The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
March 10, 2015 

  

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Dear Parents,

 

This month is National Read Aloud Month.  Please look in your Tuesday folder for ideas on how you can read aloud with your child. According to the National Institute for Literacy, sharing stories helps children build oral language in a variety of ways while increasing both vocabulary and the ability to define and explain the meanings of new words. As you build your home libraries be sure to include a variety of books including both fiction and non-fiction, poetry, reference books, information books and of course good stories! Commit during the month of March to read aloud with your child 15 minutes a day and see what a difference it makes. Besides, what a wonderful way to spend quality time with your children.

 

There will be a PTO meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 am in the cafeteria. At this meeting I will provide the most current information that I have regarding the proposal for overcrowding. In addition, I will give an overview of our spring assessments.

 

A number of our students participated in the Name That Book contest last week and for the first time we took first place at the preliminary contest. The team went to the finals and did a great job. We also had a fine showing at the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament. Four out of five teams advanced to the State Competition. Both of these extracurricular activities are made possible by  parent volunteers. My thanks to all of you that have taken the time to work with these students.

 

Spring Break is March 16-20 and school resumes on Monday, March 23. 

 

Gentle reminders:

  • School begins at 8:00 am - excessive tardies impact student performance!
  • There is no parking in either of our fire lanes. The constable will give tickets to anyone that leaves a car unattended in a fire lane.
Important test dates:
  • Monday, March 30
    • STAAR Writing (day 1) 4th grade
  • Tuesday, March 31
    • STAAR Writing (day 2) 4th grade
    • STAAR Reading 5th grade
  • Monday, April 20
    • STAAR Math 5th grade
  • Tuesday, April 21
    • STAAR Math 3rd & 4th grade
  • Wednesday, April 22
    • STAAR Reading 3rd & 4th grade
    • STAAR Science 5th grade
  • May 4-12
    • Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) for grades 1-5

Have a great week!

Melissa Patin

Principal
Extended Day
The second Extended Day payment is due on Friday, March 13.  Contact Stacey Karr for more information at skarr@houstonisd.org.

Mark Twain Book Drive

 

Donate your Pre-K - 5th grade gently used or new books in the front rotunda or kindergarten hallway March 9-13 and March 23-27. All books will benefit Books Between Kids.

 

Books Between Kids is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 to serve Houston's at-risk children by providing them with books to build their own home libraries.

 

Contact Amy Allen, Mark Twain PTO Community Outreach Director, at amy.allen@comcast.net with questions.

 

Mark Twain Triathlon
Final Week for Early Registration
Register at www.twaintri.org.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION:
March 2-13
For Mark Twain students only
$40, includes t-shirt

REGULAR REGISTRATION:
March 16 - April 3
Open to Mark Twain students and K-5th grade students residing in Braeswood Place
$45 for Mark Twain students, includes t-shirt
$55 for non-Mark Twain students, includes t-shirt
 
EVENT INFORMATION:
Sunday, May 3, 2015
at the Weekley Family YMCA and Mark Twain Elementary
All information, link to registration, transition drop off time, race start time, and course maps at www.twaintri.org.

To learn more, contact Monica Agosta at magosta69@gmail.com or Penny Linsenmayer at plinsenmayer@gmail.com.
Pershing Middle School - The Right Choice

Please join Pershing Middle School's Principal and current parents at an informational coffee and learn more about your middle school. 

 

Friday, March 27 at 8:15 am 

at the home of the Diano Family at 3819 Durness.

 

Find out why Pershing may be the best choice for your 4th or 5th grader.  To learn more, contact Ilse Rassin at ilserassin@gmail.com. 

 

12th Annual Mark Twain International Festival  
Saturday, April 11
1:00 - 4:00 pm in the cafeteria
International Flags

Hi, Hola, Bonjour, As-Salaam O Alaykum, Gruezi, Ahlan, Konnichi Wa,

Join us for the upcoming International Festival! Here are some examples of how you can help:
  • Host a country table (bring some flags, maps, souvenirs, pictures, postcards, things your country exports, food samples, and such)
  • If you or your child have a talent to share (traditional dances, singing, instrumental performances, martial arts demonstration), contact us
  • Be part of the team that will organize this event                             
You DO NOT have to be from another country to help! Having a special interest in one is perfectly sufficient.

To sign up for a performance or to host (or co-host) a country display, contact Shahid Iqbal, Cultural Exchange Director at internationalactivitiesmt@gmail.com. Please include your full name and the name of your country.  Shahid may be able to put you in touch with a fellow citizen of your country, so let him know if you need that information.

The Critical Importance of Play
Rice University's Anderson-Clarke Center
6100 Main Street, Room #219

Monday, April 27
Session 1: 10:00 am-noon - FULL
Session 2: 5:00 -7:00 pm
Fee is $40

Register at http://literacy.rice.edu/slc/parent-and-teacher-workshops

Parents face the daily challenge of making the best decisions for their children's development both at home and at school. In an era when even our youngest students' classrooms are driven by standards, many parents question the value of play at school when there is so much to learn in so little time. Parents are also bombarded with a multitude of technology and toy options that leave them wondering what is really best for their children's creative development outside of school. This exclusive parent session will empower participants to advocate for the importance of play in an early childhood classroom and select materials and toys to support children's imaginations at home. This workshop will specifically address needs of toddlers to first graders, but parents, grandparents and teachers of all ages are invited.

Contact slc@rice.edu or 713-348-5333 for more information about Parent and Teacher Workshops, and to learn how they can be hosted at your school.

 

Parking is available in West Lots 4 and 5.


Add a description
It was an early Spring evening, and he had come to pick up his middle-school-aged son from her house. They began talking about the summer ahead.

"What are Bobby's plans?" she asked, as her son and Bobby continued to toss a ball around in the front yard.

"Baseball," said the Dad.

"Oh, I thought he wasn't playing baseball this year," she said, looking at Bobby, who turned to look at his Dad.

"Well, he doesn't want to play, but I'm not ready for him to quit," he said, as his son gave him, and then her, a look of extreme exasperation.
............................................................
+Reflection:
Whether it's sports or music or theatre or academics, it's good to step back every once in a while and ask ourselves, "Whose journey is this - mine or my child's?"
............................................................
JOIN THE +MOVEMENT:
www.positivethinkingworks.org

VISIT OUR +HUB:
http://positiveworks.uberflip.com/h/
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.