Announcements February 28

Buckeye Excellence Channel

We are launching our very own YouTube channel, The Buckeye Excellence Channel.  The goal of the own YouTube station is that we will be able to show you the great things that our teachers are doing to make instruction awesome.  We also hope to show you exemplary examples of student work.  Finally, we also plan to give parents instructional videos of strategies to help your child with their learning.

Bring your Parent to School Day

We hope to see everyone on Thursday and Friday, March 6 & 7 as we have our "Bring your Parent to School Day".  It is an opportunity to eat a free breakfast with your child and see your child's work.

• Thursday, March 6 from 7:20 - 8:30 will be for grades PK, K, 1
• Friday, March 7 from 7:20 - 8:30 will be for grades 2, 3, 4
• Free breakfast will be in the cafeterias from 7:20 - 8:00
• Students in music will give performances in the gym from 8:10 - 8:30
• Students in art and social studies specials will have work displayed for you in the gym.
• Students in science specials will have work on display in the science labs.

Date	Event	Information
Mon, Mar 3-7	Texas Public School Week
Tue, Mar 4	3rd and 4th grade Mock STAAR Math Testing	3rd and 4th grade will take their Mock STAAR Math test on this day. No visitors will be permitted for lunches.
	Stars Mini Camp	There will be a Stars Mini Camp held in the Elementary gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Wed, Mar 5	3rd and 4th grade Mock STAAR Reading  Testing	3rd and 4th grade will take their Mock STAAR Reading test on this day. No visitors will be permitted for lunches.
	Stars Mini Camp	Day 2 of Stars Mini Camp will be held in the Elementary gym from 3:30-5:00.
Thu, Mar 6	Bring  Your Parent To School	PK -1st grade will be having a “Bring Your Parent To School Day” from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  7:30-8:00 will be breakfast in the cafeteria.  8:10-8:30 will be music performances and Specials performances.
	Stars Mini Camp	3rd and final day of Stars Mini Camp will be held in the Elementary gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
	Stars Mini Camp Show-Off	Participants in the Stars Mini Camp will be having a Show-Off for parents at 5:30p.m. in the Elementary gym.
	Buckeye Book Book Club	Mrs. Meza, Mrs. Broadwell, and Mrs. Bishop’s classes boys only will meet will meet in the Library from 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Fri, Mar 7	Bring Your Parent To School	2nd -4th grade will be having a “Bring Your Parent To School Day” from 7:30-8:30 a.m.  7:30-8:00 will be breakfast in the cafeteria.  8:10-8:30 will be music performances and Specials presentations.
	Early Release Day	.We will have early release beginning at 12:30 p.m
	End of the 4th  6 weeks
Sun, Mar 9	Daylight Savings Time	Don’t  forget to set your clocks ahead one hour.
Mon, Mar 10- Fri, Mar 14	Spring Break	Enjoy your break!!!
Mon, Mar 17	School resumes
Tue, Mar 18	1st -4th grade formative math assessments	1st -4th grade will have their formative math assessments on this day.
	2nd grade TELPAS
Wed, Mar 19	1st -4th grade formative reading  assessments	1st -4th grade will have their formative reading assessments on this day.
	3rd grade TELPAS
Thu, Mar 20	Report cards go home
	4th grade TELPAS
	College Day	Wear your college attire.
	Buckeye Book Club	Mrs. Meza, Mrs. Broadwell, and Mrs. Bishop’s classes boys only will meet in the library from 4:00-5:15.
Fri, Mar 21	CHAMPs Assemblies	PK-1st will be at 8:15. 2nd -4th will be at 2:40.

2nd Grade Teacher, Emily Branch wins Prestigious Award

Emily Branch
2nd Grade Teacher &
Sara B. Reuter Promising Young
Teacher Award Winner

Emily Branch attended the Abydos Conference this past week, and we are happy to announce that she received the Sara B. Reuter Promising Young Teacher's Award.  This award is given to a young teacher that must be a trainee or trainer with no more than 7 years of teaching experience and is under 30.  The teacher must have successful teaching experience and exemplify the traits that we would like to see in all teachers.  The award is given to encourage young teachers to continue in the profession as well as recognize them for their work in education.

Sigrid Yates nominated Emily Branch for this award after observing her in the classroom and seeing how she interacted with the students.   Anytime Sigrid has spoken with Emily, she has been very positive about her grade level, about the campus administrators, and about the growth opportunities Gilmer has provided her.  Emily is a continuous learner as demonstrated by accepting the challenge of the Abydos training while simultaneously working on her M. Ed. In Curriculum and Instruction.  She will be able to use the $750 award as she chooses.

