We are entering the last few days of January and time flies when you love what you do!  Thank you for your continuous support! Next month we will learn one of the most important habits- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood. This is the habit of empathic communication.

Communication is one of the most important skills in life. We spend years learning how to read, write, and speak. But what about listening? What training have we had that enables us to listen so we really, deeply understand another person? Probably none, right?

If you’re like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. In doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you’re listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. Consequently, you decide prematurely what the other person means before they finish communicating.  

We cannot wait to develop this habit to encourage and equip ourselves to be empathic listeners.  We whole body listen to one another- with our eyes, our ears, and our hearts.

1. Our next Parent University will be offered on January 31st from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Rooster Springs Elementary School!  Please click here for information.

2. Mark your calendars for February 1st at 3:45 pm for our Campus Advisory Council Public Meeting.  Dr. Tudor will review our Texas Academic Performance Report (based on State Assessment). Shout out to our staff for the designation of Closing the Gap! Click here for a quick look.

3. Advanced Academics and Acceleration Information Night coming soon!  Click here for the details.

4. Unable to attend last week’s parent coffee?   Here is the introduction to our Leader in Me book study.

5. Want to know what's been happening in our CL&I so far this year? Click here for a snapshot of some awesome stats! If you would like to donate a book to our library in honor of your child's birthday, please visit this website. 

6. Please consider hosting a station! Our CSE Cultures Around the World Celebration will take place on Thursday, February 23rd starting at 6:00 PM. A community potluck will begin at 6:00 PM followed by a third-grade music performance and culture activity stations. If you are interested in being part of this event there are opportunities to bring food items for a potluck or run an activity station. Please fill out this form by January 27th if you are interested in helping highlight the many wonderful cultures representative of our CSE families. 

7. ATTENTION 3RD-5TH GRADE FAMILIES: Fitnessgram is coming!  Click here for more information.

8. Apex is coming soon! 

9. Share a kind note with a CSES staff member HERE! JUST TAKES A MOMENT AND LEAVES A HUGE IMPACT.

CSE PTA Updates - January 26

- Join us tonight (Thursday, January 26) for PTA Family Game Night, 6-7 pm in the Cafeteria! Bring your favorite board game to play with friends. PTA will also provide some games, prizes, and light refreshments, and CSE teachers will be sharing some math fluency games.

- Huge THANK YOU to our Art Appreciation volunteers for helping out with our Michelangelo Sistine Chapel project this week. Check out social media for pics! 

- 2022-23 Yearbooks can still be ordered HERE! 5th Grade Shout-Outs are also available for +$10 (text only) or +$20 (text plus photo). If you aren't sure if you already ordered, you can check that at the order link as well.

- Save the Date - our next PTA General Meeting will be on Tuesday, February 14, at 8:00 am. We will cover regular business, including the formation of a Nominating Committee to recommend PTA officers for the 23-24 school year.

This month we have been learning about Habit 4: Think Win-Win. Having a Win-Win Attitude means: Seeing life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one; balancing courage for getting what you want with consideration for what others want; and seeking successful, productive interactions by filling others' buckets/making deposits on others’ emotional bank accounts. In doing this, negative energy focused on understanding and resolving issues. 

Habit 4: Think Win-Win is not a technique; it's a total philosophy and one of the six paradigms of human interaction. The other paradigms are: Win/Lose, Lose/Win, Win, and Win/Win or No Deal. Win-Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. It's not your way or my way, it's a better way, a higher way. 

1. Our Annual Great Kindness Challenge is coming the week of January 23!  Click here for more information about each day’s focus and dress!

2. Please remember your Family Car Tags so we can efficiently load the cars at dismissal.  THANK YOU!

3. Join us for our Family Game Night from 6 pm- 7 pm on January 26th.

4. Our next Parent University will be offered on January 31st from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Rooster Springs Elementary School!  Please click here for information.

5. Mark your calendars for February 1st at 3:45 pm for our Campus Advisory Council Public Meeting.  Dr. Tudor will review our Texas Academic Performance Report.

6. Advanced Academics and Acceleration Information Night coming soon!  Click here for the details.

7. Unable to attend last week’s parent coffee?   Here is the introduction to our Leader in Me book study.

8. Please consider hosting a station! Our CSE Cultures Around the World Celebration will take place on Thursday, February 23rd starting at 6:00 PM. A community potluck will begin at 6:00 PM followed by a third-grade music performance and culture activity stations. If you are interested in being part of this event there are opportunities to bring food items for a potluck or run an activity station. Please fill out this form by January 27th if you are interested in helping highlight the many wonderful cultures representative of our CSE families. 

9. Share a kind note with a CSES staff member HERE! JUST TAKES A MOMENT AND LEAVES A HUGE IMPACT.

CSE PTA Updates - January 19

- SPELLING BEE - Congratulations to Ben Branyon (5th grade) for winning our Schoolwide Scripps Spelling Bee and Anagha Jadhav (3rd grade) for taking home 2nd place! Both have the opportunity to move on to the Austin Regional Bee! Best of Luck!! Great job to our Grade Level Champions who also competed: Porter Stewmon, Claudio Smith and Grayson Heck (1st, 2nd, and 4th Grades).

