Sep.27, 2024 Parent Newsletter

This is just a reminder about Lunch Visitors.

We would like to invite you to visit and have lunch with your student sometime during this school year. As always, the school lunches can be found on the website or app:

https://www.schoolcafe.com/GARLANDISD

Please follow these campus practices:

• Lunch visitors are welcome any day of the week

• Each student will have a lunch sign in sheet. Parents can come and eat lunch with their students a total of 5 visits per semester. The first semester ends at Winter Break and the second semester ends on the last day of school.

• The office staff will date and stamp the individual student sign in sheet “LUNCH VISITOR” and the parent must sign. If a parent has students in different grades and wants to have lunch with them on the same day, the parent must sign in by the “LUNCH VISITOR” stamp for each student. The five visitors include all family members.

• The visitor will present a valid state or government issued photo identification card to the school’s receptionist. This ID is scanned into the Raptor System and the personal information from the ID is cross-referenced against names of Registered Sexual Offenders (RSO) in a database maintained by Raptor Technologies, Inc. Within moments, the receptionist will know if the visitor is an RSO. If this is the case, processes are in place to consider the validity of the request to visit the school in order to maintain the safety of the students and staff. If the visitor is cleared by the system, a visitor’s pass, which includes the person’s name, photo, date of visit, and destination within the building, will be printed.

• Once parents have the name tag, they will go to the cafeteria and sit with their students at an assigned table.

• We ask that guests hug goodbye and return their child to the class table 5 minutes before the end of lunch.

• After lunch time, parents must return to the office and turn in the name tag to the office staff.

• Visitors may not attend recess, take pictures with friends or walk to the classroom.

Enjoy your visit! Please contact the school office with any questions at 972-675-3060.

Please join us for a fun literacy night! Our students in grades 3-4 will be performing (5:00 PM) in the cafeteria. All Literacy stations will be in the gym. Our amazing teachers have created great resources to share with you and our Scorpions.

We will also be selling Spirit T-shirts (cash only). This year's t-shirts cost $15. Previous years' t-shirts cost $5.00.

We have been celebrating our students for being present in the classroom. Our amazing counselors, Ms. Hendricks and Ms. Johnson, created an attendance incentive for the entire school. Ask your students which level they are on right now!

Monitoring your child’s academic progress is crucial for holding them accountable and collaborating with their teacher to address their needs. Your involvement is key to your child’s success and allows for timely interventions when necessary. If you have any questions about grades or upcoming events, please feel free to reach out to their teachers. They will be happy to work with you.

Here is the link to Skyward

Dear Parents,

We want to emphasize the importance of open communication between home and school, 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 educators 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. 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. Thank you for your continued support!

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

We’re excited to showcase the incredible work of one of our amazing students participating in the attendance challenge! Please take a moment to like and share the post on social media to celebrate their efforts and inspire our community.

Encouraging your children to participate in this challenge not only boosts their confidence but also emphasizes the importance of consistent attendance. Let’s rally together and motivate our kids to strive for success!

Thank you for your support!

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)!

Dear Families,

Help your child grow in their love for reading by treating them with something sweet! For every month your child reads 400 or more minutes, they can earn a free bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Simply record the minutes your child reads on the reading tracker and turn it in each month to the Nothing Bundt Cakes store in Richardson. This reading program goes from September through April. Here is the link to the reading tracker for when you need a new one each month.

Happy Reading!

Raising kids in a digital age is very difficult, so in celebration of GISD's upcoming Cybersafety Week (September 23-27), we'd like to share some videos with tips that should make that process easier.

Kids and Tech: How Much is Too Much? (English)

Kids and Tech: How Much is Too Much (Spanish)

Kids and Tech: When to Get a Phone (English)

Kids and Tech: When to Get a Phone (Spanish)

You can use these Family Tech Planners to help you follow through on some of the tips from the videos:

Family Tech Planner - ages 2-8 (English)

Family Tech Planner - ages 2-8 (Spanish)

Family Tech Planner - ages 9-12 (English)

Family Tech Planner - ages 9-12 (Spanish)

We invite you to begin implementing these tips with your family. In addition, and as a way of support, all students in K-5 are learning about cybersafety and digital citizenship in the library for 2 weeks. Let's all join together to help our children stay safe and be respectful online!

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. Let's take a moment to recognize a few students who earned STING tickets this week!

Email: A889@garlandisd.net
Website: https://garlandisd.net/about/departments/family-and-community-engagement-face
Phone: (972)487-4521
Facebook: facebook.com/gisdenagement
Twitter: @gisdengagement