Late on Friday, April 4th, Yahoo made a change in their authentication policy for people sending mail from @yahoo.com email addresses. They did this to combat spoofing attacks, but one of the side effects has been that most of the Twain Times did not get delivered.

I apologize to those of you receiving this same Twain Times a second time, but more than half of the Mark Twain contacts did not receive the first email. 

Thank you for your patience, Rita Lee, Communications Director


 Mark Twain Elementary School Newsletter
School Year 2013 - 2014
Top
April 8, 2014

Dear Parents,

 

The month of April brings not only spring showers, but many activities for the students and families at Mark Twain.  The International Festival is our next school-wide event and it is being held on Saturday, April 12th from 1 -4 PM in the cafeteria.  Mark Twain is a diverse community with over 22 languages spoken by our student population. The festival highlights food, dance and presentations from over 14 countries.  If you would like to coordinate a booth or participate as a volunteer, please contact Fabia Hill at  [email protected].   I hope to see you at the festival!

 

School hours are 8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Please make sure that your children are in attendance for the full day.   Students should not be picked up before the end of the school day unless absolutely necessary.   If you do need to pick your child up early, please do so before 3:00 - after that time, unless it is an emergency, we will not be calling students down for early release.   Parents are asked to wait in the front rotunda until dismissal. Thank you for helping us to ensure a safe and orderly dismissal.

 

During the after-school hours Mark Twain offers Extended Day classes that use many of the rooms and outdoor areas. If you allow your children to play on the playground after school please make sure that you monitor them closely. There are many students outside between 3:15-4:15 and the Extended Day employees are responsible only for those students that are registered for the classes.  Students should not be left unsupervised after school.

 

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will have their mobile unit parked in the front of the school on Monday, April 14th from 7 - 11:30 AM.   One of our students, Andy is in need of platelets and blood and the drive is to benefit him. If you are interested in making a donation, please contact Anna Rangel at 713-295-5230 or [email protected].  Anna is our school Secretary and she is located in the front office if you have questions. Thank you!

 

Upcoming events for the month of April:

  • April 8                   Picture Day for Group Class Photo 
  • April 12                 International Festival 1-4 PM 
  • April 14                 Blood Drive for Andy
  • April 16                 All Parent PTO Meeting - 8:15 AM
  • April 22-23            STAAR Administration Grades 3 & 4 (reading and math)
  • April 24                 STAAR Administration for Grade 5 (science)
  • April 25                 Bingo Night 5:30-7:30 PM 
  • April 26                 Dad's Club Rocket Launch
  • April 29                 IB Art Show - hosted by Mark Twain 5:30 PM

Have a great week!

Melissa Patin

Principal

[email protected] 

Twain School Website www.houstonisd.org/Twaines 

GROUP CLASSROOM PHOTOS
camera.jpg
Picture Day for Classroom Photos is  
TODAY, Tuesday, April 8th

You must prepay for group pictures. Return the order envelope with the money for the photo or package you selected.

Individual photos will also be taken - parents will receive a proof at a later date.  If you choose to purchase from the proof, you will send that money in with a separate order received with the proofs. If you have questions, please talk to your child's teacher.
Online Fundraising and 
Calendar Links
  
Join Our Mailing List
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
International Festival
Mobile Blood Drive
School Store Volunteers
NTB Winners
Extended Day
Extended Day Payment
5th Gr Recorders
Strings Program Payment
Lost & Found
Bingo Night
District UIL
Houston Astros
Birthday Grams
BTFE
Dance & Hip Hop Clinic
Cub Scout Camp
ADDventure Summer Camp
Houston Kids Triathlon
HOLA Water Polo
+SNAX
Vivaldi Music
Other Info

 Thank You To Our

2013-2014
Corporate Sponsors
  

Platinum Level

    

  

 

 

Gold Level   

  

 
  
  
    
 
  Stormy Hayes-Knipe logo  
EBANKS, HORNE, ROTA, MOOS 
   

 

Silver Level   

  Brochsteins_logo

 

Texas Citizens Bank logo   

 

Village_plumbing_logo  

    

 

 

     


 

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

Community Partners Level

 

gc3_logo_houston   

The Lice Place

TheLicePlace.com 

 

Oakington Logo   

Pure_body_studio_logo
 
Vivaldi Music Academy
 

 

 

Candelaris

Candelaris.com 

 

 

 

  

 

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

International Flags

Mark your calendars!

