Kiker Comments: April 4, 2023

A Joint Newsletter from the Bernice Kiker Admin Team and PTA

Calendar of Events

April

3 - 14 - Window for Kindergarten Map Growth Fluency Screeners

5 - Early Learning Registration Day (for rising PreK4 and rising Kindergarten families)

7 - No School Day

11 - Spirit Night at Chipotle - Kiker gets a percentage of sales

14 - Field Day

15 - AISD Career Fair - Help Recruit Future Kiker Teachers and Staff

18 - STAAR Testing - Language Arts - 3rd, 4th, 5th

19 - STAAR Testing - Language Arts make up day

20 - PTA STEAM / Art Night

21 - Student Council Movie Night (not a drop off event)

25 - STAAR Testing - Science - 5th grade only

26 - STAAR Testing - Science - make up day

May

1 - CAC Meeting, Library 3:30

2 - STAAR Testing - Math - 3rd, 4th, 5th

3 - STAAR Testing - Math - make up day

9 - Spirit Night at TCBY 3:15 - 8:00 pm

11 - 3rd Grade Vocab Parade

23 - PTA Meeting and Principal Coffee Talk

24- Senior Walk afternoon time TBD

25 - Last Day for Students

Doors Open at 7:15; Instruction Begins at 7:40.

How to Report a Student Absence

In the event that your child will be missing school, please follow these steps:

1) Email both your child's teacher and Ms. Amy McGovern, our registrar. Amy.mcgovern@austinisd.org

2) Please include your child's first and last name

3) Please provide the reason for the absence so we can code it correctly in our attendance system.

Updated Information on Registration

ALL CURRENT STUDENTS, Kindergarten through 5th grade, RETURNING TO AISD FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR MUST COMPLETE ONLINE REGISTRATION in your Parent Portal. We will begin class placements for next year soon and your student will need to be registered.

If you will not be returning to AISD please notify Amy McGovern at amy.mcgovern@austinisd.org

Pre-K and Kindergarten registration is open as well...please use the link below. Set up your Parent Portal, complete online registration, upload your documents and join us for Early Learning Day on April 5th during one of these scheduled times: 8:30-10:00am or 4:00-6:00 pm.

Enrollment landing page: https://www.austinisd.org/enroll
Important dates and deadlines: https://www.austinisd.org/transfer/dates-deadlines
For questions, please contact Let’s Talk https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk and click on “Student Services: Enrollment, Records, & Transfers."

AISD Student and Family Surveys

The AISD Family Survey is Open

Every year AISD asks families for their feedback about the educational experience of their children. This year, AISD has partnered with Panorama Education to conduct the 2022-2023 Family Survey. The survey takes less than twenty minutes, and the disaggregated responses are shared with each campus. You may complete the survey online between March 21, 2023 and April 8, 2023 using a computer, tablet, or smartphone by visiting the website

surveys.panoramaed.com/austinisd/family

Survey note:

The questions have a range of 5 choices. Please be aware, the two 'positive' scores are joined together to create the 'positive' percentage. The middle as well as the two 'negative' scores are all joined together to create the 'negative' percentage. All neutral responses will count in the 'negative' score category for our campus.

Save the Date for PreK4 and Kinder registration for the 2023-2024 school year - *NEW INFO

To increase Pre-K and kindergarten enrollment and support families with registration, elementary campuses will host a districtwide Early Learning Day on April 5. Please save this date and share with your families and spread the word in the community.

On this day, families of rising PreK4 students and rising Kindergarteners will have the opportunity to:

Take campus and classroom tours that highlight culture and student experience
Complete online registration
Complete the Pre-K screener
Meet the principal and/or other administrative staff and teachers

Pre-K families please complete online registration now at https://www.austinisd.org/enroll and sign up for Pre-K updates.

Brick Paver Sale

While most of us probably won’t receive a Hollywood Star, we can be memorialized in the best place of all - our school! For just $40, you can purchase a custom brick paver to celebrate a student, honor a teacher or staff member, or gift to a graduating 5th grader! Pavers will be installed around the granite star at the entrance to Kiker. Purchase through the online Spirit Store (link below) now through Friday May 19! https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/store/product/PAVER2023

Kiker Spirit Night at Chipotle on April 11

Spirit Night at Chipotle

4:00-8:00 pm

Book Drive For Allison Elementry

Hey there, spring cleaners! We are collecting new and gently used books for our sister school, Allison Elementary. These will be given to Allison students for their home libraries. If you have any books (Pre-K through 6th grade) you'd like to donate, please drop them off in the Allison bin in the Kiker entryway by Wednesday, April 12th.

Optional Parent Input for 23-24 School Year

Optional Parent/Guardian Input Form

We will soon start the lengthy process of placing each student into classes for the 2023-24 school year. Balancing classes for 805+ 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 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.
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!

CLICK HERE

Reflections Program State-Level Judging Results

Kiker Art Night

Save the date for Thursday, April 20! Join us for over 20 unique art experiences including painting, music, dance and more to celebrate the creativity of our campus! We’ll also have our Awards Ceremony for Reflections and unveil our new Kiker mural.

High School Graduation Class of 2023 Scholarship

Do you know a graduating senior who attended Kiker? Please share this information with anyone you know who might be eligible.

Kiker Elementary PTA’s Dr. Lori Schneider Scholarship for High School Graduates honors one of Kiker's former principals who valued education and left a legacy of kindness, dignity and respect (KDR) during her 14-year tenure as principal of the school. The scholarship also celebrates high school graduates who are committed to education and who embody KDR.

Applicants must have attended Kiker Elementary School. Application window opens March 1, 2023. Please see link for more details.

https://kikerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/dr_schneider_scholarship

Spread the Word to Graduating Seniors Who Attended Kiker

5th Grade News

GMS Tiger Camp Details

There is a $10 fee to help cover the cost of snacks and a Gorzycki tee shirt for your camper. You will see the link after you click “submit” on the online registration form.

CLICK HERE to register.

If the link doesn’t work, cut and paste this address: https://forms.gle/VFMwmP11jfG3oJbC8

Questions? Please contact Emily Mazac - Tiger Camp Coordinator, 6th grade ELA teacher

Emily.Mazac@austinisd.org 512-841-8681

(best way to contact me!)

Celebrations

Look who got a RAVE

Paige Hariharan

Anmarie Bochey

Staff Birthdays

April

4 - Jenna Bentin

8 - Eileen Vasquez

9 - Kelly Zilem

27 - Cynthia Gilliland

28 - Barbara Schaefer

After School Enrichment Classes

Track & Field by ATX Ballers and Lego Powered Robotics by Steamworks still have space. Visit our website for links to enroll now.

Safety Patrol for 4th and 5th Graders

This year we are encouraging 4th and 5th grade students to sign up for safety patrol for a two week block of time during the school year. Thank you for being a campus leader!

Students will drop backpack off in the front foyer/vestibule, sign in, grab a vest, and head out front. We need help waving cars to the front of the line, opening doors, and welcoming each child with a warm greeting or sending students off at the end of the day.

SIgn Up Genius Link

How To Video - This is the Training Video for Safety Patrol