Mark Twain Elementary School Newsletter
School Year 2013 - 2014 |
| January 14, 2014 | |
Dear Mark Twain Families,
I want to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy 2014!!! I hope you had a restful and wonderful time during the Holidays with family and friends. It is great to be back in the swing of life at Mark Twain! We have some very exciting community and FUNdraising events planned for the spring semester.... So stay tuned to the Twain Times, Red Folders and LivingTree communications from your room parents. Also, we are already starting to plan for the 2014-15 School Year. The Nominating Committee will be forming and announced at the February PTO meeting. The committee is responsible for reviewing nominations and selecting an officers' and directors' slate that is representative of the Mark Twain Community. If you are interested in being part of the committee or would like get more involved on the PTO Board next year, please reach out to me at tvhouck@msn.com.
Here are a couple reminders for the coming weeks:
- Bingo Night has been rescheduled-The new date with be March, 28. Mark it down, it is a great night of fun.
- Get Ready for the Glam!!! "The Great Bashby" - is Friday, February 14th. All forms for Bash Socials, donations for Bash Baskets and fabulous Auction item donations are due Friday, January 24th. Online Ticket Sales and Table Sponsorships started last week. Gather your friends now so you can purchase a table together and have a reserved seat for the event! Please contact Kim Marosis at kmarosis@clearpointco.com or Chastiti Houck at chorne@ethlaw.com with any questions. Please see below for more
- January 20th - School Holiday
- January 21st - Gugliani's at 4990 Beechnut MARK TWAIN SPIRIT NIGHT: No need to cook! Come join your Mark Twain friends for dinner at Gugliani's (4990 Beechnut) on January 21st. A percentage of the proceeds from the evening will be sent back to the school. Please let your server know that you are dining for the Mark Twain Spirit Night. Check out the Gugliani's menu online: www.guglianis.com See you there!
I look forward to seeing you all every morning and have a wonderful week. Go Twain Tigers!!!
Tony Houck
Mark Twain PTO President
tvhouck@msn.com
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| THE GREAT BASHBY INVITATION AND SPONSORS! | |
Get your most dapper attire on and come enjoy decadent food, treats and an open bar while you outbid your friends on some fabulous auction items!
Buy your tickets online by clicking on This Link.
Thank You To Our MARVELOUS Sponsors!
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| BASHBY SOCIALS | |
Host a Bash Social!
Bash Socials are an important part of the success of our biggest fundraiser of the year, The Huckleberry Bash. "Bash Socials" are student or parent social events planned and hosted by individual or groups of parents during the year. Once planned, socials are then made available for purchase at the Bash at a set price per person until all slots are filled. Hosting a Bash Social is a great way to meet and have fun with your Mark Twain friends while contributing to the school! Now is the time to get your group of hosts together, brainstorm ideas for fun adult and kid parties and SIGN UP!! As you work out the party details, think about the NUMBER OF PEOPLE and AGE range, choose your LOCATION and select a DATE for your party. The hosts are responsible for underwriting the cost of the event. Fill out the Bash Socials donor form, Linked Here and return it to Carlotta Ramirez no later than Friday, January 24, 2014. You can contact Carlotta for more information or to sign up at cramirez@mfah.org or (713) 269-0253. Forms are also available in the Parent Workroom and on the PTO website. |
| THE GREAT BASHBY! | |
The Bash Team is working hard to keep up with the precedent set by past Bashes. It is the BIGGEST FUNdraiser of the school year, and we need help. Let's help make The Great Bashby, a great success!
GET YOUR HUCKLEBERRY BASH TICKETS!
Ticket sales are going on now in the front rotunda, Kinder hallway and on-line at this Online Ticket Purchase Link . Gather your friends and invite new Mark Twain families to join a table... Sponsor teachers, faculty, and staff members. Don't miss the excitement!
 Did you notice that "The Great Bashby" is on Valentine's Day! What a GREAT place to take your Valentine on Valventine's Day . . . no long waiting for your reserved table in the entry way or bar of an overbooked restaurant or being rushed by servers trying to keep later reservations on time!
Donations
If you have a lead on possible donations please contact one of the Bash Chairs Kim Marosis at kmarosis@clearpointco.com or, Chastiti Houck at chorne@ethlaw.com. If you do not have any use for a certain item you received this holiday season consider "re-gifting" it to Bash. Be it event tickets; toys, restaurant gift cards, sports equipment, kitchen gadgets etc...These items could be used for Bash baskets or silent auction items. All donations should be new and in their original packaging. Donation Forms can be found on the PTO website at this Donation Form Link.
