Eagle Update: December 15, 2023

Hello BHE Families:

Reflecting on the past months of teaching and learning, we've experienced a truly remarkable first semester - full of discoveries, challenges, and fun. I'm so proud of our students, teachers, and staff for all of their hard work since we welcomed our students in August to a new year of learning! Witnessing the academic, artistic, physical, and social-emotional growth across all grade levels has been heartwarming, and I'm looking forward even more progress in the spring semester.

Thank you all for coming out for our Fine Arts Night. Students were so proud to show off what they have been doing in Art and Music classes. A special thanks to Ms. Elert and Mr. Trevino for putting together these evenings. Two years in a row makes it a new tradition, right?

We will finish our next week on Wednesday with our now annual Jingle Bell Run! This year is slated to be even more festive. We invite parents to line the track during your students run time and "jingle cheer" the runners. At the conclusion of the grade level run time students will go to the blacktop for a cup of cocoa courtesy of our PTA. When they are finished students will go back to class and from 2:40 - 2:55 we will have a School Wide Zoom Dance Party to finish out our day together before the start of Winter Break.

This will be the last Big Eagle Update until we return in January. When we return in January we will have a staffing change. Ms. Elert will not be returning to BHE and has written a note to the school community below, We wish her the best and thank them for being part of our Eagle Family.

We would like to welcome Ms. Jennifer Gray. Ms. Gray will be our new Art teacher. Ms. Gray has previously taught in Pflugerville ISD and most recently provided art instruction to students through Dougherty Arts Center, Laguna Gloria, and Creative Action. We are happy she chose to join our staff.

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

• Science Fair is coming! Please see the information attached below.
  
• Our P2 Focus for the week of December 11 ia spiral review.
  

Kati Achtermann

December 20 - 2:00 Jingle Bell Run

• 1:30-1:45 4th / 5th Grades at Jingle Bell Run
• 1:50-2:05 2nd / 3rd Grades at Jingle Bell Run
• 2:10-2:25 K / 1st Grades at Jingle Bell Run

December 21 - January 8 Winter Break

January 8 - Professional Development Day/Student Holiday

January 9 - Students Return from Winter Break

January 15 - MLK Holiday for students and staff

PE ‘s Focus for Next Week:

Monday:

-Morning: Marathon Kids, Focus Marathon Kids, Track Day (Weather Permitting, may move throughout week),

-Afternoon: Drum Fit/Holiday Stations

TUESDAY-

-Morning: Drum Fit/Holiday Stations

-Afternoon: Marathon Kids, Focus Marathon Kids, Track Day (Weather Permitting, may move throughout week),

Wednesday-

-Morning: Fun Wednesday, Student Lead activities and games inside and outside.

-Afternoon: Jingle Bell Run. See details below.

Quick reminders:

1. With cooler temperatures now in the forecast, students are encouraged to dress accordingly for outside temperatures. Jackets/sweaters are encouraged to be worn. Students need to remember to take them after PE is over.
2. If your student has a Doctors/parents note that requires them not to participate in PE. Please email either garrett.moreno@austinisd.org or philip.mueller@austinisd.org along with their classroom teacher.
3. REMINDER on the Jingle Bell Run on Wednesday December 20th. This is an end of Semester Celebration. Parents are encouraged to come out to the track during their students scheduled time to encourage their students. Students will complete laps around the track with some obstacles as parents encourage them will jingle bells provided by Mr. Trevino. After time for laps are completed PTA will provide Hot Coco as refreshment.

· 1:30-1:45 4th / 5th Grades at Jingle Bell Run

· 1:50-2:05 2nd / 3rd Grades at Jingle Bell Run

· 2:10-2:25 K / 1st Grades at Jingle Bell Run

Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you well. It is with mixed emotions that I share the news of my decision to step down from my art teaching position. As many of you know, the joy of parenthood has recently entered my life, and I have made the heartfelt choice to prioritize this precious time with my baby. The decision to stay home and fully immerse myself in the early moments of my child's life was not made lightly. While I will miss each and every one of your children and the creative energy that our art classes have brought into my life, I am excited to embrace this new chapter. Being a part of Barton Hills and getting to know each student has truly brought me so much joy the past year! I look forward to staying connected with this wonderful community!

Samantha Elert

Art Specialist

Austin ISD

Lost and Found Reminder: Our Lost and Found is overflowing with found items! The lost and found are at the front of the building, and we will leave them there until the Winter Break. Any remaining items will be re-homed at the close of school on December 20th. Please encourage your child to look in the lost and found and claim their items.

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 the winter 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.

—

El acceso a los alimentos puede resultar difícil para muchas familias cuando el distrito cierra. Las familias pueden usar los recursos de la comunidad para encontrar comidas gratis en su área, mientras que las escuelas de Austin ISD están cerradas por las vacaciones de invierno:

• Banco de Alimentos del Centro de Texas (www.centraltexasfoodbank.org)

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

• Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas - Llame al 2-1-1 o al (877) 541-7905 para hablar con un operador.

We are excited to announce the Barton Hills Science Fair for 2023/2024. It will be held at Barton Hills on January 18, 2024. All grade levels are welcome to participate, however, only Grades 3-5 are allowed to participate in the citywide science fest. Teachers have started conversations in class about science fair projects. The link for all instructions is below. Please reach out to your classroom teacher with any additional questions.

https://austinscience.org/

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.

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