Sydnee, 4th Grade Student

Ms. Deanna Krenek is delighted to share a special memory of one of her precious students. Sydnee S. brings radiance to her 4^th grade classroom through creative insights and an unbridled imagination. With the heart of a poet and the soul of an artist, Sydnee reflects upon her first equine adventure.

I rolled down the window feeling the wind splash on my soft face. I sat back down on the arm of the cushioned seat and asked, “Where are we going?”  

Granny said nothing, the silence filling the car like a quiet night in the country. I looked out of the window with a grin and thought, “Oh, it’s a surprise.” 

I saw the trees dancing from the air. I looked to the left out of the window seeing a sign that said, “$5 Horse Rides!” I smiled a moon smile, drinking my fresh, cold Sprite. I sat back down and felt the soft seat, smiling. Soon, we were at the horse stables. I opened the door of the car and shut it as I got out. I felt the heat from the sun and the happiness from my head. As I was walking towards the stables, the horses neighed and pranced with their back legs swinging and flying in the air. I felt so happy to ride on the horse. My granny said I could touch one, so I walked up to it and gently placed my soft hand on its neck then laughed as the gentle beast calmed down. My granny called.  Right before I went to her, I whispered to the horse, “I promise I’ll ride you.” 

PTA, Jerri Anh Wright

PTA Reflections Program

What is Reflections?  It is a National PTA program to promote the arts.

Started in 1969 by the Colorado PTA President Mary Lou Anderson, Reflections has encouraged millions of students to express themselves by giving positive recognition for their artistic efforts. Students in preschool through grade 12 may create and submit works of art in six categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. Any PTA with Active Status is eligible to sponsor Reflections on their campus.

The reflections program would not have been successful without the help and commitment of our dedicated judges. Special thanks goes to

• Bree McColl, Brazos Valley Credit Union
• David Reed, Local Artist
• Kim Law, Parent of former student

We would also like to thank the parents and supportive members of our PTA who donated food, as well as  Lonestar Kolaches for their donation of donuts and kolaches to the breakfast.

For questions about the PTA reflections program, please email jw@artlamode.com.

Kindergarten Team

 Traveling the World in Kindergarten

Before the winter break, kindergartners took a trip around the world! They packed their suitcase and had their passport stamped at five different countries where they learned a new holiday tradition at each stop!

One stop was Germany where Ms. Clark showed how German people celebrate Christmas!  Students learned that the parents decorate the tree on Christmas Eve.

“We learned that the kids do not get to decorate the tree in Germany.” Levi

Students then created their very own Christmas tree snack.

While in Europe, Miss Gurney took the students around The Netherlands where they learned that Sinterclaus leaves presents for children in wooden shoes.  

"My favorite part was learning about Sinterklass and eating the ginger cookies."
 -Emma R.

"I liked taking off my shoes and trying on the real wooden clogs like they wear in Holland!"-Ayria

Students could even try on a pair of authentic wooden clogs!

Heading east, they landed in Israel where Mrs. Scharr shared some Hanukah traditions.

“The people in Israel like candles and they celebrate Hanukkah.” -Alexis

Students tasted the ever popular potato latkes.
“Most people cook different food.  I like your cooking ‘cause the latkes were delicious!”
 –Evelyn F.

“The latke was so good!” -Logan

Students also learned the rules of the game driedel.

“When you get on the G, you get all the beans!” - Brynlee

Heading farther east, they rang in the Chinese New Year with Mrs. Yezak-McDonald.

"We painted Chinese words with black paint." -Joseph

Students also created Chinese drums and danced around the room like the traditional lion in parades. 

"I learned that people put red lanterns outside their house." -J.J.

"We made our own lanterns and hanged them up in the classroom." -Eva

Before making it back to the United States, the last stop was Mexico where they learned about Las Posadas with Miss Fait. Students created a star piñata and learned why poinsettia is associated with the holiday.

"I felt happy because we were learning about Mexico. There is a piñata and we made a star piñata."

 -Daniel

“There were decorations around the room and they celebrate with piñatas and dancing.” – Logan

“You say ‘hola’ to say ‘hi.’ To celebrate the kids hit piñatas and lots of sweets come out for the kids. They gather up family and make a huge feast.” – Carys

Also when the students went to the library that week, Mrs. Nored taught them about how Christmas is celebrated in Italy and they decorated festive hats!

Overall, the trip around the world was a hit with both the children and teachers! They learned that there are many different traditions around the world and that people celebrate different things!

Wendy McCarthy, 1st Grade Teacher

Mrs. McCarthy's 1st Grade

Holiday Traditions Presentations

December 9-11, 2015

This past week, our first graders were part of an awesome social studies project!

They worked hard on making  posters, videos, and crafts to show and share their holiday    traditions with us.

We had lots of fun! It was like we were bonding!- Paytin C.

We took turns presenting and sharing. We picked a friend to help us and then we had time for questions and comments.

We loved sharing, asking questions, and making comments.—Lydia H.

I liked how we all shared our

posters.—Jonah C.

We shared traditions we do as a family that have been passed on from generation to generation. We were able to see how alike and different we are.

And we learned a lot about each other.

I like  that we all got to share our traditions. –Kaylynn V.

Deanna Krenek's 4th Grade Cheetahs

Picking a Bluebonnet: Zane and the Hurricane

A Collective Review by Ms. Krenek and Her Cheetahs

Fourth grade students at Cimarron Elementary recently read Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick. This literary nonfiction masterpiece, a 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee, captivated these readers with its heart-wrenching storyline of a young boy’s journey of survival throughout Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

In 2005, when many of these students were infants or not yet born, Hurricane Katrina devastated the southeastern coast of the United States. New Orleans endured the initial onslaught of the dangerous storm only to succumb to horrendous flooding and destruction when powerful storm surges caused surrounding levees to breach.

