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The Twain Times
A weekly newsletter from Mark Twain Elementary School |
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Mark Your Calendar |
8/30 - 1st Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
8/30 - The Gift Queen Fall Fundraiser begins (ends 9/23)
8/31 - 2nd Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
September
9/1 - 3rd and 4th Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
9/6 - PTO Meeting, 6:30pm
9/7 - Library Volunteer Meeting, 7:30am
9/8 - Room Parent Meeting, 8:00am
9/9 - 5th Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
9/9 - Deadline for Directory
9/13 - Open House, 5:30pm
9/14 - Odyssey of the Mind meeting, 8:15am
9/14 - Dad's Club Meeting at Absolute Glassworks, 7pm
9/15 - Parent Enrichment, 6:30pm
9/19 - Odyssey of the Mind meeting, 8:15am
9/19 - International Pot Luck, 5:30pm
9/20 - Berry Hill Spirit Night
9/22 - Yearbook cover contest deadline
9/22 - Kinder Pizza Party, 5:30-7:00pm
9/27 - All Parent Meeting, 6:30pm
9/29 - Entertainment Book Sale begins (ends 10/4) |
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Thank You to Our
2011-2012
Corporate Sponsors | |
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Dear Parents,
The 2011-2012 school year is off to a great start! The teachers and the students have been enthusiastic and energetic, despite the extreme temperatures. I hope to see all of you at the Open House on September 13th so that you can hear about the wonderful activities that the teachers have planned for the year.
This week we will implement some changes to our arrival and dismissal procedures for the safety of our students. Starting Monday, all exterior doors, with the exception of the front doors, will be locked at 8:05 a.m. If you arrive after 8:05, you will only be able to enter through the front doors. The doors will remain locked until 2:50 p.m. If you walk on campus to pick up your children you will need to enter through the front doors and remain in the front rotunda until 3:00 p.m. The only exception will be for kindergarten parents who may go to the kindergarten wing at 2:50 to pick up their children. Kindergarten students will remain in their wing and only those kindergarten students being picked up in carpool will go to the cafeteria. We are also asking that parents picking up in their children from the cafeteria remain in the yellow tiled areas close to the stage so that the teachers can enter the cafeteria in an orderly fashion. We want to make sure that we are able to keep a close eye on your children at all times!!
There will be more Grade Level Coffees this week and I look forward to seeing you. As we go through the year I want to encourage you to let me know if you have any concerns or have general feedback. The school website is now up and running and I encourage you to check it out at www.marktwainibworldschool.org. One of our teachers, Ana Zamarripa-Hicks, designed our new site and it looks great. On the website is a link to the Twain Student Handbook. If you would like a hard copy of this handbook, please check with your child's teacher. Thank you for your continued support, have a great week!
Sincerely,
Melissa Patin
Principal
mpatin@houstonisd.org |
| Message from our PTO President | |
Dear Mark Twain Families,
I hope everyone had a GREAT first week of school! Now that we are off and running and hopefully settling into routines with school and homework, I want to remind you that if you have any questions regarding the Mark Twain PTO - please do not hesitate to ask me or any of the other PTO Board members. We are here to help.
First time families to our school may have noticed that Mark Twain has its own language comprised of acronyms and phrases that everyone just seems to know. Here is a cheat sheet on the most commonly used ones:
- LDC (Literary Development Center - all students K-5 participate in this magnet program at Mark Twain),
- IB-PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program - Mark Twain's curriculum and instruction is developed in support of the IB educational framework; details regarding this program can be found on the school website)
- DL (Dual Language - a two-way bilingual immersion program which provides in each grade level a cohesive bilingual, biliterate and bicultural environment for an equal number of Spanish speaking and English speaking students)
- Spooky Spaghetti (our fall carnival/spaghetti dinner that falls on October 22)
- Bash (our annual dinner/auction fundraiser that takes place on February 10, 2012 - look forward to a Hollywood "Lights Camera Bash" theme this year)
- VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools - a program that allows you to register so that you can participate in field trips and chaperone school activities)
Speaking of VIPS, I have had several questions regarding whether one has to register each year. Once you have been cleared, you can volunteer at any HISD school. This year HISD changed its policy and if you have been previously cleared in prior years, you still have to submit your driver's license at the front office (to run through the system - it will just take a minute) in order to be cleared for the current year.
Finally, I want to congratulate all teachers, parents and students for surviving a very busy first week of school and extend a special thanks to Kathleen Fenoy, Vera Ondo and the rest of our PTO school store volunteers as they worked very hard to get our students ready for their first week through the Back To School Sale and keeping the school store running this entire week. I believe there are still opportunities available to volunteer for a shift and I encourage you to do so if you are able by emailing Kathleen Fenoy at kathleenfenoy@yahoo.com. It is truly a great way to meet other families and serve our community.
Best,
Deanna Sheaffer
President
Mark Twain PTO: United We Build Community
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| Coffee with the Principal | | |
Join Ms. Patin and other grade level parents for coffee after drop-off. Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.
