1. education
2. school

Deretchin Weekly
11000 Merit Oaks Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77382
832-592-8700
Alicia Reeves, Principal
Sarah Howard, AP K-3rd
Melissa Johnson, AP 4th- 6th
Tisha Smith, Counselor K-3rd
Angie McGhee, Counselor 4th – 6th
May 18, 2015
A Note from the Principals:
Dear Parents,
I would like to make you aware of an opportunity to
share school supplies with Nicaragua’s “Children of
the Dump”. The Rotary Club of The Woodlands is
sponsoring the collection of school supplies to send
to these children. Many of them actually live in a
dump, but they are now able to attend a school and
need supplies to help them learn. We are so
fortunate to be able to live in our district and attend
the schools we have, that it’s easy to take education
for granted. However, the reality is that many
children just don’t have that opportunity. You can
help by donating any used or left over school
supplies from this school year in the containers
provided by Rotary in our hallways. The containers
will be in place the last week of school and if you
would like to participate, please drop off any
supplies that you won’t be taking home for the
summer. Used pencils and partial crayons are
sometimes thrown away and these children could
really benefit.
The Rotary Club will package your donations and
ship them to the school in Nicaragua.
Thank you for your help and generosity in helping
these children.
Alicia, Melissa, and Sarah
DERETCHIN DRAGONS-EVERY CHILD. EVERYDAY
Upcoming Events
May –
21 – SS EOY BM for Gr 2-6
22 – School Store
22 – Envision Projects 1:00-2:30 in the library
26 – PTO meeting 9:30 in the library
27 – Incentive Day from School Store
27 – 5th/6th grade girl/boy talk
28 – Field Day K-3
29 – Field Day 4-6
June –
3 – 6th grade celebration
3 – 6th grade talent show 1:45 in the cafeteria
4 – Last Day of School
4 – 8:30 – Kindergarten program and
graduation
4 – 2:15 – 6th grade CLAPOUT!
Counselors’ Corner:
The Character Trait for the month of May is “Citizenship”. Citizenship is defined as: A person of character that
does his / her share, helps the community, plays by the rules, and respects authority and the law.
At Deretchin, we are teaching our students that they can be good citizens year round. Some examples we have
given them is volunteering, protecting their community and environment, and to apply all the social skills that
we have discussed this school year.
Quote of the week: “ We started a movement...to build character, citizenship, and confidence in young people”
- Andrew Shue
Our next scheduled meeting for our “Distinguished Dragons” mentor program will be on Thursday, May 7, 2015
from 3:20 – 4:20 p.m. This will be our last meeting for the 2014-2015 school year. We look forward to seeing all
students. All students must be car-riders when we dismiss them. If you have any questions, please let us know.
We are always accepting applications / permission slips for “Deretchin Has Heart”. Deretchin Has Heart is a
support group for our students whose parents are either divorced or going through a separation. The group is
designed to help students express their feelings, resolve conflicts, get some coping tips, and provide a chance
for students to talk, listen, and support each other. This is a teacher-led group with the counselors available if
needed. The group meets once a week. If you are interested in your child participating, please contact one of
the counselors. Our last scheduled meeting for the 2014-2015 school year will be on Wednesday, May 6, 2015..
If you missed our Parent Information Night and would like some of the presentation materials, please let Ms. T.
Smith (Counselor) know.
“Lunch Bunch” groups for the year will be ending soon for this school year. Some of these groups are: making
new friends, strategies to be more successful in school, social – skills. If you would like more information about
these groups for next year, please contact one of the counselors.
At Deretchin Elementary, we are a bully-free campus. We take bullying very seriously and have a zero –
tolerance for it. Each day during announcements, our students recite a “Bully-Blocker” pledge. We teach our
students about empathy and helping one another.
In Conroe ISD, bullying is defined as:
engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through
electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or
school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:
(1) Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's
property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage
to the student's property; or
(2) Is sufficiently severe, persistent and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an
intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student.
[Act of June 17, 2011, 82th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1942, § 7 (to be codified at Texas Education Code § 37.0832)]
Conduct is considered bullying if it…
(1) exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim
through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and
Counselors’ Corner (continued):
(2) interferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.
[Act of June 17, 2011, 82th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1942, § 7 (to be codified at Texas Education Code § 37.0832)]
The Conroe Independent School District prohibits bullying as defined by state law. The District
also prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a bullying complaint.
For more information:
about retaliation, you may look under "Issues Related to Bullying “on the CISD web page.
Angie and Tisha
TEXTBOOK RETURN
We will be collecting textbooks May 28th - June 1st. Please send any
textbooks you may have at home back to school, prior to those dates.
Parents are financial responsible for any hardback textbooks not returned to
school. Students may keep their consumable textbooks, we will only be
collecting the hardback books.
A Note from the Librarian:
Kudos to the wonderful Scholastic Book Fair Committee: Allison Kleinpeter,
Melissa Henwood, and Becky Bliss. We had an awesome fair with students
buying approximately $27,000 worth of books, posters and school supplies.
Our library earned a cash profit of $6,300 to be used on new books. Thanks
for supporting the Deretchin Book Fair.
A Note from Registrar- Cory Ognisty:
Attention 6th grade parents, if your student is not returning to Conroe ISD for
7th grade please email Cory Ognisty at cognisty@conroeisd.net.
