Blazier Family Connection
April 2020
Blazier Elementary School
Website: https://blazier.weebly.com
Location: 8601 Vertex Boulevard, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 5128418800
Twitter: @BlazierBlueJay
Message from Principal Peña
Dear Blazier Families,
Hello to all of my Blue Jay families! I hope you are all safe and healthy. I speak for all the Blazier faculty and staff when I say WE MISS YOU and we are thinking about you all every single day! I would like to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all of our parents as we continue working in this new way from home. We know it can be difficult and uncomfortable at times, but you are all doing a phenomenal job! Please remember to be kind to yourself and take it one day at at time!
By now you should all have received communication from your child's teacher and you should be set up to continue learning from home. If you have not done this yet, please contact your child's teacher directly by email or through communication app so we can be sure you are set up. You can also access the John C. Blazier Elementary Facebook Page (look for button below) for updates and fun activities that can keep us connected.
As many may have heard on the news, Governor Abbott has officially closed schools for the remainder of the school year. However, this DOES NOT mean that we will end school! Even though our school building is physically closed, we will continue student learning from home.
Austin ISD has been sending parents updated information about things that are changing and supports that are coming to our families and students. It is important that we have your correct email address so that we can communicate with you. Families can update their email address by going to the Parent Cloud. There is a link below that will help you set up an account. If you already have one, just go to the Cloud and update your information.
This SMORE will provide updated information for all of our Blazier Families. Please take a look at all of the resources below for your reference to help you through this time! We will communicate with you as things change. You can also visit the AISD website for the latest information at https://www.austinisd.org/ and https://www.austinisd.org/coronavirus.
Please stay safe and know that we are thinking of you and your families. Blazier Blue Jays are STRONGER TOGETHER! Dream BIG, soar HIGH!
Leti Peña, Your Proud Principal
Contact Us!
If you need anything or have questions, we are here to provide assistance to you and your family. You may call the main office at 512-841-8800. We are checking voicemails daily.
You can also email our administrators, counselors, and Parent Support Specialist at the emails below:
Parent Support Specialist - Maria Rodriguez: maria.rodriguez@austinisd.org
Counselor - Brenda Franco: brenda.franco@austinisd.org
Counselor - Mindy Guerra: dianira.guerra@austinisd.org
Assistant Principal - Eliza Saenz: eliza.saenz@austinisd.org
Assistant Principal - Seth Yosef: seth.yosef@austinisd.org
Principal - Leti Peña: leti.pena@austinisd.org
BLAZIER UPDATES
Blazier School Packets - Last Pick-Up Day!
AISD has made the decision to END ALL PACKET DISTRIBUTION after this Wednesday, April 22nd. After that date, all packets will be mailed to the homes of our Blazier Families. Packets will be sent by grade level for PreK - 8th Grades. The packets will be sent in a two-week cycle.
Please be sure that we have your UPDATED address in our system. If not, please contact Elsa Uresti or Mary Parra by email with your new address.
Elsa Uresti: elsa.uresti@austinisd.org
Mary Parra: mary.parra@austinisd.org
Blazier Virtual Learning:
We thank you for working so hard at home to make sure your child continues their learning. It is a huge adjustment for so many, but especially for our families. Our teachers have worked hard to get you set up and inform you of ways you can support your child's learning from home. We have also included a sample schedule to follow and ideas for activities to do at home.
Parent Support Specialist
Our amazing Parent Support Specialist, Maria Rodriguez, is available for support! She has worked around the clock to make sure parents are getting information they need and help them with resources available. You can reach her the following ways:
Phone Hours from 8:00am-3:00pm
512-841-8804 (AISD phone)
512-813-1307 (Google Voice phone)
Email at:
Our counselors are here for YOU!
Do you need to check in with Ms. Franco or Ms. Guerra? They are available and here to help! Please click on the "Blazier Counseling" button below for ways to contact our counselors. You can also email them at the email address below:
Counselor - Brenda Franco: brenda.franco@austinisd.org
Counselor - Mindy Guerra: dianira.guerra@austinisd.org
2020-2021 Online Registration is OPEN!
