Easter Seals Clothing and Household Items Drive
The Easter Seals truck will be on campus for donation pick up on Saturday, January 28th from 10am – noon. You can drop off your donations in the Great Hall during the week. They will take clothing, accessories, toys, books, household items. They cannot take furniture, large appliances, mattresses, automotive parts or flammable products. More info is here: http://www.donateestx.org/
Tet Show next week
Please join us to celebrate the Year of the Rooster on Friday, February 3, 2017. Delicious Vietnamese food, pizzas, drinks and concession items are available for purchase starting at 6 pm in the Summitt cafeteria. The Tet show will start at 7 pm. Tickets will be sold beginning on Friday, January 27, and 30, 31 and February 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 am, 2:30 pm in the Great Hall. The tickets will also be sold the night of the show.
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The first five rows are $10 per seat.
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The next 10 rows are $5 per seat
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All other seats are $3 each.
If you cannot purchase tickets at school, send your money in an envelope and indicate what type of tickets and how many you need. The teachers will pick great seats for you. Our Tet Show benefits the AISD Vietnamese Dual Language Program. See you at the show!
Science Expo
You are invited to the 5th grade Science Expo, on Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8 p.m. This hands-on science night is full of exciting demonstrations taught by our 5th grade students. Feel free to bring a friend or family member! Light refreshments will be provided. See you at the Expo!
Fourth Grade News
On Wednesday, February 1, 2017, some 4th grade students across the district will be taking the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Summitt 4th grade parents received a letter in their student’s Monday folder last week. NAEP is the largest national representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. A brochure that explains what participation in NAEP means for your and your child is available at: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/parents/2012469.pdf. While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify the Principal in writing by Friday, January 27, 2017.
Read-a-Thon
It is that time of year once again for the Bookspring Read-A-Thon. This is our 4th 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. In an effort to save costs and paper, we are going paperless, but all students should have brought home an envelope for collecting pledges. Otherwise, reading and pledge logs along with more information can be found at https://www.bookspring.org/readathon/
Gift card donation drive
Did you receive a gift card for the holidays to somewhere you won’t shop or eat? Don’t let it just expire in a drawer – donate it to the Summitt PTA! Periodically through the year, the PTA rewards our hardworking teachers for meeting and/or exceeding goals set by Summitt’s administration, counselors, and even our Summitt fundraisers. We are accepting gift cards in any denomination from any local or online store or restaurant. Just bring it to the front office in an envelope marked “PTA Gift Card Drive” and we will make sure it gets to our awesome Summitt teachers!
Girls on the Run
GOTR Spring 2017 needs more volunteers to keep this AMAZING, LIFE-CHANGING program going at Summitt!! What is GOTR? (Girls on the Run): a program for 3rd-5th grade girls to train for and complete a 5k fun run, also learn life skills in a welcoming and casual environment. All the curriculum is pre-printed and completely ready to be taught by any willing souls. Coach Ryan Lanier has to hand the reins over and we need MORE HELP to keep things RUNNING:) Please email [email protected]. You do NOT NEED to be a RUNNER!!!! It’s a program for all levels of participant and volunteer. And super FUN of course!
Gifted and Talented Program info
– If you are interested in learning more about the Gifted and Talented program at Summitt, I encourage you to read the FAQs found at the Summitt website: https://summitteagles.org/curriculum/gifted-talented/ Contact me, Denise Richey, by phone or email at 512-414-4249/ [email protected].
– This school year we are piloting a change in the GT Screening Process at Summitt Elementary. We will be testing students in grades 3-5 in the Fall 2016 Semester with the nomination window of September 12 through September 23. Students in grades K-2 will be tested in the Spring 2017 Semester with the nomination window of January 13 through January 27. This change will allow younger students to have an opportunity to adjust to the new school year and produce quality work samples required for the GT portfolio before the students participate in the lengthy GT Screening Process. The GT Screening Process does include online testing which is timed and the gathering of student work samples for the Student GT Portfolio. By separating students into two groups for testing, the campus will be able to test students in smaller groups and provide teachers with more time to collect student work samples and other screening data for younger students.
The following link offers the nomination paperwork and parental forms to be signed and to be returned to Summitt before any testing can begin.
www.austinisd.org/academics/advancedacademics/gifted/parent-corner. Any parents interested in nominating their Kinder through 2nd grade student should do so beginning this week. Thank you!
GT after school club
Our program on Wednesday, February 1, will be all about Rube Goldberg and simple machines. The kids will have an opportunity to create their own project during our time together. We will be doing some work in class to help them be familiar with these concepts before we meet.
If you have supplies that you think we could use for these feats of engineering, please send them in. We could use things like Hot Wheels Ramps, Marble Run supplies, etc. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4facab2ea3ff2-february
Fun Run!
Parents! One of this year’s big fundraisers is the Summitt Eagle Fun Run! It’s a 9-day program that kicks off with a Pep Rally on February 13, 2017. Then families will have time to get pledges for every lap your student runs (30-35 laps), and we’ll celebrate at the Fun Run on February 23, 2017. With our big goal to raise funds for Math & Reading Intervention programs, 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, BACKYARD BOX OFFICE! It’s a movie theme all about making a difference by getting into character. Our students will learn from five REAL kid difference-makers. From inventors, to world-class speakers, to business owners, to world-record holders, these five kids will inspire our students to practice the five “Character Acts” and make a difference in our community.
