Principal Allen's Weekly Newsletter
August 12, 2019
Welcome Back!
I am thrilled to share the first newsletter of the 2019-2020 school year with you! I hope the summer break brought many opportunities to make beautiful memories with friends and loved ones. I feel blessed to have made a very special one myself. This past June I got married and will now go by Mrs. Allen! I was able to spend a week in Cancun with my husband before returning to work in July. It was refreshing to get away for a moment, and now I am ready to begin another school year with you!
Last week, SWES faculty and staff returned to work and have been diligently preparing for the arrival of our inquisitive and eager students. This year we will continue living our vision statement, Spicewood aspires to be a caring community of innovative, globally minded citizens who take action!. We are ready for an amazing year and look forward to greeting both familiar and new faces on Wednesday, August 14th at Meet the Teacher.
Sincerely,
Teyan Allen, Principal
SWES Faculty Update
You will notice several new faces at Spicewood this school year. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce them to you.
Kindergarten
We welcome Mrs. Amanda Guy and Mrs. Lexi Carney to the kindergarten team. Before coming to Spicwood, Mrs. Guy was a special education teacher at River Oaks Elementary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mrs. Carney previously worked at Harmony Science Academy where she spent the last five years as a kindergarten and second grade teacher.
First Grade
Joining this team is a returning Spicewood teacher Mrs. Ashley Choudhury. Before joining our Spicewood family last year, Mrs. Choudhury taught first grade for three and a half years in Orlando, Florida and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Second Grade
We have added three new teachers to our second grade team. Mrs. Sabnish Ali, Mr. Philip Catuogno and Ms. Victoria Tucker. Mrs. Sabnish Ali previously spent three years as a second grade teacher in Fort Bend ISD while Mr. Catuogno brings a wealth of experience in second and third grade having taught both in Pflugerville ISD. Ms. Victoria Tucker previously taught kindergarten in Uhland, Texas.
Third Grade
Last year Ms. Natalie Webb worked at SWES as a long term sub for a teacher on maternity leave. This year she will be returning as a third grade teacher. Before joining Spicewood, Ms. Webb spent two years as a fourth grade teacher in Houston I.S.D.
Fourth Grade
Mr. Clayton Whitfield is the newest member of the 4th grade team. He has six years experience in elementary education. Most recently he taught third grade in Pflugerville ISD.
Leadership Team & Support Services
Mrs. Jessica Oates, a former second grade teacher has joined our leadership team. With over 6 years as an educator at an IB school, she will now serve as our IB Coordinator. Mrs. Taylor Gutierrez, also a former second grade teacher, has been hired as our math and reading interventionist.
While we will miss former Spicewood teachers who have retired, relocated or chosen another career path, I am confident we have added incredible teachers to our team. I hope that you will extend them a warm welcome!
Back to School Information
School Hours
7:40am - 2:55pm
Office Hours
7:20am -4:00pm
Meet the Teacher Event
Kindergarten Orientation is on Wednesday, August 14 from 2:00 – 2:45PM. Parents and students will begin their visit in the cafeteria and then proceed to the classrooms after introductions.
Spicewood’s Meet the Teacher Event for all students in 1st-5th grades will also be on Wednesday, August 15 from 2:30- 3:15PM. During this event, students and parents can go to their teacher’s classroom, meet their teacher, drop off their school supplies, collect their “First Day Packet of Information,” and review bus routes provided.
Class Assignment
Class assignments are announced via postcards. All postcards were mailed out on Friday, August 9th. Students should receive a postcard from their teacher this week..
School Supplies
Please bring your child(ren)’s school supplies to our Meet the Teacher event on Wednesday, August 14 so you can drop them off in their homeroom. If you cannot attend the event, you may bring them on the first day of school on Thursday, August 15. The school supplies list is available on our school website. (School supplies purchased through PTA will have been delivered directly to classrooms.)
Student Arrival
School doors open at 7:20AM. Students arriving at this time will be directed to the cafeteria. At 7:25AM all students will be dismissed from the cafeteria and may walk directly to their classroom. Students who are not in their classroom by 7:40AM will be counted as tardy.
