Angels of Generosity

Dear JES family and friends,

December's Character Value - GENEROSITY

What a perfect time of year to talk about the character trait: Generosity. Our Core Essentials definition is making someone’s day by giving something away. In talking with our students it is evident that they know quit a bit about generosity both as givers and receivers.

JES ANGEL TREE

Our emphasis this month will be on the benefits that we all receive as we practice giving. On that note, there are many opportunities for generosity right here at JES!  In the JES office there is an Angel Tree for students and staff member’s children. Choosing an angel is a wonderful opportunity for our students to recognize the needs that others may have during the holiday season. Thank you to all who have chosen an angel. Your wrapped, labeled Angel Tree gift should be returned to the JES office by Friday, December 12^th. It is amazing when we work together what we can do to help others!

 

COLLECTING FOR HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS December 9th-12th

Another opportunity for generosity is our traditional Holiday Act of Kindness for December - to collect a dollar from each student and staff member to purchase gift baskets for our Custodians and Cafeteria staff. We will be collecting money December 9th - 12th. The baskets will have holiday food items and a gift card to make purchases for their holiday meal. Of course, we will accept any additional contributions as well. There are 8 food baskets to fill. Thank you ahead of time for your generosity!

 

A high five goes out to the JES Choir students for collecting money for the Buckner Children’s Home. The children lead us in wonderful ways along with help from their tireless leader Becky Sewell. Great job!

 

The winter holiday can be stressful for children as well as their parents. Take time to care for your child’s needs for a healthy diet, rest, and exercise. And remember that your love, your time, and undivided attention are the greatest gifts that any child can receive. In the classroom, your children tell me that the best thing that we have to share is love. They are very wise.

 As always, if I can assist you in any way, please call.

Kindest regards,

 

Ziba Johnston/Mrs. J
JES Counselor
Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu

GRATITUDE

Dear JES family and friends,

 Thank you to everyone who helped to make Red Ribbon Week fun and informative for our children. A big thanks to the Harding family for decorating our school in RED. Sean, Courtney, Houston and Hayden Claire have taken this on the last two years as a family project. Thank you also to Kim Franks and Tracy Lentz for their help with the many preparations for the “Dogs of Character” assembly and Fire Safety Visits. You are so very generous with your time and your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you to our PTO for funding the “Dogs of Character” assembly.



Mrs. Chapman's class donating their canned goods to GRACE

The" I Believe I CAN" drive was a great success! GRACE expressed sincere appreciation for the generous contribution. The Ambassadors loaded the items to send to the food pantry on Friday. Thank you to all who contributed.

Thank you to Officer Womack for arranging the Southlake Firefighters’ visit for Kindergarten -2^nd grade students. We also appreciate having Renni Burt, Community Initiatives officer, meet with our 3rd and 4^th grade students to emphasize having a Home Fire Escape Plan and to discuss general personal safety. It was an informative day. Has your family designated a location to meet outside of your house in case of fire? Ask your children about suggestions they might have.

Our Core Essential character value for November is GRATITUDE which is defined as letting others know you see how they’ve helped you. We will be talking about GRATITUDE on the announcements and in guidance lessons. Gratitude is an important character value and can easily be reinforce at home.  Working together, we can help our children learn to recognize the quality of the feeling that accompanies showing appreciation.

 We will be working on multiple projects throughout the year to give our students opportunities to “give back”. Research shows that when children (and adults) give they in turn have positive feelings that lead to a greater sense of self-worth. Giving promotes cooperation, social connections and gratitude. And research has found that gratitude is integral to happiness and health. Here are a couple of opportunities for our students to get involved in the experience of giving.

 Gift for Buckner

All JES students are challenged to “earn” a dollar to donate to the Buckner Foundation which is being collected by the JES Choir. The money will be presented to the foundation during the winter holiday concert.

 ANGEL TREE

Our traditional angel tree will be decorated in the front office before we leave on Thanksgiving Break. Each year, we have our own Angel Tree to provide for children at Johnson Elementary.  If you are able to help, I hope you will choose an angel and make it a family project of showing gratitude and compassion for those families at Johnson who can use our help.

 BASKETS OF THANKS

Our Ambassadors of Kindness will be leading us in a collection for holiday food baskets for our cafeteria and custodial staff. If we each contribute a dollar, we can give them a nice basket and gift card to show our gratitude. They do so much for us around our campus and we celebrate the opportunity to show them our appreciation.

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) were completed for second and fourth grade students. Make ups are complete. The results will be sent home around mid semester.
 

As always, if I can assist you in any way, please call.

Kindest regards,

 Ziba Johnston

Counselor
Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu
817 949 4500
Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging.” Deepak Chopra

October's Character Trait CREATIVITY

Dear JES family and friends,

October, as always, is shaping up to be a busy one! Our character value for this month is CREATIVITY defined as: using your imagination to do something unique.  I hope you continue to use the Core Essentials character trait to spark discussions that lead to reinforcing the value CREATIVITY.

