Parents and Students,

We have a busy October but certainly we plan to have fun while learning this coming month! Mark your calendars for all the events, see upcoming events below. Let’s work together to continue making a grand year at Tuscany Heights Elementary. We always strive to grow as a school and school community and we have already seen so many students growing in leadership.

Thank you for your support!

Thank you, Tara Bailey

 

Upcoming Events

Oct. 2nd: PTA Presents Nathan Hale Author Visit

Oct. 3rd: World’s Teacher Day: Professional Dress

Oct. 6th: National Blue Shirt Day for Anti-Bullying -WEAR YOUR BLUE

Oct. 7th: PTA General Mtg/Wellness Night/AntiBullying (Guest Speaker)

Come one, come all to a fun filled night with our Tiger Families! We are hosting our monthly PTA Meeting along with an Anti-Bullying Presentation and Fitness Rotations. We are excited to share more information soon!

Oct. 10th: Early Dismissal

Oct. 13th: Professional Development Day/ Student Holiday

Oct. 16th: PTA Presents: EB Lewis Author Visit

Oct. 14th: 3rd, 4th, 5th Reading Benchmark

Oct. 15th: 3rd, 4th, 5th Math Benchmark *There may be a slight change in benchmarking due to a Covey Visitor more info to come

Oct. 16th: 4th writing Benchmark

Oct. 17th: World Student Day

Oct. 20th- Oct. 24th: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 20th: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 24th: Wear It Pink Day!

Oct. 24th: Bike Rodeo

Oct. 24th: End of 1st Nine Weeks

 

Library News!

October Author Visits

Chloe reads Rapunzel’s Revenge, a Graphic Novel by Nathan Hale

Author Nathan Hale will visit with 3rd-5th grade students on Thursday, October 2nd.  If your student purchased a book, Mr. Hale will autograph copies throughout the day.  We will return autographed books to students at the end of the day if time permits.

Award winning author/illustrator E. B. Lewis is scheduled to visit Tuscany Heights (K-5th Grade) on October 16th.  Details coming soon!  

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Explore articles, ebooks and other Hispanic Heritage Month resources by visiting the library or Mrs. Johnson’s webpage:

http://neisd.libguides.com/welcome_tuscany_heights_library

OverDrive:  NEISD’s collection of eBooks and Audiobooks at your fingertips!

On any Internet connected device with a browser, go directly to NEISD’s digital library by visiting the North East ISD Digital Library.

Use your student’s ID to login and begin borrowing titles with one click!

For additional information please visit http://help.overdrive.com/?Sup=http://neisd.lib.overdrive.com/Support.htm

Parent accounts can be obtained through the Tuscany Library.

 

PTA Information

Eat for a Cause – Tuscany Heights’ families, our first Eat for a Cause is being pushed back a week or so.  Look for breaking news via e-blast or backpack.  We’re looking forward to having dinner with our families!


PTA Greenbacks - PTA is giving you one more week to "Light the Way to Leadership" with your Greenback donations.  We are almost to our goal and we just need your help to get there.  If you haven't made your tax-deductible donation yet, now is your chance.  Last week the students got to see Tusky shine with awesome dance moves.  Now we want to see Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Hayden light up the stage with their outstanding singing performance.  If our goals are met, Pajama Day will be on Friday, October 10 AND students will get to vote that day on what song they want to hear our beautiful principals sing.  Thanks for helping PTA Light the Way to Leadership!  

REFLECTIONS – The World Would be a Better Place if … is the 2014-15 Reflections theme. Reflect on the theme. Create an original work. Be recognized! Categories include music composition, dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts, and literature. Deadline for entries is October 20. For more information, rules, and student entry forms go to http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/ or visit THE library for a printed version.

 
HEB Bonus Box Top Promotion - For every 15 Box Tops for Education products purchased at HEB September 17th-30th, you will receive 100 Bonus Box Tops. That is $10 extra! If you purchase 10 Box Tops for Education products, you will receive 60 Bonus Box Tops. That's an extra $6! Be shopping for products that have Box Tops for Education during this time to get your Bonus Box Tops printed right at the register.

