Kiker Comments: August 15, 2023

August

22 - Kinder TX KEA window opens (through 10/31)

22 - AISD Special Education Parent Power Hour 6-7 - See section below

24 - Back to School Night for Kinder and 1st Grade 5:30

27 - Spirit Wear Order Deadline - see below

28 - K-5 Map Growth window opens math and reading (through 9/15)

28 - PreK Circle PM CLI window opens (through 9/22)

28 - CAC meeting library 3:30

29 - AISD Advanced Academics event: Virtual Family Workshop – Raising Critical Thinkers, hosted by ThinkLaw and AustinISD Advanced Academics (Option 1) @ 6:00 PM

30 - AISD Advanced Academics event: Virtual Family Workshop – Raising Critical Thinkers, hosted by ThinkLaw and AustinISD Advanced Academics (Option 2) @ 12:00 PM

September

4 - No school, Labor Day

5 - 2nd and 3rd Back to School Night 5:30

7 - 4th and 5th Back to School Night 5:30

13 - PTA meet and greet/ volunteer expo 8:00 am

15 - K-5 Map Growth window closes

16 - Rosh Hashanah

18 - GT Nomination window opens for K-1, 3-5, ALL 2nd graders will be screened (through 10/6)

19 - District Virtual Family GT Information Session (Option 1) @ 6:00 PM

20 - District Virtual Family GT Information Session (Option 2) @ 12:00 PM

22 - PreK Circle PM CLI window closes

23 - AISD Campus Showcase - Kiker will have a table at the event

25 - Conference day - no students (Yom Kippur)

28 - Kiker's GT Parent information session 5:00 pm via Zoom

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

- Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/39VBQZ6L2R3YV?ref_=wl_share

-Drop off cardboard rolls from used paper towels or TP in the labeled bin in front of Kiker.

- Volunteer opportunities in the Lab: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdR4w7xSg-OX2A41g0uKnSKc7nnH6HJFn7yYEAzhPVyEkWvjw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Kiker 2023-2024 Spirit gear is here! We've loved seeing our new and returning students and staff in fresh blue shirts, and here's another chance for our community to show their Kiker pride. The second round of pre-orders for t-shirts and hats is OPEN through August 27th, 2023. All items will be available for pickup by PTA's Meet + Greet on September 13th at 8 am. We've added a few items to the online store, so be sure to check it out!

There will be a limited inventory of spirit wear and items on hand and available for cashless purchase (Venmo/Square) at the 9/13 event, but don't miss your chance to secure your spirit gear now. As always, stay tuned to Kiker Comments for the most up-to-date details on Spirit Store pre-orders, pickup details, and fresh offerings.

Link: https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/store

Kiker's Book of the Month Club

Purchase a book from our special collection of new books. Be the first to read it and donate it to the Bernice Kiker Library!

Formerly known as Birthday Books, our librarian, Ashley Cross, will present your child with the book they’ve selected, and your child will have time to enjoy the book before sending it back for everyone else to check out.

Each book is $15. A special name plate will be placed in the book showing your child’s donation to the Kiker Library. In addition, your child’s picture with their chosen book will be displayed in the hallway. You can sign your child up for as many months as you’d like (each month is an additional $15).

Ready to join?

To join the Book of the Month Club, please fill out THIS GOOGLE FORM and pay by check or https://austinisd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/31265/63/False/True. Your child will be called from class to choose a book and parents will be notified when this takes place. Your child will be recognized on the bulletin board outside of the library for the month.

Thank you for participating!

Ashley Cross, Bernice Kiker Librarian

Per AISD protocol, your child should be kept home from school if they have a fever at or above 100.0F, any vomiting, or 2 episodes of diarrhea. Students should be fever free for 24 hrs. without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school.

Please report positive COVID cases to Cory Matheny at cory.matheny@austinisd.org with the answers to these questions:

- symptoms

- date symptoms started

- date of positive test

- vaccination status

- date student/staff/guest was last on campus

*Admin completes a form to submit to AISD Health Services

* This year we will use the Kiker Comments to inform the community how many cases we have had weekly, we will not send a separate message.

