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Archive | 2018-2019

THES Prime Time

At THES we have Prime Time and kids can sign up for Prime time classes. Prime time is a bunch of fun after-school activities like Advanced Drawing, Sports Club, and Arts and Crafts. The Prime Time is not for the whole year. It is for six weeks in the fall and six weeks in the spring. Some Prime Time classes last longer than six weeks, like Film Kids, Science Club, andChoir. For some Prime Time are just for certain grades. For example, volleyball,bookclub is just for 4th and 5th graders. The Prime Time Program is run by our amazing 5th grade teacher Ms. Boyd.

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School Lunch

At THES we have a school lunch. I’m here to tell you about it. First of all we have a new school lunch every day like hot dogs, tacos, sun butter and jelly sandwiches, and turkey sandwiches. The food is really good. It gets very noisy in the cafeteria because there are a lot of people at once. I really enjoy school lunch because it’s a break from learning and I get to talk to my friends. We also have a beautiful mural of Square One Art tiles. Photojournalism meets during lunch.

 

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Thanksgiving Lunch

Every year at Travis Heights Elementary  we have a Thanksgiving lunch. The Thanksgiving lunch is on the Thursday before the week of the real Thanksgiving.  This year was great, all tickets were sold by the second week. We had a lot of families enjoy the lunch with friends and families.

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The Superheros of the Cafeteria

In the cafeteria, we are lucky to have some very nice ladies who prepare breakfast, make lunch, and stay after school to give food to kids at Prime Time and Extend-a-Care. Every day the lunch ladies have to get there by 5:00-6:00 to prepare breakfast in the classroom, and they bring it to the classrooms by 7:00 am. They make the lunches quickly because there are so many  kids. The lunch ladies only eat after all the kids eat. The ladies love seeing the kids smile. They also feel like a family when they are working together. We all appreciate those wonderful ladies SO much!

 

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T.H.E.S Thunderband

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the Thunderband behind the scenes? My name is Guitarguy123 and I am in the Thunderband and I am going to tell you!

The Thunderband is the Travis Heights school band. We play on the first and second Fridays of the month. When they hit the lights it means we’re about to start. The Tech Crew also helps with the Thunderband. The techcrew helps with the lights, the sound and more.

If you want to get into the Thunderband you have to ask the music teacher for the sheet music and after you learn it, you have to show her that you know it and then you’re in!

the thunderband

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THES Photogs

The THES Photogs is a group of Thunderbirds that take photos of Travis Heights Elementary School stuff and write articles about them. They’re led by Mary Friedman (called Ms. Friedman). When they’re not in a meeting, they can talk to each other on Google Classroom. Their real name is the Photojournalism Team, but they call it the Photogs for short.

The Photog’s main job is writing articles. Their articles get put on a THES website, but sometimes the articles even get put in the newspaper. They come to the meeting on Mondays during lunch. They get their picture taken, think of a nickname, and then tell Ms. Friedman about their interests.  All of those details are on the website when they post their article in a section called “About Me”.

Fun fact: I, the person who’s writing this, is a member of the Photojournalism Team!

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Jackie Castillo

Imagine if you forgot to bring your lunch to school, and  there was no cafeteria at your school. Now that’s what Jackie Castillo is for. Jackie Castillo is the Travis Heights school cafeteria manager. I asked her some questions in an interview. Here’s what she said.            

What is your favorite part about being in the cafeteria staff?

Interacting with kids. I love doing that because I have two sons that I love, but I don’t get to see them too often because they what are young adults.

What is your favorite food to make as cafeteria manager?

My favorite food to make is Indian Curry and fish because they taste great.

What have you learned from being part of the cafeteria staff?

I have learned how to work the computers and just learned how to use technology better.

How are your relationships with the other cafeteria staff?

At first it was scary, because they had already been working with each other, but after some time passed, I was not worried what they would think.hey wanted to hear my new ideas to improve the cafeteria.

Are there any things you wish you could change anything about the cafeteria?

I wish I got to choose what I got to cook.

The last question I asked was “Out of the years you worked here are you glad you came?”

Yes yes I am.

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Dog Park

There is a dog park near downtown. It’s a place where your dog can have a friend to play with. I know that many people (including myself) only have one dog. Dogs can get depressed because they don’t have enough socialization. They become nervous around other dogs. But don’t lose hope, there are solutions like maybe a…dog park!