Donations will go toward Math & Reading 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! Thank you for your support!
Click here to get the information in Vietnamese.
Lost and Found
Please take a look in the Lost and Found for your student’s warm coat. The Lost and Found is full of coats and the cold weather is coming this week. All items not claimed by Friday, January 27th will be donated to Easter Seals on Saturday, January 28th.
Fifth Grade News
The Murchison Middle School counselor and assistant principal for next year’s 6th grade class will be coming at 8:15 a.m. Friday to hand out choice sheets, talk to students about choices, and answer questions that they have. There will be a choice sheet night for parents to meet teachers and ask questions on February 6. Please do be looking out for the choice sheet to come home Friday or early next week so that you can begin talking with your student about their choices for next year. The completed choice sheets will be due back to their homeroom teachers by February 27.
Important Upcoming Dates for incoming Murchison Middle School 2017-2018 6th Graders:
January 27 – Summit Elementary Choice Sheet Presentation to students (8:15).
February 6 – Choice Sheet/Parent Night at MMS; flyers are being prepared for your campus notification; see our website for details. (The date was changed recently!)
February 6 – 10 – Shadowing days are during the week of Feb. 6 for four days (see our website); these are solely for students whose parents are struggling to make the decision between their home campus (MMS) and magnet. charter, or private schools.
February 26 – All choice sheets are due. Paper copy must be signed by the parent and be turned in to the 5th grade homeroom teacher.
March 1 – March 10 – 5th grade students enter their own course requests in Scheduling Self-Serve at elementary campuses. Summitt will be looking for parent volunteers to assist with this. More information to come.
March 20 – Aug. 1 – Any changes to choice sheets can only be made through Murchison Middle School’s Counseling Office or through the MMS Main Office.
AISD and Community Events
AISD Survey
Austin ISD needs your input. A survey was sent out in this week’s Monday folders. Please fill out that survey and return it. Please note that the hard copy scan forms are due no later than Monday, February 20, 2017. You may also choose to take the survey online. Online responses will be accepted through February 3, 2017.
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!
Anderson Trojan Belles Camp
Come dance with the Anderson Trojan Belles at their 2016 BELLES SUMMER DANCE CAMP, June 19th – 22nd at Murchison Middle School (new location). Full day elementary aged campers will learn dances, participate in daily arts & crafts and game time, perform with the Belles, and more! Half day middle and high school campers learn more challenging dance routines, how the Belles practice and what it takes to be a Belle. Registration forms coming soon at www.trojanbelles.com. Registration begins early this year on February 1st. http://www.trojanbelles.com/uploads/3/8/4/6/38467185/camp_flyer_2017.pdf
ADHD Coaching sessions
AISD Department of Special Education presents Positive Parenting: An ADHD Coaching Series at Pillow Elementary Cafeteria. The dates are January 27, February 17, April 25 at 8-9:30 a.m.
There will be expert speakers for each session. Spanish Interpreter Provided. Light refreshments served. LINK TO FLYER and Registration LINK.
AISD Accepting Open Nominations
Open nominations for Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Librarian of the Year and Campus Classified Staff and District Classified Staff of the Year began Jan. 3 and close Jan. 31. We invite staff, students, parents and community members to nominate a candidate for these awards. Join us May 16, 2017 at the AISD Performing Arts Center. Click here to nominate.
FABPAC Meeting
As the new year approaches, we look forward to working with you to shape our #AISDFuture by updating our Facility Master Plan to modernize campuses during the next two decades.
Our community’s feedback has helped refine our approach to modernization to include:
State-of-the-art technology in all schools
Flexible learning spaces in all schools and
Community spaces.
Community members on the trustee-appointed Facilities and Bond Planning Advisory Committee continue to examine the consultants’ preliminary options, which have been reviewed with every school’s leadership. They will review community comments and bring recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
As we continue to plan, shape and build our #AISDFuture, we need your input.
Community Engagement Series Jan. 24-Feb.1
Invite your stakeholders to join us at the next series of community engagement conversations to share feedback about the FMP update and the options identified to date with FABPAC. The meetings are:
Jan. 25 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Crockett High School
Jan. 26 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy
Jan. 31 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Martin Middle School
Feb. 1 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Burnet Middle School and
Feb. 2 – 6 to 8 p.m. at Gorzycki Middle School.
Food and refreshments will be provided. Interpretation services will be available upon request. To request interpretation services, please call 512-414-9595 or email [email protected]. AISD will offer childcare with Maker Kids Lab, a district partner that offers fun projects that inspire kids to explore their interests in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Arrive early as there will be limited space for children to participate in the small group activity.
To learn more about the FMP process, visit AISD’s website (English and Spanish) and watch and share the FMP video (English and Spanish). We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us at [email protected] or 512-414-9595. A flyer with this information is here.
Fulmore Magnet School deadlines
Fulmore Magnet Application and testing deadlines:
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Application deadline: February 3rd at 4:30 p.m.
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Admissions testing in January (Families do not need to pre-register unless their student needs a 504 or Special Education accommodation). All testing will be located in the Fulmore Cafeteria.
Session 2: January 21st: 8:00-10:00 a.m. (Last Names A-L) or 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Last Names M-Z)
Session 3: January 28st: 8:00-10:00 a.m. (Last Names A-L) or 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Last Names M-Z)