October 18, 2018
PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
Parent conferences are right around the corner! For many of you this is old hat and somewhat of an annual tradition. For others it's a brand new situation that may or may not foster some anxiety. Please know this is a two-way street. As an educator, the last thing you want to do is deliver news that you feel may be hard for a parent to hear. I can remember being a new teacher and questioning my ability to tell parents what I have observed about their child. Critical conversations are hard and sometimes gut-wrenching, but in the end they are, in fact, critical.
I have now gone through two parent conferences with my own child, and while I'm no expert, I do find myself constantly seeking the one thing that was most difficult for me as a teacher to provide. The warts. The wrinkles. The opportunities. I know my kid at home. And I'm pretty dang sure that my kid is the smartest, most athletic, most endearing, most good-natured friend that teacher has ever come across. What I've come to find out is that I don't know how my kids act during the majority of the day, week, month, year away from me in a setting that has its own demands and expectations that I'm not aware of. I need the dirt, and I need someone on the inside to give it to me. The hardest thing I've had to do as a parent is allow these professionals who I've never met to tell me what my daughter is struggling with. I'm grateful they love her enough to highlight these opportunities to grow.
Your child's teacher will, without a doubt, shower you with all the absolutely amazing work and success stories of your child. I'm hopeful you will also hear of opportunities. When you do, know that these are coming from a good place. A place filled with hard work and the investment your child has made into their school year thus far. In the end, we have all entered into a partnership, and we share the same goal - the best possible year for your child.
Two weeks ago, I was so very thankful for my background to be able to be an active participant in my child's conference. I want the same for you all. You can click here for a list of questions that may be applicable for you and your conference. Perhaps the most valuable in the whole lot can be done at home before you meet with the teacher. Ask your child, "What do you think I am going to hear?"
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Is there a FTE Staff Member You Would Like to Recognize...
Falcon Finest Acknowledgements
Please join me in spreading those feel good vibes around our campus. Everyday our bus drivers, custodians, office staff, and teachers are doing incredible things. If there is a FTE staff member you would like to recognize for their contributions, please let me know by clicking the link below.
SCHOOL NEWS
5th Grade iPad Springboard
After a successful pilot last spring, the 5th grade iPad Take-Home Initiative will begin following parent-teacher conferences this fall.
Expect your student to bring home a form regarding the initiative on Friday, October 19th. Forms should be returned completed at parent-teacher conferences the following week. The form will include additional information about the optional EanesCare+ Protection Plan for your student's device.
For more information, visit the 5th grade Springboard site -
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Invite Your Veterans
to our
Forest Trail Elementary Veterans Day Festivities
When? Monday, November 12
Assembly Time? 8:45 a.m.
Where? Forest Trail Elementary Cafeteria
A Continental Breakfast for Veterans and Adult Guests (students can go to the cafeteria)
begins at 8:00 a.m. in the Forest Trail Library.
Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, November 2nd.
Please include the number of adults attending the breakfast as well as the name(s) of the veteran(s) attending the assembly.
Veterans are invited to wear their uniforms.
Other activities include:
- Photo Booth with photographer for our Veterans and their families in the FTE art foyer
- Preferred seating for our Veterans in the assembly (front and center)
- Special song tributes to our Veterans
- Presentation of colors by Pack 30, Den 2 Senior Webelos Cub Scout Den
- Special speaker at the assembly: David Smith, Co-founder and Executive Director of Pure Joy Foundation, Former US Naval Officer and F-14 Tomcat pilot
- Hallways adorned with special patriotic artwork
We once again want to line our hallways with pictures of family members
who are Veterans or current military personnel.
Please use one of the enclosed templates (your choice).
Please fill out the questions on the template and attach a picture electronically.
If necessary, you can also fill out the template, print it, attach a picture and return it to your child's homeroom teacher.
All picture forms are due NO LATER than Tuesday, October 30.
(No pictures will be accepted without the template and no pictures were kept from last year.
Please return electronic versions to Forest Trail via email to:
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IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Cardboard Creativity Day is Tomorrow - October 19th!
