Wellness Corner: Stop, Focus, and Breathe

Children of all ages need opportunities where they can take time out of each day to relax and reset. Meditation offers this break and helps kids function more effectively and clearly.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents to share meditation with their children—and teachers to incorporate mindfulness training into their lesson plans. We do this at Leonetti!

Here are a few benefits from meditation:

• Improved sleep.

• Increased focus and prolonged attention span.

• Reduced stress and anxiety.

• Stronger mental resilience.

• Improved emotional regulation.

• Increased self-awareness and empathy.

The length of time and frequency:

• Preschool children: A few minutes per day.

• Grade school children: 3-10 minutes twice a day.

• Teens and adults: 5-45 minutes per day or more based on preference.

Meditation Tips:

• Try incorporating deep breathing into your children's daily bedtime routine—it can help them wind down for the night and make meditation easier to do when other situations arise.

• Remind grade-schoolers and teens to take a few deep breaths before answering a difficult question at school, taking a test, or before an athletic performance.

• As young children learn to manage strong emotions, deep breathing can be part of the process.

Brighter Bites Recipe

Pumpkin season is upon us! Try this recipe to spice up your next loaf of bread!

Jack-O-Lantern Loaf

INGREDIENTS:

2½ cups whole wheat flour

1½ cups sugar

1 Tbsp baking soda

1½ tsp salt

½ Tbsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp ground ginger

⅔ cup water

¾ cup olive oil

1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1½ bananas)

½ tsp vanilla extract

NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING

approx. 1/12 loaf or 1 muffin; makes 24 servings):

166 calories; 25 grams carbohydrate; 7 grams fat; 2 grams protein; 2 grams dietary fiber

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger until well combined. Then make a well in the flour mixture. In a separate bowl, blend together the water, olive oil, pumpkin, applesauce, banana, and vanilla extract with a spoon or electric mixer. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until well incorporated. Grease and flour baking pans. Divide mixture between two 9×5 bread pans. Bake for 1 hour. (Or divide mixture in 24 muffin pans and bake for 25-35 minutes depending on the size.)

Share Your Pictures

Help us create lasting memories of this school year, and upload pictures of your Leonetti Lion to ImageShare for inclusion in the 2021-22 yearbook.

To upload your photos, visit Balfour ImageShare online, and login with Yearbook Project Number: #224763. (Leave the “Upload Code” field blank.)

Fall Picture Day: New Date!

DLE’s fall picture day has been rescheduled for October 18th. 

You may order your photos via Inter-state Studio, with DLE Order Code 60414NF.

Ridge Point Royals Dance Clinic

Wellness Corner: Skip the TV today!

Skip the TV Today! Turn off the TV, computer screen, television screen or video game, and play some active family games! Choosing less screen time is a healthier choice!

What's your move? Walk. Run. Dance. Play.
Move your way 60 minutes a day!

Moving can give you a boost in:

• Energy

• Self-Confidence

• Academic performance

• Relaxation

Mix it up!
Strengthen your bones by jumping, sprinting or doing cartwheels
Build your muscles with push-ups, pull-ups, leg lifts, and crunches
Make your heart beat faster by skipping, jumping jacks, riding a bike or dancing

Break it up! Get your 60 minutes in

• Before school

• At recess

• After school

Brighter Bites Recipe
Enjoy a refreshingly simply smoothie that can be made quickly as healthy breakfast or after school treat!

Brighter Bites Smoothie

INGREDIENTS
1 red beet, peeled and shredded
1 small apple, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
Handful (about 1 cup) fresh or frozen berries, no sugar added
Handful (about 1 cup) fresh kale, spinach or other leafy greens
½ – 1 cup cold water

Any fruit or veggies you already have can be added to make this drink delicious and nutritious!

NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING
(approx. 1 cup; makes 2 servings)
112 calories; 28 gram carbohydrate; 0 gram fat; 3 gram protein; 6 gram dietary fiber

Average cost for one recipe: $3.69

Thank you, DLE Custodians!

October 2 was National Custodian Day.

To our hardworking and passionate DLE Custodians—THANK YOU! Today and every day is Custodian Appreciation Day.

We see you, we appreciate you, and we couldn’t do this without you!

Healthy kids are happy kids: Introducing Leonetti Lions Wellness Corner

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book!"

Our Lions need 9-12 hours of sleep each night in order to prevent:

• Poor mental health

• Attention and behavior problems

• Obesity

• Type 2 diabetes

Follow a schedule, dim the lights, remove devices, be physically active during the day, avoid caffeine before bed and model good sleep behaviors.

Brighter Bites Recipe
The Fall is here and apple season is upon us! Try this family friendly recipe developed from the incredible nation wide non-profit organization called Brighter Bites founded right here in Houston.

