Don't miss Fisher's Annual Holiday Sing-a-Long this Friday, December 16, beginning at 7:55 a.m. The Fisher Choir will perform followed by our holiday Sing-a-Long and songs by David Gaschen. We hope to see you there!

We hope you all have a wonderful and restful Winter Break. We will see everyone on Monday, January 2, 2012. Have a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!

December 5-9 is Inclusive Schools Week celebrating the diversity in our nation's schools. Please see below for colors you may choose to wear next week in honor of this special week.

White Ribbon Week - Celebrating Differences

Monday-Wear blue

Tuesday-Wear yellow/gold

Wednesday-Wear white

Thursday-Wear red

Friday-Wear orange

Day	Theme	Character Trait
Monday December 5	Wear Blue	Appreciation
Tuesday December 6	Wear Yellow/Gold	Respect
Wednesday December 7	Wear White	Friendship
Thursday December 8	Wear Red	Caring
Friday December 9	Wear Orange	Fairness

Just a reminder that we do not have school November 21-25. We hope you and your family have a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break with family and friends. We'll see you on Monday, November 28.

Please join us for our Veteran's Day Program this Friday, November 11, beginning at 7:55. Those attending are asked to wear red, white, and/or blue, Boy/Girl Scout uniforms, or military uniforms. We hope to see you there!

Even though it was a little chilly, we had a great time at the Gary Burns Fun Run last weekend. Our Fisher staff, parents, and students that attended helped us to win the Spirit Award!!

Don't forget about Red Ribbon Week next week (October 24-28).

Monday, October 24: Team Up Against Drugs: Wear team jerseys/shirts.

Tuesday, October 25: Be All You Can Be by Being Drug Free: Wear camouflage.

Wednesday, October 26: Pledge to be Drug Free: Wear red.

Thursday, October 27: Catch the Drug Free Wave: Wear Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, and flip flops.

Friday, October 28: Turn Your Back on Drugs: Wear your Fisher spirit shirt backwards.

Dear Parents,

Please join us for our Boosterthon Fun Run tomorrow. We would love to see you!

Start Times:
Kinder and 1st grade: 8:30
2nd and 3rd grades: 9:30
4th and 5th grades: 10:30

Also, pledges are due tomorrow. We are almost at our goal so please help us reach our goal by making sure you collect your pledges tonight. PTA will use the money from Boosterthon to purchase technology for our campus.

We are excited to announce that Fisher has once again been selected to the TBEC Honor Roll based on the 2011 school year for the fourth year in a row!!! Of the more than 8,000 Texas public schools less than 4% will be so honored. Fisher is definitely included in an exclusive group!

The TBEC Honor Roll is the most prestigious award for sustained, academic excellence in Texas. It recognizes schools that have demonstrated three years of consistent, high performance in all subjects compared to other schools serving similar student populations. TBEC Honor Roll schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state’s most rigorous standard -commended- in every subject. And, in this the last year of TAKS, the standards are the most demanding TBEC has ever had. Fisher has earned a place on the Honor Roll through hard work and student achievement over an extended period of time.

We would not have this award were it not for you as parents giving us the support and encouragement we need here at school to continue our drive toward success! You have helped Fisher to be the great school that it is! Thank you!

I wanted to let you know all the wonderful things PTA has purchased for us the last two years using funds from Boosterthon and our annual Book Fairs. We appreciate all PTA does for Fisher!

So far this year:

Our goal is to purchase 25-30 more iPads with the money raised from this year’s Boosterthon

Classroom subscriptions to Time for Kids, Scholastic News, and Texas Studies Weekly for appropriate grade levels

$3500 worth of books for the Fisher Library

Supplies for classroom teachers for First Steps Math and word walls

Grade Level specific programs such as Chinese Acrobatics and SciTech Discovery Center

In 2010/2011:

5 iPads for classroom and grade level use

Grade Level specific programs such as High Touch/High Tech, The Canyon Project, Barnyard Exhibit, Tipi Tellers, and Science of Spin

Classroom money for teachers discretionary to purchase classroom materials such as center activities and manipulatives

Monetary Contribution to the Wilma Fisher Scholarship Foundation for former Fisher students

Reading Intervention Kit for each grade level team

Lucy Calkins Writing Set for each grade level team

Funding for Fisher’s 10 Year Celebration

Funding for the WatchDog program

In 2009/2010:

Grade Level specific programs such as High Touch/High Tech, The Canyon Project, Barnyard Exhibit, Tipi Tellers, and Science of Spin

Classroom money for teachers discretionary to purchase classroom materials such as center activities and manipulatives

Monetary Contribution to the Wilma Fisher Scholarship Foundation for former Fisher students

Industrial Pencil Sharpeners for the teacher workroom

CAMP and special programs for student participation during CAMP rotation

2 hands-free microphones for use with music programs and Friday assemblies

Funding for the WatchDog program

2 Cricut Diecut machines for the teacher workroom

October is just around the corner! It seems like yesterday I stood at the front doors to welcome students back to school. October is my favorite month as it brings cooler weather (hopefully), football is well under way, and our students are settled into their learning and routines. It fills my heart with joy each day as I walk through classrooms and see such great learning taking place. Just last week I watched students learn about the scarity of food by "hunting" for pennies, learn how to start a sentence with a capital letter and end with punctuation, use our new Ipads to solve math problems, and learn to count by 5s.

Upcoming Events:
Sept. 29: Fall pictures
Oct. 4: Principal/Parent Coffee on Math Strategies for Parents 9:00 a.m. in the library
Oct. 5-7: 5th grade goes to Pine Cove
Oct. 7: Wear green and Walk to School with Rufus
Oct. 10: No school due to Parent/Teacher Conference Day 10:00-6:00 p.m.

Dear Parents,

We have two exciting events, College Week and Fall Book Fair, coming up next week at Fisher that we don't want you to miss.

9/9 Friday:
Book Fair-Special sneak peek shopping opportunity 2:50-5:00 pm

9/12 Monday:
College Week- Wear sunglasses! “My future is bright”
Book Fair Blast Off! from 7:50-3:45 pm

9/13 Tuesday:
College Week-Wear crazy socks! “I’m crazy about college!”
Book Fair-Moon Rocks (Muffins) with Mom 2:50-5:00 pm

9/14 Wednesday:
College Weel=Wear Wakeland Colors – blue and orange “Commit Not to Quit!”
Book Fair-Launch (Lunch) with a Loved One during your child's regular lunch time.

9/15 Thursday:
College Week-Wear hats! “Hats off to reaching your goals!”
Book Fair-Launch (Lunch) with a Loved One during your child's regular lunch time AND Dwarf Planets (Donuts) with Dad 6:45 am-7:50 am (Donuts served until 7:15 am.).

9/16 Friday:
College Week-“We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do!” Show school spirit! Wear a college or FISD school shirt.
Book Fair-Launch (Lunch) with a Loved One during your child's regular lunch time. Book Fair closes at 2:00 pm today.

Upcoming Event:
Monday, September 19, 6:00-7:00 pm Watch DOGS Pizza Night Kick-Off in the Fisher Cafe. Sorry moms, but this event is for the males in your family only. Please invite dads, granddads, uncles, brothers, etc. to attend to find out more information about how they can volunteer at Fisher for a day as a Watch DOG.

Dear Parents,

We would like to remind you that Curriculum Night is coming up this Thursday, September 1. Please see below for specific times and locations.

Times:
Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade 5:30-6:15
3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade-5 6:15-7:00
5th grade Pine Cove meeting 7:00 in the cafeteria.

Locations:
Kinder-individual classrooms
1st-individual classrooms
2nd-individual classrooms
3rd-individual classrooms
4th- Baker/Robinson/Johnston will meet in Wendi Johnston’s Room (504), Mather/Bell/Johnson will meet in the library
5th- King/Peterson/Williams will meet in the cafeteria, Muramoto/Hale will meet in the gym

We hope to see everyone Thursday night!

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school!

We wanted to remind you of a few things coming up this week at Fisher.

Thursday, August 18: Kindergarten and SLC Meet the Teacher and Orientation 5:30-6:30.

Friday, August 19, First Grade through Fifth Grade Meet the Teacher 5:30-6:30.

On Thursday and Friday night, be sure to buy a Fisher t-shirt. The shirts this year are heather gray with our theme: Team Fisher. The design is attached. Prices are $15 cash or check.

Thursday and Friday night, stop by the Fisher PTA table to join our wonderful PTA.

For those of you that preordered school supplies, those will be available for pick-up at your child’s classroom.

Monday, August 22, is the first day of school for everyone. Remember, our new elementary school times are 7:50-2:50 which means the tardy bell will ring at 7:50.

