published November 1, 2017

It's getting cooler outside, & we've got you covered!  Just added to our spirit wear line: youth & adult zipper jackets and a gray Dry-fit shirt, all with a newly designed FSHE logo.  All orders are PRE-SALE ONLY & due back no later than Friday, November 17th!

 

(Click to Print)

rgan, FSHE Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tell us how we're doing!  Take our 2-minute Parent Satisfaction Survey, & let us know how we can help make your student's school experience even better!  The survey may be completed anonymously, but you'll be entered for a chance to win a $20 Scholastic Book Fair gift certificate when you include your email address.

rgan, FSHE Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pre-K & Kinder Round-Up for fall enrollment is tomorrow, June 7th from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.  Check out the FSHISD page for more information on registrations.

Order forms went out again today for the EduKit School Supply Kits.  

(click here to print)

The deadline to return your order to school is fast approaching, Thursday, May 25th, or order online, www.EduKit.com AT THESE PRICES now through June 15th.  After June 15th, all orders are subject to a S&H fee and will be shipped to your home.

rgan, FSHE Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The art tiles from our school beautification project are in!  There were nearly 200 new tiles created, and they will be installed this summer for everyone to see how creative our students & teachers are.

Due to OVERWHELMING support for this project, you asked, we listened:  we will be running another round of this project!  This will be the final round!  We only run this project every other year, so this is your absolute last chance to participate until 2019!  

Print your order form here & return with your artwork no later than Friday, May 26th.

All tiles will be delivered in 3-4 weeks.  If you order additional keepsake tiles for yourself, we will have a pick-up day this summer or you may wait until school starts to pick it up.  If you are PCS-ing this summer, we can make arrangements to have the tiles mailed to you.

When creating your artwork, please use a 7 1/4" x 7 1/4" piece of cardstock, and avoid using glitter or metallic colors.

rgan, FSHE Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever current Cougar Cub PTO member in good standing is needed to vote in our general election for Executive Officers for the 2017-2018 school year.  We must have 2/3s quorum of all member to complete the voting.

If you have not received your e-mail ballot, please contact us at elemPTO@fshisd.org.

Voting will conclude on this Friday evening, May 12th.

rgan, FSHE Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever wonder why teachers ask for specific brands of school supplies?

But don't just take our word for it!  See what teachers are saying:

"Yes! Yes! Yes! We don't mean to sound "picky".  We know what will last and work so supplies can last. Elmer's glue maintains consistency while other brands separate.  Crayola crayons color the best.  When you color with Rose Art they streak, crumble, and actually leave residue or color on the kids' hands.  Scissors aren't as bad; however, Fiskars maintain their cutting ability.  Some brands will literally just fold the paper and not cut.  Expo dry erase markers write and erase cleanly and last.  I've bought HEB and Dollar Tree brand and they did not last and became streaky.  I assure you all we don't want to cause an undue burden.  Have you heard a classroom of 5 year-olds whose dry erase markers are "going out" while working on math problems?  Chaos!"

Dr. Melanie Morgan

Ft. Sam Houston Elementary

Kindergarten Teacher

"We have been using Edukit for more than three years.  We spent a good deal of time pricing various options and found Edukit to be the most competitive pricing option as well as the most flexible group to work with.  This price flexibility has made it a true value and service to our families many of whom remind PTA often to "make sure the Edukits are back this year."  Personally, I have found the staff to be exceptionally attentive and helpful in making sure the process runs smoothly for us.  Since we do this on a volunteer basis, this has been invaluable to the people organizing the effort."

Phyllis Albritton
Wilmot Elementary

 PTA President Elect

"At Normandy Elementary, we are so pleased with EduKit.  We appreciate the company's effort to provide our school with specific, special order items (i.e. art supplies) so that parents don't have to search all over town and then settle for a product that is "close" to what the teacher requested.  Everyone here knows they can depend on EduKit for their child's school supplies!"

Meredith Pritchett
Normandy Elementary

EduKit Chairperson

"Convenient!  The supply sale keeps parents from going store to store to buy school supplies.  Plus, parents are assured their children will have the supplies they need on the first day of class."