Bashby Decor
The decorating team is hoping that you will be able to help us again this year as we go over the top with elegance in the form of the Great Gatsby! We are looking for the following items and greatly appreciate any help you are able to provide!
- Silver or brass picture frames of all sizes***
- Square glass vases (approximately 6x6, 8X8)***
- Tall Trumpet glass vases***
- Vintage pieces such as cameras, fans, phonograph, luggage, etc...
- White feathers (all sizes)
- Strings of faux pearls or crystals
- Silver or Mirrored Chargers
- 4 men's vintage hats (Fedora, boaters, gangster, etc...)
- Furniture to be borrowed for a Speakeasy lounge area (couch, chairs, small round tables (bistro) and chairs
- Faux or real topiaries that are portable
- Large green ferns
***We need as many of these as we can get***
Please label all Decorations with your name and contact information. All Decorations will be used with care and returned in the condition received. If you have any of these items, please contact Monica Agosta ASAP at magosta69@gmail.com.
Gift Containers & Baskets
Please consider holding on to nice reusable containers and gift baskets and letting the bash team use them to help display items. This is a great way to recycle those items.
Bashby Baskets
 Monetary donations are still being accepted and we need them! Make all checks payable to Madonna Bauch or cash can be dropped into Madonna Bauch/Liz Sanders box in the PTO workroom. You can also still donate any items related to the baskets (see below for things we are looking for).
Kindergarten Crayola Basket:
- Wonder Art markers and paper
- Sketcher Projecter
- Widescreen Light Designer
- See-Thru Light Designer
- Color Wonder® Stow & Go Studio™
- Crayola® Washable Window Mega Markers - 4 Ct.
- Crayola® Glow Station™
First Grade Barbie and Action Hero Basket:
- Barbie and Pet sets
- Barbie playsets
- Action Figures
- Power Rangers
- Ninja Turtles
- Spider Man and Super Man
- Transformers
2nd Grade "She's a Soccer Mom" We already have a fabulous pink foldable chair!
- Gift card to the Kolache Factory
- Travel Coffee Mug
- Soccer blanket for chilly games
- Soccer ball
- Score Pads
- Gift Card to Athleta
- Sports Spray mister for hot days
3rd Grade "A Tisket a Tasket a Literary Basket": Award wining books. Below are examples of awards children's books may receive. Accepting books for Elementary aged children.
- CALDECOTT MEDAL books
- Newbery Medal Winners
- (Mildred L.) Batchelder Award
- (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Medal
- Laura Ingalls) Wilder Award
PALS CLASS Lego Basket
- Character Legos from Star Wars, Sponge Bob, to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Basic boxes of Lego Bricks
4th Grade Basket:
All Classes Combined- Cash/Check for airline tickets - These will be used to round out other auction items.
5th Grade Basket:
All Classes Combined- Cash/Check for airline tickets - These will be used to round out other auction items.
Please contact Madonna Bauch madonna5@comcast.netor Liz Sanders lizsanders7777@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions regarding the Bashby Baskets.
Wine Pull With A Gatsby Twist
Back by popular demand...the Wine Pull with a Gatsby Twist!
This year we are including Whisky to go along with the theme. We are looking for donations of wine and whisky (preferably $15 value or higher) or simply donate cash/gift cards for purchasing. During the Bashby event you will be able to pay $20 to get an unrevealed bottle of wine or whiskey. You may drop off your donations at the home of Chastiti Horne (3606 North Braeswood) or contact Dan Crowder dfcrowder@thecrowderlawfirm.com or 713-503-5308for for pickup or more information.
Volunteers Needed
If you would like to help in any way - decorations, reservations, auction set up, check-in, clean up or take a shift at the Wine Pull or Big Board . . . contact Kim Marosis atkmarosis@clearpointco.com.
Calling All Twain Artists...
Please enter our Bash T-Shirt contest. We will be accepting color designs on white paper with marker, pastels, or crayon for this year's 2014 Bash. Please use four to five colors in your design. Think...The Great Bashby...Roaring Twenties!
All entries must be placed in the Contest Box located in the front rotunda by Wednesday, January 15th at 12 noon. The winner will have their design printed on the shirts to be sold for the Bash Fundraiser at School. We will have one winner per grade Kinder-5th. One Overall winner will be named by Friday January 17th!
Please turn in only one (1) design per person with your NAME, GRADE and TEACHER to be considered for winner.
