Eagle Update: February 5, 2021
Barton Hills Elementary
Hello BHE Families:
This has been a Healthy Heart Week for sure! The weather was beautiful (well, today was a little chilly) and our on campus learners had a week of outside picnic lunches to take advantage of our wonderful green space and "amphitheatre"/picnic perfect seating!
This upcoming week we have a special School Wide event on Friday! We are going to have a School-wide Zoom Dance Party on Friday, February 12th from 2:20 to 2:40. Coach E will provide the music, Mrs. Achtermann and Mrs. White will run the Zoom Room and Students will provide all the moves :). Everyone will need to use the following Zoom Link to join the Dance Party:
https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/94433112254?pwd=Rld0WEYwYlNEeFdvTnhqM3c1dG4ydz09
Meeting ID: 944 3311 2254
Passcode: Eagles
This past Wednesday evening, our PTA sponsored a Parent Support Series Zoom with Lawrence Alexander. During our workshop, titled “From Understanding to Allyship: A Community Responsibility,” we explored how we can practically apply what we learned through our conversations with Lawrence on how to have the hard conversations, as well as discussion on the books and podcasts we read/listened to about anti-racism. Mr. Alexander challenged us with the following questions:
1. What daily conversations can I influence?
2. What daily habits can I model for social change?
3. Who's in my community that I need to be a better friend to?
If you have not see the PBS series of videos titled "Austin Revealed" I would encourage you to explore them to learn more about our shared Austin Community history. I have provided a link below to one in particular which has Interviews with prominent Austin citizens about their experience during Austin’s civil rights period, the effect of segregation and what gentrification has meant to the city.
Thank you as always for your support of our school community.
Kati Achtermann
Upcoming Dates
- February 12 - 2:20 Zoom DANCE Party!
- February 15 - Staff Development/Student Holiday
- February 26 - Asynchronous Learning Day
- March 5 - Asynchronous Learning Day
- March 15 - 19 - Spring Break
- April 2 - Staff Development Day/Student Holiday
- April 9 - Asynchronous Learning Day
Student Climate Survey - From Mrs. White
New and Returning Student Registration for 2021-2022 School Year
Austin ISD Trustees to Move Meetings to Thursdays
Beginning in February, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees will meet for their regular voting meetings on Thursdays, except the month of July when the board does not meet. This change is occurring after the board approved an update to policy BE(LOCAL) – Board Meetings, on Dec. 11.
The update includes a provision to specify that information sessions shall normally be held the second Thursday of each month, except the month of July.
In addition, the provisions in the current policy regarding Board Resolutions will be streamlined, changing the reference to “resolutions” to formal board “recognitions.” The provision includes a change to the number of board members needed to request a Special or Emergency Meeting from two members to three.
This change will not affect public testimony or public comment. The process will continue to be the same but will be moved to Thursdays.
Additional changes regarding agenda setting and approval will be considered at future board meetings.
More information can be found on the board meetings website.
Background
The Board Policy Committee reviewed the proposed BE(LOCAL) at its meeting Nov. 12. The policy was shared with the Board at the Dec. 7 Board Information Session and approved Dec. 14 during the Regular Voting Meeting.
Virtual SMART Campus with AISD LASA Students
Hello everyone! LASA Robotics will be hosting virtual SMART Camps this semester for students in 3rd through 5th grade! The camp will be completely free and will occur on Saturdays from 2 p.m to 4 p.m, having a 15-minute break at around 3:00. Since it is a single day session, you can choose which day works best. It’s okay if your child is unable to participate this month, because we will be hosting future sessions!
The high school robotics mentors have a LEGO SPIKE Prime kit at home and will use Zoom to teach campers how to code (through a program similar to Scratch). Students will be able to control our robots remotely through the session! We will begin with basic activities and build up throughout the day, working with a ratio of about one team member to three students. Students will take turns virtually controlling the robot through the Zoom call, and work on activities, such as making the robot navigate an obstacle course and using a color sensor. Your student does not need any additional materials!
If your child would like to participate in a session this month, please fill this link out: https://forms.gle/6fWfVdipF9C8v1ra9 by Wednesday, February 10th at 10 p.m! More information will be sent out the Friday before the session that your student is signed up for.
Additionally, please have your student download the SPIKE Prime program: https://education.lego.com/en-us/downloads/spike-prime/software. We encourage the kids to explore the program ahead of time, to get a feel for what it looks like and the different features! We recommend joining from a laptop, rather than a tablet, to ensure access to all the features on Zoom. Thank you!
If Your Chid is Returning to School In Person: Before You Arrive to School Everyday:
Austin ISD App
COVID-19 Pre-Screen Questions
Screenshot the GREEN GOOD TO GO page
When You Arrive at School
Blue Stars
Health Screening Checkpoint
Temp Check
Health Guidelines
Please review the attachments below to learn more about how to respond if you believe your child has a positive COVID case and general guidelines for when to keep your child home from school. If you have any questions, please contact our school health room at 512-414-2013. Thank you!
Browser History Reminders
Please note and remind your children their browser history can’t be cleared. Remind students that their browser history on an Austin ISD device cannot be cleared. Anyone who opens history on their device will be able to see students’ search history, along with dates and times.
Dogs on Campus
How to Check Status on District Systems
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.
BHE PTA
About Us
Website: www.bheeagles.com
Location: 2108 Barton Hills Drive, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2013
Facebook: facebook.com/BartonhillsPTA
Twitter: @bheeagles