Eagle Update: April 19, 2024
Barton Hills Elementary
Hello BHE Families:
We had a fantastic week with two days of STAAR testing. We have one more day on Wednesday and then we will be finished. This means we will have no visitors on campus during the day on Wednesday (lunch, volunteers, etc.). We are eagerly anticipating next week's Field Day. Thanks to our diligent and determined PTA, we have another Ninja Course lined up to be here for our students for Field Day. This course is not only a fun activity but also a great way for our students to stay active and healthy. Students will do the Ninja course at the opposite time they do Field Day (3 - 5 in the morning and K-2 in the afternoon). We need your help filling out the waivers (again) for students to participate. You might have already seen the link from your child's teacher, but if not please see the information below the Coach's Corner.
Can you believe we have less than 5 weeks of school left in this year? That means while we are wrapping up the 2023-2024 school year we are also planning for the 2024-2025 school year. A couple of information items:
- If you still need to register your student for the 2024-2025 school year, we need you to do that now.
- One of the most important tasks is creating the classes for the following school year. Parent input is considered to develop balanced classes for next year and foster a positive school-home partnership. And while not guaranteed, parent/caregiver feedback about placement is strictly based on input letters, not verbal interactions or promises between parents and staff. Know that the administration does not keep placement input from previous years; therefore, if there is essential student information to be considered, please provide that information in the current year’s parent input process as outlined below. Feedback is due by Friday, April 26, 2024
Input process: A letter regarding placement for next year is not required; however, if parents have extenuating circumstances or significant concerns, please see the following guidelines: (1) A separate letter (email attachment only) MUST be submitted. Limit to one-page (12 font size). Due to the amount of input received every year, general email communications WILL NOT be accepted. (2) Specific teachers or classmates or portable colors CANNOT be requested. All teachers on our teams are skilled and competent individuals. (3) Share traits and characteristics of your child(ren) that affect their learning. (4) Share the type of educational setting and class dynamic that you feel will best meet your child(ren)’s needs. (5) Email attachment MUST be sent to the Principal (kathryn.achtermann@austinisd.org), NOT the Classroom Teacher. Please note that I DO NOT schedule meetings to discuss next years placement. Thanks for your support as we strive to make the best placement decisions for your child(ren). - PTA has arranged for parents to be able to pre-order school supplies. The supplies (directly from the Barton Hills grade level supply lists) will be pre-packaged, labeled, and delivered to Barton Hills before the start of the new school year. The link for ordering is https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=98837. As a bonus, $4 from each kit will be donated to the PTA.
Here are the other highlights of this week's newsletter
- Check out the Coach's Corner for important information about Field Day and Ninja Course Waivers
- Our P2 focus will be the Appreciation of beauty and excellence - you notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. You don’t take things for granted.
Thank you, as always, for being a part of our Barton Hills Community!
Kati Achtermann
Our Goal Mosaic Progress
April 22 - Earth Day
April 24 - STAAR Math Grades 3 - 5
April 25 - STAAR Math Make Up Day Grades 3 - 5
April 26 - Field Day!
April 29 - 8:00 Volunteer Appreciation Reception in Library
May 3 - BHE Spirit Day - Star Wars Day
- Kinder Rodeo
May 10 - Spirit Day - Hawaiian Shirt Day
May 16 - Teacher Talent Show 6:00 PMCoach's Corner
Notes from Coach Mueller and Matson
PE ‘s Focus for Next Week:
Monday: Marathon Kids, Focus Marathon Kids, Track Day (Weather Permitting, may move throughout week). Start gathering Fitness Gram Data Height & Weight (3rd-5th only).
TUESDAY- Soccer. . . Mini Team Games to help with passing and moving, Soccer Skills. Kicking Control. Start testing for Fitness, Sit & Reach + Trunk Lift (3rd-5th only).
Wednesday- Soccer. . . Mini Team Games to help with passing and moving, Soccer Skills. Kicking Control. Continue testing for Fitness, Sit & Reach + Trunk Lift. Start Curl Ups (3rd-5th only).
Thursday- Fun Thursday, K-5th Grades Student Lead activities and games inside and outside. (Weather Permitting, may move throughout week). Continue testing for Fitness, Curl Ups (3rd-5th only).
Friday- FIELD DAY/ NINJA COURSE- There will be water activities. Bring Water Container, Towel, Sunscreen, and possible change of clothes.
Quick note/reminders:
- Field Day is scheduled to be on Friday April 26th. Most of the activities and events will be just as exciting and fun as last year. Parents are encouraged to come during their students’ time. Just head out to the track, but if you are wanting to take them home afterwards you will still have to sign them out with the office.
