Boone April Newsletter
Thursday March 28,2024
Reminder: No School Tomorrow, Friday, March 29th!
Submit a Rave
Do you want to recognize our awesome staff?
Submit a RAVE through the district to recognize a staff member on our campus!
Important Arrival and Dismissal Changes and Reminders
As we work with the community and staff members to keep safety as the top priority during high traffic times, here is some information regarding this:
- The speed limit in a school zone is 20 mph starting at 7:00 am. and again at 2:55 pm. Please be mindful that there is a lot of pedestrian traffic during that time, meaning our crossing guards are often in the roadway. Always slow down and check for pedestrians prior to driving through a crosswalk.
- Please DO NOT make U-Turns in a crosswalk.
- If you use the front circle drive to drop off your child:
- This drive is for students who can independently get out of the car. If you need to assist your child in getting out, please park on the street or use the side drive. Please do not get out of your car if you use the front circle drive for drop off.
- Starting Monday, April 1st, the outside lane of the circle drive will be blocked off from 7:15-7:45 am. The visitor parking spots will be blocked off as well during this arrival time. If you would like to park and walk your child to the door, please park in the spaces on the side circle drive spots or in designated areas for street parking. Please do not use the outside lane for passing or dropping off, as it poses a safety concern for drivers and pedestrians.
- Please be patient during these high traffic times. The earlier you arrive, the better. Safety is our top priority.
- The building opens at 7:15 am and our daily assembly begins at 7:30 am. We would love to have your child here for the assembly everyday.
Notes from the Administrators
24-25 School Year Class Placement Input:
As we begin to make plans for the 2024-2025 school year, we would like to use your input when making class placement decisions. The information you provide, along with input from school staff members, will assist us in placing your child appropriately. Many variables contribute to the successful placement of students into classes. However, requests for specific teachers will not be honored.
Please complete the Parent Input Form by Friday, April 19th. A paper copy will be coming home next week for anyone who is not able to access the online copy.
Total Eclipse Information:
Caregivers are welcome and encouraged to join their student on the day of the total eclipse (April 8th). CLICK HERE for the district website providing general information about the eclipse. Please know that the safety of your children is our top priority. We will be viewing safety videos in the days prior to the event, but please review at home as well with this presentation.
How this will work on our campus:
We will be using an RSVP system to help speed the process of signing people in. Please fill out this RSVP if you plan on attending the eclipse viewing at the school. For safety reasons, students will not be allowed to connect with siblings during the eclipse. Parents will be able to move between siblings, but students must stay with their homeroom class.
We will preprint badges for those who RSVP and have an ID in the system. Please be sure the name on the RSVP and the name on your ID match because our system does not register nicknames. Those who are not in the system will need to present their ID to receive a visitor badge. You are welcome to come the week prior to get your badge scanned and avoid a line. Once signed in, all visitors will report to their child's classroom and walk outside with their students class.
Unfortunately the district has announced that absences on this day will not be excused. If you plan to keep your child home for the day, please send an email to ester.tristan@austinisd.org
Important Points:
- We will only provide glasses for students and staff. If you plan to visit, please bring your own glasses.
- Please be on the lookout for communication from your child's teacher or room parent regarding any specific requests. (Some classes have considered bringing snacks, blankets, picnic items, etc.)
- Everyone MUST sign into the office. No one is permitted on school property (inside or outside) without signing in and wearing a visible visitor badge.
- The office will be closed from 1:20-1:45. Please arrive before 1:15 to get signed in. Visitors are not allowed in the fenced areas (playgrounds/track) without a visitor pass. In addition, there will be no office staff available to check your child out of school between 1:20-1:45. If you need to get your child for any reason, please plan to do so before 1:15 or after 1:45.
-If you plan to take your child home after the eclipse, you must let the teacher know and sign them out in the office after we have returned to the building.
