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The Twain Times
A weekly newsletter from Mark Twain Elementary School |
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10/6 - Workroom Volunteers meet to help teachers Mark Your Calendar |
9/27 - All Parent Meeting, 6:30pm
9/28 - Art a la Carte meeting for 3-5, 8:00am
9/29 - Deadline for Great Gifts Fall Fundraiser
9/29 - Entertainment Book Sale begins (ends 10/4)
9/29 - Workroom Volunteers meet to help teachers
October
10/4 - PTO Meeting, 6:30pm
10/6 - Workroom Volunteers meet to help teachers
10/7 - Dual Language Coffee, 8am
10/10 - Fall Recruitment Coffee, 7pm
10/11 - Spirit Day and Night at Bullrito's, 11am to 9pm
10/11 - Square 1 Art Fundraiser begins (ends 11/4)
10/13 - Workroom Volunteers meet to help teachers
10/14 - Monthly Teacher Staff Appreciation Lunch, 12:30pm
10/18 - 10/21 - 5th Grade at Camp Olympia
10/20 - Workroom Volunteers meet to help teachers
10/22 - Spooky Spaghetti, 4-8pm
10/25 - Middle School Forum, 6:30pm
10/27 - Workroom Volunteers meet to help teachers |
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Thank You to Our
2011-2012
Corporate Sponsors | |
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 | September 27, 2011 | |
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Dear Parents,
As we head into a new week I would like to take this opportunity to review some of the safety procedures we have in place at Mark Twain. The safety and well-being of your children is of the utmost importance to all of us at Mark Twain. The systems that we have in place are meant to provide an environment that ensures that your children are safe while at school. We have a safety committee that meets monthly to discuss all safety issues including emergency procedures. All emergency drills are practiced throughout the year so that all students and staff are familiar with the procedures. We must all be diligent when it comes to taking care of our children. If you ever notice an unsafe situation at Twain, please contact me or Jackie Black immediately. Please also note the procedures below.
- All exterior doors, except for the front door, will be locked at 8:10 a.m. Any parent wishing to stay in the building to volunteer, must register at the front desk.
- Exterior doors will be opened again at 2:50 p.m. - if you arrive before this time you must wait in the front rotunda.
- All visitors should enter through the front door at all times during the school day and report to the office. This includes parents coming for lunch.
- All students must be checked out from the front office.
- Carpool - students must enter and exit cars curbside!!
- Children can only be picked up by the individuals listed on the enrollment cards - if there is a change in pick-up plans, please notify your classroom teacher and the office.
On another note, there are a number of events over the next few weeks. Mark Twain will be hosting the Bilingual Writing Symposium on Saturday, October 8th. There will be several hundred teachers in attendance and our own Pansy Gee will be presenting.
I hope to see you all TONIGHT at the All Parent Meeting at 6:30pm (babysitting is provided)!
Have a great week!
Melissa Patin
Principal
mpatin@houstonisd.org
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| Message from our PTO President | |
Dear Mark Twain Families,
I would like to encourage you to attend the All Parent Meeting that will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Principal Patin and I will be presenting on the state of the school and PTO. This is another opportunity, in addition to the monthly PTO meetings (on the first Tuesday of each month), to learn about what's going on at Mark Twain Elementary for the 2011-2012 school year and how the PTO operates to support the school. I do hope to see many of you at this event. Also, childcare will be provided (for potty trained children over the age of 3).
I want to especially thank Fabia Hill for all of her efforts to lead and support our International Events - the International Dinner last week was a HUGE success! The diversity of our community and our celebration of that diversity helps to make our school a very special place for our children.
One more reminder - please do not park in the reserved parking spots in front of the school. Every year at the Mark Twain Bash (our biggest fundraiser which will be held on February 10, 2012 this year), members of our community bid on these spots for the upcoming year. Last year, these families generously donated over $8,000 for use of these spots. This money is used to support our community in many important ways including PYP training, additional curriculum materials, educational supplies, campus safety, technology support, library books and more. If we do not respect these reserved spots, they will no longer be able to raise such a significant amount of money for our school. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your continued support in helping to make Mark Twain Elementary an excellent environment for our children.
