The Austin Buzz January 2023

The Principal Buzz, by Melissa Whigham

Happy New Year! I am excited to begin 2nd Semester with our Austin Family. Our teachers received additional professional development and worked collaboratively in preparation to make 3rd Quarter successful for your child/children. We are excited about all the field trips, learning activities, projects, and events planned to enhance students' learning experiences.

Carpool Reminders:

1. Carpool begins at 7:40 a.m. each morning.

2. Students must be dropped off through the carpool line. Parents are not allowed to park on side streets or in the parking lot to walk students to and from campus.

3. All cars must come to a complete stop and be in parking mode to load and unload students in the carpool line.

4. Display carpool numbers during afternoon pick-up. If you have misplaced your issued car tag, please have the number written largely on a piece of paper.

5. Students that attend EDC can be picked up after the carpool line is complete. Parents must park and sign students out of the program.

Attendance Matters

Please make sure your child is present for the entire school day. This will ensure that your child will not miss necessary instruction for personal growth. Also, please limit early dismissals if possible to reduce classroom disruptions throughout the school day.

Early Dismissals

No early dismissals are allowed after 2:15 p.m. due to the carpool line.

Alabama State Testing

Austin will begin state testing in March. More details will be forthcoming about individual class testing dates.

MBA Extended Day Tutoring

Tutoring will begin January 17th and will continue through March 23rd, 2023. Tutoring will be from 3:20 - 4:20 Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tutoring is by invitation only.

Bus Change

Mrs. Taylor Bus #18-85 will no longer be driving for the remainder of the school year. At this time, Ms. Stephanie McQuillen Bus #16-59 will drive Mrs. Taylor's route.

Upcoming Dates

January 5th - 3rd Quarter Begins
January 16th - No School in observance of MLK Day
January 17th - MBA Tutoring Begins
January 18th -Report Cards Sent Home
January 20th -Walk of Fame K-5 Celebration 2:00 p.m.
January 26th - Class Pictures
January 27th - House Meetings
January 30th - Kids Heart Challenge Kickoff
January 30th - MBA Spirit Night at Taco Mama
February 13th - 17th - National Entrepreneurship Week
February 20th - 24th Mardi Gras Break

Art From the Heart Event

When

Friday, March 10th, 6-9pm

Where

Byrne Memorial Hall, Mobile, AL, USA

Mobile, AL

More information

It is with great pleasure that Mary B. Austin Elementary School announces Art from the Heart 2023!

Mary B. Austin is located in the Spring Hill area of Mobile, AL, and currently has approximately 500 students. At Austin, we are committed to providing the best education possible for all our students. We are an innovative school that integrates foundational skills in the core subjects with 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity to fully prepare our students for their future. As part of our dynamic education, our administration, teachers, and parents feel strongly about the importance of arts education.

The Mobile County School System generously provides weekly art instruction for 3rd-5th graders during the first semester of the school year. However, we feel it is vital for all students at Mary B. Austin to receive weekly art instruction during the entire school year. We are proud to say that in the 14 years since its inception, Art from the Heart has successfully raised the money to ensure every child in each grade can develop his or her artistic abilities and experience firsthand how fun the arts can be! As you can see, we feel very passionate about the arts at Mary B. Austin. As one of our students expressed, "Art class allows us to use our imagination and brings more color into the classroom."

Mary B. Austin Elementary’s PTA will host its 15th annual, Art from the Heart

Friday, March 10, 2023 - 6 - 9 p.m.

(Preview Party kicks off at 5:30 for sponsors!)

Byrne Hall at Spring Hill College, 4307 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL 36608
Silent and live auction event featuring student artwork, food, and fun!

Our goal this year is to raise $25,000 so that we can continue to encourage creativity among our students.

Listed below are our current sponsorship opportunities. Details and benefits available upon request:

$2,500 - Presenting Sponsor (Headline Sponsor-cash only and only 1 available)

$1,000 - Platinum (cash only)

$500 - Silver

$250 - Partner

$100 - Mini Supporter

$75 - Friend

Thank you! We hope you will consider being a sponsor and help support this worthy cause.

Art from the Heart

Mary B. Austin Elementary PTA

150 Provident Lane, Mobile, Alabama 36608 | marybaustinvolunteer@gmail.com

Get Directions

Art From the Heart Auction Information

What is a silent auction?

A silent auction is an event where items are displayed for attendees to place bids on and purchase. However, unlike most auctions, there is no auctioneer present, and participants place their bids silently and anonymously on a bid sheet using a bidding number—hence the name silent auction. Once the closing of the auction is announced, bid sheets are pulled, and the highest bidder wins the item. They then provide their bidder number at checkout to pay for any items won and pick items up to take home. Some examples of silent auction items are pie a teacher in the face, a teacher for a day, gift certificates, and art.

What is a live auction?

A live auction is a type of charity auction where an auctioneer runs the bidding by introducing each item and guiding bid amounts. Guests place bids by calling out amounts, raising their hands, or otherwise catching the auctioneer's attention. Some examples of live auction items are carpool queen, spending the day with a PE teacher, and lunch with the principal.

What should I expect?

Free libations, entertainment, food, and FUN! Your child will also have a special art project on display that you can purchase and take home.

AmazonSmile

Don’t Forget to Add Mary B on AmazonSmile

Each purchase donates 0.5% to our school at no cost to you, and it can add up quickly!

How to use AmazonSmile on a web browser:

1. Visit smile.amazon.com

2. Sign in with the same account you use for Amazon.com

3. Select your charity

4. Start shopping! Remember to checkout at smile.amazon.com to generate donations for your chosen charity.
Tip: Add a bookmark to make it easier to shop at smile.amazon.com.

How to use AmazonSmile using the Amazon app on your mobile phone:

1. Open the Amazon Shopping app

2. Navigate to the main menu (≡)

3. Tap on Settings and then select “AmazonSmile”

4. Select your charity and then follow the on-screen instructions to turn ON AmazonSmile in the mobile app

5. Once AmazonSmile has been activated in your app, future eligible app purchases will generate a donation for the charity you have selected.
Note: The tablet app is not yet supported. Please visit smile.amazon.com/onthego to learn more.

Accessibility

The Austin Buzz January 2023

Mary B. Austin Elementary

The Austin Buzz January 2023

Mary B. Austin Elementary

The Principal Buzz, by Melissa Whigham

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Upcoming Dates

PTA Information

PTA Art Contest

Art From the Heart Event

Friday, March 10th, 6-9pm

Byrne Memorial Hall, Mobile, AL, USA

Mobile, AL

Art From the Heart Auction Information

AmazonSmile

PTA Store Open

Mary B. Austin Elementary Spirit Store

Counselor's Corner

2022-2023 Uniform Policy

Schoology Information

Creating a Parent Schoology Account

How to Enable Schoology Reports

Parents and Grades in Schoology

Viewing Student Grades and Report Cards

Mary B. Austin Elementary