Austin Elementary PTO: Latest News

Please be sure to join us tomorrow evening at 7:00pm for our PTO General Meeting!!

This meeting will be packed with information for you, the parents of our Austin Mustangs! There will be guest speakers from the Boosterthon Fun Run Team – come see and hear for yourself just what all the EPIC fun is about at Austin!

There will also be a guest speaker from the Dallas Advocacy Center and they will be sharing some ideas regarding internet safety for our kids.

We look forward to seeing you there!! Don’t miss this great event!!

The PTO Boosterthon Fun Run begins today!! – This fundraiser promotes three specific values during a fun-filled program – FITNESS, LEADERSHIP & CHARACTER – all while raising money for Austin’s improvement! The theme this year is “EPIC Adventure” and our students will be building character by learning the four secrets to good teams: Encourage, Play, Invite, Celebrate.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

1. Your child has received their information packet along with their own personal, secure webpage and login for participation through funrun.com. This site will also have fun character videos and more!
2. Connect your child to sponsors for their pledge challenge! (friends, family, business partners)
3. Wednesday, Jan 25th through Wednesday, Feb 1st, a Boosterthon team member will visit each classroom 3-5 minutes each day to share with the kiddos their character and pledge challenges for that day.
4. Students will get pledges (or flat donations) towards the number of laps they will run, and EVERY student will receive a t-shirt and participate regardless of the pledges raised! Boosterthon provides two tracks that accomodate 175 (max) students each. Each track is 1/16 of a mile with a 35 lap cap.
5. You can also participate when we conclude on February 2nd with a Boosterthon FUN RUN that ALL of our Mustangs can participate in.

GENERAL PTO MEETING – Wednesday, January 25th 7pm in the Austin Elementary Library. We will have Boosterthon Team members on site to give an over-view and answer questions – join us and get connected!

Schlotzsky’s is here! Join us this Saturday, Jan. 28th and help support your Austin PTO. Schlotzsky’s has joined our group of neighborhood partners – come out anytime on Saturday – lunch, dinner or in between – and place your receipt in the PTO Box. A portion of your receipt will come back to help Austin!

The Yearbook staff and some fifth grade students are working hard on this year’s yearbook.

Don’t forget to purchase yours before time runs out!

The price for the yearbook is $20.00 and can be purchased on line through the PTO Webstore! You can also purchase your yearbook by sending in a check—please make sure it is in a sealed envelope clearly marked for the yearbook.

The deadline to order has been extended to February 1st! Please be sure to order your copy today!!

January has been a busy month as I have been in the classrooms teaching about self- control and strategies that we may use before we speak and act on our feelings. It is also at this time that I address personal safety with the students.
Our students are so respectful, polite and willing to help others that we sometimes have to be reminded of the “tricky people” that may be trying to get information from us or trying to harm us. The students and I discuss where these people hang out, what they may say to try to trick us into leaving with them. Strategies that we use to keep safe: Look, Stay Back, Yell and Go! I hope that at some point your student has discussed this with you and maybe even given you some knowledge! I tell the students that Knowledge is Power and when they know what to do it is empowering, helps them make the best decision and builds self- esteem.
I hope you have time to visit my webpage or the classroom teacher’s site to take a 3 minute safety quiz.
As always, it is a blessing to work with your child. We appreciate all that you do to support your child at home as well.
Our next spirit rally will be Thursday Jan. 27th at 7:50. At this time we will recognize our character winners for Cooperation and Self-Control. Hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Jan McBride, counselor

Celebrate your child’s birthday (or any day) by donating a new book in your child’s name to the Austin Library. This opportunity will be available the first 2 weeks of each school quarter with this quarter’s window running January 23 – February 6.

Donations must be made online via credit card with a $20 minimum. After making your donation, print your receipt and contact Jodie McConnell, the school librarian, to discuss your desired book title. She will order books at the end of each window.

A special dedication label celebrating your child will go in the front of the book, and your child will get to be the first student to check out this special book after it arrives. Visit Mrs. McConnell’s staff webpage on Austin Elementary’s website or the following link for more information!

