February 1, 2017

Katy ISD will be celebrating Digital Citizenship Week at all schools during the week of February 6-10.  This theme for this week  is "RISE Above." Students will receive special lessons and activities to remind them to be safe and responsible users of technology throughout the week.  We will be focusing on words that correspond with the "RISE" theme including Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Etiquette and connect these words to the responsible use of technology. Students can also dress to match each day's theme!:

Our library will be closed to circulation a few times in the month of February—please mark your calendars:

• 2/6/17: Closed at 1:30 PM to accommodate Bluebonnet Bash
• 2/13/17: Closed all day to accommodate Power PLC
• 2/21/17: Closed until 10:45 AM to accommodate visit from Author Mike Artell
• 2/23/17: Closed until 10:45 AM to accommodate visit from author Lisa Wheeler
• 2/24/17: Closed all day to accommodate Book Fair Set-Up
• 2/27/17-3/3/17: Closed all week to accommodate Book Fair. We will re-open on 3/3/17 after the Book Fair has been picked up by our supplier.

Thank you for your patience!

Our Library’s Spring Book Fair is coming soon! The Spring Book Fair will take place beginning Monday 2/27/17 through Thursday 3/2/17 in the library.

Book Fair Hours:

•          Monday 2/27: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM
•         Tuesday 2/28: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM
•          Wednesday 3/1: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM
•         Thursday 3/2: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM and 4:30 PM-7:00 PM (during Family Art & Science Night)

 *Only students accompanied by parents may shop in the Book Fair from 8:00 AM-8:30 AM each morning.  The Book Fair is open to students shopping independently after the Morning Announcements each day.

Be sure to look for Teacher Wish Lists at the Fair--these are books that our teachers would like for their classrooms.  Our special Book Fairy will deliver any Wish List books purchased during the Fair to your child's teacher!

Proceeds from past Book Fairs have been used to purchase books, fund author/illustrator visits, fund reading incentive programs, purchase library furniture, instructional materials, and technology. 

Thank you for supporting the OKE Library!

January 25, 2017

Pets On Campus

Parents, 

Please help us keep our students and staff safe by not bringing pets on campus unless they are on a leash and being handled by an adult.  Thank you for your help in this matter. 

Reason2Race

Please help support OKE’s team of runners as they participate in the Katy half marathon and 5K on February 11^th.  All proceeds benefit the Katy IDS Foundation, whose mission is to award grants to teachers in Katy ISD who inspire students every day in their classrooms.  Students can bring cash donations to the OKE library from January25th-February 10^th  to support their favorite teacher in the race.  Please visit the link below to learn more about the Foundation and make on-line donations.  https://my.reason2race.com/cause/KatyISDEducationFoundation

The OKE Reason2Race Team:

5K Runners:

Polly Brock-2^nd grade

Aimee Weathers-3^rd grade

Carrie Sinosic-3^rd grade

½ Marathon Runners:

Dana Oberman-2^nd grade

Jennifer Montesanto-kindergarten

Fernando Carlevaro-Parent

Drew Estes-OKE family

Valentine Spirit Sticks 

There’s still time to order these ‘cereal-ously’ cute Valentine spirit sticks for just $1 each.  They make great class gifts or a fun addition to the Choir’s singing valentines!  Order forms were sent home with students early in January and all sticks will be delivered to teacher boxes on January 27, 2017.  Additional copies of the form may be found at: http://okepta.org/Valentine%20spirit%20stick%20form%20PTA%202017.pdf  

Lisa Wheeler to Visit With OKE Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Graders on 2/23/17!

The OKE Library is pleased to announce that author Lisa Wheeler will be visiting with all Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1^st grade students on Thursday, February 23^rd! If you would like to purchase autographed copies of these books, please complete this form and return it to the OKE Library by Wednesday, February 1^st with cash or a check (additional forms are also available in the library).  Checks should be payable to OKE. These books will be available for preview in the library.  You can learn more about Lisa Wheeler and her books at her website: http://www.lisawheelerbooks.com/home.html

Mike Artell to Visit with All OKE 4^th & 5^th Graders on 2/21/17!