Beth Yeager

Parr Elementary School
Principal’s Secretary

So don't delay!  Order yours today!

Return your order form to school by May 25th or order online directly from EduKit by June 15th to lock in these special discounted prices & have your school supply kit directly to the school for Meet the Teacher night.  Orders placed after June 15th will be delivered to your home & subject to a S&H fee.

rgan, FSHE Kindergarten Teacher---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations, Dr. Morgan, AstroBrights® 2017 Brightest Teacher!  Dr. Morgan was selected from a pool of thousands of teachers nationwide, and will receive a $5,000 classroom makeover this summer.  We could not be more proud to call her one of our own!  Way to go!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to the combined efforts of Mrs. Neal, FSHE dad Roberto Bonilla, & the rest of our staff, the Watch D.O.G.S. program from the National Center for Fathering has been introduced to the dads of Ft. Sam Houston Elementary.  

Created to not only provide positive male role models for students & provide an extra set of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying, the Watch D.O.G.S. program had over 400,000 men in more then 4,700 Watch D.O.G.S. schools volunteer at least 1 day of their time last year, benefiting both students & staff. 

Tonight we had 350 fathers come out to learn more about how they can get involved with their child's school.  And we were overwhelmed with their support!  It was a standing-room only crowd!  Thank you, Cougar Cub Dads for making that first step!

And don't forget our special offer:  order your official Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirt today & get a free PTO membership (good now through the 2017-2018 school year).  Return form & payment to school no later than Wednesday, May 10th.

(click here to print)

Please write you shirt size on your membership form!

Adult S-XL  --  $15

Adult XXL --  $16

Adult XXXL --  $17

Or sign up for our volunteer list now!  Find a place where you can give of your time & talents.  You'll be making a difference in the lives of our students.

(click here to print)

Check out all that's happening in our last month of school!

https://1.cdn.edl.io/rCrkmsnv2RYnS3gThv2PYAxpCDak54es7SroTqxlBRKDQ1Qi.pdf

By now we hope you have seen the EduKit flyer that went out last week.  It's school supply shopping made easy by ordering one simple kit that includes everything your student needs for the coming school year.  Packaged in one convenient box & customized to your teacher’s requests, you can order now & have your student's box sent directly to school and ready to pick up at Meet the Teacher Night in August.

But we keep hearing the same question:  is it really worth it?  Check out a little bit of comparison shopping we did at top retailers using last year's school supply list.  They don't come even close to the savings you would get buying an EduKit for only $40-$50!  And everything in the kit is high-quality, name-brand products.

• So go to www.EduKitInc.com to order today or print your form here!
  
  May 25th - Last day to return order form to school

• June 15th - Last day to order online at these special prices; kit will be shipped to school

•  

  July 27th - Last day to order online; kit will be shipped to your home.

Join us for an exciting night of fun & learning!  Thursday, April 20th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

We'll have hands-on learning stations from our teachers & community vendors, the Backwoods BBQ Food Truck, PTO raffle baskets, & our big summer spirit wear blowout sale!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Cougar Cub PTO wants you! We are currently seeking officers for the 2017-2017 PTO Board, and we have A LOT of open positions due to PCSs. Come be a part of this dynamic group of parents & teachers, and help support our students and staff be the best that it can be!

All executive position are elected annually by a ⅔ majority vote of current members of the Cougar Cub PTO. All committee chairs are elected by a ⅔ majority vote by current members of the Cougar Cub PTO Board.

Anyone seeking a position should submit their intent to elemPTO@fshisd.org by Thursday, May 4th. Election will be held at our monthly PTO meeting, Friday, May 5th.

Executive Officers

Executive Officers are elected by a ⅔ majority vote by current members of the Cougar Cub PTO.

President

Candidates for election:  

1.  Jennifer Griffin*

2.  _______________

VP Membership & Volunteers

• Promote & recruit members to the PTO
• Maintain records of currently enrolled members
• Seek out & coordinate volunteers for PTO & school events.

Candidates for election:  

1.  Jennifer Whiteside⁑

2.  _______________

Secretary

• Record & distribute minutes for monthly meetings.

