Dear Widén Families,

You all have been in our prayers! The last week was incredibly challenging, and many of us continue to face challenges with water, power, and access to food and shelter. In this newsletter we will do our best to share welfare and safety information, as well as school re-open information. Please be patient with us this week. Many of our teachers are still without water and internet in their homes, and some without power, but we will do our best to get back online this week so that we can provide online instruction for any families who are able to connect. We will get through this together!

With love,

Jennifer Pace & Patricia Williams

Many families are still recovering from the winter storm, and many AISD schools are in need of plumbing repair. Therefore, we will implement the following schedule:

Monday, Feb. 22nd - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, Feb. 23rd - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Feb. 24th - 100% REMOTE

Thursday, Feb. 25th - 100% REMOTE

Friday, Feb. 26th - ASYNCHRONOUS (work on your own day)

Please keep your children safe at home this week. No students should report to campus. No school buses will be running. Wi-Fi bus service will be provided in high need areas.

March 1st - Optional face to face classes resume.

Many breweries and other private businesses in Austin are providing water for free. All you need is a container to fill. Here's a list sorted by location in Austin. Note: Click the links for updates, as availability and weekend hours may change.

Dove Springs

Meanwhile Brewing Co, 3901 Promontory Point Drive, Austin, TX, 78744, are offering free potable (drinking) water at the brewery today, February 19, 2021, starting at 10am. You must bring your own containers.

North/Northwest Austin

4th Tap Brewing Co-op, 10615 Metric Blvd. – 4th Tap is offering 5 gallons of water per household from noon to 6 p.m. Friday. The brewery says you should boil the water before drinking.

Adelbert's Brewery, 2314 Rutland Dr. #100 – The brewery says it has a limited ability to provide water to those who need it. Bring your own container between noon and 6 p.m.

Austin Beerworks, 3001 Industrial Terrace – The brewery will fill up your container of water from 12-5 p.m. Friday, and 12-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Celis Brewing, 10001 Metric Blvd. – Offering free water to people starting at noon Saturday

Circle Brewing Company, 2340 W. Braker Lane Ste B – Drinking water available from 12 to 4:30 p.m.

Hopsquad Brewing Co., 2307 Kramer Ln. – Potable water fills limited to 5 gallons per household

Natural Grocers, 10515 N. Mopac Expy – Natural Grocers' locations will fill 2 gallons of water per customer. Open hours 8:30 a.m. to 8:05 p.m.

South/Southeast Austin

(512) Brewing Company, 407 Radam Lane – Filling up containers of drinking water from noon to 5 p.m.

Last Stand Brewing, 7601 S. Congress Ave. – Bring your containers to fill up with tap water. (Will need to be boiled before consuming.)

Pinthouse Brewing, 2201 E. Ben White Blvd. – Limited supply of water. Bring your own container until 8 p.m.

St Elmo Brewing Company, 440 E. St. Elmo Rd. – Potable water fills from 12 to 5 p.m. Limit of 5 gallons per household.

Central Austin/Downtown

Black Star Co-op, 7020 Easy Wind Dr. – Open at noon for water fills.

The Brewtorium Brewery & Kitchen, 6015 Dillard Circle, Suite A – Potable water fills from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Central District Brewing, 417 Red River St. – Drinking water available starting at noon. Brewery says park in tour bus spots to run in and get water.

Natural Grocers, 4615 N. Lamar Blvd. #304 – Natural Grocers' locations will fill 2 gallons of water per customer. Open hours 8:30 a.m. to 8:05 p.m.

East Austin

Batch — Craft Beer and Kolaches, 3220 Manor Rd. – Pick up potable water from 12 to 6 p.m.

Lazarus Brewing Company, 1902 E. 6th St. – Potable water filling from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

West Travis County

Infamous Brewing, 4602 Weletka Dr., Suite 100 – Potable water filling from 12 to 6 p.m.

People with pets will not be rejected. Pets will receive accommodation through Animal Services.

• Del Valle High School (Southeast), 5201 Ross Road, Del Valle, TX 78617

• Mendez Middle School, 5106 Village Square Drive, Austin, TX 78744

• Reilly Elementary School, 405 Denson Dr, Austin, TX 78752

• AFA Union Hall, 7537 Cameron Rd, Austin, TX 78752

• The Austin Stone, 1150 McNeil Rd., Round Rock, TX 78681

• Point Community Church, (Pet accommodations - must be crated), 11300 Old San Antonio Road, Manchaca, TX 78652

• Mosaic Church, (No pet accommodations), 12675 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78759

• Friendship Creekside, (Pet accommodations - must be crated), 14455 FM 1826, Austin, TX 78737

• Hill Country Bible Church, (Pet accommodations - must be crated), 12124 Ranch Road 620 N., Austin, TX 78750

• University Ave Church of Christ, (Pet accommodations - must be crated), 1903 University Ave., Austin, TX 78705

• Hope Chapel, (Pet accommodations - must be crated), 1508 Ruth Ave., Austin, TX 78757

RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES: "Call 512 928 4271 American Red Cross. They are helping relocate people without electricity! They will come and pick you up." Choose the "disaster related issue" option.

People who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be able to apply for benefits to replace food lost or destroyed due to the severe winter weather in Texas. SNAP recipients in need of replacement benefits will have to apply for them, whether they are regular SNAP allotments or emergency allotments . The application can be completed by dialing 2-1-1 and selecting option 2.

Recipients can also download the form to apply on the HHSC website. Applicants can mail those completed forms to the following address:

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

P.O. Box 149027

Austin, TX 78714-9027

You can also fax the form to 1-877-447-2839.

For more information, visit the HHSC website by clicking here

AISD is currently working on meal distribution sites for the upcoming week. We will update meal distribution information here soon! 7-day curbside to-go meal packs will be available at Widén on Thursday from 7-9 am.

Widén will also provide free meals for children and their caregivers on Monday, Feb. 22. from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Please be safe, stay warm, and stay inside during this winter storm!

Don't forget that this Monday is a student holiday, and an AISD Staff Development Day. Please try to stay warm and stay off the roadways while the winter storm warning is in effect. We will send out a robo-call if there is any change to regular operations on Tuesday, February 16th as a result of the weather.

Students must attend at least 70% of school days in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Teachers will be making contact with parents to notify you of possible retention for attendance. There is still time to improve attendance rates! Students who miss more than 14 days of school are typically performing significantly below level. Attendance rates below 90% are considered chronic absenteeism. Remote learners must participate in zoom AND complete Blend or Seesaw work daily to receive daily attendance credit. Please contact our front office at 512-414-2556 if you have questions about your child's attendance.

We want to hear from all of our parents! 3rd grade is in the lead, with 54% of parents completing the survey. We want to hear from at least 75% of our parents by March 5th. Students and teachers on the grade level with the most parent responses will earn a special prize. Survey link: https://tinyurl.com/AISD-Family-Survey-2021

Join us this Friday morning 8:15-9:15 am or afternoon 3:30-4:00 pm for a chat on zoom. We will be discussing the 70% attendance rule and sharing information about the STAAR testing coming soon. Drop in (and out) and feel free to ask any questions you have on any topic!

Zoom Meeting Link: bit.ly/WidenCoffeeTalk

Meeting ID: 873 6146 6170

Passcode: 1234

It is time to register for the 2020-2021 school year. You can register online at my.austinisd.org, or we can help you in person or over the phone. Call us for assistance at 512-414-2556.If you have moved out of our attendance zone and you would like to stay at Widén, we can help you submit a transfer application. The transfer application period is now open.

Students are learning about Kelso's Choices. This is a tool to help students learn to solve small problems on their own by choosing 2 strategies from the wheel. We are excited to help students develop independence with conflict resolution and strategies for solving small problems. Want to learn more? Ask your child's teacher or our counselor, Megan Lanier (megan.lanier@austinisd.org).

February 1st-March 12th is our Parent Conference time. There is not a designated day for conferences, so teachers will be reaching out to parents on different days to hold conferences by phone or on zoom. Parents are also welcome to reach out to teachers as well to hold a conference. Feel free to call our office at 512-414-2556 if you need assistance scheduling your parent conference.

Students must attend at least 70% of school days in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Teachers will be making contact with parents to notify you of possible retention for attendance. There is still time to improve attendance rates! Students who miss more than 14 days of school are typically performing significantly below level. Attendance rates below 90% are considered chronic absenteeism. Remote learners must participate in zoom AND complete Blend or Seesaw work daily to receive daily attendance credit. Please contact our front office at 512-414-2556 if you have questions about your child's attendance.

We will celebrate Valentine's Day with students on Thursday, February 11th. To maintain the health and safety of our staff and students, we ask that you DO NOT send Valentine's cards for students to exchange. This year we are not sharing supplies to prevent the spread of germs, and paper products are very hard to disinfect. Some classes will fo a virtual card exchange online and some classes will do crafts, in lieu of a card exchange.

