Kiker Comments March 22, 2022
A Joint Newsletter from the Bernice Kiker Admin Team & PTA
In This Edition...
- Upcoming Events
- Attendance Notes
- Registration for 22-23
- Pre-K and Kinder Registration Events
- Pride Week
- Virtual Fundraiser
- Library News
- Safety Patrol
- Gorzycki Information for Current 5th Graders
- Updated After School Programs
- Summer Camps
- PTA News - Lounge Remodel, Taco Tuesday, Pavers, Graduating Senior Scholarship
- March Staff Birthdays
- AISD News: Pride Event, Student and Family Survey
- Repeated Information (from previous newsletters)
- Culture Celebrations
- Covid Testing Hub Information
- Early Pick Up Reminders
- Lunch Menu
- All the Links to Everything You Need
Upcoming Events
March
21-25 AISD Pride Week
22 - Kiker Spirit Day
April
1- No School for Students - District of Innovation Day - Teacher PD
4-6 Virtual Fundraiser - Gifts of Time and Auction
4-8 -Kinder Map Growth Reading Fluency
6 - Early Learning Day - Registration Day and Tours for Rising Pre-K4 and Kindergarten Students
8 - Book Fair Set Up
11 - Book Fair Preview Day
12-14 - Book Fair
15 - Student holiday - Staff Development
May
10 - 3-5 STAAR Math
11 - 3-5 STAAR Reading
12 - 5th STAAR Science and Make ups for 3rd/ 4th (either test)
13 - STAAR Make up day
17 - 2nd Grade Market Day
19 - Field Day
19 - Evening Kiker Keynotes Show
20 - 8:30am Kiker Keynotes Show for Students
Attendance Notes
We are Lucky To Have You: Let's Register for 2022-2023 - For ALL Students
ALL returning families should register their students for the 2022-2023 school year by logging in to their AISD Portal account under the student registration icon. The online registration system is available only through the AISD Portal at portal.austinisd.org. Please update any information that has changed.
Pre-K and Kinder Early Learning Day 4/6
To increase Pre-K and kindergarten enrollment and support families with registration, elementary campuses will host a districtwide Early Learning Day on April 6. Please save this date and share it with your neighbors that may not receive the Kiker Comments.
On this day, families will have the opportunity to:
Take a campus tour that highlights culture and customer service
Complete the Pre-K Screener
Register for kindergarten
Meet the principal and/or other administrative staff and teachers
More information coming soon on times and tours.
Announcements
From the Library
Save The Date: April 11th - 14th. This spring's Kiker Book Fair has us partnering with BookPeople with a Keep Kiker READING theme. We are so excited to support a favorite local bookstore with fresh book options and experiences, and Kiker will be receiving 20% of all sales at the fair! Parents can join their students after school M/T/W/Th, with a special Food Truck Night with book fair shopping and eats provided by P. Terry's and Jim Jim's Italian ices on Wednesday, April 13th from 5-7pm. Interested in coming to Food Truck Night? Help us let P Terry's know an idea of how many meals to prepare and reserve your dinners here, or please join us last minute, too!
We are in need of book fair cashier volunteers for a fun and easy shopping experience - sign up here!
Thank you so much for supporting the Kiker Library. 🙂
Ashley Cross
Safety Patrol for 4th and 5th Graders
This year we are encouraging 4th and 5th grade students to sign up for safety patrol for a two week block of time during the school year. Thank you for being a campus leader!
Students will drop backpack off in the front foyer/vestibule, sign in, grab a vest, and head out front. We need help waving cars to the front of the line, opening doors, and welcoming each child with a warm greeting or sending students off at the end of the day.
How To Video - This is the Training Video for Safety Patrol
5th Graders Heading to GMS Next Year
Register with this link
Updated After School Program List
Summer Camp Information
Registration is Open for Voyager Summer Camp and Kiker Crew Camp
PTA News
Complete Lounge Remodel
Complete Lounge Makeover - PTA Edition!
