February 1, 2010

Dear parents, community members,

At the January Board meeting, a foreign language academy program proposal was presented to the school board and the public for possible implementation at Stafford Primary School for the 2010-2011 school year. The proposal is to offer to our SMSD students at the primary level the opportunity to be enrolled in a dual language program where students will be able to learn a second language. Based on research, language acquisition starts at an early age, and the best time to teach language(s) is at the early ages. If our SMSD students are bilingual or multilingual, they will be at an advantage to compete in today’s global market.

The Foreign Language Academy proposed, offering languages (Vietnamese and Chinese currently being considered and possibly others to follow) at the elementary level, is an innovative program and may be the only one of its kind in the state of Texas. This is an initiative that will require a lot of planning and communicating with important stakeholders such as parents and community members.

If you are interested in enrolling your Pre-K or Kindergarten child in the program for the 2010-2011 school year, we invite you to come to an information meeting to take place this Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 6:00 pm. Community members interested in learning about the program are welcomed to attend the meeting as well.

Please join us in a meeting about this exciting venture to provide the “premium” educational opportunities that all of our students deserve.

Stafford Primary School Cafeteria
Thursday, February 4, 2010
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.


Sincerely,

Kim Vu
Principal

Please see the attached newsletter from Title I Statewide School Support/Parental Involvement Initiative

Por favor lee el boletin para mas informacion de la Iniciativa de Apoyo Escolar Estatal de Título I/ Participación de Padres

Parents are number one as their child's first and most important teacher. They are one of the most essential factors in the overall education of students. SMSD believes that academic success is accomplished through a collaborative effort with parents and the extended community.

Parents may contact any SMSD counselor, their child's teacher or principal, an SMSD librarian, or Terry Loudenburg for opportunities to become an active participant in the educational success of their child and of SMSD.

Visitors are always welcome at Stafford Primary School. Visitors must enter the school through the Stafford Pride Street entrance. When vistiting our school, always check in through our front office and be prepared to show an official picture ID. As a part of our safe and secure school policy, our school uses the Raptor Identification System. Each SMSD campus is equipped with V-Soft Raptor Identification System, a visitor tracking system designed to ensure the safety of our students and staff. The system tracks all campus visitors, including parents, volunteers, vendors, and contractors. Once checked-in, all visitors in our school building will be given an ID sticker label that must be visibly worn while on school grounds. Individuals walking through the hallways without a Campus Approval Pass will be asked by the staff to report to the office. Visitors must check out in the front office prior to leaving the building by returning the ID sticker label to the front office staff.

Located at our Middle School campus, the Parent Resource Center is open to our families as a source of information on programs offered to establish, encourage, and assist the educational success of all our students. For more information, contact Federal Programs at 281-261-9251.

BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN
A growing body of research indicates that children tend to face fewer risks and enjoy the best opportunity to thrive when they grow up in homes with their mother and father in a healthy marriage.

In general, children growing up in such a family are:
- Less likely to be raised in poverty
- More likely to succeed academically
- Physically and emotionally healthier
- Less likely to suffer physical or sexual abuse
- Less likely to abuse alcohol or other drugs
- Less likely to become a teenage parent

Healthy Marriage benefits the adults in the family, too.

BENEFITS FOR WOMEN
- Less likely to remain or end up in poverty
- Wealthier
- Physically and emotionally healthier
- Less likely to suffer physical or sexual abuse
- Less likely to suffer domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crumes
- Less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol

BENEFITS FOR MEN
- Increase in the stability of employment
- Wealthier
- Physically and emotially healthier
- Less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol
- Live longer

To learn more, visit twogetherintexas.com

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES - HEALTHY MARRIAGE INITIATIVE
An overview of the federal Healthy Marriage Initiative goals and background on why healthy marriage matters. It provides resources on funding, marriage education, federal research studies and upcoming events.

www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage

HISPANIC HEALTHY MARRIAGE INITIATIVE (HHMI)
The HHMI is a focused strategy within the Healthy Marriage Initiative that addresses the unique cultural, linguistic, demographic and socioeconomic needs of children and families in Hispanic communities. The HHMI website contains tip sheets and practitioner briefs for program enhancement, demographic information and statistics about marriage in the Hispanic population, a list of healthy marriage curricula available in Spanish and an invitation to join the HHMI listserv.

www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/about/hispanic_hm_initiative.html

AFRICAN AMERICAN HEALTHY MARRIAGE INITIATIVE (AAHMI)
The AAHMI is a component of the Healthy Marriage Initiative and more specifically promotes a culturally competent strategy for fostering healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood, improving child well-being and strengthening families within the African American community. the AAHMI website offers information about forums, 2008 Logic Model, newsletters, fact sheets, summary of events, demographic information and statistics about marriage in African American populations and an interactive map of healthy marriage programs throughout the United States.

www.aahmi.net

Please check our Lost & Found rack for missing coats, jackets, and other articles. Items that are not claimed will be donated to the local thrift shop. Our Lost & Found is located in the new Primary School Cafeteria.

