Menchaca Elementary School
December 2023 Newsletter
Note from the Principal
Hello Menchaca Families,
It's hard to believe we're nearing the end of the first semester! It has been wonderful getting to know your children and so many of you over the past six weeks that I've been at Menchaca. Below, I've listed some important information as we wrap up the second nine weeks.
Mid Year Assessments:
We are in the process of conducting mid-year assessments for students in grades K-5. Please expect to receive a mid-year MAP report for your child before the Winter Break. If you have any questions about the assessments, how to read the report, or about your child's progress, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher.
Winter Class Parties
All Winter Class Parties will be held on Wednesday, December 20 at the times listed below. It will be a busy day on campus, so please allow yourself plenty of time for parking and signing in at the front office with your identification to receive a visitor badge.
Pre-K: 1:00-2:00pm
Kindergarten: 12:15-1:15pm
1st grade: 12:15-1:15pm
2nd grade: 1:00-2:00pm
3rd grade: 10:30-11:30am
4th grade: 11:30am-12:30pm
5th grade: 1:00-2:00pm
*Additionally, we will be having a campus holiday sing-along on the morning of Dec. 20. This will include songs from various traditions and cultures including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and more. If you prefer that your child not participate in the sing-along and/or class party, please let your child's teacher know by Friday, Dec. 15 so that we can plan for them to participate in a meaningful alternate activity.
Lunch Visitor Guidelines
As we review our campus systems to ensure student safety, we have revised our lunch visitor guidelines. Thank you for your understanding as we work to improve our processes.
- All visitors must sign in at the front office.
- Please only have your child sit with you (no additional students).
- Visitors are asked to utilize the green picnic tables when visiting for lunch. We also have our Community Room available if needed due to weather.
Important Upcoming Dates
December 11-13: Coats and Cans Drive
December 14: Annual Winter Potluck Luncheon for Teachers & Staff / Angel Tree Presents Drop Off (More info under PTA News)
December 19: Principal Coffee at 7:30am (more info below)
December 20: Winter Class Parties
December 21 - January 8: Winter Break
January 9: Students return to school (Jan. 8 is a staff development day)
January 15: Staff and Student Holiday
Lastly, thank you to all who came to the Popcorn with Principal and PTA presentation last week. Our next Principal Coffee will be on December 19 at 7:30am in the Community Room. As we move into next semester, we'll look at other options for times and virtual opportunities to attend these meetings as well. I look forward to continuing our work together as we plan and prepare for the new semester.
Sincerely,
Kristi Campell
Interim Principal
Family Engagement Calendar: Visual Calendar of School Events
Our Parent Support Specialist - Ms. Alvarez has created the December visual calendar.
The calendar can be subject to change. Updates/Rescheduling will be communicated to families.
Front Office Reminders
Unexcused Absences
For unexcused absences to not be marked against you please be sure to email the sick note to our Registrar at judy.tovar@austinisd.org
Make sure to include your child's full name, the specific dates they were out, and the reason.
December Breakfast and Lunch Menus
PTA News
Hospitality Updates - Treat our Teachers to a Potluck Lunch!!!
Dear Menchaca Families,
Menchaca's Annual Winter Potluck will be on Thursday, December 14th. This year we will be feeding over 100 teachers and staff! Please sign up to treat them to a delicious lunch as they do so much for our students every day.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49ACAD28A6FA7-45834132-winter#/
Drop off food at the front office by 9:30 am and label any dishes you want returned with your name. Clean dishes will be available to pick up that afternoon in the front office after 2:00 pm. Thank you for contributing to the potluck!
Coats and Can Drive - Dec 11th - 13th
Dear Menchaca Families,
We invite you to join us in our Coats and Cans Drive from December 11th -13th.
Please drop off a gently used or new coat and/or a can with your student and our 5th grade Pals will pick them up.
*Please only send clean, gently used coats. Coats with stains or wear and tear will not be accepted.
The coats will go to our Mustang students who need a coat for this winter season and the cans will go to our community partner Menchaca Methodist Church.
The Menchaca Methodist Church provides so much help to our school and surrounding community and we would like to give back to them. They provide a weekly food pantry drive-through every Saturday morning from 9 am to 11 am where families can receive food, toiletries, and diapers.
Here at Menchaca they help in providing food packs for families for the weekend. At Akins High School they provide snacks and food packs for students who are experiencing homelessness.
You can also donate online and designate for the Food Pantry: https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Giving/manchacaumc
Menchaca Angel Tree - Sponsor a Mustang
Dear Menchaca Families,
It's the season of giving! We have some Mustangs who can use some support with holiday gifts. Please consider to sign up and sponsor a Menchaca student or their sibling. We are asking for at least a $50 commitment, but please feel free to partner up with another family if you would like to share an Angel. Consider asking your coworkers, place of business, your family or neighbors.
To protect the Angels private information only their ages are shown. More information such as their wishlist will be shared with the Sponsor when they sign up for the Angel. Please leave your email so that the information can be sent to you once you sign up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4DACAB2BABFB6-46017026-menchaca#/
If all the slots have filled up or you would like to participate through a donation please do so by leaving it in an envelope at the Front Office addressed to our Parent Support Specialist - Ms. Alvarez who will allocate it to families in need.
