Mark Twain Elementary School Newsletter

School Year 2013 - 2014

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In This Issue
Volunteers in Public Schools
Marathon Kids
International Dinner
Robotics
Yearbook Design Contest
Yearbook Orders
Odyssey of the Mind
School Store Volunteers Needed
Parent Enrichment
Twain Track
Child Find
Art A La Carte
Online Fundraising
Twain Triathlon
BTFE
PTO Website & Online Directory
Cub Scout
Pure Body Studio
Calendars and Other Placeholders
CALENDAR

September

 

19th Mark Twain Open House

 

20th Marathon Kids Registration Deadline

23rd International Dinner

24th Yearbook Cover Design Contest Entry Deadline

25th Early Dismissal & Extended Day Coverage

26th Odyssey of the Mind Meeting

27th Monthly Teacher Appreciation Lunch  

27th Odyssey of the Mind Registration Deadline

Thank You to Our
2012-2013
Corporate Sponsors

Tom Sawyer Level

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Huckleberry Finn Level   

 

  

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Samuel Clemens Level   

Texas Citizens Bank logo

 

 

 

 

 Village_plumbing_logo

 

  

Aunt Polly

Level

 

   Stormy Hayes-Knipe logo  

  

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Becky Thatcher

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  WholeFoods

        

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September 18, 2013

 Dear Mark Twain Community,

 

Open House will be held on Thursday, September 19th and all parents/guardians are invited to attend. The event is for adults and babysitting will not be provided.  Classroom teachers will open their doors at 6:00 p.m. for grades K-2 and at 7:00 p.m. for grades 3-5. There will be two opportunities for parents to hear from our Specialists, at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The specialists include computer, library, art, music, science, PE, and Spanish.  Our LDC teachers and GT teacher will also be introduced at this time.   Open House is a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know their child's teacher and to develop a personal bond that will help make the year a special one for the children. It is an important first step in our commitment to establishing a collaborative bond with our families.

 

It is very important that we have accurate and current information on the enrollment cards.  In the first day packet several forms were included that provide us with critical information, such as who is authorized to pick up your child.  Please make sure that you list these individuals and their contact information.  Students will not be released to any person not listed on the enrollment card.  If you have any questions, or if you need to update this information, please contact Denise Rodriguez at drodrigu@houstonisd.org.

 

Next Monday at 5:30 p.m., Mark Twain will be hosting our annual International Potluck Dinner. It is a wonderful opportunity to try dishes from around the world, while socializing with other Mark Twain families. Each family should bring a dish that feeds 8-10 people (at least!). It is a wonderful event, I hope to see you there.

  • Early Dismissal - September 25 (all students dismissed at 12:30, Extended Day classes will be held)

Below I have added the directions for registering as a volunteer. You must follow these steps and be approved to volunteer in the classroom or chaperone on a field trip. Please take a few minutes to register!

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday at Open House.

 

Melissa Patin

Principal

mpatin@houstonisd.org

Twain School Website http://www.houstonisd.org/Twaines

   

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VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (VIPS)

How can I become a VIPS?
 

All volunteers must register online and pass a criminal background check before they can participate as a volunteer. Please follow the steps below to become a VIPS:

 

Step 1:

Register online at www.houstonisd.org/vipslogin.

Step 2:

Once you have registered, you must go in person to the school of interest and show proof of identification (see Ms. Cisneros at the front desk)

Step 3:

Identification information will go into our database for processing by the Volunteer Coordinator at each campus.

Step 4:

The criminal history background check can take 2-3 weeks to complete.

Step 5:

Once you are CLEARED to volunteer, you are eligible to volunteer throughout HISD.

 

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MARATHON KIDS
Marathon Kids is Back! 
  

This fun activity:  

  • 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.

Return registration forms to Coach Jody by Fri, Sep 20th 

Marathon Kids Registration (English)

Marathon Kids Formulario de Inscripcion (Espanol)

 

* Please include an email address on the registration form if possible. Run month of September

INTERNATIONAL DINNER
  
   
Come Celebrate Our Diversity &

Meet Other Twain Families

at the

International Dinner

on Monday September 23rd

5:30-7:30 pm in the school cafeteria.

