The Twain Times

Mark Twain Elementary School

November 10, 2015

Thank You To Our

Corporate Sponsors
2015 - 2016

PLATINUM

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Dear Mark Twain Families, Mark_twain_pto_logo

Good Morning! I hope you are enjoying this FALL weather as much as I am! I know my boys enjoyed spending a much needed day outside with friends on Sunday.

Our next PTO meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 8:15 am in the cafeteria. Absolute Glassworks will hold a drawing for the parking spot next to Mrs. Rawson. Your family will have use of the spot until the January PTO meeting. These parking spaces are auctioned at the Huckleberry Bash each year for thousands of dollars!

Huckleberry Park Boosterthon Fun Run is Thursday. Please register your child online at funrun.com using login code TWAIN. If you need assistance, please email huckleberrypark@yahoo.com. The pledges are at 66% of our goal so keep the pledges coming!

The Book Fair will take over the cafeteria stage and more November 16 - 20. This highly anticipated event includes the Storybook Parade and Preschool Story Time on Nov. 18. The Family Fun Night on Nov. 19 is not to be missed. Please stop by and do some early holiday shopping. Please sign up to volunteer and help make the Book Fair another success. See below for more information.

Important Dates

Fall 2015 Extended Day balances are due Friday, November 13. Email Stacey at skarr@houstonisd.org for more information.

Go Twain Tigers!

Jennifer Hyman

Mark Twain PTO President

jennyhyman@gmail.com

Huckleberry Park

Fun Run on Thursday, November 12

at Mark Twain Elementary

Parents are invited to cheer on your student. Every student, no matter his financial participation, is invited to run. Register your child at funrun.com (school: Twain) and help support Huckleberry Park. To volunteer, sign up here.

Fun Run Schedule:

8:30 - 9:30 am: 2nd and 3rd Grade

9:45 - 10:45 am: 5th grade

12:00 - 1:00 pm: 1st Grade

1:00 - 2:00 pm: 4th Grade

2:00 - 3:00 pm: Kindergarten and PALS

You all have worked SO hard getting pledges! We are at 66% of our goal. Boosterthon has awarded prizes to our Twain Tigers and the Huckleberry Park team wants to give them a reward too. When we hit our goal we want to reward our Tigers THIS school year. How about a GAGA PIT?! When we hit our goal we will get a gaga pit installed in early 2016. Yes, 5th grade parents, that means you will benefit from your hard work with the Fun Run just like parents of younger Tiger friends. Let's finish strong!

Fall Food Drive for

Kids' Meals Houston

November 2 - 13

We will collect boxed macaroni and cheese and instant mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving Care Packages. Bring your items to the front rotunda or kindergarten hallway. Kids' Meals Houston is a non-profit that delivers year-round weekday meals to children under the age of five who live in poverty. It is the nation's only meals on wheels service for children. For questions, contact Elaina McNulty at ekmcnulty@sbcglobal.net or Paige Schulz at paigemschulz@yahoo.com.

Parent enrichment

Aimee Taylor, CHC
What's in the electric blue lollipop?

Friday, November 13
8:00 am in the cafeteria

Have you noticed how our food looks like it's in Technicolor? Do you know what chemicals are added to make it that color? Join certified health coach Aimee Taylor to learn how to feed your family without so many chemicals and still let your kids be kids. Visit greenpeasandblueberries.com to learn more.

"Paws for Reading" Book Fair

November 16 - 20

in the cafeteria

Mark Twain's "Paws for Reading" Book Fair will celebrate 25 years of the Literacy Development Center. We need lots of volunteers to help with Book Fair and Family Fun Night. Please sign up to volunteer here.

Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday from 7:30 am - 1:00 pm (early dismissal)
Friday from 7:30 am - 12:00 pm

Storybook Parade
Wednesday, November 18 at 8:30 am
on school grounds

Your child can dress as his or her favorite storybook character and join the parade of teachers and students.

This year we welcome younger siblings and neighbors to watch the elementary school kids parade around the school and then join us for a Preschool Story Time in the cafeteria. Hear Twain's very own 1st grade teacher, Mr. Gerren Rush, read from his new book, Wonderfully Weird. Plus, listen to a special guest reader, browse the fantastic selection of childrens' books and buy some holiday gifts.

LDC's 25 year Anniversary Party
and Family Fun Night
Thursday, November 19
5:00 - 7:00 pm

Don't miss local writer Chris Cander. The local author of 11 Stories and Whisper Hollow will read from and sign her children's book, The Word Burglar. Enjoy Twain teacher storytelling, face painting, great food from Twain sponsor Firehouse Subs, ice cream, games and more!

For information, contact Book Fair Co-Chairs: Jenny Tcharmtchi at jtcharmtchi@gmail.com or Camora Kuo at camora.kuo@gmail.com.

Mark Twain Track Team

Calling future track stars! Registration is open for the 2015-2016 Mark Twain Track Team. Practices will be held Tuesdays and/or Fridays after school beginning in January 2016.

Spots are limited and students will be chosen based on athletic ability. Tryouts will be held in December. All interested 3-5 grade students need to return a registration form to Coach Jody by Friday, November 20.

Support Mark Twain While You Shop

The Mark Twain PTO is grateful to participate in national programs which reward our school based on your purchases of grocery store items, holiday cards, clothes, and more. These programs cost you nothing but can help Twain earn dollars each year.

At smile.amazon.com, you'll find the same shopping as Amazon.com. On your first visit to AmazonSmile, select Mark Twain as your charitable organization. Every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

Are you thinking about ordering from Shutterfly, Nordstrom, Gap, or Target? Start shopping at 4ourschool.com, select Mark Twain Elementary, pick a retailer, and shop usual. Twain will earn up to 5% in donations from your purchases.

If you have a Target� Visa� or Target� Card, visit target.com/tcoe to designate Mark Twain Elementary #98794.

If you have a Randall's Remarkable card, add Mark Twain Elementary #1085 as your charity of choice by filling out the Good Neighborhood Form. Return the form to any Randall's store or the PTO workroom.

Don't Miss Their Special Day...

Order a Birthday-Gram for the 2015-2016 school year

Order today for delivery to your child's classroom on their special day. Click here to order online or download an order form to pay by check. Proceeds benefit 5th grade commencement activities.

**A Birthday Gram is $20 and includes a classroom "Happy Birthday" serenade performed by 5th grade students just after morning announcements, crown, light-up necklace, picture and a special gift presented by 5th grade students.

Does your child have a birthday in June, July, or August? Surprise them on their � Birthday - the day 6-months after their last birthday. And don't forget the birthdays of your teacher and aids.

Please submit your Birthday Gram at least one week prior to your child's birthday. We cannot guarantee last minute Birthday Grams will be delivered on the date requested.

For more information or to help deliver Birthday Grams please contact Dyan Gutierrez at dgutierrez519@hotmail.com or Missy Nichols at mynichols3@gmail.com.

Spaghetti Supper

at Pershing Middle School

Thursday, November 12

6:00 - 8:00 pm

The spotlight will shine on the school's showcase of talent which includes Choir, Orchestra, Gymnastics, Dance, Guitar, Jazz Band, Drama, Music Production and Cheer.

Admission is free to enjoy this event. The spaghetti dinner will be catered by Gugliani's. Tickets are $10 each for the dinner. To order dinner tickets, please visit pershingpto.org/fundraising and click on Spaghetti Supper. All orders must be placed by November 11. For questions, email pershingspaghettisupper@gmail.com.

Performance Schedule

Art:
Displayed in the Cafeteria Hallway

Drama:
6:30 pm Room 402, Drisdale's Class
6:30 pm Room 404, Broadhead's Class

Music Production
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Room 343

Auditorium
6:00 pm Choir
6:20 pm Guitar
6:40 pm Orchestra
7:00 pm Jazz Band

Gym
7:10 pm Gymnastics
7:30 pm Dance
7:40 pm Cheer

Lanier Dance Clinic

Saturday, November 14

9:00 am to Noon

at Lanier Middle School

2600 Woodhead

Spend a morning with the Lanier Expressions Dancers! For students in grades K-6. Students are invited to learn a dance and see what Lanier Middle School is like. Cost is $25 for pre-registration or $30 at the door. T-shirt and snacks included. Complete the registration form and return by mail or bring it to the clinic.

For more information, contact Suzanne Barrall at suzanne.barrall@gmail.com.

West University Softball Association (WUSA), the largest recreational girls' softball league in Texas, is proud to announce the opening of the spring softball season.

Register today to secure a spot for the spring season. Registration ends January 5, 2016, and practices begin the weekend of January 16. All girls who register will tryout and be placed on a team. We hope you can join us! Registration and more information about Spring Ball 2016 are available online at wusa.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.