We are so excited to reveal the new Kiker staff lounge! Not only does the renovated lounge give our teachers and staff a more functional space to eat lunch, collaborate, and plan, it also has ice and cold water, something the old one did not. (In Texas y’all!)
Major updates include:
Two refrigerators with water and ice dispensers
New plumbing to accommodate the water and ice dispensers
New cabinets and countertops to complete kitchen area
Table seating for 16
Six work spaces with chargers
Floor to ceiling subway tile, floating shelves, and fresh decor
The children (and their families!) should be so proud of their hard work and generous contributions during our APEX Fun Run event. The new lounge is an investment that will benefit our teachers and staff for many school years to come.
Eat Tacos and Raise Money Tonight!
It was so great to see everyone in their Kiker blues today. Our spirit day continues tonight when you can eat tacos to raise money for our school. Visit Torchy's Tacos this evening and mention you are there for Kiker Spirit Night. Our school will receive 15% of the proceeds. Dine in or take out. Bonus: No kitchen to clean after dinner!
Brick Paver Sale
Dr. Lori Schneider Scholarship for Graduating Seniors
Do you know a graduating senior who attended Kiker? Please share this information with anyone you know who might be eligible.
Kiker Elementary PTA’s Dr. Lori Schneider Scholarship for High School Graduates honors one of Kiker's former principals who valued education and left a legacy of kindness, dignity and respect (KDR) during her 14-year tenure as principal of the school. The scholarship also celebrates high school graduates who are committed to education and who embody KDR.
Applicants must have attended Kiker Elementary School. Application window opens March 1, 2022. Please see link for more details.
https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/dr_schneider_scholarship
March Birthdays
4 - Tiffany Cortez-Machado
8 - Claire Purcell
15 - Pooja Mulgaonker
16 Rhonda Vasquez
17 - Abby Shoppa
18 - Abbey Raymond
25 - Joanna Hamme
29 - Cory Matheny
AISD News
AISD Surveys for Students and Families
For family surveys, a single link has been created for all families: surveys.panoramaed.com/austinisd/family
Survey Administration Timeline:
Staff & Family Survey Window - March 21- April 8
Student Survey Window - March 21 - April 8
Repeated Information
How do you celebrate in your home?
Is there a special event for your culture coming up in the next month or two? Would you be willing to share how your family celebrates?
Please reach out to Cory Matheny if your family would be interested in putting together a 1-3 minute video to talk about any of these events (or others that we may have accidentally missed- list source: Nationaltoday.com) coming up in March and April:
Mardi Gras
Pie Day 3.14
St. Patrick's Day
April Fools' Day
Autism Awareness Day
Ramadan
Passover
Easter
Earth Day
Free Covid Testing for Staff and Students - 8:00-2:00 Daily With Completed Consent
Kiker is a testing hub on site in Portable 6B daily. (FYI - there is no classroom on the 6A side of the portable.). The direct line is 512-841-7857, appointments are not accepted. This is a first come, first served process or, until they run out of tests for the day.
Why it matters: Research shows that the more people get tested, the safer everyone is from the spread of COVID-19. You’ll be able to access rapid antigen or PCR tests (when available) at 11 sites across Austin.
- Students and staff can get a test at will for any reason, whether you’ve been exposed or are just looking for peace of mind.
- Sites include: Travis, Northeast Akins, Norman-Sims, Pillow, Kiker, Eastside, Cunningham, Navarro, Blazier, McCallum .
- Testing will run 8 a.m. -2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Early Pick Up Reminders
Thank you.
Printable Lunch Menu - March
A Message From the Cafeteria
Bernice Kiker Elementary Administration Team
Alma Chapa Moore - Assistant Principal
Kelly Meyer - Assistant Principal
Email: cory.matheny@austinisd.org
Website: https://kikerelementary.org/
Location: 5913 La Crosse Avenue, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2584
Facebook: facebook.com/CMathenyPrincipal
Twitter: @KikerComets