Best,
Deanna Sheaffer, President
Mark Twain PTO: United We Build Community
deannasheaffer@yahoo.com
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| Entertainment Books on Sale! | |
 Entertainment Books will be sent home TODAY to each family in the Tuesday folder. Each book costs $25 and contains hundreds of money saving coupons. 50% OF EVERY PURCHASE GOES DIRECTLY TO MARK TWAIN! If you would like to buy the entertainment book, the purchase instructions will be attached. If not, please send the book back to the school by October 4th.
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| Gift Queen Fundraiser - Orders Still Being Accepted through Thursday, September 29th! | | |
 Did you forget to turn your order in? There's still time! Turn in orders no later than Thursday afternoon, September 29th in the Parent Workroom. Orders received after Thursday afternoon will still be processed, but we cannot be guarantee delivery before Thanksgiving holiday.
Questions? Contact Kris Edelheit 713.666.9404 or Email - GiftQueen@aol.com
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| Spooky Spaghetti is October 22nd, 4-8pm | | |
Spooky Riddle of the Week:
Q: What is a witch's favorite class in school?
Congratulations to the winners of the Spooky Spaghetti T-shirt Design Contest! 5th grader, Carlos Rangel's design was chosen as the overall winner and will be featured on this year's t-shirts. Grade level winners are:
· Kindergarten - Erika McKean in Ms. Martinez' class
· 1st - Sophie Waida in Ms. Jackson's class
· 2nd - Carolina Snyder-Perez in Ms. Barrerra's class
· 3rd - Grace Parker in Ms. Dennis' class
· 4th - Ashlyn Holly in Mrs. Rawson's class
· 5th - Weller Carmichael in Ms. Hicks' class
A special Thank You goes out to The Chocolate Bar for providing giftcards to the grade level winners.
The pre-sale of tickets, t-shirts and wristbands is officially underway. There is an order form coming home in the Tuesday folders which can be completed and turned in to the Parent Workroom with cash or check only. Tickets can also be purchased online with a credit card. Additional forms are available in the Parent Workroom and can be printed off of the website at: http://marktwainpto.org/events/spooky-spaghetti/
Ordering early ensures getting desired t-shirt sizes and helps you avoid long lines the day of the event. Last year, we sold out of dinner tickets so submit those forms!
Volunteer opportunities are still available! Please be sure to check that your classroom shifts are complete. For other volunteer options, please contact Jenny Hanks at j_hanks@att.net or Allyson Plummer at allysontplummer@yahoo.com.
Riddle answer: Spelling!
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| Yearbook News! | |
Congratulations to Ellie Marosis - she is this year's yearbook design winner! Ellie is a first grader and her design captured this year's theme: Twain Tales. We had so many wonderful entries, look for them throughout the yearbook.
Don't forget to order your yearbook - there are limited supplies. The cost of the yearbook is $28.00 and an additional $4.00 for personalization. For more information, please send an email to: marktwainyearbook@yahoo.com.
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| Informational Coffee for Prospective Parents, October 10th at 7pm | |
The Mark Twain Informational Coffee for prospective parents is on Monday, October 10th at the home of Shannon and Patrick Hayes - 3702 Merrick. Check-in is at 6:30 pm and the program will start at 7:00 pm. This is an "adult only" event. If you have any question or would like to RSVP, please contact Allison Diano at 832.723.6523 or adiano@sbcglobal.net. Click here to see attached flyer.
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| Art a la Carte Meeting | | |
Please join me in the cafeteria for an informational meeting regarding our parent driven art program! Get involved in your child's classroom and have some fun as well! We will have a meeting on Wednesday, September 28th at 8:00 am and will look at the third-fifth grade lessons. Samples of lesson products will be shown. If you have any questions, please contact me, Suzy Brown, at brown.suzy@comcast.net.
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| Middle School Forum, October 25th at 6:30pm | |
Mark Twain's Annual Middle School Forum will take place on Tuesday, October 25th at 6:30pm in the Mark Twain cafeteria. Please join area middle schools and dual language middle schools for an informational evening. Confirmed schools so far are Pershing, Pin Oak, Johnston, and Hamilton.
