Mathews Weekly
Week of September 18, 2017
From Grace
Good afternoon, Wonderful Mathews Community! Many thanks for all the delicious treats provided for our teachers and staff before Back to School Night last week. We had a lovely meal and felt incredibly appreciated. I also want to say thank you to everyone who attended Back to School Night. I know life can get busy and it's not always east to come to school for evening events so I am grateful for everyone who was able to join us.
Unlike last week, this one is a fairly quiet week for us at school, with the exception of our Friday morning assembly celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. There will be plenty of learning happening across the board, but in a lovely regular routine kind of way. We had a visitor from our Associate Superintendent's office last week and he was blown away by the level of student engagement in each class and how the students were hard and work and able to articulate both what they were doing and why it was important for their learning. While I was pleased with his reaction, I was not surprised by it - good things are happening in the classrooms at Mathews each and every day.
Now that we're entering the fifth week of school (can you believe it!?), teachers are wrapping up beginning of year benchmark assessments and planning for both enrichment and intervention in math and reading and this is one of the things the teachers will visit with you about during parent/teacher conferences in October. Be on the lookout for communication from your child's teacher in the next few weeks about scheduling these conferences as they are rarely able to meet with everyone on the dedicated conference day which is October 9th this year. This is a truly meaningful opportunity to learn about how your child is doing in school and our goal is 100% participation.
In between now and conference day, there are a few special events happening - including a family evening, our first Campus Advisory Council meeting, bond information sessions and more. More information is below and in the calendar sections. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and we'll see everyone in the morning!
*If you happen to know of a family who isn't getting these weekly email messages, please let them know they can opt in to messages in the parent cloud at: my.austinsid.org
Important Information
Catch the Spirit of Kindness Night
Join us for an evening of mindfulness and healthy activities. Look for the updated event flyer in this week's Wednesday folder link. This is a fun family evening and I hope you can join us!
When: Thursday, September 28, 2017
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Cafeteria, Library, Gym, Blacktop
AISD Bond
AISD is holding a series of open house events to learn more about the bond. I encourage everyone to attend at least one so you can have the most accurate information about the bond:
Austin ISD 2017 Bond Open Houses Please join Austin ISD for a series of informational open houses to learn more about the 2017 Bond and how it could affect each campus.
- Meetings are 5:30–7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and are designed in a come-and-go format, with presentations at 5:45 p.m. and at 6:45 p.m.
- A districtwide open house will be 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, with presentations at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
- Sept. 19 Eastside Memorial ECHS cafeteria S
- ept. 21 Lanier ECHS cafeteria
- Sept. 26 McCallum High School cafeteria
- Sept. 28 Travis ECHS cafeteria
- Oct. 3 Austin High School cafeteria
- Oct. 5 Crockett ECHS cafeteria
- Oct. 10 LBJ ECHS cafeteria
- Oct. 12 Reagan ECHS cafeteria
- Oct. 17 Rosedale cafeteria, meeting for special campuses
- Oct. 21 Austin ISD Carruth Administration Center Board Room Districtwide meeting* *Interpretation is offered at this meeting in the following languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese. Reasonable accommodations for other languages will be provided upon request. Please provide notice at least two days in advance.
Child care, light refreshments and simultaneous Spanish presentations will take place at all meetings.
You can read more information about the bond here: https://www.austinisd.org/bond
Octoberama!
Arrival Update
- If you wish to accompany your child into the building between 7:00-7:30 am, please do so, hug your child goodbye, and then exit the cafeteria.
- If you plan on eating breakfast with your child before 7:30 am, please do so, then hug your child goodbye and exit the cafeteria.
- If you wish to accompany your child into the building on or after 7:35 am, please walk your child directly to the classroom, and once the teacher and class are in the room, hug your child goodbye and then exit the hallway.
This will help us have smooth transitions from cafeteria to classrooms in the morning and make sure the walkways are clear for our students and their teachers. Clear walkways and smooth transitions will lead to a pleasant and calm beginning of the day. Thank you for your cooperation!
Gifted and Talented
For more information about AISD's Gifted and Talented program, please contact Mr. Hardie at bradford.hardie@austinisd.org .
Staff Spotlight
Susan McCleary, Office Manager
Tell us a little about your job at Mathews.
My job entails many things! I organize our after-school enrichment programs, order supplies, serve as Ms. Brewster's administrative assistant, help with the website, handle all of the finances for the school, including School Cash on line. I support special events like Octoberama, and am the substitute coordinator, among other things.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished reading The City Girls Guide to Country Cooking, a chronicle of a female chef who leaves Boston for a Bed and Breakfast in Vermont. I enjoy books with strong female character leads.
What is your favorite part of Mathews?
All of it!
Anything else you'd like us to know?
I'm a published researcher and currently researching for the Center for World Indigenous Studies. I'm currently collaborating with multiple authors around the world on various research studies and spend my weekend writing. I'm looking at how marginalized communities can utilize sustainable agriculture to address food insecurity - so I'm looking both quantitative and qualitative data. It's fascinating work and I love the potential of it for helping people. Plus, I get to dig in the dirt!
Julie Salazar, Registrar
Tell us a little about your job at Mathews.
I wear many hats! I love the fact that I get to work with the children and their families and that I get to meet them when they first come to Mathews and get to know them. I register all new students and handle all student records. I am the attendance clerk, the PEIMS clerk, part time nurse, counselor and disciplinarian.
What are you currently reading and how do you relax?
My current reading selections revolve around whatever my five year old requests for bedtime stories. I love watching movies and look forward to going home on Friday, popping popcorn and turning on a movie to watch - it's relaxing.
What's your favorite part about Mathews?
All the connections - the community and the feel of family. The love the kids feel when they're here is amazing. Ever since our oldest was here, our entire focus has been staying at Mathews.
Anything else you'd like us to know?
I'm a baker and have been a cake decorator for 20 years. I love working with my hands, creating and building things. When I was a kid, my grandpa was a farmer, welder, and carpenter and I loved the smell of fresh lumber when he was building things. If I had more time, I'd like to study wooden furniture building with my uncle. As for baking, it runs in the family. I have many memories of baking with my grandmother and my mom.
Wednesday Folders
The Week at a Glance
Monday, September 18, 2017
- Constitution Day! - Students in Grades 3-6 read the Preamble of the Constitution.
Friday, September 22, 2017
- GT Nomination Window Closes
- School-wide Assembly - 7:50 pm - All - Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Upcoming Events:
About Us
Website: mathews360.com
Location: 906 West Lynn Street, Austin, TX, United States
Phone: 512-414-4406
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathews360/
Twitter: @mathews360