- 8/30 - 1st Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
- 8/31 - 2nd Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
- 9/1 - 3rd and 4th Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
- 9/9 - 5th Grade Parent Coffee, 8:00am
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| Submit Your Contact Information for the Student Directory | |
Have you heard about the online student directory? Register your families' contact information for the online and printed directories by visiting www.marktwainpto.org and clicking DIRECTORY. All families (returning or new) must register their contact information by September 9th in order to be included in the printed student directory. And, as a bonus for registering by September 9th, you will receive a FREE printed directory. |
| Put a Smile on Your child's Face by Placing an Ad in the Student Directory | |
Support the printed directory by buying an ad today!! You can create your own parent ad or have the Directory Team create an ad for you. Click here to download the Parent Ad form. Business ads may also be purchased and ad revenue is used to cover printing costs. Click here to print the business ad from. Simply fill out the attached parent ad form or business ad form and return it to the PTO workroom by Friday, September 16th. Contact twaindirectory@hotmail.com if you have any questions. |
| Bookmark the NEW PTO Website! | |
Visit our NEW PTO Website at marktwainpto.org! Same address, new look, more information and online tools. We've been busy this summer building a new website to make it easier for our Mark Twain families to stay informed. We hope you will use this site as your "go-to" spot to find out what's for lunch, when/what is Spooky Spaghetti, where to register for birthday grams, and all things Mark Twain. |
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| Wanted: Corporate Sponsors | | |
Our Corporate Campaign is an important part of our overall PTO fundraising program. This is the sixth year we have partnered with businesses in our community to raise funds for teacher, student, classroom and technology support, curriculum enrichment, staff appreciation, facility enhancements such as the new Huckleberry Park (garden and outdoor classroom) as well as our playground project (phase II) and much more as we move into the new school year.
We invite you to become our corporate partner and enrich the educational experience of each child by making a tax-deductible donation to the Mark Twain PTO. Click here to view the Corporate Campaign letter. Click here to view the giving levels, associated benefits and form to become a 2011-2012 Corporate Partner.
Support from our business community is an important part of our fundraising efforts!! If you would like more information regarding becoming a corporate sponsor, contact Jennifer Castillo at: castillojeneric@sbcglobal.net. |
| Mark Twain Dad's Club | | |
We will hold our first Dad's Club meeting on Wednesday, September 14th at 7:00 PM at Absoulte Glassworks located at 4227 Bellaire (77025). We will spend no more than 15 minutes covering our agenda, we will then move next door to Woodrows for refreshments.
Important Dates:
- Spooky Spaghetti - October 22nd
- Dad's Campout - November 4th
- Golf Tournament- March 30, 2012
- Father Daughter Dance- May 12, 2012
I would really appreciate a lot of participation as we plan this year's events. The events hosted by the Dad's Club are important to both the PTO and the kids, I would love a good turnout.
Sam Smith, samsmith@fnf.com |
| Early Robotics at Twain | | |
Early Robotics - Coaches Needed
The coach's responsibilities include: encouraging a team atmosphere, teaching the team the fundamentals of building which can be accomplished by simply having the team complete the LEGOŽ Simple Machines Activities, organizing the construction of the playing field, and organizing the team's participation at events. Furthermore, to be a coach, engineering skills are NOT necessary. If you are interested in coaching, please contact Jackie Norris via email at jnorris3@houstonisd.org
Robotics - Grades 3 - 5
Mark Twain's Robotics is beginning to plan for the new year. If your child is interested in being part of this team, please fill out an application. To obtain an application, please see Jackie Norris. Teams are selected via a lottery system. |
| Odyssey of the Mind | |
Odyssey of the Mind is is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and world level. OM offers kids the opportunity for creative artistic and technical expression, problem solving, teamwork, and increased self-confidence. To learn more, go to http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/learn_more.php
If you are interested in hearing about Odyssey of the Mind at Mark Twain, please come to one of the following informational meetings: Wednesday, September 14 or Monday, September 19 in the cafeteria immediately following drop-off. For additional information please contact Tonya Crombie at tonyacrombie@comcast.net
If you are interested in coaching an Odyssey team, please mark your calendar for the Houston-area coaches training session on Saturday, October 8th at Sharpstown International school, 8330 Triola Lane, Houston, TX 77036 . Registration begins at 7:30 AM and the session lasts from 8:00 AM until noon. For additional information, please contact Alice Reuter/Judy Moore at info@txodyssey.org. |
| Yearbook News for 2011-2012 | |
Yearbook Cover Contest - Win a Free Yearbook
It's competition time! The student competition for this year's yearbook cover design starts now. We need your artwork so the Contest Committee can choose the most creative and unique artwork that best demonstrates our theme:
- Twain Tales: Artwork should show our school and what it means to you, other students and the community.
- Deadline: Entries must be received by 9/22/2011 by 3:00 pm. Please place entries in the brightly covered box in the front hallway.
- Artwork: Must be on 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper in portrait orientation. Artwork should be bright and colorful and reflect our theme: Twain Tales. You must put your name, grade and teacher's name on the back of the artwork.
- Questions?: email: marktwainyearbook@yahoo.com or call 713.256.0852
Back to School Photos Needed!
