Reminder: There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018
Donation Drive on Saturday
The Easter Seals Donation Drive is on Saturday, January 13, from 9 am-noon at Summitt. Donations can be dropped off in the Great Hall during school hours this week or in the circle drive on the 13th. Easter Seals will pay Summitt PTA 20 cents per pound for soft items such as clothes, shoes, sheets, small rugs, etc. They pay 5 cents per pound for small household items such as dishes, pots, pans, small kitchen appliances, etc. For a list of items they accept, goto http://www.donateestx.org/
Lost and Found
Please take a look in the lost and found for your student’s possessions, it is full of coats, clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes and water bottles. The lost and found is located to the right of the front doors, in the music hallway, after you enter the building. All items not claimed by Friday, January 12 will be donated to Easterseals!!
Attendance incentives
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Please read the letter about attendance incentives here and in Spanish.
We will implementing a new incentive plan beginning in January to ensure our students are here, on time, every day. A tardy will be counted if a student arrives past 7:45 a.m. and an absence is counted if a student arrives later than 8 a.m. Students will have the opportunity to earn whole class incentives as well as individual incentives. Each classroom teacher will have the letters to spell out the word ATTENDANCE. For every day the class has perfect attendance (including no tardies), the class will earn a letter. Once the class has spelled ATTENDANCE, students will earn an agreed upon reward (i.e. game day, extra recess, etc). Each time the class has earned all the letters they will also receive a star to place outside their classroom. Stars displayed in the windows will represent how often the class has spelled ATTENDANCE. Students with perfect attendance (no tardies or absences) during the month will have their first names posted on an attendance wall in the hallway. These students will receive perfect attendance certificates and pencils for the specific month they have perfect attendance. Students that are absent and/or tardy at any time during one month can start fresh the next month and can receive recognition and a certificate for the month(s) with perfect attendance. At the end of the school year, all students with perfect attendance for the school year will qualify to have their names entered into an end of the school year drawing.
Yoga at Summitt
There’s now Yoga at Summitt! Students in Kinder to 3rd grade will have an opportunity to sign up for 6 weeks of after school yoga classes beginning this Thursday, Jan. 11, from 3-3:40 p.m. https://thelittleyogahouse.pike13.com/courses/157858
No Place for Hate project next week
It is never OK to name‐call or bully another student for any reason! We are dressing up each day to CELEBRATE KINDNESS AND DIVERSITY!
Tuesday, January 16: Bring a Buddy Day – Bring your stuffed animal friend that will fit in your backpack.
Wednesday, January 17: Twinsday — Double the friendship and dress as a twin. If you don’t have a partner, wear your Summitt shirt.
Thursday, January 18: You be You Day—Come as you are. Crazy hair, mismatched clothes, backwards clothes, crazy socks, are all welcome!
Friday, January 19: Diversity Day—Wear as many colors as you can to represent diversity.
Catfish Parlour Next week
Join other Summitt Families at Catfish Parlour (11910 Research Blvd) on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 5-9 p.m. Catfish Parlour has been a generous supporter of Summitt for many years. A portion of the sales that night will benefit Summitt PTA. http://catfishparlour.com/north-austin.html
Bad weather makeup days update
Austin ISD will not need to use its bad weather makeup days due to two days of additional instructional minutes included in the calendar. The Texas Education Agency requires districts to make up the first two days of school following bad weather closures while any additional days do not need to be recovered. Because two additional days of instructional minutes are included beyond the 75,600 minutes per year required by the state of Texas, AISD bad weather days will not be needed.
Teacher Talent Show
Are you coming to the talent show? Are you ready to see the best talents Summitt has to offer? Teacher Talent Show is on Friday January 26th, at 7pm in the Summitt cafeteria. Tickets will be sold January 22nd-26th, 7:15 am and 2:30 pm in the Great Hall. The tickets will also be sold the night of the show. The first five rows are $10 per seat. The rest of the tickets are $5 each. Concession items will be available for purchase at the show. Our Teacher Talent Show benefits the Koblenz Exchange Program. See you at the show!
