The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
December 1, 2015 

  

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2015 - 2016 

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Good morning Mark Twain families,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. We enjoyed a quiet few days at home this year.  It is hard to believe that we are almost half way through the school year. This month will be a busy one for us all.  I hope you find some time to enjoy the holiday season with your family, slow down a bit, and make some memories.

Huckleberry Bash
Speaking of the second semester, that means it is Huckleberry Bash time!  The Mark Twain Huckleberry Bash is right around the corner and the team is busy planning and working on a great fundraiser for our school.  The Bash is by far the biggest fundraiser of the year, which requires A LOT of work.  If you have ideas for Classroom Creations, a fun idea for a Social (adult of kid), or something to donate to the Bash please let us know.  Learn more.

Huckleberry Bash co-chairs Madonna Bauch and Brittany Weisser are looking for donations and volunteers.  Please see below to learn more. If you have never been or you have never missed, this is THE year to go!  The theme is "Pages from the Past" to honor our LDC programs' 25th year. Come dressed as your favorite author or literary character and enjoy a wonderful night with other Mark Twain parents and friends.

Huckleberry Park
The Huckleberry Park team is still collecting pledges from the Fun Run held last month. Please help your donors return their pledges so we can determine the final amount raised for the new Huckleberry Park. Meanwhile, the kids raised enough money through the Fun Run to get a Gaga Ball pit installed this year and hopefully they will enjoy it for most of the second semester!

Important reminders:
  • Student Led Conferences for grades 1-5 are Wednesday, December 2.

  • IOWA test administration for Grades K and 5: Kindergarten tests school days December 3-9 and 5th grade tests school days December 3-7. Testing will be each morning. Please make sure your child arrives on time and eats a good breakfast.
  • The next PTO meeting is Wednesday, December 9 at 8:15 in the cafeteria.  Please join us to learn about plans for the Spring semester.
  • Thursday, December 17: 1st grade music program
  • Field Day is Friday, December 18.
  • Magnet applications and Dual Language applications due on Friday, December 18.
  • Winter Holiday: December 21 - January 4. Students return to school on Tuesday, January 5.
Have a great week and go Twain Tigers!
Jennifer Hyman
PTO President
jennyhyman@gmail.com


Parent Enrichment
Friday, December 11  
8:00 am in the cafeteria

Everyone is welcome to join us for the book discussion.

Save the Date:  Friday, January 15 we will discuss internet safety.
Save the Date for
Huckleberry Bash 
Friday, February 12, 2016 
7:00 pm - 12:00 am

Mark Twain Elementary
Literacy Development Center  
25th Anniversary

Dinner and Auction
benefiting students of
Mark Twain Elementary

Julia Ideson Library
550 McKinney Street
Houston, Texas 77002

Dress as your favorite author or literary character.

 
Huckleberry Bash Wine Pull:

The Bash committee is looking for your specialty spirits and/or wine (try to keep value over $20 please but we will take anything!) to be donated to the Bash for our WINE AND SPIRITS PULL at this year's Huckleberry Bash.  Please drop off on the porch behind the columns at either:

Madonna Bauch's home
4114 Bellefontaine

Brittany Weisser's home
3506 Dumbarton

Huckleberry Bash Auction Donations:

We are looking for fabulous auction donations.  Sports or event tickets, unique experiences, vacation homes or condos, jewelry - all would be wonderful additions. Please keep us in mind as you shop through the holidays and ask your favorite places to donate. Click here to download an in-kind donation form or find a form in the PTO workroom. Forms are due by January 22, 2016.

Contact Madonna Bauch at madonna5@comcast.net or Brittany Weisser at brittany.weisser@gmail.com for more information.

Huckleberry Park
Block Walking Event
Saturday, December 5
(rain date is Jan 9, 2016) 
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Meet in the driveway of
3754 Merrick (map)

Join us to solicit support for our beloved Huckleberry Park.  Wear your walking shoes and bring the kids!  Hot chocolate and cookies will be served at 9:30 am. 

Plan to spend a couple of hours drumming up awareness and funding to re-open our park at Mark Twain.  We will provide clip boards, door hangers, pens and a smile. What better way to teach your child about service to their community and school than by involving them in a community activity!
 
Please RSVP to Marc Ziegler at (281) 236-6131 so we can have enough provisions for all. Please contact huckleberrypark@yahoo.com for more information.

End of Year Charitable Giving

Please consider Huckleberry Park in your End of Year charitable giving.  We are working hard to build a park to meet the needs of our school and your gift will make that possible. The park renovation will successfully transform our elementary school playground into a better place for students to engage in fitness and fun.
 
Please visit huckleberrypark.org to give online or for details about the giving levels.  Make checks payable to Mark Twain PTO - Huckleberry Park.  Mail checks to: Mark Twain Elementary c/o Huckleberry Park at 7500 Braes Blvd. Houston, TX 77025.

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 as 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. 

Randalls_logoIf 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.


The Pin Oak Middle School
Pegasus Dance Company
proudly presents
 
DANCE and HIP HOP Junior Clinic 2015
 
Saturday, December 5 
9:00 am to Noon
Pin Oak Middle School
4601 Glenmont Dr.
$25 (T-shirt and snack included)
Download a registration form here 
 
Girls and Boys grades Pre-K - 5th Grade:
Learn dances from the Boys and Girls from the
Pin Oak Pegasus Dance Company
 
The Junior Clinic Dancers are invited to perform in our annual Spring Show on Wednesday, April 29, 2016 in the Pin Oak Gym from 6:00-7:00 pm.

For more information, please contact Brittany Reilly or Jorge Sanchez at 713-295-6500 ext. 390, breilly@houstonisd.org, or jsanch13@houstonisd.org.

Bellaire HS Annual Cheer Clinic
Saturday, December 12
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Bellaire High School
5100 Maple Street (S. Rice entrance)

Spend a fun day with the Bellaire High School cheerleaders learning cheers and dances.

For girls in K-8. Registration is $50 and
includes lunch, party favor and photo with the Mascot. A performance will follow at 2:00 pm. 

Please click here to download a registration form.
Contact dianesizemore@yahoo.com for more information.
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.