Rosedale
proudly presents the April edition of:
Community news from the greatest place on Earth...
Principal Nelson's Newsletter
Rosedale Nation!
Allow me to present to you the absolute BIGGEST EVENT of the YEAR!!!
That's right, we've waited all year to revel in and celebrate the Greatest Event in the History of Rosedale!
The bestest event ever for our students and community is none other than...(drumroll please)
Is it the Rosedale Ride on April 6th?
Is it the Solar Eclipse on April 8th?
Is it the Prom on April 20th?
Is it Graduation on May 21st?
Is it Splash Day on May 23rd?
The answer, of course, is YES! We treat every event on campus like the biggest event of the year because it always is. Whether it's Homecoming, Thanksgiving Lunch, a Second Line Parade for Black History Month, or the Playground of Possibilities event with C-Path, each event gets treated like the most important one of the year because that's what our students deserve. We do not do small or believe in quaint; we want bigger, better, brighter, and bolder for our students!
If we treat each moment with our students as a celebration and ensure that every second counts, they cannot help but grow into their best version. Working with this community is a celebration in and of itself, and we are honored to be able to do so.
Speaking of the Ride on April 6th, make sure to share the link below with all your friends and allies. We know everybody wants to help our students, they merely need direction. Here it is:
Share the link. Share your story. Share the joy.
One last thought:
"Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing." -Albert Schweitzer
If you want to teach your kids, it's not through lectures. It's not through PowerPoints or through presentations. It's going to be through showing them you live according to the rules you set, and the values you are trying to tell them are important. Don't tell them that kindness trumps all; show them with your actions. Let your moral compass guide you in your interactions and decisions, and see how it will also guide them. Remember, our kids are mirrors. Let's make sure we're reflecting all that is good.
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Rosedale
7505 Silvercrest Dr.
Austin, TX 78757
512-414-3617 ext. 70744 office
Assistant Principal and Librarian Appreciation Week, April 1st-5th
We are so fortunate to have the amazing Tammy Smith serving as our mentor, administrator, and resident Longhorn fan and the wonderful Ms. Gwen as our librarian. This week, help us celebrate these two staff members who are lucky enough to get to see each and every student on campus every day. We are who we are because they are who they are.
AISD School Climate Survey
Our annual spring climate survey is now live until April 12! This is your chance to contribute valuable feedback to help shape the educational experience in our district.
Your Input Matters: Your insights provide invaluable perspectives on the educational climate, culture, and engagement within Austin ISD. By participating, you directly contribute to our ongoing efforts to enhance and refine our services. Please be aware that you may submit your feedback as your overall experience, or you may submit one survey per child.
Your Privacy Matters: The survey is 100% confidential. The district does not have access to individual responses or any personal data that could be used to identify a respondent. All respondent data is de-identified for complete confidentiality.
Make Your Voice Heard: Our goal is to achieve an 80% completion rate across all campuses, and your participation is important to us.
Accessing the Survey: Visit surveys.panoramaed.com/austinisd/family and select your student's school from the dropdown list.
- The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed from any screen reading device connected to Wi-Fi, such as your phone, laptop, or tablet.
- The survey is available in the following languages: Arabic, Vietnamese, Dari, Pashto, Simplified Chinese, English, Spanish and is compatible with most screen translators
Deadline Reminder: Please submit your responses by April 12 to ensure your voice is heard.
Thank you for your participation in shaping the future of Austin ISD. Together, we can make a difference!
Sincerely,
Austin Independent School District
What's Happening on Campus
Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th!!!
The eclipse will be visible here at Rosedale from about 12:15 until 3:00 with totality from 1:36 until 1:38, meaning we get two minutes and 15 seconds of darkness. We plan on celebrating out on our soccer field with popsicles, punch, and music by Vampire Weekend. Austin will not have an event like this for another thousand years, so we plan to make it memorable.
No School on April 10th! Student Holiday and Staff Development
In recognition of Eid al-Fitr, AISD will not hold classes on Wednesday, April 10th. However, this is a staff development day on campus.
Prom on April 20th!
Please use this form (click above) for your student if h/she is going to be arriving late or will be attending any doctor's appointments or therapies. For questions, please contact Tracy Castillo at (512) 414-3617 ext. 57110
ROSEDALE STUDENT ART SHOW AT THE PAC!
Rosedale students have been creating beautiful artwork in their new weekly art class. We are so excited to share that we have 30 students' artwork in the AISD Visual Arts Student exhibition! There will be a reception on Saturday, March 30th, from 10 to 5 at the AISD PAC. Please stop by and see our beautiful art displayed all around the building. Rosedale's Artwork will be up through April 8th. For more questions about the art show, email Cynthia.Haws-Rice@austinisd.org
Five Random Questions: Getting to know the best people on Earth
Each newsletter we will showcase a few Rosedale Raccoon staff members and ask them five random questions. Be forewarned, the questions are random and chaotic and may not pertain to what we do here each day at Rosedale, but they should give you a glimpse of the inner-workings of those who have answered the call of awesomeness.
