Caraway Principal's Newsletter
April 24, 2017
All Parents of Caraway Students:
We are planning for next year and would like information regarding intentions for your child for next school year. Please fill out this quick form so we can better plan for staff and class size. You will complete a different form for EACH child in your family that is currently attending Caraway (Kinder-4th grade.) Please complete this form by May 12, 2017.
Click HERE to go to the form. You will have the option to complete more than one form.
https://goo.gl/forms/AmVwUiIHfDLoxzmp2
Thank You,
Katrina Bailey, Principal
Parent Input Form
Student placement is a critical educational process based on criteria serving many educational purposes. Below is a brief bulleted description of this process:
- The building process is initiated in May.
- The current classroom teacher individually reviews student strengths and needs to group their students for placement across an established number of classrooms projected for the coming year.
- Grade level teams convene to coordinate placement and create heterogeneous groupings with consideration to gender, academic levels, diversity, student strengths and needs, with a goal toward appropriate instructional groupings.
- Specialists and Support Teachers have an opportunity to collaborate throughout the process.
- Class lists are generated in August.
- Changes are rare and must be based on data or extenuating circumstances.
Campus administrators, out of concern for the total school program, maintain the right and the responsibility for placement. We understand that parents are also interested in providing feedback therefore, we have created the parent input form to gather that feedback.
Please understand that we cannot honor requests for specific teachers. Children’s needs and programming will be the primary considerations for student placement. If parents have additional pertinent information about their child, they may submit it to the principal for consideration by May 12, 2017. Please use the designated school form that is available as a download. You will find the link below. Use of this form is the most effective and efficient way for you to provide feedback. We kindly ask that you use the form as it is designed. Thank you!
Mrs. Bailey's Leave of Absence Plan
As many of you are aware my husband and I are expecting a baby boy in the next couple of weeks. I will be out on a maternity leave starting May 17th. My anticipated return date is August 7th. Mrs. Meredith Perkins will subbing at Caraway through the end of the school year. Mrs. Perkins is a retired principal from RRISD and is very familiar with the district procedures and expectations. As always, Mrs. Solis, AP and Mrs. Amiri, counselor will be here to also support the campus during my leave.
Lastly, I want to thank you for your overwhelming congratulations and warm wishes for our new addition and my family :)
School Supplies
Now is the time to purchase your child’s back to school supply kit from 1st Day School Supplies! While you’re there, make sure to check out their selection of Under Armour accessories! That’s right, you can purchase your child’s supply kit, backpack, lunchbox AND water bottle for next year from 1st Day School Supplies! These high quality, in demand Under Armour accessories will ship with your child’s kit and allow you to check even more off of that long back to school shopping list without leaving the comfort of your home! Start your shopping by clicking on the link below:
Texas Honor Roll
We are excited to announce that Caraway has made the Texas Honor Roll School list. The Honor Roll is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and highlight successful practices that improve outcomes for students. Schools receiving this distinction from leaders in the Texas academic and business communities have demonstrated consistent high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and reduction in achievement gaps among student populations.
Our students, staff and parents make Caraway a great school! This is a great distinction that is shared among our entire community.
Upcoming Events
- May 1-5: Teacher Appreciation Week!
- May 8-10 - STAAR Testing
- May 18 - KnOWLedge Night, 5:30-7:00
- May 15-19- Caraway Book Fair (note the bookfair will be open until 7:00 p.m. on May 18th)
- May 19 - Field Day
- May 31 - 5th Grade Graduation
- June 1 - Last Day of School
Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, May 1 - bring your teacher a flower as they help us GROW UP.
Tuesday, May 2 - RISE UP by creating a note, card, drawing, etc.
Wednesday, May 3 - bring your teacher their favorite snack so they can EAT UP.
Thursday May, 4 - help the teachers STOCK UP with a school supply.
Friday, May 5 - PAMPER UP the teachers with some of their favorites things.
Below is a link to all the teachers favorite things. Feel free to include your staff person during the week as well.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19QeVz9sBspb_pROx1oVGnC1ybe-rqFxv6V0bUdDJkyo/htmlview
Thank you so much for creating such a loving and supportive school family here at Caraway.
