Mark Twain Elementary School Newsletter
School Year 2013 - 2014 |
| May 13, 2014
| |
|
Dear Parents,
On May 6, 2014 we sent home an HISD survey Your Voice/Su Voz in the red folders. This is a confidential, third party survey that can be filled out online or on paper. If you did not receive this survey, please let your child's teacher know. If you wish to complete the survey online you can do so from home or at school. Computers are available in the library from 7:30 -8:00 or after school. The survey can be accessed at www.houstonisd.org/YourVoice. You will need to know your child's grade and ID# to complete the survey. If you do not know your child's student ID. you can ask your child's teacher or the front desk. Those numbers will not be given out over the phone. Students in Grades 3-5 will also take the survey in the Media Center under the direction of Mr. Lowry or in their classrooms with their classroom teacher.
School will be in session on Memorial Day. This day is a designated make-up day. It will be a full day and Extended Day will be held.
Summer school forms will be sent home to students that are being recommended for summer school. Summer school is required for those students not meeting promotion standards in grades 1-5. The promotion standards were sent home earlier in the year and include the following:
Grades 1-2*
| Students must pass the High Frequency Word Evaluation and have passing grades (70 or above) in reading/language arts, math and either science or social studies.
| Grades 3-5*
| Students must pass STAAR in reading and math. They must have passing grades (70 or above) in reading/language arts, math and either science or social studies.
|
*All students must have sufficient attendance: A student's total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10% of class meetings.
There will be a PTO meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14. Several parents have asked about the current state of funding and I will share with the community the latest information I have. I will also share STAAR preliminary results and plans for the summer months.
Services for Dr. Rask have been arranged and I have listed the details below. As I mentioned earlier, Dr. Rask requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to her church or the Mark Twain PTO. A committee will be formed at the school to discuss ideas for those donations that would be a way to memorialize Barbara and align with her wishes.
Barbara Rask Memorial Service
Saturday, May 31st, 10:00 a.m.
503 Reid Street, 77022
Have a great week.
Melissa Patin
Principal
|
Twain Times Editor notes that a public online obituary is available at this link Chron.Com and a public online Guest Book is available at Public Guest Book
If you opt to post a tribute, please remember that your tribute will become open to the public so please do not provide any details that could be harmful to your family or the Rask family.
|
|
Dear Mark Twain Parents and Families,
I just love the Father-Daughter Dance tradition at Mark Twain! I want to give a HUGE thank you to the Dad's Club President, Kelly James, for organizing such a great community event and time for Fathers and Daughters to build good relationships and have FUN!
Volunteers are the backbone of any organization... and I can truly say that the PTO has the BEST volunteers ever! I am constantly amazed at the talent and skills you all bring to the school and how you selflessly donate your time and energy to the benefit of our children. Please mark your calendars for the VIPS breakfast on Friday, May 16th in the Library. We want to honor you!
Remember to order your school supplies for next year. You can go on-line or drop your order form in the PTO workroom this week. Please place online orders at www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/supplypacket, or contact Camora Kuo for more information.
The last PTO meeting of the school year will be tomorrow May 14th in the cafeteria at 8:15 am. The final PTO board slate will be presented. Hope to see all there.
Enjoy the beautiful week. Blessings to you all!
Tony Houck
Mark Twain PTO President
Tvhouck@msn.com
|
NURSE'S NOTES
| | |
Dear Parents,
As many of you know I am pregnant and am due to deliver soon. It is likely that I will be absent for the last two weeks of school. We are working diligently to ensure that Mark Twain's students will continue to have their health care needs attended to while I am gone.
I want to thank all of the parents who have been so friendly and supportive during my first year as a school nurse. Particularly those of you who have been responsive regarding my concerns for your child's health.
Even as this school year comes to a close, we have already started preparations for next school year. Here are some end of year and next year prep duties for you to attend to.
- If your child has medications in the Nurses Office please pick those up during the last week of school or before 3pm on the last day of school.
- Parents of 5th graders who had medications for camp please pick those up ASAP.
- If your child will require medications to be on hand in the Nurses Office for next school year please pick up the appropriate forms now. That way you and your Doctor can work on those during the summer. Below are some examples of the forms you typically require.
- If your child has Food Allergies, you will need the "Food Allergy Action Plan" form and the "Physician's Request for Special Dietary Accommodations" form.
- If your child has Asthma, you will need the "Asthma Action Plan/IHP" form.
- If your child has a general medication need such as ADHD medication, you will need the "Healthcare Provider's Request for Administration of Medication at School Building During School Hours" form.
Please recall that the Doctors order for the medication must be completed just as a Doctors order to a nurse in a hospital would be ie Benadryl 25mg, by mouth, every 4 hours PRN for symptoms of mild allergic reaction.
Also, recall that even non-precription drugs, like Benadryl, do require a prescription label from the pharmacy.
- If your child is still delinquent on their immunizations, please get that taken care of prior to the beginning of next school year. I will be following up, again, in the fall semester.
- If your child failed their vision or hearing screening with me, please ensure that they are seen by a Doctor during the summer. I will be following up, again, in the fall semester.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Andrea T. Hill RN
Mark Twain
School Nurse
|
|
|
Online Fundraising and
Calendar Links
| |
|
|
Join Our Mailing List
|  |
|
Thank You To Our
2013-2014
Corporate Sponsors
|
| |
Platinum Level
Gold Level
EBANKS, HORNE, ROTA, MOOS
Silver Level
Community Partners Level
The Lice Place
TheLicePlace.com
Candelaris Candelaris.com  
 |
|
|
| ODYSSEY AND UIL NIGHT | |
  Friday, May 16th 5:30 - 7 PM 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.
|
TWAINBERRY
| |   Third, Fourth and Fifth graders, continue sending in those narratives and poems! Writing pieces are due to Mrs. Gee next Friday, May 16. Medals will be awarded at each award program.