*Please write return on the back if you would like to pick it up in the Parent Workroom after the contest!*
Silhouette Artist
 Renowned Silhouette Artist, Suzanne Marsh, will be on hand for exclusive silhouette cuttings at the Great Bashby! You will get to see a master artist cut beautiful freehand silhouettes on site at the Bash while you are dressed in your Bashby finest. Suzanne is a friend of Mark Twain and will also donate a percentage of each silhouette cutting that is booked at the event.
Don't miss this opportunity to have a remarkable piece of artwork. www.greatsilhouettes.com/
Facebook
We'd love for you to "Like" the Huckleberry Bash Facebook page so you can get Bash updates and sneak peeks at great donations! 
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Join Our Mailing List
and Calendar
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January
14-16 Twain Triathlon Registration at Drop-off and after-school pick-up
15 Bashby TShirt Design Deadline
17 Twain Triathlon Registration at Drop-off
17 Yearbook Order Deadline
17 Bashby TShirt Design Contest Winners Announced
17 Garden Workday
20 School Holiday - No school
21 TWAIN SPIRIT NIGHT!
22 Science Night Planning Meeting
24 Last Day to submit Bashby Socials Donation Forms, Bash Basket Donations and Auction Items
24 Monthly Staff Appreciation Luncheon
25 Track Team Registration Due
29 Early Dismissal
30 Art Night
31 Fit Friday
31 Free Dress Day
February
4 Grade 3-5 Name That Book Qualifying Test
6 Parent Enrichment
12 PTO Meeting 8:15 AM
14 The Great Bashby! & Valentines Day
19 Early Dismissal
21 Science Fair Project Due
21 Monthly Staff Appreciation Luncheon
21 Kinder Round-Up 8:30 AM
25 Judging of 5th Grade Science Project Finalist Judged
26 Judging of 4th Grade Science Project Finalist
27 Judging of 3rd Grade Science Project Finalist
25-27 K-2nd Science Projects on Display in Hallway
Feb 27-Mar 5 Dual Language 1st - 5th Grade Stanford/Aprenda Test
March
1 Soccer Tournament
9 Twain Triathlon
13 Science Night
28 Bingo Night
April
1 4th Grade STAAR Writing Test
1 5th Grade STAAR Math Test
2 4th Grade STAAR Writing Test
2 5th Grade STAAR Reading Test
22 3rd & 4th Grade STAAR Math Test
23 3rd & 4th Grade STAAR Reading Test
23 5th Grade STAAR Science Test
May
5-9 1st - 5th Grade Stanford/ Aprenda Test
13 Make-up Stanford/Aprenda Test
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Thank You To Our
2013-2014
Corporate Sponsors |
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Platinum Level
Gold Level
EBANKS, HORNE, ROTA, MOOS
Silver Level
Community Partners Level
The Lice Place
TheLicePlace.com
 Vivaldi Music VivaldiMusicAcademy.com 
Candelaris Candelaris.com  
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| YEARBOOK | | |
Photos Needed!
 Please, ASAP -- electronically upload any photos you have already taken throughout this first part of the school year into Mark Twain Elementary's Community Shutterfly site! Then, as you take photos at future events, upload those into that same Shutterfly site.
Please submit your photos to the Twain Elementary Yearbook's Shutterfly share site: https://marktwainyearbook.shutterfly.com/ Password: tigers To add pictures you'll need a Shutterfly account (setting up an account is free, quick & easy). Please label your album to indicate Grade and Class/Teacher OR Event. Without the label information, we can't use your photos! Yearbook Order Deadline This Week! Pre-orders are due by January 17th for the Mark Twain 2013-2014 Yearbook. Copies are limited. A pre-order is the only way to guarantee your child will have a Mark Twain 2013-2014 Yearbook. Pre-orders are also the only way to purchase a personalized name tag. To order the yearbook, stop by the school store or visit the PTO website (http://marktwainpto.org/fundraising/2013-2014-yearbook/) where you can a) print out the order form and submit it with a check (place your order in the "Yearbook" mailbox in the Parent Workroom) or b) order online. Wondering if you have already placed a yearbook order? There is a list of "received orders" posted outside of the school-store. Contact Laura Solitare, Mark Twain PTO Yearbook Director at twainyearbook1314@gmail.com or lgsolitare@gmail.com Back To Top |
| TWAIN TRIATHLON | |
 The First Twain Triathlon will be held on Sunday, March 9th.