Dogs are very energetic creatures, but sometimes they don’t always have the room they need to run around in. The dog park has an area for dogs that aren’t very used to the dog park. They can get used to the small area until they are ready for the big area. So many dogs go there, so your dog has lots of other dogs to choose from. Also, if you are afraid your dog won’t be very friendly towards other dogs, you can always put them on a leash and just let them get used to being around other dogs. It also doesn’t matter if you forget your poop bags because they have loads. They use eco-friendly poop bags so you can clean up the mess and help the earth. The park allows anyone, so you can always visit. It is also open all year long. Even in the cold winter months, your dogs can have fun. It’s also in a very convenient spot, it’s right before downtown and right off Travis Boulevard. I have been there  personally, and give it 5 stars. My dog had so much fun and got plenty of socialization. I encourage you to take your dog to a dog park soon.

 

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Different Playgrounds at Travis Heights Elementary

Have you ever wondered about the different playgrounds at Travis Heights? Well, if you read this, your questions will be answered about the playgrounds. We have three different playgrounds, but we don’t own them all. We only own two.

One is Wild Man Woods. Wild Man woods is a very active playground. It has a band set with six drums and a xylophone. There is more but they are not instruments.

The next playground is the Big Stacy Playground, well, that is what I call it. That is the playground that I usually go to. It has a full playground set with two swings and bars to play on. This playground is my favorite because it has lots of stuff to play with.

The last playground is the Black Top. The Black Top is a big black empty space there is a basketball basket and it provides lots of toys such as: basketballs, hula hoops, jump ropes, and more. There is one more place that we go to but it is not really a playground. It has exercise equipment and a big field that we can play in. These are the playgrounds at Travis Heights Elementary.       

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Film kids

Have you ever heard of the prime time class “Film Kids”? Film kids is a prime time class where you make short movies and clips. I am part of film kids and on the 27th of November we had a showing of all the movies we made in the library.

A list of movies we did this year is:

  • Paper Plane Attack on Noah
  • Paper Attack on Millie
  • Meet the Filmmakers
  • Rainbow in a Jar
  • The Ball and
  • The Tale of Two runners

My personal favorite is the “Tale of two Runners”. It’s about two students who dress up as villains and and run around the school causing mischief. The movie is also silent and in black and white.

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Parent Support Specialist

Have you heard of the PSS stands for Parent Support Specialist NOT to be confused with PS4!

What do you do?

  • Organize and provide ongoing parent/family/community engagement trainings and meetings in coordination with the campus and vertical team principals, campus and district staff, and other community entities.
  • Assist parents/families/community and staff in understanding district, state, and federal practices and policies (including the Title One family compact and parent involvement policy.)
  • Assist the principal and other campus staff with identifying effective strategies for increasing parent participation by utilizing The National Standards of PTA.
  • Establish and maintain productive working relationships with campus staff and parents/families/community and community resource providers.
  • Document program activities and outcomes, which will promote the identification of successful practices and the sharing of these practices.
  • Collaborate closely with the Learning Support Services Team, the Campus Advisory Council (CAC) and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA/PTSA) on each campus and at the vertical team level.
  • Attend necessary Parent Support Specialist district staff development trainings.

Why did you pick this school?

I am currently a student at Huston- Tillotson University majoring in Elementary Education. Part of my schooling requires that I work in an elementary school while I pursue my degree.

THES was hiring and I applied…. The rest is history.

What do you do in your free time?

I bake and work on a family cookbook I am putting together for my mom’s side of the family. I  am also building the curriculum for the summer camp I run out of my house. The camp is called CAMP CHEF KIDS and it is for ages 7-12 years old. So, basically I teach kids to cook during the summer……but with a twist. We take walking field trips, do art and crafts, journal, develop recipes and spend time at the splash pad across the street from my house.

What’s it like being a PSS?

It is amazing being a Parent Support Specials. I LOVE helping people!! I get to meet new people everyday and I get to help families and students.

What are your goals?

I have 5 Goals for 2019

  1. Finish the cookbook!!! My cousins are always asking me “Is it done yet?”
  2. Start a Water Fitness Group for teachers at Travis Heights this spring. (Stacey Pool is literally right next door)
  3. Invite more refugee families to participate in school activities.
  4. Help re-open the Travis Heights store
  5. Be the best  PSS I can be!!

Is there anything else you want us to know? Like fun facts?

My favorite color is purple. My real name is Adrianna. I use to work with Ms. Boyd and Ms. Cooper at Open Door Preschool (not at the same time).

AND…

My favorite candy is a GOO GOO CLUSTER.
I have a passion for working with children and their families.
I am the oldest of 6 children.
I have three kiddos : Gabriel 24, Noah 20 and Bella 16
My food is homemade mac-n-cheese.
I LOVE DRAGONFLIES!!

You can find her office in the front hallway, near the front door!

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