School Matters
December 2020
Reminder: Instructional Status Change Form due Friday, Dec. 4
As we approach the close of the fall semester, we would like to remind our parents of the learning options available to best support our students. Specifically, a student who is currently at school for in-person learning on campus may revert to remote learning at home at any time. However, students currently in remote learning at home may switch to in-person learning at school only at the beginning of each grading period.
To prepare for the next grading period which begins Wednesday, January 6, 2021, parents are asked to make the appropriate selection using the Instructional Status Change Form posted on our website before Friday, December 4. If you will not be making a change to your child’s current instructional status, no action is required.
Details regarding our learning options are available on the School Year 2020-2021: Learning. Transformed section of our website.
Superintendent to provide update for parents, Q&A via Facebook Live Thursday, Dec. 17
School board approves additional professional development days, student holidays to 2020-2021 Instructional Calendar
During its regular meeting held Wednesday, November 18, the Lake Travis school board approved the submission of a waiver to the Texas Education Agency that allows the district to add four days of staff professional development to the current 2020-2021 school year calendar. As a result, these four days will be observed as student holidays as indicated below:
- Friday, December 18, 2020
- Tuesday, January 5, 2021
- Tuesday, January 19, 2021
- Friday, March 5, 2021
Furthermore, the waiver provides a half day for additional professional development which will be observed by students as an Early Release Day on Friday, March 12, 2021. Therefore, release times will occur as follows:
- Elementary Schools - 12:05 p.m.
- Middle Schools/High School - 1:15 p.m.
Due to these changes, our grading periods have been modified as follows:
- End of 2nd Grading Period is now Thursday, December 17, 2020
- Start of 3rd Grading Period is now Wednesday, January 6, 2021
- End of 3rd Grading Period is now Friday, March 12, 2021
- Start of 4th Grading Period is now Monday, March 22, 2021
The revised calendar is available under the 'Calendar' icon at the top of our homepage.
"The waiver allows us to train our teachers and support staff on various educational strategies designed to improve student performance in lieu of instruction," said Superintendent of Schools Paul Norton. "Additionally, we believe these extra staff development days will give our teachers much needed time to plan and prepare while providing our students and families with added breaks to disconnect and recharge."
District updates Return to School Protocols for COVID-19, reviews new CDC guidelines for quarantine
As conditions surrounding the pandemic continue to evolve, Lake Travis ISD officials have evaluated and updated the Return to School Protocols for COVID-19. Specific changes can be found in the document as outlined below:
- Self-screening Protocols for Staff and Students (p. 12)
- Close Contact (p. 14)
- Protocols for Re-entry After Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (p. 14-15)
- Protocols for Re-entry After Coming into Close Contact with an Individual Test-Confirmed to Have COVID-19 (p. 15-16)
Additionally, District officials are aware of new guidelines issued December 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which reduce the number of days close contacts should quarantine following exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual. Austin-area school district officials and local health authorities participated in a conference call December 4 to review and discuss the CDC's guidelines. Given the importance of contact tracing and quarantining in our schools, Lake Travis ISD will continue its review of these guidelines and will make a final determination shortly.
"The health and safety of our school community is of utmost importance," said Paul Norton, Lake Travis ISD Superintendent of Schools. "Our plans will remain flexible to accommodate potential changes, and guidelines may be further modified as needed. In the interim, we urge our school community to continue the consistent practice of personal hygiene and social distancing."
Superintendent's mid-year check in: we want to hear from you
"From December 2-11, we will use a two-way engagement tool called Thoughtexchange to gather feedback," said Mr. Norton in a video message. "You will be asked to respond to one open-ended question and then assign ‘stars’ or ratings to ideas shared by others. You may provide as many suggestions as you would like. Rest assured, your thoughts and stars are confidential. We encourage you to participate and return often to view and rate additional thoughts. The more you rate, the clearer your priorities will become.
Thirty-three LTHS seniors earn recognition by the National Merit Scholarship Program
Additionally, some 1,100 program participants who are not Finalists are awarded special scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations. To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and the entry requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Program. Professional staff then evaluate each candidate's abilities, skills, and accomplishments and choose winners of the sponsor's Special Scholarships. These scholarships may either be one-time awards or renewable for four years of undergraduate study. Lake Travis High School senior Ryan Donovan has been identified as a candidate for a Special Scholarship sponsored by the TEGNA Foundation, Inc.
LTHS students photographed above (left to right):
Swetha Ayinala, Samuel Bieberich, Lindsey Bowen, Faith Dawson, Souptik De, Julius Heitkoetter, Calvin Dorius and Braden Fisher; not photographed are Kaitlyn Biggs and Erin Fitzgerald
Sohail Manayathara, Nolan Hess, Raul Higareda, Hana Hight, Avery Ho, Katelyn Lieb and Luke Lovelace; not photographed are Tarzan Ma and Brendan Malone
Tin Nguyen, Delaney Piantanida, Tarun Rajanala, Emily Seawright, Carter White, Manoj Singireddy, Megan Sundheim and Katherine West; not photographed are Victoria Plaxton, Kali Power, Joseph Quinlan, Jack Seaquist III, Kevin Stapleton and Anirudh Utagaikar
Students on Winter Break Dec. 18 through Jan. 5
As a reminder, all LTISD students will be on Winter Break Friday, December 18, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Classes will resume Wednesday, January 6.
Be sure to stay up to date with major districtwide events listed in our LTISD 2020-2021 Instructional Calendar.
As a reminder, the LTISD school board approved the submission of a waiver to the Texas Education Agency that will allow the district to add four days of staff professional development to the current 2020-2021 school year calendar. As a result, these four days will be observed as student holidays as indicated below:
- Friday, December 18, 2020
- Tuesday, January 5, 2021
- Tuesday, January 19, 2021
- Friday, March 5, 2021
Celebrate the holidays safely with these tips from Austin Public Health
LTHS student-athletes sign letters of intent
Baseball
Alec Grossman - University of Texas
John Riden - Wofford College
Jack Litowitz - Mars Hill University
Giacomo Hester - Blinn Junior College
Cross Country and Track & Field
Charlie Eagle (Cross Country/Track) - Layfette College
Golf
Hallie Kuhns - University of Missouri
Zaden Danielson - Texas A&M International University
Softball
Zoe Jameson - Eastern Oklahoma State College
Jami Watson - East Central University
LTEF celebrates successful Turkey Trot
The Lake Travis Education Foundation celebrated its first ever virtual Turkey Trot. The annual event had over 800 participants who walked and/or ran in Lake Travis neighborhoods, parks and surrounding areas during Thanksgiving week.
Lake Travis Independent School District
Email: info@ltisdschools.org
Website: www.ltisdschools.org
Location: 3322 Ranch Road 620 South, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-533-6000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools/
Twitter: @ltisdschools