Attendance Matters
According to the Texas Education Agency:
Official Attendance Time 10:30am=Must be sitting in class with teacher
Tardies=Missing any part of the day before or after official attendance time of 7:40 am-3:10 pm
District is required to have 180 school days at least, 75,600 minutes
Truancy=10 or more days within 6 month period
Tardies: Code § 25.095. If a student has unexcused absences on three days or parts of days within a four-week period, the district must send a warning notice to inform the parent that the student is subject to truancy prevention measures (TPMs). However, tardies are not considered absences.
For more information AISD Slide Deck
5th Grade Camp Champions:
Our 5th graders are heading off to the Outdoor School at Camp Champions next week and we are still in need of funding to ensure all fees are covered for each student. Thank you for considering donating and/or reaching out to businesses for donations in order to assist in covering the cost for students who are unable to pay the fee. Please use this link to donate. Businesses can make the check payable to Boone Elementary School with “5th grade camp donation” in the memo line. We appreciate your generosity!
April:
4/4 - Ocean's of Fun First Grade Musical @ 5:00 PM
4/5 - Ocean's of Fun First Grade Musical Encore @ 8:30 AM
4/8 - Total Eclipse - See Information Above
4/10 - Staff Development / No School
4/11 - 3rd-5th Grade Reading STAAR - No Visitors on Campus
4/12 - Reading STAAR Make-Ups - No Visitors on Campus
4/15 - CAC Meeting @ 3:30 PM in Library
4/16 - Science STAAR 5th Grade - No Visitors on Campus
4/17 - Science STAAR Make-Ups - No Visitors on Campus
4/23 - Math STAAR 3-5 Grades - No Visitors on Campus
4/24 - Math STAAR Make-Ups - No Visitors on Campus
4/26 - Principal Coffee Chat @ 8:00 AM in the library
May:
5/2 - Kindergarten Musical @ 5:00 PM
5/2 - Multicultural Night @ 5:30 PM
5/3 - Kindergarten Musical Encore @ 8:30 AM
5/6-5/10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
5/6-5/10 - Book Fair (See Library Section for More Information)
5/15 - Boone's Got Talent @ 1:00 PM
5/16 - Boone's Got Talent @ 7:00 AM
5/17 - Boone Bear Ball @ 5:00 PM
5/20 - CAC Meeting @ 3:30 PM in the Library
5/22 - 5th Grade Graduation @ 8:45 AM
5/23 - Last Day of School for Students
Updates about STAAR
STAAR summative assessments will be administered on campuses in the month of April for all tested subjects (3-5 Math and Reading and 5th Science). On days that there is STAAR testing or STAAR makeup testing, there will be no visitors allowed on campus.
Boone's testing schedule is as follows:
Week of April 8
3-5 Grades Reading - Thursday, April 11
MAKEUP TESTING - Friday, April 12
Week of April 15
5th Grade Science - Tuesday, April 16
MAKEUP TESTING - Wednesday, April 17
Week of April 22
3-5th Grades Math - Tuesday, April 23
MAKEUP TESTING - Wednesday, April 24
ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR CHARGED CHROMEBOOKS AS TESTING WILL TAKE PLACE ONLINE.
STAAR TESTING CANNOT TAKE PLACE ON PERSONAL DEVICES - STUDENTS MUST USE AISD CHROMEBOOKS FOR ALL ASSESSMENTS.
We know all of our amazing Boone bears will take the STAAR test seriously and use the strategies they've been taught to do the best they can do on the test!
Testing Tips for Caregivers and Students:
Plan an early bedtime the night before the test to ensure that your child has a restful night's sleep.
Arrive to school on time (by 7:40 AM).
A healthy breakfast is crucial for optimal performance. Make sure your child eats a protein-packed breakfast before dropping them off if they do not like/want breakfast in the classroom.
Motivate with positive words! Speak to your child about doing his/her best on the test.
Remind your child to take his/her time during the test. Rushing leads to careless mistakes!
