Vaughan Voice
Campus Parent Communication - March 19, 2021
I hope everyone's had a great week! As we move forward these next nine weeks, we will continue to share more about end of the year activities. We're looking forward to finishing 2020-2021 on a strong note! While it's been a challenging year, we have ROCKED it! This is largely attributed to your amazing students and you. Thank you so much for your support and for sharing your sweet kiddos with us!
Have a great weekend!
Tonya Jasenof
Principal
Vaughan Elementary
Teacher of the Year!
Congratulations Dr. Alison Smithwick, Vaughan Librarian, on being crowned Vaughan Elementary’ s Teacher of the Year!
Dr. Smithwick is an incredibly valuable resource on our campus and is always seeking out ways to help all of us shine a little brighter. With the restrictions of the pandemic, she found ways to make the library still accessible to kids by making personalized Book Hub deliveries to classrooms. Dr. Smithwick also created a space for teachers to relax and unwind with the added stress of the new way of teaching this past year. Our school announcements are better than ever by including in-person and at-home students in the planning and delivery process. Dr. Smithwick strives to use technology in innovative ways to provide students with books, projects, and book studies when students are not on campus or have the ability to go to the library. She is most definitely a team player, a go-getter, and a positive person who is always willing to help. We are so fortunate to have her at Vaughan!
Spring Pictures Wednesday, March 24th!
Lifetouch will be at Vaughan on Wednesday, March 24th to take student individual Spring pictures. At home learners will have a flyer coming home in today's Wednesday folder. At home learners can request a paper flyer by calling the office.
In person students will have their pictures taken during the school day. At home learners will be given a window of time to come to Vaughan to have their photos taken on the same date from 12:45 to 1:45 pm. More detailed information will be coming in an email soon!
For safety & time restrictions, we are requesting that you order online to eliminate the need to handle paperwork.
To order online , please go to mylifetouch.com and enter Picture Day ID: EVTZJTF3G. (Please enter student name as it is listed on their birth certificate.)
Vaughan Senior Scholarship Application
Deadline to apply is Monday, 4/12/21 at 3pm!
GATE Academy Information for All Elementary Campuses
Each year, Allen ISD hosts an informational meeting for parents providing information on the GATE Academy and the lottery process. This year’s informational meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be facilitated via Zoom webinar. To join the webinar meeting, please go to https://zoom.us/s/93895219688. There is no need to register for the meeting. The recording of the meeting will be posted to the Gifted & Talented Services webpage and to the GATE Academy webpage for those who cannot attend the live webinar session and for those who wish to review a recording of the information.
The window to apply for a 2021-2022 GATE Academy seat will be open from March 23-April 5, 2021. Once the application opens the evening of March 23rd, it can be accessed at https://forms.gle/WD7Bvro2QH19ewSN7.
Please note, the GATE Academy lottery is open to Allen ISD students currently in grades K-5 who are already identified gifted and have participated in AIM this year. Students who are in the process of testing for potential gifted identification this spring are not eligible for this year's GATE Academy lottery. This is the same as previous years. Should your student be identified through this year's testing and begin AIM in the 2021-2022 school year, they will be eligible for next year's GATE Academy lottery.
Upcoming Attendance Credit Election
This spring, Allen ISD will host a special election known as an Attendance Credit Election. You may remember this election from the Spring of 2020 that was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19. In short, a new Texas law requires Allen ISD to gain voter approval for a process of reimbursement under the recapture law (commonly referred to as Robin Hood).
If this election fails, the Texas Education Agency will detach $3.03 Billion worth of commercial property from Allen ISD’s tax revenue. This would result in a permanent loss of local control in our district. What does this mean to you as a taxpayer? With a reduction in commercial property, it would require the tax rate to rise 9 cents, causing a median single-family home (worth $375,000) to have an increase of $337.50 in its annual tax bill.
What happens if this election is approved by voters? An approved election would allow Allen ISD to make its state-required recapture payments with the State of Texas through the purchase of attendance credit. This is the same process that Allen ISD has used since 2011. It is also important to note that if approved, your total tax rate will not change and it will not affect the level of state funding that Allen ISD receives.
Election Day is May 1, and we want our community to have upfront and factual information. Click here for more information on the election via the district's website.
Volunteer Opportunities
We are super excited to offer a few volunteer opportunities for our families! PTA will be coordinating these opportunities, please see the specifics they shared below...
Hello Vaughan families!
We wanted to be sure you saw the upcoming Volunteer Opportunities at school. Allen ISD has released guidelines to begin allowing limited volunteers at school!