*AISD protocols do not allow us to notify families if a positive case is in their child's classroom or grade. We only notify the total numbers for the campus.

*Admin notifies the custodial staff of the locations that require deep cleaning as soon as it is reported.

*We know there are still many unique scenarios, so for any questions, please reach out to Cory Matheny.

The policy is still 5 days at home from the date of the test. Test day = day 0, the next day is day 1, and so on. Students and staff may return on day 6.

Proper hand washing and hygiene are encouraged through out the day at school.

Masks are available at the front doors for anyone who would like one.

All are welcome to join the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

• parents/guardians will drop off and pick up students outside the building
• all visitors need to check in through the front office with an ID - every time
• picking up your student early - show ID to the front office before we can get your child from class
• only cross streets and the parking lot using crosswalks
• no dogs on campus grounds - please keep leashed pets at La Crosse
• All drivers are expected to drive safely and follow school zone and safety laws. Report unsafe driving to 311 and/or 911.
• don't park in the No Parking zones or in the Circle C CDC parking lot

ARRIVAL VIDEO - Now Available

DISMISSAL VIDEO - Now Available

Doors open at 7:30 on the first day of school only

Doors open at 7:15 the rest of the school year

Avoid tardies - be in class by 7:40 when the instructional day starts

Attendance is officially counted for funding purposes at 10:30 daily

3:10 is the official end to the school day

If you have to pick your child up from school early, please do so prior to 2:30 so our staff can give their full attention to the dismissal process from 2:30-3:20. This is for the safety of all our students and staff.

At dismissal time, please have your family dismissal number for car riders and walk ups (only walk ups use the QR code - see video)

Communicate any changes directly to the classroom teacher

*Circle C CDC does not allow Kiker families to use their parking lot for drop off or pick up. So sorry!

We run two after school programs - Voyager/Third Base and Kiker Crew/CDC. In order to provide safe and quality programs, we ask that our families honor the partnerships with these programs and allow them the space they have rented. The playground is not available after school as it is part of the rental agreement with these organizations.

Thank you for your cooperation.

• Add money to your students' account and view menus at www.schoolcafe.com/Austinisd

Last year's prices - image below (updated with this year's prices)

Breakfast:

Full price - $1.75 for students, $3.25 for adults

Reduced lunch qualifiers - free

Lunch:

Full price - $3.25 for students, $5.00 for adults

Reduce lunch qualifiers - $0.40

Send an email with your student(s) name, date of absence, and reason for the absence to amy.mcgovern@austinisd.org. Please attach or forward any notes from medical providers if you have them.

Check out our new and returning after-school enrichment programs at Kiker. Enrolling now!

https://kiker.austinschools.org/after-school-programs

Please RSVP for Learning and Engagement Opportunities here: RSVP form 2023-2024. Virtual and in-person sessions are available. Virtual sessions can be accessed by using this link: https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/88661610735 and will be recorded and posted on the Austin ISD external website. For more information or assistance with registration, please contact Lisa.Saldana-Vasquez@austinisd.org. Spanish interpretation will be provided for all sessions

Parent Power Hour: The ABC’s of IEPs for Families New to Special Education

This session welcomes new families to Special Education services and will cover the foundational components of a student's special education program - Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFPs), Goals, and Services. (Sessions repeat throughout the year)

• August 22: 12-1, 6-7pm - VIRTUAL: online LINK

• September 19: 6-7pm in person at Brentwood Elementary School - 6703 Yates Ave, Austin, TX 78757

Parent Power Hour: Child Find

This session will review district Child Find responsibilities - including referral, timelines, and process from evaluation to the determination of special education eligibility and services.

September 12: 12-1, 6-7pm - VIRTUAL: online LINK

Power Hour: Executive Functioning, Organizational Strategies and Study Skills to Help Your Child at Home & School

This session will provide support and resources to families regarding routines and healthy habits to build study skills and organizational routines.

September 26: 12-1, 6-7pm - VIRTUAL: online LINK

Full list linked HERE and in the PDF below. The Kiker Comments will feature those within a 4-6 week range for your planning convenience.

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

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/.

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