Welcome Back
Start of 2019-2020 School Year
Welcome Back Letter from the Principal
August 2019
To the Parents and Guardians of our Martin Mustangs,
I am excited about the upcoming school year and great things we have in store for our Mustangs for the 2019-2020 school year. We successfully closed out the 2018-2019 school year, Mustangs attended Summer Enrichment, and had July to relax and recharge! As a reminder of the great things we do here, Martin offers exciting programs which include: Two-Way and One-Way Dual Language, Gifted and Talented, Action-Based Learning, CIS-Communities in Schools, Special Education In-Class-Support, LIFE Skills, Early CIA-Children Interacting After-School (After School Program 3:40-6:00), and Bird Specials and Mustang Academy (AM and PM tutorials and clubs for 3rd and 4th graders). The Martin staff are excited and ready for another AWESOME year!
Please remember that both the educational advancement, safety, and security of our students and staff are always top priorities. I would like to thank everyone for your on-going cooperation in making sure that we have a secure campus. All visitors should go through the front office (Door #1) and present Alief accepted identification cards for check-in procedures. For security purposes, we also request that all visitors leave the campus through the main office, after signing-out and surrendering their visitor tags. We are limited in our parking spots and respectfully request that parents and neighbors park in the East Visitor parking lot as you visit for ARDS, meetings, conferences, or assemblies, and NOT park in staff parking spots in the back parking lot, along the Sharpcrest parking spots, nor in the circle drive.
Martin continues to strive for excellence in academics and student well-being, including physical and mental health. As an Action-Based Learning (ABL) and a Brighter Bites campus, we hope parents support our need to ensure a healthy environment by providing nutritious lunches for our students and limiting or discontinuing junk food (no fast food). Lunchtime is one of the rare unstructured parts of the students’ day, during which they get to freely socialize with their classmates. Therefore, we ask that you allow your child the freedom to be independent eaters and to socialize with their peers. Please limit your mealtime visits to special occasions or tied to behavioral/academic goals. If you must visit during lunch, please adhere to our Wellness Wednesday Parent Visitation Schedule (see Wellness Wednesday - Parent Lunch Schedule below). Due to the interruptions to our instructional/work day and for security concerns, we also request that you send lunch with your child in the morning at drop off, instead of dropping off lunches during the day. Insulated lunch boxes/ice packs are available at local stores.
PK hours are AM: 7:55-11:30 and PM: 11:45-3:20. AM PK drop off will be at the PK door #7 on Sharpcrest between 7:20-7:55 and pick up will be on Hendon, in front of the school between 11:30-11:45. PM PK drop off is at the PK door #7 on Sharpcrest between 11:30-11:45 and pick-up will be at the same location between 3:20-3:25. Please bring your PK student to the front office if there is no staff on duty (after 7:55 for AM and 11:45 for PM). Regular school hours are 7:55 – 3:20 pm (please have students here by 7:45 and picked up no later than 3:40). If your child will be a car rider for the 19-20 school year, please complete the included form and drop it off at the front office on Aug. 8 or during any of our registration dates/times. Our goal is to have these tags ready for pick up by Meet the Teacher (in classrooms).
Students will meet their 2019-2020 teacher, register their mode of transportation, and order our new Martin T-shirt and their field trip/field day T-shirts during our “Meet the Teacher” hour, on Monday, August 12, between 4:30-5:30 p.m. Pre-Kindergarten Orientation will be from 3:30-4:20 pm on August 12. If you are interested in volunteering, becoming a homeroom parent, or serving on our Shared Decision Making Committee or FAME (Families Actively & Meaningfully Engaged) Committee, please let your child’s teacher know during “Meet the Teacher”, and complete the 2019-2020 Alief Volunteer Form on-line (in the classroom or in the library). Remember, the first day of school is Wednesday, August 14th. We can’t wait for this 2019-2020 school year to start!
Please make sure that our Martin Mustangs are ready with the appropriate Martin-specific school supplies (see School Supply) and the proper mode of dress for school (see Mode of Dress section below). Please look for important district and campus information going home on the first day of school and for the Martin Messages sent throughout the year. The menus for breakfast (free) and lunch (90¢) will be provided in your child’s start-up packet, along with an application for the federal free/reduced lunch program, which must be completed each year. Please continue to help your child remember their 6 digit school ID number for breakfast and have their breakfast tags on their backpacks. These numbers are very important, as the ID number is used at meal times, in the library, with computer programs, and in our technology classes.
-Dr. Sha
First Day of School is August 14th!
Martin's New Student Registration Information 2019-2020
- Visit http://www.aliefisd.net/enroll for instructions
- The application can be found here: https://aliefhac1.aliefisd.net/EO_Parent/User/Login.aspx
You can access the application at home or using a computer at the front office of Martin. Once your application is completed, please take all required documents to the assigned school to complete registration.
