Superintendent Monica Simmons’ February Newsletter
Feb 6, 2023
Dear Elysian Fields ISD Community, January has come and gone, and we are already in the second month of 2023! Last week was cold, wet, and unpredictable The concern for student and staff safety always serves as the main driver when closure, early, or delayed decisions are made, and we always strive to err on the side of caution Each weather incident is unique and demands unique considerations. We are all glad to see that the sunshine has returned and are looking forward to all the engaging activities and events for both students and families. I encourage you to stay connected with Elysian Fields ISD so you don’t miss out on the various activities happening at our schools.
This week is National School Counselors Week, and the theme is School Counselors: Helping Students Dream Big. We are thankful for our Elysian Fields ISD Counselors and all they do to influence and impact the lives of our students. Along with preparing students for life outside the classroom and providing their families with tips, school counselors offer guidance through difficult situations and point them toward additional resources.
A Few Celebrations:
January 25th was the 100th Day of School!
At the elementary school, students and staff celebrated. Students spent the day refining their math skills by participating in a variety of games and activities centered around this very important number.
They even hosted a parade, and students in Mrs Ashley Bueton’s second grade class dressed up for the celebration!
The High School UIL Science team placed 1st through 5th on Saturday, January 28, at the SFA meet.
The results were as follows:
First Place Team
Drew Simms - First Place Overall, Top Chemistry, Top Physics
Jacob McCray - Second Place Overall
Talan Crain - Third Place Overall
Keely Goelden - Fourth Place Overall
Keller Robinson - Fifth Place Overall
February is Black History Month. This is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of Black Americans past and present. The Middle School will be hosting a Black History Program on Friday, February 10.
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
From a speech given at Spelman College in 1960.
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
Elementary UIL Results 2022-2023
5th Grade Social Studies- Coach - Megan Golden
1st Place as a Team - Ben Dickinson, Drake Galles & Devin Sneed
1st Place - Devin Sneed
2nd Place - Drake Galles
Tied for 3rd Place - Ben Dickinson
5th Grade Dictionary - Coach - LeAnn Beavers
1st Place as a Team - Ella Deal, Lauren Johnson, Maggie Massey & Harper Smith
1st Place - Maggie Massey
4th Place - Ella Deal
5th Place - Lauren Johnson
5th Grade Listening- Coach - LeAnn Beavers
1st Place as a Team - Lauren Johnson, Reese Magill, Molly Nicks & Harper Smith
3rd Place - Harper Smith
5th Place - Molly Nicks
5th Grade Maps, Graphs & Charts - Coach - Cheryl Harris
1st Place as a Team - Drake Galles, Devin Sneed, Layne Wigington & Reese Wilson
1st Place - Drake Galles
2nd Place - Devin Sneed
6th Place - Layne Wigington
5th Grade Spelling - Coach Stephanie Phelps
2nd Place as a Team - Scout Goswick, Riley Gunter, Noah Kuhnert & Karsyn Taylor
3rd Place - Riley Kate Gunter
5th Place - Scout Goswick
5th Grade Chess - Coach - Sabrina Scott
3rd Place as a Team - Ben Dickinson, Kaleb Kohen, Codie Pippen & Kaleb Ware
3rd Place - Codie Pippen
5th Grade Ready Writing - Coach Jill McKinnon
4th Place - Karsyn Taylor
5th Place - Jackson Wilburn
4th Grade Music Memory - Coach - Jayme Hammontree
1st Place as a Team - Caden Commander, Hudson Quick, Brianna Tackett & Charlie Wigington
1st Place - Charlie Wigington - Perfect Score
2nd Place - Caden Commander
4th Place - Hudson Quick
4th Grade Number Sense - Coach - Andrea McGuire
3rd Place as a Team - Ellington Bueton, Tate Holland, Brady Martin & Jase Magouirk
Tied for 6th Place - Tate Holland
4th Grade Chess - Coach - Sabrina Scott
3rd Place as a Team - Bently Henderson, Mackenzie Henry & Beckham Westmoreland
4th Grade Art - Coach Bayley Sullivan
3rd Place as a Team - Caden Commander, Hannah Myre, Kaden Roberts, Allie Shevers & Lawson Woodley
4th Grade Spelling - Coach - Stephanie Phelps
Tied for 6th Place - Brady Martin
4th Grade Oral Reading - Coach - Brianna Jones
3rd Place - Jackson Wilburn
4th Grade Ready Writing - Coach - Jill McKinnon
3rd Place - Tate Holland
6th Place - Kira Pruitt
3rd Grade Spelling - Coach - Stephanie Phelps
1st Place as a Team - Paris Marshall, Gabriel Olsen, Brinley Tiller & Julieanne Tiller
1st Place - Gabriel Olsen
2nd Place - Brinley Tiller
3rd Grade Chess - Coach - Sabrina Scott
3rd Place - Christopher Britt
Tied for 4th Place - Ryder Long
3rd Grade Ready Writing - Jill McKinnon
1st Place - Brinley Tiller
4th Place - Jameson Daniel
2nd Grade Chess - Coach - Sabrina Scott
1st Place as a Team - Remi Burk, Drake Peeples, Levi Pippen & Layla Pippen
1st Place - Drake Peeples
3rd Place - Levi Pippen
4th Place - Layla Pippen
2nd Grade Music Memory - Coach Jayme Hammontree
2nd Place as a Team - Caycen Benoit, Molly Magill, Elijah Reimers & Judson Woodley
Tied for 1st Place - Judson Woodley - Perfect Score
2nd Grade StoryTelling - Coach - Mary Simmons
2nd Place - Lincoln Nicolai
EF’s Got Talent
Attention, EFISD community! The Elysian Fields Middle School is having a talent show, and YOU are invited to share your talent! The event will be for the entire community, and performance opportunities are open to all. The event will provide the entire community with an entertaining afternoon.
If you’d like to perform, either as an individual or in a group, please contact Brooke Michel at Elysian Fields Middle School.
All performers will be required to attend an audition. The Talent Show will take place on Saturday, April 15 at 6 00 pm.
Elysian Fields High School’s annual Jacket Nation Scholarship Dinner and silent auction will be held at Bear Creek Smokehouse at 6 00 PM on February 27, 2023. Only 250 tickets will be sold. One lucky ticket holder will win $5,000, but the winner doesn't have to be present to win the prize. All funds raised from this event will be used to provide each graduating Senior planning to attend college or a technical school a $500 scholarship. All students that sell tickets will be eligible to have their name drawn for a SECOND scholarship, and one lucky student will win! There will be great items in the silent auction and other random prizes throughout the night (but winners must be present to claim those.) A ticket purchased gets TWO people into the event and provides TWO dinners. It's also a tax-deductible donation. Please support our high school students. Go JACKETS!
With Jacket Pride,
Monica Simmons EFISD Superintendent
District Upcoming Events:
February 6-10 National School Counseling Week
February 9 Safety and Security Meeting at 9 0
February 10 Middle School Black History Program
February 17 No School
February 20 Presidents Day (No School)
February 22 Report Cards issued and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
February 24 Go Texan Day!
February 27 Jacket Nation Scholar Foundation Dinner at Bear Creek at 6 00
Congratulations to band students Jacob McCray, LeBron Simmons, Drew Simms on earning 1’s at the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, hosted at Gilmer High School, and advancing to state!
The Elysian Fields Elementary students participated in the UIL Academic Meet at Arp Elementary on Friday, February 3. They earned 2nd place as a school. Way to go, students and coaches!!!