The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
August 25, 2015 

  

Thank You To Our

Corporate Sponsors

Plantinum Level



Gold Level

 

  

Silver Level   

 

 Texas Citizens Bank logo

    

Village_plumbing_logo  

    

 

 

     

 

    

 

 

        

Community Partners Level

gc3_logo_houston   

The Lice Place

TheLicePlace.com 

 

Oakington Logo   

Pure_body_studio_logo
  

 

Candelaris

Candelaris.com 

 

 
Dear Parents, Mark_twain_pto_logo

Welcome to the new school year! We've wrapped up our first day of school and it went very well. The first day packet went home on Monday. The packet contains information to review and forms to sign and return to your classroom teacher this week. If you have more than one child at Mark Twain then you need to complete forms for each child. Please make sure that you provide the names and contact information for individuals approved to pick up your children or that have your permission to respond to a call from the school if we are unable to reach you.

Open House is Thursday, September 3 and is for adults. Your child's teacher will make a presentation specific to their classroom at the designated time. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about your teacher's expectations and plans for the year. Additionally, our specialists will provide information about Science, Art, Spanish, Music, PE, and the Media Center.

In the coming weeks, your child may come home talking about the brain. We've implemented a new program called MindUP which is a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum that focuses on social/emotional awareness. A MindUP classroom promotes mindful attention to oneself and others, tolerance of differences, and the capacity of each member of the community to grow as a human being. You'll have an opportunity later this year to learn more about MindUp.

Upcoming events:

Coffee with Ms. Patin in the cafeteria at 8:00 am each day
  • Tuesday, August 25: Kindergarten parents
  • Wednesday, August 26: Grades 1 and 2 parents
  • Thursday, August 27: Grades 3 -5 parents

Open House  

Thursday, September 3 

  • 5:30 pm: Specialists and LDC in the cafeteria for K-2
  • 6:00 pm: Teacher presentations in classrooms for K-2
  • 6:30 pm: Specialists and LDC in the cafeteria for 3-5
  • 7:00 pm: Teacher presentations in classrooms for 3-5
Please make sure that you sign up for the school directory, respond to invitations from your teachers for Twain's online communications tool called Living Tree, and get involved with your school!

Have a great week,
Melissa Patin
Principal

Support your School:
Give to the Friends and Family Campaign

The Mark Twain PTO is gearing up for a landmark school year at Mark Twain Elementary as we celebrate the 25th year of our Literary Development Center and our 10th year as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School.

By making a gift to Mark Twain Elementary through the Friends and Family Campaign, you help provide vital IB teacher training.  Our teachers use the IB curriculum to help students become active and lifelong learners who develop the capacity to contribute to the world around them. Learn more.

Your tax-deductible gift also can help substantially increase funding for the Literary Development Center (LDC) as HISD is phasing out it's support for this program. LDC is a unique language arts lab where students in all grades participate in real life reading-writing units that integrate many curriculum areas. LDC has its own dedicated teachers so learning is individualized and student progress is monitored from grade to grade. Learn more.

To celebrate the anniversary of the programs, we will install  a metal relief LDC and IB Anniversary Giving Tree on the school's exterior similar to the one pictured at right. The sculpture will show our gratitude to those who support the Friends and Family Campaign this year. 

Help us grow the tree by donating to the Friends and Family Campaign.  Donations of $500 or more will receive a commemorative leaf on the tree.  Special recognition on the tree trunk is available to donors of $2,000 or more. Learn about donation levels and benefits here.

Ways to give:
  • Give online 
  • Return donation form to the Friends and Family Table in rotunda or School Store and pay by credit card
  • Return donation form and check to the Friends and Family mailbox in the PTO workroom
You may increase your gift by participating in a Corporate Matching program at your place of work. Learn more.

For more information, please contact Megan Rose at meganrose72@gmail.com.
Mark Twain Elementary presents
Alice in Wonderland Jr.
Auditions on Tuesday, September 1
 
If your 3rd-5th grader loves to sing, dance or act, please encourage them to audition.

Auditions are Tuesday, September 1 at 3:45 pm. Location at Twain TBD. Each student will be asked to perform a short song of their choice and read a few lines from the play. Rehearsals will be each Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:30 - 5:00 pm beginning September 8. Main characters will rehearse additional days.

The show is October 17 and 18 and proceeds will benefit the Twain Odyssey of the Mind Program. You do not have to be an Odyssey of the Mind participant to audition.

To learn more, contact Deanna Sheaffer at deannasheaffer@yahoo.com.
Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS)

Before you volunteer at Mark Twain in any capacity or accompany your child's class on a field trip, you must register as an HISD volunteer.

New volunteers:
If you are a new volunteer, you must register online and pass a criminal background check before you can volunteer.

Step 1: Register online
Step 2: Bring acceptable photo ID to Vicky Sanchez in the Mark Twain office.
Step 3: ID information will be added to our database. Your criminal background check will be processed by HISD.
Step 4: The criminal background check can take 2-3 weeks to complete.
Step 5: You may volunteer once you are designated as a Cleared volunteer.

Returning volunteers:
If you are a returning volunteer, please bring an acceptable photo ID to Liz Cisneros in the Mark Twain office to verify and submit for an annual criminal background check. Returning volunteers do not need to register online. Only volunteers with a Cleared status can volunteer in HISD.

For questions, contact Sarah Callahan Baker at callahanbaker@hotmail.com.


Mark Twain School Store

The Mark Twain school store is located just inside the main entrance across from the office.  The school store offers school supplies and uniform shirts for sale.

Hours: Monday - Friday from 7:45 - 8:15 am and 3:00 - 3:30 pm (closed Friday afternoons)

We need more volunteers. School store shifts are only 30 minutes and a great way to get involved and meet new friends.

Please contact Holly Lee at hollyzlee@yahoo.com or Kathleen Fenoy at kathleenfenoy@yahoo.com to volunteer.

West University Softball Association
Fall Ball registration through August 31West University Softball Association

West University Softball Association (WUSA), the largest recreational girls' softball  league in Texas, announces the opening of the fall ball softball season.  Fall Ball is WUSA's "off season" program. It is less structured than the spring season, and standings are not kept.

Fall player registration is available online at wusa.org until August 31. The season begins on September 6. Games are Sunday afternoons from September 12 to November 15. Fall Ball is for girls ages 6-14. All girls who register will be placed on a team. There is no tryout to participate.
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.