Did you take pictures of your kids first day of school? Please send them to the yearbook directors at marktwainyearbook@yahoo.com or you may copy them to a drive or cd and place them in the yearbook box in the parent workroom.
Photos throughout the School Year
Remember, in order to have a great yearbook we need your pictures. Please send them throughout the year. When submitting photos, please advise us of the grade and teacher. Thank you. |
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Join the Friends and Family Campaign | |
Our Friends & Family Campaign is an important part of our overall PTO fundraising program. This year we will raise funds for teachers, students, classrooms as well as technology support, curriculum enrichment, staff appreciation, facility enhancements, IB certification, teacher training and much more. Funds raised through our Friends & Family campaign in August and September help support programming early in the academic year such as teacher start-up funds, communication vehicles and event expenses.
Please consider supporting these endeavors and more by making a tax-deductible donation to the Mark Twain PTO and participating in our Friends & Family Campaign. For online donations go to: https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/register.asp?m=216&c=49. Orclick here to print out the form and for information regarding giving levels and associated benefits as well as information on Corporate Matching Gift Programs. Please return the form along with your gift by Friday, September 16, 2011.
In advance, we thank you for your support! - Stormy Hayes-Knipe, VP Membership |
| School Store Help Needed | |
The School Store is looking for a few more volunteers to help run the store this year. We have open shifts on Monday and Tuesday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. This is a fun opportunity to meet lots of great people and provide a wonderful service to the whole school. Please contact Kathleen Fenoy at kathleenfenoy@yahoo.com or Vera Hashem at vhashem@gmail.com if you are interested or if we can answer any questions. |
| Library Volunteer Orientation | |
There will be a meeting on Wednesday, September 7th at 7:30am in the Library for those that are able to help with the school library this year. Due to morning announcements and classes in the library, we have moved the meeting to 7:30am before school. Mr. Deering will go over the procedures for helping in the library. Any and all help is greatly appreciated whether you have several hours a week or just a few minutes a week. It only takes a few minutes to reshelve books and help keep the library organized and efficient for our students to the best use out of this resource. If you are interested in volunteering, please come to the meeting or stop by the library and talk to Mr. Deering. |
| Volunteers in the Schools (VIPS) New Procedures | |
HISD has implemented some new volunteer procedures for this school year. All returning volunteers must bring their driver's license to Vicky Sanchez in the school office to be cleared to volunteer.
"In an effort to provide the highest quality of safety in our schools and obtain updated volunteer information, there will be a change in procedures and guidelines for all returning volunteers currently registered in HISD's volunteer data system known as Volunteers In Schools Information Tracking System (VISITS). Effective Monday, August 22, 2011, all volunteers registered in the VISITS Application database prior to June 1, 2011 will be placed in INACTIVE Status in the VISITS database. In order for a returning volunteer to be removed from Inactive status and be identified as an ACTIVE volunteer for the 2011 - 2012 school year, he/she will need to show proof of an acceptable photo ID to the school's VISITS coordinator to verify and submit for the background check. Note: The returning volunteer will not need to register online again. Only volunteers with a Cleared status will be able to volunteer in HISD."
Finally, if you have your VIPS badge at home, please bring it back to the office. ALL volunteers must obtain their badge from the office and sign in. I realize that this may be a pain to those of you that are at the school a lot, however, it is for the safety of all of our children. You will no longer be allowed to flash your badge through the window. PLEASE, stop by the office, sign in, and obtain your badge. |
| Order your Birthday Grams Today! | |
 Do you want to make your child feel special at school on their birthday?
Then sign up for a Birthday Gram to be delivered to their classroom! Forms are available in the Parent Workroom or may be completed online. Click here to order online now! (Please allow 4 days notice if ordering online.)
Questions or interest in helping to deliver B-day Grams please contact: Bea Davies at (713) 667-4644, beadavies@yahoo.com OR Marta Fonseca at (713) 667-3394, ed-n-marta@att.net. |
| Community Activities and News | |
Join Cub Scout Pack 34 now!
Cub Scout Pack 34 will be having their first meeting of the school year Thursday, September 8 at 6:00-8:00 pm at St. Mark's Episcopal School (3816 Bellaire Blvd). Mark Twain Elementary School is the largest source of boys for Cub Scout Pack 34. Pack 34 is a very active pack with over 100 families, 4 camping trips per year, pinewood derby, scout fair, and too many other opportunities to list. The Boy Scouts of America just celebrated its 100th anniversary and the skills it teaches such as leadership, communication, and organization are more relevant than ever. All boys who will be entering 1st through 5th grades in the Fall of 2011 are welcome to join. If you want to join or have any questions please email Cubmaster Sean O'Connor at oconnorhook@earthlink.net.
Westbury Soccer
Westbury Soccer Club offers a great soccer experience for elementary aged boys and girls. Teams are forming now. Register on-line at www.westburysoccer.org through September 15, 2011. Don't miss out on a wonderful opportunity. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the in-house director, Pat Huttenbach at phuttenbach@hirschwest.com. |
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