Gator Family News 11/19

Vision:

Empowering today’s students to embrace tomorrow’s possibilities.

Mission:

Our mission is to foster and motivate high level learning through innovative strategies to create lifelong learners in a safe and positive environment that partners with a diverse community.

We are about to celebrate one of my favorite times of the year…Thanksgiving. John F. Kennedy stated it well when he said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Thanksgiving is special…even during the toughest times of life, there are reasons to be thankful. I am thankful for the freedoms we have as U.S. citizens. I am thankful for my family and health. I am thankful that I have a place to work and a job that I truly love. I am thankful for the friends and coworkers I have here at Three Lakes Middle School and the parents and community I am able to serve. I am thankful that I am in a position to help others grow and be successful. For all of these things, I am thankful.

Thank you for being a part of the Gator Family! Have a wonderful break!!!

Mr. Blake

• 11/19--Orchestra Concert at 5:30 p.m.
• 11/22-11/26--Thanksgiving Break
• 12/1----Picture Retake Day
• 12/2----TLMS vs. Moore MS Boys Basketball at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• 12/3----Winter Semi-Formal Dance
• 12/4----Empty Bowls from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Did you know that Tyler ISD students have created bowls to help fill the empty bowls of East Texans?

· Texas ranks fifth in child food insecurity rate, according to the Feeding America Map, The Meal Gap study

· Texas ranks first in the number of children who are food insecure, according to the Feeding America Map, The Meal Gap study

· 26 – Number of counties in East Texas the East Texas Food Bank serves.

· 240,910 – East Texans who are “food insecure”, according to the Feeding America Map, The Meal Gap.

· 1 in 5 East Texans, including 1 in 4 children, are food insecure today. 80,000 – Households that are served by the East Texas Food Bank.

-East Texas Food Bank

And you can help too...

You are invited to join us for the second annual Tyler ISD Empty Bowls event benefiting the East Texas Food Bank.

https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/

Students from across Tyler ISD have created bowls that will sell for $10 each. With the purchase of a bowl, you are encouraged to enjoy a donated meal from Chick-fil-a, and performances by Tyler ISD student groups.

*ALL proceeds go directly to the East Texas Food Bank.

These make great holiday gifts. It is the gift that gives twice.

We are doing a new incentive program to recognize our Gators!

Our staff members look for the following:

• Have you ever seen a student going above and beyond to be helpful or kind?
• Ever noticed a student that has a rocky behavioral past but is making an effort to turn their behavior around?
• Want to reward a student that sets an example for their peers?

Students are rewarded by giving them a "You Were Caught Showing Gator Pride!" ticket!

Students given a ticket can turn their ticket in to the AP office and draw for a prize. Prizes vary but include:

• Hat Pass
• Free Dress Pass
• Courtyard Lunch with a Friend
• Bag of Takis (or chips)
• Bag of Candy

And the harder to win:

• Pizza Lunch with the AP of their choice
• Chick Fil A Breakfast

When they turn the ticket in, we will post what the teachers have written on our Gator Pride bulletin board.

We are excited to do a more immediate incentive for our kids who really need some positive behavior incentives! We will not discontinue the Gator of the Week nominations/voting OR the Incentive and Flex Days (first incentive day coming on Friday!). We just wanted to add an extra “immediate” incentive.

Improving attendance at Three Lakes Middle School is a top priority this school year. There is a direct correlation between student attendance and school success, so encourage your students to attend school and discuss the importance of them being here daily.

Our attendance for the week is as follows:

Grade 6: 97.02%

Grade 7: 96.58%

Grade 8: 97.32%

Overall: 96.97%

Congratulations to our 8th graders for having the highest attendance this week!!! Continue motivating your students to attend school...it makes a difference!!!

Here are some helpful hints to help with attendance:

• Establish and stick to the basic routines (going to bed early, waking up on time, etc.) that will help your child develop the habit of on-time attendance.
• Talk to your child about why going to school every day is critical and important unless they are sick. If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and work with the teacher, counselor, or administrator to get them excited about going to school.
• Come up with back up plans for who to turn to (another family member, a neighbor or fellow parents) to help you get your child to school if something comes up (e.g. another child gets sick, your car breaks down, etc.).
• Reach out for help if you are experiencing tough times (e.g. transportation, unstable housing, loss of a job, health problems) that make it difficult to get your child to school. Other parents, your child’s teacher, principal, social worker, school nurse, counselor, or community agencies can help you problem solve or connect you to a needed resource.
• If your child is absent, work with the teacher to make sure she or he has an opportunity to learn and make up for the academics missed.

Email: christopher.blake@tylerisd.org
Website: https://www.tylerisd.org/o/tlms
Location: 2445 Three Lakes Parkway, Tyler, TX, USA
Phone: (903) 262-2970
Facebook: facebook.com/threelakestylerisd
Twitter: @ThreeLakesTISD