Lunar New Year/Tet Show on Friday
Come celebrate the Year of the Monkey on Friday February 12, at 7 pm (dinner starts at 6 p.m.), in the Summitt cafeteria. Tickets will be sold this week, at 7:30 am and 2:30 pm in the Great Hall. The tickets will also be sold the night of the show at 6 pm. The first five rows are $10 per seat, next ten rows are $5. The rest of the tickets are $3 each. Food is $5 per plate. Food, drinks, pizzas and concession items will be available for purchase starting at 6 pm. Our Tet show benefits the AISD Vietnamese Dual Language Program. See you at the show!
All dual language classes will perform dances to the theme of Vietnamese musical instruments. There will also be a martial arts demonstration. Our Lion/Dragon Dance Team and Taiko drummers will help end the Tet show. They will also be performing at various locations this month. A full schedule of their performances is on http://www.summittliondance.com/. Come out and support our team!
PTA News
Please consider being a PTA board member and help out our school. Our board members consist of parents who are at-home or have full-time jobs, so we are very supportive everyone on the board. The PTA board meets once a month. The meetings are usually in the library so your children are welcome to come and discover our wonderful library.
Joining the PTA board is a great way to know more about the school and what it takes to make Summitt a wonderful place to learn. We have board members and committee members who have been at Summitt for many years and can help you along the way with their wisdom and guidance, so don’t worry if this is your first time getting involved in the PTA.
More information about the positions is in this link:
https://summitteagles.org/2016/02/open-pta-board-positions/
PE NEWS
For the past 8 years, 5th graders from Summitt Elementary have been participating in Explore UT’s Volleyball Playday. They will be receiving permission forms this week in PE. This year it is taking place on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the University of Texas. The 5th grade teams will play 3 matches against other Austin ISD schools. They will also get to participate in a 35 minute volleyball clinic with the Women’s Volleyball Team and Men’s club team at the University of Texas. We’ve had a wonderful response to this event and have had to form two teams in the past years. In order for your child to be a part of a team, we will need the permission slip signed and returned by the morning of Thursday, February 18th. We will start accepting forms immediately after morning assembly in the gym. There will be an area to form the volleyball line. The first 28 students will be assigned to one of two teams in the order the permission slips are received. No forms will be accepted before this time.
Students who would like to participate need to be able to attend after school practice Monday and Wednesday from 2:45-3:30 pm the two weeks before the playday. Parents must be able to provide transportation to and from the UT Recreation Center on the morning of the playday. Summitt is scheduled to start play at 9:05 AM on Saturday, March 5th. This is a fantastic event to showcase your son or daughter’s volleyball skills that we have been learning in PE the last 6 years. I hope you will allow them to participate, and if you have any questions please email me at [email protected] or call our PE office at 414-0587. We will send out an information packet as the volleyball playday approaches.
Also, please mark your calendars for our Summitt CATCH Family Fun Night on Wednesday, April 13th from 5:30-7 pm. It will be a lot of fun! If you know of any business that would like to promote health and wellness at our event, please let me know!
I am also looking for an inflatable obstacle course for both CATCH Night and our Olympic Field Days this year. If you know of anyone who has reasonable prices or would like to donate one for the school to use for these events… please send me an email at [email protected].
T-shirt orders, Yearbook information
Yearbook – order forms are going home! Order your copy of the 2015-2016 yearbook by February 19. No preorders were sold so this is your only chance to order your copy. They are $25 each. Cash or check using the order form or credit card payments here: www.inter-state.com/yearbook use code 04805M.
Fifth grade baby pictures – We will post baby pictures of 5th graders in the yearbook. Please email a high resolution baby picture to [email protected]. Just make sure to include the name of the student.
Pictures for yearbook – If you have taken any pictures of events at Summitt this school year, we’d love to see if we can put it in the yearbook! Please send your high resolution pictures to [email protected]. You need to tell us the event and names and grades of the students in the pictures.
T-shirts – We have long sleeve Summitt Eagles t-shirt available for $15 each. Size Youth XS – Adult 2X (blue), while supplies last.
Winter Special: Short sleeve 2015-2016 Summitt t-shirts are available in size Youth S – Adult 3X. Available in white only, on sale for $8 each. Grab an extra one while supplies last.
Box Tops information
Box tops collecting continues! We’ve already submitted $400 worth of box tops for our great school. Keep collecting! There’s a box in the front office for box top submissions. It helps if you turn them in pack of 50, but every box top counts! Look for double and triple box-tops on items you buy every day at Costco, Sam’s and HEB. Thanks for supporting Summitt!
Sarah Allen, box tops coordinator
Daughter’s Night Out at Urban Air
Mark your calendars for Friday, February 26th from 6-8 pm for Summitt’s first ever Daughters’ Night Out at Urban Air. Round up your dad, favorite relative or other great guy for a fun night at Austin’s best trampoline park!