 

12th Annual International Festival

 

Mark Twain

 

April 12th   

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Come celebrate the diversity of the cultures and backgrounds represented in our school with a festival of performances and country displays.

 

As of LAST FRIDAY, the following countries will be represented at the festival:

China, Egypt, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan

 

 

If the country you love is not on this list, please consider hosting a table for it!

Please let us know if you can help with:

  • Puerto Rico
  • Palestine
  • Sweden

We only have one family from each of these countries signed up.

 

Reminder that a planning/informational meeting is being held every Tuesday between now and the Festival at 8:00 a.m. in the cafeteria.  Please join us!

Back To Top 

BLOOD DRIVE & PLATELETS NEEDED

Blood Gulf Coast
A Mobile Blood Drive is scheduled for
April 14th
at Twain to benefit
Andy, our 4th Grade Twain Tiger!


Monday, April 14
7:00 am - 11:30 am
Donor Coach

Sponsor Code: B319



Please visit www.giveblood.org
and log in to Digital Donor to schedule an appointment  
or contact Anna Rangel at (713)295-5230 or [email protected]. 

If you can't make the Mobile Donation, call MD Anderson's Blood Bank at 713-792-7777 to donate platelets or blood to benefit Andy (Patient Number 666675). 
SCHOOL STORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDS
School Store Friday Volunteers

NAME THAT BOOK
Congratulations to the Mark Twain Name That Book Teams for each getting 2nd Place at the District Competition

The Name That Book Kindergarten -2nd Grade Contest was held on March 7th against eight (8) other Elementary Schools. Our team won the second place!

K - 2 Team Members were:
Andy Kim
Camille Gibbons 
Isai Balamurugan
Eva Woodman
Austin Lan
Ellery McDaniel
Katia DeJong
Botao Yuan
Lucas Bincaz

The Name That Book 3rd - 5th Grade Team also won 2nd place in the competition on March 27th. 

3 - 5 Team Members were:  
Sophia Osborn
April Crawford
Eliza Crawford
Konnor Allen
Jon Taffet
Morgan Peden 
Leanna Kim 
Andrea Mosquera

Both Teams were AWESOME! 
UIL WINNERS
Congratulations to all our awesome UIL winners and participants who competed on Saturday, March 29th. 

Zoe Moss - Finalist in Art, 3rd in Dictionary Skills, Finalist in Social Studies 

Caitlyn Davies - 3rd in Art 

Kate Rota - 3rd in Creative Writing 

Jacob Nguyen - 2nd in Dictionary Skills, 3rd in Maps/Charts/Graphs, 1st in Spelling 

Jack Rota - Finalist in Impromptu Speaking, 1st in Listening Skills, 3rd in Spelling 

Shirley Zhu - 2nd in Impromptu Speaking, 1st in Number Sense, 2nd in Ready Writing 

Annie Zhu - 1st in Impromptu Speaking, Finalist in Number Sense, 1st in Ready Writing 

Isai Balamurugan -Finalist in Public Speaking 

Arianna Zhao - 3rd in Ready Writing 

Jennifer Hamad - 1st in Solo Acting 

Anna Sanchez - 3rd in Storytelling (Spanish)
EXTENDED DAY
No Extended Day Care on Friday, April 18th

There will be no After-School program on Friday, April 18th. 

Please plan to pick up your Twain Tiger by 3:15 pm on April 18th.   
EXTENDED DAY FINAL PAYMENT

Extended Day final payments were due April 4th.   

 

To avoid a late fee, please be sure to pay your balance in full by April 11. If you have any questions about your balance, please e-mail Stacey Karr at [email protected] .

5TH GRADE RECORDERS

5th Graders are starting their unit on learning to play the  instrument called the recorder.  Your child may purchase a recorder  at the school store.  They are $6.00.  

 

Contact Mrs. Bardin, [email protected] if you have questions. 

STRINGS PROGRAM PAYMENTS DUE

Violin Friendly Reminder:

 

Strings Program Payments Are Due!

 

Please send in your payment for Guitar, Cello, Violin.

 

Please contact me directly for current balance at [email protected].

 

I will also be sending out individual reminder emails during this week.

 

 

Vicky Sanchez

Mark Twain Elementary

LOST & FOUND

Parents,  

please come and check the Lost & Found closet located in the school cafeteria.  The clothes rack is set up in the hallway outside of the cafeteria.  

