Panda Parent Newsletter
What's Going On at Anita Uphaus ECC Vol. 2 #8 April 2024
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Happy April Panda Families!
Can you believe it is already April? We are less than 2 months away from the end of our school year together. We hope that you will enjoy these last couple of months with us. It is really busy this time of year so keep an eye out for all of our upcoming events. Please refer to our April newsletter for important information.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Dimas
Greeting from your Parent Support Specialist
My name is Linda Perez and I am your Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center Parent Support Specialist. We hope you have had a wonderful first half of the year.
You can expect periodic newsletters from myself, and several of the classroom teachers to keep you up to date as to what is happening here at Anita Uphaus and in the classrooms.
A good way of staying up to date on school information is to visit our website at www.uphaus.austinschools.org . From there, you can find several sources of information that will keep you informed of all the happenings at Anita Uphaus. We are excited to begin the 2023-2024 school year. If at any time during the school year you feel the need to contact me, please feel free to call me, Linda C. Perez, Parent Support Specialist at (512) 414-5520 Ext. 58514 or by email at linda.c.perez@austinisd.org
We hope to partner and collaborate with you to have a successful school year. Your involvement and partnership is important. There is no one like you!
As your Parent Support Specialist, I can assist you in several ways. In working together, I can:
- Find resources you may need- I can help find assistance when needed.
Learn new things about school and how to help your child succeed. Look for workshops for parents throughout the year!
- Become leaders in our school!
Your input and participation in the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) and other school committees such as Campus Advisory Council (CAC)
- Become a Parent Volunteer! Volunteers are welcomed and needed!
Everyone who volunteers will need to attend a volunteer orientation and complete a successful background check.
School Schedule
It is important that your scholar gets to school on time and picked up on time! Your child must be in class by 7:40 am.
- Doors open: 7:10 am
- Arrival Time: 7:10 thru 7:40 am
- Tardy Bell: Rings at 7:40 am
- Dismissal Time: 3:10 pm
Arrival & Dismissal
As the school year begins, here are a few reminders that will assist with our arrival/dismissal procedures. Attached you will find our map for Arrival & Dismissal. Please assist us in following traffic rules. We thank you in advance for helping to keep our staff, scholars, and parents safe.
During morning drop off, parents and parent guardians will be allowed to:
- walk their child(ren) up to the designated campus entrances at the school.
- If you are walking them to the designated drop off areas, please make sure you cross at the student crosswalk for your safety. Parents must park in a designated parking spot and walk your child across.
- Go through the designated drive-thru entrances at the school
During after school pick up, parents and parent guardians will be allowed to:
- pick up their child(ren) at the designated campus pick-up areas at the school
- Go through the designated drive-thru exits at the school
Please do not:
Block the flow of traffic in and out of school premises.
Speed in a school zone.
Use cell phone in school zone.
Due to safety reasons, parents and parent guardians will NOT be allowed to walk children to their classrooms.
REMINDERS: Please be mindful of your speed during pick up & drop off. Speed limit should not exceed 5 mph.
NO CELL PHONE use in an active school zone. Please put your cell phones down.
Dismissal Car Signs & Office Dismissal
- Please place your car sign on your windshielf for parent pick up. Our dismissal process goes much faster when all signs are visible.
- PK4 & Kinder families- Please allow PK3 families to go around the outer lane to drop off their scholars on the far right side. Reminder: Outer lane (PK3) & Inner lane (PK4 and Kinder).
- Parents- Please ensure that your scholar is in the back passenger side of your car. Your assistance allows us to keep the traffic flowing quickly.
- Scholars will NOT be dismissed after 2:30 from the office. Buses and dismissal procedures are in place at this time. All staff are on duty getting scholars ready to go home.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this!
Student ID Badges
Optional T-Shirt Days for Scholars
Friday is Colleget T-shirt day (if your scholar has one).
Attendance Policy
Breakfast In the Classroom
Parent Coffee Chat
Brighter Bites Day
Student Devices
Brighter Bites at Uphaus
Parents,
Anita Uphaus will be participating in the Brighter Bites program which provides healthy fruits and vegetables to families. We hope you can sign up to receive these delicious foods.
Our Brighter Bites Enrollment Forms are available online! Scan the QR code to enroll.
One application per family. If you have multiple students enrolled, please only fill out 1 application. If you need assistance, please contact our Parent Support Specialist, Mrs. Linda Perez.
If you would like to volunteer to help with Brighter Bites....please sign up on the link below (APIE).
Library News
Calendar for School Year 24-25 Approved
Eid-al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr
What is it?
Eid al-Fitr commemorates the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk each day. Eid al-Fitr is the first time fasting Muslims can eat at dawn. Eid al-Fitr means “festival of breaking the fast” in Arabic.
When is it?
The timing of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr differ each year because the Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar. Eid al-Fitr takes place during the first three days of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Muslim calendar. This year, Eid al Fitr is April 10.
How is it celebrated?
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims around the world and each community celebrates the holiday in different ways. The information below represents common ways the holiday is celebrated:
At dawn on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, Muslims perform communal prayers after cleansing themselves and putting on new clothes. The celebration of Ed al-Fitr lasts for three days, with preparations for the holiday starting in advance. Families donate food or money to buy food for those in need so that everyone can have a holiday meal and share in the celebration. Family members work together to make sweets and other special foods. Houses are cleaned and decorated. It is common to visit family and friends, enjoy feasts, give presents, visit the graves of relatives, and wear new clothes. Muslim communities also collect money to give to the poor. This special gift is called Zakat al-Fitr. The gift represents thankfulness to God for helping them complete their fast during Ramadan. A common greeting during Eid al-Fitr is “Eid Mubarak” which means “Blessed Eid.” This greeting is used to extend well wishes to other Muslims during this celebration.