Best Regards,
Summer McKinnon
Boone Campus Testing Coordinator
Library Den
Get ready for the Spring Boone Book Fair! May 6th students will have a chance to preview all the books. May 7th - May 10th will be open to students during the day. Wednesday and Thursday, the community is invited from 3:30 - 5 and 5:30-7. More information will be sent out as the date gets closer.
This month was a festival of books. Books that inspired us to be proud of who we are, and to learn about those different from us. We celebrated our pride in being unique and the same. We celebrate Pride Week and the holiday of Ramadan. We even also explored the “Everybody Fiction” section of the library, where picture books burst with art that reflects every one of us, at every age. AND… Fancher Sexton was able to get the 3-D printer working!
Update from the Health Room
There has been an update to the Covid Positive Protocols for returning to school:
Returning to school
Effective March 18, 2024:
Any student or staff who tests positive will need to have markedly improved symptoms and be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school. Wearing a mask upon return is optional, but encouraged whenever possible.
Please see the AISD Website for more information: Public Health Corner | Austin ISD
From the Gym
We hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Spring Break! We are so excited about the new skills we are starting in PE. We are moving into our Striking unit. Students will be learning skills in sports such as baseball/softball, tennis, badminton, hockey, and golf. Students will also be covering health topics such as Bike Safety, Pedestrian Safety, and Swimming Safety. We want to make sure your kids stay safe this summer.
3rd-5th Graders will begin Fitnessgram testing. Students are tested on performance in the following areas: cardiovascular endurance using the pacer test, muscular strength/endurance using the curl-up and push-up test, and flexibility using the trunk lift and sit and reach test. We encourage students to practice their curl-ups and push-ups at home.
REMINDER: Track and Field Day has been rescheduled. It will take place on Friday, April 26th.
Multicultural Night is Back!
Boone Multicultural Night
May 2nd 5:30-7:00 pm
We are excited about our annual Boone Multicultural Night!
(A flyer with more detailed information will be going home in your child’s Thursday folder.)
You can help with FACTS, FUN, or FOOD!
Facts-- bring a display and/or objects to teach about your country
Fun-- perform music, dance, poetry, etc. from your country
Food-- bring a traditional dish from your country to share
We want to celebrate all of Boone’s diversity!
Sign up online!:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4AA8A922AB9-48771974-boone
Counselor's Corner
Hello, Boone Bear Families!
Happy April! We are reaching the home stretch here, but there is still so much for everyone to learn this school year!
In our classes, we have begun to focus on CAREERS. I put together a “movie” of fifteen different parents/friends who each spoke a little bit about their job, what it entails, what education you need for it, and what they love most about it. Here are the ones included: Doctor, fireman, civil engineer, occupational therapist, lawyer, scuba instructor, herbalist, movie script writer, emergency room nurse, accountant, software engineer, college planner, musician, college football coach and an ASL interpreter. Some of the younger kids are getting the “highlight reel” of the ones I think they will find the most interesting and sit still for the longest.
The movie, thus far, has been a huge hit and I love to hear which careers interested each child once we were done viewing it. Thank you to all the parents who took the time to send me a video! The kids LOVE to see the parent of a friend on screen! And also a thank you to all my friends who I begged to make videos for us!
Now for something not as fun, but very important which is STAAR testing. It is almost upon us and that sometimes brings about test anxiety. You might want to watch this video and/or have a discussion with your children prior to testing day. This video covers ways to cope with test anxiety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDYx9qM_ygg
This graphic is also a good image to share with your kiddos so they remember what they need to do while they are testing. A “plan of attack” often helps to calm students, since they know what to expect and how to handle things when the situation arises.
Thank you again for sharing your sweet children with me. No matter how hard it is to get out of bed each morning, my day is always brightened and made worthwhile once I walk in the door here and receive the love all your kiddos show me every day!