Thank you so much for your generosity!
Fundraising Updates
Results are in, Mustangs! Together we raised $2,571.70 in funds to support our PTA initiatives!
The Pérez Pikachus claimed an early lead in the Fall Virtual Fundraiser thanks to a very generous donation from Adriana and Gabriel Boyd - accounting for over 85% of the class fundraising total. The Pikachus maintained their #1 ranking and earned an incentive party to celebrate their success. A huge THANK YOU to everyone that participated and shared in the fundraising effort and a special shout out to Coach Hall for suiting up in a popcorn outfit during the Marathon Kids Fun Run.
As a volunteer organization, collaboration from our community is vital to our success and we’re grateful for all the ways big and small that our families choose to engage with our campus. We appreciate every dollar shared and minute volunteered and we wish you all a happy and healthy Fall Break!
Menchaca Yearbook
Dear Menchaca Families,
It's that time of year again!! The yearbook is available for pre-order!! Be sure to grab one to not miss out on this school year's worth of memories and experiences!!
Upcoming: Apex Fundraiser
Dear Mustangs,
Apex leadership program and fundraiser starts on 01/09/2024.
Parent Support Specialist News
Emergency Food Resources
Attached below is the Emergency Food Resource. You can find assistance in the following categories:
- Find Food Near You
- Food Funds Assistance
- Grocery Pick Up (Low/Free Cost)
Central Texas African-American Family Support Conference
Venue: Palmer Events Center. 900 Barton Rd, Austin, TX 78704.
Date: Feb. 6, 2024
Time: 8 AM - 4 PM
At CTAAFSC, we hold much-needed conversations about mental health, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. We come together to lift one another up and move towards a healthier future. Because, when people have a strong foundation of physical and mental health, they can reach their full potential.
Join us to explore the theme, Strength Over Stigma.
***NOTE: The conference is in-person only.
Deadline to sign up is Friday, December 8, 2023. The form will close End Of Day on 12/8/2023 or sooner if the district reaches full capacity.
Please email me at carol.alvarez@austinisd.org if you're interested in attending that way you can attend for free instead of paying $50-$75.
Counselor Corner
Confidential Parent Survey
Dear Families,
Please help us be able to meet the needs of your children by completing the Parent Survey. It is a confidential form.
This is to help inform our Counselors and Parent Support Specialist to best support our students.
All information is confidential and only the Counselors and Parent Support Specialist will have access to the responses.
5th Grade Newsletter - Transitioning to Middle School
Dear Families, It's the time of year to start planning for your 5th grader's transition to middle school. In our newsletter you will find information about -
Community Events
UASA - United Adaptive Soccer Association - Dec 7-9, 2023
UASA is proud to host the first multi-day camp offering pathways for players of various disability categories to train with similarly-abled teammates.
After school programs
iKids U
iKids U Afterschool Program
iKids U afterschool child development program ‘Stay, Play & Learn!’ offers a safe, fun, and engaging learning environment for enrolled students for ages 4-12. iKids offers our families flexibility by allowing them to CHOOSE their schedule and pay only for the care that they need.
Highlights of our program include:
- Licensed Aftercare offered Monday-Friday from 3:00-6:00 pm, including a play-based curriculum with daily enriching lesson plans, dedicated snack time, outdoor play, and optional homework time.
- A rotation of bundled enrichment classes including the arts, sports & fitness, STEM projects, music appreciation, and more--every week for every student!
- Choose your unique schedule, from 1 to 5 days a week of quality afterschool care for your iKid!
- Sibling discounts with code SIBS10! Ask us about our STAFF discount!
- Low student-to-staff ratio of up to 12:1.
- We accept CCS recipients! Call our office to register.
Here is our registration link: https://app.enrollsy.com/enroll/ikids-u-central-texas/
Visit www.ikidsu.com to find detailed information about schedules, flexible tuition options, and other important details about our program!
If you would like more information, feel free to contact our friendly staff at centraltexas@ikidsu.com or by calling 888.824.4885.
Menchaca Crew
The Circle C Child Development Center CREW after-school program is so excited to join the Menchaca Mustangs family!
Our on-site program will run Monday through Friday once the dismissal bell rings (3:10 PM) until 6:00 PM at Menchaca Elementary.
Our mission is to offer a safe and fun enrichment program where kids are active, learn essential life skills, and build a sense of community. Each day, students have a mix of active play and CREW Club time that may include science experiments, arts and crafts, games, student productions, community outreach projects and more!
We offer mindful time which is a time for students to complete homework or have a quiet time to journal, read, or draw.
We strive for students to create positive relationships with peers and staff, build on current interests and knowledge while exploring new activities, and develop a sense of ownership over their CREW experience.
CREW registration is now open and available on our website www.thechilddevelopmentcenter.org!
If you have any questions, please email afterschool@circleccdc.org or call The CDC at (512)288-9792.
(512) 414-2333 MAIN (512) 414-5340 FAX