Message from PTA President
We’ve had many people ask us about our current fundraising events and I just want to answer your questions:
Q: What’s with all these fundraisers (Magazines, Boosterthon Run, AND Spring Fling)?
A: Boosterthon is a new company that we have decided to partner with. They are so popular that when we booked the time for them to come last school year, the only available option that they had was this week.
Spring Fling and Boosterthon will not be so close together in future years. The idea is that these two events should tap from different resources though. The idea behind Boosterthon is to get pledges/money from outside sources (grandparents, aunts, uncles, Godparents, friends in far away places, etc.). Spring Fling is just as much of a community building fundraiser as a money raiser. It is a fun night out, socializing, eating, getting to know the parents of your child’s friends while raising money through silent auction bidding.
The magazine fundraiser was not a PTA fundraiser. This was a library fundraiser and an opportunity for students to order some summer reading materials. Mrs. Richey will not be able to hold a spring book fair since she will be packing up the library so the district can replace the flooring in the library.
Q:Why Boosterthon?
A:This program has the ability to reach out to people for donations besides just parents of Summitt students. We hope to get donations from family and friends that we may not ordinarily reach out to. Every child gets to participate in the run, with or without pledges. There is also a fantastic character education mini lesson that every student will get each day that focuses on things such as sportsmanship and perseverance.
Q:What is all this fundraising for? Where will the money go?
A:Spring Fling- the money raised goes 100% toward the salary of the technology teacher, Barbara Neill. The district does not fund this position. The parents have always believed that technology instruction is important and wanted to find a way to fund it.
Boosterthon- the money raised from Boosterthon would go mainly to providing math and reading tutoring for students next year. This school year, there has been no money given by the district for tutoring. Students have had no opportunity for tutoring during the school day. The PTA wants to help out with this and believes that it is very important. The only way we can do this is to raise more money. We do not want to sell cookie dough or wrapping paper, so the run seemed like a fun and easy way to try and make this happen.
Q:Why can’t the school just ask the district to provide these things?
A:We hear this question all the time. Believe me, if it were that simple, we would do it. The district does not have the resources to provide these things. Austin ISD loses more money through the Robin Hood Recapture Plan than any other school district in the state of Texas. Without rambling on for pages, this means that until the law changes or the formula is adjusted, we will continue to send the majority of our tax dollars elsewhere and have to fund things we need through our own methods.
Kona Ice on Friday
The Kona Ice truck will be at Summitt after school on Friday, April 15. A portion of the sales will benefit Summitt PTA. Prices are: Regular Kona – $3; King Kona – $4; Stadium cup – $5 ($3 refills); NEW Island Rush cup – $6 ($3 refills)
CATCH Family Night
Make your plans to come to Summitt on Monday. We will have the always fun, always awesome Summitt’s 4th annual CATCH Family Fun Night! It will take place on Monday, April 18 from 5:30-7:30 pm all around the Summitt Campus.
This is a completely FREE and super FUN event for all families in our community! We will have several activities such as a Camp Gladiator Obstacle Course on the black top, a Mile Run/Walk with our Fuel Up to Play 60 Team on our Track, a Parent Pacer Challenge in the gym, a Dance Party in the cafeteria and sporting equipment out for you and your family to use in our fields! There will also be many opportunities to get information and goodies from local health and wellness groups and taste some delicious healthy food from My Fit Foods!
The more active you and your family are, the more chances you have to win some great prizes donated by our North Mopac/Parmer HEB and Go Noodle!!! There will be prizes for students, parents and teachers!! Bring the whole family out on Monday, April 18th and enjoy an active evening with your family at Summitt!!!
Spring Fling tickets on sale now!
Spring Fling tickets are now available online at www.summitteagles.org/store for $25 until Friday, April 22nd. Tickets will also be sold April 25th – 29th before and after school in the Great Hall for $30. All tickets include a wristband for heavy appetizers and 2 drink tickets. This event on Saturday, April 30 at Abel’s North from 6-9 p.m. is for adults only. NOTE: Purchase a ticket only if you plan to attend the event. If you cannot attend the event but want to contribute, please consider being a Sponsor. You can get sponsorship information on www.summitteagles.org/store as well.
You should be hearing from your classroom parents about Classroom Creations now, so be on the lookout and get back to them promptly. Classroom Creations are a huge part of what makes our silent auction a success. They are available for bidding in the library the week of April 25th – 29th and at the event.
Check out the event on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/1569358726725116/. Get your babysitters lined up because you don’t want to miss this fun night with Summitt parents and neighbors.
Boosterthon Fun Run in full swing!
