Newsletter – Jan. 17, 2018

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Catfish Parlour tomorrow

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

No Place for Hate project this 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!

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.

Afternoon Pick-up procedures update
To all parents who use the PM car pick up line: Please do not park in the teacher parking lot and walk up to the music hallway door for pick up. The car pick up line is intended for parents to stay in the car and pick up their students. If you wish to walk and pick up your students, please follow the usual procedure by parking in the approved areas and walking into the building. Thanks for your understanding.

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!

GT Nominations open now
The Gifted/Talented nomination window for kinder through 2nd grade opens on, Monday, January 22, and ends on Friday, February 9, 2018.  Please click here for more information.

Save the date: Boosterthon Fun Run
Parents! Save the Date for this year’s Summitt Eagle Fun Run! It’s a 9-day program that kicks off with a Pep Rally on February 13, 2018. Families will then gather pledges for every lap your student runs (30-35 laps), and we’ll celebrate at the Fun Run on February 22. We have upped the ante with our increased goal of raising $25,000 for academic intervention programs. So, we asked the Fun Run experts at Boosterthon to power our Fun Run and make it more profitable, easier, and fun.

Students will also experience an amazing character theme, CASTLE QUEST! an English castle theme all about being brave and living with character. On their quest to regain Bravemore Castle, students will learn the “SIX VIRTUES of a TRUE HERO” from a cast of colorful characters.

Donations will go toward academic intervention programs and to the entire 9-day experience. So please help our school by reaching out to sponsors. Also, all families are invited to come out and cheer on your student at the Fun Run on Feb. 22! Thank you for your support!

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 have an hour or so this week, please consider helping count out fliers and envelopes to go home with students for the upcoming Bookspring Read-a-Thon. Email Mrs. Richey ([email protected]) if you’re able to help.

  • 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

  • Jan. 17 – information about Murchison will be available in Vietnamese at 4 p.m. in Co May’s room

  • January 17, 18th, and 19th (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) Murchison will offer Open Tours to allow parents who are considering Murchison to come tour without having to call and make an appointment. The tours will be offered from 11:30 AM until 1 PM. Parents need to report to the Murchison office to sign in and then they will be taken on a tour by a member of the Murchison PTA.

  • 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

Parents Night Out
On Friday, February 9th, from 6-9 PM, Girl Scout troop 1351, made up of 8th grade girls,  will be holding a Parents Night Out as a fundraiser for their cultural excursion trip this summer. Drop off your kids who are potty trained and as old as 5th graders. It’s $30 per child, but if they have siblings it’s only $20 per additional child. This will be held at St. Matthew’s Huffman Hall, 8134 Mesa Drive, where we will provide pizza, a movie with popcorn, games, and crafts. All the Girl Scouts are Red Cross Babysitting certified 8th graders, and the Leaders are CPR and First Aid Certified. Register here and we will follow up with you!  https://goo.gl/forms/Qsu8STMDBdR3lbxC2

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.

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! Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. This show is appropriate for older elementary students and up.

Advance ticket sales are during lunch (12:35-1:20 PM) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, Thursday, Jan. 25 and Friday, Jan. 26 outside of the Anderson High School cafeteria. Advance tickets will also be on sale the evening of Wednesday, January 24 at the Anderson High School PAC from 7:30-9 PM. You may also purchase tickets at the Anderson High School PAC Box Office one hour before showtime.

Parenting Conference
Westover Hills Church is hosting a parenting conference highlighting Brad McCoy and others for parents to learn effective parenting skills and better understand their children. Sessions will range from topics with a purely practical parenting approach to those of a more spiritual approach as well.

When: February 3rd, 9 AM – 3:30 PM
Where: Westover Hills Church 8332 Mesa Dr. Austin, TX 78759
Who: Parents with children from Preschool to High School
How: Register at http://westover.org/parentingisweird/
Cost: $35 per person – $20 for child care (Scholarships available)

AISD PARENT SURVEYS 2017-2018
Parents will receive a parent letter and survey scan form in the Tuesday, January 16 folder. Please note that the hard copy scan forms are due no later than Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

If parents do not wish to complete the scan form survey, the online survey links for the parent survey are available on www.austinisd.org/parents website 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!

ADHD Parent Coaching Series
Parents, guardians and caretakers are invited to join us for a continuation of Positive Parenting, an ADHD Coaching series by guest speaker Ed Gooze, Ph.D. It will be at Travis High School and Pillow Elementary School.

Location: Travis High School, 1211 E. Oltorf
Time: 10–11:30 a.m.
Dates: Wed., January 17; Wed., February 21; Wed., March 21; Wed., April 18
Travis Online Registration: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RRrGb4sVAEvqR8Am65ewClypbdv0dBmgsZGyB2FjOv8/edit?usp=sharing

Location: Pillow Elementary School, 3025 Crosscreek Drive
Time: 8–9:30 a.m.
Dates: Fri., January 26; Fri., February 23; Fri., March 30, and Fri., April 27
Pillow Online Registration: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1egN6Ii38AJRXyc3l57S3wmcBMErUwsk7n3t72VXuFE8/edit?usp=sharing

Spanish interpretation provided. Childcare will not be provided. Call Family and School Support Team at 512-414-5834 with questions or to register.

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

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.