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The Twain Times
A weekly newsletter from Mark Twain Elementary School
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In This Issue
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PTO President Message
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Book Fair Update & Volunteers Needed!
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Storybook Parade, 11/15 9am
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+Book Club, 11/17 at 8:15am
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Soccer Tournament, 11/19
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Help Needed for Community Service Project!
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Storybook Parade, 11/15 9am
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Storybook Parade, 11/15 9am
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Incoming Siblings for Fall 2012
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Magnet Awareness Week
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Pershing Zoned Family Open House, 11/17
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IB @ Mark Twain: Key Research Findings
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Pershing Zoned Family Open House, 11/17
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Parent Involvement Day Celebration, November 17th
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Sally Foster Online Fundraiser Deadline: 11/29
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Save the Date: Huckleberry Bash, 2/10/2012
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Drink Pouch Brigade - Save and Recycle Drink Pouches
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Order Your Birthday Grams
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Rewards Programs
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Community News and Events - Bellaire Events, Turkey Trot, Free Book
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Mark Your Calendar |
November
11/11th-21st - Fall Food Drive benefiting Kids Meals Houston
11/14-18th - Mark Twain Book Fair
11/15 - Storybook Parade, 9am
11/16 - Book Fair "Family Fun Night", 5-7:30 pm
11/29 - Dual Language Recruitment Meeting, 6:30pm
11/17 - +Book Club "Raising Happiness" by Christine Carter, 8:15am
11/17 - Pershing Open House for Zoned Families, 6pm
11/19 - Volunteers needed to assemble sack lunches, 11-1pm
11/19 - Soccer Tournament, 1-5:00pm
11/23 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving Holiday, NO SCHOOL
11/29 - Picture retake day
11/30 - +Talk, Bullying - Why We Are All in this Together, 6:30-8:30pm at Pershing Middle School |
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Thank You to Our
2011-2012
Corporate Sponsors
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Tom Sawyer Level
Huckleberry Finn Level
Toni Rodriguez Salon
Samuel Clemens Level
Aunt Polly Level
Becky Thatcher Level
Evans and Mossman CPAs
smossman@jbecpa.com
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 | November 15, 2011 | |
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Dear Parents,
Several campus based committees met this past week and highlights of those meetings are listed below. The minutes of the meetings will be posted on the community board outside the main office. The upcoming week is full of fun activities for us all. The Book Fair will be held in the cafeteria Monday through Friday with special events planned throughout the week. Student Led Conferences will be on Wednesday afternoon, please contact your child's teacher if you have questions.
- The Shared Decision Making Committee (SDMC) met on Friday, November 11. The committee discussed the new Teacher Appraisal System and responded to a survey supplied by the district. If you have any items that you would like to submit for the SDMC agenda you can contact Anna Rangel, the school secretary. The next scheduled meeting will be in January.
- The + Works Team and No Place for Hate Team met on Thursday morning to discuss ways to incorporate the + Works program more effectively in the school. The committee is comprised of parents, teachers and students. More details to follow.
- Story Book Parade - Tuesday, November 15th at 9:00 a.m. Students will parade around the campus wearing a costume representing a favorite character from a book. They may also choose to carry the book or a poster symbolizing the book.
- Family Night at the Book Fair!
- +Talk I to be held Wednesday, November 30 from 6:30 - 8:00pm at Pershing Middle School, 3838 Blue Bonnet Blvd, Houston. Click here to view the flier. +topic: Bullying - Why We Are All in This Together, +speakers: Dr. Stuart Twemlow, international bullying expert & +Works Medical
- The Advanced Academics Department is presenting the second "G/T Speaker Series" event for parents of gifted and talented students. Dr. Richard Olenchak will present Can We Have Both Creative Students and a Test-Driven Schoolhouse? Gleeful Giftedness: an Allegory for Arts and Academics December 7, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.
- There will be a breakfast cart located in the cafeteria as well as in the hallways for students arriving after 7:40 a.m. Parents wishing to put money on their child's lunch card may do so online or they may pay Ms. Sample directly in the cafeteria.
There will be no school Wednesday, November 23-Friday, November 25th for the Thanksgiving Break. I look forward to seeing you at Book Fair.
