• Upcoming Events
• Attendance Notes
• Picture Day
• AISD Events
• PTA News: APEX Fun Run, Reflections, Spooky Game Night, Volunteers Needed
• Announcements
• Library Update
• Around the Community: Hunter 5K
• 5th Grade Family News
• October Staff Birthdays
  
• Get to Know the Staff
• Repeated Information (from previous newsletters)
• Library Book of the Month
• Quarantine and Ill Person Requirements for Return
• After School Programs
• All the Links to Everything You Need

October

12 - APEX Fun Run Student Kick Off

13 - Picture Day - Virtual students should have received an email invite

16 - PTA Fall Clean Up Day - CANCELLED

18 - PTA Exec Board Meeting

20 - 5th Grade Middle School Visit via Zoom

20 - Student Flu Shot Clinic

21 - Fun Run Day - All Classes during Essential Areas

22 - Deadline for PTA Reflections Art Program

25- 29 Love Your Brain Week - (Formerly Red Ribbon Week) Dress Up Days

M: Jerseys

T: Tops and Bottoms

W: Mismatched Clothes

Th: Silly Socks

F: Dress as a Book Character

28 - Read for the Record

29 - Dress Up As a Book Character

29 - PTA Spooky Game Night

November

1-5 Book Fair

Over the course of a year (2019–2020), the AISD Office of Equity met with over 1,500 staff, students, and community for a series of information gathering sessions. The goal for these sessions was to hear staff, student, and community concerns; what they thought about equity in our district practices; and to find areas where we as the district could adjust to be more equitable.

Join us as AISD hosts a data webinar for the Long-range planning process from 6–6:45 p.m. (English) and 7–7:45 p.m. (Spanish) Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Austin ISD is beginning conversations about long-range planning which will determine which improvements and new facilities are included in the next AISD bond. The first step in that process is to analyze data about students, neighborhoods and facilities to better understand where we have the most critical needs.

Come learn how we're using data to identify which voices we need to hear from first to ensure we are centering equity in our planning process by following our Equity by Design model.

(English) 6–6:45 p.m.

Register via zoom: https://bit.ly/3uzwMvY

(Spanish) 7–7:45 p.m.

Meeting ID: 819 0429 9088

Passcode: BKE

Apex is a local company that provides a fun, 2-week program to teach students important leadership habits and good character traits. Then the program wraps up with a celebratory, high energy fitness event: The Apex Fun Run. It will be a TON of FUN!

We love the amazing leadership and character building portion of the Apex program as it focuses on developing student self-control and interpersonal skills that are vital for school and life success. With this year’s #ApexAsOne theme, students will embark on an incredible two-week quest in search of the key to becoming great leaders, learning to dream big, and making a positive impact on the world. These quick, engaging lessons tie in with our schools vision and mission, encourages students to create a positive environment, and inspires them to lead by example.

The funds raised from this event will help pay for classroom support, school infrastructure improvements, and community-requested special projects.

✅ : The Apex Fun Run event is October 21

How Will Your Student Change the World? There are so many ways.

Official Reflections submission guidelines are here. There are less than two weeks left to submit an entry.

All participants will receive recognition and a certificate at Art Night this spring. Students with winning entries for each grade level receive a trophy and move to the Texas PTA regional and then state level.

Spooky Game Night

Save the date for spooky fun and games on October 29!

Committee Volunteers Needed

No experience needed; just a desire to serve our Kiker community! Email kikervolunteers@gmail.com if you would like to help!

We are looking for:

• Kiker PTA Scholarship Committee Chairperson - be part of the selection committee this year, with expectation of serving as chairperson in future years. For more information about the Kiker PTA Scholarship, click here: https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/dr_schneider...

• Kiker Beautification Committee Coordinator - organize and facilitate landscape and groundskeeping volunteer efforts. Knowledge of landscaping is a plus!

Dress up as a Book Character on Friday, October 29!

Celebrate your love of books by dressing up as one of your favorite book characters on Friday, October 29. Dresing up is totally optional, but if your child would like to participate, here's how:

1. Dress up as a book character.
2. Dress up in costume of choice and create a book character to match.
3. Wear pjs (lots of books have characters in pjs 😉).

Example: Mrs. Frizzle!

Jungle Coloring Sheet

Your child took home a jungle themed coloring page this past Friday. Have your child decorate the coloring page and send back to school with the image cut out. This coloring image will be part of our Jungle decor for the Book Fair.

Interested in Volunteering for the Book Fair?

Sign up HERE to volunteer for the book fair. Our Book Fair will be open to the kids all day November 1-5, and open to parents to shop at the following times:

Tuesday, Nov. 2: 10:45-1:15 and 3:10-3:45

Wednesday, Nov. 3: 10:45-1:15 and 3:10-4:30 (extended hours)

Thursday, Nov. 4: 10:45-1:15 and 3:10-4:30 (extended hours)

Friday, Nov. 5: 10:45-1:15 and 3:10-3:45

Humanities Texas is immensely thankful for the hard work of amazing teachers across Texas! We look forward to recognizing outstanding K–12 teachers with our 2022 Outstanding Teaching Awards. We encourage you to nominate a deserving teacher in your school or community today!

