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The Twain Times
A weekly newsletter from Mark Twain Elementary School
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Mark Your Calendar
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February
2/23 - Planning meeting for International Festival, 8am
2/24 - Go Texan Day!
2/25 - International Festival, 1:00-4:00pm
2/29 - Early Dismissal, 12:30pm
March
3/1 - + Works Talk: Raising Resilient Children, Roberts Elementary, 6:30-8pm
3/6 - PTO Meeting, 6:30pm
3/7 - Art Night, 5:30-7:30pm
3/12-16 - Spring Break
3/30 - Dad's Club Golf Tournament, 1pm
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Thank You to Our
2011-2012
Corporate Sponsors |
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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February 21, 2012 | |
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Dear Parents,
The 21st century has erupted with a multitude of ways for our children to engage through media. Being a product of the 1960's I am still amazed at the advancements that are made every day. At Twain we work hard to ensure that we are providing students with the latest technological advances in our instruction and through learning tools. All of the classrooms are now outfitted with SmartBoards and the teachers are continually looking for ways to enhance student learning through technology. It is exciting to see how technology has become integrated into the fabric of our school and I am thrilled at the level of technological expertise our children exhibit.
With technology so readily available to our children it is important that we help the students to understand how to use it responsibly. Students communicate with each other through email and social media sites and as adults we must monitor student use and content. Mr. Lowry spends time in the Media Center/Library educating the students on all issues related to technology use, including cyber bullying and cyber safety. I have included some information that as parents you may find useful. Click here to view the information.
Many students have electronic devices that they bring to school including cell phones, i Pods, and electronic books. All technology devices must be kept in their backpacks and students may not use them during the instructional day. The Shared Decision Making Committee will be meeting to develop a policy outlining when these types of devices may be allowed and guidelines to ensure that they are used appropriately. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact me before Friday morning so that I can share these comments with the SDMC.
- International Festival - Saturday, February 25th - This is an exciting event that celebrates the diversity of our community and I encourage all of you to come and share in the fun.
- Congratulations to Pansy Gee who will be honored as Asian Teacher of the Year on Thursday evening!
- Friday is Go Texan Day! In celebration of the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo...put on your western gear. The trail riders often come down Stella Link as they make their way to Memorial Park and take part in the Rodeo parade.
Have a wonderful week!
Melissa Patin, Principal
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| PTO President's Letter | | |
Dear Mark Twain families and friends,
The Mark Twain community is blessed with so many wonderful individuals, with so many wonderful gifts. And it is that time in the school year where it is my privilege, as the Mark Twain PTO president, to invite all our community members to share those wonderful and personal gifts by considering serving with the Mark Twain PTO Board. As the President of the PTO Board over the past two years, I am truly enjoying my experience and service to Mark Twain Elementary. It has not come without its challenges - but having committed fellow Board members and a dedicated team has made a tremendous difference in dealing with and making progress for the benefit of Mark Twain. I believe our PTO Board has done tremendous work assisting the educational mission of the school through our community building initiatives, policy development/support through the SDMC and other school committees, enrichment initiatives and fundraising activities. I cannot thank the current Board members enough for all their efforts that will continue through the end of this school year.
In the beginning of March, nominations forms will go home in the weekly folders and there will be a nominations box in the PTO Parent Workroom. You are cordially invited to either submit your name or place a nomination of someone else in that box. Placing a name in the box does not mean an automatic commitment; the Nominations Committee will contact each person to further invite them to explore the possibility of serving on the PTO Board during the coming year. In addition, a person does not need any specialized gifts, talents or experiences to serve with the PTO Board; they simply must have a genuine concern for the educational well-being of our children. Should you have questions concerning the Mark Twain PTO process, time commitment and responsibilities of PTO Board members, you visit our website at www.marktwainpto.org and click on 'PTO Forms and Guidelines' and then on 'PTO Director Roles/Responsibilities' or feel free to call me at 713-419-9477. In advance, I thank you for your consideration and nominations to the Mark Twain PTO Board.
