The Serene Scoop
Serene Hills Elementary School --- Oct. 29, 2021
Wowza! What a week! We had so much fun with Track and Field Day and Book Character Dress-Up Day! Please don't forget that Monday there is no school due to a staff Professional Development Day. Stay safe trick-or-treating & Happy Halloween!
We hope you enjoy your long weekend!
Warmly,
Keegan Luedecke
SHE Principal
Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 1st: No School- Teacher Professional Development Day
Nov. 2nd: Election Day
Nov. 4th: Mother/Son Kickball
Nov. 8th-12th: Kindness Week
Nov. 15th-18th: Scholastic Book Fair (open until 6pm Thursday. Nov. 18th)
Nov. 16th: Fall Photo Retakes
Nov. 22nd-26th: No School: Thanksgiving Break
Next Week in Second Step:
We’re all learning to identify our own and others’ feelings. We can focus our attention on someone’s face or body and on the situation for clues about how the person is feeling. Sometimes people’s voices and the words they say also give us clues. If someone is yelling, it might be that this person is angry. If a person is using a very quiet voice, it might be that the person is scared or worried. This week, listen to people’s voices for clues to figure out how they might be feeling!
The Serene Hills Fall Book Fair is Coming!
NEW! COVID Reporting Forms
In accordance with our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, parents must report a student who is test-confirmed COVID positive to the campus nurse and/or campus administrator:
To report a positive student COVID-19 case, please click here.
Additionally, in accordance with rules published by the Texas Education Agency, any student living in the same household as a COVID-19 positive person will be required to quarantine and may not re-enter school until 10 days after their date of last exposure to the positive individual. If a student begins exhibiting COVID symptoms or tests positive, the student must remain off campus until the applicable re-entry criteria have been met:
To report a LTISD student household close contact, please click here.
Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our community safe and healthy.
School board calls tax rate election for November
The Lake Travis ISD Board of Trustees has called a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, set for November 2.
The purpose of a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election is to ask the community to consider approving a tax rate to maximize funding. If passed, the proposal would allow Lake Travis ISD to keep an estimated $3 million locally without increasing the total tax rate.
The Lake Travis school district is funded primarily through local taxes and state funds. Local taxes are collected and go into two different funds: Maintenance and Operations, or M&O, and Interest and Sinking, or I&S. The M&O side pays for everyday district operations including salaries, books and building maintenance, while the I&S side is similar to a mortgage and can only be used to pay the debt on voter-approved school bonds. Bonds pay for new school construction and other capital improvements.
The board has set the total tax rate at $1.2301, $0.8826 for M&O and $0.3475 for I&S. If voters approve the $1.2301 total tax rate, our board—by resolution—has already approved reducing the I&S tax rate by two cents, from $0.3475 to $0.3275, and increasing our M&O tax rate by two cents, from $0.8826 to $0.9026. The result of this exchange will generate an estimated $3 million annually for Lake Travis ISD, and doing so will not affect our total tax rate. The revenue is not subject to the recapture system of school funding, commonly known as “Robin Hood.” Funds will be used to sustain additional instructional support positions for students and staff and tutorial services for accelerated learning once federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds are depleted.
If the VATRE does not pass, Lake Travis ISD will not be able to retain $3 million locally. Instead, those funds will be sent to the state under Robin Hood. Whether the tax rate election passes or fails, there will be no increase to our district’s total tax rate.
It is important to note there is a difference between the tax rate and a homeowner’s overall tax bill. Although the school district’s tax rate will not change as a result of the election, an increase in property value will inevitably result in an increase in a homeowner’s tax bill.
The LTISD board of trustees has called for the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, however, the voters are the ones who decide the outcome of the election. All eligible, registered voters are encouraged to become informed and exercise their right to vote in this election. Early voting begins Monday, October 18 and continues through Friday, October 29. Election day is Tuesday, November 2. Voting locations and additional information can be found on the District’s website at www.ltisdschools.org/vatre.
Substitute Teachers Desperately Needed!
Useful Links:
Useful Links:
Serene Hills:
Serene Hills Elementary Homepage
2021-2022 School Supplies Lists
Transportation:
Food and Nutrition Services (FANS):
Serene Hills Elementary School
The Serene Hills Elementary community commits to engaging every student in innovative, collaborative learning focused on growth and to igniting a passion for learning in which everyone is valued.
Website: https://www.ltisdschools.org/SHE
Location: 3301 Serene Hills Drive, Lakeway, TX, United States
Phone: 512-533-7400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenehillspto/
Twitter: @SHEsailors
Student Led Clothing & Toy Drive!
5th Grade Students are collecting clothes & shoes (any size) & toys for the Arms of Hope & Mission Impossible organizations.
Please donate your gently used or new clothing and toys to benefit those in need.
It feels good to give to others!