Students may bring pre-packaged, individually wrapped treats to share with friends, but the teacher will set these aside and distribute them at the end of the day to prevent students from taking masks off to eat candy. Please DO NOT send cupcakes or cookies from the baker, or cookies that are not individually wrapped, so that we do not cross-contaminate items. Examples of acceptable treats are individual bags of chips, individually wrapped lollipops or candies, individually wrapped hostess snacks or fruit snacks, etc.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe!

There will be no school on Friday, February 12th and Monday, February 15th.

February 12th is a District of Innovation Day for all of the schools in the Travis High Vertical Team.

February 15th is an AISD Professional Development day.

We hope you enjoy the 4-day Valentine's weekend.

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

We want to hear from all of our parents! 1st grade is in the lead, with 39% of parents completing the survey. We want to hear from at least 75% of our parents by March 5th. Students and teachers on the grade level with the most parent responses will earn a special prize. Survey link: https://tinyurl.com/AISD-Family-Survey-2021

It is time to register for the 2020-2021 school year. You can register online at my.austinisd.org, or we can help you in person or over the phone. Call us for assistance at 512-414-2556.If you have moved out of our attendance zone and you would like to stay at Widén, we can help you submit a transfer application. The transfer application period is now open.

February 1st-March 12th is our Parent Conference time. There is not a designated day for conferences, so teachers will be reaching out to parents on different days to hold conferences by phone or on zoom. Parents are also welcome to reach out to teachers as well to hold a conference. Feel free to call our office at 512-414-2556 if you need assistance scheduling your parent conference.

The flyer above includes AISD strategies and resources for mental health. More resources can be found on the AISD Mental Health Matters Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/gbed9.

It is time to register for the 2020-2021 school year. You can register online, or we can help you in person or over the phone. Call us for assistance at 512-414-2556.If you have moved out of our attendance zone and you would like to stay at Widén, we can help you submit a transfer application. The transfer application period is now open.

Your parent survey responses are so important to us! We want to hear from all of our parents, and so far 3rd grade is in the lead, with 36% of parents completing the survey. Pre-K and 1st grade are tied for second place so far, with 30% of parents completing the survey so far. The survey is available until March 5th. Students and teachers on the grade level with the most parent responses will earn a special prize. Survey link: https://tinyurl.com/AISD-Family-Survey-2021

February 1st-March 12th is our Parent Conference time. There is not a designated day for conferences, so teachers will be reaching out to parents on different days to hold conferences by phone or on zoom. Parents are also welcome to reach out to teachers as well to hold a conference. Feel free to call our office at 512-414-2556 if you need assistance scheduling your parent conference.

This week we are kicking off Healthy Heart Week with a cooking challenge. You may have seen the cooking show Chopped on TV... We have created our own Widén Chopped Challenge. We are challenging our teachers and families to create a delicious dish using (1) mango, (2) cucumber, and (3) cilantro. You are welcome to use any other HEALTHY ingredients in your dish. Send a picture of your dish or your recipe to jennifer.pace@austinisd.org by February 12th if you would like to have it featured in our February 15th newsletter. Let's inspire each other to eat delicious and healthy food!

Although we are still in Stage 5, as you can see in the picture above, the number of new daily positive covid cases is decreasing. We anticipated another week of remote instruction, but due to the improvement in the data, the district recently announced that we would resume in-person instruction on January 25th. We apologize for any confusion regarding instruction for this week, and we will continue to provide both remote and in-person instruction. Please see the announcement below sent on Thursday night from the Superintendent.

Because of the improvements we are seeing on our campuses and in our community, and in consultation with Dr. Mark Escott of Austin Public Health, beginning Monday, Jan. 25, every family who selected on-campus learning will be invited to return to campus once again.

Please note:

The return to campus is not mandatory. Remote off-campus learning will continue to be offered for the rest of the school year. Families who selected remote off-campus learning, please contact your campus if you desire on-campus learning so that campuses can best prepare and provide a timeline for the arrival of more students.

For more information about this return as well as data used in the decision-making process, please read Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde’s letter.

This Friday, January 29th, is an Asynchronous learning day. This is a day that provides time for teacher planning and preparation, and it allows time for deep cleaning of the classrooms. Teachers will work from home on asynchronous days and may participate in some professional development. Students will receive attendance credit for asynchronous days if there is proof of engagement in Blend or Seesaw, or some other method of showing the teacher evidence of work completed at home. Please contact our front office (512)414-2556 in advance if you need access to the building on asynchronous days, as there will be no food service workers on duty and special staffing and meal arrangements will need to be made.

This monday, January 18th, we commemorate and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Austin ISD schools are closed. We hope you enjoy the 3-day weekend!

Due to the stage 5 status in Austin, increasing covid cases in AISD, increasing Covid cases among children, and limited hospital capacity, Austin ISD will be providing remote learning to reduce the health and safety risk to our students and staff. For special circumstances a limited number of teachers and teacher assistants on campus this week to assist students who need to report to campus to participate in remote learning.

AISD COVID Dashboard

Please use our curbside drive-through service Tuesday-Friday from 8am-2:30pm to pick up and purchase photos. Or call our front office at 512-414-2556 to request that we send photos home with your child. Parents can select and purchase the pictures they want and return the pictures they don't want.

Campus Advisory Council meetings are open to the public. We welcome your participation! This month we will be discussing:

• Event Planning: Black History Month, Career Day, CATCH Night

• Sustainability Team Planning

• Staff & Student Healthy Challenge Ideas

• Fall MAP Assessment Results

• AISD Asynchronous Days

• COVID Updates

Join us Wednesday, January 20th, at 3:30 pm on Zoom if you would like to participate.

Zoom Meeting Link: http://bit.ly/WidénCAC

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Passcode: 1234

Drop into our morning or afternoon zoom meeting on Friday, January 22nd, from 8:15-9:15 am or 3:30-4:00 pm. We know you have questions and comments, and we would love to hear them!

Zoom meeting link: http://bit.ly/WidenCoffeeTalk

Meeting ID: 873 6146 6170

Passcode: 1234

Help us keep our students! Help us keep our teachers! Early registration affects how many teachers the district allows us to keep. We want to keep all of our teachers, and to do that we need to keep all of our students and get them registered for next school year ASAP!

We are here to help you get registered! You can register online using the parent portal at https://my.austinisd.org or you can call our office at 512-414-2556 to make an appointment to come in. We will have a registration space set up with protective plexiglass where our registrar and a parent can be six feet apart while completing the online registration process together. Call now to make an appointment!

The fall picture packages have arrived! Parents can select and purchase the pictures they want and return the pictures they don't want. Please use our curbside drive-through service Monday-Friday from 8am-2:30pm to pick up and purchase photos. Or call our front office at 512-414-2556 to request that we send photos home with your child.

We love our parents, and we value parent feedback! Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Last year, the district transitioned to an online only survey and as a result we only had 15% of our parents responding. This year will also be online only, but we hope to have at least 70% of our parents respond. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you need assistance. We are happy to help! And we will have a special prize for students if we get 70% of parents responding at your child's grade level.

Survey Link: https://tinyurl.com/AISD-Family-Survey-2021

COVID spreading rapidly and hospitalizations are up, especially at Dell Children's Hospital.

To help stop the spread our nurse is reminding everyone to

• Continue Masking at all times

• Social Distance

• Wash your hands

• Complete the COVID screening app before coming to campus

• Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms

• Limit large social gatherings

• Follow health department guidelines

• Reach out to your healthcare provider or school nurse (414-3590) if you have questions or want to learn more on how to protect yourself and your community

On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, our nurse will conduct neck screenings on students in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade, as well as spinal screenings for fifth grade girls. If you do NOT want your child to be screened please contact our nurse at 414-3590.

Online registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now open in the Parent Portal.

​For additional information regarding online registration, please visit our Parent Portal website ​at www.austinisd.org/enroll. And if you need assistance, please call the Parent Support line at 512-414-9187.

If you are interested in submitting a transfer for the 2021-2022 school year, visit the transfer website at https://www.austinisd.org/transfer. If you need assistance, please submit your questions through Let's Talk: https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk (Student Transfers). ​

You can also call our front office at 512-414-2556 for registration assistance.

Monday, January 4th & Tuesday, January 5th, are student holidays. The first day of school for students is Wednesday, January 6th.

Student report cards will be available through my.austinisd.org on Wednesday, January 6. The report card will be displayed through the system (no longer as a PDF attachment), strengthening data security. Families can print or save the document. To access the most recent report cards, a parent can log-in to the AISD Cloud and select the Report Card tile, followed by the student’s name, which is displayed as a link. Please reach out to your child's teacher or contact our front office at 512-414-2556 if you need a hard copy printout of your child's report card.