- Thank you to all the parent Volunteers for Field Day. I will leave the link here just in case. We have a good group of volunteers so Thank You again. If you are interested, please click on this link(HERE) for a google form link to sign up if you are interested in volunteering. Bring on the fun. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mVdKLjXRsB8nzgboN1Ke9XMZBY3Z8gzNFaJCw5YX4fM/edit
- For grades 3-5th Fitnessgram testing window is from Apr 22nd – May 10th. Next week schedule can be seen above. Please see the attached letter for description of activities and process.
- Something to work forward to is Walk and Bike to school is May 8th. We will take a survey and see the results. The Golden Shoe may make an appearance this week.
- With spring weather/temperatures now in the forecast, students are encouraged to dress accordingly for outside temperatures. Jackets/sweaters are encouraged to be worn. Water Bottles with sealable lids can be brought to PE too. Students need to remember to take them after PE is over.
- If your student has a Doctors/parents note that requires them not to participate in PE. Please email their classroom teacher, me (philip.mueller.@austinisd.org) and cindy.reyes@austinisd.org (front office). "
Ninja Nation is Coming to BHE on April 26.
The BHE PTA and Coach Mueller are excited to announce that Ninja Nation is coming to BHE on Friday, April 26 as an addition to Field Day. Please take a couple of minutes to complete the waiver for each of your BHE students.
**A waiver is required to participate and must be completed by April 24. (Students without a signed waiver will have an alternate activity.)**
Huge shout out to the BHE PTA for finding a local Ninja Course option after the last vendor cancelled with little notice.
Positivity Project
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. Appreciation of beauty and excellence means you notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. You don’t take things for granted.
Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is the ability to identify and enjoy that which is admirable in the world. There are three types of goodness in which positive psychology focuses: physical beauty (e.g. a sunset, a song, or building); an exceptional skill or talent; and moral goodness (e.g. a character strength). Appreciation of beauty can generate awe; appreciation of a skill can generate admiration; and appreciation of moral goodness can generate moral elevation. All of these feelings (awe, admiration, and moral elevation) help us forget ourselves and find increased joy and meaning in the world.
Appreciating excellence and beauty helps an individual experience positive emotions and connect to the world around them. It’s an outward facing strength, meaning the individual is focused on the world outside their head. And, not only is the individual outwardly focused, but often deeply absorbed in a sense of awe or admiration, freeing them to forget anxieties and troubles. And it is associated with other strengths, such as gratitude, curiosity, love of learning, and purpose.
To practice and encourage the character strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Summer Camp Flyers
Calling all future Maroons to join us this summer at Jimmy Clay Golf Course for AHS Mini-Maroons Golf Camp. This camp is open to all K-5th grade students and is intended for golfers of all skill levels from beginners to advanced. The dates of the camp are 5/28-5/30 from 9am to noon.
Please RSVP and make payment using one of the methods below. If you have any questions, please see the attached flyer and/or email Head Golf Coach Nick Lebo at nick.lebo@austinisd.org
RSVP: bit.ly/MiniMaroonRSVP
Payment:
Venmo $250 to MaroonsGolfers
Request a Credit Card invoice through Square by emailing Lauren at ahsgolfbooster@gmail.com
Bring a check made out to Austin High Golf Boosters to the first day of camp
Sincerely,
Coach Lebo
ATX Ballers 2024 Summer Camp registration link
Austin Skate Academy
https://www.instagram.com/austinskateacademy?igsh=MW1hM3dkZG8yMWx2bA==
Cell Phone and Communication Devices at School
Many of our students have cell phones and smart watches at school. District policy allows our students to have these devices at school for safety reasons but all devices should be turned off during the school day so as not to be a distraction during learning. Please see the district policy on cell phones and electronic devices linked in our student success guide for more information.
New COVID-19 Guidelines
On Friday, March 1, 2024, the CDC updated their COVID-19 recommended guidelines for isolation to align with their overarching Respiratory Virus Guidance. Excerpt below:
Prior Guidance: The previous COVID-19 guidance recommended a minimum isolation period of 5 days plus a period of post-isolation precautions and was created during the public health emergency.
Updated Guidance: The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
In light of this update, Austin ISD will be changing the district policy for staff and students to align with the updated CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance. As such, effective Monday, March 18, 2024, AISD Health Services and Nursing will recommend (but not require) students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 to be out for 24 hours after the date of test positivity. Masking upon return to school will remain optional, but recommended for 5 days if symptomatic.