Kelly Seiler
Boone Elementary Counselor
PTA News
MARCH:
3/30 Garden Work Day 7-9 a.m., Plant Sale 8-11 a.m.
APRIL:
4/2 Sonic (Brodie Ln) 4-8 p.m.
4/2 Spring Door Decoration 3-6 p.m.
4/3 Spring Door Decoration 3-6 p.m.
4/5 Community blacktop get together 6 p.m.
4/8 Total eclipse - The total solar eclipse path crosses from Mexico, through the United States from Texas to Maine, and up through Canada.
Partial Begins 12:23 p.m. CDT | Totality Begins 1:40 p.m. CDT | Maximum 1:42 p.m. CDT | Totality Ends 1:44 p.m. CDT | Partial Ends 3:02 p.m. CDT
4/19 General PTA Meeting 5-6 p.m.
4/23 Bush's Chicken (Brodie Ln) 5-8 p.m.
4/26 Principal Coffee 8-9 a.m.
MAY:
5/2 Multicultural Night
5/6-5/10 Teacher Appreciation Week - Student-led
5/8 Safe Routes to School
5/15 Spring Door Takedown 3:30-4:30 p.m.
5/17 Boone Bear Ball 5-7 p.m.
5/22 5th grade celebration
ORDER YOUR 2023-24 BOONE YEARBOOK! DEADLINE IS MAY 1ST
Order your yearbook for $35, so you and your child(ren) can cherish memories from the 23-24 year at Boone. We only order a small amount of extras to sell in May, and we ALWAYS run out of them. Don't forget to purchase yours ahead of time!
Order here: https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/23-24BooneYearbook
GARDEN WORK DAY AND PLANT SALE | March 30, 7-9 a.m.(Work Day), 8-11 a.m. (Plant Sale)
We have a wonderful campus at Boone Elementary, and it takes many hands to make that a reality. Join us on March 30 for our next work day and help us keep our grounds looking beautiful. We also have plants for sale to help your grounds at home look beautiful. Come by and see what we've got. We are still accepting donations of plants and anything garden-related. Contact Luci Zavala at lucilu512@gmail.com for donations and any questions.
UPCOMING SPIRIT NIGHTS | APRIL 2 AND 23
Join us for our Boone Spirit Nights! We partner with local businesses to fund PTA activities throughout the year, such as supporting teachers, fun nights, Trunk or Treat, Boone Bear Ball, and more. Boone PTA receives a portion of the proceeds on the specified date. Here's a list of upcoming events:
4/23/24 - Bush's Chicken (Brodie Ln) 5-8pmFor questions about Boone Spirit Nights, contact Jennifer at spiritnightcoordinator@boonepta.org
COMMUNITY BLACKTOP GET TOGETHER | APRIL 5, 6 p.m.
Join us for our next gathering. Contact Sean for more information at healthylifestyles@boonepta.org.
SAVE THE DATE - SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL | MAY 8
Save the date for our next safe routes to school event. More details to follow in the coming weeks. Contact Sean at healthylifestyles@boonepta.org.
PTA BOARD POSITIONS OPEN!
We had a great voting meeting in late April to name our new Executive Board members for next year! There are still positions open, so if you'd like to know how you can join this amazing team and help do amazing things for our kids, contact our president, Tiffany Every, at president@boonepta.org for more details about each position.
BECOME A PTA MEMBER!
Membership has its privileges! Become a Boone PTA member and help support events, programs, teachers, and more. Contact Angela at membership@boonepta.org.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS!
Thank you to all of our business partners who helped us with a successful silent auction. We love to partner with businesses and people around the community. Be sure to visit them and thank them with your business.
UT Austin Summer STEM Camps:
Our camps inspire and engage 3rd-12th graders with inquiry-based, hands-on STEM activities. Students in our programs explore UT, tour research labs, interact with industry professionals, and more! https://outreach.uteach.utexas.edu/camps