Kiker Comments May 3, 2022
A Joint Newsletter from the Bernice Kiker Admin Team & PTA
In This Edition...
- Upcoming Events
- This Week's Top News: Family Dance, Registration Recap, Taco Tuesday Recap
- Announcements
- Gifts of Time Auction Recap
- AISD Devices - Summer Plans
- Attendance
- CAC Applications are Open
- PTA News - Coffee Talk
- May Staff Birthdays
- Summer Camps
- After School Care for 2022-23
- Repeated Information (from previous newsletters)
- Senior Walk
- Safety Patrol
- Culture Celebrations
- Covid Testing Hub Information
- Early Pick Up Reminders
- Lunch Menu
- All the Links to Everything You Need
Upcoming Events
May
6 - Kiker Family Dance 6:00 pm on the Blacktop
10 - 3-5 STAAR Math
11 - 3-5 STAAR Reading
12 - 5th STAAR Science and Make ups for 3rd/ 4th (Math/Reading Tests)
13 - STAAR Make up day
17 - 2nd Grade Market Day
19 - Field Day
19 - Evening Kiker Keynotes Show
20 - 8:30 am Kiker Keynotes Show for Students
20 - 9:30 5th Grade End of Year Pool Party
24 - Taco Tuesday Bluesday - Spirit Day and Torchy's Night
24 - Principal Coffee Talk
27 - 5th Grade Commencement Ceremony
This Week's Top News
Family Dance Night
The Family Dance is in Three Days!
We are thrilled to host an outdoor dance party this Friday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for all of our Kiker Comets and their families. We will be dancing the night away with a live DJ on the blacktop! We hope you will join us for dancing, food, games and lots of fun! Don’t forget to register!
We could use a few extra helpers for short shifts during the dance. You’ll still have plenty of time to enjoy the dance. Please sign up here!
Taco Tally!
We raised more than $330 for our school during our Spirit Night at Torchy’s Tacos. Kiker had the second highest spirit night at that location ever! Way to go, Comets!
We had six classes with 100% Blues Day participation: Ms. Cardenas, Ms. Purcell, Ms. MarKwalter, and Ms. Hariharan, Ms. Davis, and Ms. Boone. We drew two class winners from the group. Congratulations to the students of Ms. Davis and Ms. Purcell!
Announcements
AISD Devices - Keep Them Unless You are Leaving AISD
All students will take home their Austin ISD 1:1 devices and chargers they have been using during the school year. Students will return with their device and charger at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
For students who are graduating or will not be returning to AISD next year, devices and hotspots need to be returned to their campus. Students should also return any unused or no longer needed hotspots at the end of the school year.
Additionally, below are transition options for students moving from 2nd (iPads) to 3rd grade (Chromebooks) (pending available inventory).
Option 1:
2nd grade students take home their iPad over the summer.
Chromebooks will be delivered to the campus during the summer for August distribution to students.
Students check the iPad into the campus at the start of the 2022-2023 school year and are issued a Chromebook.
Attendance Notes
Join the Kiker Campus Advisory Council (CAC) for 2022-2023
Kiker's Campus Advisory Council is a committee of teachers, administration, parents, business and community representatives, and other campus staff. The mission of CACs is to promote excellence in education for all students through broad-based representation. Kiker’s CAC is in need of new members for the upcoming school year.
CACs provide valuable input to principals, who ultimately have decision-making responsibility for their campuses. Specific functions of CACs include providing review and comment on:
· Campus Educational Program
· Campus Performance
· Campus Improvement Plan
· Campus Staff Development Plan
· Campus-Level Waiver Requests to the State
· Campus Budget
Deadline for applications is Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Applications can be found here.
Email applications to KikerCAC@gmail.com by May 5, 2022. Kiker's CAC meets the first Monday of each month at 3:30pm. Email Katy Heisterman & Christina Haschke at KikerCAC@gmail.com with any questions.