CLICK HERE to sign up via Membership Toolkit. You will need to login. If you have not created an account, you will need to do that first.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS!
There are two opportunities for volunteers at Vaughan:
· Library – daily from 9-11 am, assisting the librarian with tasks, there will be no student interaction
· Watch D.O.G.S. – assisting with morning and/or afternoon car pool
Volunteers will be begin on Tuesday, February 16. We ask to start that you volunteer for just one day. If you do check back a day or two before and there is no one signed up, you may go ahead and sign up even if you have already volunteered. We want to be sure that all our volunteers have the opportunity to help.
HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES:
1. Annual Allen ISD background check must be completed prior to time on campus. https://www.allenisd.org/page/214
2. Adhere to Allen ISD Volunteer Guidelines found here: https://www.allenisd.org/page/214
3. COVID self-assessment check must be done. Please see the student screener linked here for questions to consider prior to coming to campus. https://www.allenisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001197/Centricity/Domain/5585/STUDENT_HEALTH_SCREENING_Questionnaire.pdf
4. Masks must be worn at all times.
5. Keep social distance from staff and students while on campus.
6. Stay in your designated volunteer area during your time on campus.
7. Watch D.O.G.S. on campus: Consider air hugs, elbow bumps, or air high fives when greeting students to avoid direct physical contact.
Thank you for your continued support of our campus!
Kindergarten Enrollment is Open!
https://www.allenisd.org/Page/58088
Who is eligible to enroll in kindergarten? Texas State law requires a child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 of that school year.
Pre-K students currently enrolled and attending Allen ISD at Rountree or Cheatham do not need to re-enroll for kindergarten.
The first day of school is scheduled for August 11, 2021
Damaged school issued computer or device?
Should your school-issued computer become damaged, please submit a help ticket here, https://allenisd.on.spiceworks.com/portal/tickets
We will then be able to get you a replacement while repairs are being made.
The school will then create an invoice and send it to you to pay for the damage, repairs, or a replacement through SchoolPay.
Should you have further questions about this process, please let us know.
Reminder - Steam Ambassador Tutoring - Grades 5 & 6
General Overview:
STEAM Ambassadors will provide flexible, one on one online peer tutoring services to students in grades 5-12 with homework help and science and math concept comprehension.
This tutoring is available for in-person AND virtual learners.
Goals:
Assist students with math and science concepts through virtual tutoring sessions.
Provide accessible student support that would typically be offered in a face to face setting but has become increasingly difficult as students learn away from campus.
Establish a virtual tutoring model that successfully addresses the diverse needs of learners across Allen ISD.
Who are the tutors?
Tutors are 10th-12th grade STEAM Ambassadors that excel in science and math.
STEAM Ambassadors were chosen by board members, administrators, and teachers during an extensive interview process last spring.
Tutors have completed classroom observations and were trained on best instructional practices.
Please visit the STEAM Ambassador website to learn more about the leadership program and tutoring
How to sign up:
**Parents and students may view available times for tutoring sessions and sign up for a session here**
Students can learn about the available tutors by viewing their bios.
Students will sign up for a session at least 24 hours in advance, providing details regarding material they would like to cover during the session. Additionally, graded quizzes/assignments, homework, etc. can be submitted here for the tutor to review in detail with the student (reworking missed questions, clarifying/reteaching when necessary)
Prior to the first tutoring session a parent/guardian permission slip will be submitted
REMINDER - Allen ISD Resources
For the 2020–2021 school year, Allen ISD has compiled additional resources for our families. These resources are available on the Allen ISD website and can be accessed through the following links:
Upcoming Dates and Reminders
- Join Vaughan PTA- Please consider joining the Vaughan PTA to contribute to your child's school. Membership gives you access to our PTA online Membership Toolkit, ways to connect with Vaughan families through social media, and supports our school. https://vaughanpta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet-start/2046
Save the Date!
March 24 - Spring Pictures
March 29 - Chick-Fil-A Spirit Day
April 2 - No School for Students or Staff
April 6th - 4th Grade STAAR Writing for In-Person Learners
April 12 - Senior Scholarship Deadline
April 13th - 4th Grade STAAR Writing for At-Home Learners
Follow Us on Social Media
Email: tonya.jasenof@allenisd.org
Website: https://www.allenisd.org/Domain/1123
Location: 820 Cottonwood Dr, Allen, TX, USA
Phone: 972.727.0470
Facebook: facebook.com/VikingsofMOVE1
Twitter: @VikingsofMOVE1