Turn in September 22nd - October 3rd for a chance to toss snowballs at select teachers and your principals! Join us for a Box Tops counting party on Tuesday, October 7 in PTA room 204 from 9-11 AM. 

Click here for additional Box Top forms. 

Honorary Texas PTA Life Membership Award - An Honorary Texas Life Membership is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Texas PTA for outstanding contributions to the well-being of children and youth. If you know someone who has gone the “extra mile” for our children, is a valuable volunteer, is an exceptional teacher, dedicated to education, is an outstanding staff member, or is a Community Member who shares his/her resources and expertise for the benefit of all children, then please consider nominating this individual for this very special award. It is not necessary that this person be a member of the Tuscany Heights PTA. Please complete a nomination form (attached to the e-blast) and return it to the Tuscany Heights School PTA in a sealed envelope labeled “Life Membership.” Be sure to include a summary on why you believe this person should receive this award. You may use the back of the form, or include a separate letter. Awards will be announced and presented at T.H.E. PTA General Meeting, December 2. Please return all nominations by Monday, October 27.   

Plug in with PTA and Back the Future!

THE PTA Website www.tuscanyheightspta.org 

Tuscany Heights Volunteers Link http://www.volunteerspot.com/group/35885320036


Honorary Texas PTA Life Member Form

PTA Greenback Flyer

Reflections Flyer

Oktoberfest Flyer

Parents and Students,

We have finished our 4th week of school and there are so many great things happening in classrooms! I am excited for this school year and all the possibilities for our Tiger Leaders!

Just a few items I hope that you will talk with your child about…

Safety- Please be sure that you are always on the lookout for students arriving and dismissing from school. Your diligence along with our staff and students can help avoid an accident. A concern brought up by parents and staff, students are crossing before our guards arrive. I need to clarify my statement from last week. Yes, our crossing guards arrive on duty at 7:15 but have to clock in using the system inside the building and then drive down. Therefore, they are a few minutes after 7:15. If you have walkers or bikers using the light, please ask them to wait until our crossing guards can cross them safely. We will look into any other options, but at this time, these are the two staff members trained and on duty.


Dress Code- We’ve seen lots of short shorts! Please talk with your students about the NEISD Dress Code. We want them all here and in class learning! Click here for the NEISD Dress Code, http://www.neisd.net/neisdinfo/DressCode.htm .

Thank you for your support!

Thank you,

Tara Bailey

 

Upcoming Events

Sept. 25th: Fall Pictures

Oct. 2nd: PTA Presents Nathan Hale Author Visit

Oct. 3rd: World’s Teacher Day: Professional Dress

Oct. 6th: National Blue Shirt Day for Anti-Bullying -WEAR YOUR BLUE

Oct. 7th: PTA General Mtg/Wellness Night/AntiBullying (Guest Speaker)

Come one, come all to a fun filled night with our Tiger Families! We are hosting our monthly PTA Meeting along with an Anti-Bullying Presentation and Fitness Rotations. We are excited to share more information soon!

Oct. 10th: Early Dismissal

Oct. 13th: Professional Development Day

Oct. 16th: PTA Presents: EB Lewis Author Visit

Oct. 14th: 3rd, 4th, 5th Reading Benchmark

Oct. 15th: 3rd, 4th, 5th Math Benchmark

Oct. 16th: 4th writing Benchmark

Oct. 17th: World Student Day

Oct. 20th- Oct. 24th: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 20th: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 24th: Wear It Pink Day!

Oct. 24th: Bike Rodeo

Oct. 24th: End of 1st Nine Weeks




PTA Information

Eat for a Cause – Tuscany Heights families, mark your calendars! We have our first Eat for a Cause event scheduled for Monday, September 29.  Be on the lookout for more information soon!

 

PTA Greenbacks are Lighting the Way to Leadership and we need your help.  We have a community-matching offer from Dell! If we can raise an additional $2000 in this push for Greenbacks we will receive a contribution from Dell for $3,000!  Let’s make this happen!