Registration dates and times at Martin Elementary are as follows:
- August 1 - 12pm - 7pm
- August 2 - 8am - 1:30pm
- August 5 - 8am - 1:30pm
- August 6 - No Registration
- August 7 - 9am - 1pm
- August 8 - 9am - 1pm
- August 9 - 9am - 1pm
- August 12 - 9am - 1pm
- August 13 - 9am - 1pm
- August 14 - No Registration
- Regular registration hours will resume on August 15th (9am-12pm)
Registration Requirements
Parents or guardians will be required to bring the following items to register their child:
- child's complete immunization record
- parent/guardian's proof of residence (see below for details)
- parent/guardian state or government issued picture ID
- PK to 1st grade - an official state-certified birth certificate
- 2nd to 4th - birth certificate or other documentation of identification along with withdrawal form or last report card from previous school
Proof of residence requirements may be satisfied by showing a current utility bill or business mail addressed to registering parent/guardian AND a mortgage deed, tax statement, or lease agreement showing registering parent/guardian's name and current address.
An affidavit of Multi-Family Residence is required if the parent resides in premises leased or owned by another person. This affidavit, which is available at the school, must include notarized or school verified signatures of both parties and copies of the proof of residence presented by an Alief resident. Business mail addressed to the parent at this address must be provided to the school office within 30 days.
Current immunizations must be completed by the time of enrollment. Signature of rubber stamp validation of students' personal records by physicians or public health clinics is required. If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse, your family physician, or the local health department.
Only those students who are new to the Martin attendance zone need to register for the 2019-2020 school year. All those returning students will be automatically enrolled. Class lists will be posted on the front doors by August 12, 2019.
School Supply Lists 2019-2020 School Year
Pre-K Orientation - August 12th
Meet the Teacher Hour - August 12th
car rider tag order form
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
Day Care and Bus Riders
Students are dropped off on the bus ramp and enter through the Back East Doors #10 (playground doors).
Walkers/Bike Riders
Walkers and bike riders will enter through the main front doors.
***Please remind students that crosswalks should be used at all times***
Make sure that students have helmets that are in good condition and of proper fit, as well as appropriate bike locks. Please teach them how to properly lock up their bikes on the rails.
*Appropriate rainwear (poncho, umbrella, etc.) may be needed in case of bad weather.
Car Riders
Please wait in the appropriate drop-off line and in your cars. Please do NOT cut the line, park your car, or leave it unattended in front of the school or along the school grounds. If you need to enter the building for a teacher conference or meeting in the office or clinic, please park your car in in the East Visitors Parking Lot (by the gym).
Pre-Kinder (AM & PM), Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students will be dropped off at the Back West Doors near the Pre-Kinder pod (and the portable classrooms). Older siblings riding in the same car may also be dropped off here.
All other students (3rd and 4th grades) should be dropped off in front of the school on Hendon Lane, along the North curb (school side). For student safety, please DO NOT drop them off on the South curb (across the street, opposite of the school), as there is no cross walk nor crossing guard in front of the school. Other drivers are often distracted with their own children, looking to the right, and accidents may occur. Student and staff safety is #1.
*Please also do not allow your child to exit the cars while you are at a stop sign. This is NOT safe, holds up traffic behind you, and increases the number of people the crossing guard has to cross, which backs up traffic in all directions.
*Please do not park in staff parking spots nor areas restricted to authorized vehicles (Alief Employees). Alief police may be called to enforce these authorized, restricted areas.
Students will have breakfast (served between 7:15 am and 7:50 am, remember, it’s free for ALL students), or go to their grade level waiting areas for morning academics. At 7:43, students will go directly to their classrooms for instruction. Please make sure that your child is at school on time, by 7:50 am, or by 7:20 am if they want to participate in Early Bird Specials, computer time, or morning action-based learning (MALL/ABL lab).
ARRIVAL MAP
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Day Care, Bus Riders, Big Car Poolers (+4 Kids in a Vehicle)
Day Care Vans and Car Riders with 4 or more students are picked up at the front EAST end of the school.
These students will be picked up on the front EAST end of the building, exiting door #14, on Hendon.
Walkers/Bike Riders
***Please remind your child(ren) that crosswalks should be used at all times.***
Walkers and bike riders will exit through the west #3 or east doors #14 (depending on where they live). Walkers are released to walk to their HOME. Parents who wait nearby for their children need to do so no closer than at the corner of Hendon and Belle Glen Dr. (opposite of the school) for students exiting through the west doors and at the corner of Hendon and Belle Park Dr. for students exiting through the east doors. Please stay on the opposite side (remember to respect the neighbors’ lawn), so that we can cross our students in groups. This will limit the number of times the crossing guard would need to stop the traffic, which will help ease the congestion of traffic.
Kindergarten students with an older sibling at Martin will wait to be picked up by their brother or sister within the building. Kindergarteners without older siblings will be held in the kindergarten wing (door #4) off of Belle Glen (west walkers) and by the SE doors (door #14; east walkers). Parents of these kindergarten walker students are asked to wait outside and show the school issued name tag for safe release. (2 school issued tags for kinder walkers will be given; additional tags may be purchased in the front office for $1.00 each.)