On Friday, October 19th, students are invited to create their own cardboard game to share with their class. This optional activity encourages students to just create – explore building a game with cardboard – one where others can visit and play. Students will design and build their games at home and bring them to school on the morning of October 19. We will play the games during WIN time for each grade level. Here are few things to remember:
1. All games must be taken home at the end of the day on October 19.
2. Prizes are not necessary for the games, but if your child has prizes as a part of their game, they are not allowed to use candy or anything edible. This is to ensure that our children stay safe. The joy should be in the game.
3. Due to a small amount of space in the courtyard, the playing of the games during WIN is a student only event.
4. For inspiration, please visit http://cainesarcade.com/.
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Socktober
Hi FTE Families, we are still in need for sock donations. Please help put socks on the feet of our local homeless community. A warm pair of socks can warm someone's heart!
BOOSTER CLUB CORNER
Friday is MOVIE NIGHT!!
Rain or Shine, we will still have movie night!!! Bring a picnic and join the fun!! Come see Hotel Transylvania 3 and create a hand painted ornament from Ceramics Bayou!! We will screen the movie in the cafeteria if it's wet!! See you there!! Ornaments are $14
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THIS YEAR'S STEAM FEST IS NOVEMBER 2, 2018
General registration opens Thursday, October 18th, at 10:30am through Tuesday, October 23rd, at 7pm.
Course Catalog, STEAM Fest details and registration Instructions can be found on the Booster Club website: https://foresttrailbc.membershiptoolkit.com/
Please review the course catalog with your child(ren) this week to find out their course choices and at least 2 alternates in case a class becomes full. Our new system has been designed similar to purchasing tickets to a show: once you make your selections and check out, you will not be able to make edits.
1. Log into https://foresttrailbc.membershiptoolkit.com/home
2. Under Open Forms, you will see 2018 STEAM DAY (This can also be found under the My Account-> My Forms tab)
3.Choose the courses for your child by session.
Kinder – 1st Grade = choose 2 courses (based on availability)
2nd – 5th Grade = choose 3 courses (based on availability)
4.These courses will be added to your cart for 10 minutes. After that time, your course selection will not be on hold for you. You MUST 'check out' in order to reserve your child's spot in the selected class. (There is no cost, but you will receive a confirmation email.)
Reminders:
- Double check your class choices to make sure you haven't signed your child up for the same class twice. You will only be able to choose one class per session.
- Make sure your have "Checked Out" by looking at the green status bar at the top of your screen (you should not have any items in your Cart).
- Any child who is not registered by their parent by October 23 will be randomly assigned to classes that have availability.
- You will receive a confirmation email with your child's course selections. If you do not receive an email, double check that your cart is empty.
Please email ftebctech@gmail.com if you have problems.
EISD NEWS
Wednesday, October 24 - Friday, October 26
Elementary schools will release exactly 3 hours early to allow teachers to meet with each family. On these days Middle and High schools will release at regular times. Click title for release times.
Superintendent Dr. Tom Leonard presents highlights from last year as well as challenges & opportunities facing our District. This week we'll visit Forest Trail ES Thursday morning and Cedar Creek ES and Westlake HS Friday. Click title for full schedule.
Interested in discussions around Eanes ISD's instructional technology structure and plan? This fall, Eanes ISD will reconvene the Digital Learning Task Force. Join us for an opportunity for public comment and input on the future of instructional technology in Eanes ISD.
Eanes ISD is beginning discussions on items for a potential 2019 bond. We invite the community to join in on October 16 & 23 as we discuss Energy Efficiency & Conservation. Click the title to see other upcoming project discussions.
Benefiting the Eanes Education Foundation. Students K-5th Grade can join Hyline for the Spirit Line at the Chaps Varsity Home Game on October 26th! Spaces are limited, visit the Hyline website, www.whshyline.com to sign up.
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMMUNITY ED & BEYOND
FOREST TRAIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1203 Loop 360 South, Austin, Texas 78746
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