We have reached our first goal of $2,500, so Tusky lit up the announcements with a special dance to "Lights" by Ellie Goulding.  We are well on our way towards our next goal of $7,500 and the students will get to have a Spirit Shirt and Pajama Pants Day on September 26, and get to bring a flashlight for a special reading time in class.  If we reach $10,000 we will get Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Hayden to light up the stage and perform a song selected by the student body.   Donation envelopes were sent home with your student last week.  Check with your company about matching gifts! Let's Light the Way to Leadership and get our principals on the stage!!

 

REFLECTIONS – The World Would be a Better Place if … is the 2014-15 Reflections theme. Reflect on the theme. Create an original work. Be recognized! Categories include music composition, dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts, and literature. Deadline for entries is October 20. For more information, rules, and student entry forms go to http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/ or visit THE library for a printed version.

 

WATCH D.O.G.S. – We had a great turnout to our Donuts with Dads meeting last week, recruiting many new Heroes of the Hallways!  Don’t miss the deadline to order your official Watch D.O.G.S. uniform.  An order form was sent home last week.  Deadline for t-shirt orders is Sept 26 with checks made payable to T. H. E.  For more information about volunteering contact watchdogs@tuscanyheightspta.org 

 

HEB Bonus Box Top Promotion - For every 15 Box Tops for Education products purchased at HEB September 17th-30th, you will receive 100 Bonus Box Tops. That is $10 extra! If you purchase 10 Box Tops for Education products, you will receive 60 Bonus Box Tops. That's an extra $6! Be shopping for products that have Box Tops for Education during this time to get your Bonus Box Tops printed right at the register.

Turn in September 22nd - October 3rd for a chance to toss snow balls at select teachers and your principals!

Click here for additional Box Top forms. 

 

LOST AND FOUND – If you might be interested in serving as our Lost and Found Chair for PTA let us know! Items are starting to accumulate in the Lost and Found area.  Please remember to label lunch boxes and water bottles! It may be a while before we are wearing jackets – but plan ahead and label.  We want to make sure your items make their way back home. 

 

Plug in with PTA and Back the Future!

THE PTA Websitewww.tuscanyheightspta.org 

Tuscany Heights Volunteers Link http://vols.pt/CFEbnn

Parents,

Today our school (staff, students, and parents visiting) participated in a "Hard Lockdown Drill". This drill is in place to practice in the event we have an intruder inside the building. We also practice "soft lockdown drills" in the event there is an intruder or an emergency in the area. Throughout the remainder of this month and this year, we will continue to practice our drills and ensure our students know what to do in the event an emergency occurs. This is not something we announce or advertise, because emergencies usually come unannounced. We wanted you to know in the event your child comes home talking about today's drill. The students did a great job follow directions.

On another note, calling all WatchDOGS...
WATCH D.O.G.S. – Doughnuts with Dads!

Calling all Watch D.O.G.S!  Paws for a minute and join us for Doughnuts with Dads, an informative meeting about serving as a Hero of the Hallway at Tuscany Heights! We'll meet in the library on Thursday, 9/18 from 7:15-7:45. Come learn about the program and schedule your dates to be a Watch DOG on campus! Look for a flyer and order form for t-shirts that was sent home. Deadline for t-shirt orders is Sept 26 with checks made payable to T. H. E.


Thank you,
Tara Bailey

Parents,

We've had a great day with International Dot Day! I have seen so many differenct activities from talents being shared in art projects to writing about how students will make their mark in the community or world. Thank you for helping us tie this into our leadership goal! We are so proud of our staff and students!

On another note, coming up on October 6th, we will be celebrating National Blue Shirt Day in honor of anti-bullying. We say anything blue goes as long as it follows the dress code. However, if you want to take advantage of a specific shirt, you will find an order form attached. It is not required, but if you do want one...the time to order is limited. We need to know by Thursday!

Start picking out your BLUE!

