HUNTERS CREEK ELEMENTARY
COUGAR EXPRESS 

News from the Principal and the PTA
 
OCTOBER 14,  2016
                        VISIT OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE            VISIT OUR PTA WEBSITE 
CLICK HERE for our full calendar of events  

Oct 17

DRESS PINK FOR CANCER AWARENESS
Our 5th grade Paws for the News Crew is reminding you that October is Cancer Awareness month.  Every student and staff member is asked to wear pink on Monday, October 17th in order to support awareness.
Oct 20
9:30 am
PTA General Meeting, Rm 7 at HCE
Oct 20 
Oct 21
NOON
DISMISSAL
School is out at Noon for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Be sure you have a conference scheduled.  
Oct 21 8:30 am Kindergarten Farm Concert
Oct 21 5:30pm - 9:00pm  Teachers and Students to the Memorial High School Football Homecoming Game - see article below. 
Oct 24
Red Ribbon Week - Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
4th and 5th Grade Science Fair Kicks Off
2nd - 5th Mathematics Priority Standard Assessment 
Oct 28 All day  Field Day
Classroom Spelling Bees - Schedule coming soon
Oct 28
6:00pm - 8:00pm
2nd Annual Kids' Costume Party, purchase tickets at www.hcepta.com click on the Auction Tab
Oct 31 8:30 am 2nd Grade Storybook Character Parade
Nov 1
2nd Grade to the Altheretta Yeargin Art Museum
SCHOOL WIDE ELECTION 
Nov 4 NOON DISMISSAL Students will get out at noon today to allow professional learning time for our faculty. 
Nov 7 8:15 am Social Media Class for parents - a how to for you! 
Nov 8 7:00am - 7:00pm HCE is an election site.  Please try to stay away from school today as parking will be difficult. Please have students ride the bus or bring them to the parent drive in the morning.  
Nov 11 9:00am VETERANS' DAY PROGRAM 
Progress Reports Go Home
NEW FEEDBACK FEATURE

I'm trying this out to get some feedback to help me plan for articles for the newsletter and possibly parent information meetings.  Please follow the link below and tell me 3 things you would like to know more about from me. 

After you answer you will be able to see what others are suggesting as a Wordle is created.  

HCE Library
Book Character Pumpkin Celebration
orange_pumpkins.jpg
 
1.       Theme - "My Favorite Book Character" Students may pick any character from any book they have read.
 
2.       Pumpkins can be painted or colored with markers. NOT carved. Acrylic paints or permanent markers work best. Yarn, construction paper, pipe cleaners, cloth, etc. may be used to decorate the pumpkin. Tape, paste or glue can be used if needed.
 
3.      NO CARVED pumpkins!!!! Carved pumpkins rot, attract insects and smell. They cannot be accepted and will be sent back home.
 
4.       One entry per student, clearly identified on the 3 by 5 index card: Please print the name of the book character, book title, and author of the book on the front of your index card along with your name, grade, and teacher.

5.     The library will begin accepting pumpkins on Monday, October 17th. Pumpkins should be brought to the library. All pumpkins must be taken home on Friday, October 28th
 
Any remaining pumpkins will be thrown away at 3pm Friday, October 28 th.

RED RIBBON WEEK
OCTOBER 24-28th

Each fall during Red Ribbon Week, communities around the country unite to educate children about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
This year's national Red Ribbon Week theme is YOLO - You Only Live Once...Be Drug Free!!!!!

Additionally, Hunters Creek Elementary wants to emphasize the importance of making healthy choices, staying positive, and focusing on the future!

Please encourage your HCE Cougar to participate in the following dress up themes and remind them YOLO!!!!!!

Monday - "My Future is Bright" - Wear Neon

Tuesday - "Team Work Makes the Dream Work" - Wear Your Favorite Sports Team Jersey

Wednesday - "Fight for your Future" - Wear Camo

Thursday - "Peace.Love.Happiness" - Wear Tie Dye

Friday - "Hair's to a Healthy Life" - Crazy Hair Day

Questions: Kourtney Cyrus 713-299-3063 kourtneycyrus@gmail.com

Counselor's Corner
 
Our next lesson in Character Counts! has been about respect - self-respect, respecting others, property and the environment around us.  From Kinder to 5 th grade we discussed many aspects of respect such as eating healthy foods, exercise, picking up litter, borrowing items and returning them properly, understanding differences in each other and using our manners. 