Blazier Families we need you to register for the upcoming school year! We are continuing with online registration. Please visit https://www.austinisd.org/technology/parent-cloud/student-registration to get started on the process and to get your Blue Jay registered at Blazier for next school year. For families registering students returning to Austin ISD, a Parent Cloud account must be created before you can access the online registration system. To create a Parent Cloud account, visit my.austinisd.org.
Questions?? Please contact...
Elsa Uresti - elsa.uresti@austinisd.org
Maria Rodriguez - maria.rodriguez@austinisd.org
Mary Parra - mary.parra@austinisd.org
Yearbooks FOR SALE!
Our 2019-20 Yearbooks are ready to ORDER! Yearbooks are $20 each! Sales have been extended to June 1st. All orders will be online and there is a code that parents will have to enter when ordering. Enter code: YB110556
Yearbook delivery is still being worked out. However, we are planning to have yearbooks delivered and then we will set up a parent pick-up time in the summer. Strawbridge will generate a list of who ordered yearbooks so that we can reserve yours for pick-up.
Please see the attached Yearbook Flyer. If you have any questions, please email Danelle Smith at danelle.smith@austinisd.org
Blazier Intermediate School Construction CONTINUES!
Although AISD school buildings are closed, our amazing construction team continues hard at work. We are excited to share that American Constructors and BLGY Architects report that our project is still progressing as scheduled so that we can open doors in August! Wondering what the inside of that big building will look like? Take a look at the video below for a VIRTUAL TOUR!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Free Meals for Children:
AISD will continue to prepare and provide meals for children under the age of 19 at more than 70 locations while school is closed. Meals will be distributed at various locations Monday-Friday from 11am-1pm at specific school sites. The closest school sites to Blazier are:
- Perez Elementary School
- Akins High School
Meals may be provided to parents or caregivers, even when the child is not present, however, you must provide one of the following forms of documentation at the point of meal service:
- Official letter/email from school that shows children as enrolled
- Individual student report cards
- Attendance record from Parent Portal of school website
- Birth certificate for children not in school
- Student ID cards
If the parent does not have documentation, the child must be present to receive a meal.
Please click on the button below for more information about specific neighborhood locations.
Virtual VIDA Clinic:
During this difficult time, mental health is very important. We want to let our families know that there are services available for students and families.
AISD's school-based mental health partner, Vida Clinic, is now offering tele-therapy services to the entire Austin ISD community. These services will allow adults and students to access quality mental health services right from their own homes. To schedule an appointment, visit vidaclinic.org/virtualvida or contact our Vida Clinic Care Team at 512-518-2209 or by email at vidacare@vidaclinic.org.
Tele-Health for AISD Families
Virtual Care for Kids is expanding the partnership with AISD to include at-home telemedicine care to serve our families and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Virtual Care for Kids has agreed to waive all copays for all AISD telemedicine visits. Please click on the button below.
Student Technology & WIFI Access
AISD continues to work on delivering chromebooks to all 3rd-8th graders. Unfortunately, there are not enough resources to provide technology to our younger students. The district has not communicated if that will change. We will be sure to update families as we get new information.
Families can contact Parent Tech Support @ 512-414-9187 or email parenttechsupport@austinisd.org with any questions. Attached below is document with Frequently Asked Questions.
Additional Parent & Caregiver Resources:
During this time of uncertainty, it's important to stay informed. There are a number of resources available to you as an adult to help you and your family navigate this. Received from the Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSSSCA), here are a list of resources to access. Feel free to review below.
Centers for Disease Control
- Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Guidance for School Settings Before and During an Outbreak
U.S. Department of Education
SAMHSA
Child Mind Institute
Share My Lesson
National Education Association
National Association of School Psychologists
Make Your Own Face Covering
Per Travis County Order, anyone 10 years or older must have a face covering on when out in public. Please follow this ordinance. Below are some easy instructions to make your own face covering.