 

What to do: Bring a dish for 8-12 people to sample so everyone can share in tastes from around the world. No time to cook but want to come? Order a dish from one of our diverse neighborhood restaurants and join us.

 

What to wear: Everyone is welcome to dress up for the occasion in your country's traditional outfit/costume or soccer jersey, etc.

 

Want to help set up, clean up and/or welcome people?

Please contact Fabia Hill at fabia@live.comInternational Dinner Spoon

 

Don't forget to bring a serving spoon for your dish!

Plates, napkins, and utensils will be provided.

 

Click here for Flyer!

 

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ROBOTICS
The Twain Robotics program is looking for parent coaches for the 2013-2014 school year!  Parent coaches will meet with their student teams once a week on a day of their choosing, and help to facilitate the construction and operation of LegoŽ robots to be used in competitions against other teams.  All the building materials and practice space will be provided.

 

All interested parents including Robotics team coaches from last year must fill out and return this registration form to Coach Jody. 

 

Click here for Robotics Registration Form

 

**Please include an email address on the registration form if possible.

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YEARBOOK COVER DESIGN CONTEST

This year's theme is:

 

The Wonderful World of Mark Twain Elementary School

 

Our school is wonderful in so many ways. What do you think makes it such a wondrous place? Create a yearbook cover that demonstrates all the wonder within Mark Twain Elementary.

 

Guidelines for all entries: 

  1. You must use an 8.5x11 sheet of WHITE paper.
  2. All artwork must be designed vertically (your paper should be oriented "hamburger style" aka "portrait").
  3. You must include the name of our school: Mark Twain Elementary School
  4. You must include the school year: 2013-2014
  5. You can use colored pencils, crayons, markers, paint etc. Make sure to use a LOT of color! Fill the page as much as possible (avoid leaving the background white). Your submission and all of its elements must be your original creations.
  6. Do not sign the front of your artwork. We want to assure anonymity during the judging process. Winners will be asked to autograph their work at a later date.
  7. Please write your name, grade, and teacher ON THE BACK, preferably on the lower right corner. Please write lightly, but legibly.
  8. Do not fold your paper.
  9. Keep in mind that your artwork will not be returned to you.

All entries must be received by 8 am on Monday, September 24 !!!


Place your entry in the "Yearbook Cover Contest" box - in the front rotunda.   First place winner receives a copy of the yearbook!

  

Any questions? Please contact the Mark Twain PTO Yearbook Director: Laura Solitare: twainyearbook1314@gmail.com, 713-882-8467, or leave a note in the "Yearbook" mailbox located in the parent workroom.

 

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YEARBOOK ORDERS

Order the yearbook now - the price increases on October 1!

 

Order the yearbook now for $35 and receive a free personalized nameplate ($5 value).

 

Starting October 1, the prices are:

Yearbook = $0 and Nameplate = $5

 

Order online at: http://marktwainpto.org/ or pay by check (payable to Mark Twain PTO) - attach check to order form and drop in Yearbook mailbox - located in Parent Workroom

 

 
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ODYSSEY OF THE MIND
Odyssey of the Mind (OM) 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 learning about Odyssey of the Mind at Mark Twain, please come to the following informational meeting: Thursday, September 26 in the cafeteria immediately following drop-off.
  

If your child wants to participate in Odyssey this year, you must submit this form by Friday, September 27th:

http://marktwainpto.digitalpto.com/files/2011/07/Interest-Form-for-parents-and-children.docx 

 

For additional information please contact Tonya Crombie at tonyacrombie@comcast.net

 

PLEASE NOTE: We can only have Odyssey Teams if we have Odyssey coaches. Coaching an Odyssey team can be a very rewarding experience. If you are interested in coaching an Odyssey team, please mark your calendar for the Houston-area coaches training session on Saturday, October 5th 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 Iris Story, Coaches Trainer Chair at info@txodyssey.org.  

 

PTO SCHOOL STORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

StoreVolunteer  

PARENT ENRICHMENT 

Guest Speaker

 

Please mark your calendar for our next event:   

Thursday October 3rd 8:15 AM:  Patina Sehorn, local author, parenting expert and mother of 3 will speak on Fostering a Positive Attitude and Resilience in Your Child

 

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TWAIN TRACK

The Mark Twain Track Team will be returning for the 2013-2014 school year.  Let's make this year as successful as the previous one when our boys and girls teams each placed 2nd at the Spring tournament! 