A famous quote by Confucius is "I hear and I forget.  I see and I remember.  I do and I understand."  Children will learn respect when they see it modeled consistently and then practice it regularly.  How many times have you said to your child "Say thank you" or "Say hello,"  "Shut the door" and "Throw away your trash"?   

In my family, we have an expectations talk before we meet new people.  I remind my children to look everyone in the eye, shake hands, and say hello.  They don't always do these things, but I know, one day, they will.  

As we were reminded repeatedly growing up, we must remind our children so they are able to "do and understand" for themselves.  Let us not forget to model the "hello" and "thank you" to others so they can "see and remember".  Follow the link to a short article on parents modeling three values here.

To read this month's edition of the Advanced Academic Studies newsletter click HERE. 
This is news about district gifted and talented programs.
SOCIAL MEDIA CLASS FOR PARENTS

NOVEMBER 7, 2016       8:15-9:15 in the library

Our Future Teachers from Memorial High School will be guest instructors to teach you about Snapchat. Here is a great article to get you started,  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/david-pogue-snapchat-explainer-182636882.html

Also learn...How To Use:  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook 

This will be a working session.  Bring your own device - BYOD!  

This is not a session to learn about internet safety for your children, which we will do later. This session is to teach YOU how to keep up with your children on social media - and to let you know if your children should be on these social media sites.  
3rd and 4th Grade Veterans' Day Salute!
 
On November 11th the third and fourth grades will perform a program of patriotic songs to celebrate Veterans' Day.
 
Please invite family members who are veterans so we can show them our appreciation. We love when they come in uniform. We will have special seating in the front section for families who bring veterans as guests. 

Friday, November 11 th
Hunters Creek Cafeteria
                    9:00 a.m                       
Sound Waves from Ms. Willson's Music Room
 
The music program for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade has gotten off to a busy start this year.  Here are some of the musical events that have occurred and some to look forward to in the near future: 
  • Observation of Constitution Day in September:  all grade levels practiced singing We the People, a song which contains the words from the Preamble.
  • Kindergarten Farm Concert - Friday, October 21
  • Veterans Day Program presented by the 3rd and 4th grade students on November 11
  • DARE graduation - 5th grade students performing songs from Forever Free - November 18
  • Fifth grade students attend a concert at Jones Hall presented by the Houston Symphony on November 30
  • Hunters Creek 4th Grade Choir Holiday Concert on Thursday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m.
Classroom Activities:
  • Every week we listen to a new selection from our composer highlighted on the classroom bulletin board "Facebook" page.
  • In all classes we sing song games used to teach various concepts
Kinder
  • Distinguishing between loud/soft, fast/slow, hi/low
  • Practicing the steady beat
  • Recognize the four voices:  talking, singing, whisper, calling
  • Matching pitch / in-tune singing 
First Grade
  • Distinguishing between loud/soft, fast/slow, hi/low
  • Practicing the steady beat
  • Distinguishing between beat and rhythm
  • Following the melodic line - preparing to read so, mi and la
  • Reading quarter notes and eighth notes (ta's and ti's)
  • Playing the rhythm of a song on pitched and unpitched instruments 
Second Grade
  • Reading rhythm patterns containing quarter notes, 8th notes, quarter rests, half notes
  • Distinguishing between beat and rhythm
  • Writing so, mi, la and do on the staff
  • Playing the rhythm of a song on pitched and unpitched instruments
  • Following the rhythm and melodic line of a song
Third Grade
  • Reading rhythm patterns containing quarter notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, half notes, quarter rests
  • Recognizing the pentatonic scale (do, re, mi, so, la) in song material
  • Early part singing with solfege - rounds, ostinati
  • Preparing for the Veteran's Day Program by learning patriotic songs
Fourth Grade
  • Reading rhythm patterns containing quarter notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, half notes and whole notes
  • Clapping rhythm patterns to fun background music
  • Recognizing the pentatonic scale (do, re, mi, so, la) in song material
  • Reading melodic lines containing low la and low so
  • Part singing with solfege
  • Preparing for the Veteran's Day Program by reviewing and learning new patriotic song 
Fifth Grade
  • Reading rhythm patterns containing quarter notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, half notes and whole notes
  • Clapping rhythm patterns/playing boomwackers to fun background music
  • Preparing for Houston Symphony field trip by listening to program music, following listening maps, learning about the composers
  • Preparing songs for DARE graduation (November 18)
HCE...the Best Place to "BEE"!!

Cougars in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades should have received a spelling bee packet in their Tuesday take home folders. Included were general information, practice dates and times, word lists, permission slip and logo contest details! Make sure to look it over and sign up your cougar!
 
