- Family Notes
Please check out our calendar below for all our events. If you have any questions reach out to our front office or your student's teacher.
- May 23rd -May 24th : EOY Award Ceremonies
- May 25th: Pre-K Field Day
- May 26th: Field Day
Click on the image above to download the PDF of the calendar in English and Spanish. Physical copies will be sent home in your student's Homework folder. Extra copies are available at the front office.
Dear Sparks Families,
I am grateful for another fantastic school year and the memories that will stay in my heart forever. Thank you, Sparks families, for giving me the honor of serving you and your children. These past three years have been the most humbling, significant, and fulfilling years of my professional career. This incredible community has forever changed me. I will miss you, Sparks!
As promised, I wanted to provide an update on the next steps for me. Starting June 1st, I will start my new role at Yes Prep as the Elementary Executive Principal at the District’s Home Office. In this role I will be supporting Assistant Principals in their professional development and the three Founding Elementary Principals in opening the new elementary schools.
I am excited to stay in the Yes Prep family to continue to support you and your children at a different capacity.
With love,
Principal Rios
Legacy Community Health
At Legacy they can do Camp Physicals for upcoming summer camps, activities, sports, etc. for patients and siblings that may need it .Please call them at (713)574-9721 to register/make an appointment. Their last day seeing patients before summer break is May 31, if interested call asap to schedule your appointment before the school year ends!
SBHC Clinics
507 Crenshaw Rd
Houston, Texas 77034
PH (832) 548 5000
legacycommunityhealth.org
Classroom Connections
For Class Connection this week students covered Lesson 2.6 - Understanding Stereotypes About Objects, Activities & Roles. Coming up is Lesson 2.7 Understanding that People Can Change.
SEL Learning
Empathy and Critical Thinking Unit
Dear Parent, Guardian, or Caretaker,
We are starting a unit on Empathy and Critical Thinking with Harmony SEL, our social and emotional learning program. Throughout this unit, students will have opportunities to learn about feelings, empathy, and stereotypes, and put that knowledge into practice.
Feelings will be explored in depth in this unit. Students will learn how to recognize feelings, understand how to predict or explain feelings based on events, and also explore how feelings affect our behaviors. These skills help students have a greater understanding of themselves and others.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings. Based on their understanding of feelings, students will practice ways to show empathy and caring to people in different situations. Responding in an empathetic manner helps students create deeper relationships and avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Stereotypes can be about people, objects, activities, and roles. They lead to assumptions that prevent us from knowing what other people are like or what alternatives could be open to us. Students will learn how to recognize and challenge stereotypes, including stereotypes about themselves. Students will practice “caterpillar thoughts” that embrace change (If I work hard, I can get better at spelling), rather than “worm thoughts” that assume we will stay the same no matter what (I will always be bad at spelling).
An important part of this program is for students to continue discussing and practicing concepts outside the classroom. I’m hoping you can reinforce at home what we are learning in class. Ask your child about these concepts!
Thank you for your involvement. Please contact me if you have any questions about the Harmony program
Sincerely,
Eunice Arzate, SSC
Home-to-School Connections: Home Activities
Empathy and Critical Thinking Unit
Your child is learning about Empathy and Critical Thinking with Harmony SEL, our social and emotional learning program. The ideas below will reinforce what we are learning in school—there are activities to play, topics to discuss, and behaviors to role model. These are all designed to fit into your daily routine and provide opportunities to further connect with your child.
Recognizing Feelings
- Use a wide range of emotion labels to help your child describe his or her feelings and to rate the intensity of these emotional reactions.
- Happy with a pizza party, happier with a birthday party, happiest with a new pet.
- When watching a television show or movie, mute the volume and try to identify how the characters are feeling. Talk with your child about the physical or situational cues that help determine each person’s emotions.
Predicting and Explaining Feelings
- While reading books together, pause throughout the story and invite your child to think ahead and predict how the character might feel next, or think back to which events or thoughts could explain some of the character’s feelings.
- Talk with your child about the different ways people react emotionally to different situations. For example, discuss how each of you (or other family members) would feel in different scenarios and why your feelings are the same or different.
- You are about to read something that you wrote in front of a big group of people.
- You are about to take off on the runway in an airplane.
- You have nothing to do for the next hour.
- You just finished a really hard puzzle.
- A neighbor’s cat climbs onto your lap.
- Someone tells you that you did a great job.
- Help your child notice clues about why someone feels a certain way by pointing someone out.
- That child is standing all alone at the edge of the playground, but there are a lot of kids playing on the swing set. Why do you think she looks so sad?
Relating Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors
- Help your children be mindful of their thinking and recognize their own thoughts about a person or situation, as well as how these thoughts affect their feelings and choices.
- It sounds like you really don’t want to go to your friend’s house this afternoon. Is there a reason why? Is there something you’d like to share?
- Help your child understand other people’s behavior by exploring the kinds of thoughts that could be causing it.
- You said you don’t like when your sister tags along with you and your friends to the park and it annoys you. What could she be thinking when she follows you there? Is she thinking that it would be fun to hang out with you? What if she’s bored (or lonely) at home without you? Why don’t we talk to her and see what she thinks?
Having Empathy
- Model empathy by showing an awareness and understanding of your child’s feelings—even if you don’t share or agree.
- I see that you’re angry, but it’s time to turn off the computer and get ready for dinner.
- Explain your own feelings (both positive and negative) to your child to help him or her understand how others feel and why.
- It makes me happy when I see you being kind to your brother by reading a story to him.
- Talk with your child about the consequences of his or her actions (both positive and negative) toward others.
- How do you think your friend felt when you said you asked someone else over to play instead? It probably hurt his feelings and made him feel left out.
Understanding Stereotypes About People
- Discuss with your child what a stereotype is and why it is a problem.
