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Newsletters » PYP Pride (K–5)

PYP Pride (K–5)

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Week of December 18, 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Reese

Happy Wednesday!

Dear Families,

Thank you to everyone who donated cookies to our annual cookie buffet. It is something we look forward to every year and Monday did not disappoint! Our parents/families are the best!

Tomorrow, December 19, students are invited to wear their pajamas for the Winter parties. Please remember there will be no Triple A/After School care on December 19.

Additionally, our primary lost and found is overflowing with coats, sweaters, lunch boxes, and more. With cooler weather hopefully on the horizon, it’s a great time to check for any missing items. As you leave your child’s class party, please stop by the front lobby to look through the lost and found—everything left in Lost and Found after the Winter parties will be donated.

Wishing you all a safe and restful Winter Break!

Melissa Reese,

PYP Principal

Primary news

Save these dates 👀

5th grade: Transition to 6th grade Information Night Tuesday, January 14 

All PYP: Principal’s Coffee January 23 at 8:30 a.m.

All PYP: Save the date for NHS's annual K-5 Parent Child Dance on February 15 (details soon)

District: School starts back on Tuesday, January 7 (Lunch menu)

District: Parents & Guardians, RSVP for Alumni Day Jan. 10!

 

Counselors Corner

The Region 13 Education Service Center has created a series of mindfulness video topics to help parents talk to their children about different social-emotional topics and recognize when there might be a problem that needs to be addressed with a professional counselor or therapist.


The next video in the series we would like to share is on mindful breathing. Watch the video to learn a quick breathing exercise. If you have any questions for our counselors, please reach out! Dana Burks (K, 2, 4) or Heather Mossell (1, 3, 5).

 

Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center is also offering a Play it Safe preview for parents and guardians January 9, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. You'll learn how you can engage in age-appropriate conversations with children around safety.

 

Winter Parties reminder

Thursday, Dec. 19Decorated sugar cookies; perhaps homemade by a child

 

Winter parties are tomorrow! Check your grade level communications for details.

 

Parties are 45 minutes long: 

 

  • 9 a.m. – 3rd Grade
  • 10 a.m. – 5th Grade (volunteers only)
  • 11 a.m. – 4th Grade (volunteers only)
  • 12:15 p.m. – Kindergarten
  • 1 p.m. – 1st Grade 
  • 2 p.m. – 2nd Grade
 

Winter Dance Camp registration closes at 9 p.m.

Saturday, December 21 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. $60.

Registration open through Dec. 18 (9 p.m.)

 

Hosted by Meridian’s Fierce Dance Team, this is perfect for our younger lions (grades K-5) to meet team members and play games, make a craft, and learn a dance to perform at the end! This fundraiser for Meridian’s Fierce Dance Team closes tonight! Register here.

 

Members of Meridian Fierce Dance Team pose with red uniforms and pom poms

Reporting absences: reminder

It's that time of year! If you are trying to remember how to report an absence, see here for details.
 

RockSports spirit wear holiday sale ends Jan. 1

Through Jan. 1, enjoy 25% off long sleeved tees and printed crewneck sweatshirts at RockSports! Check out designs on sale.

 

Public Service Announcement: safe storage of firearms

Texas law requires school districts annually to distribute information to parents and guardians about the safe storage of firearms. This page helps you learn about options for safe storage of firearms, as well as how to talk to your child and others.
 

Opportunity to engage in Advocacy

Texas Public Charter School Association (TPCSA) invites Meridian families to join their mailing list to receive action alerts and other emails this upcoming legislative season. If interested, please subscribe to their emails here. To learn more about the upcoming session (which starts January 14) and charter school priorities, you can visit TPCSA’s site. 

 

TPCSA is a statewide organization representing Texas charter schools and works closely with us to advocate for public charter schools and the thousands of students we educate.

 

IB Initiative: the concept of responsibility

Each week on the primary announcements and in the PYP Pride Newsletter, we share information about an element of the IB or specifically the Primary Years Programme.

 

This week we wrap up our look at the main concepts of PYP with the last one: responsibility. Responsibility explores the question, “What are our obligations?” It is our hope that students begin to consider what they should do in response to learning. Specifically, we are connecting this concept back to our exploration of what it means to be an agent of learning. Agency involves voice, choice, and ownership and all of these involve responsibility. 

 

Perspective: Responsibility is a value which connects it to perspective - what an individual, family, or culture considers responsible differs around the world. But like other values, our definition of responsibility drives our actions and our expectations of others. 

 

Rights: Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. Rights are freedoms - things we can do, while responsibilities are things we should do. We work to help students understand that just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should do it. 

 

Citizenship: Finally, responsibility is part of citizenship. Citizens learn responsibility by the values of their community and have rights, responsibilities, and agency within their communities.

 

Over the break and as the new year begins, take time to talk with your child about what your family values when it comes to responsibility.

 

Change is the process of movement from one state to another, and is unavoidable. Adaptation (plant growing), growth (chrysalis), cycles, transformation (beaker with purple bubbling liquid)

 

Schedule reminder

Full school day Dec. 18; no Triple A/After School 6-12 Dec. 19

district

  • There will be no Triple A on Thursday, December 19.
  • There will be no Triple A for early release Wednesday students on December 18 (as it's a full school day).

 

Please arrange for alternate pick-up on these days.

 

Upcoming enrichment activities:

December 12 - 17: Winter Crafts & Activities - Students create winter themed crafts and/or play winter themed games.

December 18 - 19: New Year’s Resolutions - Students learn about New Year's Resolutions and have the ability to create their own before winter break.

January 7 - 15: MLK - Students learn about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and write speeches to commemorate the day.

MLK March

We invite you to participate in Triple A's Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March. Together, we'll honor Dr. King's legacy as we march around the parking lot and unite in singing Lift Every Voice and Sing and Happy Birthday.

Event Details: 

January 15, 2025

Primary Lobby

4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

*There will be no pickup during this time so please plan accordingly. Students can be picked up prior to the event or after it’s over. 

resourcesPrimary Resources

Daily Announcements: Did you know you can watch the daily morning announcements that your student sees? Watch them on Ms. Lieurance’s Announcements Channel.

 

Toddle: Our one stop site/app for everything PYP. Curriculum, family communications, student portfolio, and more. Learn more about Toddle and sign in.

 

Skyward: To check report cards, submit an absence, fill out paperwork, and update your contact information, log in to Skyward using this link.
 

Important Contacts

PYP Principal, Melissa Reese
PYP Assistant Principal Grades K, 2, 4, Donida Garcia
PYP Assistant Principal Grades 1, 3, 5, Brooke Knight
 
PYP Counselor K, 2, 4, Dana Burks
PYP Counselor 1, 3, 5, Heather Mossell
PYP Coordinator grades K-5, Leah Lieurance
Media Literacy/Library, Kelly Chapman
 
Campus Coordinator, Kathy Finch
Report an absence on Skyward
 

SpEd Director, Susan Mais

ARD Coordinator, Anna Brown

504 Coordinator, Dottie Elliott

SpEd Coordinator, April Harris
 
Registrar, Janette Gaudiesus
Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain
Child Nutrition Director, Kaylee Torres
Meal Program Application/Café Questions
Skyward Questions
 

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