Eagle Update: October 13, 2023

You've got to love a weekend that starts with a Friday the 13th, ACL, a "cold front", AND includes a solar eclipse! What a fabulous end to Principal Appreciation Week. This is such a fantastic community - my bucket is full (along with my email inbox with sweet messages from fifth graders, which made my eyes leak :).

There are several items in this week's newsletter I wanted to draw your attention to:

• PTA Carnival is Sunday, October 22nd from 1 to 4 pm.
• Individual Fall Picture Day is October 24th. All students will have their picture taken on this day. Order forms will come home with students or you can use the link below to order/pay online.
• The week of October 23 - 27 is Love Your Brain Week - we have some unique themes every day for fun
• October 31st is Orange and Black Day - please leave those precious costumes at home that day
• Our Positivity Project focus this week is integrity. Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

Here's to another great week at BHE. Please review the calendar and For Your Information section below for important information about our district, school, and community.

Kati Achtermann

October 22 - CARNIVAL 1 - 4 PM

October 24 - Individual Fall Picture Day

October 31 - Orange and Black Day

November 4 - It's My Park Day at BHE (Fall Grounds Work Day)

November 6 - Austin High Drumline Assembly following Monday assembly

November 10 - Special Veteran's Day Assembly (details forthcoming)

November 13 - Student Holiday/Professional Development Day

November 16 - Turkey Day Lunch (tentative)

November 17 - 8:30 Native American Pow Wow Performance/Assembly

November 20 - 24 - Thanksgiving Break

PE ‘s Focus for Next Week:

Monday: Marathon Kids, Focus Marathon Kids, Track Day

TUESDAY-Wednesday-Thurs: Continue with Dribbling and Ball Handling skills, and beginning passing skills. Activities and Games to help with skills taught.

Friday: Fun Friday, K-5th Grades Student Lead activities and games inside and outside,

One quick reminders:

1. Students are encouraged to bring water bottles that seal and/or have a secured lid every day to class.

Dear parents and families,

Austin ISD will celebrate Love Your Brain Week October 24th - 28th. This week is a collaborative effort between Coordinated School Health Leaders, Austin ISD Peer Assistance Leadership Members (PALS), School Nurses, and School Counselors.

Our goal is to promote healthy choices, positive activities, and encourage students to avoid drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

Parents are one of the most important factors in alcohol and drug use prevention. According to National Family Partnership, children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs that those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.

We encourage you to take some time this week to talk to your child about your expectation that they avoid drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. There has been a recent rise in vaping or “e-cigarettes” amongst Central Texas teenagers, and parents are key to preventing teen smoking. This resource from the surgeon general provides some tips for parents on how to have the conversation and sample talking points.

Austin ISD is also posting a handout in every nurse’s office that includes information from the “CRAFFT” screener. We encourage you to talk about the warning signs of drug and alcohol dependence with your child. If you need some community based resources for drug and alcohol treatment, contact your primary care physician, school nurse, or school counselor.

Many accidental overdoses occur from children taking unused prescription medications. This is also a good time to check your medicine cabinet and dispose of medication properly. Local Walgreens Pharmacies have “take back” programs, so you can take your old medicines there.

Thank you for partnering with Austin ISD as we help keep our students healthy and safe, so that they can graduate college, career, and life ready!

Links for Teachers, Parents, and Caregivers:

• Mindfulness and Healthy Coping Skills
• Drug Abuse Prevention Starts with Parents
• Tips for Parents on Talking to children about E-Cigarettes Talk. They hear you. Underage Drinking Prevention phone APP for parents/caregivers
• https://www.samhsa.gov/underagedrinking
• ADL- National Bullying Prevention Month
• AISD- Respect for All

“Little Amal is the 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee child at the heart of The Walk. She has become a symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees. This fall, Amal is journeying 6,000 miles across the United States in one of the largest free public festivals ever created.” On October 20, Austin arts organizations are offering two free events for the public to walk with Amal. Please share with your school community members who may be interested in participating.

October 20, 2023 After School Events:

• “Get ready, get steady, DANCE!” 5 p.m. at Huston-Tillotson University. Partnership with Interfaith Action of Central Texas, Austin Refugee Roundtable, Huston-Tillotson University, and Ballet Austin. ”Amal has just arrived in Austin and is running late for a dance class. [First,] she needs a quick health check-up with the Interfaith Action of Central Texas. [Then,] she’s ready to join a beautiful welcoming dance with Ballet Austin.”

• ”An Honor of Bravery from Bat City.” 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol. Partnership with Glass Half Full Theatre, American Artists Project, Cave Lady Studios, and Creative Action. “Amal unwittingly stumbles upon the cloud of bats that live and migrate through Austin’s community. She discovers that even in the dark, you can find your way.” Welcome Amal with a message of hope from local leaders, musicians, and puppets created by artists of all ages. “Make your own Bat Puppet” in English and Spanish available at the link.

Young people and schools can join in with Amal’s ongoing journey through their Education & Activity Pack: Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and more language translations available here; facilitators’ guide also available at the link.

From the organizers: “Little Amal’s journeys seek to change the narrative surrounding refugees and migrants, towards the contributions and potential they carry within them, including the hope they bring as they build a new life and livelihood, enhancing communities as they do so…. We hope that Amal’s journeys might encourage advocacy and strengthen awareness, empathy and conversation around the global refugee crisis at a time when it is sorely needed, as policy debates rage around immigration.”

Austin ISD is hosting a series of Mental Health and School Safety Community Conversations over the next month.