It is just a small gift that Sara's husband gives because Sara worked with young teachers in Duncanville ISD to keep them in the profession and to mentor them.  Mentoring young teachers was Sara's passion, and she was
a strong trainer.  Sara's career was cut short by a debilitating disease, but she went to work every day while her disease progressed rapidly.  She was on a walker at the Abydos Conference before she died that summer.  She was only about 40 when she died. Her husband, a superintendent from another district, wanted to continue Sara's legacy of helping young teachers.  This was how the award began.  Since Sara was a trainer for 11 years, he created the award to be given for 11 years.

We are so proud of Emily for her hard work and dedication to the students and staff of Gilmer Elementary.  She takes on the yearbook all by herself and does an amazing job.  She lead the 2nd grade ELA team and also does an outstanding job facilitating there.  Emily is a fantastic role model and goes above and beyond for our campus.  Please join me in congratulating her for receiving this prestigious honor.

Announcements February 14

Michael Anthony Steele steals the Show

Author, Michael Anthony Steele, presented to our kids.  His message of using every experience you have to become a great writer was very entertaining for our kids.  The number one thing that our kids took away from his presentation is "I CAN DO THAT!"  

Here are some interesting facts about Steele

• Written over 100 books
• Some titles include: The Tony Hawk Live 2 Skate series, The Green Lantern Web of Doom, The Penguins of Madagascar - King Julien's Guide to Ruling the Zoo, Lego City-Fix that Truck, Wishbone Mysteries-Case of the Impounded Hounds, FireHouse Dog The Movie Novel
• Written 25 episodes for the PBS series, Barney and Friends 
• Written 5 home videos for BOZ, the Great Bear Next Door
• Was a staff writer for the Wishbone television series

If you want to know more about him, visit his website at www.michaelanthonysteele.com.

Upcoming Events

Date	Event	Information
Thu, Feb 20	Buckeye Book Club	Mrs. Meza, Mrs. Broadwell, and Mrs. Bishop’s classes girls only will meet in the Library from 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Thu, Feb 27	Buckeye Book Club	Mrs. Meza, Mrs. Broadwell, and Mrs. Bishop’s classes girls only will meet in the Library from 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Mon, Mar 3-7	Texas Public School Week
Tue, Mar 4 No visitors will be allowed for lunch due to testing guidelines.	3rd and 4th grade Mock STAAR Math Testing	3rd and 4th grade will take their Mock STAAR Math test on this day.
	Stars Mini Camp	There will be a Stars Mini Camp held in the Elementary gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Students must have the form and money in an envelope to be able to be released for the mini-camp at the end of the day.
Wed, Mar 5 No visitors will be allowed for lunch due to testing guidelines.	3rd and 4th grade Mock STAAR Reading  Testing	3rd and 4th grade will take their Mock STAAR Reading test on this day.
	Stars Mini Camp	Day 2 of Stars Mini Camp will be held in the Elementary gym from 3:30-5:00.
Thu, Mar 6	Bring  Your Parent To School	PK -1st grade will be having a “Bring Your Parent To School Day” from 7:20-8:30 a.m.   7:20-8:00 will be breakfast in the cafeteria.   8:10-8:30 will be music performances and Specials presentations will be in the gym and science labs from 8:00 - 8:30.
	Stars Mini Camp	3rd and final day of Stars Mini Camp will be held in the Elementary gym from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
	Stars Mini Camp Show-Off	Participants in the Stars Mini Camp will be having a Show-Off for parents at 5:30p.m. in the Elementary gym.
	Buckeye Book Book Club	Mrs. Meza, Mrs. Broadwell, and Mrs. Bishop’s classes boys only will meet will meet in the Library from 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Fri, Mar 7	Bring Your Parent To School	2nd - 4th grade will be having a “Bring Your Parent To School Day” from 7:20-8:30 a.m.   7:20-8:00 will be breakfast in the cafeteria.   8:10-8:30 will be music performances and Specials presentations will be in the gym and science labs from 8:00 - 8:30.
	PK Field Trip	PK will go on a field trip to the Caldwell Zoo on this day.
	End of the 4th  6 weeks	Report cards will come out after Spring Break.
Mon, March 10 through Fri, March 14	Spring Break