 

Participation is open to anyone with a passion for running or just staying fit!  Slots for the tournament will be decided based on practices.  More information will be coming in November and December.

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CHILD FIND 
  

Child Find is an ongoing process to locate, identify, and evaluate as early as possible all children with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services.

 

Houston ISD has produced Child Find informational flyers in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The flyers are designed to be disseminated on your school's website or can be printed and shared with parents and others who have a child with a disability or who they suspect has a disability. 

 

Flyers

 

Access the flyers by clicking on the links below:

  

English Flyer     Spanish Flyer     Vietnamese Flyer

 

 

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ART A LA CARTE

Hello, Parents!

Art A La Carte is an art curriculum that was purchased, and is supported by the Mark Twain PTO. It has been a continued success at our school because of the many parent volunteers who teach these art lessons in our children's classrooms from October-May of each year.

By Open House, I hope each class has an Art A La Carte Volunteer Coordinator to help me guarantee the benefits of this program for our children. Let's give our kids a leg up by making the most of Art A La Carte; so when they have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, or other art galleries, they have the tools they need to help them begin to understand the multiple dimensions of what they are seeing.

 

I will provide 2 general meetings each month, one for for K-2, and the other for 3-5 to discuss general guidelines, teaching tools, lesson plans, and examples of finished artworks.

Remember, AALC is fun and gets our kids learning! thinking! and creating! art in unique ways.

 

I would be happy to help answer any questions you may have.

 

Sonal Patel

Arts Enrichment Director

Mark Twain Elementary

240.888.6732

sonalpatel628@gmail.com

 

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FUNDRAISING THROUGH ONLINE SHOPPING

 

Dear Mark Twain Parents and Friends, 

 

 

Back to School shopping season is upon us! Mark Twain has partnered with BookBenefits.org to take advantage of cash benefits available to non-profits. Our school will receive a donation of 5% of your total purchases made on sites such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Toms, Groupon, iTunes and over 37 online retailers!!!

 

Instructions

  

Follow these easy steps to ensure that Mark Twain gets credited for your purchases on these sites:

 

1.       Go to http://bookbenefit.org/marktwain/ to access the site. (Be sure to bookmark your favorite sites with the Mark Twain link.)  Since Amazon is such a widely used retailer, please see the specific link for their site http://www.amazon.com/?tag=bkben0013-20

 

2.       Click on the link for the online retailer of your choice.

 

3.       Complete purchases as you normally would.

 

4.       BookBenefits.org will send Mark Twain PTO a check quarterly with our contributions.

 

Spread the word to your friends and family and encourage them to use the BookBenefits.org links for their online shopping. Supporting Mark Twain has never been so easy!!!

 

TWAIN TRIATHLON
Triatholon

 

Mark Twain will be hosting its very own kids' triathlon this coming November for all students! This will be a great opportunity for our children to challenge themselves with physical activity, involve our community, and a fun way to help raise funds for our school!

 

We will be sending out more specific details as we move into the school year.  Encourage and challenge your Twain student to swim an extra lap, ride his/her bike another block, and run for fun!

 

Triathlon requirements for children ages 6-10 include:

 

Swim - 100 yards (4 lengths)

Bike - 3 miles

Run - 1/2 mile

 

We will have a special category for students K-2 who would like to participate, but not necessarily complete these requirements. All other students will be competing in either the K-2nd or 3rd-5th groups.

 

We hope you are as excited about this new event as we are, and look forward to making this a new tradition at Mark Twain. Stay tuned for more information to come!

 

If you would like to be on our volunteer list or have any questions please email: Monica Agosta

magosta69@gmail.com 

 

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BTFE BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION 

Great work Twain Tigers, Families and Friends!  During the 2012-2014 school year we earned $3,179 from clipped Box Tops and eBoxTops!  Our goal this school year is $3,000.  Keep clipping those Box Tops For Education coupons from participating products for submission to your Twain Tigers new classroom!  
  
