We are so very grateful for the week spent with family and friends. We are refreshed and ready for a very busy few weeks before the winter break. I say it every year, but there is absolutely no better place to be than an elementary campus during the holiday season!!!

A special THANK YOU to our Preston PTA for sponsoring the Patrol Stories assembly for our students - they delivered a strong message about making safe decisions while getting the whole crowd pumped up!  Nothing says a good time like confetti cannons, spontaneous dancing, and random SCREAMING!  Our students had a GREAT time!  We finished up the week with our First Annual Turkey Trot.  Thank you to our Specials Team and our volunteers who went above and beyond to make it a fun day for our kids!

Starting on Thursday, December 5, we will be counting down the days until winter break with OPTIONAL dress-up days for students and staff this year.  Please do not feel the need to spend extra money on elaborate costumes. Participate in one, all or none of the days! See the list of days below if interested.

Winter Parties will be on Thursday, December 19 and are for current Preston students only and ONE adult guest.  Remember that each guest must have a cleared background check on file, so take care of that today if you haven't already.   See the Winter Party graphic below and scan the QR code to register by Monday, December 16 so we can add you to our guest list.  Plans are in the works now, so stay tuned for information on how you can help contribute food items or paper goods to make this a fun event for the students.

As we approach the Winter Break, please be aware that Friday, December 20 is an early release day. All students are dismissed at 12 noon. AISD busses and daycare facilities will make adjustments to provide transportation. If your child is a car rider, please make arrangements for them to be picked up on time. Sack lunches will be made available to all students on a pre-order basis.  If you would like to order a sack lunch for your student, please complete this form for each lunch.

As always, thank you for trusting us with those who matter most to you!

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Wendland

Allen ISD Gifted & Talented and Assessment Departments will coordinate upcoming kindergarten phase I testing for potential gifted/talented identification. All AISD kindergarten students will be administered a CogAT assessment between the dates of December 2-6, 2024. Please view the informational letter sent via Skyward Family Access the week of November 4-8. This test will be administered during the school day at each campus. You do not need to register your student for phase I testing. 

All class party guests will be required to have a cleared background check before being admitted this year.  This is a change from previous years.  Don't let this catch you by surprise!  There will be no exceptions to this rule.  Click HERE to get started today!

Parents and special guests may visit for lunch. We can only accommodate 8 guests per grade level. Please plan to visit only ONE time per week, as lunch time with friends is an important opportunity for students to practice age-appropriate social skills. Use this link to sign up so that our front office will know you're coming! Sign-up for lunch is something new this year and we thank you in advance for honoring this request. This will give our office staff time to print your visitors badge in advance, check that the visitors signed up are authorized to be with your child, and make sure that we have enough seating a space for your visit. Don't forget to bring your photo ID when you come.

Just a few lunchtime guidelines to keep in mind:

• Parents and guests will sign in at the front office

• Parents and guests will meet their student on the stage at the designated lunch time. Students and parents must remain seated on the stage throughout the lunch period - no one is permitted to leave the stage and mingle with students or teachers in the cafeteria.

• Parents and guests are not permitted in other areas of the building.
• Students will rejoin their class in the cafeteria at the end of the lunch period.

• Please use trash receptacles provided and keep the area clean for the remaining guests.

The lunch visitor sign-up for the fall semester can be accessed  HERE.  You will also find it linked on the Preston website.

The PTA was thrilled to bring Patrol Stories to our K-5th grade students on Thursday, Nov 21st. Your students had an amazing time meeting Officer Maxwell, the Patrol Stories mascot, and the Awesome Crew to learn about a variety of safety topics. 

Kinder- Second grade program: Officer Maxwell is the official mascot of Patrol Stories and represents all First Responders across the nation. Officer Maxwell’s BIG THREE slogan is essential to the program, and teaches students to have confidence in their abilities, stay motivated to achieve their goals, and to encourage those around them to do the same. 

Third - Fifth grade program: Together We Can, is the newest safety adventure from Patrol Stories Inc. This program is designed to take students on a galactic thrilling adventure with First Responders encouraging unity and teamwork to overcome challenges. Together We Can, also provides students with an age appropriate look at the differences between movies, video games, and real life situations. 

Thank you Patrol Stories for making this event EPIC!

Dr. Jenny Preston’s career in education is a testament to her dedication and impact on the students and communities she served. As a Texas educator with more than 30 years of experience, Preston began her journey as a first-grade teacher in Pine Tree ISD in 1973. Throughout her career, she held various roles including principal, assistant superintendent, and ultimately, superintendent of schools, a role she held in both Graham ISD and Allen ISD.

Click here to read more about Dr. Jenny Preston in SOAR Magazine!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest on PTA programs and offerings.  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PrestonPTA

http://www.instagram.com/prestonPTA 

Parent lead Facebook Groups for each Grade Level also exist.  These are a great way to meet other families and ask questions you may have! 

Contact communications@prestonpta.com for more information!