PTA News
Wrap Up the Year with a Coffee Talk!
Join PTA as we host Principal Matheny for a Coffee Talk on Tuesday, May 24 at 8 AM. We’ll reflect on the current school year and look ahead to the year to come.
Have questions or comments you’d like addressed? Submit them here.
Coffee Talk will be preceded by a short PTA General Membership Meeting. Zoom link will be provided closer to the date.
May Birthdays
May
2- Emily Moranski
3 - Patty Candelaria
9 - Andrea Bredl
13 - Denise Tharp
13 - Laura Davis
14 - Carolyn McKaskle
14 - Tracy Cardenas
Summer Camp Information
James Bowie High School presents... STARLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY SUMMER DRAMA CAMP Camp Description Children ages 5 - 11 will focus on: Creative Drama, Mask Making, Creative Movement, Poetry Interpretation, Theatre Games, and Story Dramatization Children ages 12 - 14 will focus on: Stage Techniques, Interpretation, Improvisation, Theatre Games, and Stage Combat Note - Students must be attending the afternoon or the full day session to participate in the Showcase on Friday, June 10, 2022. Refund requests will not be honored after May 15, 2022 Session Information Monday June 6, 2022 8:00AM - 5:00PM The following session options are available. Mornings sessions 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM Afternoon sessions 12:45 PM - 5:00 PM Full day sessions 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Important Reminders ● Please send your child with a lunch if they are registered for the full day session ● Lunch and snacks can be purchased from the concession stand in the morning. Menu options are available on our website. ● Each child will receive a T-Shirt on Friday to wear for the showcase performance. Friends and family are invited to attend the showcase (but not required). T-Shirt sizing is collected in the ● Elementary aged students perform at 4pm. Following a short intermission, middle school students will perform.
through Friday June 10, 2022
Please arrive 10 - 15 minutes early to drop off or pick up your camper
Because we are not registered as a State Daycare facility, we are unable to be claimed on tax documents.
After School Childcare for the 22-23 School Year
Register Here for Voyager for Fall 2022
Repeated Information
Safety Patrol for 4th and 5th Graders
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.
How To Video - This is the Training Video for Safety Patrol
How do you celebrate in your home?
Is there a special event for your culture coming up in the next month or two? Would you be willing to share how your family celebrates?
Please reach out to Cory Matheny if your family would be interested in putting together a 1-3 minute video to talk about any of these events (or others that we may have accidentally missed- list source: Nationaltoday.com) coming up in April or May:
Ramadan
Passover
Easter
Earth Day
Eid
Cinco de Mayo
Memorial Day
Free Covid Testing for Staff and Students - 8:00-2:00 Daily With Completed Consent
Kiker is a testing hub on site in Portable 6B daily. (FYI - there is no classroom on the 6A side of the portable.). The direct line is 512-841-7857, appointments are not accepted. This is a first come, first served process or, until they run out of tests for the day.
Why it matters: Research shows that the more people get tested, the safer everyone is from the spread of COVID-19. You’ll be able to access rapid antigen or PCR tests (when available) at 11 sites across Austin.
- Students and staff can get a test at will for any reason, whether you’ve been exposed or are just looking for peace of mind.
- Sites include: Travis, Northeast Akins, Norman-Sims, Pillow, Kiker, Eastside, Cunningham, Navarro, Blazier, McCallum .
- Testing will run 8 a.m. -2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Early Pick Up Reminders
Thank you.
Lunch Menu - May
A Message From the Cafeteria
Bernice Kiker Elementary Administration Team
Alma Chapa Moore - Assistant Principal
Kelly Meyer - 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
Thank You for Helping Us Reach Our Registration Goal!
We currently have just of 85% of our families registered for next year! Thank you for your help and support.
If you still need to register, it isn't too late:
Registration is simple online using the Austin ISD Parent Cloud! If you need help, the district has published this handy guide to online registration.