Kiker Comments: February 28, 2023

March

1-31 GT Showcase Submissions

6 - CAC meeting, library 3:30

6-10 Book Fair

9 - Kiker Keynotes Concert

10 - Spirit Night at Epic Fun 3:15 - 8:00

13 - 17 Spring Break

20 - 24 Career Week

20 - 24 - AISD Pride Week

20 - 31 Map Growth testing window for Reading and Math K-5

24 - International Night

31 - Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Day - No School

April

3 - CAC Meeting, Library 3:30

3 - 14 - Window for Kindergarten Map Growth Fluency Screeners

5 - Early Learning Registration Day (for rising PreK4 and rising Kindergarten families)

14 - Field Day

15 - AISD Career Fair - Help Recruit Future Kiker Teachers and Staff

18 - STAAR Testing - Language Arts - 3rd, 4th, 5th

19 - STAAR Testing - Language Arts make up day

20 - PTA STEAM / Art Night

21 - Student Council Movie Night (not a drop off event)

25 - STAAR Testing - Science - 5th grade only

26 - STAAR Testing - Science - make up day

May

1 - CAC

2 - STAAR Testing - Math - 3rd, 4th, 5th

3 - STAAR Testing - Math - make up day

23 - PTA Meeting and Principal Coffee Talk

24- Senior Walk afternoon time TBD

25 - Last Day for Students

With many Austin ISD students living in food-insecure households, access to healthy food may be challenging when the district is closed. Families can use the community resources below to find free meals in their area while Austin ISD offices and schools are closed for Spring Break:

• Central Texas Food Bank (www.centraltexasfoodbank.org)

• United Way for Greater Austin - ConnectATX (www.connectatx.org)

• Texas Health and Human Services - Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to speak to a live operator.

In the event that your child will be missing school, please follow these steps:

1) Email both your child's teacher and Ms. Amy McGovern, our registrar. Amy.mcgovern@austinisd.org

2) Please include your child's first and last name

3) Please provide the reason for the absence so we can code it correctly in our attendance system.

The 2023 GT Student Showcase Theme is "Find the Good" which comes from a Jesse Owens quote:

"Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it and you'll start believing in it."

Please share this information with your teachers and families to ensure GT and TE students have an opportunity to participate if they choose to do so. While we encourage the projects are completed at school a student may also submit a project they complete at home.

Note: We will only accept ONE link for each project submission. If students have multiple links, they need to find a way to organize/collect them into one link... for example they can create a Google Slide Deck or website and include all their links.

Austin ISD GT Student Showcase Website

Parents of Students in Special Education!

Please join us on Thursday, March 2 at 3:15 in the Clayton Gym! We will have a panel of SpEd parents sharing tips and experiences of transitioning between ECSE to Kindergarten, and 5th to 6th grade. Bring your questions and learn from those who have gone before us! Parents from Bear Creek and Clayton will also be joining us.

Please check in at the front desk upon arrival. If your student will be joining, feel free to bring quiet activities for entertainment as needed!

Join our Circle C Special Education Facebook group here to connect and stay apprised of future events!

To increase Pre-K and kindergarten enrollment and support families with registration, elementary campuses will host a districtwide Early Learning Day on April 5. Please save this date and share with your families and spread the word in the community.

On this day, families of rising PreK4 students and rising Kindergarteners will have the opportunity to:

• Take campus and classroom tours that highlight culture and student experience

• Complete online registration

• Complete the Pre-K screener

• Meet the principal and/or other administrative staff and teachers

Monday, March 6: STUDENT PREVIEW DAY, doors open to public for shopping from 3:20-5:00

Tuesday, March 7: 7:20-4:30

Wednesday, March 8: 7:20-3:10, 4pm-7pm for FAMILY NIGHT.

Thursday, March 9: 7:20-4:30

Friday, March 10: 7:20-3:30

*Parents may NOT pull their children from class to come shop the fair during school day hours

*Credit cards/cash accepted.

Family Night: March 8, 4-7pm

We’ll have Jim-Jim’s on the deck serving up yummy treats.

We still need a few volunteers for the fair!