Readers experience the story through the eyes of Zane, a young visitor in this unfamiliar place who finds himself alone and stranded when his dog jumps out of the van window as he and his great-grandmother attempt to evacuate. Following his heart and Bandy’s wagging tail, Zane is left behind to face unimaginable circumstances. Fate intervenes in the kindred souls of Mr. Tru, an elderly jazz musician with a heart of gold, and Malvina, a spunky girl who hides her pain behind the façade of comical one-liners.

The characters in the novel evolve into special friends for whom the readers care deeply. What I like about Mr. Tru was that he was brave, and he knew what to do. (Bryan C.) Malvina is nice and sometimes funny. (Kylah C.) I like her strong relationships with Bandy and Zane. (Ruba E.) Zane helped Bandy get back on his feet. (Josiah R.) Mr. Tru, Zane, and Malvina bravely encounter each obstacle by drawing from sources of inner strength they never knew they possessed. When you run into challenges, you explore new things like Zane did in Katrina. He made new friends, and now Zane knows that he needs to stay calm in big situations.  He is VERY thankful for his family and friends. (Ayah R.)

With a broken infrastructure and inadequate preparation, the NOLA victims of Katrina reacted in extremes. When people are scared, the muscles and brain activate the fight or flight program in your brain. Your heart pumps faster. (Matt C.) Some people went ‘psycho’ during the hurricane, and some people started shooting! (Sam B.) Others were motivated by true desperation. They had no choice but to rob people for food and money, to also take other people’s houses for shelter and get so traumatized from the experience. (David G.) Especially after such overwhelming incidents, you learn from your mistakes, and they make you strong and confident. (Elena L.)

After discovering how life is celebrated during processionals in New Orleans, students served in “second line” as they paraded around the classroom while swirling handkerchiefs in the air. I was enjoying the music. (Landon N.) It was so much fun dancing. (Vivian S.) We got to walk around the room, waving these green sparkly pieces of fabric, so it was fun. (Chassidy F.)

As Zane and the Hurricane concluded with a generous dose of poetic justice, lessons learned, and a beautiful epilogue, the festive strains of New Orleans jazz closed the final chapter and changed our lives forever. 

Alex, 4th Grade Student

Sound Energy

Before Thanksgiving break, 4^th grade students completed projects to demonstrate their understanding of the different types of energy. We had some amazing projects including puppet shows, power points, and game boards.

Alex, from Ms. Helmcamp’s homeroom, wrote this piece about her project about sound.

Sound is made when something vibrates or moves back and forth quickly. The vibrations of the sound you are making travels through the air in waves. Volume is how loud or soft something is.

The waves of loud sounds have a lot of energy and they can travel pretty far. The waves of softer sounds have less energy and they don’t really travel that far. Sound travels in longitudinal waves. Humans can hear sounds from 20 to 20,000 cycles per second.

Here are some vocabulary words to know:

Pitch- how high or low a sound id

Amplitude – the measure of a sound wave

Echo – a reflection of sound

Sonic Boom – A shock that consists of compressed sound waves created when something moves

Regina Bartels, Instructional Coach

Cimarron Celebrates Our Heroes

On November 11, 2015, Cimarron was honored to celebrate over 60 Veterans at our Annual Veteran’s Day Program.  The morning started off with a breakfast that was all prepared and donated by faculty and parents.  The cafeteria was decorated red, white, and blue, and students that had a Veteran attending were able to sit and enjoy breakfast. 

Following breakfast, the Veterans were welcomed into the gym with a sea of patriotic colors and flags waving high.  Our Veterans were surrounded by the sweet voices of each student singing several patriotic songs. 

The Mr. Dyer Writing Contest winners were announced for each grade level and they bravely read their essays for all to hear. 

Kindergarten: Micah from Mrs. Clark’s Class

I love America because our country is safe and soldiers protect us.

And freedom is good.  Our country’s nickname is the melting pot.

The USA is the best country in the world.

First Grade: Brooke from Mrs. Dowling’s Class

My Dad told me America is awesome.  I am free to learn, and sing, talk, and count.  America gives me happy tears.

Second Grade: Addison from Mrs. Chavez’s Class

Awesome

Most Cool

Everlasting

Red, White, and Blue

In a Land we are free

Crazy about America

Amazing

Third Grade: Luke from Mrs. Heard’s Class

I love America because it has...

Very

Excellent

Teamwork

Effort

Respectful

American

Nation loving

Sacrificing Veterans

  

Fourth Grade: Samuel from Mrs. Krenek’s Class

I love America because there are so many Veterans, like my Dad, fighting to protect their families and trying to make America safe for children and for all Americans.  My Dad fought in the war of 9/11 and he protected America from the people who attacked America.  American Veterans chose to protect us. 

I also love America because America doesn’t cause wars the Americans Veterans have fought in.  America will always defend itself.  Therefore, I think America is a brave, free, and strong country.

I also like America because some other countries don’t allow kids to go to school and get an education and get a good job and have a good life.

America is a GREAT country.  I would never want to live in another country.  I also want to grow up and be in the military so I can defend the country I love.

Fifth Grade: Kailey from Mrs. Huggins

I love America because I grew up here and made memories.  I love American because of the men and women who served and continue to serve for our freedom. I will always love America and remember those who have served and who are serving today.

Finally we honored our “Most Senior” Veteran this year.  His name is Joe Pulido.  He served in the Army and has two great-grandchildren who are proud students here.

Each year seems to get better and better as we celebrate our Veterans.  The entire school takes part in creating an atmosphere of patriotism and respect.  We cannot wait to see what next year’s celebration will bring!