For our incoming Kindergarten parents, please feel free to visit the Fisher Library on Monday, August 22, for our annual Boo Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast from 7:35 a.m.-8:45 a.m. Join with other Kindergarten parents for tears, cheers, coffee, and doughnuts.

Our first Good Morning Fisher will be Friday, August 26, beginning at 7:55. Parents are welcome to attend.

Also, please remember with the start of school next week that Texas law prohibits the use of cell phones in active school zones. This includes our Fisher streets and as you move through the carpool lanes both before and after school.

Another reminder, no dogs on campus. If you walk your child to or from school, and bring your dog with you, please drop off or meet your child on the sidewalks surrounding Fisher. Also, if you bring your dog with you in the car as you come through carpool, please leave your car windows rolled up as you move through the carpool lane until you are off campus.

Upcoming Events:
Thursday, September 1, Curriculum Night K-2 5:30-6:15, 3-5 6:15-7:00 AND 5th grade parent Pine Cove Camp meeting at 7:00 following Curriculum Night in the cafe.

See everyone soon!

Sincerely,
Nancy Fatheree
Principal

Dear Parents,

Just a few reminders about events coming up at Fisher.

1. FISD Spirit Night at the Roughriders’ game is tonight (Thursday). Wear your Fisher shirt and come out to watch Nurse Euting throw out the first pitch.
2. K-4th Field Day is this Friday, May 20. We will have field day rain or shine. A rainy day schedule has been made for activities inside the school. Due to Field Day, Good Morning Fisher has been cancelled. All student birthdays and positive referrals will be announced next week.
3. Relay for Life has been cancelled and rescheduled for Saturday, June 4.
4. This Friday, May 20, is also the last day to check out books from the library.
5. Wednesday, May 25, is our incoming Kindergarten Tour from 8:15-9:00. This tour is for incoming 2011-2012 Kindergarten students and parents only. Kindergarten teachers will conduct a brief presentation and then take parents and students on a tour of the school. A repeat session will be conducted on Thursday, August 18, during Kindergarten Meet the Teacher.
6. We will have school on Friday, May 27. Library books are also due this day.
7. Monday, May 30, is a school holiday so we will not have school for Memorial Day.

Other news…
1. If you, or someone you know, has an incoming Kindergarten student that has not been enrolled for Kindergarten next year, please stop by the Fisher office to register.
2. School start times for next year are changing. The new start time for elementary will be 7:50-2:50. For more information on this please visit, http://www.friscoisd.org/news/savingmeasuresMay11.htm

A few April events to mark on your calendars:

• 1. April 19, 9:30 in the Fisher Library, Principal/Parent Coffee with Patrice Dunn on I Need a Parent, Not a Friend.


• 2. Wear green for Walk to School Day with Rufus on Thursday, April 21. Rufus will arrive at 7:40.


• 3. Be sure to check the Lost and Found for your child's items before Friday, April 22, when all coats will be donated.


• 4. We do have school on Friday, April 22, to make up for one of our bad weather days in Febru ary.


• 5. The deadline to purchase tickets for the Frisco ISD Spirit Night at the RoughRiders game is Friday, April 22. If Fisher sells the most tickets Nurse Euting gets to throw out the first pitch.


• 6. April 26-28 are closed campus days (no visitors) due to TAKS testing.

Begging Kids to Help

While the Love and Logic® approach doesn't teach parents to be bossy or demanding, we do recognize that there are times when we simply need our kids to help us right away. Listed below are some steps for making this happen.

Step One: Make sure that you are doing a good job of helping your kids when they ask you.

Step Two: Ensure that they have something they really value. At a later date, losing this item or privilege can be used as a consequence.

Step Three: Hope and pray that they will either refuse or "forget" to do something you ask them to do for you "right away."

Step Four: In a sweet and respectful tone of voice, ask them to do something for you "right now."

Step Five: When they refuse or "forget," let them think that everything is just fine. Don't say a word. Later in the day, or possibly later in the week, say something like, "I love you so much. I've noticed that you don't think it's important to help me when I ask you to do things for me right away. The sad thing is that this shows me that you aren't really mature enough to have_______________________." (Insert mp3 player, cell phone, driving privileges, etc.)

Another strategy involves saying, "This is so sad. I love you so much. I _________________ (Insert iron clothes, drive places, buy nice snacks, etc.) for kids who help me quickly when I ask them to.”

