Mott News
2/3/2020
No Food Birthday Treats Effective This Monday, February 3
We have received very valuable feedback from parents regarding the recent allergy policy change. As always, our chief goal is to protect our students and to keep them safe and learning while they're at Mott. After collecting feedback from parents, staff members, and administration, the allergy committee has met and revised our policy to address some specific concerns.
For the safety of all our students, the following changes will go into effect after winter break:
* Effective February 3, 2020 Parents may only bring non-food goodie bags for birthdays. We will no longer be able to accept food items for whole-class birthday treats. As always, you are welcome to send special birthday treats for your own student to enjoy for lunch or snack, and parents are welcome to join their student for lunch on their birthday as well.
* For classroom food activities such as party days or food-related learning activities, parents of children with food allergies will need to complete an allergy permission form stating which foods their student is allowed to eat or handle. If this form is not returned prior to the event, the student will not be able to participate in the activity.
We appreciate the care and time that the teachers and allergy committee members have given to this very important matter, and for the feedback and support we have received from our parents. We are dedicated to keeping our kids safe here at Mott and believe that this will help achieve that for all our students.
Mott Elementary Wins 2nd Place at PfISD UIL Event
Those in the top 6 of each event earned points towards the school trophy! We will include the complete listing of winners in next weeks news!
Mock STAAR this week = altered lunch times
The campus will remain open to visitors on mock testing days. Some lunch schedules have been changed to accommodate testing. Please click on the links below to find out the lunch times for each day.
MOCK SCHEDULES:
Monday, Feb. 3 - 4th math & 3rd math schedule3
Tuesday, Feb. 4 - 4th reading & 3rd reading – schedule3 (repeat of Feb. 3)
Wed., Feb. 5 – 5th science ** schedule2
STAAR Information Night - Thursday, February 6
PTO Seeking Help for Chili Luncheon for Staff
They need several crock pots of chili donated on February 10. Please sign up at this link if you can help.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044cada72ea2fb6-teacher6TEA has published School Report Cards for the 2018-2019 school year.
Thank You
Mott is Going to Regionals
Nadia Ewell - Can You Go the Distance?
Cindy Nguyen - Where on the pH Scale?
Noah Ferrell - Burning Calories Literally
Benjamin Shuler - Blast Off
Nolan Riviere - Can You Handle the Distance?
Tariah Jackson - Slimeology
Scottie Allison - Superworms vs. Hornworms
Jane Thompson - Please Pass the Antacids
Kylie Sheppard - How Much Liquid Can a Dog Potty Pad Really Hold?
Calah Williams - Do Plants Groove to Music?
Lupita Torres - Beanstalk
Eli Gutierrez - Gummy Growth
Lillian Hernandez -Iams vs. Blue Buffalo
Noah O’Hare - What is the Most Thirsty Paper Towel?
Sophia Serna - Which Water is More Acidic?
Carlos Blanco - Which Adhesive is Best for Stopping a Leak?
Zoe Manliclic - Oh Say Can You See Vitamin C?
Thomas Nguyen - How Far Will a Car Go on Different Surfaces?
Friendship Week Calendar- February 10-14, 2020
This week we will celebrate Friendship Week at Mott Elementary School! Each day we will wear a different color and complete an activity to remind ourselves to make friendly choices.
Monday, Feb. 10: Wear polka-dot clothes because “Friends are like fun confetti!”
Tuesday, Feb. 11: Wear a hero shirt because “Friends are heroic!”
Wednesday, Feb. 12: Wear mixed-up clothes because “Kindness makes a difference!”
Thursday, Feb. 13: Wear an owl shirt or clothing because “Mott Owls are friendly!”
Friday, Feb. 14: Wear a red, pink, purple, or Valentine’s shirt for Valentine’s Day!
Thank you for helping us celebrate Friendship Week!
Bookfair Feb 12th - 19th
Some great features of this upcoming fair:
1. Ms. Shellenberger will be preselling Valentine Gift Cards to the Book Fair! These are great for Teacher Valentines or to surprise your children! A paper flyer will be coming home soon AND we will be selling them at Game Night on Feb 12th! (any denomination) Ms. S will hand deliver to your child on Valentine’s Day!
2. Shop the fair in person or send money with child (all forms of payment are
accepted-cash, check to VMES, debit/credit) AND the NEW eWallet Feature
3. You can also shop online at http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/findafair thru Feb 19th.
Hours of the Mott Spring Book Fair:
Weds, Feb 12th - Tues, Feb 18th 8:15am-3:00pm
Extended hours on Wednesday, Feb 12th- 3:00- 7:30pm
Weds, Feb 19th, 8:15am-12:00pm
Box Tops Deadline - March 1
Top classes will win a popsicle party! (1 per grade level) Paper BoxTops *are* still in existence, and won't be phased out until 2023. Store receipts can also be scanned to earn digital credits. This is easy money for our school! We brought in $355 last quarter. Let's see if we can beat that this time around! Thank you to all the parents & teachers who participate!!