Event Schedule:

• Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6–7:30 p.m., Anderson HS

• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6–7:00 p.m., Join via Zoom (English)

• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7–8 p.m. Join via Zoom (Spanish)

All events will have ASL interpretation and in-person events will have small groups facilitated in English and Spanish.

Please see below for the current COVID protocols for the 23-24 school year:

• People who have tested positive for COVID will need to isolate away from school for five days .
• The day of testing is considered day zero.
• People who have tested positive may return to school on day six IF they are symptom free and fever free without medication for at least 24 hours.
• Upon return to school, people who have tested positive must wear a mask for the next five days.
• The school is responsible for confidentially reporting the positive case to the district health team. Notification letters to the community are now optional.
• Masks continue to remain optional for both students and staff. We do have masks on campus if you would like your child to have one.

The Austin ISD Student Success Guide (Student Code of Conduct) is now available on the Austin ISD District website for students, parents, and guardians to review. One important legislative update is that ALL e-cigarettes (THC and Tobacco) are prohibited. House Bill 114 requires a student to be placed in the District Alternative Education Program (DAEP) if the student possesses, uses, is under the influence, sells, gives, or delivers marijuana, THC, or an e-cigarette (new) while on campus, within 300 feet of school property, or at a school-related event. Under Austin ISD guidelines, this is a 20-day DAEP placement. Parents and guardians are strongly urged to talk to their students about this new policy and review the Student Success Guide to help keep our schools safe for students and staff. For resources to use when talking with your student about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes visit https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.

Maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for our students is our top priority. This means that we'll continue with some of the practices we put in place last year. It is important to us that our safety protocols are in place AND that our students, families, and staff continue to feel a positive and welcoming environment each day.

Arrival:

• We will continue to have a secure morning arrival with families/caregivers saying goodbye before students enter the building. Parents/Caregivers may walk students to the front walkway during car drop off/walking drop off. Staff members will be outside and inside ready to greet, welcome, and support our students as they enter the building at 7:30. Parents will not be allowed to walk students to the classrooms and portables.
• The front doors will open for breakfast at 7:15 am. At 7:30 am, all students will enter the building.
• The first week our Kinder students will meet their teachers in the cafeteria before going to class. The teachers will be there to meet them and then walk together to the classroom.
• IMPORTANT: There is NO parking in the drive in front of the school between 7:00 - 8:00 am. This lane is reserved for drop off only. If you'd like to walk your child to the front door, please park in the neighborhood and walk to school together. Thank you!
• If you need to bring something to your child after they have entered the building, please leave it on the labeled cart outside the front doors with a clearly marked label. Please call the front office to let us know you are leaving an item (lunch, water bottle, device, etc.) and we will get it to your child.

Exterior Doors:

• All exterior doors will remain locked at all times during the school day. Portable classroom doors will also remain fully locked all day.
• Staff will check each exterior door weekly to ensure they close and lock as intended.

Dismissal:

• All kindergarten students will be dismissed with their homeroom teacher at 3:05pm.

• 1st- 5th grade car riders, walkers, and bikers will be dismissed from specific outdoor locations with their homeroom teacher at 3:10pm.

• Older siblings may join younger siblings at the younger sibling location.

• Extend-A-Care/YMCA After School Care students will go to the cafeteria.

• *See map below for dismissal locations by grade level.

• Students must leave by 3:20 at the latest.

• Please see map below and note that areas in RED are NO Parking Zones - even for drop off and pick up.

Visitors:

• Visitors are welcome at Barton Hills for the purposes of student support. This may include scheduled parent teacher conferences and meetings, registration, pre-arranged volunteer opportunities, and other scheduled events.
• Lunch Visitors: You may come have lunch with your child. You must sign in at the office prior to going to the cafeteria. Please note that if you plan to have lunch with your students, you will need to plan to eat outside or at a separate designated table. Provide lunch only for your child. Do not arrange to purchase lunch for a group of students and then have your child pass it out. You may only have lunch with your own child - please do not invite other students to join you. *No lunch visitors for the first two weeks of school so we can work on routines and expectations.
• The main front doors are the only entry doors to the campus for visitors. The door buzzer/office communicator is on the right side wall by the front doors. Please push the button to communicate with the office and, once verified, we will buzz you in to the building.
• All visitors MUST sign in at the front office upon arrival AND sign out at the front office when leaving. Please remember to bring your photo ID with you when visiting campus. We will be using the RAPTOR system to scan licenses and print out Visitor tags.
• IMPORTANT: Families, please do not ask a staff member to hold a side or back door open for you to enter the building. All students, parents, and visitors must enter through the front entry doors. Thank you!

Staff Training, Campus Drills, and Threat Assessment

• Our staff will be trained on safety prior to students entering the building.
• We will review safety plans and practices throughout the year.
• We will continue to hold all required safety drills with our students. Most of the drills will be announced drills so our students aren't surprised or alarmed by them.
• Barton Hills has an established threat assessment team comprised of administration, counseling and teaching staff. All members of the team have received Threat Assessment training from Texas State. Licensed Mental Health Providers and School Resource Officers are on call to assist when needed.

Phew! I know that's a lot to digest, but wanted everyone to know we're prepared for a strong, safe, and productive year.

AISD Weather Guidelines

• Temperature guidelines have been established in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for students participating in outdoor activities at Austin ISD.

• The listed temperatures, heat indexes, and wind-chill factors are designated figures for terminating and/or modifying outdoor activities including: Athletics, Fine Arts, PE, and recess.

• Updated AISD_Temperature Weather Guidelines_2023-2024

Website: bartonhills.austinschools.org/schoool
Location: 2108 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2013