Melissa Patin, Principal
mpatin@houstonisd.org
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| Message from our PTO President | | |
Dear Mark Twain families,
The Strategic Planning Committee is a subcommittee of the PTO that operates to help plan for the expenditures of funds that you have generously donated to the PTO. The committee consists of a parent representative from each grade level as well as a teacher representative, the PTO President, the PTO Treasurer, and a school administrator. Each member's responsibility is to represent their grade level and reach out to parents to determine how we can strategically allocate funds to create the greatest impact for all our children and their educational experience at Mark Twain Elementary.
The Audit & Compliance Committee was formed last year to act on behalf of the Mark Twain PTO families to review the financial records of the PTO and oversee any state or federal financial or tax compliance as well as work with the PTO Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and maintain a permanent binder with all important information, documents, by-laws, and federal and state filings. Our goal was to create a committee that provides additional expertise in the areas of finance and accounting.
I sincerely appreciate the willingness of the appointed members to serve on these committees. Please find below the members of the Strategic Planning and Audit & Compliance committees. I encourage you to reach out to them regarding your questions and ideas for each of these committees.
Strategic Planning Committee
PTO President: Deanna Sheaffer
Treasurer: Syndi Mossman
Kindergarten parent: Laura Bradford
1st grade parent: Vince Ryan
2nd grade parent: Kurt Stratmann (SPC Chair)
3rd grade parent: Ashlyn Tankersley
4th grade parent: Angie Sigmon
5th grade parent: Stormy Hayes-Knipe
Teacher rep: Melissa Powers
Administrator: Melissa Patin
Audit & Compliance Committee
Heather Crowder
William Grimsinger
Steven Hecht
In addition to serving on our PTO or these various committees, there are other ways you can serve our community. This week we are kicking off our Food Drive benefiting Kid's Meals, Inc. Food will be collected all week and you are welcome to join us in the school cafeteria on Saturday, November 19 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm to assemble the lunches that are to be distributed. If you would like additional information, please contact Alva Allen at alvaallen@sbcglobal.net.
Finally, don't forget all the fun going on this week at Mark Twain with the Story Book Parade on Tuesday at 9:00 am, Book Fair Family Fun Night on Wednesday, November 16 at 5:30 pm and our +Works Book Club discussion on Thursday, November 17 at 8:15 am. I hope to see you at one or all of these events!
We could still use a few more volunteers for the Book Fair, please sign up at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/book962. Thank you in advance for all your support.
Have a great week!
Deanna Sheaffer, President
Mark Twain PTO: United We Build Community
deannasheaffer@yahoo.com
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| Book Fair is HERE through Friday, 11/18 | | |
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| Storybook Parade, 11/15 at 9am | |
Students are invited to come dressed as their favorite storybook character OR carry a poster about their favorite book. We'll start at 9:00 AM so come in costume ready to go! Mrs. Patin, Twain's Grand Marshall will lead the procession of teachers and students. Parents are invited to line the "parade route" and cheer for the participants. Participants will change into school uniform after the parade.
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| +Book Club, 11/17, 8:15am | |
+Book Club, "Raising Happiness" by Christine Carter
Thursday, November 17, 8:15 am in the School Cafeteria
Join the PTO's Parent Enrichment team for a dynamic discussion of Christine Carter's Raising Happiness. The author's thoughtful, witty and compassionate approach to parenting is informed by both her experience as mother and her research at the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkley. Share your thoughts on this book and find out what other parents in our community think of Carter's 10 steps for raising more joyful kids and happier parents.
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| Soccer Tournament, 11/19, 1-4pm | | |
 The Annual Soccer Tournament will be held this Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm. All kids K-5th are encouraged to participate.
We are still in need of parent volunteers that can assist as referees. If you are able to help out even part time please contact Liliana McKean at: lmckean1@comcast.net
Children should bring two T-shirts: one white and one red and plenty of water!!
Game times are at:
- 1pm to 2pm K & 1st
- 2pm to 3pm 2nd & 3rd
- 3pm to 4pm 4th & 5th
No soccer experience necessary. This is a free, fun event for all kids!
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| Help Needed for Fall PTO Community Service Project! | |
 Mark Twain's PTO is holding a fall food drive benefiting Kid's Meals, Inc. Please review the information in your child's Tuesday folder. Click here to see which specific food donations we need from each grade level. Food will be collected in the main hallway by the office and each teacher will have collection bags in their classroom. You are also welcome to provide support through monetary donations.
