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Welcome

to 1st Grade!

First grade is going to be a rich and rewarding year for us all!

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Our Administration Team

Kristin Bishop, Principal

Kate Forisha, Assistant Principal

Erin Christenson, Counselor

Sue Lenihan, School Nurse

Jodi Crawford Lesley Schneider- Co-PTA Presidents

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Kristin Bishop, Shepard Principal

Hi! I’m Kristin Bishop, and I’m the proud principal of Shepard Elementary. Not only am I the Shepard Principal, but I am also the mother of a Shepard student. As a principal and the mom of two busy boys, I know how important communication is from our school. We are excited about our school year. I will send a newsletter weekly to keep everyone up to date with the current goings on at Shepard. The newsletter typically arrives in your email box on a Tuesday. It will arrive to the same email address that you have provided to us on your child’s emergency information card. In addition, we occasionally send out phone messages to the community. Beginning this year, we will have a text messaging system that parents can opt in to. We hope that all of this communication will keep you actively engaged with our school.

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Stephanie Hershberger

Learn more about Mrs. H All About Mrs. Hershberger

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Tamara Whitmire

Learn more about Mrs. Whitmire All About Mrs. Whitmire

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Kathy Seal

Learn more about Mrs. Seal All About Mrs. Seal

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Annie Kustoff

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Specials

Coach Hall Coach Meger

Coach Smith

PE!

*Please make sure to wear tennis shoes to PE.*

Art- Mrs. Rodriguez

Music- Mrs. Suarez

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Counselor

Mrs. Christenson

meet the

Hello!

I am so excited to work with all students again this year! We will continue to do guidance lessons this year, whether we are virtual or in person eventually. I am here for whatever you might need. I’ll “see” you all soon!

Reach out!

469.752.3115

erin.christenson@pisd.edu

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Instructional Specialist

Mrs. Ferenschuetz

meet the

Hello!

As the Instructional Specialist, I pull students for interventions and teach some groups of Dyslexic students.. I also lead 504 meetings. If you have questions about 504 or Dyslexia, please reach out and I would be happy to help!

Reach out!

469.752.3155

christina.ferenschuetz@pisd.edu

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Plano Academic and Creative Education

(PACE)

A program for students who require gifted services

2021-2022

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PACE is designed to meet the needs of a different kind of learner.

PACE is not an Honors program.

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Students requiring gifted services may...

perform two grade levels above current grade
learn exceptionally fast
need only one to two repetitions for mastery
thrive on complexity
arrive at solutions in an unusual manner

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If you have a child that you believe may need PACE services:

Notify your child’s teacher or the campus gifted specialist.
Complete an online referral packet. Request a hard copy if needed.
Referral packets are due September 10.
Testing procedures will be communicated after the referral deadline.
If your student participated in a gifted program at their previous school, please contact the Gifted Specialist for next steps. This communication is due to the Specialist by August 23.

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Please contact the campus gifted specialist for specific details about the PACE program.

Sherre Shafer

sherre.shafer@pisd.edu

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Mission Statement

Shepard’s mission is to cultivate a positive and meaningful learning community to ensure academic, social, and emotional success for students.
Shepard’s Motto: “There’s No Place Like Shepard”

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Communication

Weekly SMORE! via teacher email

What we’re learning each week
Important reminders/upcoming events
Links for sign-ups

Class Dojo (if used by teacher)
Green go folder
Daily Agenda books

Please check daily for teacher notes and what we learned for the day

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Green Go Folder

To be taken home every day and brought back to school every day.
For notes, homework, calendars, etc.
Any notes that you may have for the teacher, please send in this folder
Check DAILY!
Tuesdays- check for school newsletters, notes from PTA, etc.

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Homework

Math and Spelling homework assigned once a week

Will be in the green go folder

Nightly reading *Do 5 nights a week!*

(15-20 minutes a night)
Books in reading bags

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PBIS

Positive Behavior Support is a process for teaching children appropriate behavior and providing the supports necessary to sustain that behavior.

PBIS is not a curriculum- it is a framework for systems to identify needs, develop strategies, and evaluate practice toward success.

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Language Arts

Designed to fit and differentiate for the needs of ALL students
Emphasizes reading, writing, listening, and speaking

Not just in isolation, but through a connection with literature

Small group instruction to meet the needs of individual children

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Handwriting

Handwriting Without Tears
We will practice this style of handwriting, but students will be exposed to many types of prints
Please use handwriting paper for any word work or writing assignments

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Reading

Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading

Provides a variety of literature that we will read together

We will explore many other supplemental material in addition to student readers

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Math

Our student goals are:

Build a solid foundation of basic understandings of mathematical concepts
Learn to express mathematical ideas clearly through speaking, writing, demonstrating, and depicting them visually
To solve problems using a variety of strategies
Fact fluency! (Practice at home)

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Math

We will use enVision Math by Scott Foresman and Investigations
Other instructional materials/ strategies/ resources include:

Number talks
Math manipulatives
Games
Large and small group activities

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Testing Dates

MAP Math and Reading- Sept., Dec., April

Measure of Academic Progress
Computer Based

Dibels (Sept., Jan., Apr.)
Primary Spelling Inventory (Sept., Jan., Apr.)
Reading Records (Sept., Jan., Apr.,)

Also periodically throughout the year

Cogat- More information to come!

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Testing Tips

PLEASE make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and a good breakfast
Breakfast is available at school beginning at 7am

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Technology

Each child has a designated chromebook
Weekly assignments, but NOT every assignment

Google Classroom
Seesaw

Feel free to send your own (labeled) headphones

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Morning Snack & Water Bottle

One healthy snack and a small water bottle

We eat snack around 9am
Have water bottle labeled
For example: popcorn, carrot sticks, crackers, granola bars, fruit, etc.

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Birthdays

1:30-1:50
District policy- No birthday can be celebrated during lunch
You may bring pre-packaged, individually wrapped birthday treats for your child’s class (if you wish!)
Please let your child’s teacher know in advance!

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Volunteers

Must complete a background check!
Volunteers will need to self-screen before coming up to school
We will have a schedule for volunteers at the school (more information to come!)

Volunteers need to be pre-arranged
Per Plano ISD guidelines, only 2 volunteers in the building at a time

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Reminders

Please bring a change of clothes to leave in their locker inside a labeled gallon size baggie!
The back gate will be locked promptly at 7:45! Please bring your child to the front entrance if you are late.

We begin learning at 7:40!
Get here by 7:30 to eat breakfast!

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