We hope you can join our 2nd Nine Weeks Virtual Awards Ceremony. The times for each grade level are shown above, and the teachers are listed in the order in which class will present awards.

Join Our Zoom Meeting: bit.ly/WidenAwards

Meeting ID: 919 6005 2769

Password: 1234

We are excited to begin a new year together, and January is the month for New Year's resolutions. For the 3rd Nine Weeks we are challenging all of our staff, students, and family members to make a commitment to improving your health, through better eating habits or increased physical activity or exercise. We would love for you to share your New Years Health Resolution with us on our padlet by CLICKING HERE.

We are excited to share information with you about our "Dare to Dream" ACE After-School Hybrid Program! ACE After School is excited to offer limited on-campus programming for the spring semester, for families who need that extra support during the afternoons. Please visit the ACE After School Newsletter to learn more:

https://www.smore.com/1gkx6

We love our parents, and we value parent feedback! Your feedback helps us grow and improve! Last year, the district transitioned to an online only survey and as a result we only had 15% of our parents responding. This year will also be online only, but we hope to have at least 70% of our parents respond. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you need assistance. We are happy to help! And we will have a special prize for students if we get 70% of parents responding at your child's grade level.

Survey Link: COMING SOON

Whether you are in the building or in Zoom, we hope to you will join us in holiday dress up days this week. Be cute. Be silly. Be comfortable. Most importantly, have fun!

Join us on Zoom this Monday afternoon, December 14th, at 3:30 pm to vote in our new PTA Board Members and vote on our budget for this year. Parent votes and voices needed!

Zoom Meeting Link: bit.ly/WidenPTA2020

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Password: 1234

Due to the pandemic, they will be conducting a Sleigh Stop event over the course of four days (Dec 16. 17, 18, and 19) instead of one big day with thousands of kids and families, as they have done in past years. Please note the eligibility requirements that are stated on the flyer. Families must pre-register by requesting an appointment by calling 512.440.1111 or texting to 254.307.7202. Appointments are limited so call fast!

Join us on Wednesday, December 16th, at 3:30 pm for the campus advisory council meeting this Wednesday at 3:30 pm. This week we will seek feedback on the the updated Consolidated School Improvement Model Plan, discuss district holiday meal services, shutdown survey, and prepare for middle of year assessments.

Zoom Meeting Link: bit.ly/WidenCAC

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Password: 1234

Join us on Zoom this Thursday, December 17th at 5 pm, to watch our Virtual Winter Wonderland performances.

Zoom Meeting Link: bit.ly/WidenWinter

Meeting ID: 972 1567 8011

Password: 1234

Austin ISD sent out a survey to our parents to better understand their interests. If we do find the need to return to remote only instruction, AISD will have to adjust the calendar to comply with Texas Education Agency requirements. Your opinion and preferences are important! If you haven't already, lease take a moment to complete the survey. The survey closes on Thursday, December 17th.

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Austin and we approach Stage 5, please be mindful of the symptoms of the virus for which students should remain at home: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomitting, and diahrrea. If parents or family members in the household are experiencing these symptoms, we encourage you to exercise caution and get all members of the household tested for COVID-19. Thank you for helping us keep our community safe and healthy and stop the spread of the virus!

Rapid tests will continue to be offered at all of our campuses. And now, in partnership with Austin Public Health, AISD has rolled out in-home testing for staff and students at Widén and other qualifying Title I schools. Austin Public Health is able to come to your home to administer rapid and PCR COVID test for FREE!!! They will test you with the rapid test and then the PCR immediately after, regardless of the result. You will need to quarantine for 3-5 days until you receive the PCR result. If you have COVID like symptoms and no underlying diagnosed condition for the symptoms, it is best to stay home and call Austin Public Health to come and test you.

Join our Zoom meeting on Friday to talk and ask question with the Principal, Assistant Principal, & Parent Support Specialist.

Zoom Meeting Link: bit.ly/WidenCoffeeTalk

Meeting ID: 873 6146 6170

Password: 1234

AISD food service will partner with the Central Texas Food Bank to provide access to healthy food while campuses are closed for the winter break.

Thursday, Dec. 17th: Pick up a free, seven-day meal packs before the break at Widén from 7:00-9:00 am.

Monday, Dec. 21st: Families may pick up seven-days worth of meals from 9 a.m. to noon at Nelson Field, 7105 Berkman Drive.

Wednesday, Dec. 30: Families may pick up seven-days worth of meals from 9 a.m. to noon at Nelson Field, 7105 Berkman Drive.

Parents or caregivers may receive seven-day meal packs without children present by providing documentation (e.g., birth certificate, student ID card, report card, attendance record) at the point of meal service. Food Service will resume weekly seven-day meal pack distribution at curbside meal sites on Thursday, Jan. 7. Meals are available until all packages are distributed.

Would you like to join the Travis High School Vertical Team schools and communities on Zoom on January 5th to engage in courageous conversations about race and equity? Through these community conversations, our goal is to create school environments that are more welcoming and inclusive. Sign up to attend the event at bit.ly/Courageous2021.

Our fall picture day is Tuesday, December 8th. You do NOT need to send in any money now. A proof with different package prices will be sent home after pictures are taken and processed. These are NOT holiday photos. We could not get holiday photos schedules in a timely manner to allow for packages to be ordered and delivered before the holidays. These will be standard pictures with a solid gray background, but you are welcome to send your child in a holiday outfit if you choose to. Remote learners are also welcome to stop by campus anytime on picture day, between 8:00-11:00 am to have their picture taken. We will do our best to schedule spring pictures later this year, as well as graduation pictures for PK, Kinder, and 5th grade. Class pictures will not be taken traditionally due to COVID-19. Instead, fall pictures will be compiled into a collage that families can optionally purchase in the spring semester.

Next week we will begin video recording for our virtual Winter Wonderland performances. If you DO NOT want your child to be recorded please complete this form by this Wednesday, December 9th.

Our 3rd graders have been hard at work for the past 9 weeks writing incredible stories that the Paramount Theater Story Wranglers will bring to life in short skits. Normally we have a live performance, but this year the performance will be presented on YouTube on Friday, December 11th, at 1:30 pm. We will share additional viewing information with you soon. We are very proud of our talented 3rd graders, and you will be too when you see the show!

Over the past 3 years, Widén Elementary has worked hard to improve test scores and its rating on GreatSchools.org and by the Texas Education Agency. We went from an F rating four years ago to a B rating two years ago by the TEA. We were recognized this year by ChildrenAtRisk.org as the Texas elementary school with the most growth in student achievement. And we increased from a 1 out of 10 rating to a 5 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools.org. We are excited and committed to continuing our journey of improvement to achieve excellence. We would love it if you would consider leaving a parent review on the GreatSchools.org website!

Austin ISD will be closed to on-campus learning and will only offer remote instruction November 30 through December 4th. We appreciate your help in stopping the spread by staying home when possible, wearing a mask and frequently washing your hands. Visit the Austin ISD Open For Learning page for help technology, meals, or wifi.

The YMCA/Extend-A-Care is prepared to offer low cost, full day, childcare at Blanton and Dawson Elementary on Tuesday - Friday during the week of closure.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $160; Fee Assistance available; $75 fee to current EAC Y after school participants

If you are currently an EAC Y participant, then log on to your account to enroll.

If you are new or returning to EAC Y, then log on here to register.

For more information about EAC Y, please visit us at www.eacymca.org. For questions, please email us directly at eacy@austinymca.org.

Widén will continue serving free curbside 7 day meal packs every Thursday from 7-9 a.m.

Free produce boxes are coming back to Widén Elementary on Thursday, December 17th. Pick one up during curbside giveaway, 7-9 a.m. The Food Services Department has had to discontinue the grab & go take home after school meals.

Mass COVID testing will be offered at Mendez Middle School- 5106 Village Square Dr, Austin, TX 78744 this week.

Wednesday, December 2nd from 9:30am-6:00pm
Thursday, December 3rd from 8:00am-4:30pm
Friday, December 4th from 8:00am-4:30pm

Use this link to register for rapid testing: https://forms.gle/TJvp9y4B/2komgpMF7

The ACE After-School program is requesting your participation in a brief survey to help them plan for the upcoming Spring semester that will begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. The purpose of this survey is to determine how many parents are interested in ACE After-School providing an in-person after-school program. Please help us by completing the brief survey below.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SURVEY

The ACE AFter-School Program is offering the Maestra En Casa ESL program for parents, at no cost. This program is offered online. Space is limited. Use the link below to register for the class.

MAESTRO EN CASA REGISTRATION

The Lively Magnet and Dual Language Program Parent Information Night has been rescheduled to Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 at 6 p.m. Please use the link below to join the presentation.

