The Parker Lion's Tale

B.Haverkamp

Parker Elementary - The 2002 National GRAMMY® Signature Elementary School

February 2014 Volume 25 No.6

The Elementary School of Choice in HISD

WE OURVOLUNTEERS!

ALL-CITY BAND CONCERT

The story so far --32 students from Parker’s Advanced Band were selected to the HISD All-City Band. The HISD All-City Band performance was on January 25th at Waltrip HS; the students performed beautifully! We are so proud of how the students represented Parker throughout four rehearsals and the performance! You make us all Parker Proud! Congratulations to the All-City Band members! Ms. Nelson

PIANO WORKSHOP 2014

Attention Parker piano students and parents! Mark your calendars for the annual Parker Piano Workshop! The event will be held February 20-22, 2014 at Parker Elementary. We are re-ally excited to offer this event to help the students appreciate and learn more about the piano. We will be inviting over 15 piano instructors and performers to work with our children over this three day period. This workshop will feature instruction, special presentations, and concerts by clinicians and students. This event promises to be both educational and inspiring.

Volunteers are most welcomed on all days of the workshop. Heather Rowe (parkerptopiano@gmail.com) is chairing this year’s workshop and will be enlisting the assistance of every piano parent, so be on the look out for emails from her on ways you can help. T-shirts will be sold for $10 and can only be sold before the event. Ads for the brochure will also be available if you would like to include a special note for your son or daughter. The deadline for both buying a t-shirt and an ad is February 7th. If you are interested be sure to return your orders right away.

Heather Rowe and Mr. Haff

Have you heard the BUZZ ?

Parker El-ementary show-cased the best of the best spell-ers from grades 3-5 during the Parker Spelling Bee held on Janu-ary 10th. Six contestants studied words and battled nerves as they stood on the stage in front of their classmates.

The two Parker FINALISTS scheduled to compete in the HISD district bee on February 13, 2014 are:

Hannah Jung, winner and Samson Colburn, runner up.

Both represent the 4th grade! This is Hannah’s first year as a finalist and Samson’s second year as a finalist.

Other contestants were:Carnegie Mims, 3rd gradeJohnny Shirley, 3rd gradeEric Rosen, 5th, gradeCharles Bowyer, 5th gradeCongratulations to students,

their parents, and their teachers for all the hard work over these past two months! We are Parker Proud!

Ms. Campbell

HISD Emergency School Closings

ProceduresHISD Procedures for Emergency

Closing of Schools and Offices—The superintendent of schools may close schools and offices due to inclement weather or emergencies (e.g. flooding, icy roads, power failures, etc.) HISD announces such closings through its telephone and e-mail notification sys-tem, School Messenger. This informa-tion is also announced on radio and television stations and posted on this Web site. HISD's superintendent of schools will decide whether to close the school district, then make an official announcement.

Individuals who miss the me-dia announcements can call HISD's Weather Hotline (713-267-1704) for details. (from HISD website)

2

Please Subscribe to Receive the Lion's Tale Electronically!

Don't forget to subscribe to receive the Lion's Tale via e-mail. Please visit <http://www.houstonisd.org/parkerelem> to subscribe to this service. You can also retrieve The Lion's Tale from the website. Please subscribe today and help us cut down on paper use and associated costs. Thank you for your assistance.

The PARKER LION’S TALE is pub-lished each month by the Parker PTO. The deadline to submit articles for the March 2014 issue will be February 21, 2014. Please drop your news in the PTO file box or e-mail me at lionstale7@yahoo.com. Contact me at 713-729-3505 to let me know where to find your article. Barbara Haverkamp, Editor & Layout

HEALTH BEATFebruary is National Children’s

Dental Health Month! Children should see a dentist at least twice a year. Babies who have teeth should begin seeing a dentist as well. The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth for two (2) minutes at least twice a day using a soft bristle toothbrush. Look for the word “Soft” on the top of the toothbrush package. Also, remember to replace your toothbrush every three (3) months. It is also a good idea to replace your toothbrush after having an illness such as strep throat or other infection in the throat/mouth area.

Don’t forget to floss your teeth at least once a day. Floss reaches those areas in between the teeth that the tooth-brush cannot reach.

Sugar is the culprit for tooth decay. Sugar is in almost everything we eat. Common sources of sugar include, but not limited to, sodas, juice drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, cookies, cakes, donuts, ice cream, candy and desserts. If you limit your child’s sweets, that is great but you should also watch for hidden sugars in foods. Read the nutrition label and look at the sugar content under “Total Carbohydrates”. Also, look at the list of ingredients for other names of sugar such as sucrose, glucose, dextrose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, lactose, malt syrup, nectars, maltose, and others. I recommend that you visit www.Mouth-healthy.org and www.Choosemyplate.gov for more information about dental health and nutrition.

