Spicewood Elementary School Dear families and community,
Red Ribbon week begins today! I am hoping for 100% participation by our students as we explore and celebrate making healthy choices. Be sure to read below for Red Ribbon Week activities. This week I hope you come out for delicious food (Spirit Night at Jenna’s Asian Kitchen) and an outstanding 4th grade choir performance! See This Week’s News below for more details.
On another note, I have noticed vehicles consistently parking in the fire lane- this is a huge concern for me. Not only is it illegal to leave an unattended vehicle here, but it compromises the safety of our students. I love seeing parents and visitors on campus, but respectfully ask that you do not park in the fire lane in front of Spicewood Elementary. Instead, please park in designated areas such as on Tin Cup, or the parking lot at Hope Presbyterian Church. On several occasions parents have dropped of students in the morning and watched them walk into the building while slowly driving forward. When this happens, it’s easy to miss a crosswalk monitor and/or students crossing. I would like to remind all to be mindful of the cross walk when dropping off students. Thank you.
IB PYP 101
(This section of Ms. Page’s newsletter is contributed by our IB Coordinator, Jessica Vance)
We held another PYP Parent Information sessions last Thursday focused on the value of play in the classroom. This session shed light on to the importance of play, brain development & the role that the PYP framework has to help support our youngest learners. Parents got to experience some of the materials used in the classroom and got a closer look as to how the time for play and support from the teacher help foster life lessons for your students. In case you missed it, w’re sharing the presentation with you this week, in addition to a fantastic short video about the power of play in preschool, Kindergarten and first grade. We do hope you check either these resources to learn more about this form of inquiry in our PYP classrooms.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS
Fourth Grade Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Parents, thank you for helping make the Teacher and Staff Appreciation Luncheon hosted by the PTA and Fourth Grade a success! They felt very appreciated!
Input for Morning Welcome Music
In order to support our mission of being a globally-minded campus, we would like some input regarding the songs that are played out front while welcoming students into the building. We would love to use upbeat songs from all cultures. If you have a song suggestion (or multiple songs), please submit here!. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Red Ribbon Week:
We are celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 22nd-26th. Students will explore and celebrate making healthy choices for their minds, bodies, and hearts through a variety of activities. Classes will watch a video and then explore different ways to be healthy and how being healthy can make us better learners, classmates, and friends. Students and staff members will create a personal goal about how to be healthier this year, with the option of displaying their goal in the hallway for others to leave notes and symbols of encouragement. Of course, we will also have our dress up days to rally school spirit and encouragement for living a healthy lifestyle!
Red Ribbon Spirit Days
Monday (October 22): REaDy for Red Ribbon Spirit Week! Wear as much red as you can
Tuesday (October 23): Your future will be BRIGHT when you make healthy choices! Wear neon or bright colors.
Wednesday (October 24): DREAM of healthier choices! Wear pajamas
Thursday (October 25) : Give unhealthy choices the BOOT! Wear Western attire
Friday (October 26): TEAM up for healthy choices! Wear your favorite professional or college sports shirt/jersey
Spicewood Spirit Night is coming up at Jenna’s Asian Kitchen!
Inviting all Spicewood families to come together and enjoy some great food! Mention Spicewood Elementary at checkout/ to your server and part of the sales proceeds will be donated back to the school!
When: October 24, 2018 from 5pm – 9:30pm
Where: Jenna’s Asian Kitchen:
at 12300 Ranch Rd 620 N, Austin, TX 78750
All 1st grade teachers will be there for part of the night and the 1st 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!
Bond 2018
Visit the RRISD Bond 2018 website to learn more about the Bond election on November 6, 2018. Here is the list of projects specific to Spicewood Elementary.
Veterans Day Celebration
Please invite any Veterans you know to attend our Spicewood Elementary Veterans Day celebration on November 6th. There will be two assemblies, one at 8:00, and one at 8:30. We have a wonderful speaker that will make it a morning of celebration where our students can reflect on what the men and women in the military sacrifice for our freedom. The Cub Choir and Panther Choir will be performing too. The star will come home in your Friday folders, please decorate it as a thank you. They will be used in the hallway. If you have a photo of a veteran in your family or someone you know please print off this form, attach a photo and tell us a little bit about this hero. These will be used in the cafeteria. There will also be a reception in the library following the assemblies. We will also have an opportunity for Veterans to read to the kids during the day.
Spicewood Auction – Friday, Nov. 9th GET YOUR TICKETS!
Spicewood PTA’s Annual Gala & Auction is Friday, November 9th from 6pm – midnight at Balcones Country Club. Limited tickets are still available! General admission/individual tickets for $40 each, and reserved tables for $550 each (which seat 10 people per table). All tickets include hors d’oeuvres, one hour beer/wine open bar, full dinner buffet, and local desserts. Secure your spot and a chance to win a Big Green Egg, Vacation Homes, Summer Camps and more! Questions – please contact Nicole Giannetta at niknick1@yahoo.com! If you still need to purchase your tickets and tables click here.
Spicewood Auction – Baskets
Thank you parents for your generous donations for the baskets that will be included in the silent auction portion of the evening. Your generous support will benefit the students at Spicewood!
Spicewood Auction – Sponsorship
CALLING ALL BUSINESSES! We are looking for local businesses to help sponsor our Gala Night and Auction. Your donation will help us meet our fundraising goal. We have three levels of sponsorship available. Gold: $750, Silver: $500 and Bronze: $250. Interested please contact Nicole Giannetta at niknick1@yahoo.com for additional information!
Join PTA (Parent Teacher Association)!
Thank you for your tremendous support! Spicewood Elementary PTA currently has 707 Members (84% representation of our student body). Help us reach our goal of 100% representation and join today. Together we CAN back the future!! Thank you for supporting Spicewood PTA.
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.
Spelling Bee
The registration deadline for the Spicewood Spelling Bee has been extended to midnight Nov-6-2018. Please sign up here. The classroom grade-level is on Nov-8-2018. The date for the school-level Spelling Bee will be announced later.
Bond 2018
Visit the RRISD Bond 2018 website to learn more about the Bond election on November 6, 2018. Here is the list of projects specific to Spicewood Elementary.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, October 22 – Friday, October 26
Red Ribbon Week
Thursday, October 25
6:00PM-7:00PM 4th grade Music Program
Saturday, November 3
8:30AM-12:30PM World Class Student Leadership Conference @ England Elementary
Tuesday, November 6
8:00AM-8:20AM – Veteran’s Day Program (K-2nd)
8:30AM-8:50AM – Veteran’s Day Program (3rd-5th)
Thursday, November 8
6:00PM-7:00PM TAG Referral Parent Meeting
Friday, November 9
6:00PM- Midnight Spicewood Auction at Balcones Country Club
Wednesday, November 14 – Friday, November 16
5th Grade Students at Outdoor School
Monday, November 19 – Friday, November 23
No School – Fall Break
Thursday, November 29
6:00PM-7:00PM 3rd grade Music Program
Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Teyan Page
Dedicated Principal