Click here to join the Lively Parent Information Night

Meeting ID: 993 9110 2907

Passcode: 958702

Sadler Means is excited to provide our future parents, students, and community members with opportunities to engage with our school leaders to learn about our Advanced Academics, Dual Language program, Media, Visual, and Performing Arts Academy (M.V.P).

We will be holding fall virtual informational sessions on December 1st and December 8th for prospective students and families to share specific details about our application process, district-wide transportation, and distinctive programming. Click here to register for an informational session. Check out our video links to learn more about our vibrant school community before your informative session. Sadler Means Highlights and Sadler Means Informational Video

Over the past 3 years, Widén Elementary has worked hard to improve test scores and its rating on GreatSchools.org and by the Texas Education Agency. We went from an F rating four years ago to a B rating two years ago by the TEA. We were recognized this year by ChildrenAtRisk.org as the Texas elementary school with the most growth in student achievement. And we increased from a 1 out of 10 rating to a 5 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools.org. We are excited and committed to continuing our journey of improvement to achieve excellence. We would love it if you would consider leaving a parent review on the GreatSchools.org website!

This is a last call... We really need all of our grade levels to drop off food items for the Community Potluck by this Tuesday. We will have a table set up outside in the front office drive through lane, where families can place canned corn, canned green beans, bags of potatoes, jars of gravy, packaged rolls/bread, canned cranberry sauce, and packaged dessert (i.e. cupcakes, sliced cake, or individually wrapped sweets). We are excited to get cooking and preparing Thanksgiving to-go plates for families to pick up this Thursday from 3-5 pm.

Coats for Kids is so excited to provide warm winter coats to students across the district!

To receive a coat, AISD students who qualify for free and reduced lunch services can register by filling out this form in English or Spanish. No documentation is needed. The form is open and will close on Friday, Nov. 20. Ms. Salinas, Parent Support Specialist is prepared to help students and families fill out the form. Please remember to complete one form per child.

Coats will be delivered to AISD campuses before winter break.

The Coats for Kids program accepts new and gently worn coats, and they need volunteers. For more information on the 34th annual Coats for Kids event, please visit the Junior League of Austin website at https://www.jlaustin.org/coats/.

Austin ISD is currently offering rapid testing to its on-campus students and staff. Testing will begin with those who are symptomatic on site. The tests are free for on-campus students and staff, and health insurance is not required. Students who fail the COVID screening checkpoints are also eligible to be tested, with parent consent. Over time, the district is planning to expand this service to test students and staff who are asymptomatic, as well as offer the testing service to remote learners. We will continue to provide information as it becomes available. Please feel free to contact our front office at 512-414-2556 with questions about COVDI-19 testing.

Austin Public Health will be giving away 1,000 PPE kits to families, AISD employees, community members and anyone who needs PPE items at Mendez Middle School 5106 Village Square Dr. Austin Tx 78744 on December 5, 2020 from 9:00 am-12 pm.

Are you in need of assistance during the Christmas Holiday Season? Or are you able to donate toys for families in need of assistance during the holiday season? Operation Blue Santa can help! Visit the website to learn more at www.bluesanta.org.

If you would like to apply for assistance, here is the link to the Blue Santa Application: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9hleXKumRUux0L5GCKmmf6j5cxWYodBMkjUx657otXlUQVFVNFdXVFFIUEdCRDVNM0FCSjk3N1RVUiQlQCN0PWcu

This Wednesday at 3:30 pm we have a Campus Advisory Council Meeting after school. We will discuss campus assessments, Great Schools.Org ratings, and AISD COVID-19 testing. All CAC meetings are open to the public. Parents are welcome!

Join Zoom Meeting:

http://bit.ly/WidenCAC

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Passcode: 1234

Our PTA Board will meet Monday afternoon at 3pm on Zoom. We are still trying to fill a few PTA Board positions. We want to give a huge thanks to the amazing Wildcat Family members who have joined our PTA Board this year:

President: Almalleli Rebollar

Vice President: Claudia Jackson

Treasurer:

Secretary: Mandy Castano

Historian: Lizeth Rodriguez

Parliamentarian:

Legislative Chair:

Membership Chair:

If you are interested in joining our PTA Board, please join our meeting on zoom Monday, November 9th, at 3 pm

Join Zoom Meeting: http://bit.ly/WidenPTA2020

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Passcode: 1234

CATCH stands for Coordinate Approach To Community Health. We will be launching our first CATCH theme this week: basic concepts of healthy change. Students will be learning about GO, SLOW, and WHOA foods. Be sure to ask them about that. We also challenge each family to select 1 healthy change this week and stick with it until December 18th.

This year our Community Pot Luck will be to go, due to restrictions on public gatherings due to COVID-19. We will have a team of staff and parent volunteers preparing to go meals for our families on November 19th. But before that day gets here, we need your help! Widén will provide the Turkey, dressing, and to-go containers. We need your help with the sides. Please send as many of the above items as you can for your grade level this week and early next week. You can drop them off curbside or send them with your student to school. Your donation will allow us to prepare great meals to send home! Please call our office at 512-414-2556 if you have any questions.

On Thursday, November 12th at 10 am, our 5th grade students will participate in a virtual Magnet Schools presentation. Prior to the presentation, teachers will let students see videos about the schools.

Kealing: https://youtu.be/8NC8Uzlww74

Lively:

Part 1: https://www.loom.com/share/fd520a7bff05491d9b357ae30c947474

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTOwoGtpMK8&feature=youtu.be

Ann Richards: https://vimeo.com/466589861

After watching the videos, teachers will have students join the live Magnet schools presentation at 10 am. Parents are welcome to join also!

Join us on Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/93912912504?pwd=ZXBKcjI2aFQxbE9rcVJMbnJzR0JrQT09

Passcode: 124246

Parents are invited to join us for a virtual coffee talk with the principal on Friday, November 13th. SEL and home self care information will be shared, and parents are encouraged to ask questions and share infomration as well. For your convenience, there is a morning session at 8:15 am and an afternoon session at 3:30 pm.

Join us on Zoom:

bit.ly/WidenCoffeeTalk

Meeting ID: 873 6146 6170

Passcode: 1234

Are you in need of assistance during the Christmas Holiday Season? Or are you able to donate toys for families in need of assistance during the holiday season? Operation Blue Santa can help! Visit the website to learn more at www.bluesanta.org.

If you would like to apply for assistance, here is the link to the Blue Santa Application: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9hleXKumRUux0L5GCKmmf6j5cxWYodBMkjUx657otXlUQVFVNFdXVFFIUEdCRDVNM0FCSjk3N1RVUiQlQCN0PWcu

This week is parent conference week. Teachers will contact parents to hold conferences via phone or on Zoom.

Students have the day off on Tuesday, November 3rd, for Election day. Families are encouraged to vote in the presidential election. Teachers have professional development, but will also reach out to families to conduct parent conferences.

Our first awards ceremony is this Friday on Zoom. The ceremony schedule is listed on the above flyer. We have allocated 15 minutes for each class, and the classes will present awards in the order listed on the above flyer.

Join our Zoom Ceremony: bit.ly/WidenAwards

Meeting ID: 919 6005 2769

Password: 1234

The Thanksgiving Community Potluck is a huge event for our school. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will not be able to have a large indoor gathering, so this year we will prepare curbside meals to go! Widén will provide the turkey and dressing (and to go boxes), but we need your help with the sides. We need donations over the next two weeks. Please see the flyer above for suggested donations for each grade level. Your donation will allow us to provide a to-go for all of our family members. Thank you in advance for supporting our community this Thanksgiving holiday season!

Are you in need of assistance during the Christmas Holiday Season? Or are you able to donate toys for families in need of assistance during the holiday season? Operation Blue Santa can help! Visit the website to learn more at www.bluesanta.org.

If you would like to apply for assistance, here is the link to the Blue Santa Application: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9hleXKumRUux0L5GCKmmf6j5cxWYodBMkjUx657otXlUQVFVNFdXVFFIUEdCRDVNM0FCSjk3N1RVUiQlQCN0PWcu

AISD’s technology team has launched a webpage that allows school communities to check the status of district systems such as the cloud and portal, as well as Accelify, School Messenger, and Zoom, at www.austinisd.org/technology/status.

ACC is offering free computer literacy classes for AISD parents. Classes are on Zoom and include information on the use of internet, email, Google, AISD Parent Cloud, and AISD Blend. Scan the QR code on the flyer above for more information.

Our cafeteria will continue to provide free breakfast, lunch, and weekend snacks for all of our on-campus students. And 7 day to-go meal packs are provided for all remote learners. These to-go meals can be picked up on Thursdays, from 7:00-9:00 am.