There are several non-uniform items in the closet and on the rack.  All items will be removed and disposed off in the next couple of weeks. 

BINGO NIGHT

Mark Twain Bingo Logo

BINGO Night April 25th

 

 

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 [email protected] 

DISTRICT UIL
Help Twain Compete for a District UIL Title!

All students welcome to participate. Events of all types - academic, writing, and speaking.  Twain Tigers, please email Jennifer Dennis ([email protected]) or Shelley Rota ([email protected]) to register for the open spots we still have for the District Meet.

10:30 - Section B
Art (4/5th Gr.) - WE HAVE AN OPEN (1) SLOT HERE

12:00 - Section C
Music Memory (5th Gr.) - WE HAVE TWO (2) OPEN SPOTS HERE
   
The District Meet is May 3 at Windsor Village Elementary.  Students may compete in 1 to as many as 4 events.  You can come for your event only or stay the day and support our team.  Events usually last about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
HOUSTON ASTROS

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

 

The Houston Astros are inviting students to come out to the ballpark to watch the home team play this season.  Mark Twain has received 100 tickets each to 8 different games in April, May and June and we are giving them away to students, parents and staff for FREE!   

 

If you would like to attend a game, please fill out this form and return to Coach Jody before your requested 1st game.   

 

Families can receive up to 5 tickets to each game, and tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.  Only requests for April games will be taken at this time.  May and June game requests will be taken beginning in May. 

 

This is an exciting time for the Astros, as it is a good chance to see the team's future stars start to develop on the big league team!  Enjoy a fun time at the field.  Complete and return a ticket request form to Coach Jody today!   

 

The games are as follows:

 

Tuesday, April 15 (vs Kansas City Royals)

Wednesday, April 16 (vs Kansas City Royals)

Thursday, April 17 (vs Kansas City Royals)

Tuesday, April 29 (vs Washington Nationals)

Wednesday, April 30 (vs Washington Nationals)

Friday, May 30 (vs Baltimore Orioles)

Wednesday, June 4 (vs Los Angeles Angels)

Wednesday, June 11 (vs Arizona Diamondbacks)

 

Click Here for Form.

 

For more info, contact Coach Jody Bourque at [email protected].

BIRTHDAY GRAMS
Parents: Please submit requests for Birthday Grams through the end of the school year now. 

Click Here for Order Form or pick one up from the PTO workroom.  You can pay by check, cash, or credit card at the school store. Also, online orders are accepted. 
Thank you so much for supporting 5th grade!
Rachel Ezell & Leslie Strug. Questions: [email protected]
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Click Here for Box Top Collection Sheets. 

 
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).  

 

Please register at  
btfe.com
to support Mark Twain Elementary in Houston Texas!

Visit Kroger's
 RewardYourSchool.com
to see bonus offers
and Randall's

2Ways2Earn.com
to see more bonus offers.  


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

For more information, contact Jacqueline Leggington at [email protected]
DANCE & HIP HOP CLINIC
Pin Oak Middle School will be hosting a Junior Dance and Hip Hop Clinic for boys and girls in grades PreK - 5th.  They will learn dances, play games, get a T-shirt, and a snack on Saturday, April 26th from 9am-noon.  The cost is $25.00. 

The Junior Clinic Dancers are invited back to perform in the annual Spring Show! Please contact Misty Wagers for registration information 
 [email protected].
CUB SCOUT CAMP
Twilight Camp
 
ADDVENTURE SUMMER CAMP
ADDventure Summer Camp

When: 
June 9-27, 2014 
12:30 pm - 4:30pm
 
Where: St. Francis Episcopal Day School
335 Piney Point Rd
 
 
Is your child struggling with ADHD?  Pre-registration now open at www.childrenslearninginstitute.org/ADDventure

The Dan L. Duncan Children's Neurodevelopmental Clinic is launching its first annual ADDventure Summer Camp!  The camp is geared toward children in grades 1-3 diagnosed with ADHD.

 

Campers will work with experienced psychologists and trained professionals in learning to follow instructions, complete tasks, develop problem solving skills, and improve self-esteem by developing competence in interpersonal, recreational, and academic tasks. Arts & crafts, sporting events, and individualized academic interventions will provide a blended mix of fun and learning.

Click Here For Flyer
HOUSTON KIDS TRIATHLON

Houston Kid Triathlon

The 2014 Houston Kids Triathlon is Sold Out! 

