Panda Parent Newsletter
Anita Uphaus ECC Vol. 2 #5 January 2025
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Welcome Panda Families!
Happy January & Happy New Year Panda Families!
Welcome Back!
We hope that you had a restful break with your families and were able to create some wonderful memories. We are so excited to welcome back our scholars and look forward to starting this semester. We can't wait to see how much our scholars grow from classroom learning. Please make sure that your scholars are safely bundled with the wintery weather. January here we come!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Dimas
Parent Support Specialist
My name is Linda Perez, and I am your Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center Parent Support Specialist.
You can expect periodic newsletters from myself, and several of the classroom teachers to keep you up to date as to what is happening here at Anita Uphaus and in the classrooms.
A good way of staying up to date on school information is to visit our website at www.uphaus.austinschools.org . From there, you can find several sources of information that will keep you informed of all the happenings at Anita Uphaus. We are excited to begin the 2024-2025 school year. If at any time during the school year you feel the need to contact me, please feel free to call me, Linda C. Perez, Parent Support Specialist at (512) 414-5538 or by email at linda.c.perez@austinisd.org
We hope to partner and collaborate with you to have a successful school year. Your involvement and partnership are important. There is no one like you!
As your Parent Support Specialist, I can assist you in several ways. In working together, I can:
- Find resources you may need- I can help find assistance when needed.
Learn new things about school and how to help your child succeed. Look for workshops for parents throughout the year!
- Become leaders in our school! Your input and participation in the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) and other school committees such as Campus Advisory Council (CAC)
- Become a Parent Volunteer! Volunteers are welcomed and needed!
Everyone who volunteers will need to attend a volunteer orientation and complete a successful background check.
School Schedule
- Doors open: 7:10 am
- Arrival Time: 7:10 thru 7:40 am
- Tardy Bell: Rings at 7:40 am (Scholars must be in class)
- Dismissal Time: 3:10 pm
Arrival & Dismissal
Here are a few reminders that will assist with our arrival/dismissal procedures. Attached you will find our map for Arrival & Dismissal. Please assist us in following traffic rules. We thank you in advance for helping to keep our staff, scholars, and parents safe.
During morning drop off, parents and parent guardians will be allowed to:
- walk their child(ren) up to the designated campus entrances at the school.
- If you are walking them to the designated drop off areas, please make sure you cross at the student crosswalk for your safety. Parents must park in a designated parking spot and walk your child across.
- Go through the designated drive-thru entrances at the school
During after school pick up, parents and parent guardians will be allowed to:
- pick up their child(ren) at the designated campus pick-up areas at the school
- Go through the designated drive-thru exits at the school
Please do not:
Block the flow of traffic in and out of school premises.
Speed in a school zone.
Use cell phone in school zone.
Due to safety reasons, parents and parent guardians will NOT be allowed to walk children to their classrooms.
REMINDERS: Please be mindful of your speed during pick up & drop off. Speed limit should not exceed 10 mph.
NO CELL PHONE use in an active school zone. Please put your cell phones down.
Student Drop Off
HUG ZONE
1. PK3 side drop off door
2. PK4/Kinder Back drop off door
Bus Information for Families
2024-2025 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''. 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.
“Where's The Bus” App for Families
AISD’s transportation team offers families the “Where'sThe Bus” 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.Student ID's
Attendance Policy
Every Day Counts!
Attendance/Grades: Regular attendance in all classes is an expectation of all Austin ISD students. State law and District policy state that students must be in attendance for 90% of the instructional days for a class to receive credit. A student who misses more days than allowed by AISD policy, excused or unexcused, may not be given credit for that class unless time and/or work is made up for the absences. Students will work with the grade level administrator to complete the appropriate steps to reach compliance.
Parents: Making sure your student is in school and on time every day is the law. For more information visit the district's attendance page.
Tardies
● If a student arrives after 7:40a.m., they must report to the front office to sign in & receive a tardy pass to class.
Breakfast In the Classroom
Parent Coffee Chat
Brighter Bites this year at Uphaus
Parents,
Anita Uphaus will be participating in the Brighter Bites program which provides healthy fruits and vegetables to families. We hope you can sign up to receive these delicious foods.
Our Brighter Bites Enrollment Forms are available online! I have attached both the printable pdf and the pdf with the clickable link to enroll. Here is the direct link to enroll:
One application per family. If you have multiple students enrolled, please only fill out 1 application. If you need assistance, please contact our Parent Support Specialist, Mrs. Linda Perez.
What's happening at Anita Uphaus?
Optional T-Shirt Day for Scholars
Monday is Uphaus T-shirt day (if your scholar has one).
Friday is Colleget T-shirt day (if your scholar has one).
Campus Drills
Our campus participates in Monthly Safety Drills.