On November 12th, our 5th graders will participate in a virtual Magnet School Presentation at 10:00am. It is recommended that families watch the following videos prior to the presentation:

Kealing: https://youtu.be/8NC8Uzlww74

Lively: Part 1: https://www.loom.com/share/fd520a7bff05491d9b357ae30c947474

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTOwoGtpMK8&feature=youtu.be

Ann Richards: https://vimeo.com/466589861

Students and parents can submit questions about the schools and programs here on this Google Form: www.tinyurl.com/magnetquestion

Parents are also invited to join in on the live webinar on 11/12 at 10:00 am

Webinar link:

https://zoom.us/j/93912912504?pwd=ZXBKcjI2aFQxbE9rcVJMbnJzR0JrQT09

Passcode: 124246

Use this link to apply to a magnet program: https://lively.austinschools.org/our-programs/magnet/enrollment

Please find important events and deadlines below for families interested in applying to the Lively Magnet Program below.

• Tuesday, November 10th: : Virtual Parent Information Night Session 1: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 8th: Virtual Parent Information Night Session 2: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
• Lively Open House: The Evening of Wonder: Tuesday, January 12th: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Magnet Admission Testing Session 1: Saturday, January 16th
• 8:30 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Last Names A-L
• 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Last Names M-Z
• Magnet Admission Testing Session 2: Saturday, January 23rd
• 8:30 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Last Names A-L
• 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Last Names M-Z
• Magnet Admission Testing Session 3: Wednesday, January 27th
• 4:00-5:40 p.m.
• Application Deadline: February 5th at 4:30

This week we welcome back students in 5th grade who's families opted to return to campus. Please remember that return to campus is based on the response to the family survey, and all families returning should have received a confirmation call from campus administration before returning. If you have not received a confirmation call, you will need to contact the campus to confirm your child's return prior to returning (512-414-2556).

It is also important to note that this week we may have to reduce the distance between students in some classrooms to 3-5' depending on the number of students who opted to return. Remote learning will continue to be available to families all year long, so you do NOT have to return to on-campus learning if you prefer your child(ren) to remain at home.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS MUST BRING DEVICES BACK TO SCHOOL (ALONG WITH PERSONAL WATER BOTTLES)!

This week is Red Ribbon Week! Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness week observed nationally, and we always celebrate this event with a week of dress up themes. We love to Tweet pictures and post pictures to our @widenelementaryschool FB page, and we hope you will share in the fun with us, whether your child is on campus or doing remote learning. Please text your pictures to Ms. Bryant at 1-602-809-4110.

The upcoming theme days are:

Monday 10/26: Red Ribbon Kick Off Day… Wear red.

Tuesday 10/27: Team up against drugs… Wear sports gear.

Wednesday 10/28: Eat healthy & colorful foods… Wear rainbow colors.

Thursday 10/29: Be who you want to be… Wear your costume. No Halloween masks or toy weapons.

Friday 10/30: Follow your dreams… Wear pajamas.

This Tuesday, October 27th, our students and families can participate in a mock election using an electronic ballot link. We will meet on Zoom in the morning at 8:30 am to kick off the election, and we will announce the results on Zoom that afternoon at 2 pm. For additional questions contact our community school facilitator, Danielle Bryant at danielle.bryant@austinisd.org or 512-414-2556.

Meeting Link: bit.ly/WidenElectionsKickOff

Meeting ID: 951 9859 0786

Passcode: vote

We also want to share resources with you for the actual election coming up on November 3rd. Early voting ends on October 30, 2020, and the official election day is Tuesday, November 3, which is a student holiday.

English: https://lwvaustin.org/votersguide/LWVAA-VG-2020-11-ENG-web-final.pdf

Spanish: https://lwvaustin.org/votersguide/LWVAA-VG-2020-11-SPN-web-final.pdf

No tricks! This night will be a treat! Even though we can not have events in the building right now, due to COVD-19, we found a creative way to still have a fun Halloween/Curriculum Night. Put on your costumes and come on over for a walk-by trick-or-treat! We will be dressed up too and giving away candy, as well as a math & reading game or activity for you to take home from 5-6 pm on 10/29.

The walk through will take place in the small front office drive through lot, where buses enter. Families can park in the lot or along the street and then walk to the drive-through entrance, visiting tables collecting treats, and then walk out through the exit of the drive through. We do ask that you remain a safe distance (6 feet or more) from other families, and masks are still required (even if you are wearing a Halloween costume).

Report cards will be ready on Thursday, October 29th. This year the district will distribute report cards electronically. All parents will receive report cards through email. Parents can request a hard copy (curbside) by calling our front office at 512-414-2556.

Our first Awards Ceremony for K-5th will take place on Friday, November 6th. It will take place during the day in classrooms (for on-campus students) and on Zoom for parents and remote students. We will share a flyer with the schedule and zoom link soon!

Election day, November 3rd, is a student holiday for Austin ISD. Teachers will also be reaching out to families that week, November November 2nd-November 6th to have parent conferences via phone or zoom.

This week we welcome back students in 3rd & 4th grade who's families opted to return to campus. Please remember that return to campus is based on the response to the family survey, and all families returning should have received a confirmation call from campus administration before returning. If you have not received a confirmation call, you will need to contact the campus to confirm your child's return prior to returning (512-414-2556).

It is also important to note that this week we may have to reduce the distance between students in some classrooms to 3-5' depending on the number of students who opted to return. Remote learning will continue to be available to families all year long, so you do NOT have to return to on-campus learning if you prefer your child(ren) to remain at home.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS MUST BRING DEVICES BACK TO SCHOOL (ALONG WITH PERSONAL WATER BOTTLES)!

We are happy to continue to accommodate students in the building and students who choose at home learning. While it is okay to change your mind about how your child will participate in instruction, all requests to come back to the campus must be approved by campus administration and parents will be notified of a start date. Parents may switch back to remote learning at any time, but must communicate this to teachers to avoid being counted absent. If a second request is made to return to on campus learning, the start date will be delayed until the next grading period.

If you child needs to miss a day of on campus instruction for health reasons, but he/she participates in online instruction, the student will NOT be counted absent.

As students change their mind an switch from home to campus or campus to home, please be aware that this creates a hardship for the teacher in terms of planning for the amount of time for individual and small group instruction on zoom, and on campus, and creating the appropriate number and types of materials and resources for on campus and online. Parent changes result in teacher schedule changes. We hope that we all settle into a routine and can become more consistent with our schedules.

It has been really hard on our teachers trying to adjust to teaching students in the classroom and at home at the same time. This is a brand new experience for us. As we navigate this simultaneous teaching experience, we are having to adjust our schedules as challenges arise. Attending to our kids in two different places at the same time is not an easy task, but we are getting better at it each day. We will most likely continue to make adjustments to schedules as more students return to the school. Teachers will continue to communicate schedule changes with you. We realize that schedule changes are a challenge for our remote learners. Please know we are doing our very best to settle into a schedule that allows us to serve our at-home and on-campus students to the best of our ability. This is a new world, and we are learning as we go!

Join the ACE Lights On After School on ZOOM event on Thursday, October 22nd, at 4:30 pm.

Click Here to Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 878 6371 9741
Passcode: uTBe8J

The first report card grading period ends this Friday, October 23rd. Time flies! Report cards will be ready on Thursday, October 29th. This year the district will distribute report cards electronically. All parents will receive report cards through email. Parents can request a hard copy (curbside) by calling our front office at 512-414-2556.

All parents are welcome to join our Campus Advisory Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 21 at 3:30 pm. We will discuss our Creepy Curriculum Night, our Campus Improvement Plan, and the COVID-19 Response Quick Reference Guide.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Passcode: 1234

One tap mobile

+1346248779

Please drop in on our ZOOM meeting with the principal, counselor, and reading specialist to discuss reading tips and resources, stress management strategies, and any other questions you may have. We will be available at 8:15 am and again at 3:30 pm this friday, October 23rd.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 873 6146 6170

Passcode: 1234

One tap mobile

+13462487799

Red Ribbon Week is coming soon (October 26th-30th). Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and violence prevention awareness week observed nationally, and we always celebrate this event with a week of dress up themes. We love to Tweet pictures and post pictures to our @widenelementaryschool FB page, and we hope you will share in the fun with us, whether your child is on campus or doing remote learning. Please text your pictures to Ms. Bryant at 1-602-809-4110.

The upcoming theme days are:

Monday 10/26: Red Ribbon Kick Off Day… Wear red.

Tuesday 10/27: Team up against drugs… Wear sports gear.

Wednesday 10/28: Eat healthy & colorful foods… Wear rainbow colors.

Thursday 10/29: Be who you want to be… Wear your costume. No Halloween masks or toy weapons.

Friday 10/30: Follow your dreams… Wear pajamas.