Field Day 2017
Field Day: Let‘s Get Ready for Field Day… “Owls Stay Fit Field Day” on Friday, May 19th. This is an incredibly fun day! To help our field day be a huge success, we will need many, many, many volunteers. Please sign up to volunteer for this amazing event. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b49a8aa28a7f58-2017
** Please Note: All volunteers must have completed the RRISD volunteer application every year. https://roundrockisd.org/volunteer/ **
2017 RRISD Bond Election
The $572.1 million Bond consists of three propositions that address growth, innovation and safety within Round Rock ISD. Among projects in the package are a sixth district high school and auditorium, a 35th elementary school, improvements to aging facilities and replacing aging technology at all 54 schools.
The proposed bond projects that directly affect Caraway Elementary and our feeder pattern (Canyon Vista and Westwood) are:
- Updates to Caraway's electrical system, fire alarms, flooring, ceilings, plumbing and safety refresh.
- 3-8 classroom addition and cafeteria expansion for a stage and to address growth.
- Canyon Vista MS Athletics Expansion and addition of 6 classrooms, technology and safety refresh.
- Westwood High School auditorium design, addition of classrooms to replace portables, technology and safety refresh.
The average value home in Round Rock ISD is valued at approximately $290,000 after homestead exemption. The three bond propositions will cost the average homeowner an additional $2.23 per month or $26.74 per year .
Early voting for the Round Rock ISD Bond 2017 package will run from April 24 to May 2 prior to Election Day May 6. Caraway will be a polling location on May 6th from 7am - 7pm.
Travis County Early Voting Locations:
Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 24-29; Noon to 6 p.m. April 30; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 1-2.
- Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center 5800 McNeil Drive, Austin,
Everyone WEAR GREEN on Thursday, May 4th to support Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.
On May 4th, schools across the country will be recognizing National Children's Mental Health Awareness day. In any given year, nearly 20% of school aged children and 25% of adults will have a mental health concern. Mental health is made up of emotional, physical, and social well-being and is part of how we relate to others, make choices, and react when things happen. May is Mental Health Awareness month and this year’s theme is ‘Partnering for Help & Hope’. Everyone will have a time when they need help with their mental health - it’s normal. Both kids and adults can feel sad or stressed out, not want to do things they normally enjoy, have difficulty sleeping or eating regularly, or have intrusive thoughts about something upsetting. If you or someone you love is experiencing any difficulties with mental health, talk to your doctor, school counselor (Mrs. Amiri), or a mental health professional. Now let's all take a deep breath and wear green Thursday, May 4th, to show our support for our kids' mental health.
SEL in Action
Whether it’s called “social emotional learning” or “emotional intelligence”, most people understand it’s critical to pay attention to the development of the whole young person, including character education. Parents have a dual role to play in raising a self - aware, respectful child who knows how to manage his or her emotions, make responsible decisions, and resolve conflicts non - violently. Schools are often in a unique position to teach these skills to parents in order to better serve their students at school. Below are some strategies parents can use with their children to help develop Social - Emotional skills. More information can be found here (http://www.parenttoolkit.com/index.cfm?objectid=3544A980-3375-11E4-8B640050569A5318)
Summer Camp Information
Looking for a great enrichment camp for your kids this summer? Take a look at Camp Invention! This will be our 1st year to host Camp Invention at Caraway. For an idea of what your kids would be doing: Camp Invention YouTube channel. Seats fill quickly, act now to secure a spot. Here is the direct link for registration.
Any questions should be directed to David Baird, Camp Invention Director, at david_baird@roundrockisd.org.
PTA News
Canyon Vista School Supplies for 2017-2018
Save time and order your school supplies online. The list has been teacher approved and each supply pack will be delivered directly to the school for pickup during Student Days in August. We will only do online orders for school supplies. We will not sell school supply packs during Student Days.
To order school supplies, go to https://www.educationalproducts.com/ShopPacks/
The school code is CAN001
Please save your email confirmation as your receipt.
Order online now through July 15.
Questions? Contact Staci Vagner - srvagner@yahoo.com
Financial Reconciliation Committee
A review of the 2016-2017 PTA financial records must be completed shortly after the close of our fiscal year on June 30, 2016. We are looking for 3 volunteers to serve on this committee. The financial reconciliation committee will meet only once during the month of July, for approximately three hours, to review the PTA’s financial information. If you are willing to help out, please emailcarawayptapresident@gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Daily School Schedule
7:35 a.m. First Morning Bell
7:40 a.m. Tardy Bell/All Doors Lock/Start of School Day
2:50 p.m. End of the School Day
Caraway Office Staff
Melanie Solis, Assistant Principal
Marjan Amiri, Counselor
Judy Gullen, Nurse
Pam Bauerkemper, Administrative Assistant
Nancy Richards, Registrar
Cheryl Borden, Office Specialist