Eagle Update: September 22, 2023

We had such a great turnout for our Future Maroon Night at House Park just one week ago. The Barton Hills Spirit was amazing and so much fun. There's a great video on our Instagram page of our students running out onto the field.

Reminder: there is no school for students on Monday, September 25, 2023, for Parent Teacher Conference Day. If you are coming for a conference, you will not need to check in at the office first - you can go straight to the classrooms. We will do our usual Monday assembly on Tuesday when students return.

Our Positivity Project focus this week is Perspective. Perspective means you appreciate when people see things in different ways, and you can understand the world from multiple points of view. Perspective is both a personal and an academic skill. When solving problems, we ask students to think about the other person's point of view - what did they see, hear, and understand? We often ask students, when reading, to take the perspective of a character or the author. I encourage you to read more about this below,

Here's to another great week at BHE, considering how when we encounter challenges or problems we can try to take another person's perspective and broaden our understanding of the world. Please review the calendar and For Your Information section below for important information about our district, school, and community.

Kati Achtermann

September 23 - 9:00 AISD Showcase at Palmer Events Center

September 25 - Parent Teacher Conference Day - Student Holiday

September 26- 6:00 PTA Parent Mixer at Bouldin Acres

October 9 - Professional Development Day/Student Holiday

October 11 - Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day - Spirit Day

October 12 - 3:30 Campus Advisory Council Meeting

October 22 - CARNIVAL 1 - 4 PM

October 24 - Individual Fall Picture Day

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

Hello Parents/Guardians,

Gifted and Talented Nominations will open on September 18, 2023.

If you are interested in referring your child, please see the flyer below for information.

Nominations will close on October 6, 2023.

Please note that all second graders will be screened and there is not a need to fill out this form for them.

I advise you to speak to your child's teacher about whether or not a referral would be appropriate for your child this year.

In the past, many parents have asked me about the qualities seen in gifted learners vs high achievers. This chart is from "The Gifted and Talented Child" by Janet Szabos.

Thank you,

Stephanie White

GT Advocate Barton Hills

stephanie.l.white@austinisd.org

PE ‘s Focus for Next Week:

Monday: No Students

Tuesday: Marathon Kids Tuesday, Focus Marathon Kids Track Day

Wednesday-Thurs: Continuing Throwing and Catching Underhand Rolling, Catching, Tossing, and Overhand Throw Skills will be taught. Activities and Games to help with skills taught.

Friday: Fun Friday, 2-5th Grades Student Lead activities and games inside and Outside, Kindergarden-1st Grade Inside Activities and Game stations.

Two quick reminders:

1. Students are encouraged to bring water bottles that seal and/or have a secured lid every day to class.
   
2. Be on the lookout next week for an RSVP link in Coaches' Corner for parents to sign up to cheer on their students during their PE time for Marathon Kids Monday(October 2nd). Just like parents sign up for Monday Assembly. This will help us prepare and make the process more streamlined. BHE has already reached over 600 MILES! Marathon Kids is a program used district wide that challenges youth to run, jog, walk or move the equivalent of four (or more!) marathons throughout a season. Your encouragement is and will be very appreciated.

Save the Date - Austin ISD Showcase - September 23: Austin ISD is hosting our 2nd annual districtwide Showcase on Saturday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center. This event will include external community partners as exhibitors, internal departments, all schools, community service providers, student performances and interactive activities.

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

Event Schedule:

• Monday, Sept. 25, 6–7 p.m. Join via Zoom (English) – Share via Facebook

• Monday, Sept. 25, 7–8 p.m. Join via Zoom (Spanish) – Share via Facebook

• Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6–7:30 p.m., Bowie HS

• Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6–7:30 p.m., Travis ECHS

• Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6–7:30 p.m., Eastside ECHS

• Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6–7:30 p.m., LBJ ECHS

• 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.

Proclamation 2024 guides the adoption of textbooks/instructional materials for the following:

• Science, grades K–8

• Science (Spanish), grades K–6

• Aquatic Science

• Astronomy

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Earth Systems Science

• Environmental Systems

• Integrated Physics and Chemistry

• Physics

• Personal Financial Literacy

• Technology Applications K-8

Community participation in the nomination protocol is essential to support a successful adoption process. Your nominations are the foundation for building a parent committee that reflects the diversity of Austin ISD. The steering committee will select the final committee members from your nominations. Nominees are officially appointed after they are selected, sign the commitment form and shared with the board.

In order to serve on the Community Textbook Adoption Committee, the candidate must:

• Be the parent/legal guardian of one or more children enrolled in Austin ISD schools;

• Not have received any kind of remuneration during the past three years from the publishers of the textbooks being considered for adoption;

• Attend an orientation meeting on Tuesday, November 14 (location TBD) from 5-7 p.m.; further meeting dates and information will be shared at that time.

Please use the link below if you would like to apply for the committee. Nominations must be received by Friday October 5, 2023.

Round Up is O. Henry Middle School’s annual school carnival featuring inflatables, booths, games, food, raffles, and a middle school dance. Proceeds from Round Up enhance the learning experience for every student during this school year. Neighbors, friends, and future students are invited to support OHMS at this fun family event on Friday, September 29th from 3:30-6:30p.m. on the school grounds. For more information please click here.

Join the Fiesta again this year! The 2023 Hispanic Heritage Talent Show started today. Please encourage your students to submit your entries by October 5. Please see the link to the flyer: ENG 2023 Join the Fiesta_8.5x11.pdf. Here is the link to participate.

¡Únanse a la fiesta otra vez este año! La Muestra de Talento por la Herencia Hispana 2023 empezó hoy. Por favor animen a sus estudiantes a que envíen sus fotos y videos antes del 5 de octubre. Adjunto la liga con el gráfico ESP 2023 Join the Fiesta_8.5x11.pdf. Este es el enlace para participar.

¡Muchas gracias!

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