Update on Elementary School #8
As you may already know, on Monday, February 13, 2023, the Lakeway City Council voted 7-0 to deny a development agreement for the construction of Elementary School #8 off Bee Creek Road. This development agreement had been discussed with city staff since June 2022 and at no time did they ever share this project would not be moving forward. The unexpected result of this vote means that, at this time, we will not be able to build Elementary School #8 at this location.
During our school board meeting on Wednesday, February 15, the board discussed the City’s denial and options to best accommodate our students and address overcrowding at our elementary campuses. As we discussed during our bond presentations in the fall, if we are unable to build elementary schools, we would have to rezone or add portable buildings to existing campuses. The rezoning process will include working with our demographer to help determine new school boundaries. If portables are needed, that is a much more extensive process which involves securing the buildings, obtaining permits, and establishing utilities. These processes will look at our areas of projected growth, the impact on our district and take effect this fall, August 2023.
The City’s decision was a complete surprise to us, and the denial is disappointing after months of discussions with them. It is not the direction we hoped and planned for our students and families, but is the unfortunate situation which has been placed upon us. We understand that you are anxious to know where your elementary student will attend school and have many questions. Our goal is for our families to know the campus their child(ren) will attend during the 2023-2024 school year by mid-May 2023. We will keep you updated throughout this process, and thank you for your patience as we work through this as quickly as possible.
No school Feb. 20 due to staff professional development
As a reminder, there will be no school on Monday, February 20 as teachers and staff will take part in their third consecutive day of professional development. Classes will resume Tuesday, February 21.
The Lake Travis ISD Department of Curriculum & Instruction hosted more than 1,000 members of the LT family February 16-17 at Lake Travis High School for the annual LT "Learning Together" Conference. The event began at the Lake Travis Performing Arts Center with keynote speaker Dr. Eric Twadell. Attendees then filled LTHS classrooms to participate in a multitude of interactive and informative sessions for teachers and support staff across the District.
The Administration would like to thank the District's C&I Department, instructional coaches, Food and Nutrition Services staff, Office of Corporate Relations, CraigOs Lakeway, It's All Good BBQ, and all conference sponsors.
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Board approves submission of waiver to TEA for missed school days due to ice storm
It was definitely (another) one for the record books. With area-wide ice accumulations throughout the Texas Hill Country and Greater Austin, Lake Travis schools were closed between January 31 and February 3 thanks to Winter Storm Mara. Aside from downed trees, limbs, and debris, overall damage to District facilities was minimal.
LTISD students have two bad weather days already built into the current instructional calendar. On February 15, the school board approved the application of a waiver to the Texas Education Agency to have all missed days due to the ice storm waived.
Bee Cave, Lakeway to host 2023 Special Olympics Texas Winter Games
The Special Olympics Texas Winter Games are returning to Bee Cave and Lakeway February 17-19.
Specifically, the Lake Travis Special Olympics Delegation will compete in cycling on Saturday, February 18 at Bee Cave Middle School. Other events scheduled at BCMS include floorball, powerlifting, and FUNdamental Sports. Opening ceremonies and the Victory Dance will be held from 7:00-9:00 pm, Saturday, February 18 at Star Hill Ranch. The complete schedule of events and volunteer opportunities are available on the Special Olympics Texas website.
A press conference announcing the return of the Winter Games to Bee Cave and Lakeway was held December 13 at the Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel. Pictured (left to right) are Glen Koen, City of Lakeway Chief of Police; Mark Calaway, also known as WWE wrestler "The Undertaker"; Matthew Wells, Texas Special Olympics athlete of the Hill Country Stars; and Michelle McCool.
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Lucas Casey-Moore United States Merchant Marine Academy | Bo Edumundson University of Nevada Las Vegas | Tyler Mitchell Harding University |
Lucas Casey-Moore
Bo Edumundson
Tyler Mitchell
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Greyson Sofia Colorado School of Mines | | Griffen Willis United States Naval Academy |
Greyson Sofia
Griffen Willis
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LTEF scholarship applications now open for LTHS seniors
Third episode of "Lake Travis ISD Matters" podcast focuses on mental health awareness
In this episode, we discuss mental health awareness with guests Jennifer Lyon, LTISD Director of Health & Social Emotional Learning; Lacey Branker and Rachael Macomber, Licensed Clinical Social Workers at Lake Travis High School; and two students from the Breathe Initiative club at LTHS.