Please Take Our Parent Survey
Don't forget to send your child back to school with this flyer!
Math Pentathlon
If you are interested in attending the Math Pentathlon tournament, it is highly recommended that you complete the registration in January. This link will provide the necessary registration info. Please email Sarah.Boyle@pfisd.net if you have any questions about math pentathlon.
Volunteers needed
A+ FCU Days
A+ reps will be at our campus on the following days! Come visit them in the front office during morning arrival to learn about starting a savings account for your child.
Convenient deposit days will be:
February 12, 2020
March 11, 2020
April 8, 2020
May 13, 2020
March 7, 2020
Mark your calendar for Explore UT 2020. Participate in the richness of the university's scholarship and knowledge through hands-on demonstrations, research and experiments at this day-long event on the UT campus.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The University of Texas at Austin
FREE. No registration required
Everyone is welcome!
Tips for Picking Up Your Child Early for an Appointment
- Often, our teachers do not know ahead of time that your child will be leaving early. They have to gather homework, folders, etc. to put in the backpack. Your child has to pack these items, their water bottle, the book they are reading, etc. before they start walking to the office.
- Our school is 19,000 square feet. It takes a long time to walk from some parts of the building up to the office. Especially if your child is young and has short legs!
- If your child is in special areas, lunch, computer lab, recess, etc., they will have to go back to the classroom to get their backpack. There is no guarantee that the teacher will be in the room at that time due to meetings, copying, etc. Our classroom doors are always locked, for safety reasons. So, the office will have to put a call out on the radio to find someone with a key that can walk to the classroom to open the door, so that your child can get their backpack. This will take several minutes. You can avoid this added delay by knowing your child's schedule, and arrive before or after lunch, specials and recess. Schedule by Teacher
- Sometimes, teachers take their class for a whole group bathroom break. These breaks are not scheduled, and are based on class need due to that day's schedule. In this case, when the office calls the room and the teacher does not answer, we just have to wait a few minutes until the class returns to the room.
In other words, please allow plenty of time to pick up your child in order to make it to your appointment on time.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 3 - Mock STAAR: 3rd & 4th Math
National School Counseling Week
Feb. 3- Math Pentathlon Family Game Night 5:00-6:30
Feb. 3- Community Input Boundary & Program Alignment Meeting 6:30-7:30
Feb. 4 - Mock STAAR: 3rd & 4th Reading
Feb. 5 - Mock STAAR: 5th Science
Feb. 6 - STAAR: Parent Information Night 6:00 pm
Feb. 10 - PTO Meeting 6:30pm in library
Feb. 10 - Math Pentathlon Family Game Night 5:00-6:30 in Science Lab
Finding Lost Items
Attendance Promotes Student Success
Family Trips and Vacations
Yearbook Presale
Pridelines
Box Tops for PTO
Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students)
Communication Options
Please allow 24 hours during the work week for a response to a non-emergency question or request. If you call or send an email on a Friday, you should expect a response during business hours the following week.
When you need assistance, please make note of the roles and responsibilities of these staff members. By contacting them directly, you will receive a faster reply.
Adrian Tristan - Busses, 504, Dual Language, English as a Second Language, and discipline. Adrian.Tristan@pfisd.net
Sarah Boyle - Busses, Special Education, and discipline. Sarah.boyle@pfisd.net
Michael Hill - Can make phone and meeting appointments with Mrs. Rebecek, scheduling events on school calendar, campus website. Michael.Hill@pfisd.net
Elizabeth Zamora - Spanish speaking contact, translation needs, day to day operation questions such as lunch times, birthdays on the big screen, etc. Elizabeth.Zamora@pfisd.net
Kristeen Thornton - Day to day operation questions such as lunch times, messages for teachers, etc. Kristeen.Thornton@pfisd.net
Steven Ray - Registration, enrollment and attendance. Steven.Ray@pfisd.net
Remind Text Messages - Mrs. Rebecek will send out reminders for things like early release, special events, and dress up days. To sign up, text @84984f to the number 81010.
Mott Elementary School
https://www.facebook.com/MottElementary/
Mott Elementary PTO
https://www.facebook.com/mottelementarypto/
Mott Elementary Families - (FYI: This page is run by Mott parents, not Mott staff.)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/113956712574930/
Mott Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students)
School Starts at 7:20am
Did You Know?
You can set Cafeteria snack purchase restrictions - Email: vmes.cafe@pfisd.net or call 512-594-4720.
Office Depot lets you earn 5% Cash Back for Mott - Make a purchase of qualifying school supplies, provide your school ID at checkout (70238914) and we will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies!
Box Tops for Education - For a list of participating products, click here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn
Online volunteer application: You must fill out a new application each year if you would like to volunteer at school or attend field trips. http://www.pfisd.net/domain/81
Birthdays on the Big Screen: You can "rent" a slide on our 65" TV in the office for a day! Here is the form: Birthday
Previous editions of the Mott News can be found here: http://www.pfisd.net/domain/1720
Staff Information, including classroom lunch times, can be found here: http://www.pfisd.net/domain/1760