 CogAT and ITBS Testing for 2nd and 4th Grades

On the 14^th, 15th, and 16^th of this month our second and fourth graders will be taking the CogAT test. The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. On October 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd both second and fourth grades will be taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills or ITBS. Although the CogAT’s  primary goal is to assess students’ reasoning abilities, it can also provide predicted achievement scores when administered with The Iowa Tests. There is no special preparation you need to do at home for these tests. What you can do to help your student is make sure they are rested and present at school on time on testing days. Check your calendar and make sure that you have not scheduled doctor appointments during these days. Testing will take place during the morning when the students are fresh.

A parent letter was sent home this week about the upcoming tests that should address any questions you might have about the actual test and its purpose.   Of course, as always, if you have additional questions, please contact me.

 RED RIBBON WEEK - October 27th-31st

Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated the last week in October. This is a district wide drug awareness celebration.  We will kick off the week with an assembly entitled “Dogs of Character” provided by our JES PTO. Each day of that week we will emphasize the benefits of leading a drug free lifestyle. Please take advantage of this opportunity to talk with your children about making good decisions. It’s never too soon or too late.

If I can assist you in any way, please contact me.

Kindest regards,

Ziba Johnston
Counselor
Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu

Welcome Back to 2014-2015 !

Dear JES families and friends,

Welcome back to both returning and new families! There is exciting activity going on in preparation for the 2014-2015 school year. I hope that you have had a wonderful summer and a great first week of school. Teachers, staff and students are going to be Discovering and Sharing our Talents at JES this year!

Newcomers’   Welcome Coffee  in the JES Library On Thursday, September 4th, join us for an informal gathering to welcome the newest parent members to the Johnson family. That is new families to CISD and all kindergarten parents.  Dr. Rene Moses, our new Assistant Principal, will be on hand so you can officially welcome her, as well. If you are new to Johnson Elementary School, drop by the JES library from 8 to 9 on Thursday morning and let us welcome you personally.  All JES parents are invited to come to the coffee to help welcome these newest members to Johnson Elementary family. We hope to see you there!

Through our Core Essentials program we will be emphasizing the Big 3 which are:    

Treat Others Right

Make Smart Decisions

Maximize Your Potential

Our character trait for September is RESPECT defined as showing others they are important by what you say or do. Our JES PTO is generously sponsoring our Core Essentials program again this year. If you are interested in more information about our character education program go to www.coreessentials.org .  When you discuss these important values at home it reinforces their importance. Invite your child to share what they have learned at school about RESPECT. When we work together at school and at home “great” things are possible.

It is not unusual for students to be tired and “out of sorts” the first few weeks of school. The change in their sleep and meal routines alone may cause stress and then when you add on the expectations of school - it is understandable that most children will react. If problems persist or are more extreme than you feel is typical for your child, talk with your child’s teacher and/or contact me. If we can do anything to help you or your student, please let me know. You can email or call to schedule an appointment.
Kindest regards,

Ziba Johnston

JES Counselor

817 949 4500

Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu

HAPPY SUMMER!

Dear JES family and friends,

 Summer has arrived and Texas and I are off for summer break. Tex is spending a lot of time in the pool and under the trees relaxing. We are enjoying the rain!

 Summer is a great time for children to read simply for pleasure. Newly emerging readers tend to regress in the summer, so keep up the reading activities. Fun reading for parents, if you haven’t already started following, is the blog “We are THAT Family…you know the ones”. I highly recommend it. A great introduction would be reading the June 15^th, 2014 entry. The title of the entry is Dear Children: Let Me Explain This Thing Called Summer. With a little humor, the blog addresses the so called boredom of summer days.  The blogger (Kristen) has some good thoughts about summer – “ the days that aren’t fun usually end up being the best ones of summer.” You can find it at wearethatfamily.com.

 I will be back from summer break on August 11^th.  I will be checking email regularly, if you have a concern don’t hesitate to write.

Enjoy the break and Tex and I will see you in August!

Kindest regards,

 

Ziba Johnston

JES Counselor

Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES - May 8th

Dear JES family and friends,

 We are almost there! Summer is right around the corner so don’t give up now! This month is the perfect time to learn the value of ENDURANCE  as our students patiently wait and work toward sunscreen and sandy beaches. So we will stick to the school year to the very end. ENDURANCE - sticking with what you started even when it's tough.

 

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES

How perfect that our character trait for May is ENDURANCE!  With ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES, we are giving children hope to endure so they will have a future. One pair of shoes for a child can gain them entry to school, keep them healthy, protect them from injury, and most of all give them the hope that someone cares about them. On May 8^th, we will be going shoeless (wearing our socks) at school to bring attention to the needs of children around the world who miss opportunities in life because they do not have shoes. Send in a new pair of shoes to donate to Shoes for Orphan Souls on May 8th. For more information visit the Shoes for Orphan Souls website at

     http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/

As important as it is for underprivileged children to receive shoes, it is equally important for our children to have an opportunity to think about the many blessings they have and to share from their hearts.

 

Fourth Grade Orientation - May 6th

 

Orientation for our fourth graders going to Durham Intermediate next fall is on May 6th. All fourth graders will travel to DIS by bus for an informational talk by the DIS administrators and a tour of the campus. A Parent Orientation is at 6:00PM in the Durham Intermediate Cafeteria. Transition to fifth grade can be a challenge. Attending the orientation meetings can ease some of the anxiety by answering many of your questions about procedures, the schedules and the “always challenging” lockers!