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Lake Travis DECA recognized for outstanding School-Based Enterprise
DECA Mart, the school-based enterprise at Lake Travis High School, was among 461 school-based enterprises achieving Gold certification for the 2022-2023 school year and will be recognized during DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Orlando, FL.
A school-based enterprise (SBE) is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.
The Lake Travis High DECA member who contributed to this certification was Nausheen Hossain with the assistance of their DECA chapter advisors, Tracey Griffith and Jill Oates. The SBE at Lake Travis High has been in operation for 15 years.
“DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical, learning laboratory, and then translate that into meaningful outcomes,” said Christopher Young, CAE, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. “These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers.”
LT Fire Rescue performs "The Search for Baby Yoda" safety presentation
The Lake Travis Fire Rescue Safety Squad provided "out of this world" fire and life safety presentations to schools within Travis County Emergency Services District No. 6, including Lake Travis ISD. The presentation titled, "The Search for Baby Yoda" made a stop at Serene Hills Elementary School on January 30. The Safety Squad also performed its show at Lakeway, Lake Travis, Lake Pointe, and Bee Cave elementary schools earlier in the month.
Established in 2005, LTFR Safety Squad is the department’s public education program that promotes life and fire safety to elementary school-age children. Utilizing popular characters and pop culture references, this group of firefighters introduces and reiterates important safety lessons and concepts through annual theatrical performances at elementary schools in Travis County ESD No. 6. The Safety Squad enables members to interact with the community to enhance the relationship between the department and local children and their families. These interactions broaden the participating firefighters’ experience with their community and promote positive relationships with emergency personnel.
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Lake Travis students earn prestigious gold keys in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Ten Lake Travis students earned a Gold Key at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards regional competition. As a result, these students have advanced to national competition:
- Hailey Anson - LTHS, 12 grade
Title: "Who Are You."
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Amber Forgey
- Demetra Frantzen - LTHS, 11th grade
Title: "Strings Attached"
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Bohye Na
- Erin Jackson - LTHS, 12th grade
Title: "Found Something Cool"
Category: Printmaking
Art teacher: Amber Forgey
- Anvi Jana - LTHS, 10th grade
Title: "Entangled"
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Bohye Na
- Nicholas Miller - LTHS, 11th grade
Title: "Ruby and Max"
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Caleigh Taylor
- Katelyn Presley - LTHS, 11th grade
Title: "One With The Fish"
Category: Mixed Media
Art teacher: Amber Forgey
- Zoey Stein - LTHS, 12th grade
Title: "Conceal"
Category: Painting
Art teacher: Bohye Na
- Keaton White - LTHS, 10th grade
Title: "Hidden In Plain Sight"
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Bohye Na
- Carolyn Hall - BCMS, 7th grade
Title: "Getting Put Together (Personal Growth)"
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Aaron Forgey
- Devansi Vuta - BCMS, 8th grade
Title: "Eyes On Me! Stress Induced"
Category: Drawing & Illustration
Art teacher: Aaron Forgey
An award ceremony and gallery show was held January 29 at the Scanlan Gallery at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin. The event also commemorated Scholastic’s 100 years of empowering creative teens and celebrating youth voices.
All art and writing submissions are judged based on the program’s three criteria: originality, technical skill, and emergence of personal vision or voice. Student works are first adjudicated regionally through the more than 100 local Affiliates of the Alliance. Students receiving Gold Keys, Silver Keys, Honorable Mentions, or American Visions & Voices Nominations are celebrated within their communities through local exhibitions and ceremonies. Gold Key works are then judged nationally by an impressive panel of creative-industry experts to receive Gold, Silver, American Visions & Voices, Portfolio Silver with Distinction, or Portfolio Gold Medals. Results for national awards will be released on March 23.
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Keeping Connected
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Lake Travis Independent School District