Has your child told you about e-time? Did you hear about the frost experiment? Have you heard about the class that has students working together to make a class blanket? Do you know which grade level group is borrowing special equipment from the high school to continue their explorations? If your answer to any of these questions is “no,” then you need to take a look at our SEM (Schoolwide Enrichment Model) blog to learn more about the new and awesome things happening at Austin Elementary every Friday morning! Click here for more info!

Grab your family and head out to Which Wich tonight! A negotiated portion of every family ticket will be given to Austin Elementary. So, remember to drop your receipt in the appropriate bucket for it to count. It is that easy!

Our Boosterthon Fun Run PTO Fundraiser promotes three specific values during a fun-filled program – FITNESS, LEADERSHIP & CHARACTER – all while raising money for Austin’s improvement!

The theme this year is “EPIC Adventure” (think Indiana Jones) and our students will be building character by learning the four secrets to good teams: Encourage, Play, Invite, Celebrate. All of these will unite in teaching our kids the foundations for teamwork!

This event will kick off with a 30 minute school-wide Pep Rally on January 24th and conclude on February 2nd with a Boosterthon FUN RUN that ALL of our Mustangs can participate in. Beginning Wednesday, Jan 25th through Wednesday, Feb 1st, a Boosterthon team member will visit each classroom 3-5 minutes each day to share with the kiddos a character and pledge challenge for that day.

The program is designed to enhance the character traits Austin is already promoting, while raising money for our school – so we’ll need your help in connecting your child to sponsors (friends, families, business partners) for the pledge challenges ahead.

Our students will get pledges (or flat donations) towards the number of laps they will run, and EVERY student will receive a t-shirt and participate regardless of the pledges raised!

Visit our personal site and join us for the Pep Rally on the 24th and later for the Fun Run on Feb 2nd – Thanks for your support!

Check out what is happening with Austin students during Friday E-Time by clicking here!

Join Austin Elementary on their journey to become a school of enrichment that creates passionate, lifelong learners with the skills needed to succeed as global citizens in the 21st century!

RED, PURPLE, BUT NEVER PASTEL …
Do you notice that your child exhibits intensity, boredom or is continually seeking equitableness? Ms. Fischer will help parents and teachers gain insights on the social and emotional traits of giftedness; how these affect high ability kids; and the strategies for working with these wonder kids.

Saturday, February 4, 2012
Coppell Middle School East
400 Mockingbird Lane
8:45 a.m. — 3 p.m.

The Coppell Gifted Association is presenting a Winter Symposium to offer parents, educators and children a day of enrichment. Parents and educators attend the keynote address and breakout sessions presented by leading experts while students are engaged in hands-on learning experiences. Adult sessions are free for CGA members.

Kathleen, a longtime resident of Dallas and mother of three, is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in education. She worked in public education and public health settings; presented professional seminars; taught at the university level; and has written two books. You can read more about Ms. Fischer at www.kathleenfischer.com

Adult enrichment begins with the keynote “Red, Purple but Never Pastel” presented by Ms. Kathleen Fischer. Subsequent breakout sessions include – Math Games: What you see is not what you get; Is your gifted child not performing up to his or her potential; Putting the “gift” back in giftedness; Increasing motivation in the underachieving student; Going beyond the walls of the classroom … going global; Powerful strategies to improve writing and critical thinking; Tools of the trade: writing and illustrating as a parent/child duo.

Student enrichment for K-5 includes – Love of Music; Creative Design Challenges; “Improv”-a-lot; Your wits versus nature: Egg Drop.

Speakers are FREE to CGA Members & $5 for lunch – $50 for Non-Members & $5 for lunch.
Student enrichment activities will be provided for students K-5. $25 ½ day; $40 full day. Space is limited.Registration: recommended for sessions; required for student enrichment.

All of our adult and student sessions are presented by CISD and industry experts. Registration is strong encouraged for Saturday adult sessions and is required for Saturday student enrichment. Registration documents are online at www.coppellgifted.org

Looking for an EASY way to support Austin Elementary and take a night off from cooking dinner? Grab your family and head out to Rosa’s Cafe on Thursday, January 12th.

Rosa’s Cafe is located at 705 N. Denton Tap Rd (close to Market Street). We will earn 15% of sales, from the hours of 5-9pm. Be sure to tell the cashier you are there for Austin Elementary!

Please Print This Flyer to Ensure Austin Gets Credit