Boone Bear Facts
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Notes from the Principal
…and the times they are a’changing
First, I would like to thank everyone for hanging in there with us last week and this week as our virtual learning experience has geared up for this school year. I know there have been challenges and obstacles galore, but please know how much we appreciate your support and kind words as we have all persevered through these first few days of school. I know it has been difficult. I know it has been frustrating. I also know that we will be successful. We are Boone. We can do this!
Now for what happens next. Our superintendent has shared information with all of you, through the district’s email notification system, that we are beginning to shift our focus from 100% virtual learning to begin a phased in return to in-person learning. This will be an option for those of you who are comfortable having your children return to campus in October. I know this idea immediately triggers a wide range of emotions, as well as many questions. You were also sent a survey within the last week asking you to indicate if you would choose to have your children return to campus in October or to continue receive instruction virtually. A number of you contacted me saying you did not feel you could respond to the survey until you had more information on what the in-person plan would look like. I certainly understand. Since schools now have more direction from AISD on what the expectations are for this, I have scheduled a Parent Meeting for this coming Monday, Sept. 21st, beginning at 7:00 pm to provide additional information on the reopening plan.
This will be a Zoom meeting that will also be simulcast on YouTube. As with our morning assemblies, I will post the YouTube link on our Facebook Boone Community page at 7:00 pm for those who prefer to connect that way. Although AISD has purchased Zoom licenses for principals that will allow for meetings of up to 500, that has not been finalized at this time and you may find the Zoom room filled if you try to log on there. It currently caps meetings at 100. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel and access the meeting directly from that location.
Here is the link to the Zoom meeting:
Topic: Boone Parent Mtg. 9.21.20
Time: Sep 21, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84958343626?pwd=MkRkTm1rNDZFdVFQTStGZE82cUdQZz09
Meeting ID: 849 5834 3626
Passcode: z7uB3N
The meeting will also be recorded and posted on my YouTube channel for you to access at a later time, if you are unable to join us live. A Sign Language interpreter will be available.
Boone ES and Crockett Vertical Team School Calendar
Crawford's Connections
Hello Boone Family,
We are so glad to be back with you even in this virtual world we are living in. It has been fantastic to drop in during Zooms and see the faces of our wonderful Boone students. Know that we are here to support your child and your family as we navigate these uncertain times.
I want to remind you that I serve as the 504 Coordinator for our campus. If you have a child who is eligible for a 504 plan, you will be receiving a Contingency Plan via email by the end of the week. This plan is to make sure your child is supported with the accommodations we can provide during virtual learning. All you need to do is email me back and let me know if you agree with the plan or not. You will notice that your child’s teacher named in the document will be their teacher from the previous year. We do this only because that teacher was part of the committee who developed the current accommodation plan.
As always, we will meet for your child’s 504 annual meeting. I will begin to schedule those meetings beginning next week. If you have any questions when you receive the Contingency Plan please do not hesitate to reach out. If you feel we need to revisit your child’s accommodations before the time we can meet for their annual meeting let me know, and we will get a time to meet on the calendar.
It is very important to keep communicating with your child’s teacher about any issues you or child are having with virtual learning and the platforms they are engaged with. We want to always be aware of any issues so we can work together to find a solution that will support your child’s learning.
School looks different right now, but my policy is the same….so even though you may not be able to walk into my open office door for a little longer I will always make myself available if you need anything. Do not hesitate to reach out!
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere—Chinese Proverb
Be safe and take care!
Ms. Crawford
512-414-5310
Campus Advisory Council Seeking New Members for the 2020-21 School Year
The Boone Campus Advisory Council is looking for 2-3 new parents to fill roles on the CAC. We meet virtually on the third Monday of each month from 3:20 –4:20 pm. The role of the CAC is to provide support and guidance over various school related topics and plans. Parent input is extremely valued at Boone and this is an important part of what keeps Boone great.
An application for the CAC is attached to this newsletter. Please complete the application and return it to me at alan.stevens@austinisd.org. The CAC will be reviewing the applications and voting on new members at our October meeting. If you have any additional questions, please contact me directly at 512-414-5311.
Counselor's Corner
I've had the pleasure of visiting the PreK3-2nd grade classes this week and introducing myself. It's been fun to see so many familiar faces and news ones too! Next week I will see 3rd-5th graders.
You may also see me popping into classrooms to do "minute meetings," which are brief meetings with each individual student at Boone. It's another way for me to connect with our students and ask questions about school, friends, and feelings. I'm also sharing how I can be contacted since it looks different this school year.
Parents and students can reach me in a variety of ways. One is through BLEND and I have my own page that is accessible for every student, as well as family members that have a Parent Cloud. My BLEND page has a lot of resources to offer families and students. I can also be contacted in the following ways:
Email: nicole.lozo@austinisd.org
Phone: 512-841-5376
Phone/Text: 210-920-1104
If you haven't already, be sure to check out my School Counselor Smore.
Advanced Academics: Gifted & Talented/Talent Explore Nominations
The window to nominate your child is from September 21-October 2. Due to COVID-19, the testing and evaluation process will look different. An information session will be offered next Thursday, September 24 at 7 pm via Zoom. Please complete this Google form by September 23 if you would like to attend the meeting. I will be sending the zoom link and password through email for security purposes.
The Parent Nomination Checklist and the Advanced Academics Calendar are attached to this Smore.
Parent Information Session Form
(Please complete to receive Zoom Link)
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
PTA News
Welcome back school, Boone Bears! The Boone PTA provides many ways to support our school community. Please read all about what Boone PTA has going on to kick off the new year in the attached newsletter. And most importantly, join as a PTA member and learn how to get involved at boonepta.com
Be sure to check in on the Facebook group page Boone Elementary Community for timely messages and event reminders! https://www.facebook.com/groups/boonepta
Garden Help
ATTENTION BOONE BEARS!
Boone Gardens could really use your help during this time. We need help maintaining the water levels in our fish pond and watering the butterfly garden, both are located in the front of the school. Currently our Veggie garden is getting maintained by PEAS. Once maintained by PEAS we will need additional support with our Veggie Garden. Until we know more information our main concern is the Butterfly Garden area. Please click the link below to sign up! Once signed up you will receive additional information.
Required Notifications:
United States Census Deadline Looming
This is a requested announcement from AISD:
It takes 10 minutes to complete your Census form.
For decades, our community has been undercounted in the national Census. That means our children and our community have lost out on money that we can use to ensure food
security, health care, transportation, education, housing and more. When you complete your Census, our children and our community receive the funds they are entitled to from the federal government that help pay for each of those things.
Here’s what you need to know:
· 10 minutes of your time = 10 years of financial resources for our community.
· The amount of money we receive depends on how many people live in our community.
· If your household is not counted in the 2020 Census, our school district's programs will be affected. Some severely.
· The 2020 Census does not ask for your citizenship status. Everyone, regardless of
citizenship, needs to be counted.
Each of us has a responsibility, to our children’s future and to each other, to make sure that everyone is counted. So please let us work together to make sure none of our families and none of the funding we deserve is left behind.
Taking this step for our children’s future is easy, and it takes just a few minutes. To be sure your family is counted, please complete the Census online at my2020census.gov or by phone at (844) 330-2020.