Kiker Comments: January 17, 2023

January

20 - Tentative Scheduled Lockdown Drill

22 - Happy Lunar New Year

24 - Class Picture Day and Individual Retakes

24 - Taco Tuesday at Torchy's

25 - Tentative Fire Drill (weather dependent)

27 - 5th Grade to Gorzycki Middle School

27 - AISD Film crew at Kiker

30 - DEI Meeting, 6:00 in the Library

February

2 - STAAR parent/guardian information session 5:30-6:30

6 - CAC Meeting

15 - Evening Parent Teacher Conferences Available

16 - Evening Parent Teacher Conferences Available

17 - No PE

17 - Early Release Day - 1:30 Dismissal

20 - No School, Staff/Student Holiday

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.

Please honor the no parking zones. It is a safety issue, and we need everyone's help. Please do not park (or drop off) in the no parking zone on La Crosse right at the entry to the circle drive. Each time someone parks there, it limits the visibility of those that are entering the circle drive and puts our staff, students, and families at risk.

It is better to be late than to put others' safety at risk!

Dear Parents of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students,

Students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades are beginning a recorder unit that requires each student to have his/her own instrument, a soprano recorder. The instrument we will use this year is the Yamaha YRS 20B. They are translucent Blue. Checks for $5.00 should be made out to Kiker Elementary and sent with your child on his/her music day. They are also available to pay for on school cash online. Please note that this is NOT a Kiker fundraiser; we are selling these at cost (plus tax). All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students need to fill out the google form (QR code above) for us to ensure that every student has a recorder for class. If there are siblings, please fill out one form per family.

Please Contact Mrs. Machado if you need a physical copy of this form.

We are excited to start our Spring 2023 edition of Kiker Keynotes. If your child is interested in signing up for our choir, please fill out the Google Form at the following link or scan the QR code. This is only for 4th graders. Practices are scheduled to start the week on January 24th.

Sign-Up Deadline is 1/20/23 at 5pm.

tinyurl.com/Keynotes-Spring-2023

In order to ensure that each campus has a professional level promotional video on the AISD website, film crews are coming to every school at some point this year to film classes and other campus activities. Our day to film is January 27. The film crew is scheduled to be on campus from 10:30 – 12:30. They will go to a few classes and highlight our special items such as the Edu-Markings, the sensory room, chickens, art projects, musical instruments, and more We are encouraging all classes to promote either wearing their class shirt or a Kiker shirt/sweatshirt on January 27, so our hallways are full of Kiker pride! Our 5th grade field trip will overlap the filming crew, so they are welcome to wear the clothes they are most comfortable/confident in for their trip to GMS.

A group of parents, caregivers, and staff have formed a Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Kiker. All are welcome to join! Our next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, in the Kiker library. If you'd like more information or want to be involved, please email Kristin Finan at kristinfinan@yahoo.com.

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

The Kiker Front office is looking for volunteers for the 2022-2023 school year!

In this role you will be assisting the wonderful front office staff by answering the phones, answering the door, greeting visitors and students as they enter the building, escorting students to class, and other tasks as needed.

If you are interested in joining the Front Office Volunteer Team, please fill out the Google Form. If you have any questions about volunteering in the office, please e-mail Amanda Hunter: amandamcm@gmail.com.

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

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."

Every two years Kiker hosts International Night (last one was 2019), a proud celebration of all the nationalities, countries and cultures represented in our Kiker family. The event starts at morning assembly with special greetings and a parade of nations, and culminates with a big night of food, entertainment and a tour of nations. International Night is so very special because our community comes together to make it happen. We are working towards forming a committee and we need 10-12 people onboard to help us make it a successful night! If you are interested or need more info please fill out the form below with your name and email and we will contact you. For more questions please reach out to Prerna Kedia @ prernakedia17@gmail.com - Thank you!

https://forms.gle/unaH5zyiAAgEw7MD7

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

On Tuesday, January 24, visit Torchy's Tacos on Slaughter Lane in the evening for dine-in or take-out. Mention Kiker Spirit Night and our PTA will receive 15% of the proceeds!

REMINDER: There will be a Gorzycki MS 5th grade tour & Fine Arts presentation on Friday, January 27. The GMS Fine Arts 5th Grade Digital Brochure is linked below. It contains LOTS of information about the Fine Arts at GMS along with video links & email/contact info for each group. 5th grade students will be receiving choice sheets at the end of January & are required to select a Fine Art in 6th grade at GMS. This digital brochure will assist students & parents if they have any questions.

GMS Fine Arts 5th Grade Digital Brochure Link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQyowv8PcCkhJiYqERey7eHlcDfc1QnO/view?usp=sharing

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

Gini Nabers

Jenny Bock X 2

Joanna Hamme

Tracy Cardenas

Emily Moranski

Amy McGovern

Alma Chapa Moore

Dani Dinderman

January

1- Danilo Bigiornia

4- Kathryn McLaughlin

8 - Sarah Schwartz

16 - Marcelina Ibanez

16 - Shay Johnson

22- Jan Squyres

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