Local Levels and Dates:
Classroom Bee - Friday, October 28th
*Top two winners from each class advance to school bee.
School Bee - Thursday, December 8th
 
Spelling Bee Practice Sessions:
Tuesday, October 11th and Tuesday, October 18th from 3:00p-3:40p
3rd graders in Discovery room
4th and 5th graders in Room 7
Thursday, October 20th and Tuesday, October 25th from 7:25a-7:55a
All grades in Room 7
 
Contact persons for further information or questions:
Jenny Robertson at robertsondds@hotmail.com
Meg Bissinger at megbissinger@gmail.com
Denise Campbell at ddcampbell45@aol.com

PTA President's Perspective 

Thank you to all of our wonderful teachers, faculty and staff for organizing College Week last week. It was so fun seeing all the children in their favorite college shirts! What a great way to emphasize to our students the importance of Going to College!
Our "HCE...the Best Place to BEE" Spelling Bee is underway. Don't forget there are after school practices being held for 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th graders!
Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences is next Thursday and Friday. Friday morning is the very special Kindergarten Farm Concert! The 2 nd Annual Kids Costume Party is around the corner, get your tickets now! Wow, so many fun things going on at HCE!
Mark your calendar...our next PTA meeting is on 10/20 at 9:30am! Hope to see you there!
 
Katrina Stephenson
HCE PTA President  
 

AUCTION RAFFLE

Click  HERE to buy your raffle tickets to win a . . .

Custom Gunmeta l Gray E-Z-GO!


4-Passenger Electric Golf Cart
6" Factory Lift Kit
All Terrain Tires
48Volt (Six-8 Volt Batteries)
18 MPH
Foldable Rear Seat
Headlights, Taillights, and Brake Lights
Brush Guard
Includes Charger and 2 Sets of Keys
12 Month Warranty
 
*Additional features can be added at winner's expense (seat belts, stereo and speakers)
*Winner is responsible for payment of all taxes due on the fair market value of the prize
*Winner does not need to be present to win
 
Winner will be drawn at the Auction on November 12th!





AUCTION TICKETS FOR SALE!




Let's ROCK ON and support our school! Buy your auction tickets today!
LIVE Band, featuring HCE Dads Blake Ratliff and Travis Landers
Saturday, November 12th
Click HERE  to buy your Auction Tickets

TEACHER WORKROOM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The PTA is looking for interested volunteers to help out in the Teacher Workroom.   Ideally, each volunteer will work once a month in the workroom making copies, cutting, pasting and laminating for our HCE teachers.   Most likely the commitment is not longer than a couple of hours a month.  
 
The time spent in the workroom helps our faculty and staff so much and allows them to spend more time focused on the classroom.  Please contact Kelly Siblik at  kelly.siblik@gmail.com  to volunteer today.  Thanks in advance!

HCE PARENT BOOK STUDY
 
Are bedtimes and vegetables a struggle in your household?  How about getting homework completed peacefully?  Discover tools and techniques for effectively dealing with these issues and more...


Join us Thursday mornings for a nine-week book study of  Parenting with Love & Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay.  The first meeting was Oct 6 but join us at any time during the book study.  

All meetings are 8:05-8:55 in room 7 at Hunters Creek.  UPDATED TIME!!! 
 
Mark your calendars for these dates:
October 13 th, 20 th, & 27 th
November 3 rd, 10 th, & 17 th
December 1st & 7th

You may purchase a copy of the book at:
https://www.loveandlogic.com/  OR  https://www.amazon.com/  OR through your local bookshop
 
For more information, contact Andrea Chvatal, M.Ed., Counselor, Hunters Creek Elementary  andrea.chvatal@springbranchisd.com or Sarah Eixmann saraheixmann@yahoo.com

                            
                                                              
                4 Easy Ways To Help Hunters Creek Elementary!!
Box Tops for Education -
* Simply clip Box Top$ from hundreds of participating brands.
* Please, put Box Top$ in a plastic bag (or envelope) labeled with the child's and teacher's name and current grade.
* Send only valid coupons, the coupons EXPIRE after 3 years.
* The top 5 classrooms from the entire school with the most Box Top$ submitted during the entire school year will enjoy an ice cream treat in the month of May.
Labels for Education -
* Simply Clip and save UPCs and beverage/ sauce caps from participating products. Check out the complete list at  www.labelsforeducation.com .
* Please, put Labels for Education in a plastic bag (or envelope) labeled with the child's and teacher's name and current grade.
Kroger's "Neighbor to Neighbor" Program -  
* Link your Kroger Card to HCE online at  www.krogercommunityrewards.com .  Organization #83363.  HCE receives 1% of every purchase made with your Kroger Plus Card.    
* Important: You have to RE-LINK your card each school year so don't forget to do this ASAP!!
Amazon Smile