Presidential election day is coming up, and this is a great opportunity for our students to learn about the election process and the importance of participating in democracy. On Tuesday, October 27th, our students and families can participate in a mock election using an electronic ballot link. We will meet on Zoom in the morning at 8:30 am to kick off the election, and we will announce the results on Zoom that afternoon at 2 pm. For additional questions contact our community school facilitator, Danielle Bryant at danielle.bryant@austinisd.org or 512-414-2556.

bit.ly/WidenElectionsKickOff

Meeting ID: 951 9859 0786

Passcode: vote

We also want to share resources with you for the actual election. Early voting ends on October 30, 2020, and the official election day is Tuesday, November 3, which is a student holiday.

English: https://lwvaustin.org/votersguide/LWVAA-VG-2020-11-ENG-web-final.pdf

Spanish: https://lwvaustin.org/votersguide/LWVAA-VG-2020-11-SPN-web-final.pdf

No tricks! This night will be a treat! Even though we can not have events in the building right now, due to COVD-19, we found a creative way to still have a fun Halloween/Curriculum Night. Put on your costumes and come on over for a walk-by trick-or-treat! We will be dressed up too and giving away candy, as well as a math & reading game or activity for you to take home from 5-6 pm on 10/29.

This is a last call to submit your flu shot consent form to our front office no later than this Thursday, 10/22, if you want your child to receive a free flu shot on October 29th. Please drive through if you want us to bring you a consent form, or use the link below to print a copy of the form.

Consent Form

Parent Information Letter

Vaccine Information

This week we welcome back students in 1st & 2nd grade who's families opted to return to campus. Please remember that return to campus is based on the response to the family survey, and all families returning should have received a confirmation call from campus administration. If you have not received a confirmation call, you will need to contact the campus to confirm your child's return prior to returning (512-414-2556). It is also important to note that this week we will be able to accommodate 25% of our building capacity, which means that we will be able to continue to maintain 6 feet distancing between students. However, next week, when we increase to 50% capacity, we will have to reduce the physical distance between students. It is also important to note that remote learning will be available to families all year long, so you do NOT have to return to on-campus learning if you prefer your child(ren) to remain at home.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS MUST BRING DEVICES BACK TO SCHOOL!

We will have an optional flu clinic at Widén on Thursday, October 29th. Flu shots are available for any student doing on campus learning or remote learning. In order for your child to receive a vaccine, a completed consent form must be received by our front office staff no later than Thursday, October 22nd. You can print a form using the link below, or we will bring a copy to you in your car when you drive by.

Consent Form

Parent Information Letter

Vaccine Information

Our very first PTA Board Meeting of the 2020-2021 school year is this Friday, October 16th, at 2 pm on Zoom. We are looking for a few dedicated parents to take on PTA Board member roles, including a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer [and when we have enough interested people, boards include a Historian, Parliamentarian, Legislative Chair, and Membership Chair. We only meet once a month. And we just plan little events to help the school. If you are willing to join our team, please join our first Zoom Meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281

Passcode: 1234

Our cafeteria is distributing 7-day packages of curbside meals to go on Thursdays from 7-9 am. These to-go meals are ONLY for students participating in REMOTE learning.

Students who are attending on campus will receive free breakfast and lunch daily. They will also be able to take home to-go snacks for the weekend.

FREE COVID-19 Testing is available through Austin Public Health (APH).

Click here for a flyer.

COVID-19 testing is recommended for those who:

● have COVID-19-related symptoms

● have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19

● have traveled in the last 14 days

Schedule free testing by using this link: https://www.austintexas.gov/covid-testinfo Click here to view APH testing site locations here.

Due to students being back in the building, kitchen staff will be preparing meals daily for students on campus; therefore, daily curbside meal distribution will NOT be available. Families can drive through and pick up 7 days of to-go meals on Thursdays from 7-9 am

This week we reopen at 25% capacity with some of our PK-Kinder students, early childhood students, and siblings. Other grade levels will be phased in over the next few weeks. By now, you should have been contacted by campus staff to let you know your child's return date. It is important you follow this date and DO NOT show up at school prior to this date, due to spacing requirements. Please contact our front office if you are unsure of your child's return date.

REMOTE LEARNING will be provided all year for those who want it. Once your child returns to school, you may switch back to remote learning at any time. If you opted for remote learning and wish to switch to on-campus learning, you will need to contact the campus to make a request. Administrators have up to 5 days to accommodate the request, if it is a first request to switch back to on-campus learning. After a first request is accommodated, a second request will only be available at the beginning of the next grading period.

To maintain safety and social distancing, afternoon dismissal will be different. Parents that drive up or park and walk up will be assigned a numbered sign to wait by. Students will be called individually and escorted to the numbered sign. Please be patient with us, as this may take a little longer than usual. Thank you for helping us keep students and staff safe!

Parents please click on the Income Verification Form above to complete it electronically. Only one form per family is needed. This information allows us to continue to receive free meals for all of our students. We need this form completed for all families as soon as possible. We have 22 responses so far. We need many more before the end of October.

English Form Link: https://forms.gle/7iSXtcB3siPVdHaTA

Spanish Form Link: https://forms.gle/CFFss4zBxSCozPHL7

Need a hard copy? ENG SPAN

Austin ISD is expanding its capabilities to text families important information promptly via the School Messenger platform. Families will receive the following text message from 67587: “You’re registered 4 SchoolMessenger messages. Txt STOP to quit, HELP 4 help. Std msg/data rates may apply. Freq varies. schoolmessenger.com/tm”. We hope you will allow these text messages, as it will be a great way for us to get important infomration to you quickly!

Many thanks to all of our families for letting us know your preference to return to school or to stay home. We are preparing to provide online instruction for those who want it and face to face instruction for those who want it. The flyer above explains when students at different grade levels can return. This return is of course based on a limited capacity. We will notify all families this week of the return date for their child(ren).

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS MUST BRING THEIR OWN AISD DEVICE (IPAD OR CHROMEBOOK) BACK TO THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY RETURN. THESE WILL BE USED DAILY DURING INDEPENDENT WORK TIME.

Students returning to school will have a health screening, including a temperature check, prior to being able to enter the building each day. This will slow down the morning arrival process, so please be patient with us. Although doors will open at 7:00 am, teachers do not report to duty until 7:30 am. We will have limited staff on campus to help monitor students who arrive prior to 7:30 am. We will not be able to let students gather in the cafeteria as we did in the past. We have floor dots in the hallway, spaced 6 feet apart, where early arriving students can stand or sit until their teacher arrives.

Using the screen & go feature on the AISD Mobile App (pictured above) will speed up the health screening process, and students who get the green checkmark on that app will only need a temperature check at the screening station.

In order to be on the campus you must meet the following criteria:

• Temperature below 100 in the last 24 hours
• No OCVID-19 symptoms within the last 24 hours
• Nobody in the household tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• No direct or close contact with anyone that has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
• Not currently awaiting results of a COVID-19 test

If your child meets any of the above criteria, he/she may not come to school. Please report any positive COVID-19 cases to our school office so that we can determine whether students or staff were exposed and distribute any notifications.

Since most of our teachers will be teaching students online and in the classroom simultaneously, we will implement new schedules for all students beginning on October 5th, that will allow teachers to alternate in person instruction followed by independent work time, and online instruction followed by asynchronous work time. This alternating of lessons will occur throughout the day. Please click on the schedule picture above that will take you to a list of all grade level schedules. Please keep in mind that these schedules are draft starting places for us as we begin the simultaneous teaching process. This is completely new for al of us, so adjustments to schedules will be made as needed. Teachers will keep you posted.

Also please note that due to the size of classrooms, the number of students returning, and the number of teachers returning, some students may not get to work with their own teacher when returning to school. We will do our best to keep all students with their current teachers, but some exceptions may need to be made. We will notify you of any needed adjustments as we move along.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS MUST BRING THEIR OWN AISD DEVICE (IPAD OR CHROMEBOOK) BACK TO THE SCHOOL WHEN THEY RETURN. THESE WILL BE USED DAILY DURING INDEPENDENT WORK TIME.

ALL students and adults in the building must wear masks. Masks will be provided for those who arrive without them.There will be designated areas where a student can take a mask break as needed. Students who are unable to comply with the mask requirement may be asked to return to remote learning.

Breakfast and lunch will take place in the classroom. Clear view desk shields will be used during lunches so that masks can be removed while eating.

All classrooms will have hand sanitizer, wipes, masks, and gloves. Students will be encouraged to wear gloves or wipe down bathroom/sink surfaces they need to touch before and after use to reduce the spread of germs.

Water fountains will not be used by students, but adults can assist students with the refilling of water bottles as needed. Please be sure your child has his/her own water bottle.

Classes may take an outdoor recess break; however, play equipment will not be used due to the inability to keep children safely distanced and to keep the equipment properly sanitized. Students will remain distanced by 6' during outdoor breaks.