Each school will make a brief presentation and afterwards they will have tables set up with all of their information. Representatives will be available at that time to answer any questions you might have.
Students are welcome and encouraged to attend. For questions about this event, please contact Leslie Roffwarg at lesliegr@alumni.utexas.net.
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| Join SchoolHouse Partners for FREE! | |
 SchoolHouse Partners is a local resource for home services and repair needs. Using SchoolHouse Partners supports Twain Elementary at no additional cost to parents. Membership is FREE. Click here to join now. Questions can be directed to info@myschoolhousepartners.com.
When a designation is made Mark Twain will receive 20% of what SchoolHouse Partners earns from referral fees paid by the maintenance provider. When families join SchoolHouse Partners they can make a difference in the world of education.
Questions? Contact Mike Heinzman - 281.555.5586 or Jamil Higley - 713.725.7297 or visit
www.myschoolhousepartners.com
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| Twain Dad's Club Update! | |
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We need is 8 or so volunteers to help us move some items on Saturday, October 1st at 4:00 PM from Borders Bookstore in Meyerland to Mark Twain. If you are able to help, please email me. Josh Jacobs, a Twain father of 3, has access to the closed Border's Books in Meyerland. He and Ms. Patin went up there last week and she is in need of several items that he can give to the school at no cost. Josh and I have agreed to split the cost of a box truck to move the 20 or so items that includes book shelves, rolling book carts, a refrigerator, etc. It is a great deal for the school and we don't want to have to hire movers at the PTO expense. It should only take a couple hours if we get enough bodies to help.
SPOOKY: We will need 8-10 volunteers for Haunted House set up on the October 22nd at 10:00 AM. I am working on volunteer lists for Spooky Spaghetti and will have the virtual sign up list posted early next week. We have a couple of veterans that will be there to help guide the assembly, and the set up team will man the HH for a couple hours the night of the event. We will also be asking for Hall Monitors and clean up help. Be prepared to lend a hand and sign up to volunteer. Spooky is a crucial event for the PTO and our club needs to show up big.
CAMPOUT: Don't forget to save the date for November 4th for Dad's Campout.
Questions? Contact, Sam Smith, Cell: 713-240-8282 or samsmith@fnf.com
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| Art Fundraiser Well Underway! | |
 We are almost finished collecting all the wonderful art created by your children. The next step is sending all the artwork to Square 1 Art. Order forms will be distributed the last week of October, so keep a look out for them. You will then be able to order a variety of great items and gifts with your child's unique artwork on it. If you have any questions, please contact Tracey Bailey at twb42701@yahoo.com or 713-857-3731.
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| Name that Book (K-2 or 3-5) | |
Students interested in trying out for the Name that Book Teams (K-2 or 3-5) should begin reading the books! Book Lists for both teams are available in the Library. Competition will be in the spring (dates TBA). Interested students will take a qualifying test (7 students per each team) in November or December (exact dates TBA). Additional information can be found at http://marktwainpto.org/files/2011/07/NamethatBookTeamFAQs.doc.pdf.
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| Sign up for Marathon Kids Today! | | |
Marathon Kids:
- Is a FREE running and nutritional program that promotes the development of a healthy lifestyle in your child!
- Challenges children to run/walk 26.2 miles over six months, in quarter or half mile increments.
- Helps your child feel a sense of accomplishment and pride by tracking progress on a mileage and food intake log, while earning free rewards along the way!
- Can help parents, children, and families develop life long healthy habits when they participate in the program together.
Click here to print out the registration form. Return registration forms to Coach Jody by Friday, October 7th. * Please include an email address on the registration form if possible.
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| FREE Scholastic Book Opportunity | | |
Special offer from Scholastic Books and Kellogg's Brand cereals! This fall, give your child the opportunity to choose and own books through a special offer from Scholastic Book Clubs and Kellogg's! Buy two specially marked Kellogg's products at Walmart and enter the 16-digit codes and receive a FREE book or $5.00 off a book order at Scholastic. Visit www.scholastic.com/kellogg for more information about this special offer and to redeem your $5 Book Coupon(s).