The OKE Library is pleased to announce that author/illustrator Mike Artell will be visiting with all 4^th and 5^th grade students on Tuesday, February 21^st.  If you would like to purchase autographed copies of these books, please complete this form and return it to the OKE Library by Wednesday, February 1^st  with cash or a check (additional forms are also available in the library). Checks should be made payable to OKE. These books will be available for preview in the library. You can learn more about Mike Artell and his books at his website: https://www.mikeartell.com/home.html

January 18, 2017

Student Drop Off

Please be reminded that morning student drop off time begins at 8:00 a.m. Starting at 8:00 a.m. each day, teachers are on duty in posted locations all around the school.  Students should not arrive to school prior to 8:00 a.m. without parental supervision.  Please be reminded that children should not be on the playground before school begins.  There is no adult supervision at this time of day of the day and could present a dangerous situation.  Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students safe.  

OKE is having PJ day on Friday, February 3, 2017 to raise money for our programs. If you would like to wear pajamas to school on this day, please fill out the form you received in Wednesday Folders today or the one located on the helpful tips tab of this blog and return it along with $3.00 (cash only please) to your child’s teacher.   

Exact cash only please.

Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary is very excited about hosting our own Elementary TMSCA Math/Science Tournament on February 11, 2017. The contest is open to all 3 rd – 5 th grade students. We use the TMSCA format for this competition. Attached is the online form with the information to register your school and students. OKE Math TMSCA Tournament -https://goo.gl/forms/mvHN0OfN1b1dYLbs2 

Please feel free to forward this invitation to any other elementary schools that might be interested in participating in the contest.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the competition!

Nesi Cotton & Ashley Mayzer
Math Club Sponsors

annjcotton@katyisd.org

Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary School
26100 Cinco Ranch Boulevard
Katy, TX 77494
281-237-7673

Incoming 6^th grade Parent Night at 

Beckendorff Junior High School

Date:  MONDAY, JANUARY, 23^RD

Time:  5:30PM-6:00PM    ELECTIVE FAIR

             6:00PM-7:00PM   COURSE SELECTION PRESENTATION

Parents are encouraged to attend the 6^th Grade Parent Night at Beckendorff Junior High.  The Parent Night will assist you in making appropriate selections for your child.  The elective fair will be from 5:30-6:00pm.  The fair will allow parents to come pick up a brochure and speak to the elective teacher, this is not a formal presentation.  The Course selection presentation will begin immediately at 6pm to ensure time for the power point and presentation. 

Incoming 6^th grade parents ONLY:

Please use the following google doc link to ask any questions you may have regarding course selections or next year.  The counselors will compile a frequently asked questions document and post to the Beckendorff Junior High website on January 25^th.  

https://docs.google.com/a/katyisd.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcE_BL5Kx0-t37Psy6so4WCSlHmJID0FaiA2DBJsAnZEgpaA/viewform

January 11, 2017

Katy ISD School Report Card

Katy ISD is sharing information about the state, district and your child’s campus as part of the state legislative requirements. Copies of the 2015-16 School Report Cards for the state, district and campus are available for your review in the front office of our school, or can be accessed online at https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/src/2016/campus.srch.html.

Authors Annabeth Bondor Stone and Connor White

 to visit OKE 3rd Graders!

The OKE Library is pleased to announce that authors Annabeth Bonder-Stone and Connor White will be visiting with students in 3rd Grade on Tuesday, January 17th.  They are the authors of the new entertaining series featuring Shivers the Pirate! You can learn more about the authors and these books at:http:www.shiversthepirate.com/. These books are also available for preview in the library. If you would like to purchase autographed copies of these books, please complete this form and return it to the OKE library (additional forms are also available in the library).  We still have copies of both titles available.

Texas Bluebonnet Forms Due!

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students:

Please remember that all Bluebonnet forms are due on January 18^th. Additional forms can be printed from the OKE Library Blog (http://okelibrary.blogspot.com/) or can be picked up in the library.

For students who have read five of this year's Bluebonnet nominees and returned their forms on time, voting takes place in the library from Tuesday, 1/24/17-Thursday, 1/26/17.

For students who have read eight of this year's Bluebonnet nominees and returned their forms on time, the Bluebonnet Bash will take place in the library on Monday, 2/6/17.

SAVE THE DATE!!