There is also an opportunity to chat with DIS Administrators on May 7^th at 1PM for a Coffee Talk. On May 16^th incoming 5^th graders are invited to FUN NIGHT from 6-8Pm in the DIS Cafeteria.

As always, if I can assist you in any way, please call.

 

Kindest regards,

Ziba Johnston

JES Counselor

April's Character Trait - Humility

Dear JES family and friends,

 



Mrs. Davidson's Kindergarten Class remembering their promise.

THE PROMISE IN FULL  BLOOM!

Bright red tulips that our students and staff planted in October during Red Ribbon Week have been beautiful! We Planted the Promise to make good choices and choose to be drug free. The tulips are a reminder of when we make good choices our future is bright and beautiful! To see more pictures visit the Johnson Elementary Facebook page.

April’s Character Trait - HUMILITY

Lots of things come first to the mind of a child: dessert, recess, a favorite sports team or pop star. But this month, we are adding one more thing to the list of what comes first: others! Join us at home as we introduce a new character value and help your child see the importance of HUMILITY – putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES / Shoe Drive – May 8th


On May 8^th, we will be going shoeless (socks required) at school to bring attention to the needs of children around the world who miss opportunities in life because they
do not have shoes. One pair of shoes for a
child can gain them entry to school, keep
them healthy, protect them from injury, and

most of all give them the hope that someone
 cares about them. Send in a new pair of
shoes to donate to Shoes for Orphan Souls on May 8th.
The Buckner Foundation prefers sturdy, athletic shoes. For more information, visit the Shoes for Orphan Souls website:                                               



http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/

 

PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE !
During the month of April, the school district and community will PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE to raise awareness of the importance of kindness and compassion. Purple ribbons with Kindnessgrams attached will be sold on Fridays throughout April at JES. They are $2 for one ribbon or three ribbons for $5. Ribbons/Kindnessgrams will be available beginning this Friday. The ribbons can be The proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. Our fourth grade Ambassadors of Kindness will be selling them before school and during lunch on Fridays. Help us paint the town purple.

 If you haven’t heard…Rachel’s Rally and Relay for Life are coming up on May 2nd and 3rd at Carroll High School. This is a community wide celebration of kindness and compassion followed by a service opportunity to walk to raise awareness for the ongoing battle against cancer. To get more information or sign up for a relay team go to:  

http://www.relayforlife.org/southlaketx .

Fourth Grade Orientation - May 6th 

Orientation for our fourth graders going to Durham Intermediate next fall is on May 6th. All fourth graders will travel to DIS by bus for an informational talk by the DIS administrators and a tour of the campus. A Parent Orientation is at 7PM in the Durham Intermediate Cafeteria. There is also a Parent Coffee at DIS on May 7^th at 9AM. Transition to fifth grade can be a challenge. Attending the orientation meetings can ease some of the anxiety by answering many of your questions about procedures, the schedules and the “always challenging” lockers!

 About STARR Testing

STARR testing continues this month. Third and fourth grades will be testing on April 22nd and 25th.  Our students are well prepared. The most important thing that parents can do is make sure your child is rested, well fed, and in attendance on time for testing days. Thank you for your help.

As always, if I can assist you in any way, please call or email me.

Kindest regards,

 Ziba Johnston - Mrs. J
 

Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu

THANK YOU!

Dear JES family and friends,

Thank you for making Counselor’s Week special for me! I have enjoyed the flowers, gifts, the doorway decorations with the sweet pictures and notes, the uniquely crafted song, the gift cards, the Plaque and gifts from our PTO and especially the hugs from the children! It is a privilege to work with the staff and families at the best elementary school in the whole wide world!

Our character trait for February is COURTESY. Our simplified definition of COURTESY is showing others respect by using good manners. In guidance lessons, we will be talking about kindness as an important courtesy to show our friends and family.

If I can help in any way, please contact me at Elizabeth.johnston@southlakecarroll.edu or 817 949 4500.

Kindest regards,

Ziba  Johnston

JES Counselor

                                 Thanks for a happy week!

HAPPY, HAPPY 2014!

Dear JES family and friends,
 

Happy 2014! Thank you, again, for your generosity throughout the holiday season. Our Angel Tree program is a blessing to many of our families. It is such a joy to be a part of it. Our Johnson families are kind and generous beyond measure. Even during financially demanding times when no one’s money seems to stretch as far as it has in the past, our families show great concern and care in making sure that all of the children in our Johnson family receive a gift during the holiday. Thank you for your generosity!

 Our character trait for January is KNOWLEDGE. For the rest of the month we are talking about the virtue of KNOWLEDGE – discovering something new so you can be better at what you do.

Second and fourth grade parents should  have  received ITBS and CogAT results in the mail this past week. If you have any questions or need help interpreting the results, you can contact me.

If I can assist you in any way, please email me at Elizabeth.Johnston@southlakecarroll.edu or call at 817 949 4500.

Kindest regards,

Ziba Johnston

JES Counselor