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| Workroom Volunteers Needed - Everyone Welcome | |
We would like to help our teachers in the workroom with tasks such as laminating, cutting, gluing etc. We will meet each Thursday at 8:00 am in the teacher workroom. A big thanks to all who came last Thursday. The teachers really appreciate the help! Contact Shelley Rota for any questions at shelleyrota@hotmail.com.
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| HISD Library Resources for Your Child | |
Every year Houston ISD provides online resources for students to use at school and at home. These resources provide access to magazines, journals, books, reference materials, videos, activities, maps, images, and audio files. Click here to view the logins and passwords to access most of these online resources from home.
The passwords work for the following Online Resources: World Book, EBSCO, NetTrekker, WilsonWeb, Proquest, Thompson Gale, Teaching Books and Brain Pop. Many resources offer Spanish language materials. You can access all online resources at: www.hisdlibraryservices.org/online_resources.htm
Or here: www.houstonisd.org -> Parents -> Online Resources
Contact Mr. Deering for further information.
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| Box Tops for Education | |
 As you are getting breakfast ready and packing lunches, don't forget to clip the Box Top coupons found on hundreds of participating products. Each coupon is worth $.10 and will earn cash for our school. Last year, Mark Twain received over $2,000 from the Box Top coupons that were collected throughout the year.
The goal for the 2011-2012 school year is for each student to turn in 30 Box Top coupons,which is a total of 21,600 coupons. You can help by simply cutting the coupons and bringing them to your child's classroom or PTO workroom. There will be a designated Box Top container in both locations. Don't forget to get the kids involved in finding and clipping the Box Tops and by asking family and friends to save the coupons as well.
Not sure where to find Box Top coupons? Look on General Mills cereal, Pillsbury products, Betty Crocker products, Hefty products and more. Click here for a complete list of products.
The class that collects the most Box Tops throughout the year will win a pizza party as their reward! Thanks for helping and keep clipping! It's a free and easy way to earn money for our school. |
| 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.
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| Rewards Programs | | |
Help with Fundraising through Rewards Programs. The PTO is grateful to participate in programs which reward our school based on the customer loyalty and patronage of our families. A percentage of the proceeds spent are donated back to the school! For detailed information, visit our PTO website rewards page at: http://marktwainpto.org/fundraising/rewards-programs/
Here are some highlights:
- Box Tops - Clip these box tops and turn them in; see related article in this week's Twain Times.
- Kroger Rewards - Link your Kroger card to Mark Twain Elementary
- Randall's - Designate Mark Twain as a beneficiary on your Remarkable card
- Target Rewards - Go online to link your Target card to Mark Twain #98794
- School House Partners - Use a School House Partners home maintenance service provider and designate Mark Twain as your school. This local owned business connects homeowners to dependable, pre-screened home maintenance providers; painters, plumbers, landscapers, most everything pertaining to home maintenance. Schools receive 20% of what SchoolHouse Partners earns from referrals fees paid by the home maintenance provider.
- Office Depot - Link the Twain Elementary code #70097851 to your Office Depot reward card and the school gets 5% back.
- Bouquelle Cleaners - For the month of September, 20% of the purchases made by Mark Twain families and Staff will be donated to Mark Twain Elementary PTO. Bouquelle Cleaners, (Schnelle Family) has been providing dry cleaning and laundry services for 14 years in the Bellaire area located at 5118 Bissonnet (HEB Shopping Center); Bellaire, TX 77401 or call 713-666-3450.
- Drink Pouch Brigade® - Volunteer needed in order for us to participate in this program. Every year BILLIONS of drink pouches end up in dumpsters and landfills across America. TerraCycle, Capri Sun® and Honest Kids® are working together to put an end to this awful loss of resources. As an eco-friendly innovator, TerraCycle converts the drink pouch material into unique from tote bags and pencil cases to plastic lumber and pavers! TerraCycle is proud to team up with the largest producer of drink pouches in the country, Capri Sun, and a young organic entry into the market, Honest Kids, to help address this problem! Together with your help we CAN make a difference!
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