In 2022, Humanities Texas will present a total of fifteen awards in three different categories:

• Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award: This award recognizes exemplary contributions of teachers of humanities subjects in Texas elementary, middle, and high schools. (12 recipients)

• Linden Heck Howell Outstanding Teaching of Texas History Award: This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the teaching of Texas history at the primary and secondary levels. This award was established in memory of Ms. Howell, former chair of the Humanities Texas Board of Directors, as a lasting tribute to her service to the organization and her commitment to the study of Texas history. (1 recipient)

• Award for Outstanding Early-Career Teaching: This award recognizes exemplary contributions of early-career humanities teachers in Texas who have completed three or fewer years of teaching. (2 recipients)

Humanities Texas will select one of the fifteen recipients who demonstrates exceptional leadership in the educational field to receive the Julius Glickman Educational Leadership Award. The award honors Humanities Texas board member Julius Glickman for his extraordinary leadership of our organization and many others. All award winners will receive a $5,000 prize, with an additional $500 for their schools to purchase humanities-based instructional materials.

This flu clinic for students provides a flu shot not the nasal puff. We want all students to have access to important health supports such as the flu shot, and your partnership is critical. Please join the Q and A to learn how you can be a part of this sometimes scary event when a child may need you present to hold his/her hand.

Return documents to Kiker's front office.

About the Hunter 5K

Join us on October 30, 2021 for the third annual Hunter 5K Halloween Fun Run!

The Hunter 5K was created to honor and celebrate the fast and free spirit of four-year-old Hunter Henderson, who tragically passed away in December of 2018. Hunter loved Halloween and dressed up in costume throughout the year. Held on Halloween weekend, race participants are strongly encouraged to dress in their most creative Halloween costumes in his memory. The Hunter 5K is the inspiration of Chance Henderson, Hunter’s father. An avid runner, he was moved to create a fun and inclusive event that Hunter would be proud of.

Funds raised from the event benefit the Dell Children’s Medical Center who helped the Henderson family immensely during Hunter’s stay.

Register today at https://thehunter5k.com/!

Updates to this year's applications for choice middle schools:

• Families will complete one common application (School Common Application) to apply to the various school choice programs in AISD.

• The application will remain open from September 13, 2021 - January 7, 2022.

Kealing Parent Information Nights are virtual and families must sign up to receive a zoom link (Spanish translation available)

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Thursday, November 4, 2021

6:00 – 7:00 PM

Kealing Showcase is an annual in-person event for families to tour the campus, visit with staff and students, and learn about the innovative curriculum Kealing has to offer. (Spanish translation available)

Thursday, November 11, 2021

5:30 – 7:30 PM

Kealing MS Courtyard Entrance (Pennsylvania Ave)

No Sign Up Required – Come and Explore at Your Leisure!

1 - Donna Kilpatrick

3 - Chris Bryson

4 - Raven Jeffrey

5- Ashley Cross

11 - Veronica Taylor

19 - Nicole Kruszona

20 - Anmarie Bochey

26 - Paige Hariharan

31 - Kim Reiman

Quarantine:

Day 0 is the last date of exposure.

Day 1 is the first day without exposure.

Day 5-7 the testing can occur.

Day 8 the student can return if a negative test result is provided.

At this time, for someone who is quarantined, we can accept a rapid test OR a PCR test from any testing facility that provides a paper document or email copy of the results. At home tests are not accepted.

Symptomatic / Ill students or staff:

For a student/staff member who was symptomatic (sent home from school sick or self-reported sick), a negative PCR or a doctor's note is required to return.

Staff or students who are symptomatic may request a rapid test on campus. However, rapid tests are not available for asymptomatic individuals at this time. With 760 students and almost 100 staff members, our one nurse is not able to provide peace of mind testing while still meeting the safety needs of those currently on campus daily. Our priority is to have our nurse available for those staff and students with an immediate need in the building.

After School Enrichment

Did you know our Comets have a variety of after school activities in which to participate? This fall, after school activities will include coding, art, cooking, Spanish, piano, and more. For a full listing, please visit the after school enrichment page on our website to learn more and see the wonderful variety of classes and programs offered!

https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/afterschoolenrichment

Austin ISD will celebrate the National Hispanic Heritage Month with the 2021 Virtual Talent

Show “Proud to be Hispanic”. Please inform your teachers, staff and families about this

opportunity! Students can submit their videos or pictures. More than $2,000 in prizes will be

awarded in a virtual ceremony on October 27.

This virtual talent show allows our students to participate safely from home and with the

support of their family. Fine Arts teachers are great motivators to encourage students to

participate. Teachers and staff can also participate as honorary guests.

What: 2021 Virtual Talent Show “Proud to be Hispanic”

Categories: Singing, Music, Dancing and Art (drawing or painting) Pictures and videos with

the highest number of positive reactions in each category will win desktop computers and gift cards!

When: Submission period from September 15 to October 15 via bit.ly/TalentoAISD21

Where: Accepted submissions will be posted on facebook.com/EducaAustin