We are beyond grateful and thankful for our Cypress Springs family!  CSE is the best place to be!  We wish each and every one of you a relaxing and refreshing week with family and friends!

1. Mark your calendars for Thanksgiving Break, November 20-24.  We hope your week is refreshing and full of thanks!

2.  Book Fair thank you!

3. The last day to drop off new or gently used coats for our Coats for Kids drive is tomorrow, November 17th! Please help us reach our school-wide goal of collecting 115 coats to help children in the Central Texas area during this cold season. You can drop off your coats in the foyer. Look for the box labeled "Coats for Kids" Here is the link to our flyer. Thank you for your help! 

4. Please check lost and found!  The remaining items will be donated.

5. Fall Picture Retakes are on Wednesday, November 29th.  Please complete this sign-up form if your student(s) will do a retake – or if they were not here on our original picture day (October 5th).  The sign-up form must be completed by Friday, November 17th. Order Fall Picture Retakes online at mylifetouch.com using Picture Day ID: EVT9NP2G7 (note: this ID expires on picture day.  After picture day, you will need to wait for student proof to order pictures).

6. On Thursday, November 30th at 9:30 am, CSES will host our annual lockdown drill in conjunction with Hays County first responders. Please expect many emergency vehicles on site for the drill. Here is our Standard Response Protocol information for families.

7. STAAR Paper by Request Deadline- Click here for information.

8. Did you know that we have a garden in our library?!! Click here for more information about our Hydroponic Garden! Many students have shared with us about their home gardens! We would love to see them! Send in a picture of your garden (or email to: melinda.laird@dsisdtx.us). We will display our CSE family garden pictures in the library!

9. Check out the CSE Birthday Book Club!

PTA NEWS:

• November Printable Calendar

• Yearbook Info:
  https://www.csepta.org/yearbook

  • 2023-2024 5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest
    Roll up your sleeves, roll out your art tools, and sharpen your creative saws! This year, PTA would love to feature a 5th Grader's artwork for the cover of the '23-'24 CSE Yearbook. The top runners-up artwork will appear on the back cover of the yearbook. All artwork may be used as featured art inside the yearbook. The winner will receive a Free Yearbook!

  • Yearbooks are on sale now!! 
    https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/?JobNumber=14468824

  • Ads for 5th-grade students can be purchased when you order a yearbook or without ordering (if a family member or friend wants to send some kind words!)
    Options for ads:
    - Business Card Color $20 (text and a photo)
    - Shoutout Color $10 (text only)
    *Once an ad is purchased, you'll receive a link where you can build your ad and submit it for approval.
    Deadlines:
    - 5th Grade ads must be purchased by: 1/19
    - Ads must be submitted for approval by: 3/18

• Is the next Spelling Bee champion at our school?! We are gearing up for the Spelling Bee this 

 “The key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”   - Stephen Covey

This week we talked about staying focused on our most important things and saying "no" to less important things. Ask your child, “Why is it important to say 'no' to less important things?” Putting first things first is a habit that requires prioritizing the things that are the most important to us. 

1. Due to celebrating our Veterans, we will not host Cypress Sprinters or a Friday Assembly tomorrow morning. 

2. The Interim 2A grade reports are posted to Family Access for grades 3-12

3. Mark your calendars for Thanksgiving Break, November 20-24.  We hope your week is refreshing and full of thanks!

4. Fall Picture Retakes are on Wednesday, November 29th.  Please complete this sign-up form if your student(s) will do a retake – or if they were not here on our original picture day (October 5th).  The sign-up form must be completed by Friday, November 17th. Order Fall Picture Retakes online at mylifetouch.com using Picture Day ID: EVT9NP2G7 (note: this ID expires on picture day.  After picture day, you will need to wait for student proof to order pictures).

5. On Thursday, November 30th at 9:30 am, CSES will host our annual lockdown drill in conjunction with Hays County first responders. Please expect many emergency vehicles on site for the drill. Here is our Standard Response Protocol information for families.

6. Legally Blonde the Musical Jr. opens on November 9 and runs through November 11. Starting this show, tickets will no longer be purchased at the door. They will be purchased online using this link.

7. Did you know that we have a garden in our library?!! Click here for more information about our Hydroponic Garden! Many students have shared with us about their home gardens! We would love to see them! Send in a picture of your garden (or email to: melinda.laird@dsisdtx.us). We will display our CSE family garden pictures in the library!

8. Check out the CSE Birthday Book Club!

PTA NEWS:

• October Printable Calendar

• Printable Week Ahead

• PTA Reflections submission deadline was extended to Monday! Get your submissions in ASAP!! The theme is "I am Hopeful because..." Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. 

• CSE Spirit Wear! - Spirit Wear is BACK! for a limited time (closes on the 10th!!!). If you missed the order or just have to have another item, head over here to order: Spirit Wear Store

• Yearbook Info:

  • 2023-2024 5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest
    https://www.csepta.org/yearbook-competition
    Roll up your sleeves, roll out your art tools, and sharpen your creative saws! This year, PTA would love to feature a 5th Grader's artwork for the cover of the '23-'24 CSE Yearbook. The top runners-up artwork will appear on the back cover of the yearbook. All artwork may be used as featured art inside the yearbook. The winner will receive a Free Yearbook!

