Campus Now Open To Lunch Visitors

Lunch visitors will be allowed on campus beginning this week! In light of DLE’s campus enrollment needs, there will be a five-day rotation to accommodate the number of visitors in the cafeteria at one time. Please see the day of the week below for your approved day to visit for lunch. Parents and guardians will only be allowed to eat with their child at the designated visitor tables. They cannot pull any other students for a lunch visit.

If you are visiting for lunch, please stop by the front office and provide your identification to receive a visitor’s tag.

Fort Bend ISD announced Monday that visitors would be welcomed back to district campuses, including volunteers.

From Fort Bend ISD:

“The district continues to monitor positive COVID cases and we are thankful the number of cases is declining. Therefore, beginning Monday, October 25, 2021, campuses will once again be able to welcome visitors on Fort Bend ISD campuses. This includes parents who wish to have lunch with their child, volunteers, and community partners who help support our schools. In order to ensure that students and staff remain safe, all visitors are required to follow the procedures and protocols developed by each school based on available space and use of their campuses. … Officials continue to monitor the rate of COVID-19 infections in the local community as part of the District’s mitigation measures. Should infection rates begin to rise, the visitation policy may change to keep students, staff and families safe.”

Wellness Corner: Engagement + Awareness = Resilience

Resilience. It is something we are not born with. We build it with experience!  Key components of resilience are engagement and awareness. Engagement is how we connect with others. When children have candid, trusting communication with others – parents, teachers, siblings – they get to practice processing their experiences and discover new ways of coping. Awareness is our ability to self-reflect. If children can identify when they feel out of sorts, they are a step closer to being able to seek help.

  • Have Conversations Early and Often. The best way to foster engagement, increase your child’s self-awareness, and to figure out what is going on with your child is to have open conversations. Start early

  • Observe Changes in Behavior. Worrisome changes in a child’s behavior might be obvious, but could be subtle. Behaviors parents can be aware of are changes in appetite; sleep; mood (irritability, tantrums, sadness); relationships with others (friends, siblings, parents); social isolation; poorer academic performance; loss of interest in things previously enjoyed (sports, music).

  • Once in Conversation, Get More Specific. If your child starts to open up – whether about cyberbullying, depression, or anxiety – then you can start getting specific.

  • Resist “thinking traps.” Catch yourself when you are sad or mad and think about a phrase to say like “I know that I am doing the best that I can.”

  • Manage anxiety with paced breathing. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply

  • Consider keeping a gratitude journal. Write down 3 things you were grateful for during the day.

  • Engage in behavioral activation and limit device usage

    • Exercise, dance, and perform deep breathing

    • Paint, draw or consider doing a jigsaw puzzle

    • Learn a new skill such as playing a musical instrument or language as this can provide empowerment

  • Consider Consultation. It’s often useful to call a school guidance counselor, teacher, coach, or other parents who spend time with your child, to see if they notice the same things, or if they have some insight into what may be going on. Ms. Armiger and Ms. Sane are wonderful and have such a calming presence!

Brighter Bites Recipes

Sautéed Brussel Sprouts with Apples and Pecans

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb Brussels sprouts
2 tsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium apple, diced (about 1 cup)
¼ cups pecans, chopped

NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING

approx. 1 cup; makes 6 servings
91.4 calories; 11.8 grams carbohydrate; 4.8 grams fat; 3.1 grams protein; 4 grams dietary fiber

DIRECTIONS:

Wash the Brussels sprouts and trim the stems off the sprouts. Slice the sprouts into thin rounds (There will be about 8 cups). In a large sauté pan on medium-low heat, add the olive oil. Next, add the Brussels sprouts and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The sprouts will begin to brown and soften. Add salt, pepper, and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, continuing to stir. Finally, add the apples and pecans and sauté for another 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Once the ingredients are well incorporated and the Brussels sprouts are tender, remove from heat and serve immediately.

Changes to the Marquee Messages

Beginning in November, the school will include the Marquee Message birthday names monthly on the inside TVs as an added bonus!

The TVs are updated just once a month, so to take advantage of this special bonus, you must sign up for the Marquee Messages before the first of the month that your child's birthday is in.

The school cannot accommodate last-minute signups on the TV screens. But rest assured, your message will still run on the marquee and be featured in PawPrints per our usual program.

Sign Up Here

Wellness Corner: 10 Tips to Stay Motivated

HEALTHY KIDS ARE HAPPY KIDS - LEONETTI LIONS WELLNESS CORNER

Here are 10 family friendly tips to keep us motivated and inspired to ensure we are moving forward together to build healthy, successful and stronger communities! We want to spread our Leonetti Lion heart everywhere we go!! 

  1. Exercise
    During commercial breaks or between Netflix episodes, have a friendly family competition to see who can do the most pushups, hold a plank the longest or do the most jumping jacks.

  2. Forgive
    Admit mistakes to your children and ask for forgiveness. By modeling this behavior, it can help improve your own health and well-being while teaching kids to let go of grudges and bitterness.

  3. Manage portions
    Offer fruits and vegetables at every meal. Try to make their plate colorful as this may entice them to try new foods. Be sure to model healthy eating as well. Your kids are watching.

  4. Get quality sleep
    Sleep is an essential element of success for children. Aim for an early bedtime and a consistent routine of winding down — with no screen time. Remember, sleep-deprived children usually don't slow down, they wind up.

  5. Explore new things
    Make a list of activities you'd like to try together and hang it somewhere the whole family can see.

  6. Build strength
    Incorporate strength and flexibility into your family's physical activity plan. This can be as simple as stretching during commercials or doing calf raises while brushing teeth.

  7. Find joy
    Find something to laugh about with your family every day. Laughter reduces stress and anxiety.

  8. Kick addictions
    Make screen time a privilege that is allowed only after chores and homework are completed. Limit screen time to less than two hours a day, and keep screens out of your child's bedroom.

  9. Reduce stress
    Search online for free videos about yoga for children and families, or try incorporating deep breathing into your children's bedtime routine. Children experience stress and anxiety just like adults do.

  10. Show gratitude
    Create a gratitude jar and encourage everyone to put a note in the jar each day with something they are grateful for. While you are all at the dinner table, take time to read them

Brighter Bites Recipes

Make this family friendly recipe with your children!  They will love the fragrance of Fall during our upcoming cooler temperature days!

Sweet Potato Harvest Salad

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups sweet potato, diced (about 2-3)

1 cup red apple, diced

¼ cup pomegranate seeds

4 Tbsp unsalted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp + ½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

¼ tsp salt

⅛ tsp black pepper
 

NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING

(approx. 1 cup; makes 4 servings)

183 calories; 35 gram carbohydrate; 4 gram fat; 3 gram protein; 5 gram dietary fiber

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Drizzle diced sweet potatoes with 1 tsp of olive oil and roast in the oven on a baking sheet for 10 minutes.  Once sweet potatoes are cooked, remove from the oven and allow them to cool.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweet potato, apples, pomegranate seeds, and pepitas.  Whisk the remaining 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.  Once mixed, add to sweet potato mixture and toss until the salad is lightly coated

Wellness Corner: Stop, Focus, and Breathe

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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.)

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

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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.

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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.

Stay on top of school news by subscribing to Paw Prints, a weekly e-newsletter published by Donald Leonetti Elementary PTO.