Eagle Update: September 23, 2022

Did you know that Barton Hills is part of the Austin High Vertical Team? The Austin High Vertical team is comprised of the 8 elementary and 2 middle school campuses whose neighborhood students are zoned to attend. This is called a "Feeder Pattern". For students zoned to Barton Hills that means they are automatically zoned to attend O.Henry Middle School and then Austin High School. Students who are at Barton Hills on a transfer can also apply for a tracking transfer to attend the vertical team schools. The two diagrams below show the feeder patterns for Austin High. I wanted to share this information for a couple of reasons.

First, as you are considering the AISD Bond Proposals, I encourage you to not only think about the impact for Barton Hills but also about the future schools your child may attend. For example, my son Will is an 8th grader at O.Henry middle school. Clearly any bond proposals will not be completed before he is finished at that school. However, his feeder pattern school is Austin High so I know that at least some of the current bond proposals for Austin High would likely be completed during his time there and he will benefit from them.

Second, there are activities throughout the year at our Vertical team schools that we will advertise and support. This week I've included a flyer for the O.Henry Roundup and the Austin HIgh Red Jackets. Also mark your calendars for the return of the Austin High Vertical Team Night at House Park on Friday, October 28th. On this evening, all the Austin High VT Feeder Schools are invited to come to House Park and stand out on the football field as the Austin High Football Team runs through the tunnel. Friday Night High School Football is pretty exciting and one of my favorite family and community activities. The picture above is our group from 2019 - the last time we were able to make it happen. We will have more detailed information as the event gets closer but wanted you to be able to save the date!

And finally just a couple of safety reminders when visiting campus or coming to pick your child up early. The first time you visit the campus or come to pick your student up early we will need you to come into the office and bring your driver's license. We have to scan it into the Raptor system and sometimes the system is slower than we'd like. Please allow extra time and patience with the office staff if you are picking your student up early. And as another safety reminder please do not open the doors or let anyone come into the building. While it is hard to not let someone just follow you in, the office needs to see everyone who comes through the doors to ensure they report to the front office. Thank you for helping keep our campus safe

Enjoy the first days of "fall" and thank you as always for your continued support of our school.

Kati Achtermann

The annual Gifted and Talented (GT) Referral Window for all students in grades K-12 will open from September 19- October 7, 2022. Please note that starting this year there is one window for all students in K-12. Each campus will screen referred students to determine if they are eligible for Gifted and Talented (GT) or Talent Explore (TE) services at the school. Not all students who are screened will automatically qualify to receive services. If you would like to refer your child for the Gifted and Talented Program, please complete the form below during the campus GT Referral window. The campus will then send the parent an additional form which gives permission for testing.

I encourage you to speak with your child's teacher, during parent-teacher conferences, if you have any questions about whether this is a good option for your child.

If you are interested, please open this link and fill out the form for your child.

Recommendations will not be accepted after October 6.

https://forms.gle/a4hrgWUxrHsUGHeF6

Kindly,

Stephanie K. White, M.A., MEd., LPC

Counselor, Barton Hills Elementary School

This form is designed to give parents an opportunity to refer students enrolled in an Austin ISD school for testing for the Gifted and Talented Program. There are numerous characteristics of gifted children and not all children will exhibit the same characteristics; however, this list can serve as a guide to recognizing students who may be potentially gifted.

• Did your child start talking (and never stopped talking) before most other children the same age?

• Does your child have a lot of curiosity, and ask a lot of questions about all kinds of things one after another?

• Does your child give complex and detailed answers to questions (even simple questions)?

• Does your child have a wide range of interests? Does he/she enjoy trying new things?

• Does your child get lost in his/her own world and become so involved that she/he isn’t aware of anything else?

• Does your child often have unusual ideas and give logical, reasonable explanations for events and occurrences?

• Does your child pay close attention to details, is highly observant, and does not miss a thing?