  • Yearbooks are on sale now!! 
    https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/?JobNumber=14468824

  • Ads for 5th-grade students can be purchased when you order a yearbook or without ordering (if a family member or friend wants to send some kind words!)
    Options for ads:
    - Business Card Color $20 (text and a photo)
    - Shoutout Color $10 (text only)
    *Once an ad is purchased, you'll receive a link where you can build your ad and submit it for approval.
    Deadlines:
    - 5th Grade ads must be purchased by: 1/19
    - Ads must be submitted for approval by: 3/8

• Book Fair is wrapping up this week! This year's theme is Crack the Case! We need volunteers to run the cash register. Head over to the Book Fair Page for all the info.

• Teacher Buy-a-Spots! If you signed up for a Spot, invoices were sent out last week. If you haven’t paid yet, please check the email that you used for the sign-up. Payments will be made online! Thank you for supporting CSE with your donation! Be on the lookout for emails about event details coming soon. We hope your kiddos have an amazing time at their teacher events! Please contact fundraising@csepta.org with any questions.

• Is the next Spelling Bee champion at our school?! We are gearing up for the Spelling Bee this Winter and wanted to give students and parents plenty of time to practice. If you are interested in signing up, please do so here. You can also download the Word Club app for your kiddos to practice on a phone or tablet.

Next week we will learn about Habit 3: Put First Things First. Dr. Covey states, “Putting first things first means organizing and executing around your most important priorities. It is living and being driven by the principles you value most, not by the agendas and forces surrounding you.”  We schedule the things that are most important to us first.

People who put first things first focus on the important, not just the urgent, act on priorities, plan weekly, and act daily.  You are putting first things first when you organize your time around the most important things and eliminate the unimportant.

Kid Language
Work First, Then Play:  I spend my time on things that are most important.  This means I say no to things I know I should not do.  I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan.  I am disciplined and organized.

1. Check out the CSE Library by the numbers! The Book Fair is coming! Click here for more information.

2. Set clocks back an hour this weekend!  Daylight Savings ends.  Enjoy the extra hour of our weekend!

3. Mark your calendars for Thanksgiving Break, November 20-24.  We hope your week is refreshing and full of thanks!

4. School picture proofs are in and will be sent home with your child by the end of this week.  Additional information on school pictures:

• Parents who would like to purchase pictures online will need to wait to get their child's picture proof.  The proof provides a new picture code unique to the student.  Then, they can go online to place an order. 

• The initial code provided on the Lifetouch school picture day flyer expires the day of picture day- do not use this code when trying to order pictures online.

• After picture day, parents have 18 months to order pictures online.

5. Fall Picture retakes are scheduled for Wednesday, November 29th, 2024- additional information coming soon.   

6. The Veteran's Day Ceremony is just around the corner on November 10th from 8:30-9:30 a.m. If you are a veteran, we invite you and your family to our program so we can recognize and honor you for your service. Please see this flyer for more details and RSVP.  Wear RED, WHITE, & BLUE!

7. Legally Blonde the Musical Jr. opens on November 9 and runs through November 11. Starting this show, tickets will no longer be purchased at the door. They will be purchased online using this link.

8. Calling all Kindergarten Families (and anyone who wants to learn more) to attend our upcoming 3-part family training series: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families.  We have 2-time offerings for each training module.  Mark your calendars to join us on November 28 for either a morning session from 9-11 a.m. or an evening session from 5:45-8 p.m.

9. CLICK HERE to learn about ways to support Toys for Tots.

10. Are you looking for a way to honor a Dripping Springs ISD employee? Whether you are a staff member wanting to recognize a co-worker for a job well done or a parent impressed by your child's bus driver for going that extra mile, this program is for you! Anyone can nominate any DSISD employee through the district's employee recognition program, Tiger Stripes for Staff.  The program invites DSISD staff, students, parents, and community members to participate by leaving a positive note about a staff member through a short Google form submission.

11. Did you know that we have a garden in our library?!! Click here for more information about our Hydroponic Garden! Many students have shared with us about their home gardens! We would love to see them! Send in a picture of your garden (or email to: melinda.laird@dsisdtx.us). We will display our CSE family garden pictures in the library!

12. Check out the CSE Birthday Book Club!

PTA NEWS:

• October Printable Calendar

• Printable Week Ahead

• PTA Reflections submission deadline is Friday! Get your submissions in ASAP!! The theme is "I am Hopeful because..." Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. 

• CSE Spirit Wear! - Spirit Wear is BACK! for a limited time. If you missed the order or just have to have another item, head over here to order: Spirit Wear Store

• Yearbook Info! CSE 2023-2024 5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest

  • Roll up your sleeves, roll out your art tools, and sharpen your creative saws! This year, PTA would love to feature a 5th Grader's artwork for the cover of the '23-'24 CSE Yearbook. The top runners-up artwork will appear on the back cover of the yearbook. All artwork may be used as featured art inside the yearbook. The winner will receive a Free Yearbook!

• The Book Fair kicks off this week! This year's theme is Crack the Case! Preview days are this week followed by shopping days. We need volunteers to help the littles write their lists, coordinate shopping, and run the cash register. Head over to the Book Fair Page for all the info.

• Fall Fun Fest Follow-Up (check out that alliteration!)

  • Silent Auction: Check your inbox for info about how to collect silent auction items this week!

  • Teacher Buy-a-Spots! If you signed up for a Teacher Buy-a-Spot, invoices will be sent this week. Please check the email that you used for the sign-up. Payments will be made online! Thank you for supporting CSE with your donation! We hope your kiddos have an amazing time at their teacher events! Please contact fundraising@csepta.org with any questions.