Also, please register at btfe.com to support Mark Twain Elementary in Houston Texas!
  
Click on the Bonus Sweepstakes images below to enter for a chance to win eBoxTops for Mark Twain.  Note that PO Box addresses are typically not accepted for online Bonus Sweepstakes and will be marked void should you win eBoxTops for Mark Twain.

 


BTFESendCheer
Click on image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per Day through 7/17/2014.
                     
BTFEZooPals

Click on image above to enter.

 

One (1) Entry per person/email address. Sweepstakes entry deadline December 31, 2013

                         
 
  		 

 

PTO Website & Online Directory

The Mark Twain PTO Website and Online PTO Directory are being worked on and should be ready soon.  Please delay signing up using the Online PTO Directory until a note is sent notifying you that it is ready. 

  
We will relay any important notes via the weekly folder or using the Twain Times. 
  
If you received this email by it being forwarded to you, please use the sign-up link at the top of this Twain Times (see above left) to be temporarily added to the Twain Times distribution listing.  Thank you for your patience.  

 

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CUB SCOUT PACK 34

Join Cub Scout Pack 34 now!

 

Mark Twain Elementary is the largest source of boys for Cub Scout Pack 34, based at St. Mark's Episcopal on Bellaire (between Stella Link and Edloe).  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 teaches skills such as leadership, communication, and organization.
  

All boys who will be entering 1st through 5th grades in the Fall of 2013 are welcome to join.  If you want to join or have any questions please email Cubmaster Sean O'Connor at oconnorhook@gmail.com.
PURE BODY STUDIO
Join Pure Body Studio with a Mat Membership for just $139/month and purchase TRX classes for $20 each! Enjoy unlimited visits to any of our mat Pilates, barre, circuit and stretch classes all month long and enjoy the best price in town on TRX in the bargain. Orientation required.
  
For more information on this great deal and all of our classes, call Pure Body Studio at 713-660-7873, visit www.purebodystudio.com or contact Laura McAughan at 713-817-6514.
  
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CALENDARS AND OTHER PLACEHOLDERS
September 2013 Lunch and Breakfast Calendar (Color Version) (B&W Version)
 
 
  
Saturday, October 5th Odyssey of the Mind Coaches Traininig at Sharpstown International school 8330 Triola Lane Houston, TX 77036.  For additional information please contact Iris Story, Coaches Trainer Chair at info@txodyssey.org.
 

October 11th Spooky Spaghetti Package, Dinner, Tshirt, and Bracelet Form due.  Online orders will begin on Monday 9/23/13.  Deliveries begin Monday, 10/7.

 

Tuesday, October 29, 5:30-7:30 Math Night -  A Twain Tiger in King Arthur's Court, contact Irene Chang at icchang@prodigy.net for information.

 

Nov 11th-15th Book Fair, contact Holly Lee (hollyzlee@yahoo.com) or Jennifer Fernandez (jennifer@newcombscientific.com) for information.

 

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If you have information you would like to include in the Twain Times please follow the following procedures: 
 
For more information check out:
Mark Twain Elementary PTO website marktwainpto.org 
Mark Twain Elementary School website houstonisd.org/Twaines
HISD website houstonisd.org

 

Forward questions to twaintimes10@yahoo.com 
  • For Parents - forward information to our PTO President, Tony Houck at tvhouck@msn.com for approval.
  • For Staff - forward information to Ms. Patin for approval at mpatin@houstonisd.org
  • Details needed for Twain Times:
    • Send a copy of the approved email to Rita Lee at twaintimes10@yahoo.com.
    • Provide text for your listing in the email or in a WORD document.
    • Please consider using bitly.com to shorten any web addresses or a URL. 
    • If you want a flyer included, it must be submitted in PDF format.
    • If you want a logo or image to appear in your listing, provide it in jpg, gif or png format.  Go to this link http://bit.ly/1fxcCDH for guidance on logos and images.
      • If you want the logo or image to be linked to a website, please include the website address for your image or logo in your email.
      • If you want the logo or image to have a caption, please specify text for caption.
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  • Submission deadlines for all approved articles are Thursdays by 5pm.
  • Note that we will not include student full name unless we have parent permission.