DECEMBER STAFF APPRECIATION
Thursday, December 9
C is for Cookies, Cocoa and Christmas! Help us spoil our teachers before Winter Break with a holiday cookie and cocoa swap! Click the link below to sign up. All items are due to DLE by Thursday, December 2, except cookies. Cookies are due Thursday, December 9 by 8:30 a.m. to DLE.
DLE’s third-grade Lions performed its Veterans Day program November 11 for parents to attend and it was a full house. It was a job well done by the students and our fantastic music teachers Mrs. Forrest and Mr. Begnaud.
The PTO provided cookies for all veterans in attendance with a Thank You note signed by DLE students.
Thank you to all of those who have served our country.
Please click here to learn a little about some of the veterans in the Leonetti Elementary community.
We are continuing to talk about Growth Mindset in our classroom! Here are some ways to help your child have a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset.
Talk About It
Talk with your child about their day, but guide the discussion by asking questions like: Did you make a mistake today? What did you learn? What did you do that was difficult today?
Encourage Failure (say what?!?)
Your child needs to know that failure can (and often does) happen and it is okay! Remind them that each time they fail and try again, their brain is growing stronger!
Praise the Process
Instead of saying, "You're so smart!" praise effort, goal setting, persisting through challenges, or being creative. You can say something like: "Wow! You must have worked really hard on this!"
The Brain Can Grow!
Remind your child that their intelligence is not fixed. Remind them that when things are difficult, their brain grows if they persist through the challenge. Each time they learn something new, their brain is making new connections. Your child needs to know this is possible!
Help them Change their Dialogue
Your child's self-talk, or internal monologue, makes a huge impact on their mindset. If they say, "This is too hard!" help them change that to "I can't do this yet, but I will keep trying." Give them the words to say when they are feeling defeated by modeling it yourself!
Brighter Bites Recipe:
INGREDIENTS
4 medium baking apples
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
⅓ cup oats
⅓ cup chopped walnuts (or other nuts)
2 Tbsp raisins
¾ cup water
NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING
(approx. 1 apple; makes 4 servings)
227 calories; 43 grams carbohydrate; 7 grams fat; 3 grams protein; 6 grams dietary fiber
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375°F. Using a sharp knife or apple corer, remove apple cores, leaving a hollow tunnel through each apple. In a small bowl, combine applesauce, honey, cinnamon, oats, walnuts and raisins. Pack the center of each apple firmly with the oat mixture. Extra filling can be placed on top of the apples. Arrange apples in a baking dish and pour water into the dish. Place baking dish on a middle rack in your preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Apples should be tender and a knife should slide easily into the apples when done.
Courtesy of https://kidtalkfrisco.com/growth-mindset/
The PTO spoiled the DLE staff November 8-12 for Fall Staff Appreciation Week.
Thank you to Elite Real Estate Services for gifting individual Nothing Bundt Cakes to every DLE staff member.
Elite Real Estate Services donated Nothing Bundt Cakes to each DLE staff member.
Elite Real Estate Services donated Nothing Bundt Cakes to each DLE staff member.
Elite Real Estate Services donated Nothing Bundt Cakes to each DLE staff member.
Elite Real Estate Services donated Nothing Bundt Cakes to each DLE staff member.
Elite Real Estate Services donated Nothing Bundt Cakes to each DLE staff member.
The PTO Staff Appreciation Team provided “ room service” tags in all staff boxes at the beginning of the week. Their chosen treats were delivered to their classrooms on Friday.
They also placed chips in each staff member’s box for a salty treat!
A dessert cart delivered sweet treats throughout the day.
The PTO is looking for a company to donate large, golf-size umbrellas and safety rain coats for our fabulous DLE staff to use on rainy days!
You would be allowed to have your business logo on the items alongside a DLE logo.
If interested, please contact president@dlepto.org.
Growth Mindset
Students’ mindsets—how they perceive their abilities—play a key role in their motivation and achievement, and if we change students’ mindsets, we could boost their achievement. Students who believe their intelligence could be developed (a growth mindset) outperformed those who believed their intelligence was fixed (a fixed mindset).
8 tips for promoting a growth mindset in kids:
Help children understand that the brain works like a muscle, that can only grow through hard work, determination, and lots and lots of practice.
Don’t tell students they are smart, gifted, or talented since this implies that they were born with the knowledge, and does not encourage effort and growth.
Let children know when they demonstrate a growth mindset.
Praise the process. It’s effort, hard work, and practice that allow children to achieve their true potential.
Don’t praise the results. Test scores and rigid ways of measuring learning and knowledge limit the growth that would otherwise be tapped.