The Summitt Eagle Fun Run kicked off this week with an exciting Pep Rally, and we are thrilled about this year’s program! The Summitt Eagle Fun Run will be about 2 weeks and is powered by the Fun Run experts at Boosterthon. Our Fun Run includes all students in a fun, team building, fitness event while helping our school raise much-needed funds.
This year, our entire school is raising funds to go toward field trips, technology, and math/reading tutoring. Our goal is to raise $17,000, and we need YOUR help! This is also an excellent opportunity for contributions from friends and family who live out-of-town, out-of-state or out of the country! Here’s how you can support Summitt Elementary:
• Register your student. To log in pledges, please register your child on funrun.com, using our school’s registration code: 689-679. Students receive a FREE GIFT just by having their parent or guardian register them on funrun.com.
• Reach out to people who can be sponsors. Connect with 10 people who can be your child’s sponsors. You can use social media in the pledging process and even create custom videos—all of this is on funrun.com. Be sure to capture and record each sponsor’s e-mail address. They will also have an easy opportunity to pay for your student’s pledge by credit card online.
• Ask your child about the BIG WORLD RECESS Character Play of the day! This year’s character theme is BIG WORLD RECESS, a global fitness theme all about playing with more character. Watch the fun videos with your child on funrun.com.
• Come to the Fun Run on Thursday morning, April 21st! All students are invited to participate, regardless of financial participation. Every Summitt student will be able to do the fun run! Remember, students will be running 30-35 laps, and we would love for you to come out and cheer.
Boosterthon payment volunteers needed
We need volunteers to help count and enter information after Boosterthon Fun Run ends. We will need volunteers to enter cash and check payments into Boosterthon’s online system for individual students on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, May 6. We need help from 9:30am – 1:30pm on Thursday, April 28th and 8am-10am on Friday, May 6th. It would be best if you can stay the entire time. However, we will gladly accept any volunteers we have for any amount of time. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4facac22a0fc1-boosterthon
Counselors’ Chronicle
Congratulations to Ms. Fleming’s Fifth Grade for having the most students arrive at school on time last month… 99.2%. Thank you to the following teachers for participating and sending in calendars. Great job all!!
Ms. Banovic
Ms. Farnsworth
Ms. Skalaban
Ms. Metzger
Ms. Coppola
Librarian and Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
Please remember our librarian, Denise Richey, and our Assistant Principal, Victoria O’Neal, for all of the hard work they do for us by saying thank you to them on Librarian and Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, April 11-15, 2016!!
Help with Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run of Summitt is looking for more volunteer coaches to keep this amazing program going strong into its SIXTH season!! It’s a team effort as this program has been essential for many girls across the city, state, and country. Check out www.girlsontherun.org and/or contact Coach Ryan at [email protected] or text/call 512-799-7994. No need to be a marathon runner, just be willing to show up 1 or 2 afternoons a week and mentor girls in 3rd-5th grades. It’s win-win!!
Future Daisy Day
All girls entering Kindergarten at Summitt in August 2016 and their parents are welcome to join Summitt Girl Scout Troops #2363 and #40 at the Balcones Park playground (12017 Amherst Dr, Austin, TX 78759) on Saturday, April 23rd from 10-11 am for a fun introduction to Girl Scouting. There will be a snack provided and some great songs and games led by the girls. Information will be shared with parents regarding registration and troop formation. RSVP required at: http://goo.gl/forms/vq8jrVsBH7
Other events for incoming Kindergarten and Pre-K students
- Wednesday, April 20, at 9 a.m.- Snacks with the Principal: Join Ms. Standish for a snack and an introduction to one of the biggest transitions of the school day… the Cafeteria!
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Tuesday, May 17, at 10 a.m. – Storytime with the Librarian: Join Mrs. Richey for some stories and an introduction to Summitt Elementary’s wonderful library.
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Wednesday, June 8, at 6 p.m. – Play Date on the Summitt Playground: Meet future Summitt Pre-K and Kindergarten students and their parents. Siblings are welcome.
Special Kids Night Out During Spring Fling
Need a place for your kids to go during Spring Fling? Capital Gymnastics on McNeil is hosting a Special Kids Night Out from 6-10pm on April 30th! The fun evening will include gymnastics, inflatable fun, pizza dinner, and a movie. Kids ages 3 (and potty trained) to 5th grade invited. Space is limited so call 512-219-9930 and reserve spots today! It’s $25/$20 for siblings. Payment required for reservation. Please ask about cancellation policy and what to pack and wear.