Tutorial starts the week of October 12, 2009 every Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kidergarten 2:30pm- 3:15pm
1st Grade 3:15pm- 4:00pm (1st grade bus students will ride the late bus home)

Get in touch with your child's teacher if you feel your child needs tutorial.

We are collecting pull-tabs from soda cans for the Ronald McDonald House. Send them in a zip loc bag to your child's teacher.

Each box top is worth 10 cents. We are collecting Box Tops to raise money for our PTO. There is a race between the classes. the class with the most collected by the end of the semester will be rewarded with to spend time in our reward zone in room 208!

We are collecting pennies and other change for the East Fort Bend Food Human Needs Ministry. The money collected will help them provide non-perishable food items and utility assistance to those in need and

We welcome your donations!
Wish List includes but not limited to:
a) a new refrigerator for the teachers' lounge
b) a new marquee for the front of the school
c) water fountains for our playgrounds
d)weekly fresh flowers for the teachers' lounge

TOPS:
Red, White, Navy Blue polo-style shirts. No logo. Shirts must be tucked in.

BOTTOMS:
Khaki or Navy Blue Pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, or jumpers worn with dress code tops. No logo. Belts must be worn with belt loops.

SHOES:
Closed toes, closed heels. Shoes must be worn with white socks. Tennis shoes highly recommended for PE and outside play.

OUTER WEAR:
Red, White, or Navy Blue sweaters, light jackets, or cardigans may be worn over dress code shirts. NO hoods.

Spirit shirts can be worn on Friday with uniform pants/skirts. No Jeans are allowed.

School attendance is very important, and it is directly correlated with school success. Students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. It's difficult for the teacher and the class to build their skills and progress if students are frequently absent. In addition to falling behind in academics, students who are not in school on a regular basis are more likely to get into trouble with the law and cause problems in their communities.
A 2008 study conducted by the Rodel Community Scholars at Arizona State University that tracked students from kindergarten through high school found that dropout patterns were linked with poor attendance, beginning in kindergarten. In Texas, parents are required by Texas Compulsory Attendance Law to ensure their child(ren) who are at least 6 years of age attend the full day of instruction every day of the school year. The compulsory attendance law also applies to children under 6 years of age upon enrollment in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten.

At Stafford Primary School, we encourage our students come to school every day and that parents work with us to ensure good attendance. Incentives are put in place to encourage school attendance.

Perfect attendance for the 6 weeks reward: Jump on the moonwalk (Courtesy of Bobby Little ReMax Realtor)!

Perfect attendance for the semester reward: Lunch with the principal!

Perfect attendance for the year reward: Perfect attendance trophy!

Classrooms can also earn various rewards with class-wide perfect attendance.

Punctuality is also expected. Students are expected to come to school on time. For attendance incentive purposes, 4 tardies is equal to an absence.

English Literacy Classes - Monday,Tuesday,Thursday & Friday - 8:30 - 11:00 am - Room 704B, Elementary Campus

Spanish Parenting Classes -Wednesdays - 9:00 - 10:30 AM - Parent Resource Center, Room 803 Middle School

For more information contact Ms. Gloria Medrano @ 281-261-9200 ext. 3094 gmedrano@stafford.msd.esc4.net

YMCA: Students registered for the YMCA after school care will be dropped off right after school in the Elementary cafeteria for care.

Contact: YMCA - Ms. Hazel Richards
4433 Cartwright
Missouri City, TX 77459

(281) 499-9622
hazelinerichards@ymcahouston.org

PK & Kinder

Birthdays are special days for our students; and at school, students are recognized during morning announcements and will receive a birthday certificate and a birthday pencil. Birthday parties should be celebrated at home. Due to Child Nutrition Policy (www.squaremeals.com) that our school must follow, parents are allowed to bring small, store-bought cupcakes WITHOUT ICING OR SPRINKLES. Cupcakes will ONLY be served during the lunch period AFTER lunch is served and eaten.

Parents are encouraged to keep an open line of communication with their child’s teacher. Parents should make every effort to meet the teachers at least once and attend open house and school functions. Parents should call or email the teachers to schedule a conference. Other means of communications include:
• Daily behavior card-please sign and return each day
• Teacher Web Page – check your child’s teacher’s web page for information about your child’s class
• Progress reports and Report Cards - Progress reports are sent home 3 weeks into the 6 weeks, and report cards go home at the end of each six weeks.