Spicewood Elementary School Dear families and community,
Adventure Dash was an incredible experience for our students! We were very excited that the weather cooperated and all students were able to participate in Dash Day on Friday! I would like to thank our PTA and Mrs. Doyle for organizing this event and giving our students a fun way to earn money for their school. This past week, I have talked with several parents who have asked, “When should my child wear the Spicewood t-shirt we purchased this year?” Every Monday is Spirit Day. All Spicewood staff wear their t-shirts on Monday, and we would love to see students wearing their Spicewood t-shirts as well! Every Friday is College/Career Day – Spicewood teachers and students are encouraged to wear t-shirts to support their favorite college or career. You will certainly see me wearing maroon!
CELEBRATIONS
Our very own art teacher, Mrs. Jen Holsinger-Raybourn has been named the 2018 Texas Art Education Association Outstanding Elementary Art Educator! We feel fortunate to have her as teacher and leader at Spicewood Elementary. She is dedicated, passionate and hard-working at the campus, district and state levels. Mrs. Holsinger-Raybourn is an exceptional elementary art educator and supports our Primary Years Programme by encouraging students to be reflective, open- minded and an inquirer. She excels at building positive relationships and helping students create and discover an appreciation of art. Congratulations Mrs. Holsinger-Raybourn!
Beautification Morning Clean Up was a success! We certainly appreciate the parents who showed up to help with trimming shrubs, mulching beds, sweeping sidewalks, and picking up debris.Thank you!
Open House demonstrated a true community partnership. Last Thursday evening, classroom teachers opened their doors and invited parents in to hear about their classroom procedures and expectations. PTA officers and campus and community club sponsors were also in attendance to inform parents of ways to be involved. A huge thanks to everyone who made this evening possible.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
Morning Drop Off and Afternoon Pick Up
Parents, I would like to thank you for your patience with us as we attempted to implement a dismissal system that was safe for students. It makes me feel more at ease to see teachers and parents working together to ensure students are safely picked up by an authorized adult. Having said this, if you are parking your car and walking up to the school to pick up your child, please continue to wait in designated areas and enter the pick up area only after your child’s class has exited the building and is sitting under the portico.
Several parents have expressed confusion about where they can park and walk up, drop off, and/or pick up. When using the queue in front of the school, only the right lane should be used to pick up and/or drop off a student. Please do not drop off students in the left lane. Also, the queue is a no parking zone during morning drop off and afternoon pickup.
Golf carts must also follow the same rules as cars and should not park in the staff parking lot or cut through cars waiting in line to park in non designated parking spots. I observed this several times last week, and it is unsafe and can create confusion during arrival and dismissal.
Please see map below to determine designated places for parking, stop and go drop off, and traffic flow.
Please note that with the exception of the designated stop and go drop off, Tin cup should only be used for parking. If you are planning to use the queue in front of the school to drop off your child, you will need to use Olson Drive.
CHESS CLUB NEWS
Chess Club registration closes this Friday Sept 14th. If your child is interested in joining, please register them as soon as possible. Registration will reopen after the winter break. Registration fees can be waived for students on the free or reduced lunch program. For more information contact: spicewoodeschessclub@gmail.com
Spicewood’s 1st Spirit Night
Inviting all Spicewood families to come together and enjoy great food at Mama Fu’s Asian House ( 11301 Lakeline Blvd., Ste 300, Austin, 78717) on September 18 from 11:00AM-9:00PM. Dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, and gift card purchases are ALL eligible for donation, all day long! Mention Spicewood Elementary at checkout and part of the sales proceeds will be donated back to the school! 5th grade teachers and Ms. Page will be there for part of the night and the 5th grade class with the highest attendance will get to keep Woody till the next Spirit night!!
Come in large numbers and make this Spirit Night a success! Thank you for your support!
Spicewood PTA Ice Cream Social
Get the scoop on PTA at our free Ice Cream Social after school on Friday, September 14th from 3:00-3:45. Please RSVP via our Facebook event page so that we have plenty of ice cream for everyone!
Volunteer & Homeroom Parent Training
Our Volunteer & Homeroom Parent Training will take place on Thursday, September 13th at 6pm and Friday, September 14th at 11am in the library. Plan on attending one of these sessions if you are interested in volunteering this year. Additional information on volunteering at Spicewood can be found on our PTA website. If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Anne McWilliams at SpicewoodPTAVolunteer@gmail.com. Also, please note that RRISD requires all volunteers to fill out their Volunteer Application before they start volunteering with Spicewood.