Embrace failures and missteps. Children sometimes learn the most when they fail. -Let them know that mistakes are a big part of the learning process. There is nothing like the feeling of struggling through a very difficult problem, only to finally break through and solve it! The harder the problem, the more satisfying it is to find the solution.
Encourage participation and collaborative group learning. Children learn best when they are immersed in a topic and allowed to discuss and advance with their peers.
Encourage competency-based learning. Get kids excited about subject matter by explaining why it is important and how it will help them in the future. The goal should never be to get the ‘correct’ answer but to understand the topic at a fundamental, deep level, and want to learn more.
Courtesy of https://kidtalkfrisco.com/growth-mindset/
Deliver by Wednesday, November 10th
Last call for donations! We are still in need of some items for DLE’s contribution to The Arc of Fort Bend Fall Fundraiser. This year the PTO and staff will be contributing a dog-themed "Bark Basket," for which we are requesting donations.
To participate and get more information, click here.
Did you know that sugar in candy, sodas and certain foods can hurt your teeth? Sugar is like a magnet for bad bacteria. The bacteria eat the sugar and develop an acid that builds up on your teeth and over time will make little holes in your teeth called cavities. Sticky candy like, gummy bears, sour patch kids, war heads, and fruit roll ups are worse because they stick to your teeth. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day in the morning and night and not eating too much sugar will help keep your teeth healthy.
It’s easy to get into a habit of eating the same foods over and over. Many of us like to eat only our favorite fruits and vegetables. Did you know that it’s best to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables! The color in each of them helps the body in a very special way to grow and be healthy. This is why they say…..Eat the colors of the rainbow!
Eating a well balanced diet of healthy foods is one of the best things you can do for your body. Food is used as fuel for the body like gas is used for fuel for a car. If you eat junk food, your body won’t run as efficiently. You might feel sick or tired. When you are trying to make a decision about what you are going to eat, ask yourself, is this good for me? Just being mindful about what you are eating is the first step to amazing health!
Brighter Bites Recipe
Try eating the rainbow by whipping up this Hulk Smoothie from Brighter Bites!
Hulk Smoothie
INGREDIENTS:
¾ cup water
1 banana
2 cups kale (or spinach)
1 medium apple
2 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)
NUTRITION FACTS FOR ONE SERVING
(approx. 1 cup)
97 calories; 18 gram carbohydrate; 1 gram fat; 4 gram protein; 4 gram dietary fiber
DIRECTIONS:
Wash all fruits and vegetables. Remove stems from kale, and remove tops from strawberries if using fresh. Slice apple into chunks, removing core. Add all ingredients to blender, and blend until smooth. Add more or less of each ingredient to fit your family’s taste!
Veterans Day is Thursday, November 11th. Traditionally, the students would make a poster of a veteran that is near and dear to them and the posters would be displayed throughout the school.
We will be honoring our veterans virtually again this year. A PowerPoint presentation will be compiled to share with the school featuring all of the veterans.
You will find a template to use along with brief instructions here. Feel free to be creative and add some great pictures. Once your slide is complete please email it to DLEVeteransDay@dlepto.org by Monday, November 8th.
LE students, we've extended the deadline for the Yearbook Cover Contest ONE MORE WEEK. Submissions are now due this Friday.
The theme for the 2021/2022 yearbook is "Lions on the Prowl.” We’re searching for the most creative illustrations of this theme for the back cover of the yearbook.
Submissions are due October 29, and can be emailed to your teacher or to yearbook@dlepto.org. (If sending to your teacher, please also note this with an email to yearbook@dlepto.org, so no one’s contribution gets overlooked.)
Winners will be selected in each grade level. There will be a 1st place winner and honorable mention(s) for each grade level. We can’t wait to see our DLE artistic talent on display!
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.”
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!
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.
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.
Our book character parade is scheduled for October 29th at 9:00. All costumes should be school appropriate and related to a book. Parents may view the parade using the following Zoom link below, Meeting ID: 879 3902 6961.
October 25th-29th is Red Ribbon Week. This is a week set aside to talk about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and to discuss ways to say, “No.”
Help our school raise awareness of the negative effects of drugs and alcohol by participating in Red Ribbon Week spirit days.
We rocked the sock drop with 1,592 pairs of socks collected!
Thank you to everyone that donated. With the weather getting cooler, socks are a huge need at Shared Dreams this time of year and our generous donation will help make sure no FBISD kids go without socks.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Explore new things
Make a list of activities you'd like to try together and hang it somewhere the whole family can see.
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.
Find joy
Find something to laugh about with your family every day. Laughter reduces stress and anxiety.
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.
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.
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
UNITY DAY
Thursday, October 21
Thursday, October 21, we recognize Unity Day. We're asking all staff and students to wear orange as we learn about being an inclusive community that doesn’t tolerate bullying.
