Mark Twain Elementary School Newsletter
School Year 2013 - 2014
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May 6, 2014

Dear Parents,

 

Last week the parents at Mark Twain showed their appreciation for the teachers.  On behalf of all of us at Mark Twain, thank you.  The decorated doors, the notes, kind words and never ending food were all deeply appreciated by the staff.    Jennifer Hyman has done a great job taking care of our staff this year!

 

Movie Night was a grand success on Friday.  The Fourth Grade Students did a great job organizing and running the event.  Proceeds from the event will go the maintenance and care of the Henry Moore statue (Large Spindle Piece) which is located on Buffalo Bayou. 

 

Kudos to the following:

             

Christine Cowan - great job of organizing our IB Art Show attended by our friends from River Oaks and Roberts Elementary. 

             

Angie Prince one of our moms organized a visit from NASA with engineers and a REAL space suit.  It was a fantastic presentation that the students really enjoyed. 

 

The Mark Twain UIL Team took second place at the competition at Walnut Bend over the weekend.  Great job!!

       

Fifth Grade Students had a very successful car wash.  The children had a great time and so did the parents that volunteered for the event Saturday morning. 

 

Items to Note: 

  • The Voice Survey will be sent home in the Tuesday folders today via the oldest child in the family (at Mark Twain).  The survey is designed to gather your perceptions on safety, rigor and consistency of education.   The survey takes about 10-15 minutes and you can complete either the paper version or the online version.  Thank you in advance for participating!
  • Our attendance rate has dropped in recent weeks - please work with us to reach our goal of 98%.  Our May absent report shows a current rate of 96.6%.  Thank you in advance for helping us to reach our goal.
  • Stanford and Aprenda testing will continue for the entire week.  If your child misses any portion of the test there will be a makeup.  Make-ups are given in the afternoons throughout the testing window. 
  • VIPS Breakfast is Friday, May 16th.  Come and let us show you how much we appreciate you!!
  • If you want to order individual pictures you must return the proof and the money by Thursday.
Have a wonderful week and keep the May calendar handy - it is chockfull of events!

Melissa Patin

Principal

mpatin@houstonisd.org 

Twain School Websitewww.houstonisd.org/Twaines   

YOUR VOICE SURVEY

Your Voice Is Important Your paper survey is being sent to you in the Tuesday Folders on May 6th.   If you decide to fill out the paper copy, please mail it in.   Please do not return to the school or your child's teacher.   

 

The handout provides a link if you choose to fill it out electronically.  More information can be found at www.houstonisd.org/YourVoice.

NOTE- If you have children in multiple schools, you will receive a survey for each of the schools.    Please complete a survey for each of the schools your family attends.   

Online Fundraising and 
Calendar Links
  
Join Our Mailing List
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
your VOICE Survey
Art A La Carte
5th Grade Exhibition
Father/Daughter Dance
Twainberry
Odyssey and UIL Night
Memorial Day
Houston Astros
Summer Reading
School Supply Packs
Rocket Launch
School Store Volunteers
Birthday Grams
Library Media Center
Lost & Found
5th Gr Recorders
BTFE
Girls Lacrosse
Bayou City Summer Club
Parenting Today's T(w)eens
ADDventure Summer Camp
+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 

 

 

 

  

 

TWAIN IN THE NEWS
theeagle.com, Bryan-College Station, TX, April 10, 2014

Houston Chronicle, Houston a Stronghold of School Choice, April 26, 2014
ART A LA CARTE

Hello, Parents!

 

Please join Jenny and I in the cafeteria after morning drop-off for Art A La Carte (AALC) tutorials on Thursday, May 8th for K-2, as well as 3-5 for our last AALC meeting for this school year. Looking forward to seeing my Volunteer Coordinators, AALC volunteer teachers for May, as well as any   interested parents! 

 

I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music.
-Joan Miro

 

Sonal Patel, Arts Enrichment Director,  

sonalpatel628@gmail.com 

5TH GRADE EXHIBITION

Equality & Unity for All!  

 

Hello we are Luke and Michael and for Exhibition we have chosen to promote equality and unity. For one of our Exhibition Actions, we would like all grade levels to show their support for our class Exhibition Topics. 

 

On May 9th from 1:30 - 3:00 our class will host a general assembly for grades K-2 in the Mark Twain Cafeteria. We will be educating the primary grades on our issues. We hope that all students (K-5) will wear the color of the issue you care about and want to support on this day.