Save the Date for OKE's PJ day on Friday, February 3, 2017.

 Look for the form in next Wednesday's folder for more details.

Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary is very excited about hosting our own Elementary TMSCA Math/Science Tournament on February 11, 2017. The contest is open to all 3 rd – 5 th grade students. We use the TMSCA format for this competition. Attached is the online form with the information to register your school and students. OKE Math TMSCA Tournament - http://bit.ly/2g8fjDQ

Please feel free to forward this invitation to any other elementary schools that might be interested in participating in the contest.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the competition!

Nesi Cotton & Ashley Mayzer
Math Club Sponsors

annjcotton@katyisd.org

Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary School
26100 Cinco Ranch Boulevard
Katy, TX 77494
281-237-7673

January 4, 2017

Happy New Year!

Welcome back! We are so excited to start off 2017 with you! It is going to be an awesome 2^nd semester in the Outback! Our OKE Koalas are the BEST! It was such a pleasure to have them back with us today. Thanks so much for your continued support. 

2017 Proclamation of Implementation of New 

Instructional Materials 

December 14, 2016

Thanks for a great first semester! From the staff of Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary, we wish you a glorious holiday season filled with wonderful moments with family and friends. Enjoy this special time with your children! Many blessings to you and yours! See you back in the Outback in 2017!

 School will be closed Monday, December 19, 2016- Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

Classes resume Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

Due to early dismissal on December 16th, we will not have parent readers, library volunteers, or Watch D.O.G.S. .

Please remember that you must register by Friday, December 16^th to participate in this Digital Citizenship photo/video contest!

December 7, 2016

Biblionasium has gone live!

Great news--Biblionasium is finally up and running!  All 1st-5th graders were introduced to Biblionasium on 11/30/16 during PLC Day. 

Biblionasium is safe, COPPA compliant online community for young readers that promotes a love of reading by allowing students to connect with their classmates to share their favorite books and record their reading progress. Students can add books to their digital bookshelf, recommend books to friends, log their reading, rate and review books, earn virtual awards, and more. Biblionasium allows for easy collaboration between our school librarian, the classroom teacher, and the student’s parents to motivate, measure, and manage each child’s reading. Soon parents will be able to be linked to their child’s Biblionasium account.  I will post directions on how to link to your child's account as soon as this feature is updated by the creators of Biblionasium. This will allow the parent to track their child’s reading progress, view their child’s reading list and wish list, monitor their child’s independent reading, recommend books to their child, and set up family reading challenges.  This will also allow the parent to see the teacher’s reading list.

Each Kilpatrick student has a Biblionasium account that is linked to Destiny, our library’s online catalog.  Students can access their Biblionasium account either by logging into Destiny Discover (Destiny can be accessed in the student’s MyKaty cloud https://mykaty.katyisd.org/) or by going directly to the Biblionasium website(www.biblionasium.com) and selecting the “Login with Destiny” option.  In both platforms, the student will need his/her Katy ISD username and password to access this account (available from your child’s teacher). This linked account will provide the student with real-time information and access of our library’s resources. Coach Chip Manzee will guide the students through the website, offer helpful tips, and reward reading achievements with digital awards and trophies.

The school librarian, your child's classroom teacher, and (coming soon!) parents can set up Reading Challenges for a student.  The student may also set up a personal Reading Challenge for him/herself.  Our school librarian will set up Reading Challenges for all participating OKE students throughout the school year.  Library-sponsored Reading Challenges will be rewarded with reading tags and various prizes. Your student can view Reading Challenges by logging into their Biblionasium account and selecting the “Challenges” tab.

I will continue to share information about Biblionasium as the program is updated.  In the meanwhile, your child is invited to begin getting his/her account set up.

 As always, 

Happy Reading!

Parents,

Please remember to have your child's car rider tag visible on the outside of their backpack. If you have misplaced your tag you can request a replacement for $5.00 at the front office. 

GT Screening for Grades 1-4. If you are interested in having your child screened for the GT program, please fill out an Elementary Parent GT checklist and return it to OKE by 4:00 pm on Friday, December 9, 2016. No late checklists will be accepted. Paper copies are available upon request from the front office. Electronic copies are available by emailing Anela Wenger, Challenge Teacher.