Candidates for election:  

1.  Michelle Grabill*

2.  _______________

Treasurer

• Maintain accurate records of all incoming & outgoing funds
• Creates reports of current financial state
• Make deposits

Candidates for election:  

1.  Lisa Brown*

2.  _______________

Committee Chairs

Committee Chairs are elected by a ⅔ majority vote by current members of the Cougar Cub PTO Board.

Accelerated Reader Chair

• Promote Accelerated Reader program
• Track monthly AR point
• Update month AR leader tally board
• Award prizes for quarterly & annual winners

Chair:  ~vacant~

Book Fair Chairs

• Plan & run semi-annual Scholastic Book Fairs (fall & spring).
• Seek out volunteers to assist during the week of the sale

Chair #1:  Vikki Sickels*

Chair #2:  ~vacant~

Chair #3:  ~vacant~

Box Tops Chair

• Promote Box Tops 4 Education Program
• Collect Box Tops
• Send out BT4E collection sheets
• Sort, validate, clip, count, tally, & prepare Box Tops for both FSHE monthly leader board & national semi-annual collection dates
• Maintain BT4E leader tally board
• Plan & execute prize parties for top winning classes

Chair :  ~vacant~

Cougar Cub Connection / Publicity Chair

• Write & submit for approval monthly Cougar Cub Connection newsletter
• Run copies & distribute newsletter to all students & staff
• Keep PTO Facebook page updated with all school notifications & event information
• Keep PTO website updated with all school notifications & event information
• Create flyers & advertisements for all school notifications, events, & other PTO committee notices

Chair:  Jennifer Whiteside*

Fall Festival

• Plan, promote, & execute Fall Festival
• Coordinate with teachers/grades on their booth
• Book vendors food, entertainment, games, booths, etc.
• Seek out volunteers to assist at the event
• Count & package ticket bundles for presale
• Sell tickets
• Count & recount teachers/staff ticket submissions

Chair:  Jennifer Griffin*

Fundraising & Grant Writing Chair

• Seek out grants to apply for
• Seek out fundraising opportunities
• Execute fundraising plans.

Chair:  Erica McMahon*

Holiday Shoppe Chair

• Plan, promote, & execute Holiday Shoppe
• Seek out volunteers to assist during the week of the sale

Chair:  Michelle Grabill*

~vacant~

Science Night Chairs

• Plan, promote, & execute Science Night
• Coordinate with teachers/grades on their booth
• Book vendors food, entertainment, games, booths, etc.
• Seek out volunteers to assist at the event
• Promote grade level prize baskets & ticket sells

Chair #1:  ~vacant~

Chair #2:  Anna Eldred*

Chair #3:  ~vacant~

Spirit Wear Chairs

• Promote Spirit Wear sales at Meet the Teacher night, Fall Festival, Science Night, & any other events
• Promote Spirit Wear sales through brochure program
• Coordinate with vendor companies to create, execute, order, & distribute products

Chair:  ~vacant~

Student Awards Chair

• Recognize & award prizes to Honor Roll & Perfect attendance students

Chair:  Kesha Braxton*

Teacher Appreciation Chair

• Recognize teachers & staff with small tokens of our appreciation for them, i.e. Back to School Teacher Breakfast, Hershey Kisses roses on Valentine's Day, "Thanks for helping us grow" paper mache flowers, etc.
• Coordinate Teacher Appreciation Week events

Chair:  ~vacant~

Teacher Liaison

• Serve as the link between the PTO & the teachers/staff.
• Distribute information between the two groups.

Chair:  Laura Lamoureux*

*returning board member, seeking same position

⁑returning board member, seeking new position

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After OVERWHELMING response to the tile art beautification project, we will now be taking late orders.

The original order has already been shipped off for processing so that they can be back to us in time for Mother's Day.  Late orders collected will be back before the end of May.

ALL LATE ORDERS MUST BE TURNED IN TO THE PTO BOX BY 3 PM THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH!

We hope to see everyone this Friday at our April PTO Meeting!  8:30 AM in the cafeteria.

Check out the latest Cougar Cub Connection Newsletter!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------