September 12, 2019

PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING

Hello, Falcon Families!

We’ve had another great week at the Trail!  Friday was our first Booster Club Meeting and Principal’s Coffee.  We had a great turnout, and I would like to encourage you to keep attending.  Our Booster Club is so important to all that goes on at FTE.  Our parents and volunteers are what sets us apart and makes us special.  Please consider opportunities to volunteer or joining a committee that interests you.

Last week I shared numbers 1, 2, and 3 of our Core Ten.  Today, I want to introduce the next three. 

CORE TEN CONTINUED…

#4.  Transition swiftly, quietly, and orderly.

We only have so many minutes with your children, and we want to make the most of every single one of them.  To that end, we are placing a focus on efficiency.  Wherever we are going, whatever we are doing, we want to do it with purpose.  At Forest Trail, we are wanting to squeeze every instructional minute out of the day.  The habit of smooth transitions will translate to fewer tardies, warnings or detentions in middle school.  By high school and beyond, the desire for being prepared, organized, and on time will hopefully be well ingrained and have our students that much more prepared.

#5.  Keep myself and the bathrooms clean and germ-free.

Part One (Keeping myself clean):  Despite what our temperatures tell us, we are steamrolling towards fall.  Much of what the season brings with it is awesome, but the illnesses that tag along are not.  An old superstition explains that when one sneezes, an evil spirit tries to jump into your body.  If you don’t cover your mouth, they enter.  If you do, you are safe.  We say “Bless you” or “Gesundheit” when someone sneezes, you know, just in case they didn’t cover their mouth in time.  I’m not going to tell this story to your kids.  We don’t want our students worrying about body-snatching spirits.  But we do want to establish good healthy habits and self-care. 

Part Two (Keeping the bathrooms clean):  We’re not asking our students to literally clean the restrooms.  There will be no child labor concerns.  However, we are going to work on taking pride in our building and leaving the bathrooms a clean place to be.  I’m not sure why, but bathrooms actually are a coveted social scene.  We are working to eliminate that by promoting the steps of getting in, taking care of what you need to do, getting clean, and then getting out. 

#6.  Be responsible for myself, my trash, and my area in the cafeteria.

We do not save seats in the cafeteria, and we do not share food.  By not allowing reserved seating, it eliminates so many social obstacles in the cafeteria.  Students may not be aware of allergies, and the sharing of foods increases the risk of exposure.  Our students are expected to display restaurant behaviors in the cafeteria.  The FTE cafeteria may not have won a James Beard award yet, but it is where we eat.  We explain to our students they are to act is if they are at a restaurant with their family.  The Golden Spatula for each grade level is at stake.  Classes who display manners, clean up their messes, and follow instructions earn tallies toward the weekly award.  It’s a big deal around here.

SCHOOL NEWS

International Dot Day 2019 at Forest Trail

International Dot Day 2019 will be celebrated Monday, September 16.  The inspiration for Dot Day originated from Peter H. Reynolds book The Dot.  In the book, Vashti is discouraged in art class and her teacher says,  “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.”   Vashti realizes she is great at drawing dots and the more she practices the more skillful she becomes.  By the end of the book Vashti is encouraging another student to take the same risk she did.  So, we are celebrating taking reasonable risks, creativity, and encouraging others.

Classroom teachers will be reading the story, discussing it, and participating in various activities.  Please have your child dress in dots that day to celebrate.

BOOSTER CLUB

Support FTE through the No-Hassle Fundraiser!

We are so grateful to all of the Forest Trail families who have already made their donations to the 2019 No-Hassle Fundraiser, our Booster Club's primary fundraiser of the year.  Our goal this year is 100% of families participating with a suggested donation of $130 per student.  Prizes will be awarded to the classes with the highest percentage participation in each grade and classes that reach 100% participation.  Plus, every family that donates will be entered to win one of several family-friendly gift cards--make your gift early for better chances to win! 

The following classes are currently in the lead in each grade:

Kindergarten:  Linder

1st grade:  Brightwell

2nd grade:  Epsich

3rd grade:  Crain

4th grade:  Brookshire

5th grade:  Lindsey

Congratulations to this week’s raffle winners: Marya Fowler & Marty Muehlegger, John Shaw and Lori Nunan Shaw, and Lydia & Allen Tsai.  And congrats to Alison Bogle, winner of a gift basket from Sanctuary Boutique at last week's Booster Club meeting.

Learn more and donate online via the Booster Club Website by September 28th:    http://tinyurl.com/ftenohassle2019

One Popcorn Volunteer Is Still Needed!

Thank you to everyone who helped fill our Popcorn volunteer slots! Only one more volunteer needed at the 6:30-8am shift. This is a once a month commitment. If you can fill our last spot please email Melissa Olen at: melnino1177@gmail.com 

FTE Directory

CHANGES THIS YEAR!!!  Please note that for your information to be included in the 2019-2020 FTE Directory, it must be entered on the Booster Club Website AND you must opt-in.  Regardless if information was submitted in another format or was previously in the directory, it will not be published unless opted-in on the Booster Club Website. 

Please visit the following link to check your information and make sure you have opted-in.  You can also purchase a directory while you’re there until September 27th. 

https://foresttrailbc.membershiptoolkit.com/membership_publish_info

If you have any questions or are interested in advertising in the 2019-2020 FTE Directory, please contact Ann Boren atftedirectory@gmail.com. 

 FTE Chick-fil-A Spirit Night is Tonight!

Join us tonight for a Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A and enter for a chance to win one of three Amy's Ice Cream gift cards. Obtain your raffle ticket inside Chick-fil-A (not available through the drive through). Winners of the gift cards will be announced Friday during the morning announcements. Remember to mention Spirit Night before you place your order. See you there!

Get Your Tickets Now for the Halloween Hop...

Tickets for the daddy, daughter dance are available for purchase on the FTE Booster Club website. 

THE DISTRICT & BEYOND

UPCOMING EVENTS

COMMUNITY ED & BEYOND

• Austin Sunshine Camps Father/Son Weekend Oct. 25-27
• Youth Entrepreneurship Society
• Chaps Cheer Spirit Clinic 2019

© 2019 Forest Trail Elementary  |  1203 Loop 360 South  |  Austin, TX 78746

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