From The Admin Team 4/20/2021
Bernice Kiker Elementary School
Combining the Admin News with the Kiker Comments
Upcoming Events
April
5 - 30 CLI Engage Pre-K4 Assessment Window
5 -22 Kinder MAP Growth Reading Fluency screening window
9 - Regular school day, NOT an asynchronous day
13 - Evacuation Drill
21 - PTA Meeting, Principal Q and A, Art Night
23 - Regular school day, NOT an asynchronous day
23 - 25 Kiker Gifts of Time Fundraiser Dates
27 -Shelter and Hold Drills
May
5 - Vision and Hearing Screening PK, K, 1, 3, 5
10 - 21 EOY Map Growth Window for Reading and Math K-2
11 - 3rd , 4th, 5th STAAR Math
12 - 3rd, 4th, 5th STAAR Reading
13 - 5th STAAR Science and Make up day
14 - STAAR Make up day #2
31 - No School / Memorial Day
June
3 - Last Day for Students
4 - Staff Day
Online Registration for 2021-2022 is now open!
Please log into your family portal account at AISD Parent Portal to register/update your student's information for next school year. Please check the boxes carefully for yearbook permission or for photographs and for campus messages. It is so important to our campus that we get everyone to complete online registration so we can keep and maintain our amazing staff!
We will have curbside registration for our incoming Kindergarten students, April 12-16, M/W/F from 9:00-11:00 in the front driveway. Please bring copies of your student's birth certificate, immunization record, current utility bill, and your driver's license. Please call the Kiker Office at 512-414-2584 if you have any questions.
HSR Curriculum Will Not Be Taught This Year
Due to the unique demands placed on schools and teachers during the COVID-19 crisis for students attending both in-person and remotely, the Human Sexuality and Responsibility (HSR) unit will not be taught to students enrolled in grades K-8th grade during the spring semester of the 2020-21 school year. Principals are required to relay this information to their community. Information will also be published on the AISD Newsletter and HSR website. Parents will have access to resources on topics connected to the website.
AISD Dyslexia Family Meeting 4/26
The Dyslexia & Literacy Department is excited to host a Dyslexia Family meeting on April
26th from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. We would like to give families information about how to keep
their children reading over the summer. Join us to learn about resources and subscriptions that
AISD students have access to throughout the summer. We will have Spanish language
interpretation services for the meeting.
● Please use the following link to register for the session. After registering, you will receive
a confirmation email containing the Zoom meeting link. https://austinisd-
org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tdeiqpz0vHtJ0hLsqTQMMPvs3W4XcYpv0
Dr. Bruce Perry, Community Event
Please join us on Monday, May 10 (NEW DATE) at 4:30 pm as Austin Ed Fund hosts an engaging virtual event featuring Dr. Bruce Perry, a renowned brain scientist, and trauma expert. Learn about how the traumatic events of the last year affect the functioning of a child’s brain and how you can help foster communities of healing for a strong future generation.
This is a public event hosted through Zoom that is open to the entire community. Registration is FREE, and it will also be accessible through AISD.TV and Facebook Live. Feel free to share with your family, friends, and community!
To learn more about Dr. Perry’s work, check out his series on COVID-19 stress, distress and trauma. For more information or questions about the event, please contact austinedfund@austinisd.org.
Returning to in-person learning?
Mask Reminder
arrival and dismissal procedures
How to find your classroom
In-person learning
Campus Fundraiser
The virtual auction and gifts of time can be accessed here tinyulr.com/kikerfundraiser2021
2021-2022 Optional Parent Input Form
It is time to begin the lengthy process of placing each student into classes for the 2021-22 school year. Balancing classes for 800+ students is a huge task that is not taken lightly. We strive to create the greatest mix of students for each classroom based on many factors, including, but not limited to the following: academic needs, social and emotional skills, required special services, and diversity. While parent input is a valued piece of the puzzle, creating balanced classes also requires input from teachers, administrators, and counselors.
If you would like to provide information to be considered during the placement process, please complete the following form by April 23.
https://forms.gle/rKbtXT5zpDtzVLst5
If you choose to complete the form, please note the following:
- Completion of the form is optional—it is NOT required.
- Please do not request a specific teacher. Information should focus on your child and not on a specific teacher.
- These forms are valid for one year. Similar forms completed previously are not part of this year’s process.
- We respectfully request that you refrain from requesting placement with friends. Each child’s individual needs will be considered.
- Children are not placed with teachers based the teacher selected for an older sibling. Each child is unique and must be placed accordingly.
- Please do not ask any staff member to recommend a teacher or to arrange placement with a teacher.
- This form does not replace the registration process. You will still need to register your student. We cannot place children unless they are registered. If you have questions regarding this, please contact the Amy McGovern at 512-414-2584.
- Final placement will not be complete and classroom assignments will not go home until a few days prior to the start of classes due to students enrolling and withdrawing throughout the summer.
As always, let us know if you have any questions/concerns.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding,
What will next school year look like?
At this time, Austin ISD is awaiting information on the 2021-2022 school year requirements from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). We know that on-campus learning will be an option available to families next year, just as it is this year. AISD safety protocols will align with the Center for Disease Control and Austin Public Health. AISD also shared that there will be a hybrid/remote option for 2021-2022.
We realize you’re eager for information, and we will communicate more with our families when we receive guidance from TEA.
Technology for 2021-2022
Our current second graders will be 2021-2022 third graders. These students will turn in iPads and get issued a Chromebook in August.
iPads will be available to incoming PK thru 2nd graders for each elementary school at the start of the new school year.
Summer Planning
Get to Know the Staff: Each week we will feature a few staff members and their "I Am Kiker" poem.
FROM THE PTA
KIKER GIVES US WINGS!
Ways to Pickup: Teachers will have copies to provide in-person learners Print from the attached link (https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/.../Art_Night...) Pick one up from 10805 Greymere Ct Return your decorated & cut out feather by Wednesday, April 28 Drop off at 10805 Greymere Ct Give to your Kiker teacher
April 21 - PTA General Meeting, Principal Q and A, and Art Night
PTA Committee Volunteers Needed:
We are looking for parent volunteers to give their time and talent for the 2021-2022 PTA.If you have any questions or are interested please email Amanda Hunter at amandamcm@gmail.com
The following positions Committee Coordinator positions are open
President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, VP Communications, VP Communications, VP Fundraising, VP Fundraising, VP Membership, VP Membership, VP Programs, VP Programs,
Spirit Sales, Spirit Sales, ACPTA, CAC, Historian, Kiker Beautification and Parliamentarian
Engraved Paver Fundraiser
Kiker PTA is offering engraved paving stones to help honor those special Comets in your life, be it a special student, family member, teacher or staff member. For $35, you can have a paver engraved and installed around the granite star at the entrance to Kiker. Orders will be collected until May 21st. Click the form below for more details or to order your paver.
Birthdays
April
27 – Cindy Gilliland
28 – Barbara Schaefer and Melissa Krueger
May
3- Patty Candelaria
7 – Zonia Smith
9 – Emma Sullivan and Andrea Bredl
10- Lisa Adams
12 – Abby Willie
13 – Denise Tharp and Laura Davis
14- Carolyn McKaskle and Tracy Cardenas
Bernice Kiker Elementary Administration Team
Alma Chapa Moore - Assistant Principal
Kelly Meyer - Assistant Principal
Email: cory.matheny@austinisd.org
Website: https://kikerelementary.org/
Location: 5913 La Crosse Avenue, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-2584
Facebook: facebook.com/CMathenyPrincipal
Twitter: @KikerComets