Austin ISD May PK Newsletter
2021
Message from the Director
May is teacher appreciation month! The Early Childhood Department would like to thank you for your dedication and service to our youngest learners. We appreciate you, we support you, and we hope you have a successful end of the school year. This year more than ever, you have built strong relationships with parents and caregivers. You have supported and taken care of your students and their families through remote learning, concurrent teaching, and face-to-face learning. You are the heart and soul of Austin ISD, you are the heroes!
I hope you enjoy this newsletter and find the information helpful.
This newsletter highlights upcoming professional learning sessions that many departments across the district will be delivering this summer. Please take a moment to review what sessions will support your growth and learning.
Please stay well and take care of yourselves. I hope you find ways to enjoy your summer.
Wishing you well,
~Ami
For more resources on anti-racism, take a look at this padlet organized by The University of South Carolina “Anti-Racism Resources for all ages”
New PK Eligibility Process
Traditionally PreK teachers' first engagement with families is in the procedural work of collecting eligibility and enrollment documentation, which can be disorienting and even frustrating.
Developing a positive relationship with caregivers is essential in supporting young children's growth and development. Research confirms that family involvement positively impacts students’ academic experiences. We want to make sure that your first engagement with a family is meaningful, student-centered and focused on building relationships. Now more than ever we need to focus on relationships first, not paperwork.
For PreK Registration, the district is moving to a centralized process that will be managed by the Early Childhood staff at Central Office. Early Childhood staff will verify the PreK eligibility of children and campuses will register them.
To learn more about this new process please click here or on the link below.
What a Year!
Reset: Decompress Your Body and Mind
This was a remarkable school year and you have done an amazing job, hands down. As we step away from our workspace, we'd like to invite you to appreciate and admire the work you have done, the lives you have touched, and the difference you have made in each group setting.
This 10-minute meditation video encourages us to pause and reset, helping us feel more present and better able to enjoy whatever comes next.
Free Summer School for Emergent Bilingual Students
Summer school is available for eligible emergent bilingual students in Pre-Kinder and Pre-First. Attached is a letter that can be sent to families to encourage participation.
Ending the Year
The end of a school year can bring both joy and sadness. Below are some suggestion to end the year and send your students off positively.
Spanish Literacy Resources
Click the second button below to see Ms. Ortiz, a bilingual instructional coach at Padron Elementary school, use the resources.
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!
A Message from the AISD School Board:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), celebrates the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
In June 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage week. Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Spark Matsunaga from Hawaii introduced a similar bill in the Senate a month later. Both resolutions were passed, and on October 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed off on the annual celebration. In 1990, the week-long celebration was extended to a month-long celebration. In 1992, May was officially designated as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. The selection of the month of May for this month-long celebration commemorates both the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Chinese workers were responsible for most of the construction of this project.
Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month!
A Message from the AISD School Board:
Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes the history of Jewish contributions to American culture. President George W. Bush officially proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month on April 20, 2006. This announcement was made possible by the efforts of the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders. Their work resulted in resolutions by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania urging for the proclamation of a month that would recognize the 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture.
Professional Learning Exchange Days (PLED)
The PLED window for SY2021-22 will be June 5, 2021 - March 31, 2022. If you are submitting PL for PLED credit please complete within this window.
Summer General Sessions
No Small Matter - Documentary
July 14 from 9:00am - 11:00am
Course #97618
or
July 21 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Course #97619
Critical Connections Considering Family Engagement After Distance Learning
July 15 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Course #97608
or
July 22 from 9:00am - 10:00am
Course #97610
DAP - Developmentally Appropriate Practice
July 15 from 9:00am - 10:00am
Course #97613
or
July 22 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Course #97614
Summer Science Session
Science Outdoor Learning: Virtual Early Childhood Project Learning Tree
PK3-2
July 27th 9:00am-12:00pm
Course #97579
PK3 Growing up WILD
June 10th 9:00am-12:00pm
Course # 97639
Science Outdoor Learning: Virtual EcoRise: An Introduction to EcoRise
August 7th 9:00-12:00PM
Course # 97641
August 9, 2021 9:00-12:00PM
Course # 97640
Summer Asynchronous Sessions
Free PK Online Courses Include:
- The Power of Language 2.5 Training Hours
- Meaningful Conversations 1.5 Training Hours
- Transforming Story Time 3.5 Training Hours
- Building Word Knowledge 3 Training Hours
- Foundations of Learning to Read 4 Training Hours
- Sharing Ideas Through Writing 4 Training Hours
- Supporting Dual Language Learners Right from the Start 4.5 Training Hours
To get credit for these asynchronous courses please submit your completion certificate into HCP for PLED credit, with principals approval, via the External Credit Request application available in HCP. Click here for a screencast of how to submit the External Credit Request.
The PLED window for SY2021-22 will be June 5, 2021 - March 31, 2022. If you are submitting PLED credit please complete the course within this window.
To get credit for these asynchronous courses please submit your completion certificate into HCP for PLED credit, with principals approval, via the External Credit Request application available in HCP. Click here for a screencast of how to submit the External Credit Request.
The PLED window for SY2021-22 will be June 5, 2021 - March 31, 2022. If you are submitting PLED credit please complete the course within this window.
About Us
Early Childhood Department:
Ami Cortes-Castillo - Director
Melinda Servantez - Administrative Supervisor
Tammy Hopkins - Administrative Assistant
Brittney Pirtle - Clerk (Registration)
Pre-K Partnerships:
Stephanie Bonnet Kramer - Coordinator
Maria Matts - Parent Support Specialist
Instructional Coaches:
Kyla Morgan
Allyson Morales
JC Sanders
Terie Anderson
Literacy Coaches:
Monica Vallejo
Jessica Martinez
Andrea Clark
Nancy Maquera Lupaca
Head Start Team:
Ashlee Johnson - Administrator
Gena Padilla - ERSEA / Budget Compliance Manager
Amanda Bolding - Education Specialist
Lauren Jackson - Health and Social Services Specialist
John Wright - Early Childhood Coach/ Behavior and Disabilities Specialist
Carmen Gonzalez - Family Advocate
Monica Martinez - Family Advocate
Rachel Salazar - Family Advocate
Email: Earlychildhood@austinisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/austinisd.org/earlychildhood/
Location: 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 512-414-4790
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AustinISDEarlyChildhood
Twitter: @AISDECRocks