2012 Nominations Committee: (* denotes chair)
Sarah Callahan Baker
Amy Haight
Stormy Hayes-Knipe
Aaron Roffwarg
*Shelley Rota
Ashlyn Tankersley
Jennifer Williams
Don't forget that the International Festival is this Saturday - it is a much anticipated event that is fun for everyone! I hope to see everyone there!
Best,
Deanna
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| International Festival This Saturday, 2/25, 1-4pm | | |
Come and learn about some of the many countries represented at our school! Learn about Arts and Crafts from around the world and sample food at the country booths from:
Argentina, Belgium, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United States of America, Vietnam, Western Africa
Enjoy performances from around the world and also get your face painted!
If your child wants to walk in the "Parade of Countries" at the opening of the Festival, please have them be in the 2nd grade hallway @ 12:45 on the day of the Festival! Be sure to bring flags and noisemakers!
There will be one last planning meeting on Thursday, February 23 at 8am.
For more information please contact Fabia Hill (Fabia@live.com)
or Gloria Pereira (GloriaPereira@aol.com) |
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Needed: Spare Shorts/Pants - Message from the School Nurse | |
Do you have any spare shorts/pants to donate to the School Nurse's office? On occasion a child may need a new pair of shorts/pants after an incident at school. The Nurse is currently running low on items to give to children in these times of need. She has plenty of Twain t-shirts but is specifically looking for school uniform bottoms in a variety of sizes: short, pants, skirts, etc. Any donations are greatly appreciated!
Thank you, Nurse Stephens
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| PTO Nominations 2012-13 | |
It is that time of year when the PTO nominations committee is assembling a slate of Executive Directors and taking nominations for Director positions for the 2012-2013 school year. Click here to view a letter from the nomination committee and click here for the process by which all this takes place. The PTO encourages everyone to be involved in the process by nominating, voting and attending PTO meetings during this time. If you have any questions, contact Shelley Rota (shelleyrota@hotmail.com).
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Art Night, Wednesday, March 7th 5:30-7:30pm | |
 Please join our wonderful Art Teacher, Ms. Cowan, in an evening full of fun projects, inspiring art work created by our students, and James Coney Island!
This annual event spotlights Mark Twain's art program and demonstrates how beneficial it is for our school, our PYP program and all our students. We will have stations for students to create artwork using clay, origami, cut paper, different types of paints, realistic drawing using colored pencils, collage and much more! Look for more details in the coming weeks. So mark your calendars and don't forget to bring your creativity!
If you would like to help with this event, please contact Suzy Brown at brown.suzy@comcast.net. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
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| Annual Dad's Club Golf Tournament, 3/30 |
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 The annual Dad's Club golf tournament is set for Friday March 30th with a 1:00 PM shotgun Start at Wildcat Golf Club.
This tournament is a good way to spend a Friday afternoon in the Spring with a bunch of Twain parents. Individual tickets can be purchased for $95.00 and all players are treated to hot or boxed lunch prior to play, green fees, and open bar after golf for 1 hour.
Hole Sponsor ships are $500.00 and includes a foursome to the event, lunch, open bar after event, hole sponsor sign and event recognition. This is great way to sponsor a team and host new players or for 4 dads to get together and share a foursome.
Keep up to date on the event by checking the PTO website or the Twain Times. I am in the process of setting up an event registration link and will get that out to all parties as soon as available.
Please contact me if you want to discuss or volunteer at: 713-240-8282 or samsmith@fnf.com.
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+Works Talk IV: Bounce Back - The Importance of Raising Resilient Kids (3/1) |
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120 people attended the last +TALK on Cybertechnology, Will you join us for the next + conversation?
+WORKS ANNOUNCES +TALK IV: BOUNCE BACK - THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING
RESILIENT KIDS
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012
6:30-8:00PM
Roberts Elementary School
6000 Greenbriar Street, Houston 77030
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MRS. CATHY MUSCO GARCIA-PRATS
We will be giving a FREE +PARENTING GUIDE CD TO ALL ATTENDEES! ALL ARE WELCOME.
"It all comes down to resilience." We hear this from educators and even employers of recent college grads. To be productive, happy adults, kids need to learn to bounce back from life's hard knocks - and to deal with life's everyday mundaneness. To do this, we, as parents, need to get out of the way.