- Sign up to VOLUNTEER for Art Appreciation next week, January 24-26. Each class will need volunteers to help students experience what it was like for Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling! The schedule is as follows:

- Tuesday 1/24 - 4th Grade 2-2:30 pm

- Wednesday 1/25 - 3rd Grade 8-8:30am, 1st Grade 1:30-2pm, 2nd Grade 2-2:30pm

- Thursday 1/26 - Kinder 8-8:30 am, PK 9-9:30 am, 5th Grade 2-2:30 pm

- Join us for PTA Family Game Night next Thursday, January 26 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm in the Cafeteria! Bring your favorite board game to play with friends. PTA will also provide some games, as well as light refreshments, and CSE teachers will be sharing some math fluency games.

- 2022-23 Yearbooks can still be ordered HERE! $30 per yearbook, +$3 for cover personalization, and 5th Grade ads are available for +$10 (text only) or +$20 (text plus photo). If you aren't sure if you already ordered, you can check that at the order link as well.

Thank you families for a great start to 2023!  We have the best community around!

1. Check out this month’s Counselor Newsletter!

2. Come support our Tiger Volleyball State champions!

3. Mark your calendars for Monday, January 16th.  It is a Student and Staff Holiday in order of Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, we would love to see you on Tuesday, January 17^th at 8 am for our PTA General Meeting. 

4. You are invited to attend Taxpayer Tuesdays!  Click here for information. 

5. Our Annual Great Kindness Challenge is coming the week of January 23!  Click here for more information about each day’s focus and dress!

6. Our CSE Cultures Around the World Celebration will take place on Thursday, February 23rd starting at 6:00 PM. A community potluck will begin at 6:00 PM followed by a third-grade music performance and culture activity stations. If you are interested in being part of this event there are opportunities to bring food items for a potluck or run an activity station. Please fill out this form by January 27th if you are interested in helping highlight the many wonderful cultures representative of our CSE families. 

7. Share a kind note with a CSES staff member HERE! JUST TAKES A MOMENT AND LEAVES A HUGE IMPACT.

8. SSMS BAND - Instrument Fittings for 5th graders: 5^th graders will be selecting schedules for middle school very soon! Come explore the band instruments. Click here to sign up for an appointment. Available times on January 10, 11, 17, and 18. For questions contact jana.galloway@dsisdtx.us or tamarie.sayger@dsisdtx.us.

CSE PTA Updates - January 12

- Check out our January Tiger Tales Newsletter!- CSE PTA is hosting the 2nd Annual CSE Scripps Spelling Bee this week, and we have been so impressed by our amazing spellers so far! Good luck to all our grade-level winners who will move on to the School Wide Spelling Bee on Tuesday, January 17th after school.

- Congratulations to Brody Sansone who will be advancing to the state-level Texas PTA Reflections Program, and to all our District PTA Reflections participants! We're so proud of you all!

- We'd love to see you at Taxpayer Tuesdays! Hear from DSISD leaders about district finances and operations, participate in a campus tour, and ask questions and share ideas.

- Winter Art Appreciation will be January 21-23. Be on the lookout for volunteer sign-up genius. - Save the date for PTA Family Game Night on January 26 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm!

- Order your yearbooks Here!

We have had a great few days back to learning and in our routine.  Thank you for your continued love and support.

1. Beginning January 10th we will meet for the Leader in Me parent book study!  Come learn more about how we are inspiring greatness, one child at a time.  You are welcome to purchase a copy or borrow one from CSE.

2. Join me in congratulating Wendy Woolard and welcoming Andrea Guidry! As of Monday, January 2nd, Mrs. Woolard started a new position at Cypress Springs Elementary as the Registrar/Attendance/PEIMS Records Specialist.  Her new office number is (737)260-8701. Please email ALL Transportation Changes to andrea.guidry@dsisdtx.us or you can reach reception at (737) 260-8711. All ABSENCE notifications can be done through Skyward or by emailing csesattendance@dsisdtx.us Thank you for your help to ensure a smooth transition!  We appreciate you!

3. Let’s Paint CSE Purple by wearing purple on Monday, January 9th to support our very own Texas team, TCU Horned Frogs,  playing in the College Football National Championship!

4. Check out this month’s Counselor Newsletter!

5.  Term 2 grade reports were posted to Family Access for all schools grades PK -12.  Log in to Family Access to review report cards for your learners. 

6. Share a kind note with a CSES staff member HERE! JUST TAKES A MOMENT AND LEAVES A HUGE IMPACT.

7. SSMS BAND - Instrument Fittings for 5th graders 5th graders will be selecting schedules for middle school very soon! Come explore the band instruments. Click here to sign up for an appointment. Available times on January 10, 11, 17, 18 For questions contact jana.galloway@dsisdtx.us or tamarie.sayger@dsisdtx.us.

PTA Updates:

- Check out our January Month Ahead!

- Scripps Spelling Bee will be held January 11-12. Register your student to receive the word study list! Each grade level will have its own Bee, which parents/guests are welcome to attend (please RSVP here). 1st and 2nd place winners for each grade level will be invited to participate in the School-wide Bee, after school on Tuesday, January 17th, 3:15-4:00 pm. The schoolwide champion will be eligible to advance to the Austin-area Spelling Bee in the spring.

- Our winter Art Appreciation will be January 21-23. Be on the lookout for volunteer sign-up genius. 

- Save the date for PTA Family Game Night on January 26 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm!