encourage you to address any issues directly with us—both parents and staff/campus. This approach allows us to resolve your concerns promptly, before you escalate them to the District which will ultimately refer your feedback back to us. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you!

This is the link to the Parent Handbook where you can find all about our school.

Manners Matter Monday is a fun initiative at Spring Creek that encourages kindness, respect, and good manners among all students. Every Monday, we come together as a school to highlight how important it is to interact positively and treat each other with courtesy.

On Manners Matter Monday, students get the chance to practice specific good manners throughout the day. This could mean saying “please” and “thank you,” greeting classmates and teachers, or really listening when someone is talking. Each week has a different theme, so students can explore different ways to show respect and kindness in their everyday interactions.

The main goal of Manners Matter Monday is to create a friendly and respectful environment at Spring Creek. Please help us reinforce these lessons at home, creating a culture of respect and consideration for everyone. Let's work together to teach our kids the importance of good manners!

Garland ISD is using Parent Square as the district's form of communication this year. An email as been sent to you to join if your email address is on Skyward. Please join and register your account so you can receive updates from the district as well as from Herfurth Elementary. Please send me an email if you didn't receive an email to join. In the email please include your full name, email address, phone number, student's name and grade.

GISD offers workshops throughout the year with effective parenting strategies, ideas on how to get more involved and information to help your child be successful in school and in life.

Autism Project: Self-Help Skills 03/11/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

SPED Seminar: Trauma-informed Approaches 03/12/2025 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Autism Project: Toileting 03/25/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Autism Project: Autism 101 04/01/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Autism Project: Examining Behavior 1 & 2 04/08/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

SPED Seminar: Resources for Summer 04/09/2025 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Autism Project: Examining Behavior 3 & 4 04/15/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Autism Project: Communication 04/22/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Autism Project: Socialization 04/29/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Autism Project: Self-Help Skills 05/06/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Autism Project: Toileting 05/13/2025 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Request interpretation services

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you. Please print or show the I Need An Interpreter card at your campus to request free over-the-phone interpretation services.

Community Swim

While the GISD natatorium is prioritized for competitions and high school events, it is also available for community use. Visit the Community Swim & Programs page to learn more.

We warmly invite you to get involved and volunteer at Spring Creek! Your support plays a vital role in enriching our students' experiences and fostering a vibrant school community. Whether you can lend a hand in the classroom, assist with events, or share your unique skills, your contributions make a significant impact. Join us in creating memorable moments for our children and strengthening our school's bonds. We look forward to your participation!

Please read the volunteer guidelines determined by GISD:

https://garlandisd.net/connect/volunteer/volunteer-our-schools

Link to application: English

Link to application: Spanish

Once your background check is clear, please reach out to Ms. Bermea (our amazing office aide). These are some of the activities you can support our school with:

1. Classroom Assistance: Help teachers with lesson preparation, student supervision, and small group activities.

2. Library Support: Assist in organizing books, helping students find resources, and maintaining a conducive reading environment.

3. Tutoring and Mentoring: Provide one-on-one support to students who need extra help in specific subjects.

4. Gardening and Outdoor Projects: Help maintain school gardens and outdoor learning spaces.

5. Administrative Support: Assist with clerical tasks, such as copying, filing, or organizing materials.

6. Cultural Enrichment: Share your skills, hobbies, or cultural background through workshops or presentations.

7. Cafeteria Support: Help supervise students during lunch and assist with meal distribution.

8. Community Outreach: Help coordinate partnerships with local businesses and organizations to enhance school programs.

On the days that you volunteer, you can have lunch with your student (without using your 5 passes)!

Starting next week, our Grades 2-5 Emergent Bilingual (EB) students will begin TELPAS testing. TELPAS (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System) measures students’ progress in learning the English language in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This assessment helps us track their growth and ensure they receive the support they need to succeed.

Please encourage your child to get plenty of rest and arrive on time each day. Thank you for your support!

Please remind your students that toys should stay at home. While we allow outdoor balls like basketballs and footballs for recess, other toys can be a distraction in the classroom and interrupt valuable learning time. Our goal is to keep the focus on instruction and ensure a productive learning environment for all students. Thank you for your support! 🎓📚

As part of our school-wide positive behavior support system, we have made it a goal to recognize students who follow Spring Creek's Guidelines for Success. STING tickets are designed to acknowledge and reward students who excel in demonstrating these key behaviors. The Guidelines for Success are pictured to the right. When a student earns a STING ticket, they receive a positive phone call home from one of the administrators and are also entered into a raffle to win a trip to the STING Store! The idea behind this initiative is to implement something meaningful for both students and parents.

Exploring Day & Night Patterns!

Ms. Stites kindergarteners became little Earth explorers during a hands-on lesson about TEKS K.9A—identifying, describing, and predicting the patterns of day and night! 🌍☀️🌙

Using a flashlight as the sun, Ms. Stites, stood in the center while students held hands and rotated around her, just like the Earth orbits the sun. As they moved, they observed how the light reached different areas, helping them understand how the Earth’s rotation creates day and night. This engaging activity made learning both fun and memorable!

💡 Way to go, Ms. Stites, for bringing science to life!

.....students are diving into exciting lessons, with a focus on building essential skills and setting goals for a successful year ahead!

"Our 3rd grade teachers and Mrs. Richardson are planning engaging read-alouds for their students!"

We’re excited to continue tutoring for our 1st graders who have been personally invited by their homeroom teacher and have received parent permission. Sessions will begin the week of January 20th and will take place on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3:30-4:10 PM.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

We are continuing tutoring for our 2nd graders who have been specifically invited by their homeroom teacher and have received parent permission. This is a reminder that tutoring sessions are held on Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 7:30-8:00 AM.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher.

We are in need of a parent volunteer to join our Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC). The LPAC is responsible for identifying and assessing students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and ensuring they receive the appropriate language support programs, such as bilingual education or ESL classes. This committee plays an important role in supporting our emergent bilingual students and ensuring their success.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact, Nancy Tijerina. Your involvement would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

Nancy Tijerina, LPAC Chair

nntijerina@garlandisd.net

972-675-3060

Parents, you can place your order online for the Spring Creek yearbook for the 24-25 school year. All orders this year must be placed online before April 8th 2025. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the yearbook, please contact Ms. Grimes (sgrimes@garlandisd.net)

Link to order the yearbook:

https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectStudent?isAdvertisementOnly=False

Our school code is 14894825

GISD hours for elementary campuses are from 8:10 AM 3:30 PM. We will open our doors each day at 7:30 AM. We ask that parents stay with their children until 7:30 AM since we have no staff on duty to supervise until that time.