Jake Merritt: TLC TA and Master Chef of Southern Cuisine
- What is your favorite animal? An otter. They are fun and enjoy playing with people (yet not part of Southern cuisine...I hope)
- What is your favorite While Elephant Gift? I gave somebody a John Cena doll a few Christmases back and they were not amused at all. Them failing to see the humor made it all the more enjoyable.
- What is the most helpful thing you own? My conical, electric coffee grinder. I'm a coffee snob (most hipsters are) and love my daily dose. My favorite coffee shop is Barrett's (same for most hipsters), and I even wear their hat (most hipsters do as well).
- What is trendy now that most people will be embarrassed about in 5 years? Mullets, I pray. Also, certain slang being floated around will be phased out. Particularly "gas." (I asked what "gas" meant...the same as "fire" he said. I asked what "fire" meant....he said "really, it's been around for a minute"...I then asked what a minute meant...he then shook his hipster head and muttered something unintelligible)
- Where do you see yourself living when you retire? El Paso. It's where my family is and from. Seems like the perfect place to not do much and just sit around talking about grandchildren. Nobody has to be anywhere on time ("otter" be a bumper sticker, I say...he then mumbled something else but it was more intelligible, just not safe to print)
Jessica Starks: Resident Rosedale Speech Pathologist and Noted East Coast Accent Expert
2. What have you forgotten today? I lose everything! If you can put it down, I'll make sure to forget it. I'm always leaving therapy materials behind. Today, I left a box of cards I needed for a session in my office.
3. What accents or impressions are you able to do? I can do a bonkahs New Yawk accent. I can do Long Island accents and pretty much anybody from the East Coast. You like apples? I can do a Boston accent...how you like them apples? I don't do other countries to avoid being culturally offensive (except to Yankees). I can also do Micky and a passable Goofy.
4. In what ways do you think your career will change in the next 10 years? More specialization for speech therapists. I hope to be here at Rosedale in 10 years and have more licensed speech therapists here with me. AAC and swallowing specialists as well as experts on new communication devices will be more available (maybe one or two can help you with that New Joisey accent)
5. What's one skill you believe everyone should have in the workplace? Communication and collaboration (and counting, apparently )
Jackie Diaz: Blue Wing TA and trumpeted trombone player.
1. What is your favorite family recipe? My grandma's broccoli and cheese casserole is comfort food that tastes like memories. We had it at every holiday growing up, and it's healthy (ish) since it has broccoli. (and copious amounts of cream of mushroom soup and cheese...hence the "ish")
2. What is the weirdest hobby you've tried? Making Halloween latex masks. It was eerie walking around my house and seeing all the head molds, glued-on lips, scars, and such. (um...we said weirdest, not super creepiest)
3. Would you be friends with a clone of yourself? I hope so. I don't think I would get on my own nerves too much. I did have a roommate a while back that was a lot like me. (how did that go?) We did not get along too well.
4. What would your dream house look like? Stone façade. Large, long wrap-around porch. Cottage style, with a 2-story fireplace. It would be somewhere in the woods surrounded by trees.
5. What is the most spontaneous thing you have ever done? On a trip to China with an ensemble, I was in, we had a layover in Seoul, SK, and decided to leave the airport and paint the town red. We had a friend who lived there and took us around all the hotspots in the city. We got to experience all of Seoul's nightlife, then got back on the plan to make it to our gig on time.
Rosedale PTA Information
April PTA Meeting
4/2/24, 11am, PTA Social at Hold Out Brewing, **large parking lot behind the building**
4/9/24, 11:30-1 pm, PTA Meeting, lunch provided, Presenter:
Bryan Campshire, Integral Care Program Manager of IDD Crisis Service
PTA Officer Elections May 14th, start thinking of serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer or Secretary
4/4/24, 5-8 pm Packet Pickup at Rosedale School, come & meet the Riders
4/6/24, 8am Rosedale Ride at The Pitch
Register & share with friends & family to support Rosedale School: The Rosedale Foundation
Come out to Ride, Cheer on Riders & hang out at The Pitch
4/20/24, 5-8 pm, Glow Light Prom
Reminder to return RSVP cards to school
Kimberly Johnson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Rosedale School PTA meeting Time: Apr 9, 2024 11:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85740892347?pwd=kWpJfkdl8qXHLvwmoTWyubsjlReK64.1 Meeting ID: 857 4089 2347 Passcode: 334680