Save the Date:
November 2nd - November 19th ~ Holiday Meal Food Drive
Football Spirit Days
Thursday, November 5th ~ Jersey Day
Thursday, November 5th ~ Thanksgiving Lunch
Monday, November 9th ~ Reading Benchmark
Monday, November 9th ~ Holiday Roll Sales Open
Wednesday, November 11th ~ Veteran’s Day Parade (2nd Graders)
Tuesday, November 17th ~ Math Benchmark
Wednesday, November 18th ~ 2nd Grade Field Trip to Baylor Basketball Game
Wednesday, November 18th ~ Pick Up Holiday Roll Orders
Thursday, November 19th ~ Kona Ice
November 23rd - November 27th ~ Thanksgiving Break
Happenings:
HOLIDAY MEAL FOOD DRIVE: Help us spread kindness this holiday season! CSE is collecting nonperishable food items to help local families in need. Students can bring donations to school to earn points for their class November 2nd-November 19th!
Grand Prize: The winning class earns the opportunity to Pie in the Face Ms. Tullos and Coach Yose on November 30!
ITEMS NEEDED
Dressing/Stuffing Mix
Gravy Packets & Canned Gravy
Canned Sweet Potatoes & Peas
Instant Mashed Potatoes
Corn Bread Mix
Canned Mixed Fruit
Rice (Boxes or Bags)
Beans & Dried Beans
Chicken Broth & Any Broth
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Mac and Cheese (Boxes & Cups)
Any Soups
Canned Ravioli
Ramen
ANY NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS!
Every donation counts! Let's show our COUGAR KINDNESS and help families this holiday season!
GO COUGS!
FOOTBALL SPIRIT DAYS: This year, CSE is excited to join in the fun of Football Spirit Days! Our students and staff will be participating in the same dress-up days as the high school to show our school spirit and support our Cougs! We can’t wait to see everyone dressed up and showing their Cougar Pride.
Thursday, November 5th ~ Jersey Day
THANKSGIVING LUNCH: Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to celebrating with our CSE families!
Our Thanksgiving Luncheon will take place on Thursday, November 5th, during regularly scheduled lunch times. Students will follow their normal lunch procedures and have the option of turkey or chicken nuggets, along with the available meal sides.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VISITORS
Didn't get a chance to purchase a meal ticket? We still want you to join us! If you planned to attend but were unable to purchase a ticket, please complete the Google Form so we can plan accordingly.
Visitor Check-In: Please arrive 15–20 minutes before your student's scheduled lunch time to allow plenty of time for check-in and seating.
Parent Portal: Please ensure that the adult attending is listed in your student's Parent Portal.
Parking: Front-row parking will be available for our visitors! Please refer to the parking graphic shared in the email from Principal McNew.
Have students in multiple grade levels? If you have more than one student at CSE in different grades, you only need to purchase one set of meal tickets. Please email mdiorio@chinaspringisd.net to let us know which grade levels you plan to attend so we can plan accordingly.
THANKSGIVING LUNCH SCHEDULE
2ND GRADE
11:00–11:30 AM: Burch, Kahle, McAnally, Rubio & Stubbs
11:10–11:40 AM: Dean, Dominguez, Lawson, Layne & Peters
3RD GRADE
11:45 AM–12:15 PM: All 3rd Grade Classes
HEINBERG / MERCIER
11:45 AM–12:15 PM
4TH GRADE
12:20–12:50 PM: All 4th Grade Classes
A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING PICNIC!
For students who do not have a family member attending, we have a special Thanksgiving picnic planned on our turf area! These students will still get to enjoy a fun and memorable Thanksgiving lunch with their classmates.
We appreciate your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we prepare for this special day. We can't wait to celebrate with our Cougar families!
HOLIDAY ROLL SALE: Make your holiday meals a little easier (and tastier!) with delicious Texas Roadhouse Rolls! CSE families can order everyone's favorite rolls and have them ready just in time for Thanksgiving!
Order Dates: November 9th–November 16th
Pickup Date: Wednesday, November 18th at CSE from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Take one thing off your holiday to-do list and let Texas Roadhouse handle the rolls! Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner or stocking up to enjoy later!
BENCHMARK TESTING: Third and fourth grade students will participate in Benchmark Testing (practice STAAR tests) on the following dates:
Reading Benchmark: Monday, November 9
Math Benchmark: Tuesday, November 17
Please help your child be prepared by ensuring they arrive at school on time and avoid early checkouts on testing days.
IMPORTANT: To maintain a secure testing environment, visitors will not be permitted on campus during testing days, including lunch visitors. Thank you for your understanding and support!
VETERAN’S DAY PARADE: On Wednesday, November 11, our second-grade students will travel to downtown Waco to participate in the Veterans Day Parade near Austin Avenue. Students will be walking in the parade, so we ask that all second-grade students wear red, white, and blue to help show their support and appreciation for our veterans. Following the parade, students will visit Miss Nellie's Pretty Place in Cameron Park, where they will enjoy a sack lunch and have time to play.
