Kiker Comments: December 6, 2022

December

8 - Kiker Gives Back / PTA Meeting / Keynotes Performance

12 - Dress up day: winter scarf

13- Dress up day: winter socks

14- Dress up day: winter hat or headband

14 - 2nd Grade Market Day - All Grades Invited To Shop

15- Dress up day: sweater weather

16 - Dress up day: flannel Friday

19 - Dress up day: blue and white / winter wonderland

20 - Dress up day: winter shirt

21 - Dress up day: pajamas

21 - Last Day for Students; End of 2nd Nine Week Grading Period

January

9 - Staff Development, Student Holiday

10 - First Day Back for Students After Break

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.

The Art Fundraiser was a success this year because of the continued support of the arts at Kiker. Thank you so much! The Art Fundraiser orders will be distributed on December 12th. We hope you enjoy the items.

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers are needed for the Art Fundraiser orders distribution on Monday, December 12th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please consider helping. It is fun, fast, and organized! Contact our art volunteer coordinator Kathryn Sampson at katscroggin@gmail.com or Ms.Swint at danielle.swint@austinisd.org if you want to help.

Thank you!

Thank you to Circle C Neighbor and Bowie High School student Jack Johnson for selecting Kiker at the recipient of his Eagle Scout Project. He re-landscaped the wildly overgrown butterfly garden by the Pre-K / Kinder playground.

What: Market Day is an open market put on by 2nd grade to shop for homemade crafts and raise money for charity. This year we are raising money for Carrying Hope which is a local non-profit started by Kiker parents that supports kids in the foster care system.

When: Wednesday, December 14th from 9:30-10:45

Where: The Kiker blacktop

Who: You! Students from all grade levels are invited to shop. Products range in price from 50 cents to $10.00, but most items are under $5.00. Students that want to shop should bring quarters and $1.00 bills in a labeled envelope with their name and their teacher's name. Students should also bring a shopping bag.

We look forward to seeing you at Market Day!

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

Join us for a night of hands-on volunteer activities and learn about ways students can give back to our community. Activities include making toys for local animal shelters, painting tote bags for Community First Village, creating cards for troops, decorating placemats for local nursing homes, creating bookmarks for the Girl's Empowerment Network, and assembling items for Any Baby Can.

We are also collecting canned food items for the Central Texas Food Bank and warm weather items for The Other Ones. Needed items include (all must be new): Hats, Socks, Gloves, Scarves, Hot Hands hand warmers (this is a BIG one).

Free Hot Chocolate Bar for attendees. RSVP is not required but helps us plan for supplies needed for the event.

RSVP: https://docs.google.com/.../1Mre6OJTmWQOc_FX5joRCCL.../edit

Volunteer to Help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EA5A828A02-kiker

Members (including staff, parents, and community members) are invited to apply for PTA funds for items, projects, services, and ideas benefitting the Kiker Community. Submit the Grant Application using the form below on or before December 15, 2022. Grant Applications will be ranked as a high, medium, or low priority based on the considerations described in the Application, then voted on by the PTA Executive Board at its December 19 meeting.

Requested items or services must align with the Kiker PTA mission "To make every child's potential a reality". Every effort is made by Kiker PTA to be fair and equitable when considering grant applications.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dqt_0QHW7rpvwppZ5mJG38SY1q4Q_MKZn9Mb0_rne4A/edit

The Allison Elementary Wish Drive is here! This year we're thrilled to be fulfilling holiday wishes for students at our sister school & their families! Gifts may be brought to Kiker Gives Back or turned in to the Allison donation bin (located outside the front doors near intercom) by December 12th. Please see the sign-up for additional details. Allison's families are so appreciative of this much-needed support during the holidays!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054BAAA92AAAF85-allison

Sign up to provide sweets for the staff on December 19.

CLICK HERE for the SignUpGenius.

If your student is applying to a middle school using the common app, here are the directions. Students do NOT need to complete the common app if you are in the Kiker attendance zone and plan to attend Gorzycki Middle School. As a neighborhood school, students do not need to apply. If you are attending Kiker on a transfer, you will need to apply for a new transfer for middle school if you hope to attend Gorzycki.

Dr. Mays, our Interim Superintendent, is challenging our school community to read one million minutes this school year. The reading challenge is open now and runs through April 30, 2023, across all AISD campuses. Students will log their minutes read on this Google form, so you might want to bookmark it or record by going to the Library Blend Course and clicking on the Million Minutes icon.

For ease, you may want to record in the form once a week by adding up your child's minutes read at home on a weekly basis. All reading counts!

Interested in how we're doing compared to other schools? Check us out HERE.

Good luck, Kiker Readers! Let's show this city how much we read over at Kiker.

In Austin ISD, staff can be recognized with a RAVE award - Recognizing All Valuable Employees. Anyone can submit a RAVE award to any staff member, just use the link at the bottom of this S'more to send a positive note to a staff member.

Last week we receive a RAVE for:

Anmarie Bochey

Christina Haschke

Somin Lee

Jessica Boone

Carol Markwalter

December

4 - Amy McGovern

4 - Swati Nallanthighal

10 - Neethu Kalesh

13 - Alma Chapa Moore

16 - Jenny Badell

18 - Jessica Boone

22 - Edward Swan

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