Vietnamese program T-shirt sale
The Vietnamese Dual Language Program’s t-shirt is for sale $10/each. Please buy to support the program. The order form was sent home in the Monday folder. You can also ask Shana or Elizabeth in the office for the order form.
AISD Online Registration
If your student(s) are staying in AISD next school year, you can register them online instead of using the paper copies. Parents/guardians of AISD students will have the option to online register (verify information) for their children for the 2016-2017 school year. The system will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is accessed via the AISD Parent Cloud (my.austinisd.org). This new system will save time and will better accommodate busy schedules. More information is here.
AISD AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Summitt Alumni Scholarship
The Summitt Elementary Alumni Scholarship is now accepting applicants through May 2, 2016. The scholarship was established to recognize former students who have excelled in their academic endeavors, supported their community through various service projects and/or participated in extra-curricular activities, and proven they possess the drive to further their education. By granting these scholarships, we encourage students to pursue their academic endeavors and hope to strengthen relationships between Summitt and its alumni. Summitt Elementary will offer either one (1) $600.00 or (2) $300.00 scholarship/s, depending on the number of qualified applicants. The deadline to apply is May 2, 2016. Download the Summitt Elementary Scholarship Application 2016 (Word doc). Find out more!
Austin ISD Survey
The facility planning consultant, Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), is releasing a survey to determine the best methods to engage Austinites in the facility and bond planning processes. The consultant worked with the Departments of Facilities, Communication and Community Engagement, and Research and Evaluation to develop and refine the survey. Also, we received assistance from Summitt Elementary School to ensure that the Vietnamese translation was correct. Results of the survey will help inform the draft community engagement plan that will be presented to the FABPAC for its consideration on April 14 meeting.
In addition to an English version, the survey can be taken in Spanish and Vietnamese. Also, the survey has been designed (optimized) to be taken on smartphones, other mobile devices, and computers.
Links to the survey are:
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJDYMCG
Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/PJPSWJT
Vietnamese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PQD8BLV
Blood Drive at Anderson
Calling all AHS vertical team parents and community members! On Friday, April 15th, Anderson High School will be hosting another Blood Drive. Parents, teachers and students who are at least 17 years of age and weigh 115+ pounds can sign up for a time slot at: http://vols.pt/v629E2. The Blood Mobile will be located in Room 130. Questions? Email Rosa Bowen, [email protected].
Supporting Young Children in Grief
A Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Event
Date & Time: Friday April 29, 2016 from 12 noon – 1:30 pm
Location: My Healing Place, 8401 Shoal Creek Blvd Suite 102, Austin, TX 78757
Fee: $10 per participant; space is limited so please RSVP online at: http://www.myhealingplace.org/event-bb-2016-04-29.htm or by phone 512-472-7878.
1.5 CEUs Included for LPC, LMFT & Social Work Licensing Boards
Join us for an afternoon of enlightenment and learning with Rachel Saffer, LMSW & Katie Tarvin, Graduate Social Work Student. There a lot of myths and false assumptions about how young children grieve, or what they need during times of grief. Many believe that children are so naturally resilient that they will be able to adapt to a significant loss fairly easily. Others worry about any and every expression, behavior, or mannerism that a child may or may not be doing and whether that is “okay” or “normal” as they’re grieving. This presentation will provide you with explanations about how children understand grief and death loss developmentally, what they need from their home and school environments to adapt as well as possible to the loss, and give you take away tools and exercises to use with young children to help them explore their loss in healthy, appropriate ways. Drinks will be provided. Please bring your own sack lunch.
Make Balcones Park better
Show your support for our neighborhood city park by donating to make improvements. Donate $50 to the Balcones Park & Pool Improvement Project and get a “Support Balcones Park” sign for your yard! We must raise $15,000 to get the $200,000 in grants from Austin Parks Foundation and Neighborhood Partnering Program. Donate Today! http://balconespark.org/donate-to-park/
Celebrate Adelphi Acre Community Garden’s birthday
Please join us at the Adelphi Acre Community Garden One Year Anniversary party on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., located at the Southeast corner of Adelphi Lane and Amherst in northwest Austin. Everyone is invited to attend this family friendly event and to help celebrate this milestone. The anniversary will celebrate the continued effort of members, support from sponsors, local businesses and the partnership with multiple city and local agencies that has helped the garden grow. More information is here.
Trojans Pop Warner Registration now open
Football and Cheer are open to participants ages 5-12 years. Scholarships are available. Details for Trojans Pop Warner Football & Cheer can be found on our website, www.trojanpw.com.
Questions about football? Contact Myra Adkins ([email protected]). Questions about cheer? Contact Jennifer Young ([email protected]). Go Trojans Pop Warner Football and Cheer!