Nurse Garcia

KINDERGARTEN VISIT DAY

Calling all Parker Zoned Kin-dergartners for the 2015 school year! Parker will have a zoned Kindergarten Registration day on Feb. 11, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. Parker administration wants to make sure that we save enough seats for all of our zoned kindergarten stu-dents for next year. If you are zoned to Parker and have an incoming child who will be 5 by September 1, 2014, please come to this early registration day to save your spot in Kindergarten.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Parker’s outstanding academic and music magnet programs. Meet our Principal, Lori Frodine, our teachers and staff, and many of our award winning parent volunteers. At-tendees will enjoy entertainment by our talented music students, and a special activity with kindergarten teachers. Parents can register new students, kin-dergarten through 5th grade, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays during the month of April and May from 8:30 a.m. to noon. If you have friends or neigh-bors living within the Parker zone with children entering school, please encour-age them to come to Kindergarten Visit Day. Ms. Kehlenbrink

Valentine’s Day Party Guidelines

Hello Homeroom Parents! Valentine’s Day is drawing near…don’t forget to coordinate your child’s class party! Please be sure to ask the teacher first for preferences as to food and activities. Parties may start on or after 2PM on February 14th. Feel free to send an email and/or letter to your classroom parents requesting specific food or craft donations. Happy Valen-tine’s Day!

Shannon Houlihan

Join us forFiesta Night

4840 BeechnutMeyerland Plaza

Tuesday, February 11, 2014Dine in or Carry Out

Anytime 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.Bring this flyer and Los Tios will donate 20% of total receipts to

Parker Elementary.Bring your friends and neighbors

for Fiesta Night at Los Tios.

3

It is time for the 35th Annual Suzuki Workshop

“Listen, Practice, Perform”The workshop activities start on February 4th with a

performance by Meredith Harris, one of our visiting clini-cians. She will perform for the string students in the cafeteria during magnet. Then, February 5th our 35th Annual Parker Suzuki Workshop begins. During the workshop, every string student gets a private lesson with a visiting clinician during ancillary and then a group lesson during magnet, February 5th-7th. Kindergarten students will not stay for magnet, but do get a group lesson, as well as a private lesson each day. And for the finale, we will have the 35th Annual Suzuki Workshop Concert at Westbury Baptist Church starting at 6:30pm.

We are looking forward to another fabulous work-shop!

**Parents also have the opportunity to join in on a Su-zuki Parent Chat with Lucy Shaw on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:15am-9am. She will provide great tips for you, as a parent, to motivate and inspire your child to practice at home. Don’t miss out.

Our visiting clinicians for 2014 are:ViolinistsEllen Silver from New York, NYJoanne Erwin from Oberlin, OHBeth Goldstein-McKee from Ashland, ORDennis Bell from Sugarland, TXRosalie Keddington from Macungie, PAVera McCoy-Sulentic from Edwardsville, ILCarrie Reuning-Hummel from Ithaca, NYLucy Shaw from Redmond, WACellistsDanny Gee from Austin, TXTreesa Gold from Richmond, VAMeredith Harris from Houston, TXJames Hutchins from Silver Springs, MD

Stephanie Duffey & Crisa VanDenBosscheCo-Chairs for Suzuki Workshop

In anticipation of Go Texan Day on February 28 and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo…

GENE AUTRY’SCOWBOY CODE

Library Lions January in the library brought lessons about peaceful

protests throughout history, freezing weather, and space explo-ration. Students were able to learn about various history and science concepts through fiction and non-fiction literature.

A reminder to parents that your children can access free, QUALITY electronic books through the Houston Public Li-brary website. If you go to the “kids” section and search for Tumblebook Library, children can practice their reading skills with these animated books which are often popular titles that they like to read in print. The Tumblebook Library is typically a “pay for” service, but it is offered free through the Houston Public Library site. http://www.houstonlibrary.org

Don’t forget to follow our library adventures on Twitter @ParkerLibrary.

Ellen Tagtmeier, Library Chair

A cowboy never takes unfair advan-tage, even with an enemy.A cowboy never betrays a trust.A cowboy always tells the truth.A cowboy is kind to children, old folks and animals.A cowboy is free from racial or reli-gious prejudices.A cowboy is helpful and, when anyone is in trouble, lends a hand.A cowboy is a good worker.A cowboy is clean in person, thought, word and deed.A cowboy represents womanhood, parents and laws of the country.A cowboy is a patriot.

4

PAINLESS FUNDRAISING

P a r k e r E l e m e n t a r y participates in all of these fundraising programs. Please continue to save box tops, bottle caps, UPCs, etc., for Parker. Thank you.

