Boone Bear Facts
May 6, 2016
Principal Message
Boone PTA: Our very own PTA was honored as the top PTA in AISD! This award recognizes the vast impact the PTA has on the community at Boone through Bingo Nights, Carnival, Fall Festival, parent education nights, fine arts night, honoring teachers, etc.
Teacher Appreciation Week: Speaking of PTA and awesome parents, Teacher Appreciation Week has been so terrific. It is heartwarming to feel the support of the community for the teachers and staff.
Student Placement for next year: I am still accepting letters from parents about classroom environment matches for your child. You can send a letter in or write an email. This is a great way to set up a successful year.
One quick reminder: If you are bringing your child to school after 7:50, parents are required to walk in and sign your child in. The front doors are locked at 7:50, for safety reasons, we have to ensure that children are in the building and not left outside.
STAAR: We do have STAAR testing Monday through Wednesday next week. The campus will be closed to all visitors, mentors, volunteers, and guests for test security reasons.
Campus Advisory Council (CAC) openings for the 16-17 school year. This is a very important group of parents, teachers and community members that provide input to the principal on key school issues such as the budget, staff development, staffing patterns, campus improvement planning, and annual campus report card review from TEA. We have 3 parents rotating off the CAC this year so we need 3 new parents to help facilitate important school issues. The council meets once a month after school for 1 hour. If you are interested, please complete the application found in the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Noack at kathy.noack@austinisd.org or 512-414-5311.
Thanks for supporting our Book Fair
We love and appreciate special ladies in our life.
What a huge crowd!
Kinder makes robots out of recycled materials.
Ms. Cheaney's class makes new paper out of used paper.
Thank you to the PTA for the lunch, breakfast and goodies this week.
Legacy of Giving's Youth Film & Food Festival
A Legacy of Giving's Youth Film & Food Festival
Saturday, May 14, 2016
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (come & go)
The Marchesa Hall & Theatre
6226 Middle Fiskville Rd
Join us for this free, family friendly event where your participating schools will debut a 30-second PSA on making Austin healthier. Come vote for your favorite PSA, sample fun food and enjoy some activities. For more information, call A Legacy of Giving at 512-600-9295.
Spring into Pre-K!
* income requirements
* be unable to speak and/or comprehend the English language
* have an active duty military parent
* have a military parent who has been injured or killed in active duty
* be homeless
* currently or have ever been in the conservatorship of DFPS
Children who meet the age requirement but do not qualify, as described above, are eligible to enroll in the Tuition Supported Pre-K Program. Tuition applications will be accepted based on availability. We still have some slots left, so register quickly!
For more information, please contact Marisa Garza at 512-414-5313 or marisa.garza@austinisd.org.
Nurse Notes
Are you Putting your Skin at Risk?
May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. The sun feels so good, and many of us want to be tan, but beware! The sun, or tanning booth, can actually cause our skin to age faster and put us at risk to skin cancer. The sun’s UV rays cause our skin fibers, elastin, to break down, causing our skin to sag, bruise easily and take longer to heal. Ugh.
The sun’s peak UV rays are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you are not sure if it is peak time, there is a shadow test: if your shadow is shorter than you, it is peak time, and the sun’s rays are strong. UV rays are stronger during Spring, prior to the hot weather. Also, sand, water and snow reflect sunlight, thereby increasing the UV exposure. Want to know what the UV index is? Check online: www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html. Or on your smartphone: www.epa.gov/enviro/mobile.
To keep safe, remember to Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap.
Slip on a shirt—dark protects more. If you can see light through the clothing, rays can get through. Some clothing has UV protection.
Slop on Sunscreen—use a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays) with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater. Sunscreen is no longer allowed to be labeled, water proof or sweat proof because it is misleading. Water resistant label must state how long the skin is protected. Be sure the sunscreen is not expired. Re-apply according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Slap on a wide-brim hat
Wrap on a pair of UV protected sunglasses. FYI: 80% of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is before 18 years old. Something to think about.
Better Hearing and Speech Month
During May, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) celebrates Better Hearing & Speech Month. Given that, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the important roles that verbal communication and personal interaction—free from technology distractions—play in children’s academic and social development.
Kids today are using devices for hours every day—time that once was reserved for talking and reading, interactive and imaginative play, outdoor experiences, and other activities. Yet, the primary way young children develop their speech and language abilities is through verbal exchange—talking and reading with parents. This is a precursor for their own reading abilities and overall academic success. Children also learn from hands-on experiences. Educational apps can play a part, but they are in no way a replacement for what is learned through person-to-person communication. As we head into the summer months, when children no doubt will have more time to use devices, consider carving out some device-free time each day.
Another pressing issue related to technology use is hearing damage. Unfortunately, there has been a significant spike in hearing loss in young people in recent years. This coincides with the rise in popularity of mp3 players, tablets, and other devices. Even mild hearing loss can lead to reduced academic achievement (particularly in reading and math), poor self-concept, and feelings of social isolation, among other consequences—so, encourage your kids to keep the volume on their devices to half level and to take listening breaks. Hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits can be prevented, but once it occurs, it is irreversible. Teach (and model yourself) these good habits early.