2ND GRADE BAYLOR BASKETBALL FIELD TRIP: Our 2nd graders are headed to Baylor University on Wednesday, November 18th, to cheer on the Baylor Bears at a basketball game! Permission slips will be sent home on Monday, November 2nd, and must be returned by Thursday, November 12th. Please be sure to sign and return your student's permission slip by the deadline so they don't miss out on the fun!
KONA ICE: Kona Ice will be on campus on Thursday, November 19th for students to purchase during their recess. CLICK HERE to order your student’s Kona online. The online link will close at 8:30am on Thursday, November 19th.
Reminders:
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION:
90% Law: The state of Texas requires students to be present 90% of the school year in order to receive credit for their current grade level.
Attendance is taken every day at 9:30am. Your student must be on campus at this time to be counted present for the day.
When absent: Only 4 days total per semester can be excused by a PARENT NOTE (parent signed excuse). For all absences exceeding 4, a doctor’s note or other formal documentation is required. All excuse notes must be turned in to the Front Office within 3 school days of the student’s absence.
Excuse notes can be emailed to thardin@chinaspringisd.net or mdiorio@chinaspringisd.net
Additional attendance information can be found in our student handbook on the CSISD website.
26-27 BELL SCHEDULE:
The duration of our instructional school day is 7:55am-3:55pm. Campus opens at 7:00am to begin car rider drop off. Breakfast will be available for students from 7:00am-7:50am. The first instructional bell rings at 7:55am. The tardy bell rings at 8:00am. Every 3 tardies count as a student absence.
TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES:
MORNING CAR RIDERS: Car rider lines open at 7:00am. Please use the car rider loops in the back of the school for morning drop-off. Students are NOT allowed to be dropped off in the front of the school until after the car rider barriers are in place at 7:45am.
AFTERNOON CAR RIDERS: In the afternoon car rider line, a SCHOOL-ISSUED car rider sign is required. If the sign is not visible to the staff calling names you will be asked to go to the Front Office to check your student out with an ID.
BUS RIDERS: For safety, students are only allowed to ride their assigned bus. They are not allowed to ride home with another student.
CSISD DISTRICT BUS POLICY: An authorized parent/guardian or designee (designee is defined as a person(s) 7th grade or older) must be at the bus stop to receive students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade. If no one is there to receive the student, the student will be returned to the campus.
EARLY DISMISSAL: If you wish to pick your student up early form school you must do so BEFORE 3:30PM. A photo ID will be required to check your student out – please note a change from last year, our computer system now requires your ID be SCANNED every time you pick up your child for early dismissal.
TRANSPORTATION CHANGE: If there is a change to your child’s normal mode of transportation in the afternoon, you must notify the Front Office by 2:30pm to ensure they get home as requested.
CAFETERIA INFORMATION:
BREAKFAST: Breakfast takes place from 7:00am-7:50am. In order for your student to receive breakfast service in the cafeteria, they must arrive at school prior to 7:45am.
LUNCH: 2nd Grade Lunch ~ 11:00am-11:40am ; 3rd Grade Lunch ~ 11:45am-12:15pm ; 4th Grade Lunch ~ 12:20pm-12:50pm.
If you wish to eat lunch with your student a photo ID is required to check-in at the front office. Only visitors on the student’s contact list will be permitted. You may not have other students join you at the visitor’s table unless you are also on their approved visitor list.
If you wish to drop off food for your student to be delivered to the “cafeteria pick-up table” by the Front Office please make sure it is labeled with their first and last name and teacher name. It is also helpful if the student is aware ahead of time that they will have lunch waiting for them to grab from the pick-up table.
DELIVERIES FROM THIRD PARTY VENDORS LIKE DOORDASH AND GRUBHUB ARE NOT PERMITTED.
*Please note: ONLY 4th Grade is permitted to use the microwaves during lunch. Students must be able to microwave their own food without assistance. Please make sure food is sent in microwavable containers (no glass).
NURSE’S NOTES:
Please keep your student’s medical information updated on the Parent Portal and reach out to Nurse French with any changes and updates as needed, throughout the year. She can be reached at lfrench@chinaspringisd.net.
If your student has a history of asthma, wheezing, or shortness of breath and has a prescribed inhaler or nebulizer, please make sure they have what they need available on campus.
Inhalers may be kept in the nurse’s clinic or, when appropriate and documented by their healthcare provider, carried by the student for quick access when needed.
CSISD medication policy ~ Any prescription medication that will be taken for more than 10 days will require a parent and physician’s signature. Over the counter medication will require a medication form signed by the parent/guardian.
FROM THE PE COACHES:
A friendly reminder that students are required to have tennis shoes EVERY day for PE. Students cannot participate in PE activities while wearing sandals, crocs, boots, or UGGS. This is for their safety, as well as the safety of their classmates. If they choose to wear one of the above listed types of footwear please be sure they pack a pair of tennis shoes to change into. Students who do not wear tennis shoes will be required to sit out.
“ONE TEAM. ONE CSE.”