The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
December 8, 2015 

  

Thank You To Our

Corporate Sponsors
2015 - 2016 

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Dear Parents,

We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly hinge on understanding how technology works. But only a tiny fraction of us are learning computer science, and less students are studying it than a decade ago.

That's why our entire school is joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week Dec. 7-13. More than 100 million students worldwide have already tried an Hour of Code. Ask your child this week about his/her experience with the Hour of Code. If you would like to learn more about Hour of Code please see hourofcode.com or contact Mr. Francisco Martinez, our campus contact.

As we head into the Winter Holiday we will be veering away from our normal dress code. We have planned theme days that will include students and faculty.
  • Tuesday, December 15 - We will host a school-wide read aloud of "The Hat" by Jan Brett. Students and faculty encouraged to wear their favorite winter hat.
  • Wednesday, December 16 - "Polar Express" Pajama Day with a school-wide read aloud. Students and faculty encouraged to wear pajamas, a robe or slippers.
  • Thursday, December 17 - Keep those winter blues away - students and staff invited to wear a "beachy" shirt.  We will read excerpts from "Iguanas in the Snow - Guanas en la Nieve".
  • Friday, December 18 - FIELD DAY! Wear class t-shirt.
Important reminders:
  • Wednesday, December 9: PTO meeting at 8:15 am in the cafeteria. 
  • Thursday, December 17: 1st grade music program at 6:00 pm in the cafeteria.
  • Friday, December 18: Field Day.  Please see more information below.
  • No Extended Day on 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.
Spring testing schedule:
 
STAAR
  • March 29: 4th grade Writing and 5th grade Math
  • March 30: 5th grade Reading
  • May 9: 3rd and 4th grade Math (5th grade math re-test)
  • May 10: 3rd and 4th grade Reading (5th grade reading re-test)
  • May 11: 5th grade Science
If you have any questions, please email Michele Rawson at [email protected].

Have a wonderful week!
Melissa Patin
Principal
 
Parent Enrichment  
Friday, December 11  
8:00 am in the cafeteria

Everyone is welcome to join us. 
 
Save the Date:  On Friday, January 15, hear speaker Chelsie Sargent, M.Ed., LPC. Learn more at chelsiesargentcounseling.com.

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 the home of either:

Madonna Bauch
4114 Bellefontaine

Brittany Weisser
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 [email protected] or Brittany Weisser at [email protected] for more information.  
Host a Huckleberry Bash Social:

Bash Socials are an important part of the success of our biggest fundraiser of the year, The Huckleberry Bash.  "Bash Socials" are student or parent social events planned and hosted by individual or group of parents during the year. Once planned, socials are then made available for purchase at the Bash at a set price per person (or per couple) until all slots are filled.

Hosting a Bash Social is a great way to meet and have fun with your Mark Twain friends while contributing to the school! Now is the time to get your group of hosts together, brainstorm ideas for fun adult and kid parties and SIGN UP!! As you work out the party details, think about the NUMBER OF PEOPLE and AGE range, choose your LOCATION and select a DATE for your party.   The hosts are responsible for underwriting the cost of the event. 

Download a Bash Socials donor form here and return the completed form by email to either Mary Atherton (adult socials) or Fabia Hill (kid socials) or return it to the Bash socials box in the PTO workroom no later than Friday, January 22, 2016.

Contact Mary or Fabia for more information or to sign up at
[email protected] or [email protected].    

Field Day is coming!Field Day
Friday, December 18
K-2nd participate at 8:15 am    
3rd-5th participate in the afternoon 

Are you ready to see your Tigers have a lot of fun on Field Day? Parents are invited to watch the activities and we look forward to seeing you there!  

There are lots of exciting events this year. K-2nd grade will participate in the following activities: Animal Scramble, Ice-Cream Relay, and Letters, Number, and Shapes. 3rd-5th grade will be be playing, Tug-O-War, Castles, and Feats Of Strength. This year, we will have a Wellness Zone which will include jump rope, yoga/meditation, jogging/walking with pedometers, and a nutrition game.                                                                                                                          
Field Day Tips:
Here is a friendly reminder for what to wear. We suggest shorts or sweatpants with tennis shoes and don't forget to wear your field day shirts. If you want to bring water, bring it in a sports bottle and not a plastic one. If you want, your child can bring healthy snacks. K-2 will have snacks after their games are over, while 3rd-5th will eat snacks before they compete.


Save the Date: Mark Twain Bingo Logo
Mark Twain Bingo Night
Friday, January 22, 2016
6:00 - 8:00 pm in the cafeteria

Get ready for a fun night of bingo at Mark Twain. This is a cash-only event. We recommend that you bring your $1 bills. There will be cool prizes and food for purchase from Luchi and Joey's taco truck and Papa John's pizza truck.

We are looking for volunteers to help during the evening. Shifts of 30 minutes or 1 hour are available.  Stay tuned for more information about volunteer opportunities. Please contact Allison Rudin at [email protected] for more information.
Volunteer in the Twain Library

The Twain library has several volunteer slots that just opened up. We need volunteers who can help check out books to classes that visit the library in the morning. It requires minimal computer skills and is an easy way to support reading at Twain. If you can help, please contact Brandy McDaniel at [email protected].
Huckleberry Park
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.

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 [email protected] for more information.
For more information about Mark Twain Elementary, visit marktwainpto.org or houstonisd.org/TwainesTo receive the Twain Times e-newsletter, please sign-up hereFor submission guidelines, visit marktwainpto.org/communications.