Urban Air has a special area for younger kids, plus warrior course and dodge ball areas for those who like more adventure. Special Summitt pricing for students is $17 for full park access PLUS pizza and bottled water. Adult special is $13 for full access plus pizza and water.
Adults can also accompany for free, but dinner will need to be ordered on your own.
Have a preschooler or older child that wants to join in? Bring them along! They are eligible for the $17 special. Prices at the door are $25 and do not include dinner, so be sure to buy your tickets directly from Summitt! Flyers will be going home closer to the event.
If you’re IN, sign the waiver here–a waiver is good for a full year: https://www.smartwaiver.com/w/559afef65932b/kiosk/
Questions? Ask Jennie Leon: [email protected] or 512-633-7766.
School pictures for new students
Pictures will be taken on Monday, February 29 for students new to Summitt Elementary. The parents will receive a letter home prior to this picture day.
Save the date: Skate night
Skate night will be at Playland skate on Thursday, March 3rd from 6-8:30pm. It’s $6 per skater.
Library News
BookSpring Read-A-Thon
Thank you to all the students who participated in this years’ Read-A-Thon. Now is the time to collect your donations and bring them in to school. Please use the envelopes provided at the start of the challenge, or stop by the library for a new one. All money is due the morning of, Tuesday, February 16. Final totals and prizes will be announced after Spring Break. Stay tuned!
Oh, Snap!
If you haven’t had a chance to come by the library lately, please do! Come check out all the great photos of fun stuff going on in the library on our Oh, Snap: Picture a Great Year bulletin board.
Afterschool Gifted and Talented Enrichment Club
We are long overdue on our GT meeting! Let’s get together this month, Monday afternoon, February 29, before we leap into March, and celebrate our latest book crushes. Throb, throb!
Bring a book or two to exchange, and an advertisement that “sells” us on the book. Students are encouraged to get creative — make a poster, commercial, or song about your book. Need some inspiration? Head to Pinterest and type in “Book Reports” to find myriad fun and fantastic ideas. Or, stop by the library with any questions, and I’ll be happy to assist you.
All interested students with a signed parent permission slip are welcome. Print yours here, or stop by the office to pick one up. Parents are encouraged to attend as well. https://www.dropbox.com/s/6sh63v86vcis2fl/GT_Afterschool_Club_Permission_Slip.doc?dl=0
Counselors’ Chronicle
Congratulations to Ms. McClung’s 1st grade. They won the attendance party with 99.5% attendance for January. They will have a party after lunch. Thanks to all who submitted calendars. Your results were:
Winslow–93.6%
- Tang–98.5%
Pearson–93.9%
Farnsworth–96.5%
Skalaban–97.4%
- Tran–96.3%
McClung–99.5%
Carstenson–96.2%
Fleming–96.8%
Thank you for continuing to encourage your students to come to school each day and thanks for sending in your calendars!!
Free week of summer camp
Austin Sunshine Camp (through the Young Men’s Business League) is once again providing a great “fun-filled overnight summer camp program”. They have been providing this camp since 1928. All camp programs are provided free of charge for campers who meet the 2015-16 free and reduced school meals eligibility guidelines. There are 8 different sessions available during the summer; each camp session runs for 6 days and 5 nights and includes outdoor activities such as canoeing, hiking, swimming, science, nature, cooking, arts, crafts, and team building activities. Children ages 7-11 are eligible for the Zilker Park Camp and children ages 12-15 attend camp at Lake Travis. Transportation to camp and 3 meals per day are included at no cost to each family.
We have heard very positive feedback from the students who have attended. The earlier you apply the better chance your child has to secure a place. If you would like an application or have questions please contact Sandy Cumming, Counselor. [email protected] or call 512-414-4255. You can also go to sunshinecamps.org or call them at 512-472-8107
Spring Fling information
Mark your calendars and book your babysitters for this year’s Spring Fling, April 30th at Abel’s North. Spring Fling is our annual fundraiser to raise the salary for our fantastic technology teacher, Mrs. Barbara Neill. We will have delicious food, drinks, a silent and live auction, and hours of uninterrupted fun with fellow Summitt parents.
Spring Fling is looking for business partners and families to sponsor our event. Sponsorships can be made at the online school store at https://summitteagles.org/store/ or by dropping off a check in the office. (Please include Spring Fling Sponsorship on the memo line.) Sponsorships of any amount are greatly appreciated and special recognitions will be given for the following donations:
Terabyte Level Sponsor: Donation of $500 or more
Gigabyte Level Sponsor: Donation of $250 or more
Megabyte Level Sponsor: Donation of $100 or more
To thank you for your donation, we’ll recognize you as a sponsor on all of our event publicity that will be distributed to all Summitt parents. Also, we’ll list you as a business/corporate sponsor on our school website, www.summitteagles.org, and each week we’ll list new sponsors in our weekly Newsletter that goes out to Summitt families.