HELP ASSEMBLE SACK LUNCHES - Saturday, November 19, 11-1, join us in the school cafeteria to assemble the lunches that are to be distributed.
Thank you in advance for your participation and generous donations! Questions? Contact Alva Allen, alvaallen@sbcglobal.net or 713.447.9944.
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| Qift Queen Fundraiser Update | |
 The Gift Queen orders have arrived! They will be going home with your child today. Thank you again for supporting Mark Twain PTO. Questions? Contact Kris Edelheit at GiftQueen@aol.com.
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| Lost and Found Volunteers Needed! | |
With the colder temperature, the lost and found is once again starting to overflow. Please check for your children's lost belongings. We also need some volunteers to commit to helping on a regular basis with organizing the closet and delivering lost items. Please contact Kathleen Fenoy kathleenfenoy@yahoo.com if you are interested in helping out.
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| Incoming Siblings for Fall 2012 | |
Attention parents -- We need to know if you have a sibling entering Kindergarten next fall (2012). Click here to print this form, fill it out, and bring it to Jackie Black by November 30th. Questions? Contact Jackie Black: jblack@houstonisd.org.
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| Magnet Awareness Week Thank You! | |
Dear Mrs. Diano, Mrs. Vessels, Mrs. Eby, Mrs. Lang, Mrs. Ezell, Mrs. Schultz, Mrs. A. Allen, Mrs. Hanks, Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Sheaffer, Mrs. Castillo, Mrs. M. Sanders, Mrs. Weber, Mrs. Grossman, Mrs. Hayes-Knipe, and Mrs. Ogle,
Thank you so much for volunteering your time during Magnet Week. This is one of HISD's most popular events and your support helped to make it a success. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to assist me. Mark Twain parents are the best.
Sincerely,
Jackie Black, Magnet Coordinator
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| Vanguard Gifted and Talented Program Applications Due 12/2 | |
If you are interested in having your child considered for the Vanguard Gifted and Talented program, please pick up an application from Ms. Norris for 1-3rd grades or from Ms. Blakeslee for 4th graders. The applications are for:
(1) students who did not apply in May or Sept. 2011 OR (2) students who enrolled at Twain after Sept. 2011.
Click here to see the flier. Applications are due Friday, December 2, 2011.
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| IB @ Mark Twain: Key Findings from Research on the Impact of IB Programmes | |
The IB's Global Research department recently published a brief overview of recent research. Here are some highlights that pertain to PYP:
- Favorable instructional practices and student behaviors were observed more frequently in Texas IB classrooms.
- In implementing the PYP, critical elements were whole-school participation, collaborative planning, continuous training, availability of resources, community involvement and school leadership support.
- As a whole, PYP students outperformed peers on the International Schools Assessment (ISA) in reading, math and writing in a majority of grades.
To read more in-depth summaries, please visit http://www.ibo.org/research.
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| Pershing Zoned Family Open House, 11/17 at 6pm | |
Pershing's Zoned Families Open House will be held Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 6:00pm in the Pershing Middle School Auditorium. This is a great opportunity for zoned families to meet the Pershing faculty, staff and families. Learn about the exceptional programs and departments Pershing has to offer. Following the session all parents and students will be invited to tour the school. We look forward to meeting you!
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| Parent Involvement Day Celebration, November 17, 2011 | |
The Parent Engagement Department of School Support Services cordially invites you to join us at our annual HISD Parent Involvement Day Celebration on Thursday, November 17, 2011 from 9am - 12pm, at the Delmar Stadium Field House, at 2020 Mangum Rd., Houston, Texas 77092, to recognize the value of parent participation in a child's education. We believe in creating a culture of trust through action and have collaborated with many internal departments as well as external community members to provide educational materials and resources at this event.
Promptly following the celebration, 12-1 pm, HISD Deputy Chief Academic Officer Alicia Thomas will provide an overview of and answer questions about the state's new testing program, known as the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). The STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) exams will affect this year's ninth-graders by counting as 15 percent of their final course grade. The same is also true for middle school students taking high school courses that require EOC exams.
HISD teachers are preparing students in elementary, middle, and high school for the new rigorous tests, but we need your help. Parents are encouraged to stay and attend this informational session.