Thank you,
Tara Bailey


Blue Shirt Order Form

Parents and Students,

 International Dot Day TOMORROW- Students and parents, let’s wear polka dots and/or circles tomorrow (Monday, Sept. 15th) to celebrate making our mark at Tuscany Heights, our community, and in the world!At school, the students are working on their “dot” artwork and reading/hearing about the children’s book The Dot by Peter Reynolds.

 On another note, I want to please ask that you talk to your students about safety in the mornings with arrival as well as dismissal. We have a few students crossing Wilderness Oak and Dunman Intersection prior to our crossing guards arriving at 7:15am to assist. I’ve had two reports that two young girls have almost been hit by a car. Please, please talk to your children if they are walkers in the morning. We ask that all parents and students not cross the street until 7:15 when a crossing guard is there to assist you with traffic. They are trained by law enforcement and can help ensure safety. *Staff are on duty at 7:15. If you drop off before 7:00a.m., please know that your children are not being supervised. At 7:00 a.m., I have an assistant in the rotunda to monitor early arrivers.

Also at this intersection, please take note that there are not double lanes that turn right and/or left into the building. We’ve had a few cars try this during the afternoons. You must be in the turn lane in order to make the turn, then you can use the 2nd lane to drive thru if you are not picking up a student from our car rider line.

After needing EMS this past week, I feel that it is imperative to leave a drive thru lane open in the event of an emergency with a staff member or student. I feel that our car rider has become efficient and effective with the help of staff, students, and parents.

Thank you for understanding our safety concerns!

Thank you,

Tara Bailey


Upcoming Events

Sept. 17th- Sept. 30th: Box Tops

Sept. 18th: WatchDOGS Breakfast (More info below in the PTA section)
                  National Respect Day

Sept. 25th: Fall Pictures

Oct. 2nd: PTA Presents Nathan Hale Author Visit

Oct. 3rd: World’s Teacher Day: Professional Dress

Oct. 6th: National Blue Shirt Day for Bullying -WEAR YOUR BLUE SHIRTS

If you don’t have a blue shirt, we will have some for sell (pre-order ONLY because our time is limited!). A form will go out Monday via eBlast, Website Order Form Available Monday, and in back packs on Monday. We will ask for these back by Thursday…so quick turn around. These are COMPLETELY OPTIONAL! No obligation! The only thing we ask is that you help us support Anti-Bullying that day by wearing BLUE: navy, light blue, royal blue, blue jeans, etc. because all will definitely work! It is about the message we are sending not the shirt!

Oct. 7th: PTA General Mtg/Wellness Night/AntiBullying (Guest Speaker)

Oct. 10th: Early Dismissal

Oct. 13th: Professional Development Day

Oct. 16th: PTA Presents: EB Lewis Author Visit

Oct. 14th: 3rd, 4th, 5th Reading Benchmark

Oct. 15th: 3rd, 4th, 5th Math Benchmark

Oct. 16th: 4th writing Benchmark

Oct. 17th: World Student Day

Oct. 20th- Oct. 24th: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 20th: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 24th: Wear It Pink Day!

Oct. 24th: Bike Rodeo

Oct. 24th: End of 1st Nine Weeks 


PTA Information

WATCH D.O.G.S. – Doughnuts with Dads!
Calling all Watch D.O.G.S!  Paws for a minute and join us for Doughnuts with Dads, an informative meeting about serving as a Hero of the Hallway at Tuscany Heights! We'll meet in the library on Thursday, 9/18 from 7:15-7:45. Come learn about the program and schedule your dates to be a Watch DOG on campus! Look for a flyer and order form for t-shirts that was sent home. Deadline for t-shirt orders is Sept 26 with checks made payable to T. H. E.

Run for the Heights!  - There will be a volunteer committee meeting for the 5th Annual Run For The Heights on Thursday, 9/18 @ 10am in the PTA room in 5th grade hallway.

We will be outlining committee roles, timelines, and additional needs for volunteers & roles.  If you are interested in helping out with Run For The Heights planning and preparation please come to the meeting or reach out to Jennifer Bissen @ runfortheheights@tuscanyheightspta.org or (214) 529-9524. 