Getting information about the parent happenings and opportunities at Parker Elementary has never been easier! Simply "Friend" us on Face-book by searching for "Parker Pto". Note: "Parker Pto" is case sensitive.

Spanish Club meeting: Nurse Garcia (right) instructing parents

The Code of CooperationMake bright decisionsUse good judgmentSpeak with respectInteract with others positivelyControl your own behavior.

Music Quote“Music’s the medicine of the mind” – John A. Logan Courtesy Robin Gibson

basis of age, color, handicap or disability, ancestry, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or political affiliation in its educa-tional or employment programs and activities.

It is the policy of the Houston Independent School District not to discrimi-nate on the

10626 AtwellPhone no. 713-726-3634

Website address:<http://www.houstonisd.org/parkerelem>

SPANISH CLUBThe Spanish Club began 2014 by committing to a healthier lifestyle. Ms.

Garcia presented a workshop on nutrient and how to read food labels. Mrs. Carlock came up with the wonderful idea of reinforcing this commitment by collecting money and giving it to the winner. The meeting continued with brainstorming on various volunteering opportunities during the coming months. We would like to thank those of you who are currently volunteering for taking the time and dedica-tion. The next Spanish Club meeting will be held on February 14 at 8:15, please join us for a sweet treat.

For more information please contact meAngelica Lopez, Spanish Club president – ablopez1010@yahoo.com or Helen Brook – Title 1 coordinator – hbrook@houstonisd.com

5

CARPOOL LINE PARENT ASSIST PROGRAMFebruary 2014 Schedule

Carpool Volunteer Class

Carpool Dates

Mrs. Jordan 2/3 – 2/7/2014

Ms. Mejia 2/10 – 2/14/2014

Ms. Montes 2/24 – 2/28/2014

General Guidelines for Parent Volunteers:

Car Pool Line Assistance Car Pool Drop off is from 7:20 to 7:45 am. We are requesting one parent (more is helpful) at each of the 3 drop off

gates. We have two gates on Stillbrooke and one on Willowbend that need coverage. We request that you encourage cars to move up to the gates for drop off and assist children in getting out of their vehicles. There will be a Parker faculty member at each gate to monitor entrance and exits. Our safety patrol students are also stationed to assist arriving students; they may need your encouragement to know how to help. Faculty members will be responsible for closing the gate at 7:45. Faculty and safety patrol need to be in classromms at 7:45. Any student arrivals after 7:45 should be directed to the front school entrance on Atwell. General Guidelines

Drop-offs should be as close to the gate as possible to encourage a “moving car pool lane”. • At the Stillbrooke gates If you see older children getting out of their cars early ask them to wait until they are at the gate next time.At the Willowbend gates the older students who generally need less assistance can be encouraged to get out of the vehicles sooner.Open as many doors as possible to encourage everyone to wait their turn and avoid backups into the intersections • and crosswalks. Also watch for cars standing in the drop off areas. Should you see any cars stopped by the yellow lines kindly re-• mind them that these are moving car pool lanes and there is no parking by the yellow lines during morning drops and afternoon pickups.Assist children out of vehicles particularly those with instruments and heavy baggage. •

Reminder: Student arrivals after 7:45 should be directed to the front school entrance on Atwell.

February 20-22

Nat’l School Choice WeekThank you to all Parker children, parents, and faculty

who took the time to represent HISD/Parker Elementary at the National School Choice Week Official Kickoff rally in Houston on Saturday, January 25. The event was held at Union Station at Minute Maid Park at 5 PM. There were other things you could have been doing on Saturday, but you took the time to make a difference in your community. You made us Parker Proud.

Early Dismissal DaysThe next early dismissal day is

February 19, 2014 On early dismissal days, all students will be dismissed

at 12:30 PM. Magnet classes and the Afterschool Care Program will not operate on these days.

Actor James Drury, who played the Virginian on the TV show by the same name many years ago, is the source of this code. Editor

COWBOY CODEIf it’s not true, don’t say it.

If it’s not yours, don’t take it.If it’s not right, don’t do it.

~Anonymous~

6

Mia Chavez and Eileen Reyez look up from work Zev Waghalter and Eli Ellery work on OM project

NAME THAT BOOKOver 100 children signed up to participate in Parker’s

Name that Book program for the 2013-2014 school year. Name that Book is an HISD-wide competition that has teams of students identify books based on quotes, audio clues, and visual clues. Forty-nine students signed up for the Kinder-2nd grade program led by Susie Vanlandingham and Rachel Theurer. Sixty students signed up for the 3rd-5th grade program led by Christopher Zider. Susan Shafer (Parker’s librarian) and Susie Vanlandingham are the co-sponsors for Parker’s Name that Book program.