• Does your child notice likenesses and differences between people, events, or things?

• Does your child come up with powerful, persuasive arguments for almost anything?

• Does your child show empathy and sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others?

• Does your child show an awareness of problems that others don’t notice?

• Does your child worry about the world, other people, and/or the environment?

Expanded and adapted from the work of Judy Galbraith, MA.

Early voting in the 2022 Bond election begins Oct. 24. Election Day is Nov. 8. Please see the flyer below to see the proposals for Barton Hills. You can find more information on the Bond package and what is proposed for each campus/facility here.

Week of September 26 - Parent Teacher Conference Week

October 7 - Early Release Day - students dismissal time is 1:30

October 14 - Student Holiday/ Staff Development Day

October 25 - Fall Individual Picture Day

October 28 - Vertical Team Night at House Park

November 5 - Carnival!

The GOLDEN SNEAKER is making its return!!!!

Students and families are encouraged to walk or bike to school this week. The class with the highest percentage of students who walk/bike to school each day will get to hold on to the golden sneaker. The winner will be announced daily on the announcements.

We know parents are excited to support our school through volunteer opportunities - and we're excited to have you! ALL school volunteer opportunities will start with the classroom teacher or sponsoring staff member. For example, volunteer opportunities for the Library will be coordinated through Ms. Ewing; classroom gardening, field trips chaperones, classroom guest readers will be coordinated through the classroom teacher. Once teachers are ready for volunteers the following will happen:

1. We will set up the volunteer opportunity on the APIE website.
2. Teachers/Event Sponsor will email parents the name of the volunteer opportunity and directions for completing the background checks.
3. Mrs Ewing will let you know when the background check is complete
4. You will bring your driver's license to Kathy Carr in the office for verification
5. Once verification is complete, Mrs. Ewing will let you and the classroom teacher know you are cleared to volunteer.

If you have questions about the volunteer opportunities please contact your child's teacher.

If your child needs to leave early for an appointment, please notify your child's teacher and the front office. When you arrive at the school, you can come to the front door or call from your car and then we will call for your student. We will not call for students until you are here. With our new schedules (and a new phone number system) please leave PLENTY of time (at least 10 minutes) from the time you call us to the time your child is ready to leave. If you have an appointment right after school, it is best to pick up your student no later than 2:45 to avoid the dismissal crunch. **If you have not had your driver's license scanned into our Raptor System in the last year, we will ask you to bring in your driver's license to the office***

Masks:

With the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, students, staff and visitors are not required to wear face masks when on school properties, unless they have tested positive for COVID-19. Note: Per CDC guidance, individuals with a positive COVID-19 result will be required to wear a mask for five days after returning from quarantine/isolation.

• Masks are not required, but are encouraged at any time of the school day or in any school space.
• Masks are optional at all times.Face masks will continue to be provided for any student, staff, or visitor upon request.

• All students, staff, and visitors will be allowed to make their own choice.
  

Close Contact and Contact Tracing

• Campus administrators will notify all families of positive cases on the campus using a standard notification letter. Individual classroom letters will not be sent home.

• With masking now being optional, all students and staff at the campus may be considered close contacts when there is a positive case identified.

• Campus Administrators will not be required to track close contacts.

• Any asymptomatic individual (except those who have tested positive) may remain at school as long as they are asymptomatic.

Testing Availability

• Testing sites are located at specified district sites and can be found on the COVID-19 district webpage.

• All sites will accept insurance, medicaid, and self-pay.

• Site will be updated whenever vaccines are available.

Temperature 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.

• AISD_Temperature Weather Guidelines_2022-2023
  

Our PTA is the best! Please check out the link for the latest PTA Newsletter below and sign up to receive them directly:

http://bheeagles.com/eagle-news/

Website: https://bartonhills.austinschools.org/
Location: 2108 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2013
Facebook: facebook.com/BartonhillsPTA
Twitter: @bheeagles