Registration will take place in the school rotunda at drop-off and pick-up times Jan. 14 - Jan. 16, and drop-off only on Fri., Jan. 17. This will be your FINAL opportunity to register. This event requires us to coordinate and purchase numbers, timers, and a schedule of start times so unfortunately, no late registrations will be accepted.
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| GARDEN WORKDAY | |  Garden workday on Friday, January 17th
at 3:30 PM In the Outdoor Classroom
Contact Jinny Sisson at
j_sisson@netzero.com if you have any questions.
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| SCIENCE NIGHT - | | 
Explore The Extraordinary!
Science Night Planning Meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 22, 8:00 AM in the Cafeteria
Science Night 2014 will "Explore the Extraordinary!" Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 13th 5:30 - 7:30 pm for this fun filled event.
Volunteers are needed to help coordinate exhibits, publicity, registration and dinner. Anyone interested in helping our students explore the extraordinary world of science, please meet in the cafeteria after drop-off at 8 AM on Wednesday, January 22nd or contact Megan Rose at meganrose72@gmail.com. Back To Top |
MARK TWAIN TRACK TEAM
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Calling future track stars!
Registration is now open for the 2013/2014 Mark Twain Track Team. Practices will be held once a week after school for 30 minutes beginning at the end of January, with a goal of attending at least one Spring tournament. All interested 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders need to return a registration form to Coach Jody by January 25th.
Click Here For Registration Form
Jody Bourque, JBOURQUE@houstonisd.org
Physical Education Teacher
Mark Twain Elementary
713-295-5230
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| ART NIGHT | |
 Hello, Parents!
Art Night is a fun family event created by our very own Ms. Cowan! You can come to Mark Twain after school and let your children create inspired artworks!
This year it will be held on Thursday, January 30th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
We are looking for volunteers to help set up, sell Candelari's pizza slices and drinks, and help supervise the art tables.
This is a great event with a very small time commitment. If you are interested in helping, please contact Sonal Patel at sonalpatel628@gmail.com, or 240-888-6732.
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| NAME THAT BOOK | | |
I am pleased to announce that there are seven titles from the K - 2 list and 17 titles from the 3 - 5 list, more than half of the list, available as eBooks. The books are accessed through Mark Twain's Follett Shelf. Instructions on how to access these titles can be found on the Media Center blog: http://marktwainmediacenter.weebly.com/ or come by the library to pick up a flyer. All you need is the student's identification number and the password, which you will need to get from me. Thanks to everyone for being supportive of the Name That Book contests!
3-5 NTB Event
The NTB qualifying test for Grades 3 - 5 will be Tuesday, February 4th. Students will meet in Ms. Vamvakias' room next to the library immediately after school. You may send them with a snack. The test will begin at 3:30 pm.
Also, parents, if your child makes the team, please be aware that coaching the team will be a shared effort among the parents and your help will be needed.
K - 2 NTB Event
The K - 2 NTB event will be March 3 - 7. For more information about the Name That Book reading incentive program please click on the following link http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/93027
Contact Kyrsten Crawford at kyrsten.crawford@gmail.com or speak with our Librarian, mr. Deering if you have any questions.
Back To Top With the new year, both Name That Books (NTB) Teams will shift into high gear; the K - 2 team will begin weekly practices and the selection process will begin for the 3 - 5 team. |
| KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP | | |
All ZONED families with incoming kindergartners are welcomed and encouraged to attend the 2014 Mark Twain Kindergarten Round Up February 21st.
Children will get the opportunity to visit a kindergarten classroom and get acquainted with the school while parents take in a brief yet comprehensive overview of the kindergarten year at Mark Twain Elementary.
Check-in starts at 8:30 AM with the program starting at 9 AM. Please bring proof of residency - two recent copies of utility bills or lease agreement with most recent rent receipt attached.
We are expecting maximum capacity again next year and want zoned families to secure their spots as early as possible. Contact Sarah Callahan Baker at callhanbaker@hotmail.com with any questions. PLEASE forward this email to your Zoned Friends and Neighbors that will have incoming Kindergarten Twain Tigers!
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| GET FIT FRIDAY | | |
 Fit Friday will be held on Friday, January 31st! All students, faculty and parents are welcome to jog or walk the track before starting their day! The fun starts 7:30 in the morning!
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| PICK-UP SOCCER TOURNAMENT | | |
 The Dual Language Program at Mark Twain would like to invite everyone out to a friendly pick-up style soccer tournament on March 1, 2014 from 10 AM - 2 PM.
