STORYTELLER

1. November 9, 2010 Sponsored by Story PTA STORYTELLER AISD Honor Choir CONGRATULATIONS to fourteen of our 5th and 6th  graders who made the AISD District Honor Choir this past week! We are very proud of them! Fifth grade: Alex Schneider, Ashlyn Cunningham, Brady Ellsworth, Connor Wright, Haley Harrison, Hallie Platt, Kellianne Schell, Klaire Bentley, Travis Hoffman Sixth grade Clarissa Molina, Courtney Cobb, Grayson Savoie, Loren Martin, Rudy Molina They will sing with the Allen Symphony on December 17 and do their own concert on January 27, 2011.  Exciting! Christine Stratton, Music Specialist • Principal’s Corner • Doing Chores Helps your Child Develop Responsibility •  In the past, children had to do their chores.  Their work was the only way a family could survive.  Today’s kids need chores for other reasons.  Chores help children learn responsibility, feel a part of the family, and feel pride in what they do.  Here are some tips on ways you can use chores to teach responsibility: • Let your child have some choices.  Allow your child to choose whether to walk the dog or fold the clothes.  Offer choices about when chores are done.  “Would you like to walk the dog … before or after your snack?” • Do not do anything for your child that she can do for herself. • Praise your child for effort.  Say, “Good job!” (Not “Good girl!”) • Break large tasks into small ones.  This is a skill to teach your child for homework as well as chores. • Source:  “Teaching Responsibility with Chores,” Lee-Bee Motivational Charts   http//www.lee-bee.com/choretip.html • Thank you for TEAMing with us! • Judith Coffman  Veteran’s Day Parents – Please help us celebrate Veterans Day this Thursday by having your students wear patriotic colors to school. High Five Club Nov 1 - 5 Kindergarten Jane Thomas, Kristen Scott, Mackenzie Garvin, Trenton Wheeler First Grade Ian Warren, Reagan Ptacek, Kyrillos Eshak, Cody Weinman Second Grade Caitlin Bell, Alex McPherson, Kylee Seals, Michael Mott Third Grade Sophie Tran, Belle Bryner, Isabel Butler, Justin Kaleta Fourth Grade Ashley Andrade, Kiersten Vicknair, Tobi Wainwright, Sydney Beavers, Aidan Keister, Makaela Hurtado Fifth Grade Tanner Moore, James Hubbard, Chloe Beam, Dylan Doolittle Sixth Grade Austin Todd, Connor Edwards, Luke Vega, Haseeb Sheikh The Counselor’s Couch Watch D.O.G.S - We still have open dates so if you are a Dad or Father-figure and would like to be involved, please e-mail Gerri Elsing at gerri_elsing@allenisd.org to schedule a day! Guidance News – I will continue in the Sixth grade classrooms this week to talk about safety, healthy choices, and problem solving. Rachel’s Challenge - Story is continuing their kind and compassionate acts towards each other. Keep up the good work Falcons! We are nearing 2000 links for our chain of kindness! The Holidaysare fast approaching and the economy is tough this year. Please contact me at michelle_gilbert@allenisd.org or 972-727-0570 ext. 123 for help with winter clothing and/or Thanksgiving food resources. It is my ethical obligation to keep all inquiries for help confidential. Sixth Grade Parents – Registration for classes at the middle school will begin in late February. More details will be given as we get closer to Winter Break. Michelle Gilbert

2. Story Elementary/AISD Testing Dates 2010-2011 Parents please be aware of these testing dates and try not to schedule appointments on these dates. November 10 Reading Benchmark Testing – grades 3-6 November 16 Science Benchmark Testing – grades 3-6 November 29-Dec.10 CogAT testing – grades K,6 November 30 Writing Simulation – grade 4 January 31 Math Simulation – grade 5 February 1 Reading Simulation – grade 5 February 8 Math Simulation – grades 3,4,6 February 9 Reading Simulation – grades 3,4,6 February 10 Science Simulation – grade 5 March 1 TAKS Writing – grade 4 April 4 TAKS Math – grade 5 April 5 TAKS Reading – grade 5 April 26 TAKS Math – grades 3,4,6 April 27 TAKS Reading – grades 3,4,6 April 28 TAKS Science – grade 5 Box Top News! Hello Story Falcons! WOW!! What a  finish for the second 6 weeks’ Box Top and Label Champions!!!  You should never ever give up!  The winner will be revealed during the morning announcements.  Remember, a new race starts next week!   When the world says, "Give up,"  Hope whispers, "Try it one more time.“ ~Author Unknown Here are the totals that round out the top five spots.  Have a great week!!! 1st  place – 564 3rd place – 362 5th place - 274 2nd place – 376 4th place – 343 Valerie Brown Jones Labels for Education Coordinator Help Allen Community Outreach Feed Families for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Each holiday season ACO reaches out to the community for support to collect food for several hundred local families. Holiday Food Donations Drop Off- ~Nov 1-Nov 18 Monday– Friday 8:30-4:30 ACO– 801 E. Main St. (Closed 12:30-1:30 for lunch) ~Nov 19 Friday 10:00-3:00 First United Methodist Church of Allen– GYM 601 S. Greenville Ave. For more info call 972-727-9131. Gifted and Talented Placement Testing AISD Learner Services and Assessment Department will be coordinating upcoming CogAT testing at your campus.  All AISD Kindergarten and sixth grade students will be administered a CogAT aptitude testduring the weeks of November 29 - December 10, 2010.  This test will be administered in groups at each campus.  Please visit the following web link to find out more information on CogAT:  http://www.riverpub.com/images/flashElements/cogat_demo.swf All second grade and fourth grade students interested in taking the CogAT test for Gifted and Talented placement consideration will have the opportunity to do so during the spring testing to be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011.  Registration information will be located on the Gifted and Talented website in mid-January. Rudolph Run If you want to sign up for the Rudolph Run, you can still do so at Luke’s Locker, Joe Farmer Rec Center, and the Natatorium.  Thanks! Erin Needham Support Story with your PTA Membership! Have you joined Story PTA? For just $6 you can support Story students and teachers with your yearly membership. You will also be eligible to vote on PTA issues at all meetings and will receive a FREE student directory. Fill out a membership form, available in folder by Ms. Gerri's desk, include your $6 fee and return both to the school in an envelope addressed PTA membership. NO LUNCH VISITORS Nov 16 & 17 - Due to renovations, our stage will be closed. Thank you for your cooperation! The ACO donation item to be collected for November is soup and canned meats. Mark Your Calendar Nov 16 PTA Meeting & Early Bird Choir Program – 7:00 PM Nov 22-26 Thanksgiving Break Nov 30 Simulation Writing 4th Grade – NO VISITORS Story Elementary School Judith Coffman, Principal : Adam Rupert, Asst. Principal 1550 Edelweiss 75002 * School: 972-727-0570 * Fax: 972-727-0573 *Absentee Hotline: 972-7270320 School Website: http://www.allenisd.org/storyes/site/default.asp