- We are required to do 1-2 safety drills every month to help us all be prepared in case of various emergencies. These drills are very calm and are announced as practice drills.
Voly
- The first step is to register here: https://austinisd.voly.org/
Please note: if you are planning to volunteer for any event at school you must go through a
background check.
- You can also contact our Parent Support Specialist, Ms. Linda Pérez, at 512-414-5520, Ext. 58514 or linda.c.perez@austinisd.org
Join our Uphaus PTA
Please support the Uphaus PTA
PTA is an organization of parents and teachers coming together to advocate for our children and students. Your membership alone will give us a BIGGER voice in our school and community!
Membership is for the year $10.00. This money goes towards student events, teacher appreciation and much more. PTA membership flyer going out soon!
Counselor Corner
If you have any questions regarding the referral process please email our school counselor Ms. Mercado at ileanna.mercado@austinisd.org
Deep breathing:
Here are 3 videos that can help you practice deep breathing at home with your student:
https://youtu.be/xkHaUI5kAyA?feature=shared
Library Corner
Welcome to the Uphaus Library. I am Ms. Haywood, your Librarian. Please see the flyer below with Library information about book check out! Hope to see you in the library!
Austin ISD Opportunities, Information, & Resources
Mark Your Calendars-District Dates
School Board Recognition Month - Jan. 1 to Jan. 31
Advocacy Advisory Committee (AAC) Meeting- Jan. 13
District Advisory Council Meeting- Jan. 14
Tools for Success: Information on filing your taxes - Jan. 15
Tools for Success: United HealthCare session - Jan. 16
Special Education: High School Transition Services Dinner- Jan. 15
School Health Advisory Council Meeting- Jan. 15
Board Information Session- Jan. 16
Audiology Suite Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting - Jan. 16
Student/Staff Holiday - Jan. 20
For more events, please visit the Calendar of Events website.
Anita Uphaus Lunch Menu
Nominations for 2025 Awards are Now Open!
District staff, families, and the community are invited to submit a nomination for a campus staff member they believe represents the very best of Austin ISD.
The Salute Awards recognizes campus-based staff members in TEN categories. The winners will be celebrated at our Salute Awards ceremony, where we will also honor Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year.
Nominations will close January 15 at 5PM
All Austin ISD staff, students, family, and community members are invited to nominate Austin ISD staff members in the following categories:
- Campus Clerical/Office Support Staff of the Year
- Teaching Assistant of the Year
- Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
- Transportation Staff of the Year
- Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year
- Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year
- Librarian of the Year
- Counselor of the Year
- Assistant Principal of the Year (Includes Academy Directors & Academic Deans)
- Principal of the Year
El personal del distrito, las familias y la comunidad están invitados a presentar una nominación para un miembro del personal del campus que, en su opinión, represente lo mejor de Austin ISD.
Los premios Salute reconocen a los miembros del personal del campus en DIEZ categorías. Los ganadores serán homenajeados en nuestra ceremonia de premios Salute, donde también honraremos a los maestros prometedores y maestros del año.
Las nominaciones cerrarán el 15 de enero a las 5:00PM
Todo el personal, los estudiantes, las familias y los miembros de la comunidad de Austin ISD están invitados a nominar a los miembros del personal de Austin ISD en las siguientes categorías:
- Personal administrativo/de apoyo de oficina del campus del año
- Asistente de enseñanza del año
- Personal de mantenimiento de instalaciones/conserjería del año
- Personal de transporte del año
- Personal de servicio de alimentos/almacén del año
- Personal de seguridad y protección del campus del año
- Bibliotecario del año
- Consejero del año
- Subdirector del año (incluye directores de academia y decanos académicos)
- Director del año
Upcoming Community Events & Opportunities
Find a meal site using Find Food Now. You can also call 2-1-1, text FOODTX to 877-877 for help locating a site near you.
Our organization strives to optimize self-sufficiency for families and individuals in safe and healthy communities. We work to achieve those goals by providing services either directly or through private and not-for-profit agencies.
Social Emotional Corner
Important Tips
Self-Care Calendar
Anita Uphaus Upcoming Events
Jan. 6-AISD Staff Returns-Professional Development Day
Jan. 7-Students return
Jan. 16- Brighter Bites Distribution Day
Jan. 17- Pajama Day!
Jan. 20-No School for students and Staff- Martin Luther King Day
Jan. 23- CAC Meeting @ 3:45 pm
Jan. 24-Parent Coffee Chat @ 8:30 am
Jan. 24- Chuck E Cheese Night (see info above)
Jan. 24- Pajama Day!
Jan. 27-31- Holocaust Remembrance Week
Jan. 29- No school for students - Professional Development Day
Jan. 30-Brighter Bites Distribution Day
Jan. 31-Pajama Day!