Kiker Comments: August 1

What's New: Arrival and Dismissal Videos

What's New: Safety Patrol Sign Up for 4th and 5th Graders

What's New: Bus Code of Conduct and Bus Information

What's New: AISD Student Code of Conduct - See links at the bottom

What's Important: Kiker Clean Up Day is THIS Saturday

Everything Else: Read every section to learn all about the upcoming school year

The Kiker Comments is our streamlined, primary source of information. We send out the Kiker Comments every Tuesday. Please set aside a few moments each Tuesday evening to read the Kiker Comments to stay current with everything going on at Kiker.

How do we populate the email addresses for this newsletter? The district email messenger system pulls the emails and communication preferences you provided during your online registration.

Mark your calendars for our first PTA gathering of the school year! We will have water, but we live in Austin and it's still summer, so it will be HOT. Bring sunscreen, hats, gloves and tools to help with plant and garden clean up. Suggested tools are: gloves, clippers, rakes, small shovels, edgers, power cords and wheelbarrows. There will also be a rock painting station in the shade for kids. Let’s work together to get our school looking great for the new year!

2023-2024 School Year

August

5 - Campus Clean Up

9 - Class Placement Announcements via Email - Approximately 3:30-4:00

10 - Meet the Teacher Event 3:30-5:30

14 - First Day of School

22 - AISD Special Education Parent Power Hour 6-7 (zoom link to come)

24 - Back to School Night for Kinder and 1st Grade 5:30

28 - CAC Meeting - Library 3:30

September

4 - No School

5 - Back to School Night for 2nd and 3rd Grade 5:30

7 - Back to School Night for 4th and 5th Grade 5:30

13 - PTA Volunteer Expo / Meet and Greet 8:00 am

25 - Parent/Guardian/Teacher Conferences - No School For Students

2023-24 Bus information

We recommend families whose students are eligible for General Education transportation to check their bus information by checking the district’s “Bus Stop Finder''. 2023-24 Bus routes will be available effective Monday July 31 and all families will receive an email. Families whose students have special needs will receive their information in person from their bus teams. *Please keep in mind routes and stops may change periodically.

Use the “Where's TheBus” App for Families

AISD’s transportation team offers families the “WheresTheBus” app, which provides timely information about the location of their student’s assigned bus only, including when it will arrive at their stop. Please promote the app to your school communities.

The free app is available on any device with internet access (smartphone, tablet, personal computer, iPad)—and takes less than five minutes to install. Instructions are available at https://www.austinisd.org/transportation.

* Students are eligible for transportation route service if the following criteria are met:

• Students live 2 or more miles from their campus of regular attendance—home school, magnet school or academy—measured along the shortest route to school. The home school campus is determined by the student's residential address and the assignment boundary of each school.
• Students living within 2 miles of their home school, magnet school or academy, who would be subject to hazardous traffic conditions if they were to walk to school.

Bus Safety and Code of Conduct:

AISD school buses are an extension of the classrooms—and student safety and behavior on buses are a top priority. Please review the duties and responsibilities of students, drivers, parents, and administrators to ensure the safety of our students, which are available at https://www.austinisd.org/transportation

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

The first day of school is a little over one month away!

If you want to make it easy, order Kiker School Supply Sets here:

www.schooltoolbox.com/school-supplies/school/list-boxes/?schoolId=90144

Shipped directly to your house, support your PTA and fund a meal for a child in need.

As we gear up for the upcoming school year, we invite you to participate in a School Supply Drive for our sister school, Allison Elementary. Help us ensure that every student has the tools they need to succeed!

How to Contribute:

While doing your back-to-school shopping, consider purchasing extra supplies such as notebooks, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, markers, tissues, and clorox wipes. Alternatively, you can donate a gift card from HEB or Walmart to empower their teachers to buy specific supplies for their classrooms.

Drop-off Location and Deadline:

Donations can be dropped off at 10520 Galsworthy Lane through August 10th.

Kiker Fall 2023 Spirit Gear is coming!

Kiker 2023-2024 Spirit gear is being ordered and prepared and we are so excited for you to see what's in store! The first round of pre-orders for t-shirts and hats has closed and all items will be available for pickup at Meet the Teacher Night on August 10th. There will be limited inventory on-hand and available for cashless purchase (Venmo/Square) at this event, as well as additional Kiker Comet Spirit items.

The NEXT PRE-ORDER OPPORTUNITY for guaranteed sizing and availability will take place during the first two weeks of school and will deliver in September - keep an eye out and stock up when you see it! Stay tuned to the Kiker Comments for up-to-date information.

• parents/guardians will drop off and pick up students outside the building
• all visitors need to check in through the front office with an ID - every time
• picking up your student early - show ID to the front office before we can get your child from class
• only cross streets and the parking lot using crosswalks
• no dogs on campus grounds - please keep leashed pets at La Crosse
• All drivers are expected to drive safely and follow school zone and safety laws. Report unsafe driving to 311 and/or 911.
• don't park in the No Parking zones

ARRIVAL VIDEO - Now Available

DISMISSAL VIDEO - Now Available

Doors open at 7:30 on the first day of school only

Doors open at 7:15 the rest of the school year

Avoid tardies - be in class by 7:40 when the instructional day starts

Attendance is officially counted for funding purposes at 10:30 daily

3:10 is the official end to the school day

If you have to pick your child up from school early, please do so prior to 2:30 so our staff can give their full attention to the dismissal process from 2:30-3:20. This is for the safety of all our students and staff.

At dismissal time, please have your family dismissal number for car riders and walk ups (only walk ups use the QR code - see video)

Communicate any changes directly to the classroom teacher

• Add money to your students' account and view menus at www.schoolcafe.com/Austinisd

Last year's prices - image below (updated with this year's prices)

Breakfast:

Full price - $1.75 for students, $3.25 for adults

Reduced lunch qualifiers - free

Lunch:

Full price - $3.25 for students, $5.00 for adults

Reduce lunch qualifiers - $0.40

Send an email with your student(s) name, date of absence, and reason for the absence to amy.mcgovern@austinisd.org. Please attach or forward any notes from medical providers if you have them.

Registration forms for Voyager

Current space: 1st grade

Waitlist: - all other grade levels

Cory Matheny - Principal

Alma Chapa Moore - Assistant Principal

Kelly Zilem - 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