Resources:
Eid al-Fitr- This short video from PBS Learning Media provides an explanation and overview of this holiday. This resource also includes short readings about Eid al-Fitr and how it is celebrated.
Eid ul-Fitr- BBC Teach offers a collection of resources for use with students in grades K-12.
Learning about Eid al-Fitr- NYC Public Schools shares a collection of resources and visuals about this holiday.
Campus Lunch
Campus will open for parents to eat lunch with their scholar beginning Oct. 2. Parents must sign in at the front office and get a visitor sticker. Parents will have to sit in the area provided outside of cafeteria doors. Scholars must eat their lunch during their designated 30 min lunch time. Scholars must return with their class when their designated lunch time is over.
Reminders:
- Parents may only be allowed to eat with their own scholar.
- No phones allowed during lunch time
- Be mindful if your child has a hard time with you leaving.
- Parents need to sign out at the front office when the lunch is over
Uphaus April Lunch Menu
AISD Lunch Menu
Check out the February @AustinISD elementary school menu. Join us in celebrating Food Service and Warehouse Workers Appreciation Week February 26-March 1. You can view menus for all schools at http://SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD. Menus are subject to change. #AISDEats
Consulte el menú de febrero de la escuela primaria de @AustinISD. Acompáñennos a celebrar el Semana de Agradecimiento a los Trabajadores de Servicios Alimentarios y del Almacén! Puede ver los menús diarios, semanales y mensuales de todas las escuelas en http://SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD.
What's been happening at Anita Uphaus?
Brighter Bites
Urban Air Spirit Night
Read for the Record Dress Up Week
EPromotora Graduation
Parent Support Specialist Appreciation Week
Classroom Learning in Action
Sweet Treats for Staff
Author Anne Wynter Visit
Park Ranger Visit
Classwork and Displays!
Author Visit-Parents, It is not too late to order a book!
Links and supports for families
Community Events & Opportunities
Central Texas Food Bank - Social Services
The Central Texas Food Bank’s social services team is continuing to assist clients with applying for SNAP (along with Medicaid, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, Medicare Savings Program, CHIP and CHIP Perinatal). We offer help with applications remotely and on-site. Our offices are located at 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin, Texas 78744.
For the safety of our staff and the community we serve, we have implemented social distancing models and can see a limited number of clients at one time on-site at the Food Bank. To get help with applications on-site, please call our hotline to make an appointment first at 855-366-3401.
El equipo de servicios sociales del Central Texas Food Bank continúa ayudando a los clientes a solicitar SNAP (junto con Medicaid, TANF, Healthy Texas Women, Medicare Savings Program, CHIP y CHIP Perinatal). Ofrecemos ayuda con las aplicaciones de forma remota e in situ. Nuestras oficinas están ubicadas en 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin, Texas 78744.
Para la seguridad de nuestro personal y la comunidad a la que servimos, hemos implementado modelos de distanciamiento social y podemos atender a un número limitado de clientes a la vez en el sitio del Banco de Alimentos. Para obtener ayuda con las solicitudes en el lugar, llame a nuestra línea directa para programar una cita primero al 855-366-3401.
Self-Care Calendar
How can we greet our scholars?
Breathing Techniques for Scholars
APIE
Please note: if you are planning to volunteer for any event at school you must go through a
back ground check. You can do that clicking this link: https://austinpartners.org/get-involved/austin-isd-school-based-volunteer/
More information to come.
Join our Uphaus PTA
Please support the Uphaus PTA
PTA is an organization of parents and teachers coming together to advocate for our children and students. Your membership alone will give us a BIGGER voice in our school and community!
Membership is $10 for the year. This money goes towards student events, teacher appreciation and much more. PTA membership flyer going out soon!
Upcoming Events
April is Arab American Heritage Month- https://arabamericafoundation.org/national-arab-american-heritage-month/
April is International and National Autism Acceptance Month
April is School Library Month
April 1-5 Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
April 1-5 Librarian Appreciation Week
April 4- Brighter Bites Distribution day
April 7-16 Kindergarten Dyslexia Screenings
April 8-12 Week of the Young Child Dress Up Week (See flier above)
April 8-12 Session 2 Group-YMCA Swimming (Barr, Martin, & Ortiz)
April 8- Solar Eclipse Day
April 9- Author Visit (Ryan T Higgins) See flier above to purchase signed book
April 9- Ramadan ends
April 10-Eid-al-Fitr
April 10- Austin ISD Staff Development Day (No School for students)
April 12-PTA Meeting (See flier)
April 13- Austin ISD Career Fair (Parmer Event Center) See flier above for details
April 15-25th- Session 3 Group-YMCA Swimming (Fuentes & Velez)
April 17- Kindergarten Graduation Photo Session
April 17- Chipolte Spirit Night from 4-8pm -See flier above
April 18- Brighter Bites Distribution Day
April 19- PTA Movie Night & CATCH/SEL Night -See flier above
April 22-26 Earth Week - See flier
April 22-Earth Day
April 22-26 Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week (formerly Secretary's Week)
April 22-26 School Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 25- CAC Meeting @ 3:30 pm
April 26-Parent Coffee Chat
April 29- Kindergarten Bike Safety class