Got the time?…
This section features volunteer opportunities with specific time estimates. Check here each week to see what’s needed. That way, if you “got the time,” you can help out regularly for 5 to 15 minutes, or for a couple hours on a one-time project.
- If you can spare 15 minutes after the 7:45 am bell, please stay to open the door for late students.
- If you’ve planning to have lunch with your child this next week, please consider being a door opener. There are around 40 visitors each day between 10:30 am and 1 pm. That’s a lot of door answering for our front office! You can help the office staff during their busiest time while hanging out with your child. You do not have to sit next to the door or open it up in person. You will be given a phone to answer the front doorbell and then buzz in the visitors. If you’re able to help, please speak with Shana or Elizabeth in the front office.
Library News
WANTED: Overdue Books
Students are visiting the library once again, and resuming check out. Please be on the look out for any overdue books at home, and get those turned in.
BookSpring Read-a-Thon
BookSpring Read-a-Thon begins, Monday, January 22 through, Sunday, February 2. It is that time of year once again for the Bookspring Read-A-Thon. This is our 5th year to participate in this amazing program that aims to launch all children into a world of reading by providing them with their own new books.
BookSpring’s Read-A-Thon encourages community service through reading. During this two week event, students and book lovers read and collect donations based on the number of minutes they read. The donations buy books and support BookSpring’s childhood literacy programs in the Greater Austin area. BookSpring serves children ages birth to 12 years, teen parents and parents of young children. Ninety-five percent (95%) of BookSpring’s recipients are living at or below the federal poverty level. To learn more, visit http://readathon.bookspring.org. Information about how to register to participate will be sent home next week in Monday folders. Please consider encouraging your child to participate. As little as $3 buys a new book for a child in our community. Thank you!
Eager Eagle Readers Pre-K Reading Incentive Program begins, January 22 – May 25
Beginning the week of January 22, 2018, all Pre-K students at Summitt Elementary are invited to participate in the Eager Eagle Reader program. The goal of the program is to set up our students for years of academic success, to bathe our students in literature at home, as well as at school, and to ignite in all of our students a passion and thirst for knowledge. By reading at least one book to your student 5 nights a week over the course of the semester, your child will have read 100 books or more and be well on their way to a lifetime of learning! It’s easy to participate, and along the way your students will earn small rewards to keep encouraging them towards their goal of 100 books. Look for more information in your child’s Monday folder next week.
Save the date: Spring and group pictures
The spring (it’s individual posed) and group (your child’s class) pictures will be on Friday, March 23.
Save the date: Spring book fair and CATCH night
The spring book fair will be April 16-20, with CATCH Family Fun Night on Thursday, April 19th from 5:30-7 pm.
Fifth grade news
Important Dates for Transition to Murchison Middle School
January 18, & January 24 – Information meetings about schedule and course changes at 6 p.m.
January 16 – 5th Grade Showcase. Students will travel by bus to MMS for presentations from 9 am-12pm.
January 20 – Musical Instrument Test Drive at Murchison Middle School – Fifth graders are invited to come out January 20, 2018 from 9 am – 4 pm or January 25, 2018 from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm to the Murchison Middle School Cafeteria Main Foyer to try out all of the instruments available through the orchestra and band programs. Please allow 20-30 minutes to try them out.
January 23 – IB Parent Night @ 6 pm in the MMS cafeteria. Get information about what IB is and how the program works at Murchison.
January 26 – A team from Murchison will come to Summitt to hand out and go over choice sheets. Choice sheets will come home this day.
February 6 – Murchison Choice Sheet Night from 5:30-7 pm. There will be stations set up in the cafeteria and the gym to provide information about the different elective choices.
February 12 – Choice sheets due back to your child’s teacher by this day. If we do not have a choice sheet back by this day, we will have to create one for them. Even if you might be moving, transferring, or attending a magnet school, please fill one out just in case.
