
Kiker Comments February 22, 2022
A Joint Newsletter from the Bernice Kiker Admin Team & PTA
In This Edition...
- Upcoming Events
- Attendance Notes
- 5th Grade Girls Health Screening
- 4th and 5th Grade Symphony Field Trip
- PTA News - Recognition, What We've Done/What's to Come, Yearbooks
- February Staff Birthdays
- AISD News: Amplify Austin, Recruiting Substitutes and Crossing Guards
- Repeated Information (from previous newsletters)
- Culture Celebrations
- Covid Flow Chart
- Covid Testing Hub Information
- Drop off and Pick up
- All the Links to Everything You Need
- Lunch Menu
Upcoming Events
February
25 - Rescheduled 4th Grade NAEP testing Day
March
1 - 4th and 5th Grade Symphony Field Trip
4 - No School for Staff or Students
14-18 Spring Break
April
1- No School for Students - District of Innovation Day - Teacher PD
8 - Book Fair Set Up
11 - Book Fair Preview Day
12-14 - Book Fair
15 - Student holiday - Staff Development
Attendance Notes
Early Pick Up Reminders
Thank you.
Announcements
Health Screenings - 5th Grade Girls Spinal Screening
Kiker will do spinal screenings for 5th-grade girls before Spring Break.
State law states that schools must screen students for spinal problems. Girls are screened at 10 and 12 years old and boys are screened at 13 or 14 years old. Trained screeners will check your child for signs of spinal problems like scoliosis.
Catching a spinal problem early can make the treatment much easier. Not treating spinal problems can lead to serious health problems. The screening is simple. Screeners will look at your child's back while he or she stands and bends forward.
Important reminders:
*Students should bring shorts to school for the exam.
*Girls should wear a thin t-shirt or a sports bra or a two-piece swimsuit top underneath their shirt. It is recommended they remove their shirt for the screening.
*Boys and girls will be screened separately and one at a time.
The school will send you a letter if your child does not pass the screening. The letter will tell you how to follow up with a doctor.
This screening is not a medical exam. Your child still needs to see a doctor for checkups.
If you do not wish to have your child screened for religious reasons, you must submit an exemption to the school no later than 2/28/22.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Kiker's Health Room Team
512-414-5859
4th and 5th Grade Symphony Field Trip
***COVID Protocols
All AISD students and staff are required to wear masks while at school or on field trips. Masking is required on AISD transportation. These concerts are being seated at a reduced capacity to aid in social distancing. The Long Center also requires masking for patrons. ASO performers are also required to have a negative COVID test 3 days prior to their performances.PTA News
PTA Wins An Award
Thank you Kiker families!
Our PTA was one of 11 recently recognized by the Austin Council of PTAs for exceeding last year’s membership by more than 90. We are grateful for your support and value your attendance, feedback, donations, Facebook likes, and general good vibes during the 2021-2022 school year!
We’ve loved hanging out with you!
February Birthdays
23 - Alanis Stamey
25 - Alberto Vasquez
AISD News
Austin Ed Fund - Amplify Austin
Austin Ed Fund will participate in Amplify Austin Day 2022 – the most impactful day of giving in Central Texas. All gifts will directly impact Austin ISD students and teachers by supporting Austin Ed Fund’s teacher grant programs, as well as strategic district-wide initiatives.
Amplify Austin Day: Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 pm to Thursday, March 3 at 6:00 pm
Campaign URL: bit.ly/AmplifyAustinEdFund2022
Fundraising Goal: $65,000
How can you get involved and impact Austin ISD?
Donate to Austin Ed Fund – Make a donation today by clicking the “Donate” button on Austin Ed Fund’s Amplify Campaign . Please enter the name of your campus or department in the donation message box.
Become a Fundraising Champion – Create a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) fundraising page on behalf of Austin Ed Fund. This will help you appeal to donors within your own network and share your personal story. All donations made to P2P pages will support Austin Ed Fund’s mission. Here’s how to get started.
Go to Austin Ed Fund’s Amplify Campaign and click the “Fundraise” button to create and customize a fundraising page with your story. Learn more about Peer to Peer Fundraising here. We encourage colleagues to team up to create one page and then work collaboratively to promote it within your networks.
Check out Austin Ed Fund’s Amplify Toolkit for tips on promoting your page.
P2P fundraisers that raise at least $100 will receive an Austin Ed Fund t-shirt! See additional prizes below.
Substitutes Needed
Repeated Information
How do you celebrate in your home?
Is there a special event for your culture coming up in the next month or two? Would you be willing to share how your family celebrates?
Please reach out to Cory Matheny if your family would be interested in putting together a 1-3 minute video to talk about any of these events (or others that we may have accidentally missed- list source: Nationaltoday.com) coming up in March and April:
Mardi Gras
Pie Day 3.14
St. Patrick's Day
April Fools' Day
Autism Awareness Day
Ramadan
Passover
Easter
Earth Day
Free Covid Testing for Staff and Students - 8:00-2:00 Daily With Completed Consent
Kiker is a testing hub on site in Portable 6B daily. (FYI - there is no classroom on the 6A side of the portable.). The direct line is 512-841-7857, appointments are not accepted. This is a first come, first served process or, until they run out of tests for the day.
Why it matters: Research shows that the more people get tested, the safer everyone is from the spread of COVID-19. You’ll be able to access rapid antigen or PCR tests (when available) at 11 sites across Austin.
- Students and staff can get a test at will for any reason, whether you’ve been exposed or are just looking for peace of mind.
- Sites include: Travis, Northeast Akins, Norman-Sims, Pillow, Kiker, Eastside, Cunningham, Navarro, Blazier, McCallum .
- Testing will run 8 a.m. -2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Printable Lunch Menu - February
A Message From the Cafeteria
Bernice Kiker Elementary Administration Team
Alma Chapa Moore - Assistant Principal
Kelly Meyer - 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