THE PTA Presents …

PTA Greenbacks are Lighting the Way to Leadership and we need your help.  We have a community-matching offer from Dell! If we can raise an additional $2000 in this push for Greenbacks we will receive a contribution from Dell for $3,000!  Let’s make this happen!

We have reached our first goal of $2,500, so Tusky will be lighting up the announcements with a special dance to "Lights" by Ellie Goulding.  We are well on our way towards our next goal of $7,500 and the students will get to have a Spirit Shirt and Pajama Pants Day on September 26, and get to bring a flashlight for a special reading time in class.  If we reach $10,000 we will get Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Hayden to light up the stage and perform a song selected by the student body.   Watch for the flyer and donation envelope to come home with your student this week.  Check with your company about matching gifts! Let's Light the Way to Leadership and get our principals on the stage!!

THE Volunteer Information: Thank you to all the volunteers who were able to attend the 9/9 Volunteer Coffee Orientation. If you were not able to make the meeting and would like more information about volunteering at Tuscany, please take a few minutes to review the meeting handout or presentation. Click here for the meeting handout, and click here for the meeting presentation. The meeting handout includes information on the NEISD Volunteer Criminal History Record Check, NEISD Volunteer Program Code of Conduct, different ways you can volunteer at Tuscany, our VolunteerSpot Group Page and how to log your volunteer hours worked outside or school hours or off campus.  We appreciate all of our awesome volunteers!!!

BOX TOPS – OUR FALL BOX TOPS CONTEST IS QUICKLY APPROACHING!  It's going to be SNOW much fun! Get 100 Bonus Box Tops when you buy 15 participating Box Tops for Education products in a single shopping trip between 9/17/14 and 9/30/14. Get 60 Bonus Box Tops when you buy 10 participating Box Tops for Education products in a single shopping trip between 9/17/14 and 9/30/14.

REFLECTIONS – The World Would be a Better Place if … is the 2014-15 Reflections theme. Reflect on the theme. Create an original work. Be recognized! Categories include music composition, dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts, and literature. Deadline for entries is October 20. For more information, rules, and student entry forms go to http://www.txpta.org/programs/reflections/ or visit THE library for a printed version.

DIRECTORY - Include Your Child in Our 2014-2015 Tuscany Heights Student Directory
The PTA produces a directory to keep parents “in the know” and help our children stay in touch with their friends.  LAST CHANCE TO BE INCLUDED! Buy your directory, shout-outs, and tributes! Send in your order forms Monday, September 15! 

* Purchase Business Ads – a great way to reach our community! Businesses can submit a Directory Advertisement through Friday, September 19! 

 

LOST AND FOUND – If you might be interested in serving as our Lost and Found Chair for PTA let us know! Items are starting to accumulate in the Lost and Found area.  Please remember to label lunch boxes and water bottles! It may be a while before we are wearing jackets – but plan ahead and label.  We want to make sure your items make their way back home. 

Plug in with PTA and Back the Future!

THE PTA Websitewww.tuscanyheightspta.org 
Tuscany Heights Volunteers Link http://vols.pt/CFEbnn

Parents,

I wanted to let you know that the Fire Truck will be visiting our Kinder Students today about 9a.m. I didn't want there to be any concern in case someone noticed the fire truck at Tuscany Heights.

Don't forget Monday, Sept. 15th is International Dot Day! We want everyone to share in dressing for this fun holiday while we engage in creative lessons with our students about "Making Their Mark".

Thank you,
Tara Bailey

Parents,

Today right before dismissal, we had a teacher faint in her classroom with her students. I must commend our students and staff for reacting appropriately during this incident. What great leaders we have here at Tuscany Heights! To update the students in the classroom as well as our community, I want to share that she is doing well tonight and thank you for your emails and phone calls. Out of respect for the staff member, please respect her privacy upon her return to school. Any of our students that might need to speak to a counselor that witnessed the incident, please let us know. We want to commend our students while at the same time support them for being so brave during an emergency.

Thank you,
Tara Bailey

Parents,

Please know that we had a teacher emergency this afternoon during dismissal. Everything was handled according to district policy and procedures. Thank you for your concern.