The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
April 26, 2016  

  

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Dear Mark Twain Families, Mark_twain_pto_logo

This is Staff Appreciation Week at Mark Twain!  I just love seeing all the beautifully decorated doors, "Hearts of Appreciation" in the hallways, and the creativity of all the kids.  I want to thank Ayumi Sardar, VP of Staff Appreciation, Sarah Callahan Baker, VP of Volunteers, all our room parents, and all parents for your efforts to make this week so special. The strong relationship between the parents, teachers, and administration is what makes Mark Twain so great and a wonderful place for our children to learn and grow!

This Sunday, May 1, is the Twain Triathlon.  We are in desperate need of volunteers to make sure the kids stay safe on the bike course through some of the neighborhood streets.  Please take a look at the Sign-up Genius link here and see where you can help.  What a fun way for your kids to cheer for their fellow Mark Twain friends along the course! Learn more by scrolling to the information below or at twaintri.org.

Extended Day registration for the Fall 2016 semester will begin Wednesday, April 27. Forms will be available in the front office and online. Remember, your spring balance must be paid in full before registering for the next semester. If you have any questions please e-mail Stacey Karr at skarr@houstonisd.org.
 
Important dates:
  • Saturday, April 30: Father-Daughter Dance
  • Sunday, May 1: Twain Triathlon
  • Friday, May 6: VIPS Breakfast for all volunteers
  • Monday, May 9: STAAR, 3rd & 4th grade Math
  • Tuesday, May 10: STAAR, 3rd & 4th grade Reading
  • Wednesday, May 11: STAAR, 5th grade Science
  • Tuesday, May 17: Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A
  • Wednesday, May 18: PTO Meeting at 8:15 am
  • Tuesday, May 24: 5th grade commencement
  • Tuesday, May 24: Last day to purchase a leaf for the IB and LDC Anniversary Giving Tree
  • Wednesday, May 25: Last day of school
Enjoy the last week in April and get ready for the roller coaster ride of activities in May!  I appreciate all that you do for our school and community - it makes a BIG difference in the lives of our children!

Jennifer Hyman
Mark Twain PTO President
jennyhyman@gmail.com

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. Register online here.

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.

Twain Triathlon 2016
Sunday, May 1  

The Twain Triathlon organizers are in dire need of volunteers to line our 3-mile bike course. You DO NOT NEED to be a participating family to volunteer.     
Please view at the course map here and if you live  anywhere close by, please consider standing outside your home for an hour or two the morning of the race. At 7:45 am, set up a lawn chair, bring out the neighbors, cheer on our students and help ensure their safety! The first students enter the Weekley YMCA pool at 7:45 am so students will begin bicycling by shortly after. Full details at twaintri.org.

Please sign-up to volunteer here. If you prefer a specific block to line, please note that in the comment section.

Also, look for a food truck in the carpool lane that will sell breakfast tacos. Bring your family and have breakfast while cheering on our student athletes!
 

Staff Appreciation Week
April 25-29

The 2016 Staff Appreciation Week is off to a great start!

Hearts adorn the hallways, doors and lockers are decorated, and staff have enjoyed coffee and bagels and today a dessert bar.

The PTO will continue to provide treats to teachers and staff throughout the week. Please pamper your teacher and assigned ancillary with cards, flowers, classroom items and small gifts as proposed by your room parent(s) for the remaining days of the week.
And the Winner is....

Congratulations to Ms. Morgan's 3rd Grade Class. They won the Popsicle Party for turning in the most Box Tops - 1,045 Box Tops so far this year, which totals $104.50 earned for Mark Twain.

Thank you to all the Classroom Box Tops Coordinators and all the parents for clipping Box Tops.  But don't quit clipping yet - one last submission will be sent at the end of the school year.  A lot of Box Tops expire in June, so turn in any Box Tops you have before summer.  You can turn them in to your classroom container, or in to the Box Tops Drawer in the Parent Workroom. For any questions, please email Dominique Isenhower at disen@flash.net.
Support the LDC and IB Program
at Mark Twain Elementary   

Donate to the "LDC & IB Anniversary Giving Tree" to support these wonderful  programs! The "LDC & IB Anniversary Giving Tree" commemorative leaves will be offered until Tuesday, May 24 as a way for families to show their gratitude and support of the wonderful programs that Mark Twain Elementary offers.

In celebrating the 25th anniversary of the renowned Literary Development Center (LDC) Program and the 10th year as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, the Mark Twain PTO is installing a custom-mounted metal relief of an "LDC & IB Anniversary Giving Tree" at the entrance to the school.  Commemorative leaves on the tree will only be offered during significant anniversary years.

Please support these programs and consider a tax-deductible donation.  For families that donate $500 or more, your show of gratitude will be displayed at our school with a commemorative leaf.   

Donations can be made online or you can download a donation form and return it with payment to the PTO Workroom mailbox labeled VP of Membership.

For questions, contact Megan Rose at meganrose72@gmail.com.   

Mark Twain Elementary PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Huckleberry Park

Thank you to Jenny & Brent Hyman and Amy & Klay Allen for making a gift last week and moving the needle in our big push to get turf.

We are close to our deadline and goal for Phase 1. We need $100K to complete our goal.  If we do not meet our goal, we'll need to spend $20,000 to install grass as a temporary solution. Then we would have to scrape away that $20,000 worth of grass to install Turf. Let's just raise $100,000 now and skip the grass! Please help us meet our goal:
  • Skip a meal out and donate that money to Huckleberry Park
  • Increase your previous donation to get to a Paver, Tree or Bench sponsorship
  • Buy a Yard Sign for an Incoming Kindergarten family
  • Share a Corporate Sponsor contact - with your input, we'll make a grant request
  • Share a Charitable Foundation contact. Your personal support will help spotlight our grant request.
Visit huckleberrypark.org to make a gift today or learn more.  Please contact huckleberrypark@yahoo.com for more information.

Click here to view a 2016-2017 school supply list.
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.