February 28 – Students will enter choice sheets into the computer database. The counselor for incoming 6th graders will be here to help. We will need parent volunteers to help make sure all selections match what is on the paper. After this date, all changes will have to take place by calling the Murchison counseling office.
If your student will not be attending Murchison, please contact Courtney Cardosa @512- 414-4248 or [email protected]. I will need to communicate with the AISD school, magnet, or academy that your child will attend to ensure that they have a schedule. You may also contact me with questions or concerns.
AISD and Community Events
Young Rembrandts sign up
Young Rembrandts will have classes on Wednesdays, 3 – 4 PM, from 1/17/2018 – 3/7/2018. It’s $96 for an 8-week session or 2 payments of $48. Sign up at http://www.youngrembrandts.com/austinwest/default/. More info here.
Anderson High School Musical
Come enjoy Anderson High School’s production of “Into the Woods” January 25, 26 & 27 at 7 PM and January 28 at 2 PM. A spellbinding evening of musical theater full of twisted fairy tales and enchantment! You won’t want to miss this musical for all ages! Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Tickets go on sale at the Anderson High School PAC Box Office one hour before show time.
Murchison schedule for next school year
Murchison Middle School is currently redesigning their daily schedule and core course descriptions (math, science, language arts, and social studies) for the 2018-2019 school year. Please make a plan to attend one of these VERY important meetings. Even if you currently have MMS students, this meeting will be new and important information. All meetings are scheduled to have the same information, so you only need to attend one.
DATES:
Tuesday, January 9 – 6 pm MMS Cafeteria
Thursday, January 18 – 6 pm MMS Cafeteria
Wednesday, January 24 – 6 pm MMS Cafeteria
Dog Pageant!
Calling all Dog Lovers! Project Graduation and Austin Pets Alive will hold a dog pageant on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 4-6 PM in the AHS cafeteria. The ATX Dog Pageant is sponsored by local retailer Lofty Dog. PRIZES available in three categories. Enter your dog or purchase tickets to attend online:: https://www.andersononline.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=236108&type=d&pREC_ID=1347479
Proceeds benefit Austin Pets Alive! and AHS Project Graduation (the keep new grads safe lock-in party).
AISD Nominations
Open nominations for Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Librarian of the Year and Classified Staff of the Year began Jan. 2 and close Jan. 31. We invite staff, students, parents and community members to nominate a candidate for these awards. Join us May 17, 2018 at the AISD Performing Arts Center. https://www.austinisd.org/edquality/employee-recognition/salute
Adolescent mental health and wellness dialogue
How do I talk to my teen? A conversation about having tough conversations.
Therapists from Anderson High School’s Vida Clinic* will be hosting a dialogue with parents about adolescent mental health and wellness on January 17th at 7-8:30pm at the Anderson theater. We invite you to join us for the opportunity to connect with other parents, ask questions, and learn about mental health resources offered at school. We will talk about adolescent development, warning signs, and mental health issues, so feel free to bring your worries and questions to this open discussion about how to have important conversations with your teens.
*Vida Clinic is a behavioral health practice that specializes in providing school-based mental health services. We partner with the AISD and offer year-round therapeutic support, including individual, family, and group counseling, as well as consultation and training for parents and staff. Common reasons for referral include depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, trauma history, school-related stress, family conflict, grief and loss, substance abuse, and self-harming behaviors. Our therapists are clinically trained to provide the highest quality of services to meet the needs of each individual client and utilize evidence-based and trauma-informed techniques. Leslie Faulhaber, LCSW and Laura Rifkin, LCSW are the Vida Clinic therapists based at Anderson High School. For information on referring your child to therapy services at Anderson, please contact their alpha counselor on campus. If you have additional questions about Vida Clinic and it’s services, please call Laura at 512-414-7918 or Leslie at 512-841-7307.
Lamar Middle School instrument test drive
All 5th (and 6th grade where applicable) students are invited to participate in Lamar’s Instrument Discovery Day on Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 9 am – 12 pm. Students interested in music can come and tryout both band and orchestra instruments for FREE.