Eagle Update: May 14 2021
Barton Hills Elementary
Hello BHE Families:
We had a busy week this past week with 3rd - 6th Grade STAAR testing. We are super excited to share some end of year fun that we have planned for students! We know this year has been so challenging and our kids have been outstanding. We are excited that in addition to our previously announced Spirit Days, we have a several school wide last day activities that we've never done before - or that we've done but we have to do differently this year :). So, please see the flyer below for a sneak peak at all the fun!
Earlier this week, I sent out a newsletter highlighting some COVID-19 Protocol updates. Since that time, the district has provided some additional guidance and clarification around those changes as well as the response to the latest CDC decision. I"ve added the information as it applies to Barton Hills as well:
How does the CDC decision impact Austin ISD?
On Thursday, the CDC said that Americans who are fully vaccinated can go without masks both indoors and outside regardless of physical distancing. Since we have no way to verify vaccination statuses and, until this week, most of our students were not yet eligible to be vaccinated, Austin ISD will continue to require masking through the rest of the school year and with graduation ceremonies.
At this time, we will evaluate the CDC’s new guidance and how that might impact our policies for the summer classes and the 2021-2022 school year as we continue to increase our vaccine efforts and devise a system to verify whether individuals are vaccinated.
- If you have any questions about this, go to Let’s Talk or text your question to 512-886-6434.
How can I get my 12-15-year-old vaccinated?
This week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the safe and effective Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12-15. With this news, Austin ISD and our vaccine partners welcome all students ages 12-15 to our upcoming pop-up clinics distributing the vaccine.
- You can find future vaccination pop-up clinics on our calendar at https://www.austinisd.org/calendar. Check back, as new events are added often.
How does the new outdoor mask policy work?
Wearing a mask will no longer be required when students are actively engaged in outdoor physical activities, when physical distancing can be maintained, such as recess, WOW, and physical education. Aligned with CDC guidance, this new policy, effective May 12, applies only to recess or in a physical education class; masks may be considered but are not required -- and only to children whose parent or caregiver has signed a consent form provided by the campus. Here is the link for the Barton Hills Consent Form.
Here are some important details:
- 6 feet physical distance and being actively engaged in a physical activity must be maintained while masks are off outdoors. If physical distancing cannot be maintained, or a student is not actively engaging in physical activity, then masks will be required.
- The ability to remove masks outdoors does not include students sitting, standing, and walking in small groups, for example between periods in a courtyard or outdoor walkways.
- Masks will still be required for all other outdoor activities, including graduation ceremonies.
- This does not apply to Austin ISD staff, who still need to wear masks.
Can you explain the update to the quarantine rules?
Austin ISD has reduced the length of a quarantine from 14 to 10 days, except in cases when masks were not worn consistently or high-risk people who have not been vaccinated are involved. In these cases, a 14-day quarantine would be required for all involved. This change does not apply to people who were on a 14-day quarantine period before May 12 because of changes to the contact tracing process for a 10-day quarantine that were not present when we were following a 14-day quarantine period.
Thank you all for your continued support of our students, staff and community.
Kati Achtermann
Upcoming Dates
- May 17 - STAAR Reading for 3rd - 6th grade off campus learners (given on campus)
- May 18 - STAAR Math for 3rd - 6th grade off campus learners (given on campus)
- May 19 - STAAR Science for 5th grade off campus learners and make ups for tests for off campus learners
- May 20 & 21 - STAAR make up test dates for 3rd - 6th grade off campus learners
- May 21 - Green and Gold Spirit Day
- May 28 - Career Day
- May 31 - School Holiday/Memorial Day
- June 3 - Last Student Day
Spring Spirit Days
End Of Year FUN!
From Our PTA
Party with a Purpose!
Live music. Tequila 512 drinks. Spyglass headquarters courtyard. String lights and tables. Paddle board raffle. Perfection.
Tequila 512 and Spyglass Realty have teamed up again to offer one of our most popular Parties with a Purpose. This event will be held in person but outside the Spyglass offices. There will be socially distanced space inside to cool off as well. Only 30 tickets available ($50 each) so get yours soon.
Friday, May 21, 8 pm
2130 Goodrich Ave.
Tickets can be purchased here through Eventbrite. This is an adults-only event.
School Supply Pre-Order for 2021-2022 School Year
New and Returning Student Registration for 2021-2022 School Year
For Families of K-2nd Grade Students
The Austin ISD Health and PE Department has been working on revising the K-2 Human Sexuality and Responsibility (HSR) curriculum for the 2021-2022 school year. Your feedback is important to guide this work. You are being invited to a virtual Coffee Chat - Human Sexuality & Responsibility” on May 21st at 8:30 am to learn more about the proposed changes to the curriculum. Please see below for the zoom link:
- https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/98049579276?pwd=cXdPR2IrTGRRdm1uWHhlWFc4c01lQT09
- Meeting ID: 980 4957 9276
- Passcode: Eagles
At this meeting, caregivers will learn more about the HSR policies, HSR K-2 revised curriculum, and how to complete the K-2 HSR Parent Survey to provide feedback.