Math Superstars
Math Superstars is a completely optional program for your child (K-4), if they love problem solving or want additional math practice. This is not a classroom or a teacher-led program. If you chose to participate, you will print a worksheet every week from the PTA website. The worksheets are graded by a classroom volunteer, not the teacher, and returned to the students. The graders offer positive comments and are committed to cheering on the students for trying. They provide feedback to help each student understand the desired answers.
The spirit of this program is to be fun while providing additional math exposure!
Please visit this link to sign-up your child for the program. Math Superstars 2018 Sign-up Deadline to signup is September 19th, 2018. Please email Math Superstars Chair, Payal Agarwal with any questions spicewoodptams@gmail.com
WatchD.O.G.S Breakfast with Dads
WatchDOGS (Dads of Great Students) is a nationally recognized program that has brought fathers and father figures into school classrooms and hallways across the country. There are two primary goals of the WATCHD.O.G. program.
To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school safety and security.
To be positive and active role models in our children’s schools.
Who Are the WatchDOGS?
WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer at least one time per school year.
What Can WatchDOGS Dads Do?
Watchdog Dads may read to classes, work on flash cards with students, patrol school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow or complete tasks requested by classroom teachers. The mere presence of a WATCHDOG Dad offers an additional level of security at the school!
For more information on joining the WatchDOGS, please attend our annual event, Breakfast with Dads, on Wednesday, September 19th in the Spicewood cafeteria from 7:00 – 7:45am.
Please contact the WatchDOGS Chair Patrick Hall at gettingslower@sbcglobal.net.
Math Pentathlon Club
We are actively looking for volunteers and coaches for all divisions for the 2018- 2019 academic year. If you want to learn more, please see the Math Pentathlon Website. Click here to sign up for a coach/volunteer position.
Scholastic Ocean Adventures Book Fair – Volunteers Needed
Dive into a great book at this year’s Ocean Adventures Scholastic Book Fair. This underwater awesomeness will begin on Monday, September 24, through Friday, September 28 from 7:30am – 4:00pm. It takes many volunteers to make the Book Fair a success and we need your help! Please visit the online Sign Up Genius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4aa8a72dabff2-scholastic1) to sign up for a short 2 hour shift. Thank you and we can’t wait to see you at the Book Fair.
Volunteers Needed For the Flu Clinic
The Flu Clinic will be be held on Monday, September 24th 7:45-10:45am. The nurse is seeking volunteers to help the clinic run smoothly (helping the students stay organized and escorting them back to class).
Openings are 7:45-9:15 or 9:15-10:45, or any time you are able to give. Please contact Anne McWilliams, Volunteer Coordinator at spicewoodptavolunteer@gmail.com to sign up!
Annual KISS Cookout (Kids Invite Someone Special)
We would like to invite you to join your student for lunch at their regular lunch time, Friday, Sept 28 for the annual KISS Cookout. If you are purchasing lunch from the cafeteria, please RSVP by Sept 14 by sending back the flyer in your students Friday Folder. We look forward to seeing you there!
REFLECTIONS Creativity Contest
This PTA-sponsored program allows your child to come up with her or his own way to express this year’s theme: Heroes Around Me. Children can enter as many pieces as they’d like across six categories (literature, visual arts, photography, film production, dance choreography, and musical composition). Your child does not have to be an accomplished artist or expert writer to enter. It’s all about a child’s interpretation and expression of the theme. The deadline for submitting entries is Friday, October 26, 2018. For more information, including rules and entry forms, check out the Spicewood PTA Reflections website. Please email Sharon Gu with any questions.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Thursday, September 13
6:00PM-8:00PM Volunteer & Homeroom Parent Training in the Library
Friday, September 14
11:00AM-1:00PM Volunteer & Homeroom Parent Training Training in the library
Tuesday, September 18
5:00PM-8:00PM Spirit Night @ Mama Fu’s (5th grade & Ms. Page will be in attendance)
Wednesday, September 19
7:00AM-7:40AM Breakfast with Dads
(All dads and father figures are invited to join us for Breakfast with Dads in the cafeteria!)
Monday, September 24 – Friday, September 28
Book Fair
Thursday, September 27
6:00PM-7:00PM 5th grade Music Program
Friday, September 28
KISS Cookout
(Kids Invite Someone Special is an opportunity for our students to have lunch with someone dear to them. Please check with your child’s teacher for their lunch time)
Monday, October 8
No School – Student Holiday
Tuesday, October 9
No School – Student Led Conferences (Be sure to schedule a time with your child’s teacher)
Wednesday, October 10
Fall Picture Day
Saturday, October 13
8:00AM – 11:00AM Fall Garden Work Day
I know I’ve shared a lot of information, and appreciate the time you have taken to read all of it. I hope you stay dry and have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Teyan Page
Proud Principal