K-2 was responsible for reading 30 books including: Cindy Moo, Creepy Carrots!, Grace for President, Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig, and This is not My Hat. 3rd-5th grade was responsible for a separate list of 35 books includ-ing: Charlotte’s Web, Half Magic, Holes, One and Only Ivan, and The Walls within Walls.

The students in both groups were given several tests to determine the two teams (one for K-2 and one for 3-5) of up to seven students each that will represent Parker at the HISD competition. Kinder-2nd will have their competition the week of March 3-7. 3rd-5th grade will have their preliminary rounds of competition March 24-28 and April 3, with Finals on April 4.

I am so proud of all of the students who participated in the Name that Book program this year. I hope that everyone discovered new books to enjoy and share with friends. Par-ticipation certificates will be given to the students at the end of the school year.

Families can get information about Name that Book and look at the reading lists on the web at http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/93027.

If you are interested in helping with next year’s Name that Book program (reading to children, gathering quotes from books, or leading a group), please contact Susie Van-landingham sbvanham@yahoo.com or Ms. Shafer sshafer@houstonisd.org.

Happy Reading! Susie VanlandinghamParker’s Name that Book Co-Sponsor

Harper DeHart, Maille Craig, and SarahVanlandingham

ODYSSEY OF THE MINDParker has an Odyssey of the Mind team this year made

up entirely of Kindergarteners: Mia Chavez, Maille Craig, Harper DeHart, Eli Ellery, Eileen Reyes, Sarah Vanlanding-ham, Zev Waghalter. The Kinder team is coached by Christine Ellery and Renee Waghalter. This year’s Primary Problem (for grades K-2) is “The World’s 1st Arts Festival.” The team is creating and presenting “an original humorous performance about a prehistoric arts festival. The festival will include artwork, dance, music, song, and a team-created audience to experience it all. The team will also create a backdrop that is a replica of an actual cave painting. Wow! It sounds like Parker students are in the perfect environment [Parker’s music magnet program] to get the tools they need to have a rockin’ performance (caveman rock pun was unintended)! Go, Kinders!

The team will go to the Houston Area Regional competi-tion in March to present their performance. Many thanks to Christine and Renee for coaching the team, to Mrs. Cummins for the use of her room on Wednesday afternoons, and to Mrs. Richardson for volunteering as a tournament judge. If you want to learn more about Odyssey of the Mind, you can visit http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/.

Susie VanlandinghamEducational Enhancements Co-Chair

(& appreciative parent)

Items on the calendar are accurate as of press time. For questions regarding possible cancellations and new times, please call the

main office at 713-726-3634.

The Parker Elementary PTO tweet-ings Twitter! To access, go to “Twitter Search” on your phone or computer, then type “Parker PTO”. A long list of “Parker” results will appear. Find “Parker PTO” and click.

7

Parker Elementary presents:The 35th Annual Suzuki Workshop Concert

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”Friday - February 7th

6:30 PMat

Westbury Baptist Church

Admission free

PARKER CALENDARFebruary3 Suzuki Workshop rehearsal – 8:30 AM Tempo Session II registration4 Clinicians Matinee Concert – 3 PM5-7 Suzuki Workshop6 SDMC Meeting – 3:30 PM7 Jazz Band at Exxon-Mobil – 9 AM-2 PM Suzuki Workshop Concert at Westbury Baptist - 6:30 PM10 PTO Meeting - 8:30 AM11 New Zoned-Kindergarten Registration Day – 8:30 AM Los Tios Family Night12 Dental Presentation Magnet Matinee – 3 PM14 Attendance Free Dress Day Spanish Club Meeting – 8:30 AM Valentines Parties - 2:15 PM POWER HOUR17 Tempo Session II - 10:45 AM19 Early Dismissal - 12:30 PM.20-22 Piano Workshop22 Guitar Festival (Mac Gregor Elementary)24 Tempo Session II - 10:45 AM25 Jazz and Poetry – 8:30 AM for 3rd & 4th grades27 Picture Day28 Go Texan Day! Los VaquerosTrail Riders visit – approx.. 8:45 AM Advanced Chorus to HBU- 7:30 POWER HOUR

March1 HISD Solo & Ensemble Contest3 Tempo Session II - 10:45 AM4 All-City Orchestra rehearsal – 4-5:30 PM6 SDMC Meeting – 3:30 PM. Strings/JMS/HSPVA Concert at JMS7 PTO Meeting - 8:15 AM Attendance Jam POWER HOUR10 Tempo Session II - 10:45 AM 4th grade to Museum of Fine Arts Houston Symphony Outreach Concert – 3 PM11 All-City Orchestra rehearsal – 4-5:30 PM Kinders to Houston Rodeo & Livestock Show12 Magnet Matinee – 3 PM13 Spring Piano Recital - 2 PM Field Day17-21 Spring Break