Sign up HERE.

Feel free to email me with any questions: ashley.cross@austinisd.org

We will be hosting Career Week March 20-24th! Wednesday, March 22nd from 8:15am to 10:15am we will be having a Career Fair for 3rd-5th grade students. If you would like to be a part of this event, please fill out this google form! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

*If selected to present, presenters will have a station in the gym/cafeteria for students to rotate through. Presenters may bring any tools, examples, photographs or any other helpful materials to give a complete picture of your work.

High School Graduation Class of 2023 Scholarship

Do you know a graduating senior who attended Kiker? Please share this information with anyone you know who might be eligible.

Kiker Elementary PTA’s Dr. Lori Schneider Scholarship for High School Graduates honors one of Kiker's former principals who valued education and left a legacy of kindness, dignity and respect (KDR) during her 14-year tenure as principal of the school. The scholarship also celebrates high school graduates who are committed to education and who embody KDR.

Applicants must have attended Kiker Elementary School. Application window opens March 1, 2023. Please see link for more details.

https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/dr_schneider_scholarship

March 24th is Kiker International Night which is kicked off with a morning assembly. There are many ways for you and your kiddos to get involved and celebrate and showcase the diversity of our school. Visit our site to sign up by Feb 28th to host a booth, have your kiddo participate in the morning parade, and/or pre-record a greeting for morning assemblies leading up to the event.

Click here to sign up!

2023 Yearbook On Sale Now! Don't miss out, order your yearbook today! jostensyearbooks.com

Families, community members, and staff are invited to attend the upcoming Power Hour learning opportunities hosted by the Austin ISD Special Education Department.

Dan St. Romain, a national education consultant with roots in special education support and development, will be presenting virtually on goal setting and positive behavior supports. These are two different sessions in February and March, which are repeated with lunchtime and evening virtual offerings. Interpretation services will be provided. Please share information with families and with staff.

Date: March 30, 2023

Time: 12-1 pm, 6-7 pm

Zoom link: Zoom Link

Topic and Flyer: Avoiding Power Struggles

• English / Spanish Flyers

RSVP Link: RSVP Link

For questions about these meetings, please email us at budget@austinisd.org or visit https://www.austinisd.org/budget for more information.

ALL CURRENT STUDENTS RETURNING TO AISD FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR MUST COMPLETE ONLINE REGISTRATION.

PRE-K4 Registration will open in April. More information to come.

Please follow the link below to sign into your Parent Portal to complete this process.

1. Enrollment landing page: https://www.austinisd.org/enroll

2. Important dates and deadlines: https://www.austinisd.org/transfer/dates-deadlines

3. For questions, please contact Let’s Talk https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk and click on “Student Services: Enrollment, Records, & Transfers."

Alondra Rocha

Carolyn McKaskle

Amanda Prickett

Cory Matheny

Afternoon Outdoor Dismissal Team

Raven Jeffrey

Paige Hariharan

Nicole Kruszona

March

3- Kristi Samon

4 - Tiffany Cortez Machado

9 - Alondra Rocha

15 - Pooja Mulgaonker

16- Rhonda Vasquez

17- Abby Shoppa

18 - Abbey Raymond

24 - Elizabeth Billman

25 - Joanna Hamme

29 - Cory Matheny

We have been working with various businesses and clubs to get new sessions for the spring. Check out the new and updated options.

This year we are encouraging 4th and 5th grade students to sign up for safety patrol for a two week block of time during the school year. Thank you for being a campus leader!

Students will drop backpack off in the front foyer/vestibule, sign in, grab a vest, and head out front. We need help waving cars to the front of the line, opening doors, and welcoming each child with a warm greeting or sending students off at the end of the day.

SIgn Up Genius Link

How To Video - This is the Training Video for Safety Patrol

Cory Matheny - Principal

Alma Chapa Moore - Assistant Principal

Kelly Zilem - Assistant Principal

Email: cory.matheny@austinisd.org
Website: https://kikerelementary.org/
Location: 5913 La Crosse Avenue, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2584
Facebook: facebook.com/CMathenyPrincipal
Twitter: @KikerComets