Crunchy Apple Crisps
INGREDIENTS:
3 apples

NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING
(15 crisps; makes 6 servings)
47 calories; 13 gram carbohydrate; 0.2 gram fat; 0.2 gram protein; 2 gram dietary fiber
Average cost of recipe: $1.47

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 200°F. Rinse apples and dry. Place apples sideways on cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice as thinly as possible. Cut out the core and seeds of each apple slice. Place apples in 1 layer on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour then flip apple slices over. Bake for 2 more hours and ten minutes. If crunchier apples are desired, turn off oven and leave apples in oven for 1 hour and ten minutes. Apple crisps may be stored in an airtight container for 1 week.

Let's Rock the Sock Drop!

September 27 - October 6

Socktober is a Deeds for Donald initiative where we collect NEW pairs of socks, in all sizes, for Shared Dreams.

How Do I Donate?
Drop off your NEW sock donations directly at Leonetti. There will be donation boxes in each grade level hallway, the cafeteria, and the front lobby/entrance so please send them in with your child.

We Are Known for Rocking the Sock Drop!
In 2019 we donated 1,846 pairs of socks
In 2020 we donated 898 pairs of socks

A Call to Action...with a Challenge!
2020 and 2021 have proven to be quite challenging. We've all been impacted in some way and unfortunately the needs at Shared Dreams have increased. We challenge each of you to double your Socktober donation this year. Any and every effort we make impacts Shared Dreams directly in a major way!
Help increase our donations by sharing our sock drive information with friends and neighbors.
Host a mini sock drive within your circle of family, friends, neighbors, or community groups.

Thank you, Sienna Grille!

Thank you to The Sienna Grille for hosting our DLE room parent volunteers on September 21.

Room Parents and Grade Level Coordinators gathered for training with our VIPS Coordinator Ginna Klucznik and to set expectations for the year. We are so glad to have volunteers back at DLE!

Leonetti Elementary Night with the Skeeters

The Leonetti Lions were invited to sing the national anthem at the Sugar Land Skeeters game on September 17, and they knocked it out of the park! It was great to see so many DLE families at Constellation Field. Thank you to our amazing music teachers, Gabrielle Forrest and Alex Begnaud, for leading our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Lions through their performance.

Looking for a 5th Grade Chair

The PTO has voted to move the 5th Grade Last Splash Pool Party Coordinator under their organizational structure as well as the 5th Grade In-School Party Coordinator.

That means we are looking for an organized, party planner-type person who can coordinate volunteers for the end-of-year Last Splash Pool Party for the amazing 5th graders! This event happens the last week of school, and planning for the event usually starts in January.

If you are interested or have additional questions, please contact Lacey Cole, PTO Parliamentarian at Parliamentarian@dlepto.org

Save the Date: DLE Family Drive-In Movie

The DLE PTO is hosting its first ever Family Drive-In Movie Night at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 outdoors at Leonetti Elementary. Admission is free and concessions will be available for purchase. More information will be coming soon.

Socktober begins Sept. 27

DLE's annual Sock Drive - a Deeds for Donald initiative - benefiting Shared Dreams begins next week. Start collecting new pairs of socks, in all sizes, that can be brought to school starting September 27.

A few facts about Shared Dreams:

• Last year Shared Dreams provided assistance for 30,627 kids in Fort Bend. Pretty awesome, right!?

• FBISD currently has a 44% poverty rate which equates to roughly 34,300 students who live at or below poverty level

• The biggest need for elementary school kids is clothing, 60% to be exact

• They welcome any and all adult volunteers at the center! You might sort clothing or shoe bins, put together an interview outfit for a high schooler, or organize shelving. One thing is promised, you won’t be bored and you’ll walk away knowing you made a difference!

• The SignUp Genius link for volunteer slots at Shared Dream will be released soon. A friendly reminder that your FBISD background check must be completed before volunteering there.

Thank You for Your Support, DLE Families

Through the generous donations in the past few years fundraisers, the PTO has set aside funds for the following three large special projects. We wanted to take a moment to update our DLE Lion Pride Parents on the progress of these projects. If you have any questions, please email Shannon Boyer, DLE PTO President at president@dlepto.org.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN:

As of 9/2021, the PTO Butterfly Garden Committee is still waiting for approval from FBISD to begin construction. A committee of parents and teachers are waiting for the approval to move forward. The construction plans were submitted in March 2020.

LIBRARY MURALS:

In September, the PTO mural committee met with three muralists and are expecting proposals and initial designs within the next few weeks. Once a design has been chosen, the proposal will be submitted to FBISD for approval before painting can begin.

STEM CLASSROOM:

The PTO will continue to support the new Outclass Enrichment teacher and other STEM initiatives within DLE with these special project funds.