*Direct link that will contribute to HCE is: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/74-6086197 
*Visit www.smile.amazon.com (same account as www.amazon.com ) and select  
HCE as charitable organization; this will donate 0.5% of your purchase!
On your first visit, you select a charitable organization to receive donation before
You begin shopping Go to: "or pick your charitable organization" and type  
Hunters Creek Elementary and select Houston, Texas. It will show up as PTA
Texas Congress 4932, or you can also look for the school with EIN number: EIN-74-6086197 
 
These are all easy ways to earn money for HCE! Contact Marilu Kurtz for more information or with questions at rebateshce@outlook.com  
                                            
Please make sure you submit all the Box Tops by October 20, 2016- they are due on November 1, 2016
Please be sure to write the Grade, Student and Teacher names on your bag/envelope of official coupons.




- All ages can participate.
- Enter in 1 or more of the art categories shown      above.
- Entry forms are located  at the front office.
- All entries are due October 28th
- For inspiration visit PTA.org/Reflections (click
  "For Students"  - left side.)
- For participation rules and program overview
  visit:
- For questions, e-mail: yenelis_L@hotmail.com   (subject:"Reflections")



 
HCE PTA 
PLEASE JOIN TODAY!

Please support our school by purchasing a membership to the HCE PTA.  Although we welcome your volunteer time, there is no requirement.  Memberships are only $15 and you will receive a FREE school directory!  
 
The membership funds go to support many enriching opportunities for HCE students.
 
We are so close to last year's membership, but need you help to get there by the end of October so HCE can be recognized by the Texas PTA!  Please help and join today!!

TO PURCHASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP ONLINE:
("PTA Store" then "PTA Membership)
  
If you have any questions, please contact Amy Miers at amy.miers@accenture.com or 713-557-6443.
 
 
 
 
2016-2017 HCE PTA ANNUAL FUND
 
WE NEED YOU TO REACH OUR GOAL OF $145,000 NOW!

Community support is what allows HCE to be an exceptional school with unique programs, terrific teachers, and an innovative curriculum. HCE relies upon the generosity of parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff and friends like you to keep our school flourishing.  


CONTRIBUTING IS EASY!

CLICK HERE to donate today or complete the contribution form (form can be found here) and write a check to HCE PTA, memo: Annual Fund.  Drop off to the front office, send through your child's backpack or mail to:  Ketti Collins, 851 Country Lane, Houston, TX 77024
 
CONTRIBUTION LEVELS:

ULTIMATE COUGAR - $7,500+ 
COUGAR PRIDE - $5,000+  
  PAW POWER - $2,500+
AWESOME HCE - $1,250+
LOVE OUR SCHOOL - $500+  
SUPER SPIRIT - $250+ 
COUGAR FAN - $100+ 
FRIEND OF HCE - $50+

A LA CARTE:

Donations for Teachers:
Auction ticket - $100
 
ALL donors will be recognized in the HCE Directory, Yearbook, Auction catalog, 
Newsletter and Website.

Remember to check with your company for their Corporate Matching Program. 

For questions about the annual fund, please contact Ketti Collins at:
ketticollins@gmail.com or (989) 506-8634


THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING HUNTERS CREEK ELEMENTARY PTA!

A BIG
THANK YOU 
TO OUR ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTORS!!
 

ULTIMATE COUGAR
The Collins Family
Dr. Salimah Cumber & Aziz Hussain Foundation
The Nini Family
Reina Ramos & Reagan Ramos
The Turner Family
HCE Family - Anonymous
 
COUGAR PRIDE 
The Badar Family 
Kim & Joe Dang
The Kimmel Family
Elliott & Wells Wagner
Laura & Ryan Zehl
HCE Family - Anonymous
HCE Family - Anonymous
 
PAW POWER
The Adams Family
The Campbell Family
The Carlson Family
The D'Agostino Family
The Daik Family
The Daly Family
The Kelley Family
The Krouse Family
The Oldham Family
Amanda & Trevor Parsons
The Sparks Family