Questions: Contact Kelly Cline, Parent Engagement, 713-556-7290
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| Sally Foster Online Fundraiser until 11/29/11 | | |
 Sally Foster is AVAILABLE online for you, your family & friends!Use the email feature found in the Seller's Section at www.SallyFoster.com to order gifts and wrapping paper or send ordering information to your family & friends.40% OF EVERY PURCHASE GOES DIRECTLY TO MARK TWAIN! MARK TWAIN ELEMENTARY school's number is 54491. Our Sally Foster® fundraiser is available online year round but this campaign will run through the month of November. Click here to see the Sally Foster flyer for Internet Shopping for Mark Twain 2011.
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| Save the Date for Huckleberry Bash, 2/10/2012! | |
Each spring the Mark Twain PTO holds The Huckleberry Bash, our annual auction and largest fundraiser. The event features live and silent auction items created and/or donated by students, parents, teachers and the community. The Bash will be held February 10, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Reliant. The theme for this year is "Lights! Camera! Bash!" Last year, over 400+ people attended and supported our school by purchasing hundreds of auction items and tickets to social events hosted by Twain families and/or teachers. We hope to see even more families participate this year so mark your calendars now!
What is Bash? Click here to learn more about this annual adults only fundraiser.
There are many ways that you may help out with Bash:
- Hosting a social gatherings (parties)
- Donating items (or funds for items) anything big or small
- Soliciting donations from businesses that you frequent
- Volunteers for any number of roles necessary to put on the event
Click here to see detailed information in the letter. Click here to print out a donation form.
Completed donation forms can be placed in the Huckleberry Bash box in the Parent Workroom or emailed to us. Questions? Feel free to email us at dkoenig@TheLittleGym.com or jnkschultz@sbcglobal.net.
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| Drink Pouch Brigade®! | |
Turn your used drink pouches into MONEY for our School. We have placed a drink pouch recycle bin in the cafeteria by the lost and found closet. Please encourage your children to deposit their empty pouches there after lunch and feel free to bring your pouches from home. Pouches need to be empty and clean with no straws. Besides turning the pouches into money for the school 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! For information, contact Liliana McKean at lmckean1@comcast.net.
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| Don't Forget to Order your Birthday Grams! | |
Do you want to make your child or a teacher feel special at school on their birthday?
 Then sign up for a Birthday Gram to be delivered to their classroom! Information and 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.)
All proceeds go towards the 5th grade end of year activities. Please support Mark Twain's 5th grade classes this year!
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
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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
- Balance Meals To Go - They will give 10% of all purchases made by Mark Twain families back to Mark Twain Elementary. Balance Healthy Meals To Go, is a new store in the Braes Heights Shopping Center on Bellaire Blvd. Balance makes individually portioned healthy meals and snacks for take-away. To ensure Mark Twain receives proper credit, tell the store "I attend/work for Mark Twain!" at the register while checking out. www.balancemealstogo.com Phone: 281.501.1968
- 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.
- Champion Energy Services - Special Rates for You and a $25 Donation to Mark Twain Elementary School. With your switch to Champion Energy for your residential electricity service using the promo code MARKTWAIN, you will receive a special rate. In addition, Champion Energy will make a $25 donation for each enrollment and renewal. Click here: http://www.championenergyservices.com/promo.asp?promo=MARKTWAIN
- Bouquelle Cleaners - A percentage 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® - 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! For information, contact Liliana McKean at lmckean1@comcast.net
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| Community News and Events | | |
Earth Day Houston 2012 4th Annual Art Contest
Earth Day Houston 2012 is Saturday, April 7, 2012 and all third- through eighth-grade students in the Houston area may submit artwork to our office by January 31, 2012. Earth Day celebrates our planet's wonders. Show what you see when you think of clean air, water, and land. Picture how our land and humankind protects and nourishes each other. Use a plain white sheet of paper that is 11 x 14 inches. Put your name, grade, school, and teacher's name on the back. Please mail or take the art to: Art Contest - Air Alliance Houston, 2409 Commerce Street, Suite A - Houston 77003. Prizes will be awarded for the overall winner as well as first, second, and third place winners from each grade. We will return all art to the teachers.
Be a Bellaire Cheerleader for the Day!
Open to all girls ages 5-12. Join us for a fun day of cheerleading on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the Bellaire High School Multi-Purpose Room, 5100 Maple Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here for the attached flyer and registration form. Questions? Contact Gina Taylor at ginataylor41@att.net.
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