***If your child is a walker, but you drive up/park on Hendon or Belle Glen to pick up in a car, your child may be changed to car rider by school administrators. You will be asked to wait and pick up with the other car riders. ***
In severe weather, students may be released early before the storm or held in the building until the weather clears.
Car Riders (1 to 3 Kids)
Car riders will sit in their appropriate lines in the building until their name (or number) is called. Students should then walk outside to the designated number spot and a staff member will assist them into the car. Parents/guardians MUST display the name/number tag until your child is in the car; without these tags you will be directed to park and go to the front office to obtain a student release pass, after presenting a photo identification. One tag is provided, replacement/additional tags are $1.00 (fill out the appropriate forms in the front office). Please make sure you utilize the 19-20 car rider tags. Please teach your children to remember their car rider number (2+kids) and to recognize and look for your car to help speed things up. In case of severe weather (lightning), car riders may be held inside until weather permits a safe dismissal.
Parents will drive West bound on Pompano and wait at the edge of staff parking lot entrance. Once dismissal starts, Martin staff will direct parents to drive southbound, through the staff parking lot, and turn left (East-bound) on Sharpcrest. Students will exit out of door #10. Parents, please continue East-bound on Sharpcrest, and turn left (North) on Belle Park or right (South) on Belle Park to exit. Please be careful of pedestrians or cars trying to back out of drive ways or parking spots, in the event that a staff member has to leave early to attend meetings or trainings. When you are at Belle Park, please be careful of any East Walkers or bike riders crossing the street.
Parents should pick up between 3:20-3:40. Please wait in the appropriate line and in your cars. We know that it is a long wait, especially during the first 2 weeks of school; the majority of our students are car riders. Your patience is much appreciated! You can help ensure a quicker and smoother dismissal by 1) clearly displaying the car tag until your child is safely in your car, and 2) parking your car in the visitor’s parking spots in the east lot if your child is in the clinic or if you need to park for a conference. Please do NOT park your car on Hendon, Sharpcrest, Belle Glen, or Belle Park between 2:30 and 3:45, and never along the red fire zones. After 3:40 and when there are 10 or less students, the students will be brought to the main office. Please drive around to the front and sign-out in the foyer.
DISMISSAL MAP
Student Mode of Dress
TOPS (no logos or graphics)
Polo Shirts: Long sleeves or short sleeves—solid colored with collar
Martin Spirit Shirts: Martin Spirit Shirt days are Mondays, although Martin shirts may be worn throughout the week.
College Shirts: College Spirit days are Wednesdays.
House Spirit Shirts: Martin House Spirit Shirt days are Fridays and for Field Trip, Field Day, and Special Assemblies.
Sweatshirts: Any solid colored
Sweaters: Any solid colored
Cardigans: Any solid colored
Turtle Necks: Any solid colored
BOTTOMS
Slacks, Skorts, Shorts*, Jumpers* or Skirts*: Navy, Khaki, or Black
*Shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, or jumpers can not be shorter than 2 inches above the knee
*Shorts or solid colored leggings must be worn under skirts, dresses, or jumpers.
Jeans: Blue—Fitted at the waist, Straight leg fit (plain - no designs)
CLOSED-TOE SHOES
Must be rubber soled and encase the entire foot.
Socks must be worn and washed regularly.
Not permitted: sandals, flip flops, heels, wheelies, shoes that squeak, shoes that light up, and cowboy boots*
*(Except for special events as designated by administrators).
HAIR
Must be washed regularly and tied back or braided. If the length is long enough to be put in a pony-tail, girls or boys, it should be tied back. Lice continues to a concern for many of our students and families; please make sure that treatment is 100% completed (including the care of soft objects at home) based on detailed recommendations from the school nurse in order to prevent re-occurrence of lice. Lice may return if treatment is not done accurately or completely. Having short hair or hair tied up in a bun, ponytail or braid reduces the opportunity for lice to spread
GENERAL GUIDELINES
- Martin issued Student ID badges and bus tags must be worn daily, on the right collar (for safety reasons, lanyards are NOT allowed).
- Replacement ID badges and replacement bus badges are $3.00 each.
- Belts should be worn if there are belt loops.
- Shirts should be tucked in neatly.
- Closed-toe shoes must be laced and be appropriate for physical education, recess, and action-based learning.
- Jackets, sweaters, coats, hats, and gloves should be labeled with student’s full name.
- Clothing should be cleaned on a regular basis.
- Student backpacks may not have wheels (Except for special designations by administrators).
MARTIN ELEMENTARY
Email: Martincontact@aliefisd.net
Website: aliefisd.net/martin
Location: 11718 Hendon Lane, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: 281-983-8363
Twitter: @Martin_Mustangs