Happy Monday Bear Creek Cubs,

Thank you for your participation in Friday's asynchronous focus on COURAGE. I spent quite a bit of time looking through the Bear Creek Google Form Courage Journal and your children's insights and observations were inspiring.

Please let us know if you need anything.

AJ and David

We have a need for families to start using the window we have established for arrival which is 7:30am - 7:50am.

As we have moved through the year people have started arriving later and later so what is happening currently is we have the majority of our families arriving at 7:50am and we are getting backed up which is impacting the instructional day as we start teaching almost immediately.

Below you will see some of your children's reflection on COURAGE this past Friday. I would also invite you to look at this Padlet linked below ... it is precious!

https://padlet.com/david_crissey/gq57vpjie6ujfze0

The Commissioner of Education has shared that STAAR will be administered this spring.

TEA will calculate and report data based on spring 2021 tests but will not calculate scaled scores or A-F ratings for accountability purposes.

There will only be one administration of 5th/8th-grade math and reading given in May. The SSI passing requirements have been suspended for this year.

Per the TEA, whether a student is an in-person or remote learner, they must be present in a test session proctored by a trained district test administrator to participate in a state assessment (TELPAS, TELPAS Alternate, STAAR, STAAR Alternate 2.) This means remote learners are expected to be in the building for STAAR testing.

If remote learners want to take a paper administration we have a one week timeline. If remote learners want an online STAAR administration we have a five week timeline. This will become important soon as we start to plan for social distancing and creating a safe learning environment so please start considering what format you are interested in. Also note that by 2022 - 2023 all STAAR Assessments will be online.

Salute is AISD’s annual celebration to recognize some of the district’s outstanding team members for their continued dedication to student excellence and achievement in our schools. District staff, families, and the community are invited to submit a nomination for a staff member they believe represents the very best of AISD. This year’s Salute Awards ceremony, in partnership with Austin Partners in Education, will recognize the winners in five categories: Classified Staff of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Librarian of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Principal of the Year, and PTA of the year along with APIE Hall of Fame award winners. Also, Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year will be honored.

http://bit.ly/AISDSalute2021

As a school we have been reading Zaretta Hammond's Culturally Responsive Teaching And The Brain.

Learn more about Zaretta and her passionate work as she links equity, literacy, and instruction by visiting the link below.

https://www.tolerance.org/author/zaretta-hammond

If your child is ill with symptoms consistent (cough, sore throat, stomach issues, headaches, fatigue, congestion, etc ...) with Covid-19 contact Mr. Crissey and your child's teacher and then the following protocols must be followed:

Students May Return After

10 days have passed since symptoms started, and improvement in overall symptoms, and 24 hours have passed without fever and use of fever-reducing medication.

OR

Provide doctor’s note to campus health room staff stating that symptoms are not COVID-19-related and student can return to school.

OR

Provide a negative COVID-19 test.

As an FYI the same holds true for staff members.

If you need assistance please contact the AISD Student Help Desk at 512-414-4357. If they are unable to assist please reach out to me at david.crissey@austinisd.org.

Hola Bear Creek Families!

Last week and this week I have been talking to the students about Choices. We are faced with choices every day. Easy choices like what to eat for breakfast to more difficult choices like how to react to an upsetting situation. Our choices have great POWER!

I used the images below to help give student a visual on how our powerful choices can bring good things such as freedom, fun, and friendship into our lives or push them away.

Making choices can be tough, but thoughtfully considering how they affect our lives and those around us can create an environment that is easier, and let's face it, more enjoyable to live in. Remembering to stop, think about the options, then choose/act can be the game changer of truly getting what we want in the long run. Helping our kids practice using this skill is a tangible way for kids to see the POWER they really do have over their lives even at a young age.

Making choices, big and small, is a part of life. Learning how to navigate them now is a part of that recipe for success we all want for our children. 😊

Bear Creek Families... I NEED YOUR HELP!!

Career Day is coming up in the Spring. And while we won't be having a traditional gathering of professions, I want to do my best to offer amazing careers and professional information to our students.

That is why I am creating a Virtual Career Fair!!

Individuals from many different professions will share their love, education, daily routine, etc of their career in a 3-5min video they record answering talking points I provide.

This is where you come in!

I need YOU, yes YOU, our parents to jump in and share your profession with our students:)

I know our students would love to see some familiar faces and learn more about what the adults in their lives do while they are at school! 😊

If you are feeling the nudge to be a part of this awesome experience, please email me at alyssa.sheeran@austinisd.org

Look forward to hearing from you!

Mark Your Calendar!

The next PTA General Membership Meeting is Tuesday February 23rd from 5:00-6:30 pm. After a brief update on PTA items, we are thrilled to welcome Bandingo, who will host Bear Creek families in a virtual game of musical trivia BINGO. This is fun for the whole family, and you won't want to miss it!

Want Some Bear Creek Spiritwear?

Did you miss the first round of orders for winter Bear Creek swag? We have a limited number of extras that we will make available for online purchase later this week. We will post the link to our online store on the Bear Creek Elementary PTA Facebook page—be sure to follow us there! We will also include the link in next week’s Cub Hub as well.

Stay in the Loop!

Do you have questions or suggestions for the PTA? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at: bearcreekatxpta@gmail.com

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at Bear Creek Elementary PTA. The Monday Cub Hub and Facebook are the two ways we communicate any announcements or events.