The Spring Fling committee still needs volunteers to make this year’s event a success. Currently we are looking for volunteers to request donations for our silent auction. You will be assigned businesses to contact and many of the requests can be made online or via email. The more help we can get, the better our auction will be. If you are interested in joining the Spring Fling team, email us at [email protected].
AISD and Community Events
My Healing Place Support Group
My Healing Place (8401 Shoal Creek Blvd. — 512-472-7878) is offering group support for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. This group is for children who are ages 5-9 and meets on the first and third Mondays in the evening.
There is also a group for children of divorce which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Please call for more details.
Child Guidance Center
The Austin Child Guidance Center has upcoming groups for ADHD for parents and children. More information here.
AISD PARENT SURVEYS 2015-2016
Parents will receive a parent letter and survey scan form in the Monday Folder. Please note that the hard copy scan forms are due no later than Monday, February 29, 2016.
If parents do not wish to complete the scan form survey, the online version of the Parent Survey is now available. Parents can reach the survey by going to AISD’s main page (http://www.austinisd.org/) and clicking on the survey announcement below the rotating banner. This will take them to the Parent Survey page where they can choose to take the survey in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese.
PLEASE NOTE: THE SURVEY SHOULD ONLY BE COMPLETED IN ONE FORM: SCAN FORM OR ON-LINE, BUT NOT BOTH!
Parent Education program
Anderson’s Parent Education program has produced some information for our vertical team.
Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter: Oh My!
Social Media is inevitable in your student’s world. Watch the first installment of Anderson PTSA’s Parent Education Mini-Video series to find out what you can do to encourage your student to stay safe and use social media in a positive way. Click on the link below to watch the video mini: http://www.andersononline.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?type=d&uREC_ID=219568&pREC_ID=893727
“The Science of High Risk Behavior”
Dr. Crystal Collier, PhD, LPC-S
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7-8pm
(Anderson HS Performing Arts Center)
Dr. Collier is an expert in the areas of addiction prevention and recovery, parent coaching, and adolescent brain development.
Join us to learn how high-risk behaviors such as substance use and even excessive gaming can affect the developing teenage brain. Dr. Collier goes beyond basic facts to discuss ways in which these behaviors actually change brain chemistry and function, affecting a child’s future in ways you may not be aware of. She possesses a knack for making hard to understand science easy to learn and apply! Click on the link below to learn more:
https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.net/fgzZsZKjZqCJQBl5FxeutmfhF0WW7mtKIeG8nBD2FBTrGYrf.pdf
STAAR information for dyslexic students
AISD will present STAAR-A and the Dyslexic student. It includes information concerning STAAR Standardized Oral Administration. It will be on Tuesday, February 23 from 6:30-7:30pm at the AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd. Austin, TX 78723. More information is here.
Girl Day at UT
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and the Girl Day STEM Festival will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from noon to 4 p.m. at the University of Texas at Austin. Over 5,000 elementary and middle school students are expected to participate with over 900 volunteers and over 100 student organizations, community organizations and companies volunteering. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (Girl Day) is an international event celebrated during Engineers Week each year. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day is presented by Halliburton & the Girl Day STEM Festival is presented by Google.
Murchison 6th grade Theater Production program
Murchison’s 6th grade Advanced Theatre Production class is a year-long elective in which student’s class time is devoted to preparing and presenting one-act plays, affording them the opportunity to learn the art of acting and design through practical experience. Students will have two major play performances – one in the fall and one in the spring semester. The spring semester focuses on Shakespeare. Applications are available at www.murchisonmatadors.org/owens and are due March 1st. All students who love Theatre are encouraged to apply.
AHS Band Winter Dance Guard fundraiser
Anderson High School’s first ever Winter Dance Guard is holding a fundraiser to help with start-up costs. They will be collecting household items and Easter Seals will pay for the Dance Guard to collect it. It will be on Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Anderson High south parking lot near the band trailer. They can take clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, shoes, linen, TV, VCR, DVD players, toys, kitchen items, books, magazines, etc. Click here for more information and a list of things you should not bring.
Explore UT
Explore UT will be on Saturday, March 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come out and see all the fun activities. More information here: https://exploreut.utexas.edu/
Girls Kickball registration
2016 NWA Kickball registration is OPEN! Don’t miss out sign up today! Go to www.NWAKickball.com to register!
Registration is open until February 4th for Junior, Senior and Teenage players. PeeWee and Rookie divisions will remain open thru February 20th.
New this year at NWA…
- Seniors and Teenagers who bring a friend who is new to kickball can play on the same team together! Seniors can designate 1 new player friend and Teenage players can designate 2 new player friends. New player friends cannot have played at NWA in the past 3 years.
- First year Junior players (born on or before 8/31/2007) and first year Senior players (born on or before 8/31/2004) can be drafted on to the same team, even if they are both returning NWA kickball players (i.e. there is not a requirement that one of them be a new player friend). Both players must be first year players in either the Junior or the Senior division and provided neither or only one has ever played All Stars.
Contact NWA Player Agent, Merry Ann Southwell ([email protected]) if you have questions.