Pansy Gee, Literary Development Center, wwwmarktwainldc35.blogspot.com
|
DUAL LANGUAGE BREAKFAST
| | All incoming dual language Kindergarten families are invited to a breakfast on Monday, May 19, 2014 at 9:00 A.M. in the Twain library.
|
5TH GRADE EXHIBITION
| | |
EXHIBITION 2014 - Collection Drive
coordinated by 5th grade students
When: May 8 - 21
Where: Center Hall of Mark Twain
Who: Houston Organizations
What: Check the wish lists below
|
Sheltering Arms
Pasta
Crackers
Trash bags
Napkins
Toothpaste
|
SPCA
Pet toys
|
Houston Food Bank
Canned fruits and vegetables
| |
Westview School
Logic games
Puzzles
Memory games
|
DePelchin
School and art supplies for grades Kn - 5
|
Texas Children's Hospital
Children's toys
|
|
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.
|
| YEARBOOK | |  Please check your 2013-14 Mark Twain Yearbook. The publisher accidentally placed the wrong school's photos inside of our Mark Twain cover -- they did this for just a few copies of the yearbook. Most copies of the yearbook are correct, but there may be a few of these errors in circulation.
If you received one, we greatly apologize for the inconvenience. Please return it to school on Monday and we will replace it with a correct version.
We need volunteers to sell Yearbooks next week
- from 7:45 - 8:15 AM and
- 2:50 - 3:15 PM
While supplies last, Yearbooks available at $40 per book. Contact Laura Solitare at lgsolitare@gmail.com to let her know when you can help!
|
YOUR VOICE SURVEY
| | |
  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.
|
| PERSHING | |  Orientation Meeting MAY 24th
Click Here for details of the Informational Meeting for all Future Pershing Pandas!
Panda Camp AND Registration
Click Here for details on the Panda Camp and registration at Pershing for the next school year!
|
| COLLEGE SHIRT DAY | |  Let's Celebrate by wearing your favorite College Shirt on Thursday, May 29th on the Last Day of School
AND
Next School Year, get ready to wear your favorite University Colors on Friday, August 29th - College Colors Day!
|
|
LIBRARY HELP NEEDED
| |  As the year comes to an end, students are returning their library materials. These books need to be places back on the shelves. Any parent who can come in and shelve, even for fifteen minutes, anytime, it would be a great help!
Thanks
Glenn Deering |
|
|
|
LOST AND FOUND
| | |
 Parents,
Please claim your missing items!
FULL racks of clothes have been placed right inside the entrance to the cafeteria. Lunch boxes and other items are still in the lost and found closet.
Unfortunately, most of the clothes do not have a name tag or are too washed out to read.
From Monday, May 19 (Next Week), feel free to adopt items from Lost and Found before they get donated during the last week of school.
|
EXTENDED DAY FINAL PAYMENT
| |
 Extended Day final payments were due April 4th.
If you have any questions about your balance, please e-mail Stacey Karr at skarr@houstonisd.org .
|
STRINGS PROGRAM PAYMENTS DUE
| | |
 Friendly Reminder:
Strings Program Payments Are Due!
Please send in your payment for Guitar, Cello, Violin.
Please contact me directly for current balance at vsanche7@houstonisd.org.
I will also be sending out individual reminder emails during this week.
Vicky Sanchez
|
| 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 | | |
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 | | |
 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
| | |
|
| 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! |
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.
|
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).
 | | Click on Image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per day through 5/18/2014. |
|
 | | Click on Image above to enter. One (1) Entry per person/email address per day through 5/25/2014. |
|
 | | 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 btfe.marktwain@yahoo.com
|
SOUTHWEST FOOTBALL LEAGUE
| | Are You Ready For Some Football?
Southwest Football League Registration for Football and Cheer is NOW OPEN!
Go To: WWW.SFLTX.ORG To Register Today!
|
GIRLS 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
Summer is almost here, and the Bayou City Summer Club still has limited space available. We are conveniently located in the M
|
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/ADDventureThe 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
| |
Pure Joy
She was so looking forward to a few hours with her girlfriends. After another busy weekend involving sports practice, laundry, grocery shopping and more laundry, she was eager to catch up on some much-needed time for herself.
For the busy banking executive and mom of two little girls, that time was rare, indeed. Her husband assured her all would be fine as she dashed out the door.
"Dinner is in the oven, and don't forget to get the girls to bed by 8," she called as she left. "They have to be at school early tomorrow."
It was a wonderful evening of laughter, catching up and sharing the inevitable challenges facing all mothers.
Arriving home, she was surprised to see the house aglow with blazing lights. As she approached the front door, she could hear music blaring - was that the soundtrack to Frozen?
She took a deep breath and ventured inside.
Her husband was dancing with their two daughters while they joyfully shrieked, "More, Daddy!" The family dog was lapping up bowls of cereal left on the coffee table, while a tent made from bed sheets covered the sofa. Dinner was untouched in the oven - and it was 9 pm.
She was speechless.
In her mind, she quickly ticked through all the reasons this was wrong. And then, she let it all go, kicked off her heels and joined in the fun, realizing that this was more than good enough. It was pure joy.
........................................
|
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.
For questions, contact Courtney Park, Suzuki Program Director at courtney@vivaldimusicacademy.com or 713-858-9617
|
|
CALENDARS AND OTHER USEFUL INFO
| | |
|
For more information check out:
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.
|
|
|