Walking Students to Class
For the first seven days of school (August 15- August 23), parents are allowed to walk their child(ren) all the way to their classrooms. Starting on Monday, August 26, parents are asked to drop off their children at the front entrance of the school.
Student Dismissal Times
Dismissal is always staggered. Kindergarten students will be under the portico at 2:40PM with their homeroom teachers. First and second grade teachers will walk their students to the portico area starting at 2:47PM. Third and 4th grade teachers will walk their students to the portico at 2:52PM, followed by 5th grade students at 2:55PM. If you plan to drive through the circle drive during pick-up, it is very helpful when parents have student’s name(s) written/printed on a piece of paper placed on the dashboard of their car.
Dismissal Procedures
Parents Who Park and/or Walk to Pick Up Students: Certain areas in the front of the school are roped off. Please do not enter into this area and wait for students. However, once your child's class has been seated under the portico, you may enter, acknowledge your child’s teacher by making eye contact or greeting and pick up your student. Once you pick up your child(ren), we ask that you clear out of the front entrance area. There will be limited space available and we would like to keep the front portico area circulating at all times to alleviate congestion.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Traffic
No cars should be parked in the circle drive at all times during the drop-off & pick-up time. It is only for drive through drop-off/pick-up. Hope Church is always very gracious in allowing us to use their Northeast parking lot. Please avoid using their circle drive (as shown below) at all times as the church wishes to reserve this for their church members. There’s also street parking available on Tin Cup Dr. and Swan Dr. Please drive slow and alerted at all times during the drop-off & pick-up time.
Please Do Not Use Staff Parking Lot
Parents and/or students are not allowed to walk or drive through the staff parking lot at all times to ensure safety. All golf carts must follow the same expectations as other vehicles.
Announcements from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Back to School Party
Join us for a back to school party at Urban Air (13201 Ranch Road 620N, Suite B) Tuesday, August 13th 5pm-8pm.
Volunteers Needed
The PTA would love some volunteer help on the couple of days before school starts. We will be filling the first day of school folders on Tuesday 8/13 and signing up families for PTA memberships during the Urban Air Back to School Party 8/13 and the Meet the Teacher Wednesday 8/14. If you have any time to give towards these events, we would really appreciate the help! Follow the link to sign up to help: https://spicewoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com/Open_Forms
Catch the Early Bird Special for Spicewood T-shirt & PTA Membership Combo
For a limited time only, get your PTA membership and the new Spicewood t-shirt for just $18. Skip the lines, these shirts will be delivered to your child's classroom within the first 2 weeks of school. After the 13th, this combo will be $22. All students and Spicewood staff will be wearing these t-shirts every Monday to show school spirit! Order your t-shirts here!
Weekly Volunteers for the Spicewood Garden Needed
The Spicewood Garden needs your help! Please sign up and volunteer your time to water, weed, and maintain our garden. Signups can be done at: http://signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EAFAE2BA0F58-20192020. There will also be community workdays on 9/21, 10/19, 11/16, 1/18, 2/15, 3/21, 4/18, 5/16.
Please contact Stephanie Facey with any questions. steph.facey@gmail.com
Campus Events & Dates
Tuesday, August 13
5:00pm - 8:00pm - Back to School Party @ Urban Air (13201 Ranch Road 620N, Suite B)
Wednesday, August 14
2:00pm -2:45pm - Meet the Teacher (Kindergarten)
2:30pm - 3:15pm - Meet the Teacher (1st -5th)
Thursday, August 15
First Day of School
Monday, September 2
Labor Day Holiday- No School
Thursday, September 5
Open House
5:00-5:30 Kinder & 1st
5:30-6:00 2nd & 3rd
6:00-6:30 4th & 5th
*Specials, TAG and Special Areas teachers will be in the Library 5:00-6:00
Friday, September 20 - Friday, September 27
Book Fair
Friday, September 27
KISS Cookout- (Check with your child's teacher for lunch time)
Monday, October 14
Holiday - No School
Tuesday, October 15
No School - Parent Student Conferences