  AWESOME HCE
The Annino Family
The Armitage Family
The Chaffin Family
The Chenoweth Family
David & Brianna Cisarik
Meaghan & Charles Conrad
The Cyrus family
 The Donnelly Family
Andrea and John Ferruzzo
The Goforth Family
The Green Family
The Gross Family
The Hudson Family
The Ingersoll Boys
The Le Family
The Ratliff Family
Lexington Smith & Family
The Staley Family
The Steeg Family
The Stephenson Family
The Thibaut Family
The Weekley Family
The Wolcott Family
The Zarr Family
HCE Family - Anonymous

  LOVE OUR SCHOOL
Ashley & CL Baskin
Alonso I. Benavides
The Ben-Yaacov Family
Tim & Nicole Blaine
The Gores
The Kinsel Family
The Loeffler Family
The Lowy Family
Robert J. Magner
Matthew & Shelley McCain
Jill and Chris Oliver
The Parkan Family
Addison Rappold
Fred Ghabriel & Phoebe Rourke-Ghabriel
Watler Family
The Werme Family
The S. Yang Family
Friends of HCE

  SUPER SPIRIT
The Bissinger Family
The Deffebach Girls
The Eixmann Family
The French Family
The Hausmann Family
The Hilgert Family
Mindy and Chris Jones
The Lanier Family
The Lunsford Family
The Mendez Family
The Mousoudakis Family
The Robertson Family
The Rush Family
The Siblik Family
Twinkie Snyder
The Zarich Family
Cougar Fans
HCE Family - Anonymous

COUGAR FAN
Brian & Cherish Bradshaw
The Castellanos Family
Camila Gracia
The Giudici Family
Kathie Grabstald
Huy & Julie Nguyen
The Peeples Family

  FRIEND OF HCE
Azael De la Cruz/Sherry Salomon
Amanda Janicek
The Masunaga-Bonzelet Family
NB
 
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE TO HCE ANNUAL FUND!!
Go online to www.hcepta.com or drop off a check to front office,
send through your child's backpack or mail to:
Ketti Collins, 851 Country Ln, Houston, TX 77024
 



SPRING BRANCH EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWS

The Gala will be on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at the Omni Riverway Hotel (4 Riverway, Houston 77056).  This promises to be an extraordinary Gala.  Please join help in supporting the Foundation, and attend this fun event.

If you cannot attend the Winter Wonderland Gala, support SBEF by taking a memorable vacation for 2 on us! You can enter for your chance to take a vacation on us by purchasing raffle tickets ($100/ticket).  This year we are selling only 150 raffle tickets.   
 
When you purchase your raffle tickets ($100/ticket), you enter for a chance to choose your vacation destination (airfare included) for two (2) from the following three (3) options:
1)     Jamaica All-Inclusive:  5-night stay at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall (family friendly) or Hyatt Rose Hall (adults-only)
2)     Canadian Fairmont Stay:  4-night stay in a Junior Suite at Select Canadian Fairmonts located in Alberta, British Colombia, Quebec, or Ontario
3)     U.S. Open Tennis Championship:  3-night stay in New York with 2 tickets (Promenade level 300, upgrade optional) to the Men's and Women's Finals, as well as a $150 American Express gift card.
 
Raffle tickets are $100 each, and they are selling very quickly!  Contact Dmel Tatum to purchase your raffle ticket today!
 
You do not need to be present to win your choice of a remarkable vacation destination.
 
For more information about this years Winter Wonderland Gala, and the Spring Branch Education Foundation, please click the Gala link above or go to www.sbef.ejoinme.org/gala.
 
Thank you for your support of SBEF.  Your support helps us sustain our vision of partnership with Spring Branch ISD and our community to enable all SBISD students to achieve post-secondary education and reach their full potential.

Don't forget to complete your ANNUAL VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION. 

You need to do 2 things to complete your annual volunteer registration. 
1.  Register with SBISD at  https://volunteer.springbranchisd.com/
2.  View the HCE Volunteer Training video and sign the google form.  Or, attend a training at school the first day or first few weeks of school.  

Video of HCE Volunteer Training:   https://youtu.be/-mJQgpiulSw
iKids U After-School Program

iKids U registration is going on now for the 201 6 -201 7  School Year!  

Turn in registrations at the HCE front office, visit iKids online at www.ikidsinc.com, or register by phone at 713-665-5200.  iKids U offers a variety of onsite after-school opportunities at HCE including Stay & Play, Enrichment classes, and One on One services.  Customize your child's after-school schedule with part-time and full-time options available!  iKids U starts on the first day of school and classes are filling-up fast so enroll today!
 
Please CLICK HERE to download a registration form  
Hunters Creek Elementary | School & PTA | 713-251-6000| Email | Website

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