The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
January 13, 2015 

  

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Dear Parents,

 

Happy 2015! It was great to see everyone last week. The children look rested and ready to return to school.

 

Field Day was a HUGE success. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, everyone had a great time. The children modeled the IB learner profile and enjoyed cheering for each other. Thank you to Coach Jody, fourth grade teachers, and parents for making it an enjoyable event. A special thank you to the fourth grade students who worked together to plan Field Day as part of their How We Organize Ourselves planner.

 

Report cards will be in the Tuesday red folders.  Please sign and return. The next PTO meeting is Wednesday, January 14 at 8:00 am in the cafeteria.

  

The qualifying exam for the Name That Book k-2 team is Friday, January 16 at 3:30 pm in Ms. Gee's room. (You may bring a snack to eat before the test) Contact Brandy McDaniel at brandymcd@gmail.com or Ms. Gee for more information.  

 

We hope to see you all on Friday, January 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for Family Bingo Night. It is a super fun event for parents and children. If you want to pre-order pizza from Papa John's, please see below for the order form due today.    

 

The weather has been particularly cold and wet this winter.  We've decided to define what kind of weather permits or prevents outdoor activities. While the final decision rests with me (Ms. Patin) our general rule of thumb will be not to have outdoor activities if it is raining and below 50 degrees.  However, if the sun is shining, then students wearing appropriate clothing may play outdoors if the temperature is between 45-50 degrees. If you should ever want your child to stay indoors, please alert the classroom teacher. We want our children to be healthy, happy and have an opportunity to have an outdoor recess as much as weather permits.

 

Have a great week! 

Melissa Patin, Principal  

Michele Rawson, Asst. Principal 

Huckleberry Bash 2015

 

Please join us for the Huckleberry Bash!  Come dressed in your best rock and roll attire and get ready to Rock and Roll All Night!

Enjoy a fun evening with great food catered by BB's Café, live entertainment, a master DJ, dancing and open bar sponsored by Audi Central Houston. 

Bid on your favorite items and parties in the silent auction and prepare to outbid your friends on some amazing items in our live auction.  Grab a group of friends (old and new) and purchase a table together - we guarantee you will have a great time.

To purchase a table or individual tickets online, please click here. 

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 group of parents during the year. Once planned, socials are then made available for purchase at the Bash at a set price per person (or per couple) until all slots are filled.  

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.  Download and complete the Bash Socials donor form here and return it to Carlotta Ramirez (adult socials) or Holly Lee (kid socials) by email or to the Bash Socials box in the PTO Workroom by Friday, January 30.  

 

Contact Carlotta cramirez@mfah.org or Holly hollyzlee@yahoo.com for more information or to sign up. Forms are also available in the PTO Workroom or on the PTO website.   

Mark Twain Bingo Night 

Friday, January 16  

6:00-8:00 pm  

 

Get ready for a fun night of bingo at Mark Twain. Students and their families always enjoy the fun evening filled with bingo games and cool prizes. This is a cash-only event.

 

There will be food for purchase from Luchi and Joey's taco truck and Papa John's pizza truck. If you wish to pre-order 

pizza from Papa John's, please download and complete the form here and return to the PTO workroom today.

 

We need volunteers to help out that night. To sign-up to help that night, please click here or email Kathleen Fenoy kathleenfenoy@yahoo.com or Nicole Shah nicoleallman74@hotmail.com.

Parent Enrichment
Friday, January 16
8:10 am in the cafeteria 

Join us for a Book Discussion
Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success
Carol Dweck, PhD

Dweck makes clear why praising intelligence and ability doesn't foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment, but may jeopardize success. With the right mindset, we can motivate our kids, help them raise their grades, and reach our own goals - personal and professional.

For questions or suggestions regarding the parent enrichment group please email Moya Varner moya.varner@gmail.com or Kahla Malinsky at kahlavet@gmail.com.
Texas Association for the  
Gifted & Talented
Parent Conference
Saturday, January 24
Klein ISD Multipurpose Center
7500 FM 2920
Klein, TX 77379

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Registration: $29 for individual/$49 for pair

 

This specialized event will focus on the critical issues and necessary skills for parenting gifted children and allow you to network with other parents. This half-day event includes a range of topics and speakers.  Visit http://txgifted.org/parent-conference/ to learn more or register.
Art Night
Thursday, January 29 
5:30 - 7:30 pm

Enjoy working with Clay, Paint Like the Artist, Origami, Snowflakes and many other fun art activities. There will be a raffle with art prizes. Dinner will be available for purchase from Curbside Sliderz and Cousins Maine Lobster food trucks. We need your help to make Art Night special.  Please sign up to volunteer here. We look forward to seeing you for another great night.

Add a description
The semester had been a real roller coaster for the high school student due to one very tough advanced class. On one particularly challenging school night, he said to his mother with big eyes, "Why don't you print out all of my homework and stay on me about it like so many other parents do with their kids?"
 
"I've never done that, and I am not going to start now, and you know it," she said. "Can I make you some tea?" she added, because she'd read that making tea is a good way to calm down a stressed teen. She'd been making a lot of tea ... "And one more thing," she added. "Do you think the parents you mentioned will be going to college with their kids? I love you so much, and I will miss you when you go, but let's be clear. I will definitely not be going to college with you, and you will have to handle this stuff then on your own. Best to keep doing it on your own now. I honestly don't care about your grade. All you have to do is your best."
 
The following week, he came home so proud of the excellent grade he'd earned on a big paper and the highest quiz grade he'd received to date - both in that super-tough class. And there it was: his struggle and his hard work delivered his personal sense of accomplishment.
For more information about Mark Twain Elementary, visit marktwainpto.org or houstonisd.org/Twaines. To receive the Twain Times e-newsletter, please sign-up here. For submission guidelines, visit marktwainpto.org/communications.