- Discuss with your child what they can do instead of making assumptions about what others are like or what they like to do.
Understanding Stereotypes About Objects, Activities, and Roles
- Discuss with your child why people choose or have different jobs.
- Encourage your child’s involvement in a diverse range of activities based on his or her personal preferences, strengths, or areas where he or she can learn and grow.
- Describe different kinds of activities and occupations with similarly positive terms to demonstrate that all are equally valued.
Understanding That People Can Change
- Ask your child for one example of how he or she has changed this year.
- Focus on “process rather than product”—praise your child for his or her efforts rather than what the accomplishment is.
- see that you are working really hard at trying to tie your own shoes!
An important part of this program is for students to continue discussing and practicing concepts outside the classroom. Thank you for your involvement in reinforcing at home what is being taught in class.
Core Values of the Month
Our core values for this month are Achiever and Passionate.
Teaching our SPARKS about our core values is very important. SPARKS will learn about the core values of Achiever and Passionate through the books that were selected to reinforce these values. These Lessons are covered during social studies time.
Student Assistance Forms
We know that you may have some needs that arise as a parent, or guardian. You can receive direct help by submitting a “Student Assistance Form” or, a SAF. To communicate any support needs you may have, please click on the SAF link on the district website or use the QR code below. The campus Student Support Counselor will follow up with you to determine the best way to get your need met. SAFs can be submitted for:
- Urgent family concerns
- Family or student supplies or resources needed for school (i.e., calculator, books, food)
- Student social and emotional concerns
- Student home or family concerns
- Student relationship concerns
- Concerns about harassment, race, or equity.
Lost Device Policy
We have noticed an increase in the number of students saying they lost their devices or chargers. As a reminder there is a $350 charge for lost devices and chargers and a $50 charge for lost chargers. This information can also be found in the Student Technology Device Use Agreement.
Privacy
Students shall understand that files, services, and devices provided by and managed by the school are not private. There is no expectation of privacy when students use the school district’s network, devices, and services, and anything they do can be viewed by the administration at any time.
Computers are property of the campus and district and are to be used for instructional purposes only. Please check your students' computers for anything that could be in violation of the student handbook.
If you have any questions about this policy, you may reach out to Ms. Conley our Director of Campus Operations or Principal Rios.
Student Technology Use Policy -REMINDER
YES Prep offers 1:1 technology for all students in grades K – 12. The Technology Use Policy has been developed to guide the appropriate use of technology by students and parents. Use of the technology provided by YES is a privilege in order to maintain the privilege, families must follow this policy.
Students, when using YES Prep Devices, and services provided internally, or services provided by third parties must follow all student codes of conduct as referenced in the student handbook. Students will also be in violation of this policy if the use of technology is not in accordance with state and federal laws.
Privacy
Students shall understand that files, services, and devices provided by and managed by the school are not private. There is no expectation of privacy when students use the school district’s network, devices, and services, and anything they do can be viewed by the administration at any time.
Computers are property of the campus and district and are to be used for instructional purposes only. Please check your students' computers for anything that could be in violation of the student handbook.
If you have any questions about this policy, you may reach out to Ms. Conley our Director of Campus Operations or Ms. Rios.
Still Accepting 2023-2024 Student Applications
Although the lottery has closed, we are still accepting applications for the 23-24 school year. We will be offering Pre-K4 – 5th grade next school year. Make sure to complete an application for any siblings you would like to attend our school next year and spread the word to others! You can access the application at southeastes.yesprep.org/SayYES
Please note, we are using a new platform this year so you will need to use the new link and you will be required to create a new login. The website listed above also contains links to videos to support with creating an account and filling out an application.
Every Minute Counts
Families every minute counts when it comes to growing our Sparks and ensuring they are achieving at their fullest potential. We want to maximize the minutes students are in school and we need your help to do so. Students need to be in school every day possible. We understand that illness is not within your control; however, we want to make sure our Sparks all the other days. Also, when your student consistently arrives late or leaves early, they are missing key foundational knowledge.
Handicap Parking
Please do not park in the reserved handicap parking at the front of the school if you do not have a placard or license plate that allows you to do so. This includes morning drop off and afternoon dismissal. You may receive a citation from law enforcement if you are found parking in one of the spots.
Excused Absences & Submission of Notes
Families are now able to upload student absences and excuse notes into Skyward for approval. Please review this video that details the process.
YES Prep Public Schools defines excused absences as absences due to one or more of the following:
- Illness
- Medical/dental-related, including appointments
- Bereavement/Funeral for immediate family members
- Absences related to the legal system
- Religious Observances
- Any other absence that is protected under State or Federal law.
Student Attendance Reminders
Parents, please be reminded that our goal is to have all students in school each and every day. To make this a reality we need the support of our parents and families. Students arriving after 7:30 are considered tardy and need to check in at the front desk. Please contact the front office at 713-842-5555 if your student is going to be absent.
To remain in compliance with our district, please note the following:
A student's absence will be considered excused if a student provides physical or electronic documentation within 48 hours of absence indicating the student’s full name, and dates missed and is signed by a guardian or doctor mentioning any of the following reasons below and only if the absence meets the criteria defined under the excused absence section of our handbook.
Upon return to school, a student absent for more than three (3) consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school. Students are only permitted 3 handwritten notes within a six-week grading period that meet the criteria.
End of Year Award Ceremonies
Please note the time listed is when check-in begins.
Field Day on May 26, 2023.
- To prioritize the safety of our Sparks please note this event is only for Students and will not be open to families. Field Day requires all hands-on deck support from Staff and Volunteers in order to provide a safe environment.
- Sparks families we need your help ! Please see the flyer below for a list of donations per grade level.
- Family Notes