Of course, displaying empathy, resisting the urge to lecture, and holding firm will make the difference between success and failure.

Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible.

Dr. Charles Fay

I thought this was a good one from Love and Logic.

It Really Isn't Fair!

Have you ever seen adults get trapped into arguing with their kids about something being fair? I’m sure that you’ve never fallen into this snare, but I bet you’ve seen your neighbors do it.

You already know that when kids cry “Not fair!” they aren’t judging our fairness by some objective standard. They’re just trying to get us to give in. Fortunately, you also know that Love and Logic teaches us how to avoid getting “hooked” into these debates.

The less we think, and the fewer words we use, the less likely we'll get pulled into epic arguments with our kids.

Love and Logic parents and educators around the world have had great results going "brain dead" when kids begin to whine, "Not fair!" This allows them to avoid saying what they'd like to say (e.g., "Well it's about time you learned that life isn't fair! How many times do I need to tell you…?"), and provide a calm and respectful "I love (or respect) you too much to argue" instead.

Lecturing our kids doesn't really teach them to accept the occasional "un-fair-ness" of life. Despite centuries of parents attempting this, their offspring have still had to learn this the hard way—through experience with the world. Kids are far more likely to learn how to gracefully accept frustrations and disappointments when we stop trying to convince them that life is fair, and begin allowing them simply to experience the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of real life.

Too frequently, loving and fair parents try way too hard to be fair, and to defend themselves when their kids complain. When they do, they send the unrealistic message that somehow life really can be fair—at least if you argue and manipulate enough. Instead of falling into this trap, experiment with going "brain dead" and repeating, "I love you too much to argue." It'll make them mad in the short-term and a whole lot more respectful in the long-term.

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Charles Fay

Please join us for...

Wilma Fisher Elementary

10th Anniversary Celebration

Join us for a night of memories & fun!

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
6:30-8:00 P.M.
Wilma Fisher Elementary School

6:30- Short presentation by Mrs. Fatheree followed by an evening
of fun-filled games, popcorn, face painting, & more.

Just a few reminders for the upcoming week:

Monday, Feb. 21, is a school holiday.

Tuesday, Feb. 22, is our Chick-fil-A Spirt Night at the Eldorado location from 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fisher teachers will work shifts from 5:00-8:00. Be sure to tell Chick-fil-A you are from Fisher!

Friday, Feb. 25, is the PTA Blood Drive in the Fisher parking lot from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Reading with Your Child at Home

Check out this great video that Glenna Crommer at Ogle Elementary made to show strategies for helping your child read at home. She was very sweet to let me borrow it from her for my blog.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=c34be26ead4db140a13040&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Want some tips on how what you can do with your child at home to help build their reading fluency? Here are three easy things you can do with your child at home:

1. Alternate reading pages with your child. Take turns reading; your child reads a page, then you read a page. It is so helpful for children to hear adults read out loud. This helps model how a good reader sounds as well with efficiency of time.

2. Echo read with your child. You read a line and have your child repeat the line back to you out loud.

3. Read with them. As your child is reading their book, read something as well. Children seeing their parents read really promotes and fosters a love of reading.

Another great lesson from Dr. Fay with Love and Logic.

Responding to Bad Grades

Billy's mother had committed the unthinkable sin of saying "no" to his request for a slingshot. Shortly after his pleading and whining failed, Billy switched to a new tactic.

It was time to study his spelling words and he refused. "I'm not studying! I don't care. I hope I get an F. I hope I get all F's forever!"

Mom was tempted to argue, but she took care of herself. In the process, she reminded herself that his grades are his grades…not hers:

Whose problem is this? HIS. What will probably happen if he doesn't study? He may do poorly on HIS test tomorrow.

Instead of fighting, she empathized, "Sounds like you're upset," and walked into the kitchen.

Before school the next morning, her beloved Billy asked her, "Are you ready for some F's?" Mom just smiled and answered, "I'll love you whatever grades you decide to earn."

Billy blew his spelling test.

When his mother discovered the gory grade, she got a slightly sad look on her face - not the crazed enraged one Billy hoped for. Then she asked him how he felt about HIS grade.

"I don't know. Not good, I guess."

Billy's attempt to manipulate and punish Mom had failed. He tried his best to hook her into his problems, but she dodged the bullet with a nice dose of empathy.

Wise parents remember that the more upset they get over their children's grades, the less likely that their kids will begin to get better ones.

Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible.
Dr. Charles Fay