Each child will be provided with a large 3-gallon plastic ziplock bag to keep his/her own supplies in inside the classroom. No supplies will be shared. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS BRING THEIR OWN AISD DEVICE BACK TO THE SCHOOL.

Students will be seated 6' apart while the school is at 25% capacity. We will do our best to place students with their own teacher, but adjustments may have to be made to comply with the 6' distance requirement. When we increase capacity to 50% on October 19th, students will be seated 3-6' apart, depending on the number of students who return.

Parents please click on the Income Verification Form above to complete it electronically. Only one form per family is needed. This information allows us to continue to receive free meals for all of our students. We need this form completed for all families as soon as possible. We have 22 responses so far. We need many more before the end of October.

English Form Link: https://forms.gle/7iSXtcB3siPVdHaTA

Spanish Form Link: https://forms.gle/CFFss4zBxSCozPHL7

Need a hard copy? ENG SPAN

Your voice and participation is so important to us! This is your school, and we want to make sure you feel comfortable being involved.Please take a moment to respond to the short 2 questions survey by clicking on the parent flyer above or by going to http://bit.ly/WeValueParents.

VICTORY Tutorials has partnered with ACE Austin to provide 1:1 academic assistance for students in need of extra support in Math, Reading Writing and Science. Please share the sign-up form link with your parents.

Victory Tutorial Sign up!

Join us this Thursday for an unusual Back to School Night. First, drive by the campus to get your curbside SWAG bag from 2-4 pm. Then join your child's teacher's Zoom meeting at 5 pm to get a virtual tour, ask questions, play and game, and have a PRIZE RAFFLE! Be sure you ask the teacher how to sign in virtually. The 3 teachers with the most parent visitors will also get a prize. This is an unusual year and this will be an unusual Back to School Night, but we will still have fun together!

We offer a coffee talk each month, but this month it will have to be a virtual coffee talk. So join us this Friday from 8:15-9:15 or 3:30-4:30 pm on Zoom. We will discuss remote learning and plans for Face-to-Face phase in learning, and any other topics you would like to discuss.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/87361466170?pwd=WEc1ZkY3VE4zUU1uU1dGV1pJWDNFdz09

Meeting ID: 873 6146 6170

Passcode: 1234

Fall is the time to join PTA. It costs $9 to join online. You do NOT have to do anything else once you join. Your membership fee alone does sooooooooo much to support the school! You can join online at txpta.org.

If you are interested in doing a little more, we do need to establish a new PTA Board, to include a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. If you are interested in being a board member, please email Ms. pace or Ms. Salinas.

jennifer.pace@austinisd.org

idalia.salinas@austinisd.org

Now is the time to nominate your child for consideration for the AISD Gifted & Talented Program.

To learn more about this program, please click here.

To submit a nomination, please click here.

If a person needs help with rent or medical bills as a result of COVID-19 and lives in 78744, you can apply for relief money from DSP (only 1 application per household, and application does not guarantee assistance, amount of assistance varies) To apply follow the steps below and email all information below to dovespringsproud@yahoo.com.

First join Dove Springs Proud Facebook group, then accept DSP President Friend Request on Facebook.

Submit proof that you have or had COVID with your name.

Submit a government-issued ID that matches your current address with your name and your address in 78744.

Submit proof of medical bill from COVID, and/or proof of electric or rent/mortgage bill for DSP to consider paying due to COVID such as loss of job

Post DSP logo on your personal FB page and tag DSP President.

Create Paypal.me account online to get $ online with your debit card or bank account linked to it. Send link.

Complete the survey application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QSFB62X

With thanks from Ricardo Zavala, President of Dove Springs Proud

Beginning on October 5th, AISD schools will begin to phase in students who wish to return to school for face-to-face instruction. Schools will operate at 25% capacity for two weeks, October 5th through October 16th. During the first week of phase in, priority will be given to Early Childhood Special Education, students whose parents work for AISD, PreK-3, PreK4, Kindergarten, and siblings. Capacity and social distancing requirements may result in limited space for Pre-K and kindergarten students. And dependending on how many students actually want to return, some space may be available for students in other grades. If space allows additional students will be added to the phase in, beginning with first and second grade students during the week of October 12-16th. Then, if conditions allow, we will move to a 50% capacity model, adding 3rd and 4th grade students during the week of October 19-23rd, and 5th grade students October 26-30th. This week Widén administrators will process parent survey results to plan for the phase in by identifying priority students. We will notify all parents wanting students to return of their child's return date during the week of September 28-october 2nd. Please call our office with any questions or concerns. We are here to help, and we will work through the phase in process together!

This is a friendly reminder that starting this week, every Wednesday during remote learning, will be a day for students to complete independent work and for teachers to plan for online instruction. Teachers will be checking in with students on Wednesdays, but we will not follow our regular daily zoom schedules on Wednesdays. All teachers, including music, art, and PE will have lessons and activities for students to complete on their own in their Blend courses. Please contact your child's teacher or our front office (512)-414-2556 if you have questions or need assistance.

What is PTA and who has time for it? It is not scary at all! It is easy to participate! And it is just a good thing to do. Can we have 30 minutes of your time this Friday, September 18th, at 2 pm? We just want to tell you what PTA is and what PTA does. There is no cost to attend this meeting, and no obligation to join, volunteer, or do anything at all. And to show our appreciation for joining the online meeting, we will have a tabletop whiteboard easel for your child to use at home for remote learning.

Click HERE to join the meeting. Meeting ID: 956 3302 9281 Passcode: 1234

Beginning on October 6th, schools will reopen at 25% capacity. The capacity will increase over a six week phase-in period. Families will have the option to return to the school building or continue with remote learning. What would you like to do? It will be important for schools to know how many families want to return and how many families want to continue with remote learning in order to prepare for enough teachers in the building and enough teachers providing remote instruction.

AISD sent a survey to parents (on Thursday, September 10th) via email and text message to collect information about whether your student(s) will return to school or continue to do remote instruction when campuses reopen. If you have not completed this survey, please do so as soon as possible, so that we can prepare. You will need your child's ID number for the survey. If you do not know your child's ID number, please contact your child's teacher or our front office at (512)-414-2556.

Click HERE to take the survey.

If you have questions regarding the survey, please submit them using the AISD Let's Talk site.

Would you like to get text messages from Widén Elementary? Click here to join the Widen Elementary Remind App

Curbside meals will continue to be free for any person under the age of 19 years old. Drop by to pick up a to-go meal between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm.

Click HERE to learn about AISD Community Learning Spaces.

Let your child join the FREE ACE online enrichment club! Click HERE to register.

Call our office (512-414-2556), the student help desk, (512-414-4357) or parent help desk (512-414-9187) and ask a staff member to report the device as lost or stolen. You may be asked to provide information and details.

**NOTE: Reporting the device as lost/stolen authorizes us to use location tracking to identify the device’s location.

Student devices in need of repair: Families can take iPads, Chromebooks, and hotspots in need of repair to either your school or to one of the Curbside locations, where they can be swapped out as long as supplies allow.

What type of art should the City put up on East William Cannon in 78744? Use your voice to direct public art near you! Complete an Art-on-the-Corridor survey in English or Spanish. Tell us where the street meets your story.

Art-on-the-Corridor is working with the City of Austin’s Corridor Program Office and neighborhoods to identify public art or cultural spaces along nine designated roadways in Austin. The Art-on-the-Corridor Project is gathering stories from community members to express the culture and spirit of each corridor. These stories will help create public art to support each community.

Thank you. Ricardo Zavala, MPA

Dove Springs Proud (DSP) Founder/President for 78744

It's official! School has started, and we are so excited! It is a busy month. Here is our September Parent Calendar.

Remote learning from home will be challenging for all of us, but we will get through this together! Join our At Your Service Hour for Parents every Wednesday, from 2-3 pm on zoom . We will try to help answer any of your questions!

Click Here to Join The Meeting

Meeting ID: 555 667 8471

Password: 1234

We have paper Learning Guides available for students experiencing special circumstances and challenges. We strongly recommend participating in online instruction to the greatest extent possible; however, curbside paper Learning Guides are available for pick up. Learning Guides are available in 2 week bundles. Work completed in the paper Learning Guides must be communicated to teachers on a daily basis for attendance and grading purposes.

In addition to paper Learning Guides, consumable textbooks can be provided for special circumstances. Textbook pick-up requests must be made by contacting our front office at 512-414-2556.

We want to show our love for GRANDPARENTS. Please drive through on Monday, September 14th, between 9 am and 3 pm so that we can run some cookies out to you in the office side drive through lot. If your grandparent cannot make it to the school, please come pick up some cookies for them.

The district has developed electronic handbooks for parents to help with the use of Blend and Seesaw. We hope that these will be helpful! You can also contact the AISD Technology support line at 512-414-9187 for assistance or submit an electronic request for assistance by clicking here. For support via text message contact 512-886-6434.