There is also a parent survey that is open for your feedback and will be used by Austin ISD to make any necessary changes to the draft K-2 lessons over the summer. The survey will include all documents presented at our meeting and will be open from May 10 - May 28, 2021. Your child’s Student ID number is required as the login. Click on K-2 Human Sexuality Parent Survey to begin the survey.
Thank you for your feedback and we look forward to seeing you at the Parent Virtual Coffee Chat - Human Sexuality and Responsibility next Friday, May 21st at 8:30 am.
Summer Meals for Children and Caregivers
This summer, AISD will continue to provide free meals for children and caregivers.
How families may locate AISD summer meal sites in their area:
Text FOOD or COMIDA to 512-229-9110.
View all sites and service times on the AISD website.
Meals are free for any child younger than 19 and those older than 19 who utilize special education resources or who are enrolled in school to complete the requirements for a high school diploma.
Families will have the option of picking up daily to-go meals at more than 40 designated summer program sites or weekly meal packs at 30 curbside locations. Parents or caregivers may receive meals without children present by providing documentation — such as a birth certificate, student ID card, report card, or attendance record — at the meal service site. Children do not have to be enrolled in AISD to receive meals.
AISD will also provide free caregiver meals prepared by local restaurants, adults with accompanying children, or the documentation listed above at weekly curbside meal sites. Caregiver meals are not available during daily to-go meal distribution.
All AISD meal sites will be closed July 5-9. Food is available until all meals are distributed.
Meal sites and times are subject to change.
Resources: AISD Summer Meals Campus Toolkit
Food Service will also provide resources to principals at current curbside campuses to communicate operational changes for summer.
Questions? View the AISD Summer Meals FAQs or contact christine.steenport@austinisd.org, 512-414-0247.
COVID-19 Protocol Updates from mid-week update not changed :)
End of Year Activities
- End-of-year activities such as promotion ceremonies are allowed outdoors.
- Barton Hills will share any information for end of year celebrations as they are finalized; we are planning on student-only events to maintain a building capacity of 50%.
Campus Tours and Visitors
- Tours and campus visitors for educational activities and instructional purposes with prior approval are allowed if COVID-19 screening procedures (including screening and temperature checks) are involved.
- We are not currently planning any in person campus tours.
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
Arrival and Dismissal Protocols/Procedure Reminders
ARRIVAL:
- All students must have their temperatures checked prior to entering the building. If they are arriving by car the temp checks are done in the car before they exit. If they arrive by bike or walking, the screening is done by the main doors.
- Please complete the COVID-19 Screener for each students before arriving on campus. If you have more than one student, you can screenshot the "green" screen. The Screener must show the student name - not the parent name. See pictures below if you are unsure what the app looks like. You will need your students ID number. This is the same as their "s" number - just without the "s". You can also find their ID number from your parent cloud account.
- Everyone must wear a mask- we ask that even in the cars, adults wear masks for safety of the screeners.
- Please do not pull around the car line.
- Do not drop off students in the parking lot or pull through the parking lot to avoid the screening line.
- On cold mornings, it is helpful to turn off the car heater - when students sit under the car heater it impacts their temperature :)
- Arrive by 7:40 to complete the screening and allow enough time for your student to walk to class, unpack their things, and be prepared for the start of the classes opening activities/Zoom meeting.
- If you arrive after the screeners have gone inside, you will need to call the front office and we will have to come out to you. Because this requires additional time, we respectfully ask that you arrive no later than 7:40.
DISMISSAL:
To enhance our dismissal procedures, and help us maintain better social distancing we are going to be more rigorous with our staggered dismissal times. You can help by waiting to come pickup your student (or getting in the pick up line) until your grade level dismissal time.
2:45 - all siblings (in different grade levels) and EAC bus riders will be called to the cafeteria
2:50 we will begin dismissing siblings and EAC bus riders in the front of the building
3:00 - we will dismiss Kinder, First and Fifth graders in the front of the building
3:00 - we will dismiss Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth graders on the north side of the property off of Briarcrest Drive (where they have been dismissing)
If you are walking up to pick up your child, please do not walk up to the class/classroom teacher. Please stay on the sides of the covered walkway and we will bring (or send) your child. to you.
Breakfast and Lunch
Free breakfast and lunch will be available daily to all students. Breakfast is served in the classrooms. If your child will want breakfast at school, please let your child's teacher know so they can be sure to add them to the "count." Lunch is served daily. There is a set menu and no a la carte menu items (single milks, single menu items, snacks, etc.). When the weather is nice and we are able, we will plan to picnic outside on the large rocks above the blacktop. When we are unable to eat outside we will be in the cafeteria at the cafeteria tables with distanced seating (as possible) and plexiglass barriers on the tables.
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