Shepard Elementary Patriot Post

Dear Patriot Families,

We are having a great week at Shepard, and we are especially excited for our Shepard Sock Hop this Thursday, hosted by our wonderful PTA.

Students are welcome to wear their favorite ’50s-inspired gear to school if they would like to join in the fun. We can’t wait to see our Patriots dressed in their poodle skirts, leather jackets, rolled-up jeans, and other ’50s favorites!

Most of all, we are excited to see our students hopping, bopping, dancing, and laughing with their friends on the dance floor. These are some of the moments that make elementary school so special, and we are grateful to our PTA for creating opportunities for our Shepard families to come together and make memories.

Get ready to rock around the clock, Patriots! We’ll see you at the Sock Hop Thursday evening!

As always, thank you for being such an important part of our Shepard family! Let's keep lifting every child to new heights, together!

Christy James

Principal

September 24th: Shepard Sockhop-Students may wear 50's attire to school! 6:00-7:30

September 30th-October 2nd: 5th Grade Camp

October 7th: Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day

October 29th: Fall Festival "Trunk or Treat" 5:30-7:00

Students who were approved for free or reduced-price meals at the end of last school year will continue to receive meal benefits for the first 30 operating days of the 2026–27 school year, or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first.

To ensure uninterrupted meal benefits, families must submit a federal meal application for the 2026–27 school year. Students without a current application on file after the 30 day grace period will change to full-paid eligibility status effective September 22, 2026.

If your household has already submitted an application for the current school year, no further action is needed. For those who still need to apply, the federal meal application can be completed online through School Cafe. Applications will be processed within 10 business days, and eligibility notifications will be sent via email. Be sure to check your junk or spam folder if you do not receive the message in your inbox.

Just like healthy eating and regular exercise, adequate sleep is a critical pillar of a healthy lifestyle. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), children ages 3 to 5 years need 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day, including naps. Children ages 6 to 12 years need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night.

For example, if your child wakes up at 6:30 a.m., their bedtime should generally fall between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., depending on their age and individual sleep needs.

A key component of getting a good night's sleep is maintaining a consistent bedtime and bedtime routine.

The AASM recommends the following bedtime habits for children:

· Turn off electronic devices at least 1 hour before bedtime.

· Take a warm bath and brush teeth.

· Read a book or sing a calming song.

· Turn off the lights at bedtime.

The AASM offers additional sleep information and resources for parents, patients, and children, including educational materials and coloring pages, at SleepEducation.org.

Remember, parents, sleep should be a priority in your healthy lifestyle as well. Consistent bedtimes and bedtime routines are not just beneficial for children. They help adults get the restorative sleep needed to stay healthy, focused, and energized.

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. In elementary school, AVID helps children build the habits and skills of successful learners through Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading—WICOR

Interactive notebooks are more than a place to keep papers. Students use them to organize information, add their own thinking, and return to previous learning when they need it. Ask your child to show you a notebook page they are proud of. Then ask: “What did you add to this page that shows your thinking?”

Starting in October, all PISD students, including our Shepard K–5th grade students, will be required to wear a student ID badge each school day. Student badges are an important part of keeping our Shepard Patriots safe, organized, and ready to learn! We will communicate more details as we have them.

Why Do Badges Matter?

Student ID badges help our staff quickly identify students and ensure that everyone on campus belongs here. They also support important school routines and safety procedures throughout the day. Badges will be used for several everyday school activities, including:

• Lunch: Students will scan their badge when purchasing lunch.
• Library: Students will use their badge for library checkouts and access.
• Campus Safety: Badges help staff quickly identify students during the school day and during emergency situations.

What Families Need to Know

• Badges must be worn every school day.
• Please make wearing a badge part of your child's morning routine.
• Students should arrive at Shepard with their badge on and visible.
• Badges should be cared for and kept in good condition.
• Additional information about badge distribution and procedures for lost or damaged badges will be shared by Shepard Elementary.

Help Our Patriots Soar! Thank you for partnering with us to keep Shepard Elementary safe, organized, and ready for another great year of learning!

7:00–7:30 a.m. | Early Arrival & Breakfast

Students who need to arrive early or eat breakfast may enter through the gym doors and will be seated and supervised by staff.

7:30–7:40 a.m. | Regular Arrival
School doors open at 7:30 a.m., classrooms open, and regular Shepard arrival begins. Students arriving by car should use the back carpool line. Walkers may enter through the front entrance. Families who are using regular arrival are welcome to begin lining up in the carpool line or gathering on the porch a few minutes before the doors open.

7:40 a.m. | School Begins

The school day officially begins at 7:40 a.m. Students begin the day together with announcements in their classrooms. At this time, the exterior doors will close. Any student arriving after 7:40 a.m. is considered tardy and must be accompanied by a guardian to the front office to sign in.

The Plano Public Library is here to support learners! We have five locations throughout the city and many resources that can be accessed from home including:

Libby: downloadable e-books, audiobooks, and magazine

Kanopy: streaming movies and shows for all ages

Learning Express Library for test prep

All of these services are completely free, visit planolibrary.org to register for a card.

Visit our online calendar to find free events for all ages including our celebration of all things STEAM coming this fall!

Stay in touch by following the Plano Public Library on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube!