The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
April 12, 2016  

  

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Dear Parents, Mark_twain_pto_logo

The week of April 25-29 is Staff Appreciation Week. This is a special time of year that we work to honor all teachers and staff at Mark Twain.  Information will come shortly from your room parents about how you can help honor your child's teacher.  Please also read below for information about how you can help the PTO to recognize all our wonderful teachers and staff at Mark Twain.

Mark Twain Anniversary Tree - Commemorative Leaves

"Why not go out on a limb?  That is where the fruit is." -Mark Twain

The faculty and staff of Mark Twain Elementary went "out on a limb" in 1990 with a pledge to instill a love of reading and created the Literary Development Center. The LDC challenges students to read, think critically, and communicate effectively so they can connect and interpret the intricacies of the world in which we live.

In 2005, the Mark Twain community rebuilt the school and became authorized to provide the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate. As an IB World School, we create a community of life-long learners built upon a collaborative spirit that fosters inquiry-based learning.

To celebrate, the PTO will soon install an elegant stainless steel wall relief depicting the LDC and IB Anniversary Giving Tree on the school's exterior similar to the one pictured at right.  It will serve as a symbolic reflection of the spirit and dedication of the people who created, developed, and nurtured the programs that have become the heart of our school.  

The leaves of the tree will carry personalized inscriptions for those who wish to donate $500 or more toward the continued support of these two programs.  Your previous gifts this school year to the Friends and Family Campaign will count toward your purchase of a leaf. (For example, if you donated $250 in October last year, you need only give $250 more to purchase a leaf.) Engravings can recognize family members, teachers, or staff. 

We will offer commemorative leaves through the end of this school year.  If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation please contact  Megan Rose at meganrose72@gmail.com.

Important dates:
  • Wed, April 13 - PTO Meeting at 8:15 am in the library
  • April 12 - 13 - Twain Triathlon registration re-opens for 24 hours - see below to learn more
  • Friday, April 15 - Parent Enrichment at 8:00 am in the cafeteria, Speaker Amy Fuller, PhD
  • Saturday, April 16 - International Festival, 1:00 - 4:00
  • Saturday, April 30 - Father/Daughter Dance, 6:30 pm
  • April 25-29 - Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Sunday, May 1 - Twain Triathlon
  • Friday, May 6 - VIPS Breakfast for all volunteers at 8:15 am
Have a great week!
Jenny Hyman
Mark Twain PTO President
Twain Triathlon 2016

By popular demand, the Twain Triathlon registration will RE-OPEN for 24 hours:

Opens: Tuesday, April 12 at 5:00 pm
Closes: Wednesday, April 13 at 5:00 pm
Register at twaintri.org

Please volunteer! We need a lot of people to stand along our 3 mile bike course to ensure the safety of our students.
If you have a middle or high school student who needs volunteer credit hours, we would love to have their help.

Sign-up here to volunteer for a time and location that works for you. Thank you! Triathlon Chairs, Monica Agosta and Penny Linsenmayer

Parent Enrichment
Speaker Amy Fuller, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC-S
Smart but Scattered:
Executive Skills and ADD/ADHD
Friday April 15,  8:00 am in the cafeteria
All are invited to join 

It's hard to see your talented and bright child struggle with simple tasks and following instructions. Whether your child has ADD/ADHD or not, learning about executive skills can help you help your child manage more effectively.  

Dr. Amy Fuller, local marriage and family therapist and fellow Twain parent will lay out the basics of ADD/ADHD with an emphasis on the role of executive functioning skills.
Mark Twain Elementary 
14th annual International Festival
Saturday, April 16 
1:00 - 4:00 pm in the cafeteria 
 
Come celebrate the diversity of cultures represented at Mark Twain with a festival of performances and country displays. This year's theme is "Sports Around the World". 

Country Booths
Get your passport in the front rotunda and visit the following countries: India, Iran, Japan, Peru, Switzerland, Canada, China, Italy, Pakistan, Korea, Morocoo, France, Lebanon, Columbia, Mexico, Germany, and Spain. Fill your passport and receive a free dress pass! 

The Parade of Countries
All children are invited to join the parade to kick off the festival! Meet at 12:45 pm in the 2nd grade hallway. Children are encouraged to wear traditional costumes, sport jerseys or t-shirts from any country and bring flags and noisemakers.

Performance schedule:
1:00 Opening song by school band
1:15 Fiddle Tune (Elizabeth Cabral)
1:20 French Dance
1:25 China Dance
1:45 Peru Dance - Tuntuna
2:00 Spain Dance - Flamenco
2:10 Old English Folk Song
2:15 India Dance
2:30 Mexican Mariachi Band - Lanier MS
2:45 Pakistan Dance
2:55 Dual Language Class performance - Martinez
3:00 Lebanese Belly Dance
3:05 Korean Dance 

Email Sumi Ono at m.ohno21@mac.com to learn more.
Last Chance to Order Yearbooks

Yearbooks will arrive next month and be delivered to your  child's classroom.  If you haven't ordered, there is still time. Order your yearbook online here today!
Staff Appreciation Week
April 25-29

Please join the PTO in showing our heartfelt appreciation to Mark Twain's wonderful teachers and staff.
 
The PTO will provide tantalizing treats throughout the week and there are numerous opportunities for families to get involved.  We encourage your child - with your room parent's direction - to make cards, bring flowers from your garden, share baked goods, or something that is special to your teacher. Let's show the teachers and staff at Mark Twain how much we appreciate all they do for our children!

Suggested Class Sponsored Events (to be determined by room parents):
  • Monday - Adopt an Ancillary Locker & Classroom Door Decorating
  • Tuesday - Restock Classroom Supplies
  • Wednesday - Students bring a flower for class bouquet and hand made cards
  • Thursday - Dinner Delivered. Sign up with room parent
  • Friday - Pamper them Proudly. Present class gifts
The PTO will sponsor "treats" each day of the week:
  • Monday - Bagels and coffee for the staff
  • Tuesday - A lunchtime dessert bar.  Please sign up here to send in home-baked cookies/cakes on Tuesday, April 26
  • Wednesday - Faculty Meeting Snack Fest
  • Thursday - Breakfast tacos
  • Friday - Catered luncheon
Hearts of Appreciation: Heart_of_appreciation
The "Hearts of Appreciation" are a way for students to tell teachers and staff what they mean to them.  Look for a copy in your student's red folder. Please take the time to decorate and cut out the heart. Fill as many hearts as you wish with words of thanks, poems, or pictures for a special teacher, favorite ancillary teacher, and support staff member at school.

Cut out the hearts and return them in your red folder or to the PTO workroom by Thursday, April 21. The hearts will be displayed throughout the building during Staff Appreciation Week. Extra hearts are in the PTO workroom or click here to download a copy.  

Save the Date:
Father/Daughter Dance
Saturday, April 30
6:30 - 8:30 pm in the cafeteria

The Mark Twain Dad's Club will host the annual Father/Daughter Dance! Children must be accompanied by a father or a grandfather, uncle, etc.  This special evening includes a DJ, snacks, and souvenir picture buttons. Cost is $25 per father/daughter couple and $5 per additional child. Online registration will open soon.

4th and 5th grade girls are encouraged to help decorate between 4:00 - 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 30. Parents are encouraged to drop off a snack donation in the PTO workroom on Thursday or Friday before the dance.   

For more information, please contact Mike Feighl, Dad's Club President at mike.feighl@worthaminsurance.com or text/call (713) 515-8714.

Don't Miss Their Special Day... 
Order a Birthday-Gram Today 

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, a 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 ½ Birthday  - the day 6-months after their last birthday.

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 contact Dyan Gutierrez at dgutierrez519@hotmail.com or Missy Nichols at mynichols3@gmail.com.

Huckleberry Park

We hope you are enjoying the playground being open on the weekends.  It's inspiring to see our families there playing, enjoying the outdoors and each other.  Having a SPARK park is already adding so much value to our neighborhood!  We can't wait to see the impact the final park will have on our community.

As we draw near to our deadline for phase 1, we have raised $300K.  We can complete a lot of the phase 1 work with these funds and we are excited to get started. Our target for phase 1 is $450K to do everything.  In case our goal is not met, we will move the turfing of the field to phase 2 of the project. While this is a decent solution, the ideal solution would be to have the turf installed in the first phase so the kids have a beautiful field to play on sooner rather than much later.

We are working diligently to raise the rest of the funds. To help us reach our goal, please consider reaching out to your contacts who are in the business of demolition, landscaping, turf, or grading to request in-kind donations. 

We know in our hearts we will make our goal. Our Mark Twain community is and always has been unstoppable when it comes to our kids.  If you can think of contacts we should reach out to for support, please let us know by contacting huckleberrypark@yahoo.com.


Houston Texans Kids Triathlon
April 23 and 24 at NRG Stadium
 
Take part in the Houston Kids Triathlon and participate on the Mark Twain team. List Mark Twain as your team and our school will receive $10 for each participant. Last year we had 42 students on our team. Former students and friends can sign up also for the Mark Twain team.

The Junior Division (ages 6-10) will race on April 23 and the Senior Division ages (11-14) will race on April 24.

Learn more and register at houstontexans.com/kids/triathlon/home.html.

July 4th Braeswood Place Parade and Carnival

Decorate your bikes, tricycles, scooters, and wagons and celebrate the nation's independence while walking, marching, or riding in the parade.

As a fundraising and promotional effort, this year BPHA is distributing yard signs at $40 each to donors who want to show their neighborhood support.  For more information on donation and volunteer opportunities, please email us at julysigns@gmail.com.
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.