Davis Elementary Principal's News
August 25, 2020
IN THIS EDITION
- Welcome New Staff
- Home Learning Materials Pick-up & Parade of Dolphins (Wednesday, September 2)
- Back to School Nights (September 2, 3, 4)
- PTA Meeting with AISD Trustee Kristin Ashy (Thursday, August 27)
- NEW 2020-2021 AISD School Calendar + Anderson Vertical Team District of Innovation Dates
- AISD Chromebook/iPad Pick-up
- PTA Toolkit Info
- Team Davis 2020-2021
WELCOME NEW DAVIS STAFF
We have some spectacular new staff joining the Davis team for the 2020-2021 school year.
Warm welcome to:
- Lauren Kajdas, Assistant Principal: Ms. Kajdas comes to us from McBee Elementary, where she has been a Math/Science Coach for the last several years. Click here for a special message from Ms. Kajdas.
- Alyssa Gonzalez, Special Education Resource Teacher: Ms. Gonzalez is coming from IDEA Health Professions school, were she has worked as a special education teacher.
- Deon Holmes, Custodian: Mr. Holmes joins our team with a great deal of experience as custodian at Pease Elementary in AISD.
- Phyllis Woodley, Clerk: Ms. Woodley is a veteran of the Anderson Vertical Team, with several years experience as an active parent volunteer at Summitt, Murchison, and Anderson.
- Kevin Abeyta, Art
- Melissa Mendoza, Music
- Angela Gaither, PE
We also have awesome staff members returning to Davis this year. Warm welcome back to:
- Lauren Meyer, Librarian & Instructional Media Specialist
- Jessica Kreitzman, 5th Grade Teacher
All of our new and returning staff members are thrilled to be at Davis and we are excited about these fantastic additions to Team Davis!
Home Learning Materials Pick-up & Parade of Dolphins!
The drive-through, contactless materials pickup will take place on Wednesday, September 2. This will also be an opportunity for parents and students to see Davis staff and say hello from afar. We are so excited to see our Davis Dolphins and want everyone to share in this excitement! Families are encouraged to show your school spirit when you drive through to pick up the home learning materials. All are welcome to make a sign, draw a picture to display, decorate your car, wear your Davis swag, and show your Davis spirit. We can't wait to see and celebrate the Parade of Dolphins as we prepare for starting the year!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Each grade level has an assigned drive through pick-up location, as noted below.
- PK, K, 1st: Front Drive (access from Duval Road)
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th: East Drive (access from Bull Run)
Pickup is scheduled for the following times according to first letter of last name:
- 7:30-8:45am: Last name beginning with A-M
- 8:45-10:00am: Last name beginning with N-Z
Procedures for Pick-up of Home Learning Materials.
All pick-up will take place outside on the east drive or front lot.
Place a paper with your child’s first name, last name, teacher last name, and grade level on the passenger side window of your car so it is visible to school staff.
Follow signs to reach your grade level and teacher destination.
Stay in the car at all times- No getting out of cars for any reason.
Wear a mask.
Stop at the designated location corresponding to your child's grade level and teacher.
Once stopped, open the trunk/window of your car from inside your car. School staff will place home learning materials in the trunk/car.
Smile and wave to the teachers and staff!
Proceed through the drive and exit.
Additional Notes:
- If you have class library books or school library books to return- There will be a large, labeled bin where parents may drop off library books. Parents may roll down their window and drop books in it without leaving their car.
- If you pre-ordered school supplies, these will be available for pick-up.
- If you ordered Davis Spirit Gear (at least two days prior to pick-up day), it will be there for pick-up.
- If you ordered a 2019-2020 yearbook and have not yet picked it up, you will be able to pick it up.
- If you did not pick up your child's belongings in May (from last school year), these will be available for pick-up.
- Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms must not come to Davis to pick up home learning materials or any other items.
Any families not able to pick up materials on 9/2 may pickup items on Thursday-Friday, September 3-4, between 8am-12pm each day.
VIRTUAL BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS NEXT WEEK!
General Sessions
- PK, K, 1st, 2nd: Tuesday, September 1, 5:00-5:40pm
- 3rd, 4th, 5th: Wednesday, September 2, 5:00-5:40pm
- Zoom link for General Sessions: https://zoom.us/j/97569954066?pwd=Y3lLQ3lzRnNuU0YzcHBnVk51MlRSZz09; Meeting ID: 975 6995 4066; Passcode: 7wzphT
Teacher/Class Sessions
- PK, K, 2nd: Tuesday, September 1, 5:45-6:30pm
- 3rd, 4th, 5th: Wednesday, September 2, 5:45-6:30pm
- 1st: Thursday, September 3, 5:45-6:30pm
- Each teacher will send a Zoom link for the Teacher/Class Session.
While Back to School Nights will look different this year, we are excited to connect with all families and share in the excitement as we get one step closer to starting the school year!
PTA ZOOM MEETING WITH AISD TRUSTEE KRISTIN ASHY
Thursday, August 27th, 7:00pm.