Twain family and friends will be divided into teams depending on their ages. K-2nd grade, 3-5th grade, and parents (Co-ed).
Tournaments T-shirts and snacks will be sold, and all profits will go to the 5th Grade Gift Fund.
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| 1st WHITE HOUSE STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL | | |
 Lights, Camera, Education!
Are you a student filmmaker? Know someone who is? We want your help.
If you're a student, we want you to make a short film -- and have the chance to show it right here at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the first-ever White House Student Film Festival. If you're a parent or a friend, pass this on to a student you know.
The topic? Technology in classrooms. There's huge power in what technology can do for education -- from taking a course online, to collaborating with students from across the country (or the world!).
We're looking for awesome student filmmakers to show the power of technology in classrooms in a short film.
Film due January 29, 2014. Film needs to be 3 minutes or shorter. Rules for Submitting can be found at WhiteHouse.Gov/FilmFest or http://1.usa.gov/1d8rjLR |
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| MARK TWAIN SPIRIT NIGHT | | |
January 21st - Gugliani's 4990 Beechnut 
No need to cook! Come join your Mark Twain friends for dinner at Gugliani's (4990 Beechnut) on January 21st.
A percentage of the proceeds from the evening will be sent back to the school. Please let your server know that you are dining for the Mark Twain Spirit Night. Check out the Gugliani's menu online: www.guglianis.com See you there! Back To Top |
| SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT | |  Hopefully all of our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders have turned proposals in and are hard at work on their experiments!
If students have questions or need help Ms. Reese will be holding "open lab" Science Fair Tutorial, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:15.
Please remember that Grade 3-5 projects are due February 21st. K-2nd graders will be doing a project with their class, ask your teacher if you'd like to know more.
Attached is a copy of the Science Fair Packet (Click Here For Packet) for your reference.
Don't forget to get approval for your Science Project, before spending too much time working on it. IF you forgot, please get the proposal turned in as soon as possible! The proposal can be found on the last page of the packet or by clicking on this Page Link.
Like last year, the top three projects from each classroom will go on to the judging phase.
Top projects will be judged:- February 25th - 5th Graders,
- February 26th - 4th Graders, and
- February 27th - 3rd Graders.
Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Projects will be exhibited in their hallways between February 25th and February 27th.
I am excited to see all the wonderful and creative projects that students produce this year!!
Becky Reese
Science Lab Teacher
Mark Twain Elementary
rreese@houstonisd.org |
| BINGO NIGHT | |
 BINGO night has been RESCHEDULED to March 28th.
We look forward to seeing you then for lots of BINGO fundraising FUN!
If you are interested in helping the BINGO Night team, please contact Laura Bumgarner at Laura.L.Bumgarner@wellsfargo.com
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| TWAIN LIBRARY HEROES | |
 The library is looking for anyone who might have the time to come to the library and shelve books as well as read the shelves. This is important that the library stay as organized as possible in order to serve the needs of teacher and students.
Anyone who can adopt a section of the library and read the shelves for that section would be a library hero! Take a few minutes a couple of times a week and give it a go! I cannot stress enough how important it is for the shelves to be in order , and this requires requires they be "read'"!
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SCHOOL STORE - REGAL CINEMA GIFT CARDS
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Let's go to the Movies and support Mark Twain!Get your Regal Cinemas gift cards at the school store. See attached for movie flyer. Click Here for Flyer!
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| SCHOOL STORE - GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE | | |
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| ONLINE FUNDRAISING FOR MARK TWAIN | |
Dear Mark Twain Parents and Friends,
As we move into the holiday shopping season; PLEASE take a moment to update your links for your favorite online retailers. 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!!!
Follow these easy steps to ensure that Mark Twain gets credited for your purchases on these sites:
- 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.
- Click on the link for the online retailer of your choice.
- Complete purchases as you normally would.
- 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 links for their online shopping. Supporting Mark Twain has never been so easy!!!
Isn't Online Fundraising better than going door-to-door selling or asking co-workers and family to buy something from a fundraising list?
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| BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION | |
Click Here for Box Top Collection Sheets.
On November 25th a Mark Twain BTFE Supporter won 1,000 eBoxTops ($100) for Mark Twain Elementary through the BTFE Nature Valley Great Outdoors Giveaway!
