The Twain Times

Mark Twain Elementary School

May 19, 2015

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Dear Parents,

Last week the HISD Board of Education voted on a proposal to ease overcrowding at schools throughout HISD. The proposal designating The Rice School as a boundary option for students in our zone was not approved for the upcoming school year. Updates on overcrowding can be located on the HISD Portal under Office of School Choice. As more information is made available, I will pass it along.

We have completed our District (Iowa/Logramos) and State (STAAR) testing for the year. If you are a parent of a child in grades 3-5, I can hear your sigh of relief. Results should be in for STAAR by the end of the week and the IOWA/Logramos sometime in June to early July. STAAR results will be sent home in a sealed envelope before the end of the year. The Iowa/Logramos results can be picked up at the school office once we have received them. I will notify parents via Living Tree when test results are sent or available for pickup.

During the last few weeks with testing and inclement weather, it has been necessary to modify recess. When the campus is testing, recess is delayed until testing has ended for all students. We make adjustments so that all classes go outside in the afternoon. Rainy weather limits outdoor activities and teachers are encouraged to get the children up and moving. For the children it may seem like they simply don't have recess. Hopefully the sun will shine these last few days so that the children can enjoy our playground!

Extended Day registration forms for fall 2015 are available in the front office.

Upcoming events: Please check with your child's teacher for class/grade specific events.

Thursday, May 21 - 5th grade Exhibition

Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day - No School

Wednesday, May 27 - 5th grade Graduation at 6:30 pm. There is limited seating for graduation. The aisles will not be available for standing during the ceremony. We will offer babysitting in the library for children 2 years old and older.

Thursday, May 28 - Last Day of School - report cards go home. No Extended Day - dismissal at 3:15 pm.

Have a great week,

Melissa Patin

Principal

Go to 4ourschool.com for your summer purchases, including books for summer reading.

4ourschool.com is a great way for Mark Twain to raise money while students are on summer break. Twain has raised more than $1,200 through parents using this website. 4ourschool.com donates a percentage of purchases made at Amazon, Gap, Gymboree, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, and many other online retailers. If you have not already used this site, visit 4ourschool.com and search for Mark Twain. Click through to the on-line retailer of your choice and shop as you ordinarily would. A percentage of your purchases will be credited to our donation account. It is that easy!

Hair Donation Event at Mark Twain

Friday, May 22 at 3:15
in the cafeteria

We are ready to help you make a huge difference in the life of a woman or child! There will be a poster board in the front rotunda for girls who are 100% committed to sign up to donate at least 8 inches of their beautiful locks for a wonderful cause.

Join us in donating to Locks of Love www.locksoflove.org or Pantene Beautiful Lengths www.pantene.com.

For questions, email Ilse Rassin ilserassin@gmail.com or Luisa Puerto alpuertogomez@gmail.com.

Order Your 2015-16 School Supplies

The Mark Twain PTO provides the annual supply packet sale as a service to our families. The school supply packs for every grade will contain all the supplies requested and required by the teachers for the 2015-2016 school year.

Purchase online here or at the School Store with cash, check or credit card. Please order by May 29, 2015 as prices are subject to change. For a link to supply lists for all grades, please click here.

Nurse's Notes: End of Year Tasks

If your child has an "as needed" medication in the clinic, medication pick-up will be during school hours through Wednesday, May 27. If your child takes a scheduled medication please pick it up on May 27. At that time you can discuss with Nurse Hill if you want your child to receive the medication on the last day of school. If you do not pick up the medication by May 27, it will be disposed of appropriately. If you cannot pick up the medication yourself you will need to call Nurse Hill during school hours to make an alternate arrangement. Nurse Hill will not be available after school on Thursday, May 28 and will not be available on Friday, May 29.

If your child will require medication next year please download and complete a Medication Order, Asthma Action Plan or Food Allergy Action Plan as appropriate for next year. The forms can be found in the front office or Nurse Hill's office. HISD policy requires a new order for every new school year. The medications, even over-the-counter medications, will require a prescription label that matches the doctor's order.

Braeswood Place Homeowner's Association

July 4th Parade and Carnival

Parade

Decorate your bikes, trikes, scooters, and wagons! Show your American pride while walking, marching, or riding in the parade.

Line up for the parade will begin at 8:45 am at Turnberry Circle at Edloe
The parade will start at 9:00 am at Turnberry Circle and end at Mark Twain Elementary.

Carnival

9:00 am-12:00 pm at Mark Twain Elementary
Enjoy face painting, carnival games, a petting zoo, fun DJ, trackless train, and much more!

Volunteers are needed to work booths for 1, 2, or 3 hours. To volunteer, please email Brenda Blackwood at bpha@sbcglobal.net.

Pershing Girls Lacrosse

2015 Summer Clinic

Saturday, August 15 - Sunday, August 16

8:00 am to 12:00 pm each day

Pershing Middle School Softball Field

Join the Pershing Girls Lacrosse coaches and players for this fun, instructional clinic on the basics of how to play girls lacrosse. We will introduce the concepts of cradling, catching, tossing, ground balls, and simple game strategies using offensive and defensive maneuvers

OPEN TO GIRLS IN GRADES 3 - 8

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

COST: $100 (includes use of team equipment)

BRING: water bottle, athletic shoes or cleats, lacrosse gear (if owned)

Please register before July 31.

Click here to download a registration form and find more information.

A mother was standing in line at parent-teacher conferences to meet one of her kids' teachers. Suddenly, a man tapped her shoulder and said, "What does your son say about this teacher because this class is my son's lowest grade, and it's ruining his average."

"This class is actually one of my son's lower grades," she responded, "but this guy is without a doubt his favorite teacher, so I am actually really excited to meet him."

"Well, my kid has to get a better grade in this class or else," he said.

"Or else what?" she said.

"Or else he won't be able to get into the college he needs to get into so he can take over my practice one day!" he said, exasperated.

"Oh," she said. "Is that what he wants to do?"

"Doesn't matter," said the dad, even more exasperated. "That is what he has to do."

...............................................

+Reflection: "We need to see the child in front of us," said Vicki Abeles, director of the documentary film, Race to Nowhere. When we have high expectations for our children and when we have invested our money, energy, hopes and dreams in their success, this can be a real challenge.

VISIT OUR +HUB: http://positiveworks.uberflip.com/h/
JOIN THE +MOVEMENT: www.positivethinkingworks.org

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.