English Parent Handbook

Spanish Parent Handbook

There is also an Early Childhood Checklist for parents to help with at home learning.

We would love to give you some school supplies to use at home during online learning! Please drive through the front office drive-through parking lot Tuesday - Friday this week from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm, to receive your supply pck! One per family while supplies last.

Free curbside meals are provided in the to-go drive through lane on the cafeteria side of the building Monday - Friday from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm!

Our records indicate we have 98 students who still need to get their iPad and 22 students who still need to get their Chromebook. To speed up the distribution process so that all families have devices in time, the district is delivering all remaining devices to campuses. We received our iPads on Friday, and the Chromebooks will be delivered on Monday. If you requested a pick up or a delivery, we are asking that you come to Widén Elementary this week for curbside device checkout. The district is delayed in deliveries, so pick up at Widén will be the fastest method for our students who still need devices.

Widén Elementary device pick up 9 am - 3 pm

Technology FAQ

If you need technology assistance please contact the AISD Technology support line at 512-414-9187 or submit an electronic request for assistance by clicking here.

Please let us know if there is anything you need. We will have paper copies of Learning Guide Packets available each week, and we have some take-home textbooks available by request for special circumstances. Please let your child's teacher know if you need these, or call our front office at, 512-414-2556, to arrange a curbside pick up time. You can email front office staff for assistance also!

Principal: jennifer.pace@austinisd.org

Assistant Principal: patricia.williams@austinisd.org

Registrar: jessica.bustamante@austinisd.org

Front Office Support: brenda.gill@austinisd.org

Our Virtual Meet the Teacher event will take place this Tuesday, August 25th, from 4-5 pm and then again this Wednesday, August 26th, from 9-10 am. The event will take place on Zoom. Parents can drop in anytime during the Zoom hour using the clickable links on the flyer above. The main goal is to allow you to meet your child's teacher and exchange contact information. Don;t worry if you miss the event. Your child's teacher will reach out to you to connect personally prior to the first day of virtual school on September 8, 2020.

Widén staff will be reaching out to all families to see if your child is ready to begin online instruction. We want to be sure that you have everything you need and that you are ready to go on September 8th. We are here to help you in any way we can. So please be expecting a call from someone this week. If you prefer to share your information with us electronically, please use the 2020-2021 Parent Contact Information Form Above, and provide any specific comments about what your child needs or how we can help you access online instruction.

Cafeteria staff is providing free meals for any child under 19, and their parents or caregivers. When school resumes on September 8, students or parents must show documentation they are enrolled in AISD, and free meals will only be available to students. Documentation may be a student ID card, student ID number or an official letter or email from the school showing that the child is currently enrolled at an AISD school. Meals will be provided along the drive-through pick up lines on the west side of the building. Each day, students may pick up breakfast and lunch meals, packaged together. Meals will not be provided on Labor Day, September 7th.

Grades 3-12: Families who need a Chromebook can now go to one of the Computer Curbside locations to pick up a device. The Technology Department will be reaching out about deliveries and campus-based distributions once the iPad deliveries are successfully up and running.

PreK3-2nd: Families who missed the assigned iPad pick up days last week or who register late, will be able to pick up an iPad at one of the Computer Curbside locations. We will soon expand to seven.

Are you in need of school supplies to use at home? We will be providing a drive-through, curbside supply giveaway September 1st-4th from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm. We will have backpacks with school supplies for our students. Quantities will be limited to one bag per family while supplies last.

Our Virtual Meet the Teacher event will take place on Tuesday, August 25th, from 4-5 pm and then again on Wednesday, August 26th, from 9-10 am. The event will take place on Zoom. Parents can drop in anytime during the Zoom hours using the clickable links on the flyer below. The main goal is to allow you to meet your child's teacher and exchange contact information. Your child's teacher will reach out to you and your child to connect more personally prior to the first day of virtual school on September 8, 2020.

Are you in need of school supplies to use at home? We will be providing a drive-through, curbside supply giveaway September 1st-4th from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm. We will have backpacks with school supplies for our students. Quantities will be limited to one bag per family while supplies last.

For families without technology or internet access, we will be providing textbooks to use at home during the online only instruction weeks from September 8th through October 2nd. Materials will be distributed through the front office drive through lane.

Please sign up today and reserve your child's virtual spot in our program. We will offer both "Anytime" and "Live Virtual" activities! You can now choose what works best with your schedule at home!

Please read the instructions carefully and submit your completed registration when done. You will need to do one registration for each child in your household.

ACE After-School Activities will begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. All activities will be available from 3:30 - 6:00 pm, a schedule of activities that are grade level specific, will be emailed to you.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ACE NEWSLETTER

In order to for teachers to better prepare for full day online instruction (synchronous and asynchronous), The AISD Board of trustees voted to push back the first day of school for students to September 8th. The last day of school will be pushed back to June 3, 2021. A new calendar will be developed and shared with parents soon.

We want to share basic online schedules with you to help you prepare for online learning at home. Teachers will be sharing more detailed schedules with you at the start of the year that will include specific small group instruction times for your child.

THE SCHEDULES ABOVE WILL BE FOLLOWED MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAYS ARE RESERVED FOR ONLINE ACTIVITY PLANNING & PREPARATION AND STUDENT INDEPENDENT WORK COMPLETION. TEACHERS WILL CHECK IN WITH STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY ON WEDNESDAYS AS NEEDED.

To maintain the health and safety of our staff and students, we will not exchange Valentine's Cards. This year we have not been sharing supplies in an effort to reduce the spread of germs, and since paper products cannot be easily disinfected. Some classes will engage in Valentine's crafts in lieu of a Valentine Card exchange. And some classes may do a virtual card exchange online.

We also do not want to bring food products that involve open containers or handling items that touch the other items in the package. We will allow students to bring individually wrapped, pre-packaged items (like bags of individual chips, hostess treats, small individual packs of candy, etc.). Snacks will be distributed by teachers at the end of the day for students to take home.

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe!

This is a reminder there is no school on Friday, February 12th & Monday, February 15th.

Monday, February 12th is a District of Innovation Day for schools in the Travis High School Vertical Team.

Monday, February 15th is an AISD Professional Development Day for teachers.

We hope you enjoy the 4-day VAlentine's Day weekend! Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

We want to hear from all of our parents! First grade is now leading with 39% of parents completing the survey. Help us to get a 75% completion rate by March 5th. Students and teachers on the grade level with the most parent responses will earn a special prize. Survey link: https://tinyurl.com/AISD-Family-Survey-2021

February 1st-March 12th is our Parent Conference time. There is not a designated day for conferences, so teachers will be reaching out to parents on different days to hold conferences by phone or on zoom. Parents are also welcome to reach out to teachers as well to hold a conference. Feel free to call our office at 512-414-2556 if you need assistance scheduling your parent conference.

Students need to maintain an attendance rating of 70% or higher in order to be promoted to the next grade level. Please reach out to your child's teacher or call our front office at 512-414-2556 if you wave questions about your child's attendance. Teachers will be notifying parents of retention possibilities during parent conferences. There is still time to improve attendance! Students participating in remote instruction must log into zoom and complete work in Blend or Seesaw daily to receive attendance credit. Students with more than 14 absences typically perform well below grade level.

The flyer above shares some of AISD's mental health resources and strategies.Learn more by checking out the AISD Mental Health newsletter at: https://www.smore.com/gbed9.

Huge thanks to all of our families who have already completed the AISD Parent Survey. The survey is open for 2 more weeks. 3rd Grade is in the lead toward our 75% parent survey response goal. Your feedback is so important to us. If you have not had a chance to take the survey, we hope you will before March 12th.

Parent Survey Link: https://tinyurl.com/AISD-Family-Survey-2021

Registering before May allows us to make classroom placement decisions for your child for next school year. Our registrar can help you in person by appointment or over the phone. Or you can register online. Have you moved? Do you want to remain at Widén next year? We can assist you with a transfer! Give us a call at 512-414-2556 for assistance.

The AISD Family Engagement Newsletter has helpful information and resources for anyone experiencing challenges after the winter storm.

The last two weeks were very challenging as a result of the winter storm. In addition to working on physical health, AISD is reminding us to take care of our mental health as well. The flyer above contains strategies for dealing with stress, and there are more resources and tips in the AISD Mental Wellness Newsletter.

Our 3rd-5th Grade students will participate in MAP testing during the two weeks remaining before spring break. We wanted to share the troubleshooting flyer above to help our remote learners who experience challenges with MAP testing at home.

The Black Lives Matter Week of Action will take place March 8-12. We encourage all of our families to the Black Lives Matter movement by participating in the upcoming Dress Up Days. We will include this information in our next newsletter, too!