

Town Center Principal Newsletter
August 18, 2023

August 25, 2023
Special Friends Day - Friday, September 8th
Please plan on joining us Friday, September 8th for a fun-filled day at Town Center! We have designated times throughout the day for "Special Friends" (family & family friends) to visit our learners' classrooms in order to see some of the great things they are learning and doing. Our campus book fair will also be open during this time. Please see below for grade-level specific visiting times and sign-up.
Art News from Mrs. Kegg
The Texas Fish Art Contest is a statewide contest open to all youth grades K-12. Winners receive scholarship prizes and are entered into Wildlife Forever's National Fish Art Contest. To enter, complete and submit an entry form online and mail in an original illustration of a fish found in Texas. Grades 4th-12th must also submit a one page creative writing about their fish, its habitat, or conservation efforts.
Contest deadline is February 28, however, you may start submitting in September when our entry form goes live! Follow the link below to get more info about signing up and participating in the contest!
TCE School-Parent Compact
As a school receiving Title 1 funding, we are required to distribute a yearly school-parent compact. This document outlines how school families, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. It also includes the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help students achieve high levels of learning. It can be viewed via the link below.
Reminders
Background Checks
We ask that all families complete a volunteer background check at the start of the year. They do not carry over from year to year. Since the background checks take time to process, we ask that everyone complete one in case any type of volunteering opportunity (class field trip, Dad's Club, Room parent, class volunteer, field day, etc.) arises during the year that you are interested in. Please click on the link below to complete.
Dad's Club
If you are interested in joining our Dad's Club, we'd love to have you. If you did not get a chance to sign-up at Meet the Teacher Night, please email Nick Walther at tceptodadsclub@gmail.com and be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities.
Town Center Fall Book Fair
We look forward to holding our fall Book Fair just a few weeks after school starts! It will run Friday, Sept 8th - Thursday, Sept 14th, with a short sale the evening of Thursday, Sept 7th from 5:40- 7:00pm directly following Curriculum Night sessions.
Adults are welcome to join their child at the the book fair before or after school to purchase available books and trinkets. Make sure to stop in at the front office to print out a visitor's badge. Credit cards, Cash and Checks are accepted. Learners are also able to stop by the fair, without parents, during their recess time. We will be using a new company called Liverati as they offer a wider selection of books. Proceeds from the book fair will help our school purchase additional library books, author visits, and other needed library supplies.
As usual, we will need several volunteers to help run the cash registers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA5AF22A4F49-tcefall1
Also, be on the lookout for the Teacher Baskets. We've asked the teachers (and staff where applicable) to select their favorite books and put them into their labeled basket. If you'd like to purchase one of these books for them, simply take it out of their basket, purchase it at a register, and have your child deliver it as a gift. They are always so appreciative of a growing classroom library.
Thank you again for your support and please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the Book Fair!
Kate Mancuso (Librarian) and the Book Fair Committee
Parking & Car Loop Reminders
- When exiting car loops during arrival and dismissal, follow the city signs requiring a right turn only.
- Be mindful of not blocking car loop entrances. If there is not room to pull up without blocking the entrance, please wait.
- Front and side car-loop areas are for families dropping off and picking up their child(ren). Parents in the loops will need to stay in their vehicle. If your child requires additional assistance to get out of the car, please park in one of our parking spaces.
- Use the designated crosswalks on both the front and side loop when walking across the parking lot. We have staff members at both arrival and dismissal in our crosswalk areas to support our kids in getting across the loop area safely.
- Keep handicap parking spots available for individuals that require them. Please avoid even briefly pulling into them to drop of your child if you do not have a handicap vehicle designation.
- Parking along the back curbs of the lots is not an option. You are welcome to utilize the Cozby library parking lot for overflow parking.
Thank you for your help in keeping our kids safe!
Free & Reduced Meal Eligibility
In order to qualify for Free & Reduced Meals, families are required to complete an application each year to determine their eligibility. CISD is encouraging our eligible families to complete an application online at www.nlappscloud.com.
Parents, guardians or students can add funds to their accounts in person at the school cafeteria via cash or check, or for a small fee, they can use the "My School Bucks" app to deposit funds with a debit or credit card. Visit www.coppellisd.com/childnutrition for more information about school breakfasts and lunches or to create or add funds to your child’s school lunch account.
Parent iPad Resources
Learn how to use "Screen Guide" at home to monitor your child's at-home screen time and overall technology usage.
We wanted to share some helpful information with our families that can be utilized at home during technology use.
Screen Guide
Screen Guide is a feature in Mosyle that allows parents to manage their learners’ iPads via the Mosyle ScreenGuide App. The ScreenGuide app offers controls like:
- Configure screen time limits Remotely lock the iPad
- Lock the iPad into an app
- Hide certain apps on the iPad
To get started, follow the steps found at screen.guide/school/72107. Learn more about the ScreenGuide App at bit.ly/AboutScreenGuide.
Weekend Backpack Snack Program
Coppell Cares will provide the Weekend Backpack Snack Program again this school year. Families may sign up for this program at any time during the school year. Siblings living in the same household are also eligible to participate. If your family would benefit from a weekly Friday snack bag delivery, please complete the following form to sign up:
Deliveries will begin Friday, 9/8/23. Deliveries will be suspended for Thanksgiving Week, Winter Break, and Spring Break. If you have any questions, please reach out to TCE's counselor, Kelly Matlock, at kmatlock@coppellisd.com.
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, August 30th
School Picture Day - Flyers were sent home last week for families to order if they'd like to. Online ordering is available. Reach out to our front office with any questions.
Monday, September 4th
No School - Labor Day Holiday
Thursday, September 7th
Kinder, 1st grade, & 2nd Grade Curriculum Night 5:00-5:40 PM
3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Curriculum Night 5:45-6:30 PM
Friday, September 8th
Special Friends Day
Friday, September 8th - Thursday, September 14th
Town Center Book Fair