Join us as we explore the observation that our generation of parents can and should do a better job of raising resilient kids. Why do so many of us rush into the sandbox when a shovel is taken away, into the teacher if our child is teased once or twice, or into the principal's office with a lawyer's approach when our child has been caught making a mistake? Is this a reaction to the way we were raised? A byproduct of today's hypercompetitive society? Both - or something else? How can we support each other as parents, schools, and a community so that we can raise kids ready to face the world as adults - with verve? Please bring your reflections and questions and join in a +Community discussion entitled: BOUNCE BACK: The Importance of Raising Resilient Kids.
Our keynote speaker will be MRS. CATHY MUSCO GARCIA-PRATS, mother of ten sons and author of several books, including GOOD SONS DON'T JUST HAPPEN, and with her husband Dr. Joseph Garcia-Prats, GOOD FAMILIES
DON'T JUST HAPPEN. Our distinguised panel will include:
* DR. ADIAHA FRANKLIN, Asst. Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine; Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, and +Parenting/+Teaching Guide contributor
* MRS. RITA GRAVES, Principal, Roberts Elementary School, HISD
* MR. JOHN MORRIS, LMSW-ACP, LMFT, marriage and family therapist and +Parenting/+Teaching Guide contributor
ADMISSION FREE to +Roundtable schools parents/staff:
* St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School * Mark Twain Elementary School * St. Paul's School * Pershing Middle School
* Durham Elementary School * St. Michael Catholic School * Kolter Elementary School * Roberts Elementary School
* The Awty International School
ALL ARE WELCOME. ADMISSION $5 for other members of our community.
Come to this +Talk, the fourth in a series of five this school year, and find out why it is important that we ALL - Dads, Moms, teachers, coaches, principals, students - take time to get informed in order to get AHEAD of bullying and create +Upstanding Communities.
For more information, please contact: Sarah Fisher, CEO, +Works, aware@positivethinkingworks.org
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| Lanier Middle School Spring Tours | |
Lanier will be hosting several tours this spring:
- Thursday, March 22 at 9:00am
- Thursday, March 29 at 9:00am
- Wednesday, April 4 at 6:00pm (school tour and 6th grade teacher meet and greet)
- Thursday, April 5 at 9:00am
- Thursday, April 12 at 9:00am
www.purplepups.org
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| Community News and Events | | |
Deadline: 2/24 for Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2012 Half-price Carnival Tickets
Each year the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) committee sells half-price carnival tickets. Click here to view the order form in English. Click here to view the order form in Spanish. For more information, contact Alicial Laidler at hlsr.carnival.tickets@gmail.com or Alicia.Laidler@chevron.com. You can also purchase online at https://secure.rodeohouston.com/carnivaltickest/?salescode=1118434.
Arboretum and Nature Center Spring Break Camp
The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is holding a Spring Break Camp for kids, ages 5-12. Click here to view the flyer.
St. Luke's Summer Camp 2012
St. Luke's is beginning registration for their 2012 summer camp program. Click here for information and click here to view the dates and registration form. For more information, visit www.StLukesSummerCampASC.org.
Willow Pool Board Needs the Community's Help
Dear Community Member,
The Willow Pool board was recently informed that there is an interest in buying the land that the pool currently resides. As many of you may not be aware, Willow Pool is on a piece of property that is owned by the city. The plot of land is leased to the pool, by the city, at a predetermined monthly rate and has done so since the 1960s. In fact, the pool was built by neighborhood people using their own funds.
Because of the recent interest in the land, we are asking that all community members write a letter to Council Member Larry Green at districtk@houstontx.gov by Monday, January 30th or ASAP. We are also asking that you cc: a copy of your email to Julia Floyd, VP Willow Pool Board at 4511floyd@msn.com.
So that the city knows exactly what we are asking for, please include the below bullet points in your email:
I am specifically requesting that the city:
- Protect Willow Pool's lease by extending it for 20 years.
- Not allow Willow Pool's lease to be sold privately, or at auction, to an entity other than Willow Pool.
- Protect this community asset from permanent change that would damage strong, growing Houston neighborhoods.
It is unclear if, or when, the issue will be presented to Council. Your timeliness in the manner is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Willow Pool Board
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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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