The Twain Times
Mark Twain Elementary School 
May 10, 2016  

  

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Mark_twain_pto_logoDear Mark Twain families,

It feels as though we have moved through another school year so quickly.  The month of May is always so busy at the school and with getting summer plans finalized.  We have a list of important dates included below to help you stay on track the last few weeks of May.

Last week the staff at Mark Twain hosted a breakfast to thank the many volunteers at the school.  This breakfast is always special to me, it shows the connection between teachers and parents at the school, and how important it is to have both working for the same goals. 

Please join us from 8:00 - 9:00 am in the Mark Twain Cafeteria on Monday, May 23 as we honor some of our most treasured gems - Pansy Gee, Janis Isgur, and Jann Jackson. These beloved teachers will retire soon. Please stop by to bid them well as they move on to illuminate the world beyond our school.

We also received our yearbooks last week!  If you have not bought one yet, hurry and get one at the school store this week before they are all gone.  Liz Sanders and Tracey Reeves worked all year to capture memorable moments for our kids.  This is a tough assignment and they did an outstanding job. 

Extended Day registration forms for Fall 2016 are available in the front office and online. Remember, your spring balance must be paid in full before registering for the next semester. For questions please e-mail Stacey Karr at skarr@houstonisd.org.
 
Important dates:
  • Tuesday, May 10: STAAR, 3rd & 4th grade Reading
  • Wednesday, May 11: STAAR, 5th grade Science
  • Friday, May 13: Father-Daughter Dance at 7:00 pm
  • May 16-20: Book Fair at Barnes&Noble @ Holcombe
  • Tuesday, May 17: Shopping Night and Kids Crafts at Barnes&Noble @ Holcombe from 4:30 - 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday, May 17: Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A, 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 18: PTO Meeting at 8:15 am
  • Sunday, May 22: Twain Triathlon
  • Monday, May 23: Retirement reception at 8:00 am
  • Tuesday, May 24: 5th grade graduation
  • Tuesday, May 24: Last day to purchase a leaf for the IB and LDC Anniversary Giving Tree
  • Wednesday, May 25: Last day of school
Have a great week!
Jennifer Hyman
PTO President
jennyhyman@gmail.com
 
Twainberry:
Calling All Young Authors  
Grades 3-5
 
Twainberry nominations are due to Mrs. Gee by Friday, May 13.
  • A final draft of an original narrative or a collection of 8 or more original poems
  • Include first and last name
  • One submission per student
Father/Daughter Dance
Friday, May 13
7:00 - 9:00 pm
in the cafeteria

The Mark Twain Dad's Club will host the rescheduled Father/Daughter Dance! Children must be accompanied by a father, 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.

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.
Soar Into Summer with New Reads
Week of May 16 

Worried about your kids being bored this summer? Get a head start by stocking-up on new books before it starts.

During the week of May 16, stop by the Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt Square, 3003 W. Holcombe Blvd or visit bn.com  to purchase new adventures for your entire family.
 
When you make an in-store purchase, mention Mark Twain Elementary, ID #11695467, and a portion of the proceeds will come back to our school.
  • To have your purchase benefit Twain when ordering online, from the payment page, scroll to the very bottom and choose "Check this box if it is a Bookfair Order". Enter ID #11695467.
  • If signed in to your bn.com account, from the Checkout screen, click on the Change button in the Payment section to get the full payment screen and the bookfair ID field.
Join us for a 
Kid-Friendly
Shopping Night Barnes&Noble 
Tuesday, May 17  
4:30 to 7:00 pm 
 
Activities will include a duct tape bookmark craft, guest readers, and a literary game with free-dress pass prizes.

We need volunteers to help Twain students with the bookmark craft and literary game.  All the supplies and the instructions will be provided.  Please click here to sign-up for a 45 minute shift.  
Join us for a
Mark Twain Spirit Night 
Tuesday, May 17  

Chick-fil-A 
3101 W Holcombe Blvd
5:00 - 8:00 pm
A portion of your purchases will benefit our school. 
New Date:   
Twain Triathlon 2016
Sunday, May 22   
 
Tri, Tri again! We are very pleased to announce that the Twain Triathlon has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 22. If you are registered and UNABLE to attend, please contact Monica Agosta at magosta69@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Also, with the change of date, we are now in greater need for volunteers than ever before. Please consider volunteering for a short period of time. Sign-up here.

Full details at twaintri.org. Thank you! Monica Agosta and Penny Linsenmayer
Art a la Carte
Call for Supplies

If you taught a lesson for Art a la Carte in your child's class, thank you! We loved seeing parents and kids walking out of school with art cars, skyscapes, mobiles and color wheels.

Please take a moment to check that you returned the class folder to the brown cabinets in the PTO workroom. We are working to get everything organized to finish out the year and start in the fall with a bang!

For more information, please contact Katie Trowbridge, katietrowbridge@gmail.com or Kinsey Wall, kinsey.wall@gmail.com.

Order School Supplies Now for the 2016-17 School Year

Get ahead of the game! Order your School Supply Packets now for the 2016-17 year. Find an order form in the front office, download an order form here or order online here.  The packs are $45 each and will contain all the supplies requested by teachers. 

Order now to ensure availability and lowest price. Please contact Kathleen Fenoy at kathleenfenoy@yahoo.com with questions.

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

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.

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.
Pershing Girls Lacrosse
Summer Clinic 2016
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. OPEN TO GIRLS IN GRADES 3-8
Register before July 31

August 13-14, 2016
8:00 am - 12:00 pm 
 
Pershing Middle School
3838 Blue Bonnet Blvd
 
$75 (includes lunch, use of team equipment, & pinnie)
 
BRING: Water bottle, athletic shoes or cleats, lacrosse gear, if owned  (lacrosse stick, goggles, mouth guard

To register or for more information, please visit www.pershinggirlslacrosse.com or download a registration form here.

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.