Cracker Trail Elementary Newsletter

Dear Mustang Parents & Guardians,

As we charge into the last nine weeks of school with full steam, please keep in mind we are working hard to “round up” everything as our school year comes to an end. FAST testing dates are “fast” approaching for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. STAR testing dates are upcoming for K, 1st, and 2nd. Testing time can be stressful for students and parents. Some testing day tips include: eating a nutritious breakfast, getting a good night’s rest, and arriving to school on time. We ask everyone to DO THEIR BEST - please join us in encouraging the same. Remind your child it is time for them to show what they know!

We want to thank everyone for participating in our Science Fair/Art Night, our cafeteria was filled with A-MAZE-ING Art and 5th grade science fair projects. Our outside STEM activities were led by our Kindergarten - 4th grade teachers. We also had a wonderful Gifted showcase in Mrs. Brooks’

room.

We closed last month with our Spring parent/teacher conferences. Thank you for meeting with teachers – we team with the BEST community of parents, guardians, and caregivers in our district.

Just a reminder to make sure you and your child are ready for drop off in the morning. Either a staff member or Safety Patrol will assist your children in getting out of the car. Please have backpacks and other school-related items ready to grab and any devices stowed away. We want to make drop off as smooth as possible for everyone.

Hold on tight because this year is about to end! Keep your eyes open for more information about state testing, end of the year activities, and awards!

Respectfully,

Mr. K.

• 4/1 Last Good News Club of the Year
• 4/5 Brag Tag Day, 5th Grade SMS Orientation
• 4/26 Hat Day & Snow Cone Day, Progress Reports go Home
• 4/30 Spring Concert

Parents,

We have had a significant number of tardies since Spring Break. School begins at 7:30 a.m. and students need to be in their classroom ready to work by this time. Classroom directions and instructions for the school day are usually given by the teacher at the beginning of the day - if your

child is not present for those instructions, the academic progress could be delayed.

In addition, students coming into the classroom late can be disruptive to the entire class, and take longer to get settled. It is important to establish good habits, like timeliness, which is vital to the success of your child. Please ensure that your child arrives to school on time every day. Remember, every five tardies equals one unexcused absence.

If anyone is interested in volunteering as a test proctor please contact Tara Lee at 863-471-5777 or leet4@highlands.k12.fl.us.

Kindergarten:

4/16 & 4/23

1st Grade:

4/17 & 4/24

2nd Grade

4/18 & 4/25

3rd Grade

5/1 & 5/8

4th Grade

4/2, 5/2 & 5/7

5th Grade

4/2, 5/2, 5/7 & 5/9

• Student scores will be available in the Florida Reporting System after testing. The link to FRS is available through Skyward Family Access.
• Proctors are still needed for May testing dates. Please call Mrs. Lee if you are available to help.
• Students who will test in an accommodation group might test on a different date. If the date is different than when the grade level is testing, the teacher will communicate the testing date.

We have many jackets, sweaters, water bottles and lunch boxes that are in the lost and found, on the cafeteria stage.

Cold weather is here and students will need their jackets and sweaters! Please make sure you write your child's name on the inside of their jackets, sweaters, and lunchboxes.

From work, to home, to school, our phones are a key tool to navigate and communicate throughout

the day. The custom-built School Board of Highlands County app makes it easy to stay up to date

with district news and events.

Now, School Board of Highlands County is making it easier to stay in touch with teachers and class

information from that same app. Using the School Board of Highlands County app you can easily

switch from district and school information to Rooms, where you can see your student's classes

and engage directly with teachers. Rooms can be accessed via the web and from our district app,

which is available for free and can be used from both Apple and Android phones. To access

Rooms, you will need to create a login and password.

• One app for everything School Board of Highlands County
• Easily see class specific announcements
• Message teachers directly

Download the app, and look for your personalized invitation to begin using the "Rooms" feature in our app in early November.

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3ROAdw7

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/46FR2gW

Follow CTE on Facebook!

App:

Download for Android https://bit.ly/3ROAdw7

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/46FR2gW

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Anyone who knowingly submits a false tip through FortifyFL may be subject to further investigation by law enforcement and may be subject to criminal penalties under Section 837.05, F.S.