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Helms Community Learning
Center is a
Dual-Language
Houston ISD
Magnet School offering
Pre-Kindergarten through
5th grade
education. Our campus
is conveniently located
in the Historic Houston
Heights area. We are
designated by the Texas
Education Agency (TEA)
as a “Recognized”
school.
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Important
Events |
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November |
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17- 21
18- 21
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19
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20
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24
25
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National
Parent
Involvement
Celebration
Week
Grade 5 Camp
Olympia in
Trinity,
Texas
November
Night with
Numbers by
Dr. K. & UST
staff/students
and Helms’
teachers, 6
– 7:30 PM
THANKSGIVING
CELEBRATION
LUNCH FOR
PRE-K
HISD’S
LEARNING
LABS Hattie
Mae White
Educational
Support
Center, 5–7
PM. An
Educational
Dialogue
Second Cup
of Coffee,
8–9 AM
THANKSGIVING
CELEBRATION
LUNCH FOR
KINDER &
GRADE 3
Parent
Involvement
Day
Celebration,
10 AM at
Northwest
Mall.
An
opportunity
for parents,
guardians,
and other
community
members to
celebrate
the value of
parent
participation
in ensuring
the academic
success of
all
students.
THANKSGIVING
CELEBRATION
LUNCH FOR
GRADE 2 &
GRADE 4
SATURDAY
Field Trip
for Grade 4
to the
Montgomery
County Land
Legacy, 9
AM–3 PM
THANKSGIVING
CELEBRATION
LUNCH FOR
GRADE 1 &
GRADE 5
Pre-K Report
Cards sent
home |
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Upcoming
Events |
24
25
Dec.8-12 |
THANKSGIVING
CELEBRATION
LUNCH FOR
GRADE 1 &
GRADE 5
Pre-K Report
Cards sent
home
Magnet
Awareness
Week
Saturday
Tutorials:
Nov. 15,
December 6,
& December
13; 9:00 AM
– 12:00 PM |
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A Note From
the
Principal |
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November 17 |
I can’t
believe I’m
writing a
sentence
with the
word
“Thanksgiving”
in it
already! It
feels like
it was just
yesterday
that we were
preparing
for
something
named
“Ike”. This
week begins
our luncheon
celebrations
for
Thanksgiving.
It is a
wonderful
time at
Helms. We
love to see
our extended
families
that keep
coming back
for the
turkey,
dressing, &
the chance
to join our
students for
lunch.
I was
reminded of
all the
opportunities
to
incorporate
math &
science into
Thanksgiving
preparations
as I
reviewed
three
Problems of
the Day Math
booklets
from each
teacher last
week. Here
are some
ideas:
·
How much
would three
pounds of
sweet
potatoes
cost?
·
Which of
these
pumpkins has
a greater
volume?
·
What is the
difference
in price
between
these two
brands of
stuffing
mix?
·
With a 35
cent coupon,
how much
will this
can of
cranberries
cost?
It’s easy &
fun to mix
these skills
into
Thanksgiving.
Give it a
try. It
will help
our students
see math &
science in
everyday
life.
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November 10 |
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Sometimes
students and
parents are
surprised
when I
comment on a
student’s
progress in
a subject, a
challenge in
another, or
their
conduct
grade.
I really do
read every
progress
report and
report card
before they
go home to
you every
time.
It enables
me to look
at every
student,
every
classroom,
and every
grade level
and lead the
conversations
that help us
improve.
It also
provides for
those
wonderful
opportunities
when I can
“high five”
someone in
the hall for
raising
their math
grade, or
celebrate
with a hug
for someone
who made an
“E” in
conduct for
the first
time.
I can also
talk about
setting
goals.
Now that
you’ve
received the
first report
card, you
too, can
help in
setting
goals for
improvement.
Celebrate
the
successes,
and have a
conversation
with your
child about
what can be
improved.
Together, we
can all work
the plan for
every
student to
be
successful.
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November 3 |
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Tips on how
to avoid the
“one
syllable
response”
from your
child about
their day at
school.
It goes like
this:
You are
trying to
find out how
things went,
and……
Parent:
“How was
your day,
dear?
Student:
“Fine”/”Good”
“OK-(oops! 2
syllables)
Parent:
“Do you have
homework?
Student:
“No”
Parent:
“Are you
sure?
Student:
“Yes”
If this
sounds
familiar,
keep
reading.
Open ended
questions
are the
trick.
Try these…
“What
was the main
character
like in the
story you
read today?
(in reading
class/during
free
reading/ or
from Ms.
Hardin in
the
library).
“Would you
rather do
your
homework/daily
reading
practice
today before
or after
dinner/your
bath/ math
practice,
etc….?
The key here
is that you
already
know
they have 30
minutes of
reading
practice for
homework
everyday!
“Would you
rather
practice
your
spelling
words/vocabulary
terms with
me, your
brother,
grandma, or
on the
computer, in
marker or in
pencil,
etc….?
You get the
idea.
Having
choices
makes it
seem so much
more
attractive.
Students
like the
idea of
having a
choice about
homework and
it makes the
task seem
not too bad
after all!
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What is Dual Language?
In Helms’ Pre-Kindergarten
through Fifth Grade Dual
Language Program, native English
and native Spanish speaking
students are integrated in the
same classroom.
Through content area instruction
students become bilingual and
biliterate, developing positive
cross-cultural attitudes and
behaviors. Helms’ goal is that
all students will perform at or
above grade level in both
languages by the fifth grade.
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