Special Guest: Kristin Ashy, Austin ISD District 4 Trustee
Ms. Ashy is our elected leader and as our trustee she represents the Davis Elementary community’s expectations of educational programs and services provided by AISD.
Questions/Comments
Please fill out this google form if you have specific questions or comments, so we can make sure to answer and address the most common ones.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7307925210?pwd=dDMwVG5LcHlEejNKdHd0bXpQMHdEQT09
Meeting ID: 730 792 5210
NEW AISD SCHOOL CALENDAR + AVT DISTRICT OF INNOVATION DATES
- Tuesday, January 5, 2021
- Friday, February 12, 2021
iPad/Chromebook Curbside Pickup Information
Families who need a Chromebook for their 3rd-5th grade students can now go to one of the Computer Curbside locations to pick up a device: bit.ly/aisdcomputercurbside.
iPad Pickup (PK-2nd grade students)
Families can pick up an Austin ISD iPad for their PK-2nd grade student at Anderson High School at the following times:
- Friday, August 28, from 7:30am to 1:30pm
- Monday, August 31, from 2:00pm to 7:00pm
- Tuesday, September 1, from 7:30am to 1:30pm.
You must bring the student's school ID number or the QR code you can print by logging in to portal.austinisd.org. iPads will be distributed from the cafeteria with curbside pickup at the north courtyard. Please go to the faculty lot off of Cima Serena and drive to the wrought iron gate where curbside pick up will occur.
PTA TOOLKIT INFORMATION
With the Dolphin Parent Toolkit, you can do the following, ALL IN ONE PLACE:
- Place orders for Davis gear, get your PTA membership, and donate to the PTA Provides Fund
- View your order and donation history
- View and sign up for volunteer opportunities
- Access directory of Davis parents/students (PTA membership required)
- Go to www.davisdolphins.net/toolkit (be sure to bookmark this page)
- Returning Users: Log in
- New Users: Click Start Here, Create your Toolkit Account, Check your email to verify your address, Log back into Toolkit
- Complete your forms: Family Information, Directory Preferences, Online Open House Forms
Davis Spirit Gear will be distributed at the September 2 Supply Pickup, if you complete your purchase on Toolkit by 8/31.
TEAM DAVIS 2020-2021
We've got an amazing staff this year and we all look forward to supporting the Davis community and making this a great year for all Davis students and families! #davisdolphins #weswimtogether
Principal: Jenny Daniels
Assistant Principal: Lauren Kajdas
Counselor: Sherry Garza
Bookkeeper: Teresa Clement
Registrar: Melanie Nelson
Clerk: Phyllis Woodley
Nurse: Cynthia Holcomb
School Health Assistant: Wendy Brummitt
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teachers
Emily Espinoza
Kathy Provenzano
Pre-Kindergarten Teachers
Shana Bulsara
Jasmine Hashemi
Hannah Knight
Kindergarten Teachers
Jihyoung Baek
Suzanne Carver
Maddie Hilton
Alma Mellon
Whitney Watts/Livy Powell
1st Grade Teachers
Rachel Atzmon
Beth Hall
Susie Nordyke
Madison Parker/Nikki Salzberg
Amy Wagner
2nd Grade Teachers
Kate Acuna
Terry Bell
Nicole Crowe
Colleen Davenport
Sarah Markos
3rd Grade Teachers
Kerri Alexander/Lindsay Harris
Liz Estes/Allory Plamondon
Jane Leith/Morgan Thelen
4th Grade Teachers
Halah Helt
Erica Hutchison/Olivia Mink
Melani Novinger
Lisa Stamp
5th Grade Teachers
Liz Carrera/Jessica Kreitzman
Claire Lucas/Anna Weiler
Essential Areas Teachers
Aimee Edwards (PE)
Angela Gaither (PE)
Nicole Garry (Art)
Kevin Abeyta (Art)
Lucas Schoppe (Music)
Melissa Mendoza (Music)
Lauren Meyer (Librarian & Instructional Media Specialist)
Jannelle Imken (Tech Coach)
Jenive Isaacs (Science Coordinator)
Ann Moon (Reading Specialist, CALT)
Karen Skowronski (Reading Interventionist)
FLEX Language Teachers
Brenda Baez (Spanish, 1st)
Lorella Loftus (French, 2nd)
Neil Hargrove (Latin, 5th)
Greg Rohde (German, 3rd)
Xuan Zhou (Chinese, 4th)
Special Education Teachers
Katie Alcala (SCORES)
Amy Chahine-Villanueva (SBS)
Allie Gonzalez (Resource)
Amy Hardin (SCORES)
Emily Horvath (Resource)
Susan Lane (Resource)
Suzy Wright (Resource/CALT)
Special Education Teaching Assistants
Nisreen Aljaaf
Veronica Ashton
Antwan Courts
Jane Donart
Stephen Dunn
Sarah Hunter
Valerie Lopez
Shannon Pearce
Harmony Richardson
Karen Underwood
Jennifer Williams
Custodians
Delano Howard
Deon Holmes
Esther Marquez
Gina Ricks
Note: Staff listed on the same line indicates partner teachers or co-teachers.