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. Each eBoxTop is worth $0.10 (10 cents).
 | | Click on Image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per day through 1/26/2014. |
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 | | Click on Image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per day through 7/17/2014. |
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| LOCKS OF LOVE | |
 Locks of Love Event Coming To Mark Twain
Are you interested in making a HUGE difference in a child's life? If so, please join us in donating to Locks of Love ( www.locksoflove.org/).
Who can donate? We are looking for Mark Twain girls, their moms, sisters, teachers, staff to donate their beautiful locks for a wonderful cause.
When? We will schedule "cutting event" in late May.
How? You will need 10" of hair to make a donation so start growing now.
Why? Because there are thousands of children who suffer from long-term hair loss and we have the ability to make a difference. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces for these children. So if you have hair and it grows, you can help!
Ready to commit? If you are 100% committed to participating in this event, please email your name, age and phone number to Ilse Rassin.
Interested? Great! You have plenty of time to think about it while your hair grows. Plus, there will be ways to help even if you choose not to donate hair.
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RICE UNIVERSITY - STUDY PARTICIPANTS
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 The Human Factors Research Lab at Rice University needs participants for a voting research study. Participants will be asked to vote with different voting systems, answer questions about them, and complete surveys. The study will take approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete, and participants will be paid $40.00 for completing the study. To be eligible you must be 18 or older, a U.S. Citizen, and have normal or corrected-to-normal vision. If interested in participating in the study, either e-mail Dr. Philip Kortum at hfresearchlab@gmail.com or call 713-570-6807.
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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.
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+SNAX
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 Everybody Knows It.
Players on the school's A-team sat on the bench during a home basketball game. It was toward the end of the game and looking like a blowout for their team. The coach had the second string in, but there were still a few kids on the bench yet to touch the court. The strongest player on the team, also the quarterback on the football team, started to taunt one of the still-benched players, as he had every game during the season, under his breath but loud enough for several other players on the bench to hear.
"You know you s**k," he said. "You're never going in. Don't even think you're going in this game because you s**k, and everybody knows it."
The benched player was unable to hide his emotions, once again humiliated in front of his teammates, who did nothing to intervene. The coach saw the red face, the tears welling - and also did nothing.
So of course, the taunting continued, on the bench, then in the locker room, and on and on and on. .........................................
This true story offers an opportunity to reflect on what it means to +PlayWell. Whether you're coaching or parenting kids on an athletic, arts, or academic team, remember to model and discuss the importance of speaking up. Bullies only do what bystanders allow.
©2013 +Works
http://www.blog.positivethinkingworks.org
For more information, visit www.positivethinkingworks.org.
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CALENDARS AND OTHER USEFUL INFO
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Join Cub Scout Pack 34 now! The Boy Scouts of America teaches skills such as leadership, communication, and organization. If you want to join or have any questions please email Cubmaster Sean O'Connor at oconnorhook@gmail.com
Join Girl Scouts! Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Email gsbraesoaks@gmail.com to be put in touch with the right troop leader.
Art A La Carte is an art curriculum that was purchased, and is supported by the Mark Twain PTO. For additional information contact Sonal Patel, 240.888.6732, sonalpatel628@gmail.com
Marathon Kids Challenge - Run/Walk 26.2 miles over six months, in quarter or half mile increments thru March 20, 2014.
UIL is being led by Mrs. Rota SROTA@houstonisd.org and and Mrs. Dennis JDENNIS3@houstonisd.org. Mrs. Rota is primarily coaching 2nd and 3rd graders. Mrs. Dennis is leading the 4th and 5th graders. If you want more information, contact the appropriate coach for your grade level.
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For more information check out:
Forward questions to twaintimes10@yahoo.com. If you have information you would like to include in the Twain Times please follow the following procedures:
- For Parents - send information to our PTO President, Tony Houck at tvhouck@msn.com for approval, copy twaintimes10@yahoo.com.
- For Staff - send information to Ms. Patin for approval at mpatin@houstonisd.org, copy twaintimes10@yahoo.com.
- Details needed for Twain Times:
- Each Volunteer needs to copy twaintimes10@yahoo.com on your request to have something published in the Twain Times. It is your responsibility for sending the posting and attachments to twaintimes10@yahoo.com. It is not Mr. Houck or Ms. Patin responsibility to forward emails to twaintimes10@yahoo.com.
- Provide text for your listing in the email or in a WORD document.
- 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 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.
- If you want a video link, provide the URL for the video
- Submission deadlines for all approved articles are Thursdays by 5pm for the Twain Times that will be issued the following week.
- Note that we will not include student full name unless we have parent permission.
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