AISD Calendar
AISD Student Success Guide
The Austin ISD Student Success Guide (Student Code of Conduct) is now available on the Austin ISD District website for students, parents, and guardians to review. One important legislative update is that ALL e-cigarettes (THC and Tobacco) are prohibited. House Bill 114 requires a student to be placed in the District Alternative Education Program (DAEP) if the student possesses, uses, is under the influence, sells, gives, or delivers marijuana, THC, or an e-cigarette (new) while on campus, within 300 feet of school property, or at a school-related event. Under Austin ISD guidelines, this is a 20-day DAEP placement. Parents and guardians are strongly urged to talk to their students about this new policy and review the Student Success Guide to help keep our schools safe for students and staff. For resources to use when talking with your student about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes visit https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.
School Safety
Maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for our students is our top priority. This means that we'll continue with some of the practices we put in place last year. It is important to us that our safety protocols are in place AND that our students, families, and staff continue to feel a positive and welcoming environment each day.
Arrival:
- We will continue to have a secure morning arrival with families/caregivers saying goodbye before students enter the building. Parents/Caregivers may walk students to the front walkway during car drop off/walking drop off. Staff members will be outside and inside ready to greet, welcome, and support our students as they enter the building at 7:30. Parents will not be allowed to walk students to the classrooms and portables.
- The front doors will open for breakfast at 7:15 am. At 7:30 am, all students will enter the building.
- The first week our Kinder students will meet their teachers in the cafeteria before going to class. The teachers will be there to meet them and then walk together to the classroom.
- IMPORTANT: There is NO parking in the drive in front of the school between 7:00 - 8:00 am. This lane is reserved for drop off only. If you'd like to walk your child to the front door, please park in the neighborhood and walk to school together. Thank you!
- If you need to bring something to your child after they have entered the building, please leave it on the labeled cart outside the front doors with a clearly marked label. Please call the front office to let us know you are leaving an item (lunch, water bottle, device, etc.) and we will get it to your child.
Exterior Doors:
- All exterior doors will remain locked at all times during the school day. Portable classroom doors will also remain fully locked all day.
- Staff will check each exterior door weekly to ensure they close and lock as intended.
Dismissal:
All kindergarten students will be dismissed with their homeroom teacher at 3:05pm.
1st- 5th grade car riders, walkers, and bikers will be dismissed from specific outdoor locations with their homeroom teacher at 3:10pm.
Older siblings may join younger siblings at the younger sibling location.
Extend-A-Care/YMCA After School Care students will go to the cafeteria.
*See map below for dismissal locations by grade level.
Students must leave by 3:20 at the latest.
Please see map below and note that areas in RED are NO Parking Zones - even for drop off and pick up.
Visitors:
- Visitors are welcome at Barton Hills for the purposes of student support. This may include scheduled parent teacher conferences and meetings, registration, pre-arranged volunteer opportunities, and other scheduled events.
- Lunch Visitors: You may come have lunch with your child. You must sign in at the office prior to going to the cafeteria. Please note that if you plan to have lunch with your students, you will need to plan to eat outside or at a separate designated table. Provide lunch only for your child. Do not arrange to purchase lunch for a group of students and then have your child pass it out. You may only have lunch with your own child - please do not invite other students to join you. *No lunch visitors for the first two weeks of school so we can work on routines and expectations.
- The main front doors are the only entry doors to the campus for visitors. The door buzzer/office communicator is on the right side wall by the front doors. Please push the button to communicate with the office and, once verified, we will buzz you in to the building.
- All visitors MUST sign in at the front office upon arrival AND sign out at the front office when leaving. Please remember to bring your photo ID with you when visiting campus. We will be using the RAPTOR system to scan licenses and print out Visitor tags.
- IMPORTANT: Families, please do not ask a staff member to hold a side or back door open for you to enter the building. All students, parents, and visitors must enter through the front entry doors. Thank you!
Staff Training, Campus Drills, and Threat Assessment
- Our staff will be trained on safety prior to students entering the building.
- We will review safety plans and practices throughout the year.
- We will continue to hold all required safety drills with our students. Most of the drills will be announced drills so our students aren't surprised or alarmed by them.
- Barton Hills has an established threat assessment team comprised of administration, counseling and teaching staff. All members of the team have received Threat Assessment training from Texas State. Licensed Mental Health Providers and School Resource Officers are on call to assist when needed.
Phew! I know that's a lot to digest, but wanted everyone to know we're prepared for a strong, safe, and productive year.