 

Homelessness
Purple
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Obesity
Yellow
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Equality
Green
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Global Education
Blue
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mental Disabilities
Orange
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cancer
White
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Safety
Red
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2014 FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE

Father Daughter Dance Saturday, May 10, 2014

7 PM - 9 PM

Mark Twain Dance Hall (Cafeteria)

 

The Mark Twain Dads Club invites all Mark Twain girls and their fathers to the annual Father/Daughter Dance! Children must be accompanied by father (or a substitute such as a grandfather, uncle or cousin)

 

This special evening includes a DJ playing some great dancing music, snacks and a souvenir picture button!

 

Cost is $25 per father/daughter couple and $5 per additional child.  Click Here To Register! 

 

Snacks Needed

 

Snack donations are needed for the Dance.  Please deliver snacks to the cafeteria on Saturday, May 10th between 4 PM and 5 PM.  Non-perishable snacks can be left in the Parent Workroom on Friday, May 9th.  No candy please.   

 

*4th and 5th grade girls are encouraged to help decorate between 2 PM -5 PM.  

 

Contact Kelly James, Dad's Club President at kmattj62@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

TWAINBERRY
Twainberry Poetry Twainberry Narrative Twainberry submissions are now being accepted. 

Submit an original narrative or a collection of at least 8 original poems to your teacher or to Mrs. Gee.  The writing should be final draft quality (typed or handwritten one side of the paper), include first and last names on every page, and  the teacher's name.  One entry per student and the writing should be what your teacher would consider A+ work.  The deadline for entries is May 16.


Pansy Gee, Literary Development Center, http://wwwmarktwainldc35.blogspot.com
ODYSSEY AND UIL NIGHT
May 16th

Come learn about two of our largest extracurricular programs at Twain: Odyssey of the Mind and UIL.  There will be pizza and activities.  Odyssey teams will present their solutions and explain a bit about the program.  The average cost of sending an Odyssey team to the World tournament is $12,000.  Therefore all proceeds from this event will assist Mark Twain teams who progress to the World competition in future years.  There will also be information on UIL available.
LOCKS OF LOVE
LOCKS OF LOVE EVENT - MAY 27, 2014
Sign up on Poster in Foyer  
Our Locks of Love event is here!!!

Hairdressers will be coming to Mark Twain to measure and cut hair.

Please join us for this amazing event as Mark Twain students, teachers, moms, sisters, and friends join together in making a HUGE difference in a child's life.  It is 
TIME TO COMMIT!!  Please email 
Ilse Rassin (ilserassin@gmail.com ) or Luisa Puerto (alpuertogomez@gmail.com to sign up to join the Locks of Love team.  We need to know how many participants we have to ensure we have enough hairdressers so please email us if you are planning on participating.

Make a difference in a child's life and 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?  Tues, May 27th at 3:30 in the Mark Twain Cafeteria

 

How?  You will need 10" of hair to make a donation   

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 or Luisa Puerto.  There are ways to help even if you choose not to donate hair so send us an email if you'd like to help.

 

Questions?  More info to come as the date approaches, but if you have questions now, please email Ilse Rassin (ilserassin@gmail.com) or Luisa Puerto (alpuertogomez@gmail.com  ).

MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 26th
Please remember that there will be school on Monday, May 26th.  This day is not a student holiday.
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. 

 

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: 

 

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 jbourque@houstonisd.org.

SUMMER READING
2014 Summer Reading Every Summer Has A Story

Summer reading is critical because it prevents summer reading loss. According to the research, children from high and low-income families make similar gains in reading during the academic year. But children of poverty fall behind in the summer a little more each year, until the difference is huge.

To address summer reading loss, HISD encourages students to participate in summer reading programs. The HISD Summer Reading program will kick off on May 14th with a new name, Every Summer Has a Story, and new logo (see above). The program challenges students to read a minimum of five books during the summer.  Additional information is available on the Library Services Summer Reading website.

 

Other summer reading programs in Houston are the Houston Public Library Summer Reading Program, Half Price Books Summer Reading, Barnes & Noble Summer Reading, and the United Way of Greater Houston's 211 Summer Initiative. All of these programs can be accessed from the HISD Library Resources page.

On the HISD Library Services Summer Reading website, you will find summer reading lists for grades K-5 and 6-12.

 

By promoting summer reading, we can help all children have a safe and productive summer while preventing summer learning loss. Encourage your parents to read with their child and talk about books. Parents of young children can point out unusual words and discuss interesting pictures when reading with their child. Engaging in recreational reading promotes literacy development.

SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKS

School Supply   

To Pay by Credit Card, Please Order Online at:

 www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/supplypacket 

 

Cash, Check and Credit Card payments are accepted at the school store. 

2ND ANNUAL ROCKET LAUNCH - POSTPONED

Rocket Launch 2014 Dads Club Rocket Launch has been postponed. New date has not been determined. 

 

Here are some of the details:

 

You do not need to be a member of the Dads Club to participate with your son/daughter in the Rocket Launch.

 

You can register here ROCKET Launch Registration Site, but please note that the registration cites that it will occur on Saturday, April 26th . . . but it has been postponed and will not occur on this date.   

Entry fee for the event will be $10 per rocket, one rocket per child.

 

Dad's Club will provide Launch Pads, igniters and water. 

 

Rocket are readily available at many hobby stores or on-line at estesrockets.com  or similar sites.

The rockets must adhere to these guidelines:

  • 25 inches tall or less
  • Engines - Estes B4-4 or B6-4/325 ft. class
  • Handmade or purchased with 1/8 inch guide brackets attached (see attachment)
  • Can be decorated anyway you like
  • Walk-ups discouraged.

Rules...

  • Three rockets will be launched at one time
  • Closest to the designated targeted will move on
  • Prizes to be award for the top three most accurate landing.
Brackets will be determined by the number of entrants.
SCHOOL STORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDS
School Store Friday Volunteers

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: rpezell@yahoo.com
LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER
Effective immediately, the Library Media Center will be open to students, teachers and parents for returns and checking out books on the following schedule:

Mornings

Monday - Thursday from 7:30 until 7:45

Afternoons

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 3:15 - 3:30.

For more information, contact Mr. Deering at gdeering@houstonisd.org.
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. 

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, jbardin@houstonisd.org if you have questions. 

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).   

  

BTFE
Click on Image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per day through 5/18/2014.

BTFE
Click on Image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per day through 5/25/2014. 

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


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

Visit Kroger's
 RewardYourSchool.com to see bonus offers and Randall's2Ways2Earn.com to see more bonus offers.

For more information, contact Jacqueline Leggington at btfe.marktwain@yahoo.com
GIRLS LACROSSE

Pershing Lacrosse Calling All Elementary/Middle School Girls!

Lacrosse For Grades 3-8

 

No Experience Necessary!

 

Is your daughter interested in playing girls lacrosse? Pershing Middle School is offering girls in 3rd-8th grades the opportunity to learn how to play lacrosse and participate in tournaments against other Houston-area teams. Currently, we have three separate age groups:

 

A Team
experienced girls between the ages of 12-14 (7th-8th grade)
B Team
new girls between the ages of 11-14 (5th-8th grade)
Young Guns Team
new and experienced girls between the ages of 9-11 (3rd-5th grade)

 

Come join one of Houston's fastest-growing sports and have your daughter participate with other girls in her age division. Our teams start learning and practicing in August, and continue throughout the school year. Lacrosse season officially begins in January and concludes the beginning of May. 

 

Top three reasons why girls lacrosse is fantastic:

1) Helps promote teamwork among girls;

2) Is a positive, supportive social environment;

3) Provides a healthy, active hobby for young girls.

 

We are offering a girls lacrosse clinic August 16-17 from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm at Pershing Middle School (Stella Link and Bellaire Blvd.). For more information or to ask questions, please contact Susan Krause at pershinglaxgirls@gmail.com

BAYOU CITY SUMMER CLUB

Bayou City Summer Club Bayou City Summer Club

 
Summer is almost here, and the Bayou City Summer Club still has limited space available. We are conveniently located in the M
useum District, just a block away from the Children's Museum at 5541 Caroline.

With weekly learning themes, fitness activities, art sessions and field trips your children are sure to have a fun and enriching summer with us!

Camp is from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday. You may sign up weekly or all summer.

Visit our website, call or e-mail for more details!  Click Here for More Information and Registration Form.
www.bayoucitysummerclub.com

For more information, contact Stacey Karr at 832-422-6063, bayoucitysummerclub@gmail.com 
PARENTING TODAY'S T(W)EENS
Positive Works Talk
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
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 ECKelly90@gmail.com. We'll see you there!! 

+SNAX
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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 courtney@vivaldimusicacademy.com 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 twaintimes@gmail.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 twaintimes@gmail.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 twaintimes@gmail.com on your request to have something published in the Twain Times.   It is your responsibility for sending the posting and attachments to twaintimes@gmail.com .  It is not Mr. Houck or Ms. Patin responsibility to forward emails to twaintimes@gmail.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 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.