3rd Annual Houston Kids Triathlon

to be held on  

April 12-13, 2014

 
We are proud to announce 2,131 kids have officially registered for what will be the largest kids triathlon ever held - anywhere!  We are humbled by the support, and we are working hard to make this a world-class experience for everyone involved.

In addition, we have added more than 200 names to our Official Wait List.

 

At this point, it is unfortunately not possible to accommodate any more participants.  We are now 100% focused on race weekend logistics.  If you are already registered or on the Official Wait List, please watch your email box for a series of updates between now and race weekend.  We look forward to meeting all of you on Saturday, April 12, at the University of Houston.


If you have any questions regarding the Houston Kids Triathlon contact Deanna Sheaffer at [email protected].

 Back To Top 

HOLA WATER POLO

Want to become a stronger swimmer?  

 

Develop a team spirit?  

 

Bask in the glory of scoring the game winning goal?  

 

Then come join HOLA Water Polo! After one season with HOLA Chupacabras, you will be as strong as an ox and as fast as a shark! For our spring season we have teams for 10 Year Old and Under, 12 Year Olds and Under, and 14 Year Old and Under.  

 

We practice at Lamar High School from 6-8pm on specific dates. For more information email Coach Eamon Kelly at [email protected]. We'll see you there!! 

+SNAX
Add a description
Gifted and ________

Are you raising, teaching, or coaching students/players who are particularly gifted academically or athletically or who excel in other extracurricular activities? If so, we encourage you to intentionally speak with your child about the responsible use of the resulting social power they may experience at home, at school, in the neighborhood, and on their athletic, academic, or arts teams.

 

There is no doubt that it can be a lot of fun to raise a child with unusual gifts and to bask to a degree in the glow of their success. That said, it is important to understand the responsibility we have as the parents of these kids - to raise positive, humble leaders who make our communities better places for everyone to live, learn, and grow.

.........................................
A +Coach's Reflection:

"I agree we need to expect a lot from our elite athletes, students, and performers. I just wonder if we are doing enough to help these kids handle failure, defeat, loss, and the disappointment they feel themselves and the perceived disappointment they take on from others when they don't perform to their or their coaches' and/or their parents' expectations. It can be a lot to handle when you're in elementary, middle, or even high school. I think we need to spend more time coaching our kids on the social-emotional aspect of performance and competition -and let them know that failure and loss are part of the process."

   

�2013 +Works

www.blog.positivethinkingworks.org     

For more information, visit www.positivethinkingworks.org.

 Back To Top    

VIVALDI MUSIC ACADEMY
Vivaldi Music Academy
Dream Big.  Be Creative.  Play Music. 

Vivaldi Music Academy is a new music school in the Bellaire/West University area on Gramercy Street.  Our school is owned and operated by a renowned Houston Symphony violinist, Zeljko Pavlovic.  

Vivaldi Music Academy offers private instruction in piano, violin, guitar, cello, voice and more, group lessons in guitar and choir, ensemble lessons in jazz ensemble, classical ensemble and rock band, and early childhood music development classes with Kindermusik in ONE location! Whether it's Kindermusik for your toddler, a performance-driven program for your teen, or something in-between, the exceptional staff at Vivaldi Music Academy can instruct, nurture, and help instill a passion for music that leads to academic and social success.
Click Here to learn more about our music programs.

For questions, contact Courtney Park, Suzuki Program Director at [email protected] or 713-858-9617
CALENDARS AND OTHER USEFUL INFO

 

HISD Lunch Menus: www.houstonisd.org/Page/68611 
 
HISD Lunch Payment Online: www.parentonline.net/Public/Login.aspx
  
VIPS Approval--need to volunteer or go on field trips: marktwainpto.org/membership/vips-approval/

Grades 3 - 5 LDC Blog: wwwmarktwainldc35.blogspot.com     

HISD Parent Student Connect Login (daily grades, progress reports):
https://psc.houstonisd.org/ParentStudentConnect/Login.aspx  
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 [email protected] .  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 [email protected] for approval, copy [email protected].
  • For Staff - send information to Ms. Patin for approval at [email protected], copy [email protected].
  • Details needed for Twain Times:
    • Each Volunteer needs to copy [email protected] on your request to have something published in the Twain Times.   It is your responsibility for sending the posting and attachments to [email protected] .  It is not Mr. Houck or Ms. Patin responsibility to forward emails to [email protected].
    • 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 Saturdays by Noon 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.