Curriculum – Kindergarten:
Please join us on Thursday, June 4 for the kindergarten graduation program at 8:30.
Kindergarteners will be reading words in the -ash, -oat, and -eat word families. Please help your child
complete the word slide that is attached to the kindergarten newsletter each week and practice reading
the words multiple times. In writers workshop, we will reviewing the genres we have learned how to
write throughout the year and completing a kindergarten memories book. Our little scientists will be
studying exotic and ocean animals. Personal financial literacy will be the focus of math as our students
learn ways to earn income and simple skills required for jobs.
Curriculum – First Grade:
First graders are amazing students. Our strong readers are soaring to new heights as they learn to
research and ask questions about a topic. Our readers will learn how to compile information about a
topic and present their findings. Students will be reviewing the differences between long vowel sounds
and short vowel sounds. Mathematicians will conclude our measurement unit and begin discussing and
learning about personal financial literacy. Students will learn about the differences between saving and
spending. Our students will also begin working on an end of year reflection journal. We hope to see you
at Field Day on May 28th! It will be a fun time for all.
Curriculum – Second Grade:
In second grade, we will be exploring finances with our Personal Financial Literacy unit. We will be
learning about income and spending, and how to budget our money to meet our needs and wants. The
students will be selecting a person of interest to research for our biography unit. We will teach the
students the "determining importance" strategy on how to focus on the "important facts" verses the
"cool stuff" when reading biographies. After reviewing the second grade science curriculum, we will be
exploring dinosaurs. The students will have the opportunity to research various dinosaurs and present
their findings to their classmates.
Curriculum – Third Grade:
Third grade is finishing up the year strong! We are continuing our math unit on Personal Financial
Literacy. We are reviewing all the concepts so that we can really shine on our EOY Science and Social
Studies Benchmarks.
Curriculum – Fourth Grade:
In Reading and Writing, the students have combined their 4th grade knowledge to create characters,
settings and plots in their fiction novels and a fairy tales. What imaginative learners we have!!
Social Studies has focused on reviewing from the colonization of Texas to the Reconstruction after the
Civil War. We were so proud of the Alamo projects! They were wonderful!!
Curriculum – Fifth Grade:
5th Grade science classes are actively comparing and contrasting biomes of the world. Meanwhile math
classes are creating cumulative projects based on the operations of fractions. Language arts classes are
continuing to work on literature based activities as well as fine tuning editing skills. Finally, social studies
classes are analyzing the causes and effects of the Civil War while preparing for the End-of-the Year Social
Studies Benchmark.
Curriculum – Sixth Grade:
In math we are working on geometry. In language arts we are working on grammar and reading skills with
scope magazine. In science we are creating our own biomes. In social studies we are learning about the
United States and Canada.
PPCD:
I can't believe the year is almost over. It has been a pleasure watching the Little Dragons grow over the
school year! We are working on one to one correspondence, fine motor skills, letters and sounds. as well
as colors and shapes!
Curriculum – Fine Arts and PE:
PE:
The students are excited about our kickball tournament! We can start as soon as weather permits. Also
looking forward to field day!!!
Orchestra:
Congratulations on a successful spring concert! Our final concert of the year will be the annual TWHS
feeder system's "String Fling." At this concert, students from the feeder schools (Deretchin, Coulson
Tough, McCullough and The Woodlands High School) will join forces in one huge concert.
String Fling will take place on Saturday, May 23rd, at The Woodlands High School Gym (6101 Research
Forest Drive). The concert will begin at 11:00 AM, but students need to arrive at 9:00 AM for rehearsal.
Concert dress is the Deretchin music polo and jeans. Students should also bring their music, instrument,
and a music stand. The total concert length is about 45 minutes.
Deretchin PTO:
2015 Book Drive:
The book drive was a huge success! We delivered a truck full of books to Hailey Elementary and they
were so appreciative. Thank you parents, students and teachers for your generosity!
Dragon Store:
The Last Dragon Store is May 22nd during all lunches. The students will be spending the rest of their
Dragon Dollars, so this is going to be a big one and we could really use your help.
Please sign up at the link : VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/uQ7NnH
If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Bonds bhcmom@gmail.com
Deretchin Gives Back:
A big "THANK YOU" to everyone who helped make 2015 DERETCHIN GIVES BACK: BE A GLOBAL
CITIZEN. a great success! We hope the event will inspire your "citizens" to give back in some way to
the community. Thank you to all our wonderful teachers, parent volunteers and students who all
worked hard to make this a memorable event. A special thanks to Mrs. Reeves, administration and
staff, Sara Krach, Nicole Miller, Andrea Brown and Midhat Ali. Thanks! ~Irum
From Second Grade:
Re: Deretchin Gives Back
Thank you to all our wonderful parents, students, and teachers who helped to make Deretchin Gives
Back a success.
The Africa and Tom's Shoes displays were amazing!
Students participating in Reader's Theater, "A Caterpillar's Voice", performed wonderfully.
We received many donated pairs of shoes which will be sent to a charity in Africa.
We sincerely appreciate everyone who attended and helped with this fun event!
~Second Grade Teachers
Deretchin Scholarship Fund::
We are proud to have raised money to give back to the Deretchin Scholarship Fund! Our approximate
money raised was $800!